UMASS/AMHERST 312066 0333 2658 9 *:- m%t 'X&k m>* *te fT J* LIBRARY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE no.-_L3_2JSJ5__ date.!- L£3_£_ c "F Per : SF 521 A5 s/.30 T v, 3 o 3?-- ^y&L. f§]|ll|]l Vol. ffl. CHICAGO, ILL, JULY 1, 1892. ~MA, sf,!i»A»*SRICAM,i WW PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY GEORGE W. YORK & CO,, JLt One Dollar a Year, 199 Randolph Street, CHICAGO, ILL. Entered at the Post-Office at Chicago as Second-Class Matter. Postage to all Countries in the Postal Union is SO cents extra. To all others, $1.00 more than the subscription price. AUVERT1SOG RATES. 20 cents per line of Space, eacl insertion. No Advertisement inserted for less than $1.00. A line of this type will admit about eight words. One Inch will contain Twelve lines. Editorial Notices, 50 cents per line. Special notices, 30 cents per line. Transient Advertisements must be paid for IN ADVANCE. DISCOB NT S : On 10 lines, or more, 4 times, 10% ; 8 times, 15%; 13 times, 20%; 26 times, 30'; 52 times, 40 On 20 lines, or more, 4 times, 15% ; 8 times, 20 % ; 13 times, 25 % ; 26 times, 40 times, 50 %. On 30 lines, or more, 4 times., 20% ; 8 times. 25 % ; 13 times, 30 % ; 26 times, 50 times, 60%. On Larger Advertisements, discounts will be stated, upon application. Advertisements intended for next week must reach this office by Saturday of this week. A Sample Copy sent Free, on Application. Contents of tnis Number. Among Our Exchanges 13 Are Italian Bees Hybrids ? .--, 21 Bee-Culture and the Government 9 Bee-Feeders, the Season, Etc 19 Bees and Cherry Blossoms, Etc 21 Bees are Improving- the Time 22 Bees in Grand Traverse Co., Mich 18 Beeswax Importations 11 Black Bees or Italians— Which ? 22 Boy's Experience in Bee-Keeping 17 Caged Queens and Queen-Cells 12 Convention Directory . 21 Correspondence on Important Subjects. . . 14 Dibble's Self-Hiving Arrangement 16 Editorial Buzzings 7 Espercette as a Honey-Plant 7 Finding a Black or Hybrid Queen.. 13 Honey Samples for Analysis 7 Hunger Making Honey of Molasses 23 Impressions of the Punic Bee 14 Making Honey-Vinegar 13 Matingof Queens 18 Mrs. Wasp and Mrs. Bee 12 Not Bumble-Bees— Severe Tornado 22 Not Now Overstocked with Bees 23 Other Bee-Periodicals' Kind Notices 10 Prevention of Granulation 11 Prevention of Swarming, Etc 23 Prospect for a Honey Crop 8 Queens Piping a "Trio" 21 Queries and Replies 12 Races of Honey-Bees. — 17 Rational Dont's About Bee-Keeping 20 Rearing Bees for the Harvest 19 Rev. L. L. Langstroth's Visit to Bro. Root 8 Selections from Our Letter Box 21 Sick or Starved Bees 9 Small Yield of Honey so Far 22 Starting Bees in the Sections 13 Storing Honey Rapidly, Etc 23 Suffering from Rheumatism 22 Texas Bee-Notes— Queens Mating 18 Too Small Queen-Cages • • 13 Visits Among Iowa Bee-Keepers 15 Volume XXX of the Bee Journal 7 " Walk-Over " Foundation Fastener 20 White Clover Bloom is Plentiful 21 White Clover inAbundance - 21 2 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. BEE BOOKS Sent by mail on receipt T>f price by GEORGE W. YORK & CO., 199 Randolph St., - CHICAGO, ILLS. Bees and JJonov, or Management of an Apiarv for Pleasure and Front, by Tlios. G. Newman. 250 pages— 245 illustrations. Price, in clotb, $1.00. Bienen Kultur, by TBiomas G. Newman. This is a German translation of the principal portion of the book called " Bees and Honey." 100 pages. Price, 40 cents. Per dozen, $3.00. The Apiary Reg-ister, by Thomas G. Newman.— A Record and Account Book for the Apiary devoting two pages to each colony. Leather binding. The price for 50 colonies is $1.00. For 100 colonies, $1.25; 200 colonies, $1.50. Bee-Keepers* Convention Hand- Book, by Thomas G. Newman.— It contains the Parliamentary Law and Rules of Order for Bee- Conventions— also Constitution and By-Laws, with Subjects for Discussion. Price, 50 cents. Bee-Keepers' Guide, or Manual of the Apiary, by Prof. A.J. Cook.— This book is not only instructive, but interesting and thoroughly practical. It comprises a full delineation of the anatomy and physiology of bees. Price, $1. leaflet, No. 1. — Wn y Eat Honey ? Intended for FREE distribution in the bee-keepers' locality, in order to create a Local Market. Price, 100 copies, 50 cents; for 500, $2.00; for 1,000, $3.25. i~W~ If 200 or more are ordered at one time, we print on them your name and address FREE, Leaflet, No. 2.— Alsike Clover for pastur- age. Price. 100 for 50c; 500 for $2.00; 1,000 for $3.25. Leaflet, No. 3.— How to Keep Honey, and preserve its richness and flavor. Price, 100 for 50 cents; 500for$2.oo; l,0u0 for $3.25. The Preparation of Honeyfor the Market, including- the production and care of Comb and Extracted Honey. A chapter from 'Bees and Honey." Price, 10 cents. Bee-Pasfuraffe a Necessity.— This book suggests what arid how to plant. It is a chapter from " Bees and Honey." Price, 10 cents. Swarming-, Dividing and Feeding;. Hints to beginners in Apiculture. A chapter from '>*5ee3 and Honey." Price, 5 cents. Bees in Winter, Chaff - Packing-, Bee Houses and Cellars. This is a chapter from "Bees and Honey." Price, 5 cents. The Hive I Use, by G. M. Doolittle.— It details his management of bees and methods for the production of honey. Price, 5 cents. Dictionary of Apiculture, by Prof. John Phin. Gives the correct meaning of nearly 500 apicultural terms. Price, 50 cents. How to Propagate and Grove-Fruit, by Chas. A. Green.— It contains over 50 illustrations and two large, colored fruit plates. It tells how to propagate strawberries, raspberries, blacaberries, currants, gooseberries, grapes, quinces, peaches, apr.cots, plums, cherries, pears and apples, with cuts showing how to bud, graft and propagate from layers, etc. Price, 25 cents. Wintering- Problem in Bse-Keeping, by G. R. Pierce. Price, 50 cents. Bee-Keepers' Bireetor3", by Henry Alley.— Queen Rearing, etc. Price, 50 cents. Honey-Bee; Its Natural History, Anat omy and Physiology, by T. W. Cowan. Price, $1.00. Rnxra\ Life— Bees, Poultry, Fruits, Vege- tables and Household Matters. Price, 25 cents. ABC of Carp-Culture, by A. I. Root and Geo. Finley. 70 pages. Price, 40 cents. Foul-Brood, by A. R. Kohnke.— Origin, ievelopment and cure. Price, 25 cents. Practical Hints to Bee-Keepers, by C. F. Muth, on bees and foul brood. Price, loc. Dzierzon Theory. — The fundamental principles of apiculture. "Price, 15 cents. Advanced Bee-Culture t its methods and management, by W. Z. Hutchinson. Price, 50c. Bee-Keeping.— Translation of Dzierzon's latest German book. Price, $2.00; paper, $1.50. Thirty Years Among- the Bees, by Henry Alfey. Price, 50 cents. Grain Tables ; for casting up the price Of grain, produce, hay, etc. Price, 40 cents. A B C of Potato Culture, by T. B. Terry. Price, 40 cents. Scientific Queen-Rearing, by G. M. Doolittle.— It details his experiments in the rearing of Queen-Bees. Price, $1.00. Pocket Dictionary.— Always useful, and often indispensable. Price, 25 cents. Kendall's Horse Book.— 35 engravings —illustrating positions of sick horses, and treats on all diseases. Price, English or German, 25 cents* Hand-Book of Health, by Dr. Foote. —Hints and information of importance concerning sating, drinking, etc. Price, 25 cents. Turlceys for Market and Profit, by Fanny Field, the most experienced turkey-rearer in America. Price, 25 cents. Lumber and Log Book.— It gives the measurements of all kinds of lumber, logs, planks; wages, etc. Price, 25 cents. Siio anc2 Silage, by Prof A. J. Cook.— It gives the method fn successful operation at the Michigan Agricultural College. Price, 25 cents. Cheshire's treatment of Foul Brood.— Its cause and Prevention. Price, 10 cents. Honey as Pood and Medicine, by Thomas G". Newman.— In French. Price, 5 cents. Langstroth on the Honey - Bee, revised by Charles Dadant.— It is entirely re-written and fully illustrated. Handling Bees, by Chas. Dadant & Son. - A chapter from Langstroth revised. Price, 8 cts. Blessed Bees, by John Allen.— Full of practical information. Price, 75 cents. Success in Bee-Culture, by James Heddon. Price, 50 cents. Quinbv's New Bee-Keeping, by L. C. Root.— This is a new edition of Mr. M. Quinby's "Mysteries of Bee-Keeping," entirely re-written by his'son-in-law, Price, $1.50. A B C of Strawberry Culture, by Messrs. T. B Terry and A. I. Root.— It is for those beginning to grow strawberries. Price, 40 cents. Historic— A brief history of the North American Bee-Keepers' Association, and Reports of the first 20 Conventions. Price, 25 cents. By-taws.-Por local Associations, with name of the Organization printed. $2.00 per 100. Ribbon Badges for Bee-Keepers, upon which is printed a largo bee in gold. Price, 10 cents each. Large ones with rosette, 50 cents. How I Produce Comb Honey, by George E.Hilton; 3d edition. Price, 5 cents. MapteSua-arand the Sug-ar Bush, by Prof. A. J. Cook. Price, 40 cents. ABCof Bee Culture, by A. I. Root.— A cyclopaedia of everything pertaining to the care of the honey-bee. Price, $1.25. Bee-Keeping for Profit, by Dr. G. L. Tinker.— It fully details the author's new system of producing honey. Price, 25 cents. A Year Among the Bees, by Dr. C. C. Miller.— Chat about a season's work. Price, 50 eta. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. ONE DOLLAR FEB YEAR. Club Rates,— Two copies, $1.80 ; 3 copies, S2.50 ; 4 copies, $3.20; 5 copies, $3.75. Mailed to any addresses. THOMAS G. NEWMAN, GEORGE W. YORK, Editors. Vol. XIX. July L 1892. • No. 1. UTk Home's not merely four square walls, Though with pictures hung and gilded ; Home is where affection calls, Filled with shrines the heart hath builded. Home !— go watch the faithful dove. Sailing 'neath the heaven above us— Home is where there's one to love ; Home is where there's one to love us. Espercette is a splendid honey- plant, also excellent for forage. In the Sierra Nevada Mountains Itthrives well, and the bees may be seen all day long humming around its crimson bloom. One of the most extensive queen- breeders of America, Mr. H. B. Har- rington, of Medina, Ohio, made us a pleasant visit last week. He is an agree- able and companionable man, as well as a bee-keeper having a large and ripe experience. Honey for Analysis is desired by Prof. A. J. Cook, of Agricultural Col- lege, Mich., as there are reasons to think that the methods for honey analy- sis used by chemists may be faulty. Prof. Cook is now having analyses made to determine the real facts about the matter, and desires to have samples of honey that have been known to be gathered very rapidly — say from sage or basswood. He wishes to have the honey at once. Also, he wants samples of any peculiar honey, like that of honey-dew, or of peculiar flavor. It must be in every case ffom one who produces honey, and guaranteed to be genuine honey. He desires us to urge bee-keepers to send any such samples by express to him at Lansing, Mich., at his expense. By complying with this re- quest, bee-keepers will not only please Prof. Cook, but aid in a good cause. Do not forget this, but if possible forward the samples of honey as directed above. Volume XXX of the American Bee Journal, begins with this number. The twenty-nine volumes that have preceded it form a very complete api- arian library in themselves, treating most exhaustively every conceivable detail in the best management of bees in the production of honey. It has come up through three decades, has not swerved in propitious or in unpromising seasons, and to-day occupies a position in the hearts and homes of thousands of apiarists in this and other lands, that has been won by faithful devotion to the best interests of the cause which it has ever fearlessly and unselfishly espoused. The thanks of the publishers are tendered its ho3t of admirers and ardent supporters, and they beg to express the hope that the hearty co-operation of the past may continue throughout the future years of promise. Every Man should kno sumthing ov law ; if he knows enuff tew keep out ov it, ho iz a pretty good lawyer. — Exch. 8 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Rev. I*. L. I^angstrotli — the father of American bee-keeping — re- cently visited the home of Bro. A. I. Eoot, at Medina, Ohio, and among other things of interest he examined a colony of Punic bees, which he describes on page 14 of this issue of the American Bee Journal. In Gleanings for June 15, was the following concerning Father Langstroth and his visit to " The Home of the Honey-Bees :" The Rev. L. L. Langstroth called upon us on Saturday, June 4, remaining over Sunday, and going away Monday night. After these 17 years of that distressing 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 ! what breadth of cul- ture ! what learning !" It was interesting to see how he en- joyed talking about bees, and the later improvements. In fact, he was more enthusiastic than many of the younger bee-keepers. In spite of the fact that age is usually conservative, Mr. Lang- stroth seemed to be thoroughly alive to the value and importance of the later improvements and developments. To illustrate : Said he, with his old-time fervor, " If money is to come from honey, manipulation must be reduced to a minimum." He indorsed thoroughly the idea of handling hive more and frames less ; of using out-apiary hives; hives with self- spacing frames ; hives that can be ma- nipulated 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 Lang- stroth 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 ivould not handle the frames if they could. n speaking of his own invention, he very modestly remarked that others before him had come very near giving to the world the Langstroth- 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 one as he (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 practi- cable. Father Langstroth's many old friends, who are readers of the American Bee Journal, will be delighted to know that he is able to again take some interest in the pursuit which he did so much to advance and popularize years ago. The younger members of the bee-fraternity will also rejoice to be permitted to read articles from Father Langstroth's mellif- luous pen, which they, as well as older friends, feared might never again be allowed to write as of yore. All will unite in wishing yet many years of joy- ful life to the "grand old man" of American apiculture, ere he is called to enter the "Gates of Pearl." Rev. W. P. Faylor, of La Porte, Iowa, sent us a few worker-bees on June 21, which arrived at the Bee Journal office the next day. Mr. Faylor wrote thus when informing us that he mailed them : "I send you two cages of sample- bees — one cage of six-banded Italians, and the other cage has in it four-banded hybrids. Give them a little warm honey, and let them fill up, to see just what they are." They certainly are very nice bees, all showing the beautiful golden bands. The Prospect is good for a crop of honey, if the weather becomes steadily warm and pleasant. A moist atmos- phere is just the thing for the secretion of nectar, and we may confidently expect that very soon the lifting clouds will "dispel the gloom" which has hung over us all during the past three or four months, and spoiled many a calculation. There are "silver linings" to all the clouds, and we shall soon discover their existence, and admire their lustre. Hope never dies AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 9 The Suoject of Bee-Culture has been a particular subject of investi- gation by the Government — so says Hon. J. M. Rusk, Secretary of Agriculture, in his Report for the year 1891, a copy of which we received a short time since. Under the head of "Apiculture" is a description of what was done during the year in the interest of bee-keeping. It states that Prof. A. J. Cook, of the Michigan State Agricultural Experiment Station, was commissioned Jan. 1, 1 81 11, for a period of six months, and Mr. J. H. Larrabee, of Vermont, was appointed to assist him. Experiments, some of them in continuation of those instituted previously by the Michigan Station, were undertaken with a view of determining the value of special plant- ing for honey ; the effect on bees of the poison used in spraying fruit trees ; the value of bees as fertilizers ; the intro- duction of an improved strain of bees ; a determination of the amount of honey required to produce one pound of wax ; whether the worker-bees feed the drones albuminous food ; and to determine the conductivity of wax. Among the results apparently proven by the experiments of the season, we may mention the following : A number of honey-plants were tested, and the conclusion was reached that none of them would pay for cultiva- tion for honey alone. A second experiment indicated that spraying with arsenicals should not be carried on while the bees are visiting the blossoms of fruit trees. Another series of experiments showed conclusively the value of bees as ferti- lizers. The result from the next series of ex- periments seems to indicate that 11 pounds of honey is the amount required to produce one pound of comb. This result is at variance with the results obtained by other workers. The experiments made by Schoenf eld, of Germany, on the character of the food of drones resulted in the same con- clusion, viz. : that drones are given the same kind of albuminous food as the queens and the larvae, and that without this food the drones cannot live longer than three days at the outside. Experiments upon the conductivity of wax indicate that for practical purposes it has about the same as the board par- titions of hives, and rather greater than the full comb. On July 1, Mr. Frank Benton, a well- known apiarist, was appointed for the purpose of conducting further investi- gations. Mr. Benton has been stationed at Washington since the date of his appointment, and has been engaged for the most part in placing the apicultural work upon a good footing, and devising a series of experiments to be carried out during the next season. Sick or Starved Bees.— Mr. C. F. Lang, of La Crosse, Wis., wrote us as follows recently regarding his bees which seemed to be affected by some disease, and sent a sample of the bees : I notice on page 771 of the Bee Journal of June 9, 1892, that Mr. Otto Semke wrote that some of his bees are sick. I have one colony infected with the same disease, from which I send you a sample. They are strong otherwise, but are losing every day from 50 to 100 bees, where the others, I notice, have hardly any in front of the hive. I tried to cure them with a few drops of carbolic acid on a rag. It did not do any good, and I gave them salt in sugar syrup, but that did not help any, either. C F. Lang. Prof. Cook, to whom we forwarded the bees for examination, says : The bees from Mr. Lang seem exactly like those from Mr. Semke. I presume the better weather of the last few days has put all to rights. — A. J. Cook. Mr. P. L. Norton, of Lanesboro, Pa., also had some bees affected somewhat similarly to those of Mr. Semke and Mr. Lang, and on June 14, 1892, wrote thus concerning them : I send a few workers and drones afflicted the same as are Mr. Otto F. 10 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Semke's, according to his descrition in a recent number of the Bee Journal. The colony is one of the strongest I have in my yard, containing 70. They seem to be working to a considerable extent, gathering pollen and honey. There is no other case in the yard as yet, as I can discover. P. L. Norton. In regard to the above mentioned bees, Prof. Cook writes : Both drones and workers, which Mr. Norton thinks are dying unnaturally fast, seem bright, and show no sign of disease at all. Indeed, their intestines and stomachs are almost empty. Can it be a case of starvation ? The appear- ance suggests a very meagre diet. — A. J. Cook. Otlier Bee-Periodicals have been giving us some much-appreciated notices in recent issues of their papers, for which we make our best bows. It is a matter of particular note, and a thing to be greatly admired, when such sincere feelings of fraternal regard exist among those who are conducting the publishing of the current literature of such an ex- tensive industry as bee-keeping. It is an omen of good, and indicates that there, is promise of great advancement along all lines relating to the pursuit which all the best bee-periodicals are endeavoring to aid. Mr. W. Z. Hutchinson, editor of the Bee-Keepers' Review, at Flint, Mich., besides giving in his June number a portrait engraving of the Bee Journal's new editor and proprietor, wrote as follows concerning the change : After having been for 19 years under the management of that veteran editor, Thomas G. Newman, the American Bee Journal has passed into the hands of George W. York & Co. Continued poor health compelled Bro. Newman to make this change. The supply trade and the Home Journal still remain in the hands of Thomas G. Newman & Son. Although Mr. York is a young man— 30 years old— he is not without experi- ence in the publishing of a bee-periodi- cal. Almost the first time that I visited Chicago, some eight or nine years ago, I found him at work in the Bee Journal office, where he had been several months. He has been there most of the time since, and now industry and perse- verance get their reward. Mr. York and I " took to each other " at once, and in the friendly chat that followed, he told me that he and a fellow workman were saving money by keeping "bachelor's hall." Perhaps this is " telling tales out of school," but this little thing raised Mr. York wonder- fully in my estimation, and I wish my readers to share in this feeling. The next time that I met Mr. York was when the North American met at Indianapolis. He had just returned from his wedding trip, and his heart was overflowing with his newly-found happiness. We occupied the same room - at the hotel, and the long, confidential chats that we had over life and its prob- lems, gave me a still deeper insight into his nature. When next I visited Chicago, I slipped away from the convention one evening and visited the pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. York. Since then I never go to Chicago without having a chat with " George,'' and I feel that of all the bee- keeping editors, I am the best acquainted with him, and that I am qualified to say that the readers of the American Bee Journal will find their new editor to be fair and fearless, genial and just. The Review and American Bee Jour- nal will pull together tip-top. - Mr. Ernest E. Root, associate editor of Gleanings in Bee-Culture, published at Medina, LOhio, had this to say in the issue of June 15 : We were greatly pained upon seeing the announcement that the health of Mr. Thomas G. Newman has been such that he was obliged to sell the American Bee Journal, the " old reliable," that has been so successfully conducted by him for nearly 20 years. We have known for some time that Mr. Newman's health has been very poorly ; but we did not suppose that it had come to such a pass that it would be necessary for him to dispose of some of his business in- terests. We are very glad to learn, however, that the Journal has been transferred to entirely competent and worthy hands in the person of George W. York — an old assistant and employe, who has for eight years been more or less connected with the publishing and editing of the Journal. Mr. York is full of business vim and enterprise; and we have no doubt that the change will be better for all parties AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 11 concerned. We extend our right hand of fellowship to the new publisher ; and it will give us great pleasure to co- operate with him as we did with Messrs. Newman & Son. Mr. York is a young man of just our own age ; and although we have never met him, we have a sort of kinship feel- ing for him already. In our next issue we hope to introduce him formally to our readers, through the medium of a biographical sketch and a portrait en- graving. We are glad to know that Thomas G. Newman still remains as one of the editors of the Bee Journal; and we may therefore expect — though perhaps less frequently — the same characteristic and vigorous editorials that have graced the pages of the Journal in the past ; and these supplemented by those from younger blood, will add life and strength to an already nourishing paper. Mr. A. G. Hill, editor of the Bee- Keepers'1 Chride, of Kendallville, Ind., gave the following notice in the June number of that paper : Owing to failing health, Mr. Thomas G. Newman has thought best to sell the American Bee Journal to George W. York, who has been employed by him to aid in its publication for a number of years. With his experience in the office, the paper has, no doubt, fallen into capable hands. Mr. Newman gives up "the old reliable "American Bee Journal with many regrets. Mr. D. A. Jones, editor of the Cana- dian Bee Journal, in its issue of June 15, after publishing the notice of trans- fer of the Bee Journal, said : We wish our friends every success in the undertaking, and hope that the same brotherly feeling may exist among us as has existed heretofore. Smoke and Smokers is to be the special topic for the Bee-Keepers'' Review for July. Bro. Hutchinson con- cludes his " leader " in introducing the subject, with these words: "Now let smoker makers and users criticise and comment, and contribute their views for the July issue." It promises to be an interesting number. Prevention of Granulation in honey is often desired, and so Mr. J. L. Wilgus, of New Comerstown, Ohio, asks the following question about it : Please let me know what will keep sugar syrup from candying in brood- combs, and what proportion to the gal- lon. J. L. Wilgus. In reply we would say that tartaric acid is often used to prevent the granu- lation of sugar syrup in brood-combs. Another plan, and one that is recom- mended very highly, is to stir in about two pounds of extracted honey when you remove the syrup from the fire. That will retard granulation, if not totally prevent it. It will also impart the honey-flavor to the syrup, and will be thereby more acceptable to the bees. Some years ago, the Scientific American contained an item upon this subject, and the correspondent advised putting "one ounce of glycerine to 1% pounds of honey, setting it aside to cool." Don't Fail to read all of page 5. Beeswax is now being imported in large quantities, as will be seen by the following item from the daily papers : Many tons of beeswax are imported to New York from tropical and subtropical parts of this continent, and from Spain. This probably accounts for the recent decline in prices. Another reason is the fact that but little comb foundation is being used this year, because of the ex- tremely wet and backward season. The call for beeswax for that purpose is small, and the market is glutted in con- sequence. This " peculiar season" has been distressing to many branches of trade, but it seems that a change for the better must come soon. Some did not quite comprehend the notice of sale as published on page 727. Messrs. Thomas G. Newman & Son have not disposed of the Bee-Keepers' Supply Business or the Home Journal. Both will be continued as heretofore, at the same location as before, 199 East Ran- dolph St., Chicago, Ills. 12 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Mrs. Wasp and Mrs. Bee. Said Mrs. Wasp to Mrs. Bee, " Will you a favor do me ? There's something I can't understand, Please, ma'am, explain it to me. Why do men build for you a house, And coax you to go in it While me— your cousin— they'll not let Stay near them for a minute ? I have a sting, I do confess, And should not like to lose it : But so have you, and when you're vexed I'm very sure you use it." "Well," said the bee, " to you no doubt, It does seem rather funny ; But people s»oa forget the stings Of those who give them honey." —Margaret Eytinge. Queries mmb Replies. Capl Queens ui Queen-Cells. Query 825.— When the queen is caged in the height h of the honey season, will the bees start queen-cells ? — Mattie. Yes. — E. France. Yes.— J. P. H. Brown. Yes, usually. — P. H. El, wood. I think they will. — M. Mahin. Yes, sometimes. — Dadant & Son. Almost without fail. — James Heddon. Yes, if there is available brood. — G. L. Tinker. Yes, often, if not usually. — James A. Green. Yes, if confined for several days. — J. M. Hambaugh. A large proportion of colonies would. — R. L. Taylor. They generally do for me, perhaps always. — C. C. Miller. I have never tried caging at such a time. — Eugene Secor. Not if she is young, and is not caged too long. — A. B. Mason. Yes, if there are eggs and larvae in the hive. — G. M. Doolittle. * Most invariably, if she is caged any length of time. — Mrs. J. N. Heater. They have never done so for me, but my advice is, " Don't cage your queen." — Mrs. L. Harrison. As I understand your question, I will say that I don't " fool" with my queens in that way. — H. D. Cutting. Yes, ma'am ; if you keep her caged long enough, say two or three days. My bees will. — Mrs. Jennie Atchley. They will be very likely to do so when they have eggs or larvae, and the hive is becoming crowded. — C. H. Dibbern. Not as a rule, but I have known them to do so, but not until after she had been confined for some time. — J. E. Pond. Not usually, if well at work in the sections. The bees will not always'be- have the same way, in such cases. — A. J. Cook. In most cases they will, if the 'warm- ing impulse moves them. In a few cases I have had young queens mated in a hive where a queen was confined in a cage. — G. W. Demaree. If the queen is caged for two or three days, the bees will generally start queen-cells, especially if there are eggs and larvae in the hive. — Editors. The Farmer and Breeder for June 15, in which our friend, Mr. Eugene Secor, conducts the "Bee- Column," contained the query, with all the answers, upon the subject of "Drones from an Unfertilized Queen," which was published in the Bee Jour- nal for June 2, 1892. Circulars have been received at this office from the following : — H. G. Quirin, Bellevue, O. — 4 pages — Italian Queens. F. L, Wright, Nurseryman, Plainfield, Mich. — 1 page. G. P. Morton, Prairie Home, Mo. — 10 pages — Bee-Supplies. Western Mfg. Co., Spring Valley, Minn. — 32 pages — Bee-Supplies. J. F. Michael, German, O. — 16 pages — Five-Banded Golden Italian Queens. Be Sure to read offer on page 5. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 13 Combed and Extracted. Starting Bees in the Sections. Have the sections all ready before the honey-flow begins, with good straight structure of comb foundation fastened into them, which is very quickly done with a Parker foundation fastener, or any of the section presses now in use, or if you have no such machine, you can do very good work with a common table knife. Lay the edge of the strip of foundation in the middle of the top part of the section. You can then with the point of a stiff knife press the edge of the comb so firmly against the wood that the wax will adhere. To do this, how- ever, you must choose a warm day, for if it is too cool the wax will not work. To get the bees started to work, it is best to put in some sections with some comb in them, if you have any unfinished sections left over from the previous sea- son, which all bee-keepers do have ; these are very enticing to the bees, and will not fail to start them at work, es- pecially if the honey-flow is good, and the colonies are strong in bees. — M. H. De Witt, in American Apiculturist. Finding a Black or Hybrid Queen. To find a black or hybrid queen often baffles the expert. Much care at the beginning is the great secret of success. Open the hive slowly, without jar, and use as little smoke as possible. Be very careful not to kill bees, and if possible have an assistant to look on one side while the operator scans the other. If the bees run down and cluster on the lower edge of the comb, by a movement gained by practice, turn the comb bot- tom side up, always keeping it on the edge. As fast as the combs are examined, place them in an empty hive, and if not found after the combs are all out, look in every corner of the hive, and also in the entrance, to be sure that the queen is not there, for black queens are very apt to leave the combs and hide in a corner, sometimes even running out and under the hive. If not now found, pro- ceed to replace the combs, giving them a thorough examination as they are re- placed. If still unfound, it is better to close the hive and try again in a few hours. If robber bees are inclined to bother, do the searching at about sundown, as then the robbers cannot do much harm before dark. These directions should enable any one to find a black queen without much trouble. — G-.M.Doolitti.e, in National Stockman. Too Small Queen-Cages. Of four queens sent, about a month ago, to E. G. Clark, of Wausau, Wis., two, sent in % cages, arrived in good condition. The other two were sent in small %-inch cages, and one was dead upon arrival, and the other in bad con- dition. Mr. Clark writes that he has had similar experiences before in getting queens. I have always had a prejudice against those small 3^-inch cages; I must admit, however, that I have re- ceived queens in good condition in these cages. My opinion is that it will not answer to crowd the bees. In cool weather, when a larger number of at- tendants are needed, then larger cages are needed ; in hot weather, when eight or ten bees are sufficient for a body- guard, the small cages will answer ; but to save a cent in postage by using a little, cramped up cage, and lose a queen worth a dollar, as the result, is " penny wise and pound foolish." — Bee- Keepers' Review. Making Honey- Vinegar. Those who work bees for extracted honey should not lack for the best of vinegar. Honey should not be extracted until it is thoroughly ripened by the bees, which ripening is shown by the bees capping the cells. These cappings are easily removed preparatory to ex- tracting, with a honey knife. After being removed, they are allowed to drain for 24 hours, when they are rinsed in a tub containing spring water. After re- maining in the water a few hours, the cappings are squeezed into a ball (like a snow ball) and laid away. The rinsing is continued until the water will float an egg, when it is set in a cool place for vinegar. In about one year it becomes the best flavored and colored vinegar to be found, and in all respects, and for all purposes, is better than any cider vin- egar ever made. It becomes vinegar more speedily in stone crocks, covered by mosquito netting, and set in a cool place, making fine vinegar in 90 days, but much better in 365. — Selected. 14 AMERICAN BEE JOURMAJU On Important Subjects. My Impressions of tlie Punic Bee. KEY. L. L. LANC4STROTH. Having had, for the first time, an op- portunity 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 procure 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 brood 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 sug- gested to me the idea that they were not ordinary black bees (I should have been much better pleased if Mr. Root had had a single colony of pure black bees) ; nor did they seem much if any different 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 Punics, as all the young bees appeared to have the same markings. When opened the first time, and care- fully looked over, the queen was not found. The bees were much agitated, and acted almost precisely like ordinary black bees — racing backward and for- ward 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 favorable as it could be, bright, warm, and calm, with the help of Mr. Spafford, and without any assistance from Mr. Ernest Root, who wished me to give my own impressions, without any suggestions from him, I carefully ex- amined them again. I gave them suffi- cient time to fill themselves with honey before the combs were lifted out. The same agitation which I noticed on Sat- urday, June 4, 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 Dow- agiac, 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, which was noticed near the bottom of a frame, evidently frightened, running around the corners, and seeking in every way to hide herself. In this re- spect she seemed to me to act like an ordinary black queen. As to the bees, they were not as " scary " as I have frequently noticed the blacks to be. When a comb was lifted out they did not string out from the bottom of it and drop upon the grass, ready to crawl up my pants, as is so common with the black race. 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 superficial observation one might have declared that we had here nothing but common black bees ; but a more thorough examination sug- gested that they might be a cross of, say, the black with some other race. The color of the queen might again sug- gest that the Punics were a cross be- tween the black and the Italian races, as the so-called hybrid Swedish clover resembles 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 Punic, 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 pos- sessed of uncommon and valuable peculi- arities. We know that the 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 qualities 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 dis- couraged as to "skedaddle " on the first appearance of adverse circumstances. And, again, it is impossible, from so slight an observation, to know whether, like the black bee, it is a natural-born AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 15 robber, causing 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 rob- bed 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 matter : 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 enterpris- ing 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 disputed points will be settled, and no one would- rejoice more than myself if it should prove, like the Morgan horse, the progeny of an im- proved and improving race of bees. My readers will be*'" in mind that these observations were nicde upon only a single colony — that this colony might not have been entirely pure, and that I had not any blacks with which to com- pare it. Dayton, O. Ms Among Iowa Bee-Keepers. THOS. JOHNSON. On May 16, upon examining my bees after about three weeks' absence, and finding them in good condition, I con- tinued my visits among Iowa bee-keep- ers, but saw none of any prominence until I reached Audubon. I there saw Mr. S. Webster, who has an apiary of about 75 colonies. He was somewhat discouraged, but I believe the discour- agement was mostly on account of some- thing else besides bees. I next saw Mr. E. S. Taggart, of Lar- land (not of Coon Rapids, as my article has it on page 510 of the Bee Journal for April 14, 1892). After spending a short time with Mr. T., I took the train for Manning, where I was delayed until 3 a.m., in one of the worst storms I ever witnessed. I then took the train for Coon Rapids— what the railroad men call the "flyer," but I called it the " leaker," for the rain poured in at the roof in torrents. After arranging my affairs, I went to Manilla, by way of Manning, where I waited 21 hours for a train. There being no prospects of getting on the right track, I started for Council Bluffs, arriving there at 10 a.m. I boarded the Northwestern train, which took me in a northerly direction, up the old Mis- souri river, at the station called "Honey Creek," where I saw an apiary of about 50 colonies of bees. By the way, it looked more like a stump-yard than what it really was. For the want of the old Virginia gum, the owner nailed rough boards together for hives, and I think if he gets any surplus it will be on the old brimstone-pit style. At 1 p.m. I arrived at Missouri Valley, Harrison county, where I met D. M. Harris, of the Missouri Valley Times — a daily and weekly paper. He said that he used to handle bees some twenty years ago, and I had no right to dispute him, for I knew of him in Guthrie county to run an ox-team, and also as a member of Congress and Probate Judge. His son and I ate hard-tack together at Porkers' Cross Roads, Tenn. ; that is the State where our honey-prophet lives — Mr. Sam Wilson. Mr. Jas. Harris was in an Iowa regiment duiing the civil war, and I was in an Ohio regiment. Here I learned that there was little honey in 1891, my informant being Mr. J. W. Fouts, an experienced bee-keeper. At 9 a.m. on Friday, I took the train for Logan, the county seat of Harrison county, where I visited the apiary of J. H. M. Edwards. Last fall he had 42 colonies, and now has 14 left. Mr. J. D. Frick had 20 colonies last fall, and lost 16. It was May 20 when I visited . there, and while I walked % of a mile, the snow fell in torrents, and at Mr. Edwards' residence the mercury was 36.4° above freezing. I would like to say more on the loss of bees at this place, but time would not admit of it. I left at 7 p.m. to visit Dunlap, where I saw Mr. E. J. Cronkleton, who had 45 colonies of bees last fall, and now has only 28 left. I next went to Dow City, where I met Mr. Wiggins, who had 46 colonies last fall, and now has only 8 colonies left. He has been in the bee-business about three years. At 7 p.m. on Saturday I arrived at Denison, where I met several prominent, 16 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. bee-keepers, among them being N. J. Wheeler, who spent last year on the Pacific Coast, and his wife had sold all of his bees excepting 10 colonies, and out of the 10, fall count, he had 2 cqlo- nies left this spring. The next day I visited Mr. W. J. Cochran, one mile east of Denison. Last fall he had -over 100 colonies, and had 55 left this spring ; G. M. McAhren had 32 colonies last fall, and this spring 12 ; L. J. Carter had 26, fall count, and only 7 colonies left this spring. In the api- aries of Mr. Cochran and Mr. Carter, bees were living on their larvas, uncap- ping their brood, and eating what sub- stance the brood had, in order to keep alive. Talk to me about spring dwind- ling— this is starvation and poverty ! Mr. G. W. Stevens had 10 colonies in the fall, and for want of stores, he had only 3 left. He was nursing his bees, and if the balance die, it will be caused by too much nursing. Mr. S. has a model frame spacer, which might take the place of the Hoffman self-spacing arrangement. I believe there is no town in Iowa where there has been any more time and money spent in trying to invent apiarian improvements, than in the town of Denison. CoonjKapids, Iowa, Self-Hiving Arrangement for Swarms. WESLEY DIBBLE. Are self-hivers worth anything ? Do the parties who advertise them, make them, and sell them, deserve to be rec- ognized as truthful men ? Can we go to their yards and find these parties using what they advertise ? Are they suc- ceeding exactly as they tell us they are ? If so, let us give these men credit. What is a perfect success with them ^ould be a total failure with others by a little deviation from their plans. Go slow now, and give these men justice ; give them credit for their hard-earned invention. The picture will hardly need any description, 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 accomplish 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 view : Give the. bee free access to the hive, and do not obstruct the entrance. A trap of any kind in front of the hive is a hindrance to the bees. It affords a shade and place to cluster in front, and in real hot weather it is a nuisance. To illustrate: I have an out-yard supplied with en- trance traps. The bees are lying out, covering the traps and fronts of hives. Now, I arrive at this yard at 4 p.m., because I cannot get there sooner, and I find from 1 to 10 colonies have swarmed during the day. What would be the chances of knowing which one of those colonies swarmed '? Give us an intelligent answer if you can. Put me down as saying, the man who succeeds in giving us a successful trap of any kind will give us something be- sides an entrance trap. We must have a trap when we can at a glance tell The Dibble Self-Hiver. where our queens are. We must know instantly, when passing through a yard, which colonies have cast swarms, ivith- out opening a hive. We haven't any time to spare in digging clusters of bees from in front of hives. We are, for in- stance, alone with three or four yards to care for, and cannot get intelligent help, and the family 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 minister 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 be 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 quetions. What, kind of hive do I use '? Eight- frame, Q%\11%, Langstroth exactly. I AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. IT use the frame reversible by notions of my own. I like them after five years' experience. How does the trap fasten to the bot- tom-board ? A small strip of tin nailed across the trap slides behind one like it nailed on the bottom-board. With these, one can put on or take off 100 in half an hour. Where does the queen get into the trap ? Cut off the strip on the bottom- board, 2 inches; slot in the trap to correspond ; and also the top of the trap connects with the upper hive in the same way. There are two cones in the trap, so arranged 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. The next article will be a continuation of self-hivers hived at the side ; size of swarms, etc. — Gleanings. A Boy's Experience in Bee-Keeping, ED. CLARK. I caught the " bee-fever " in the sum- mer of 1887, when only eight years old, from reading an article on bees and honey in an agricultural paper. At that time my parents kept a few bees, and during the summer they gave me a colony for my own. The next summer I got another colony, both of which were in box-hives. I began gathering up all the knowledge that I could pertaining to bees and their management when I first became in- terested in them, and by the time I had my second colony I knew about the frame hive. I thought I would like to try one of them, so I had one made, and transferred one of my colonies into it. I then had a colony of bees in a frame hive, but knew very little about how to manage them. I then decided that I needed a bee- paper, and sent for sample copies of several, among them being the Ameri- can Bee Journal. When I received them I examined them carefully, and subscribed for the Bee Journal, which was a great help to me. From reading it I found that most bee-keepers pre- ferred the Italian bees instead of the common blacks ; so I procured a queen that was warranted to produce bees with three yellow bands, and in due time she arrived all right. The next thing was to introduce her ; but when it came to this I began to get nervous, for I was afraid that the bees would not like this yellow queen for a mother, when they had been used to a black one. But I guess they must have liked her a little too well, for after waiting a few days after she had been introduced, I looked at her, and found a large part of one wing missing, which I think the bees bit off. I have increased my bees to 8 colo- nies, which are in Simplicity hives, and I have Italianized 3 colonies. I do not have the advantage that some beginners have, of talking to an experienced api- arist, for there are none such near me. So far this has been a rather poor year for bees. I have had no swarms yet. Nat, Ala., June 18, 1892. Tie Races of Honey-Bees, G. W. DEMAREE. It is really more difficult to be practi- cal than it is to be learned and precise. It is generally conceded that all honey bees, Apis mellifica, most likely, had their origin in one common parentage. But this does not settle the question of races. Now, I say it is most probable that at a very early period in the history of the world, the race of honey-bees was divided by some cause, no more myster- ious than mauy other things we see in nature, into two distinct races — black and yellow. The intermediate colors so common in varieties of bees indicate this, besides we see the same thing in the wasps and ants. I believe, and 1 think my belief is based on substantial reasoning and observations, that there are two distinct races of bees, from which all the intermediate strains or types of bees had their origin, and this accounts for the tendency of the differ- ent types of bees to sport in breeding. It is the most reasonable thing in the world that the striped types of bees should sport most in their breeding, be- cause everything pertaining to their his- tory goes to show that they are a more recent type than the more solid colored types are. Many persons contend that the Carniolan bees belong to the dark or black race of bees. Of course this is a mistake, brought about by the common weakness of "jumping at a conclusion," rather than by the slow process of care- ful investigation. The Carniolan bee does not belong to the " black race" of bees. They are an intermediate type of bees with a strong tendency to the yel- low. I have never seen a colony of AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Carniolans become darker by breeding them promiscuously. In my experience of three years with the Carniolans their tendency has been toward the yellow type. If anybody doubts this let him intro- duce some Carniolan queens into his apiary of pure German bees, and he will find the out-cropping of yellow blood sooner or later. The difference between the Carniolan and the German types of bees is as marked to the practical observer as is the difference between the Italians and' the Germans ; not merely as a matter of color, but in general make-up as a dis- tinct type of bees. I have believed for some years past that the old so-called German type of bees is much older in its formulation as a type of bees, than any of the striped or banded varieties. This I judge from the facts that they sport in breeding less than any of the banded varieties. In my experience with the Carniolan variety I have found that they sport in breeding to a remarkable degree, and this has led me to believe that they are a recently formulated type of bees. The Punic or Tunisian race of bees has not been under the observation of persons competent to judge, long enough to pass on their qualities. — American Apiculturist. Christiansburg, Ky. Bees in Grand Traverse Co,, Mich, C. A. MONTAGUE. Our county association, which ad- journed subject to the call of a commit- mittee, composed of the President and the Secretary, has passed by the annual meeting, so it is not an easy matter to be posted on the general outlook. There are a few points, however, that compel our notice. One of these is the winter- ing problem. Last winter was one that makes the most of us sick, who wintered bees in the cellar. So far as my observation extends, there has been more or less loss by all except one bee-keeper, who "win- ters" and "summers" his bees in large cases with a tight bottom and sides. He leaves about an 8-inch space all around, which is filled with loose chaff. This man "wintered" and "springed" 58 colonies without loss, and all are in the best condition I ever saw bees. A large portion of their stores was unripened honey. I am afraid very few bees would be kept here, if when working for ex- tracted honey one upper story would hold the season's product, without ex- tracting meanwhile. Our bees have had nothing but fruit blossoms so far, but a few of the supers, judging by their weight, must be about half filled. Dur- ing our principal honey-flow I have sometimes lost by not extracting more often than once a week. Another point, and one I have felt " sore " about for years, viz : So much is said about white clover and white clover honey. We have plenty of that clover, but it is seldom I have seen bees at work on it. I have not the slightest idea what genuine ivlMe clover honey tastes like. At present the prospect is most excel- lent for a good honey crop, but we can tell better next fall. Archie, Mich., June 14, 1892. Texas Bee-Notes — Queens Mating, A. C. ATEN. We have had, a very favorable season here for corn and small grain — neither too little nor too much rain. Wheat and oats ripened without any rust, and are plump and nice ; they are now in shock, and much is already threshed. Corn is just coming into roasting ear, and the crop is assured, unless some'un- looked-for calamity should overtake it. Cotton has had the hardest time of all, but is now generally looking well. It has been rather cool for it, and insects have injured it a great deal. Cut-worms destroyed thousands of acres, and some farmers have had to plant over two or three times; cut-worms were never known to injure the cotton before. Bees have not done well on account of cool weather, and very high winds. The wind would blow so hard for a week or more at a time that bees could do but little, and no doubt thousands perished. I have taken but little honey yet, but my bees are now in fine condition, and unless the season is different from what it ever has been, we will get plenty of honey yet. I have had but 5 swarms from nearly 200 colonies ; I give them plenty of room, and am never much troubled with swarming. THE MATING OF QUEENS. Mr. Geo. F. Robbins wants me to make a more probable guess in regard AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 19 to bees mating. (See page 479 of the Bee Journal for April 7, 1892.) Allow me to say that I can account for the pure mating of his and Mr. Wheeler's queens one year and the failure the next. The probability is that although there was such an overwhelming number of black colonies in the neighborhood, that there were very few, if any, black drones at that time, while in the very few Italian colonies there were plenty of drones (this often happens) ; of course, the young queens were purely mated. The next year the black colonies were full of drones, and there being at least 25 black colonies to one Italian, of course the greater portion of the young queens mismated. If he had reared queens that year from an imported queen, it would have been the same. It takes no " guessing " to know this. Any one that has ever reared queens from an imported mother, knows that when there are blacks in reach, that quite often the young queens produce bees from three-banded to almost black. Round Rock, Tex., June 16, 1892. Rearing Bees for Die Harvest MRS. L. HARRISON. Bee-keepers have had an abiding faith that there would be a good crop of clover honey this year. The rains we have had will bring forth summer and autumn flowers ; where floods have destroyed crops on the lowlands, they will have a rich deposit, and Spanish-needles, beg- gar-ticks, black-heart and other weeds, will possess the land, and secrete autumn honey. White clover is " spread- ing itself like a green bay tree," and sweet clover is luxuriant. The bees which will gather the crop of white clover honey, if there should be one, must be reared from the product of the sugar cane. A barrel of granulated A sugar is now being rolled into my honey-house for their use. Bees are very wise little folks, and they do not allow the queen-bee to rear a large family of young ones to starve. As soon as their out-go exceeds their income, she is told to reduce her egg-production, and even some eggs already laid are eaten by the workers. Therefore, when there is no income, brood-rearing ceases, and the colony gradually grows less. It is the instinct of the bee to gather nectar from blossoms, and from the ex- udations of leaves and plants, and not to sip syrup from a dish like a fly, and they will only consume the syrup as a last resort. As soon as honey is to be gathered from flowers, they neglect the feeders, flying off to the fields to gather their natural food. — 0. Judd Farmer. Peoria, Ills. Bee-Feeders, tie Season, Etc, MILTON LIMES. I have seen several feeders described in the Bee Journal, so I thought I would describe mine. I make a box the size I want, 2% inches high, then put in partitions 2 inches high, and % inch apart. The first partition is for syrup, and the next is open in the bottom for the bees to go up ; the next two are for syrup, next for the bees, and the next for syrup. Then I take propolis scraped from the sections, melt it, and propolize the feeder inside. I then place the feeder on the brood-frames, and cover with wire-cloth. Lay one or two pieces, 3^-inch square, crosswise, to hold up the wire, then cover all with a cushion. You can make them of any size to suit, from % pint to one gallon. It is a feeder that will not leak, and no robbers can get at it. You can feed in the spring earlier with it, and with no danger of chilling the brood. I have had bees to come up and take food when it was 15c or 20° below freezing. I have been keeping bees for three years. I commenced with 4 colonies, and I now have 11. I have asked the bees a great many questions, and they say that if I do not hurt them they will not hurt me. I have blacks, hybrids, and Italians, and I cannot see much dif- ference in their temper, if I am careful in handling them. I like the Italians best, because they breed up in the spring the strongest. The colony that gave me the most honey has an Italian queen mated with a black drone. I saw her when she came out to take her wedding flight. She was gone nine minutes, by the watch. Another one was out seven minutes, and met an Italian drone. This has been a hard spring on bees, but they are doing well now. For the last week they have been working on white clover. I have had only two swarms as yet — on June 1 and 13, and one that came to me the first week' in June. I hived and fed them, and they are working nicely. A good many bees starved this spring. Some bee-keepers lost half the bees they had. I did not let any of mine starve. I 20 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. fed 6 or 7 ponnds of sugar syrup to each colony after fruit-bloom. It was too cold and wet. I have some of my bees in chaff hives. They are the best. A neighbor gave me a colony on Sept. 15, 1891, which I transferred, and gave him all the honey. I wintered it on sugar syrup all right, and it is working strong to-day. Ridgeway, O., June 20, 1892. Tne ts Walk-Over " Foundation Fastener J. A. GOLDEN. My apparatus (the "walk-over") is cheaply constructed, as follows : Take a board 2 feet 8 inches long, 7 inches wide, and saw a "boot jack" in one end 3 inches wide, and as deep as you like. Next take a board 18 inches long, and 5 inches wide, and mortise a slot 5 inches from one end, % wide, and 3% long crosswise of the board. On the short end from the mortise nail on a spacing block 3% inches long by 3% inches wide, and % inch thick, close to the slot. Below the slot, but even with it, nail on a section shelf 5 inches wide, and 2% inches long. For braces or legs take strips 2 inches wide tapered to one inch, the wide end halved in each side of the "boot-jack." A 2-inch deep box shelf is put in 10 inches below the base of the heating- plate, and a hole cut in the box to re- ceive the bowl of lamp, and thus avoid an accident. On the right side of the lamp box is tacked a foundation box. Take a strip of tin 7 inches long, 1% inches at one end, and 2 inches at the other, bend so as to form a spout, tack- ing the narrow end on top of the further end of the "boot-jack," and one edge of the wide end on the front. Have under the spout a small tin cup madefrom an oyster-can, which receives any melted wax when operating. A melted plate 3% inches wide, and 3 inches long, is placed on top "at right angles, and held in place by two screws. On the lower end of the short, or sec- tion-board, place two hinges, and put the board at its proper place by holding the hinges down with one hand, and moving the board back and forth on the heating-plate, letting the plate rub the upper side of the slot. Fasten the hinges, and put in a spiral spring 5 inches above the hinged end of the sec- tion-board ; the spring forces the sec- tion-board from the heater. This com- pletes the " walk-over " machine. To learn to operate it, one has only to pickup a section with the left hand, and a starter with the right hand from the foundation box, placing section over the spacer, with the starter on the spacer near the bottom, slightly pressing with each thumb on the starter, when a slight push with* the hand will bring the metal tongue through between the section and starter. The starter is dropped on the hot metal, the pressure is relaxed, the spiral spring throws back the section- board, the starter falls in place, and is fimly fixed to the section. The spacing block should be dampened occasionally, to keep the starter from sticking. — Bee- Keepers' Review. Rational Don'ts About Bee-Keening, C. L. STBICKLAND. Don't wait until a honey-flow is rap- idly passing or gone, before you have your bees ana surplus cases ready for business, then curse the bees or profes- sion for being a delusion. Be on time always. Don't fail to cut out all excess of drone comb, for drones are heavy con- sumers, and bring nothing in. A few hundred instead of thousands, will serve a large aptary. It costs as much to keep one drone as it does six workers. Beware. Don't fail to have plenty of water, salt and pure, so arranged that the bees can get at it without drowning. Bees must have water in their breeding season, no matter what the cost is to them. Be merciful unto them, always. Don't be rough in handling your bees, for that kind of treatment will make the gentlest bees oh earth cross, sooner or later. Always be gentle to them. Don't cultivate a slack system of man- agement in the apiary. It has never been known to pay, but has cost the keeper many dimes, and hours of fearful suspense. Don't fail to always have plenty of bees when the honey-flow is on hand. If you can never do this, the less money and time you waste the better for you. Don't think for a moment that there may be no difference in the race of bees for business, beauty, proliricness and gentleness, as there is, and, if ignored, you make a sad mistake. Don't under-estimate the great value of good worker-combs. They are a great agency in building up new colonies, ex- tracting, etc. — American Homestead. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 21 CONVENTEOIV DIRECTORY. Time and place of meeting. 1892. July 21.— Carolina, at Charlotte, N. C. A. L. Beach, Sec. Steel Creek, N. C. Aug. 17.— Wabash Valley, at Vincennes, Ind. Frank Vawter, Sec, Vincennes, Ind. Aug-. 27.— Haldimand, at S. Cayuga, Ont. E. C. Campbell, Sec, Cayuga, Ont. Sept. 7, 8.— Nebraska, at Lincoln, Nebr. L. D. Stilson, Sec, York, Nebr. Oct. 7.— Utah, at Salt Lake City, Utah. John C. Swaner, Sec, Salt Lake City, Utah. 1893. Jan. 13, 14.— S.W.Wisconsin, at Boscobel.Wis. Benj. E. Rice, Sec. Boscobel, Wis. JtSF" I11 order to have this table complete, Secretaries are requested to forward full particulars of the time and the place of each future meeting. — The Editors. North American Bee-Keepers' Association President— Eugene Secor.. Forest City, Iowa. Secretary— W. Z. Hutchinson Flint, Mich. National Bee-Keepers' Union. President — James Heddon ..Dowaglac, Mich. Sec'y and Manager— T. G. Newman, Chicago. Reports, Prospects, Etc. t3F~ Do not write anything for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. White Clover Bloom is Plentiful. The weather has cleared up here at last, and bees are working. My scale hive shows a gain of 10% pounds in the last three days. The spring has been so bad that I will have to buy 2,000 pounds of honey to supply my trade. White clover is blooming plentifully, but bees are shy of it, so far. F. H. Richardson. Mobcrly, Mo., June 16, 1892. Are Italian Bees Hybrids ? 1 wish to call attention to the article of Mr. Kildow, on page 291 of the Bee Journal for March 17, 1892. He re- fers to three apiarists who claim that Italians are hybrids. If my authority tells me rightly, neither Mr. Kildow nor the three apiarists mentioned have ever been in Italy. Why did he not refer to persons who have traveled in Italy, such as Messrs. Benton and Dadant? Of course, Mr. Alley is traveling in Africa, by proxy, after the Punic bee, and he might have traveled in Italy in the same way. Mr. Kildow says that the 3-banded bee is the lowest type of the Italian. How does he know this ? Also, will he please tell us something about the four and five banded bees, and from what strain they originated ? It is true that they never originated in Italy, but in America. Thos. Johnson. Coon Rapids, Iowa. White Clover in Abundance. We have about 30 colonies of bees here, but on looking them over about ten days ago, we found them entirely without honey excepting 2 colonies. We fed them at once, and since then the clover has come forward in abundance, and the bees have been busy enough. I am sick at home at present, but improv- ing. I have had more solid comfort in reading the Bee Journal than in any other one thing. Thos. B. Nichol. Pickering, Mo., June 18, 1892. Bees and Cherry Blossoms, Etc. " The proof of the pudding is in the eating." Our neighbors that have no bees, have no cherries this year. We have a nice lot of cherries set, and look for a good crop. The bees were having a good time working on the blossoms. This is one case where I know that the little bees did well, instead of harm. As I was looking at the bees one noon, I saw a nice-appearing bee trying to fly. On examining it I found that its two fore-legs were held tightly to its body, as though paralyzed. What is the trouble ? Can some one suggest the cause ? Ernest Gunn. Wall Lake, Iowa. Queens Piping a "Trio." In May I bought a colony of black bees in a box-hive. From May 28 to June 8 there was little or no honey being gathered. On the night of June 6 I heard three queens " piping" at the same time, singing, as it were, a " trio " — soprano, alto and bass. On the next day the drones were carried out some from their cells. The song of the virgins were kept up on the night of June 7 and 8, and on the morning of June 3 1 found 22 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. in front of the hive a fine virgin queen dead. The next day a large swarm came oat. I was greatly interested in the song of the " three little maids just from school," and sat by the hive for more than an hour, dreaming of the mysteries of bee-life. Perhaps -Dr. Miller will favor us with what he " don't know," and Mr. Doolittle with what he " does know," as to the cause of this, I believe, unusual occurrence. I put the swarm on the old stand. The old hive is on a new stand, and the unhatched drones are strewn thick in front of the same. George F. Evans. Martinsburg, W. Va., June 14, 1892. Small Yield of Honey so Far. The yield of honey in this section of the State (I do not know how it is else- where in the State) is almost a total failure. I have done as well as any one, I believe, and my yield from BOO good and strong colonies was only 175 gallons of honey. I am really sorry I extracted any at^ll, although I left them' all they could possibly need. We are in hopes, however, should we get sufficient rain, to have a flow in July and August, as well as in the fall. I am pleased to learn from the columns of the American Bee Journal that the prospects are so flat- tering over the country generally. Jno. W. Oglesby. Uvalde, Tex., June 18, 1892. Black Bees or Italians — Which. P Which are best — blacks or Italians ? This question is often discussed without taking into consideration the most im- portant points. The Italian bees are no doubt greatly superior to the blacks in regard to gathering honey and defending their stores. There is a very marked difference in their favor in poor seasons. Even the hybrids seem to do as well as pure-bloods in gathering honey. But it is useless for a person to undertake to keep Italians if his neighbors keep ten times as many blacks within a' mile or two of his apiary. His stock will run more or less to hybrids, even with great watchfulness. This will render them vindictive toward all animal creation as well as mankind. They not only sting at every opportunity, but are always watching for the opportunity. To sum the matter up, either keep the kind of bees your neighbors do, or else get them to keep the kind you intend to keep. J. H. Andre. Lockwood, N. Y. Bees are Improving- the Time. We think that Prof. Cook "hit the nail square on the head " when he said, on page 773 of the Bee Journal for June 9, that it was good weather for ducks. We had only four days in May that the bees could work, and June has been a little better, but the forepart of the month was bad. When the apples and cherries were in blossom, the bees got hardly any honey from them ; but they are having a very good time now, getting honey from raspberries and blackberries, and also wild thorn-apples. The weather has been very rainy and very warm ; it has been as high as 96° in the shade, but the sun has shone part of the time, and the bees made good use of it. N. B. New Cassel, Wis., June 20,. 1892. Suffering1 from Rheumatism. We have taken the American Bee Journal for 7 or 8 years, and would not like to do without it when we are taking care of bees. My husband had La Grippe about the time Mr. Newman had it, one year ago last winter. It left Mr. Beeson with rheumatism, in a very bad form. We then lived in Loveland, Colo., and had 140 colonies of bees, but my husband became so bad with the rheumatism, that we leased our bees for two years, and came to a warm climate, and the hot springs, to see if he could get any help. He does not seem to be much better yet, and we will not stay at this place long. I hope my husband may soon get relief, and that we may again be able to take care of the bees. Mrs. A. Beeson. Aqua Caliente, Ariz., June 15, 1892. Not Bumble-Bees — Severe Tornado. On page 742 of the Bee Journal for June 2, Mr. T. C. Kelley wants to know what kind of bees I have, and rather in- timates that they maybe "bumble-bees." I will say they are mostly Italians, and some hybrids, and the statement I made in the Bee Journal was true in every particular, with the exception that I found 2 colonies queenless a few days afterward. Now, for the proof : I have not lost a colony since by spring dwind- ling, although on May 19 and 20 we had a snow-storm which lay on the ground one foot in depth after it was done falling, and some of it lay in front of my bees just one week before it was gone. In 35 days from May 9, they AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 23 were at work in the sections, and one colony was ready to swarm in 37 days from May 9. On June 14 we had a tornado, which uncapped 22 colonies, and blew 5 hives off from the stands, and they went end over end. I then realized one more of the benefits to be derived from a fixed frame, of which I -am a firm advocate. Not one queen was killed, but I think a good many of of the bees were blown out of the hives, and some were caught in the storm and killed by the hail. Maple trees 18 and 20 inches in diameter were snapped like pipe-stems, and over 300 were blown down in the sugar-orchard. M. F. Cram. West Brookfield, Vt., June 20, 1892. Prevention of Swarming, Etc. My bees are flying finely to-day. I have 40 colonies, 30 of them being very strong. Some are working in the sec- tions nicely. I see described many ways to keep bees from swarming, but no per- fect way yet. I clip my queens' wings so that I can catch them and put them back. I take out one frame of brood and replace it with an empty comb. I have been successful so far. I get from 75 to 150 pounds of honey per colony, and leave a plenty to winter on. My frames are 12x12 inches. I use 8 of these in the brood-chamber, which is about 13 inches square. I have two tiers of sections on each side of the brood-nest, and a case with 33 sections. I can tier up if I wish. I leave the space of one set of sections as a dead- air chamber. I think this is the best hive for comb honey that can be made. I have used it for four years. G. I. Wolf. Young America, Ind., June 13, 1892. Storing Honey Rapidly, Etc. My bees came out of winter quarters in splendid condition,' having lost none through the winter or spring. They were so full of young brood that I fed 40 pounds of sugar syrup after fruit- bloom until white clover became plenti- ful. They are getting lots of honey, having the brood-frames full of honey and young bees ; they are now storing in the sections. I have crates that have 20 pounds of honey in them. Isn't that pretty good for the five-banded golden Italians, after such a hard spring and winter ? I winter my bees on the summer stands, and have succeeded splendidly so far. I have 22 colonies of bees ; I try not to get overstocked with bees — 24 or 25 colonies is all I try to winter. I sell all the swarms I get over that number. The black bees are nearly all dead ; they did not gather enough to winter on, and so they starved. I have not heard of one colony of Italians starving this spring, or the past winter. The five- banded golden Italians are good enough for me ; they are pretty gentle, and good workers. I received a sample of bees from Mr. G. M. Doolittle a few days ago, which were very nice. I would not want nicer- looking bees ; and I am sure they are good workers, for I have the same kind. Don't put your bees in an old straight hive, or place the hives against an old fence where you will not be able to see them once a week ; neither put them in a lot where the grass and weeds will get higher than the hives. Don't grumble when you go out to mow around the hives if you get stung, for you ought to get stung if you keep bees in such a place. Don't complain if you get no honey in that way, for you ought to keep, your bee-yard like a good wife keeps her house. R. D. Davis. Commercial Point, O., June 20, 1892. Not Now Overstocked with. Bees. I spent the past winter rambling in the South. I lost two-thirds of my bees in trying to winter them on natural stores of poor honey, and we had a wet, cold spring. My neighbors have lost nearly all of their bees, and given up the field to me, so I now have just the oppo- site of a year or two ago, when the field was overstocked with bees. Jno. D. Adams. Nira, Iowa, June 18, 1892. 44 Hunger makes honey of molas- es," we read recently somewhere. We don't object to having honey made in that way, though we think that the say- ing is more imaginative than practical. We dislike the idea of bees making honey, but if "hunger" makes it, all right. We know that hunger will do almost anything, when thoroughly starved. Of course, the idea of hunger making honey is altogether poetical and harm less. — Exchange. 24 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. d^f^^-mmia^ %*V PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY GEORGE 11 YORK & €@„ JLt One Dollar a Year, 199 Randolph ST., CHICAGO, ILLS. TO CORRESPONDENTS. The Bee Journal is sent to subscribers until an order is received by the publishers for its discontinuance, and all arrearages are paid. A Samnle Copy of the Bee Journal will be sent FREE upon application. How to Send Money.— Remit b/ Express, Post-Office Money Order, or Bank Draft on New York or Chicago. If none of these can be had. Register your Letter, affixing Stamps both for postage and registry, and take a receipt for it. Money sent thus, IS AT OUR RISK; otherwise it is not. Do not send Checks on Local Banks— we have to pay 25 cents each, to get them cashed. Never Send Silver in letters. It will wear holes in the envelope, or may be stolen. JMatee all Money Orders Payable at Chicago, 111— not at any sub-station of Chicago. Postage Stampsof any denomination may- be sent for any fraction of a dollar; or where Money Orders cannot be obtained, stamps for any amount may be sent. Subscription Credits.— The receipt for money sent us will be given on the address-label of every paper. The subscription is paid to the END OP THE MONTH indicated. . )o not Write anything for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Emerson Binders, made especially for the American Bee Journal, are convenient for preserving each weekly Number, as fast as received. They will be sent, post-paid, for 50 cts. each. They cannot be sent by mail to Canada. 4@8c Beeswax— de- mand fair, supply small. Price. 23@28c. A. V. BISHOP. 142 W. Water St. SAN FRANCISCO. June 25.— Demand quiet as old crop is nearly exhausted and new crop not in yet. We quote: Extracted, 5 V2@6 cts. Comb, 1-lbs., 10<&1 lc; 2-lbs., 6@8c. Beeswax — 24@25e. SCHACHT, LEMCKE & STEINER, 16 Drumm Street. NEW YORK, June 25— Demand is light, and supply large, except buckwheat comb. We quote: Fancy white comb, 12@14c; buck- wheat, 9@llc. Extracted— Clover and bass- wood in good demand at 6l/4@7c; buckwheat ind emand at 5@6c Beeswax in fair demand at 26@28c. F. I. SAGE & SON, 183 Reade St. CHICAGO, June 25.— Selling slowly, trade being in strawbei-ries and other small fruit. No fine comb honey on the market— it would bring 15@16c Extracted, 6, 7 and 8c, accord- ing to quality and kind. Beeswax. 27c. R. A. BURNETT, 161 S. Water St. BOSTON, June 25.— Demand is light. White 1-lbs., 13@15c. No 2-lbs. on hand. No Bees- wax on hand. Extracted, 7@8c Demand is light for all. BLAKE & RIPLEY. 57 Chatham St. MINNEAPOLIS. Minn., June 25.— Market is dull in general, though some is being worked off. but mostly at cut prices. Fancy white, 15 @17c, 1-lb. sections; dark, 8@10c. Extracted white, 7@8c. r" dark. 5@6c STEWART & ELLIOTT. ALBANY, N. Y., June 25.— Demand is very little, and market quiet. We are selling some Florida new orange-blossom extracted honey to good advantage. Beeswax— 28@30c. H. R. WRIGHT, 326-328 Broadway. NEW YORK, June 25.— Demand moderate, and supply reduced, with no more glassed 1-D) nor paper cartons, l-ft>. We quote: Comb, l-tt>, 14@15c Extracted— Basswood,7J4@7^c; buckwheat, 5 H@6 %\ Mangrove, 68@75c per gal. Good demand for dark extracted honey. Beeswax, in fair supply, with small demand, at 26@27c. F. G. STROHMEYER & CO.. 120 Pearl St. Winter Problem in Bee - Keeping ; by G. R. Pierce, of Iowa, who has had 25 years' experience in bee-keeping, and for the past 5 years has devoted all his time and energies to the pursuit. Price, 50 cents. For sale at this office. We Club the American Bee Journal and the monthly "Illustrated Home Journal " one year for $1.35 ; or both of these Journals and the semi-monthly "Gleanings in Bee-Culture," for one year, for $2.10. The Honey-Bee ; giving Its Natural History, Anatomy and Physiology. By T. W. Cowan, editor of the British Bee Journal, 72 figures, and 136 illustra- tions. $1.00. For sale at this office. The Amateur Bee-Keeper, by J. W. Rouse, is a book of 52 pages, intended, as its name indicates, for beginners. Price, 25 cents. For sale at this office. The Busy Bees, and How to Manage Them, by W. S. Pouder. Price 10 cents. For sale at this office. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 39 ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR. Club Rates,— Two copies, $1.80 ; 3 copies, $2.50 ; 4 copies, $3.20 ; 5 copies, $3.75. Mailed to any addresses. THOMAS G. NEWMAN, GEORGE W. YORK, Editors. YoLffl. July 7, 1892. Io.2. Women are angels here below, For man's blessedness given ; Their smiles of joy, their tears of woe. Bless as they shine, pain as they flow — They are creatures born of Heaven. Mr. F. C. Morrow, of Wallace- burg, Ark., has sent us a sample of Italian queen-bees with attendant bees, which are quite yellow and nice. Women Bee-Keepers of the State of Illinois are requested to send their names and addresses on postal cards to Mrs. Thos. F. Gane, 425 La Salle Avenue, Chicago, Ills., saying that they are bee-keepers. Mrs. Gane is Vice-President of a woman's organiza- tion connected with the World's Fair, and desires to get statistics on bee-cul- ture, poultry-raising, or any other semi- agricultural pursuit in which women are interested. Warned Against Small-Pox — We have received from the Illinois State Board of Health a letter calling attention to the recent cases of small- pox in New York, Chicago, and Pitts- burg, and suggesting that rigorous pre- cautions be at once taken to prevent any further outbreaks. The communication recites the fact that an epidemic whould result in great loss. It includes by in- sisting on the rigid enforcement of the vaccination ordinances as a means of prevention. The Board of Health at Springfield, Ills., will furnish, throughout the State, carefully selected, reliable vaccine at actual wholesale cost, accompanying each package with plain, practical in- structions for the operation. To com- munities unable to purchase vaccine, if any such there be, it will be furnished gratuitously on proper representation of the facts, and an agreement to report results on the blanks furnished by the board. Self-Hiving' Arrangements are receiving much attention by pro- gressive bee-keepers now-a-days, and they will doubtless receive a great deal more before they are made to do per- fectly the work for which they are in- tended. Mr. C. H. Dibbern, in the Western Plowman, writes thus of his efforts to improve and perfect the device for the self-hiving of swarms : During the present season we are in hopes of perfecting the self-hiver, so that it can be used without much after manipulation. We believe that we now have it so that this can be accomplished, but one can never be sure until it has been in actual use. Somehow the bees have decided notions of their own, and will often persistently refuse to do the very thing we think they ought to do. We shall try all the different plans that have been suggested during the past winter and spring ; but we are very sure that some of the devices will not work at all. We shall do our best to perfect our own device, and now confidently ex- pect to give something definite in a very short time. 40 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Comb-Foundation Makers. —A letter of correction and apology is received from Prof. H. W. Wiley, Wash- ington, D. C, June 27, as follows: Editors American Bee Journal, Dear Sirs: — In the list of manufac- turers of comb and comb foundation published in Bulletin 18, Part 6, page 866, is included the name of Thomas G. Newman & Son, Chicago, Ills. I regret that anything we have published should do any injustice to any person or firm, by making any statement concerning that which is not true. The American Bee Journal of May 26, page 696, says that Thomas G. Newman never manufactured an ounce of "comb "in his life, or even comb foundation. According to this statement his name should not have been included in the list, and I am sorry it was done. The information on which his name was included in the list is found in the American Bee Journal May, 1890, page 175, and is entitled, "Advance in Price of Comb Foundation," which says, "On and after this day the price of comb foundation is advanced 5 cents per pound, both wholesale and retail, on account of the scarcity and consequently enhanced value of beeswax." Signed : " Chas. Dadant & Son, Thomas G. New- man & Son." The American Bee Journal of June 4, 1890, page 14, under the head of " Beeswax Wanted," occurs the follow- ing : " We will pay 24 cents per pound in cash for yellow beeswax delivered here." Signed: " Thomas G. Newman & Son." It appears that we were justi- fied in including Mr. Newman as a man- ufacturer, by the language of these two advertisements. There was no intention whatever of doing Mr. Newman an injustice, and therefore I beg you to insert this article in your columns. I am, Respectfully, H. W. Wiley, Chemist. With pleasure we publish the fore- going explanation and apology, and are indeed glad to know that Prof. Wiley intended no injustice in the matter. We showed the above letter to Thos. G. Newman & Son, and as they desired to say something further on the subject, we publish their comments as follows: It is needless to say that we are glad to see the foregoing apology. In further explanation, we would remark that on page 696 it was asserted that Prof. Wiley's official pamphlet was " full of blunders and misrepresentations," and in proof of this, the fact was cited that, on page 866, in a " list of Manufac- turers of Comb Foundation," such ex- tensive manufacturers as A. I. Root and J. Van Deusen & Sons were entirely omitted, while Thomas G. Newman & Son (who are only dealers, and not manufacturers), are included. As neither of the proofs cited above contain one word about the manufacture of comb foundation or anything else, the Professor was certainly not "justi- fied " in his assertions. But we are glad to learn in his last paragraph that the Professor had "no intention whatever of doing Mr. New- man an injustice." Had this matter been the only thing to complain of, no further notice would be taken of his unfortunate blunders. We hope that he will now correct all the other inaccura- cies and misrepresentations, which abound in the pamphlet, many of which were pointed out on pages 696 and 697 of the American Bee Journal. Thomas G. Newman & Son. Patent Bee - Hive Men are again on the road. Mr. Wm. Housel, of Wertsville, N. J., writes us as follows coucerning a certain hive being sold in his neighborhood : Please answer through the Bee Jour- nal, whether there is a patent on a bee- hive called the " Burheim hive." There has been a man convassing and selling rights through this part of the country, and a great many persons have bought of him. Wm. Housel. We know nothing of such a hive ever being patented— at least we never have seen any record of it. It is always safer to buy and use only such hives as are endorsed by practical apiarists. In Going Over the July maga- zines, all Western readers will turn at once to Franklin H. Head's article on " The Heart of Chicago," in the current New England Magazine. It shows the metropolitan characteristics of Chicago as they have not been shown before ; and its contemporaneity is the best record of the city's progress. It is finely illustrated by J. 0. Hatfield, Charles H. Woodbury, and others. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 41 Kind "Words from our old friends and co-laborers are not only very en- couraging, but are fully appreciated as well. We are not entirely out of the work, but are released from some of the arduous labors which have for years been wearing upon our constitution. The following, from a few of our most intimate friends, are prized beyond utterance : My Dear Old Friend :— With the change of firm name, it seemed as if my old friend Newman had gone away off, and I didn't feel quite reconciled to it. For so long a time we had worked and counseled together, and I had never felt afraid to express my inside thoughts, knowing that we were both working honestly for whatever might be best for the fraternity, and that everything 1 said would be honestly interpreted. Still, I am glad you can throw some of the care off your shoulders, and I am glad to have one like friend York take up the burden. Blessings on you. C. C. Miller, M. D. Marengo, Ills. Friend Newman : — It is with regret that I learn that through ill-health you have found it advisable to sell out your interest in the American Bee Journal. Yours has been a long service, well done, and you retire with the best wishes of a vast circle of friends, earnest and appreciative. I hope that you may be yet spared many years to aid us by your pen, by yourcousel, and by your interest in our pursuit. Few, indeed, could have labored with so unselfish purpose in the interest of bee-keepers as you have done for the many long years I have known you. You will have your reward for these years of earnest labor, and when the great future unfolds the new life, there will be hosts of warm friends to congratulate you, as well as hosts on this side of life to appreciate and profit by your long and faithful labors. My best wishes will ever go with you, as one of my best and truest friends. G. L. Tinker, M. D. New Philadelphia, Ohio. Friend Newman : — I learned with re- gret that the state of your health was such that you were obliged to give up the helm of the American Bee Journal. I know you must regret it also, for the American Bee Journal is really your " adopted child." When you took hold of it, it was a babe in swadling clothes, and puny enough at that — so puny, in fact, that if the life you instilled into it, had not given it fresh vigor, it would have died long ago. I began it with the late Mr. Wagner, dropped it for about a year, and have kept with it since about the time you took it. That it has done well, there is uo need for me to say to you. Its manly, independent tone has endeared it to the heart of every bee- keeper of consequence. I only trust that Mr. York will keep it up to the mark and condition in which you have left. Please accept my best wishes for your future, and allow me to express the hope that you will soon recuperate, and get back as near to your former condition of health as may be expected in your older years. For I can see that while age may give discretion and judgment, it wears terribly on the "narves." The Home Journal is work enough for you. May your lives run in pleasant places, is the wish of Jos. E. Pond. North Attleboro, Mass. As intimated by Brother Pond, the Home Journal will furnish all the em- ployment I should have, and hereafter my energies will be devoted to it. My health has improved since the vacation I took, and the subsequent disposal of the American Bee Journal. By les- sened care and labor, fewer hours at my desk, and more spent in the open air, I hope to recruit and be more like the former Thomas G. Newman. Bees and Ci rafting:- Wax. — Mr. Henry Wilson, of Clinton, Ills., on June 25, 1892, wrote as follows about bees stealing grafting-wax, the subject of Query No. 824, which was published with answers on page 828 of the Bee Journal for June 23, 1892 : To keep the bees from stealing the wax from grafts, wrap any kind of paper around the wax when freshly put on, so it will stick. Thin paper is better than thick, and it should be white, so the wax will be cooler. I have had the bees to take it off only one season, but I always wrap the grafts, as it is a great benefit to them, even when the bees dc not touch the wax. My bees have done nothing this sea- son so far. Henry Wilson. 42 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. The Pure Food Bill, which is now before Congress, should receive the hearty support of all who favor every- thing pure and undefiled, especially when it comes to what we eat. Mr. John H. Larrabee, Field Agent of the Michigan Agricultural College, and ex- perimenter in bee-culture, wrote us as follows, on June 29, in regard to bee- keepers helping to make the Pure Food Bill a law : Dear Editors : — I enclose a form of a letter that may, with justice and pro- priety, be sent by every reader of the American Bee Journal to his Repre- sentative or Senator in Congress. Should one-half of the subscribers of the American Bee Journal mail such a letter to their Representatives, it would without doubt prove a powerful lever in securing the passage of this law. It is not a political Bill — it can scarcely be made such. Its provisions are whole- some and needed. It will help all politi- cal parties alike, and will harm only those engaged in wrong-doing. During this year of political excitement, such a letter would have unusual weight. Let us all unite in our own business interests on this matter. J. H. Larrabee. The following is a copy of the letter mentioned by Mr. Larrabee in the fore- going, to be mailed to your Representa- tive and Senator at Washington, D. C. : Dear Sir : — I understand that the Paddock Pure Food Bill is before Con- gress. May I urge upon you to support it in the interests of, and in justice to, the producers of honest food? Bee- keepers all over the land are much in- terested in its passage, and regardless of party, urge its justice, and the need of it. Please consider your interests, and the interests of the people you rep- resent, and, so far as you can, consis- tently and honorably, use your vote and influence in this good cause. I am, Respectfully yours, Now, let all who read this, write out the above sample letter, and mail it at once to their Representative, and also to their Senator, in Congress. Do not de- lay this important matter, but do it now ! This Bill is of great interest to bee- keepers, and our pursuit will be greatly benefited thereby. Honey adulterators, as well as all others of the nefarious class, will be discovered and brought mercilessly to justice, and the public protected from the diabolical practice of unscrupulous and depraved specimens of mankind who live and fatten by de- ception and fraud. Bee-keepers can help to down these infamous parasites of humanity, by compelling their politi- cal representatives to carry out the will of their constituents, or take the conse- quences. Write to them now ! Bees from India are likely to be imported soon, now that the Government has begun to take an interest in the matter. We hope that the article on page 47, by Mr. Frank Benton (who is now employed by our Government at Washington), will be read by all. Bee- keepers, as Bro. Root has well said, "owe a vote of thanks in advance to Prof. C. V. Riley and Hon. Edwin Willits, and congratulate them on being able to secure the services of so experi- enced a man for the work as Frank Benton." All will await with much interest the results of the experiments on the part of the Government in our behalf, and hope that much practical benefit, as well as scientific knowledge, may come from such an effort. Not to Belongs to a Woman's World's Fair committee is now regarded by titled and aristocratic European women as a positive lack of distinction. Indeed, the interest in the Exposition displayed by prominent and influential women in most of the European coun- tries, is truly remarkable. The exhibit of woman's work is sure to be very com- prehensive and complete, and, it is be- lieved, surprising. Good for the women ! Why Not send us one new name, with $1.00, and get Doolittle's book on "Scientific Queen-Rearing" as a premi- um ? Read the offer on page 37. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 43 THE WORLD'S FAIR FORESTRY BUILDING. ps cd B* Cfi CD o m g> b p < b 2. (3 tO P <— , >-*> ►^ I— i _ I 05 P CD rf- 3" O to rn K'J O re CD P Ml o pr 3 , ,. aq D St- ® a o ►1 n p p Oil 3 P P 60 o o us C3 e* CD CD s »B 1 r* CD "3 >-! » ci a K- H = » » o M» P 03 CD a* S- «■ a 2. P ° e? P i-« P O CD »-» co 03 CD d- et- P ^ b £. H3 o CD 3 •-S cf- a 2 S, 2. S- £ o .5* 3- 5* CD O- a. 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O P •-* C6 ■< CD CD ' M p P* C 3 o o ?♦■ ct- cd a OS Mi ? 1 o p cr -' b cd c; - ^ » P C gc o p x era <*■ P C g" c+ 03 B B si CD JL CD rx B 03 o <-i at cd T" O 3 *"* P B CfQ CD » E, go q O M B P2 p B cd co p >— a- CD P PS c+ c+ B' CD 5 ° o "» B ct- 3 B- P, CD I? P* P O 2. P" B ps cr <* p* 2 CD W w o CS. B O p CD 2 © a>3 p 2 cr C+" N- ►-. P . J 5. p- i-! O CD o O co 3 ►-<• CD* ^ B B- CD g B 2 ^ a 3 g CD B CD 2". >-.. ct- B p " PT B- ^ P" CD CD pj ^ P E2 3 — ?r 09 CO CD <" CD ^ P" •B p- s; cd p B b 2 B 44 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Standard Grades for Comb Honey, Query 826.— 1. Is it desirable and feasible to have standard grades for comb honey ? 2. If so, how many grades 3. Epitomize your idea regarding it, if possible.— Randolph. No. — Mrs. L. Harrison. I am not competent to answer the above questions. — M. Mahin. 1. Yes. 2. Not more than about three grades. — C. H. Dibbern. 1. Yes. 2. Three grades. 3. "Fancy," No. 1 and No. 2. — H. D. Cutting. I think it will be hard to get a set of grades to suit all locations. — E. France. 3. It is hardly possible. Most bee- keepers will follow their own inclina- tions.— G. M. Doolittle. See late numbers of the various bee- periodicals. I have my doubts. Men differ so much. — A. J. Cook. 1. It would be very desirable, but exceedingly difficult to perfect a plan that would suit all locations. — J. P. H. Brown. 1. Yes. 2. "I don't know." 3. I don't want to. I havn't time to fool away on something I know so little about. — A. B. Mason. We fear it will be difficult to come to an understanding. We are willing to accept what the majority may wish as standard. — Dadant & Son. 1. It is feasible, and perhaps desir- able. 2. About five, as follows: Fancy, No. 1 White, No. 1 Amber; No. 2 White, No. 2 Amber.— R. L. Taylor. 1. Yes. 2. Two. 3. So much has been written upon this subject recently, that I should not feel justified in taking • space here to repeat it. — Mrs. J. N. Heater. 1. It is desirable, whether feasible or not. It is feasible, too, I think. 2. As few grades as possible. 3. This matter has already been discussed fully in the bee-papers. — Eugene Secor. 2. I would have but two grades. 3. The finely capped combs with best quality of honey should constitute 1st grade. All other combo should go into 2d grade. — G. L. Tinker. 1. It is certainly desirable, and I think feasible. 2. I don't know. It will take some discussion to decide. 3. Have grades independent of color or quality, and then add the latter. — C. C. Miller. 1. Yes. 2. I think four are all that are desirable. 3. My ideas on the sub- ject have been given already in the various bee-periodicals too fully and frequently to repeat them here. — James A. Green. 1. No. Honey is a natural product, and I protest against the thoughtless attempt to put honey on a level with the painted trash of the dishonest adultera- tors. Nature alone can grade honey. — G. W. Demaree. 1. Yes ; and also to keep the honey well up to that grade. 2. I think three, though more may perhaps in some cases be advisable. 3. 1st grade, the finest ; 2d grade, good, but with some imperfect cells, and a little discolored ; 3d, dark, though clean. — J. E. Pond. 1. I think that the person running machinery is the one to improve it, as well as the manufacturer of machinery ; so I would refer you to some of the large dealers in comb honey. 2. From my judgment, I would say three grades 3. I do not feel able to abridge the idea. — Mrs. Jennie Atchley. I have given this lately-agitated sub- ject no thought. I would imagine, however, that different bee-keepers would have about 20 different grades in each "grade," so that, after all, no one could tell where one grade left off and another began. The buyers must fix grades in their minds, and they grade our honey themselves, the same as wheat, etc. — James Heddon. 1. Yes. 3. Where every section is perfect, call it " Gilt Edge ;" where a little at variance, call it No. 1. Rough and partially filled, stained, etc., No. 2 ; always naming the kind of honey in con- nection with the grade. For instance: Should your honey be clover, grade it as gilt-edge clover honey; No. 1 clover honey ; and No. 2 clover honey. With other kinds, let them be graded likewise. — J. M. Hambaugh. 1. Yes. 3. Grade according to the rules of the North American Bee-Keep- ers' Association. Two grades of white honey, one of mixed (light and dark), including fall flowers, which is almost always mixed with early honey, and one grade for buckwheat honey. Good, pleasant flavor, of course, is always un- AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 45 derstood with white honey. The West- ern member of the Albany committee did not meet with us, and I have been informed since that very large quantities of yellow or saffron colored sealing is produced in the prairie States. If so, it may be necessary to make another grade for this. The small quantity usually produced in the East, can be put into the mixed grade. — P. H. Elwood. It is both desirable and feasible to grade comb honey, and standard " rules" should be agreed upon, and generally adopted. We fully believe in the rule of the majority. The united wisdom of those in attendance at the North Ameri- can Convention temporarily settled upon " Rules." These are being discussed, and, as a result, will be reviewed at the next meeting, and then should be every- where acknowledged and used. — Edi- tors. Milk - "Weed and Pleurisy- Root.— Mr. L. Posey, of Torch, Ohio, sent us some flowers to be named, and wrote concerning them as follows on June 25, 1892 : I send you a spray of flowers which I would be pleased to have named. I have 6 colonies of Italian bees, and they are doing a big business just now on this same flower, and, strange to say, I can- not find a solitary black bee working on them, although there are quantities of blacks right close to my Italians. Can you offer any cause why this flower seems to be the exclusive property of the Italians ? My Italians in dovetailed hives are doing splendid work this sea- son ; three of them have 48 sections nearly sealed with white clover honey. Almost all the bees in this neighborhood are blacks, in box-hives, consequently I have no opposition in producing honey. L. Posey. We sent the flowers to Prof. T. J. Burrill, of the Illinois State University at Champaign, Ills., who wrote us as follows about them : The two specimens inclosed are red milk-weed, Asclepias incarnata, and yellow milk-weed, or pleurisy-root, A. tuberosa. These flowers are bad traps for black bees, for by their peculiar structure the tongue of the bee gets caught in a slit, and the death of the insect is often a consequence. Italian bees seem to be strong enough to escape, though these do occasionally get fast- ened in a similar way. Sometimes numer- ous dead bees can be found on the flowers, or near by. Do they learn to avoid the flowers, as Mr. Posey's obser- vations seem to indicate? — T. J.Burriix. The World's Fair grounds and buildings, now nearing completion, are .so renowned as a most beautiful and interesting spectacle that not only do from 5,000 to 12,000 people a day, at a cost of 25 cents a piece, inspect them, but the great majority of travelers who pass through Chicago devote a day or more to the same purpose. Hundreds of distinguished foreigners, and thou- sand of prominent men from the various States of the Union have availed them- selves of this privilege, and it is not exaggeration to say that all, without exception, have been most agreeably surprised at the splendor and magnitude of what they witnessed, and have de- parted very enthusiastic over the bright prospects of the Pair. Several hundred of the returning delegates of the late Republican national convention at Min- neapolis, inspected the wonders of Jackson Park while in Chicago. Nearly all of the delegates to the Democratic convention at Chicago have done the same. The Exposition authorities have committees to show visitors about and explain details to them. The Paper Trade Club of Chicago, representing nearly all the paper manufacturers of the city, is arranging for an interesting display at the World's Fair. The club expects to put a complete paper mill on the grounds, and show the process of mak- ing paper from the pulp to a finished card in the shape of a World's Fair souvenir. The Globe Bee- Veil, which we offer on the third page of this number of the Bee Journal, is just the thing. You can get it for sending us only three new subscribers, with $3.00. 46 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. On Important Subjects. Swarming— Its Cause anil Control, BY " MALTA." There is no doubt that where kept in modern hives, and treated with scientific appliances and care, bees swarm much more frequently than when in their wild state. Many causes have been assigned, and reasons given for this, and many plans suggested for preventing or con- trolling it ; but, to my mind, the one and principal cause of swarming at all has been too much overlooked. Over-crowding, want of space, etc., are, I believe, quite secondary causes ; for cases are common, where no lack of room exists, such as when a colony is established in a roof, while a colony in a crowded hive does not always swarm ; and the chief, in fact only cause is the approaching exhaustion of the queen's power to lay fertilized eggs ; the natural desire or instinct to increase the number of families only serving to guide the bees in their method of procedure. It is a well known fact that the queen's limit of producing fertilized eggs depends entirely upon the power and virility of the drone with whom she mates. Cheshire says the spermatozoa yielded by a drone are probably not more than 4,000,000; Leuckart says 25,- 000,000 ; other good authorities vary between these, but whoever is right the fact remains that the rate of expendi- ture of these fertilizing threads, and not the number of years a queen can live, is the measure of the limit of time during which she is of use in the hive, and shortly before that is reached, she must be replaced. That swarming is more frequent in the cultivated state, than in the free and wild state, proves that this exhaus- tion is the sole cause of swarming, for while in a state of nature, the queen works at " high pressure" only at cer- tain periods, such as the opening of spring, or when a big honey-flow is on, probably for a month or two at the most; the rest of her time is "under easy steam," and as every economy is practiced, she continues fit for work for three, four, or even five years ; but un- der the guiding hand of man a different routine obtains ; he, by means of extra quilts, warmth, early stimulative feed- ing, ready-built-out combs, brood-spread- ing, etc., keeps her at "high pressure" for about seven months, " forcing " her without ceasing, or rest, the result be- ing that she becomes rapidly exhausted as regards fertile egg-laying, and after about one year is not fit for much more work. The colony knows when this state is reached, whether after one or five years' service, and at once decides that she must be replaced by a younger and more capable mother. I maintain that this is done by supersession, and by supersession only ; but before doing this, instinct teaches them that the duty of increase has to be carried out, and can only be done by swarming for which they immediately prepare. By the time the new colony is established, combs built, stores provided, eggs in all stages, and young hatching, the old queen is quite exhausted ; she is then turned out, and a young one reared to take her place. I feel certain that in every case of a swarm issuing, the old queen is quickly made away with very soon after the new colony is in working order, and if the combs on which a swarm has been hived are examined late in the season, one or two old queen-cells will invariably be found, which can only mean super- session. Again, when a queen begins to fail, she begins to lay drone-eggs — a young fertile queen never does. The presence of many drones is a sign of imminent swarming, and many drones can only be produced by a failing queen, or, in other words, swarming becomes immi- nent as the queen becomes exhausted, and only at such a time. A swarm frequently builds large quantities of drone-comb, which is gen- erally accounted for by saying the bees are getting so much honey, and have so little expenditure that it is to economize wax and time. No ! a bee is not so im- provident as to build, from laziness, what will in the future be a nuisance — it is a matter of necessity. The queen is nearly exhausted, and lays drone-eggs more and more freely every day; these must be accommodated, hence the drone- comb. When she is gone, and no more drone-eggs are produced, then, and not until then, will these cells be found filled with honey ; for the young queen has no use for them. I am further led to the conclusion that approaching exhaustion of the queen's fertility is the only cause of swarming, by my experience with different races of bees, and different climates. In those AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 47 races where the drone is small, swarm- ing is more frequent ; but if a queen of such a race is mated with a larger and more powerful type of drone, the re- sulting stock will run longer without swarming; also, that if "forcing" in any form occurs, either by artificial means or by reason of a climatic length- ening of the working season, so surely does swarming occur at shorter intervals. It will also account for many of the vagaries of bees, such as a so-called " hunger swarm ;" this is only that from some reason swarming at the right time was delayed, but at last the queen is found so exhausted, that it is " now or never." Nature will not allow " never," so it must be "now"-— bad as the time may be. " Swarm from a swarm " is another case. From some secondary cause — say over-crowding — the swarm has issued before the queen was ripe for superses- sion, so has been allowed to go on, but now her time has come, and the law must be obeyed — increase before her destruction. Late and untimely swarms are due to this cause entirely. Having thus arrived at the true and sole cause of frequent swarming, the prevention or control is not such a diffi- cult problem : 1. Re-queen frequently, and before the signs of approaching ex- haustion show strongly. 2. Take every precaution in rearing not only queens, but the drones with whom they have to mate, for upon the male depends en- tirely the length of time the queen is of use in the hive, which undoubtedly de- termines the tendency to swarm. Panama. A Colony of Bees Under llie Ground, L. J. CLARK. On June 6, I took up and transferred to a frame hive, a wild swarm of bees found by an old man while looking for a place to quarry rock. The tree was a burr-oak, and stood on a steep side-hill in a little hollow that had been washed out by the water — it was at least 200 feet up from the valley, and stood all alone unprotected by other timber, and on the west side of the hill at that. I mention these things because this tree was the best I ever took up in the spring, and I have taken up more than 100 of them altogether. The bees were in the root, and went in at least a foot below the ground on the lower side of the tree ; the water had run over a root and washed the dirt and stone away, while on the upper side the dirt was 2 feet higher than the en- trance. All the brood was below the top of the ground, and most of the honey. They had apparently been there for several years, were very strong in bees, with queen-cells started, also a large amount of drone-brood nearly ready to hatch, and about 40 pounds of fine honey. They would have swarmed within ten days. I have the bees now in my yard, and better workers I never saw. Now, the past was a very hard winter and spring on bees here (many bee- keepers have lost all), and why this col- ony should be in such prosperous condi- tion in that bleak, exposed situation, is more than I can explain, unless it was because they were below the top of the ground. The cavity where the brood was, was about 12 inches in diameter, and about the same in height, when it run up the tree about two feet, in two forks, which then came together again. These forks were not more than 3 inches irregular diameter, and the upper cavity some 6 inches one way and 8 the other, by 12 inches high. The whole was packed full of comb, all empty except close to the brood. Wiscoy, Minn., June 16, 1892. Importing the Great Bees of India, FRANK BENTON. I have been requested to furnish in- formation regarding the truth of a report recently circulated by the news- papers, to the effect that the Govern- ment intended to undertake the impor- tation of the Giant East-India bee, Apis dorsata, and that this work was to be entrusted to be. I have deferred some- what my compliance with the request, hoping later to be able to give definite information — in fact, to be able to say that this work, whose accomplishment 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 connected with the Division. Something over a year ago Dr. C. V. Riley, United States Entomologist, first addressed me in regard to the Govern- ment work in apiculture, supposing at 48 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. the time that I was still abroad, and that he could secure an authorization for me to proceed to India after Apis dorsata, which, 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 consider- able correspondence about the matter, and, as I learned afterward, it was Dr. Riley's intention to have me endeavor to introduce some other desired insects at the same time. Thus, he had assured prominent fig-growers of California that he would make every effort possible to introduce caprifig insects, which are necessary to the pollenizing of the Smyrna fig, 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 injuri- ous insects which have been imported without their natural checks. Difficulties unforeseen by both Assis- tant 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 accomplishment. They will be enhanced if bee-keepers and apiarian periodicals make known their desire to see the experiment tried. I believe the experiment of introduc- ing Apis dorsata is worth trying. Mr. Dathe, the only practical bee-keeper be- sides myself who has visited India in search of Apis dorsata, and who fol- lowed, in his efforts to introduce this bee into Europe, exactly in my footsteps, agrees with me in the desirability of testing this giant bee. Indeed, at the Frankfort Wanderversammlung, where I met him, he proposed to me that we should make the third effort together. Yet I should not like to have any one entertain such great expectations re- garding 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 light of an experiment, from which it is, however, possible we may obtain important prac- tical 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 Gov- ernment, though private parties at- tempting 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 money have been granted to fit out ex- peditions to go to distant 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 whether the sun or some star is more or less distant from the earth than was generally supposed ! And how often almost the whole benefit to result from such an undertaking depends upon as slender a chance as the presence of clear weather during the few minutes' 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 use- less information proves of great practi- cal use to the world. But I wish to point out how much greater reason there is for attempting 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 Gov- ernment, will not fail to rebound to the advantage of apiculture. RESULTS FROM THE UNDERTAKING. 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 A pis dorsata may be domesticated 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 noth- ing. Also, that they will at the .same time aid in the fertilization 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 are not numerous. 2. An effort would be made to produce and test various crosses between dorsata and mellifica. If such crosses can be obtained, possibly something more val- uable-than either of these bees would AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 49 result. One is led to think of this by the fact that drones of dorsata do not differ greatly in size or general appear- ance, though somewhat in habit, from ordinary drones. 3. Even if Apis dorsata should not prove valuable in domestication, there seems to be no reason why it should not, if introduced and set free in our South- ern States, produce there*, as it does in the forests of India, great quantities of honey and wax, the latter product (derived almost wholly from Apis dor- sata) forming an important article of export from India. 4. We may hope to bring to this country Apis indica, a bee smaller than our ordinary honey-bee, but an industri- ous gatherer, which, in quite limited numbers, is kept in hives by the natives of India. It might 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 apicul- tural interests of the country if three apiaries could be kept at one point without material interference with one another. There is also in connection with this undertaking much other work from which we have reason to expect impor- tant 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 disappoint- ment. AN ERROR CORRECTED. In conclusion I wish to ask the indul- gence of my readers to enable me to correct an error connected with the subject, but the original source of which I do not know. It first appeared long ago, and has been repeated frequently- even in books on bee-keeping. I refer to the statement that " the first expedi- tion after Apis 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 $1,000 ; I was in partnership with Mr. Jones in this work, and it cost me just as much as it did him ; moreover, as Mr. Jones did not go to India, but was in Canada at the time, I had the hardships of the work, and the illness which followed my exposure in the jungles, to bear. — Gleanings. Washington, D. C. Cortland Union Bee-Keepers' Convention. C. W. WILKINS. Be Sure to read offer on page 37. On Tuesday, June 14, the bee-keepers and those interested, ladies as well as gentlemen, met with their President, Mr. J. L. Kinney, 2\4 miles northwest of Cortland Village, N. Y. A very pleasant time was enjoyed in informal discussion and apicultural con- versation until lunch was announced. After a most excellent repast, to which all did ample justice, the meeting was called to order by the President. The report of the Secretary was read and accepted ; also the Treasurer's re- port, likewise. Opportunity was then given, and re- sponded to, for members who were not present at our January meeting, to pay their annual dues. ITALIANIZING AND INTRODUCING. Discussion was then opened by the question, "What is the best way to Italianize 50 colonies of bees ?" It was generally decided that the purchase of one or more pure queens from some re- liable breeder, each year or two, would give the apiarist stock from which he could introduce queens to his colonies which were deficient in blood with less pecuniary output than any other method. C. M. Bean, of McGrawville, remarked how apt our black queens were to live and undergo all manner of hardship, while the yellow queens, which we all so much admire, so easily "come up miss- ing." It was unanimously decided that the proper way to introduce an expensive queen was to place her in a nucleus of brood and young bees, when you run scarcely any risk of losing the queen. The question, " Is it any sign that a colony has a poor queen, because they are weak at this time of the year?" re- ceived considerable interesting and spirited discussion, but the most weighty points seemed to be in the negative. A canvass was made among the mem- bers to ascertain the loss in bees during the past winter and spring. It has been a very severe loss in this section. Out of a fall count of over 800 colonies, an average loss of 23 percent, was realized. Discussions and remarks were next in order, for determining where we should hold our Aiigust picnic. It was finally decided to have it at the Floral Trout Park, Cortland, N. Y., the date to be fixed by the committee. 50 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. President Kinney appointed as com- mittee to boom the picnic, the following with their wives : Messrs. J. H. Kennedy, Cortland ; J. H. Manchester, Preble ; M. H. Fair- banks, Homer ; Miles Morton, Groton ; C. M. Bean, McGrawville ; George Green, Dryden ; and Marvin R. Wood, Cortland. The convention then adjourned to meet in a short session at the annual picnic. C. W. Wilkins, Sec. Visits Among Iowa Bee-Keepers. THOS. JOHNSON. As mentioned in last week's Bee Jour- nal, I was visiting at Denison. About 11 a.m. I went 15 miles east of Denison to West Side, where I found what bees there are in and around the town in good condition, considering the cold spring. The place being more on the highlands, caused a better circulation of air, so that mold and sour stores are not frequently met with, as in the lowlands along the river. Now I wish to call the attention of the readers to what I discovered at Logan, what some bee-keepers call "spring dwiudling." In visiting one apiary I noticed that the owner was taking too much care of his bees, by protecting them from cold air, etc. His yard was arranged so that it could be closed when the wind blows ; secondly, all evaporation was gathering on the top, causing great quantities of water to gather, and causing mold, and dis- easing his bees in such a way that the poor creatures wanted fresh air, but daring not to make a circulation of air by using their wings, on account of chilling the brood. The bees would venture out, and the result would then be spring dwindling by mold and sour honey, on account of not having proper ventilation. While at Dow City, one man said it was caused by honey-dew. In looking around I saw that his honey extractor was full of what he called " honey-dew." It looked more like heart's-ease honey than anything else — at any rate nine- tenths of it was granulated. Our experi- enced and well-informed apiarists say that honey-dew is a secretion of insects ; if such is a fact, who ever heard of such secretion granulating, with a liquid covering it ? So much for the learned apiarist at Dow City. My opinion on most of his loss was on account of meddling with his bees in' cold weather, and not hav- ing their honey capped. At 6 p.m. I left the place and went to Arcadia. The next morning I visited the firm of Pruter & Wunder, and I found that the bees in and around the town are doing well, and the loss will not reach 10 per cent., as far as heard from. This in- formation was* derived from different bee-keepers of the surrounding country inquiring for bee-supplies. I saw Mr. H. P. Radden, who had a few colonies, with no loss up to that time. Arcadia and the surrounding country are settled by Germans, and the farmers have just started in the bee-business. Bidding my German friends adieu, I next visited Carroll, which is a railroad town; I call it one of the liveliest places in Western Iowa, for its age. It sprung up about 25 years ago, and has 2,500 population. Not finding any bee-keep^ ers, I left at 3 p.m., and went to Glid- den, where I met some old-time friends. Mr. D. N. Smith has a few colonies, having just started in bee-keeping. Mr. J. M. Campbell, the bee-man, had a "queen" up in the post-office that I would rather associate with than the ones in his bee-yard. Mr. G. M. Thorne had 30 colonies, and lost 7 by smother- ing. Mr. G. W. Hill had 15 colonies, and lost 3 on account of lack of stores. I made a personal examination of Mr. Thome's bees on April 15, and know whereof I speak. The loss in Glidden township did not exceed 10 per cent., and all the loss was caused by carelessness in not hav- ing sufficient stores and proper ventila- tion. I next went to Scranton City, Greene county. In the morning I met Scott Barker and John Garland, they having a great many bees, but their loss will not exceed 5 per cent., spring count. Mr. D. R. Ansden lives one mile west of Scranton City. I intended to visit him, but time would not permit. Mr. A. lives in Carroll county, and is County Super- visor. I learned that his bees, as well as those of other bee-keepers, are doing well, considering the cold, backward spring. I left at noon for Jefferson, the county seat of Greene county, a railroad junc- tion, with a population of 2,000. Here I met John Dodge, sheriff-elect, who had 10 colonies last year, and obtained 12% pounds of surplus honey per colony. His loss from Nov. 24, was 5 per cent. Also Mr. Samuel Wise, City Marshall, had quite a start in bees, and his loss will be AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 61 50 per cent, or more. In and around Jefferson, the loss in bees in the fall will not be far short of 50 per cent. I left Jefferson the next morning, and went to Panora; here I met some promi- nent bee-men, and I found by careful inquiry that the loss would be nearly 50 per cent., cause by lack of stores. Bees are not bred up here very much, as I found only one Italian colony among all I saw. At 5 p.m. I went to Yale, six miles north of Panora, at one time the county- seat of Guthrie county. Here I found the bees doing better on account of their being on higher ground, where the air has better circulation in the apiaries. I remained all night with Mr. C. G. Pierce, proprietor of the hotel. At 11 a.m. I arrived at Herndon, and from there I went to Jamaica, three miles east. Mr. B. O. Witter, of that place, obtained 40 pounds of surplus honey from 7 colonies. Quite a number had started in bee-culture here. The loss in the vicinity is counted at 50 per cent., and if all the bee-yards look like the ones I examined, it is a great wonder they have any bees left. I had dinner with Mr. J. C. Tompson, an old ac- quaintance. I then took the 5 p.m. train for Perry, Dallas county, a place of 3,000 inhabitants. I called on Mr. J. H. Shively, and found that bee-keep- ers in that neighborhood were somewhat discouraged, not having taken much if auy surplus honey last year, and the loss in wintering was 30 per cent. The next morning I intended visiting Jesse White, Thos. White, and John Flinn, but when I arose, it was raining so hard that it was uncomfortable to travel, and would have been dangerous to undertake examining bees ; so at 12:55 p.m. I took the train for Coon Rapids, arriving home at 1:40. I looked at my yellow bees, which are the best honey-gatherers that we have in western Iowa, and found that during all my travels, of about six weeks, I had not lost a colony. What is the reason ? First, because they are of the best honey- gatherers, from the best queen-breeders I could select. Secondly, I did not med- dle with them in cold weather. Third, I examined them and gave them stores where such was needed. I am proud of my 60 colonies of bees, which are in four different yards. I now bid the readers of the Bee Jouknal adieu for awhile, especially as regards the description of travels, as my bees will require my attention. Coon Rapids, Iowa. Tie Diile Self-Hiying Arrangement. WESLEY DIBBLE. I use the James Heddon bottom-board and stand, %-inch rim on bottom-board, except the front, and 2-inch on side corner. The front I use perforated metal to confine 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 behind, 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 out- let. As a self-hiver, connect 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 ob- ject. Yet with this trap, and the man who tells you he can with any trap, it will probably pay you to investigate 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 swarm 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 remove the old hive to a new and permanent location. This work can be done at any time, from one hour to four days, usually. It must be done before the young queen hatches. If you are a farmer, mechanic, doctor, or preacher, do it any time you have the time to do it. This arrangement furnishes me posi- tive proof that my queens are cared for, and not returned to the hive to be killed, which will often happen. It furnishes me instant proof that this colony 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 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 52 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 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 think that no other management will produce better results for surplus honey, and little or no increase. Please allow me to go back a little to the upright trap (described last week), and say that, if you want a full-sized swarm up-stairs with the queen, without any ass'stance, use the bottom-board be- tween 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 everything in bees up-stairs, put a bee-escape in place of the metal. Every bottom ought to be supplied with vent for air, and so arranged as to close when not wanted. I have studied days and weeks and nights to perfect a trap, or traps, that and when you do not want them any more, the bees belong to that colony. It needs^no extra preparation for uniting or building up nuclei. I use it to prevent swarming, by tak- ing the comb the queen is on, bees and all, in the receiver when the colony is preparing to swarm ; and I hold her there until I care to return her to the colony she came from, or any other. I use it to introduce queens, or super- sede any queen I wish to dispose of. No time is lost in egg-laying ; no queens are lost in introducing. If for want of time, or I cannot find the queen when exchanging the queen to the comb- receiver, or any other carelessness or absent-mindedness, 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 everything is all right. I can sleep bet- The Dibble Automatic Swarmer. would allow me time to care for bees from home. I expect to keep right on studying. I don't want it understood that I care for my different yards of bees alone, and allow my bees to swarm to their heart's content. No, sir ; I don't do it. It may be a little new, perhaps, but I am preparing now, ready for use, a comb-receiver 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, bees and all to pass in either apartment, or perforated metal, to sep- arate queens only. If more than one, or close, it entirely separates the comb- receiver from the hive. I use this comb-receiver for the fol- lowing 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 colony is a nucleus ; every nucleus is a strong colony of bees, using it at any time or all times when wanted ; ter 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 occasion- ally a swarm issues, let the trap do the work ; time is money, and bee-keepers must adopt new methods if they succeed at the present price of honey. Bee-keeping is the most enticing busi- ness I know anything about; aud I have never known a genuine bee-man to give up the business, who ever succeeded in anything else. He is spoiled for any other occupation. I received a patent May 3, 1892, for my side trap ; patent applied for an up- right 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 mating will often lead swarms off. — Gleanings. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL, 53 CONVENTION DIRECTORY. Time and place of meeting. 1892. July 21.— Carolina, at Charlotte, N. C. A. L. Beach, Sec. Steel Creek. N. C. Aug. 17.— Wabash Valley, at Vincennes, Ind. Frank Vawter, Sec, Vincennes, Ind. Aug. 27.— Haldimand, at S. Cayuga, Ont. E. C. Campbell, Sec, Cayuga, Ont. Sept. 7, 8.— Nebraska, at Lincoln, Nebr. L. D. Stilson, Sec, York, Nebr. Oct. 7.— Utah, at Salt Lake City, Utah. John C. Swaner, Sec, Salt Lake City, Utah. 1893. Jan. 13, 14.— S.W.Wisconsin, at Boscobel.Wis. Benj. E. Rice, Sec, Boscobel, Wis. H^~ In order to have this table complete, Secretaries are requested to forward full particulars of the time and the place of each future meeting. — The Editors. North American Bee-Keepers' Association President— Eugene Secor.Jorest City, Iowa. Secretary— W. Z. Hutchinson Flint, Mich. National Bee-Keepers' Union. President— James Heddon . .Dowagiac, Mich. Sec'y and Manager— T. G. Newman, Chicago. s£LEcJI<&1 Reports, Prospects, Etc. fcST" Do not write anything for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Working on the White Clover. Bees are booming on white clover, but there has been little swarming so far. H. H. Brown. Light Street, Pa., June 24, 1892. The Apiary Ground, Etc. On page 832 of the Bee Journal for June 23, Mr. S. C. Booher asks how to keep an apiary yard free of grass, and mentions a cement floor. Such a yard would be extremely hot, and no doubt it would have some influence towards starting the vice of absconding, which, at times, renders apiaries nearly worth- less. Moreover, bees will be less profit- able if the colony is overheated. I should prefer the most pleasant lawn that could be produced, instead of heated cement, coal-ashes, or barren ground of any kind, even if a queen was lost occa- sionally. Mr. B. is also quite right in regard to taking bees from the cellar too early. They should not be placed on the sum- mer stands until there is plenty of pollen to gather. J. H. Andre. Lockwood, N. Y. Expects a Good Fall Crop. I have 44 colonies, but they are very light in bees. I had one swarm on June 25. It is so wet here. I look for a good crop of fall honey. E. S. Hovey. Swanton, Iowa, June 27, 1892. Great Crop of White Clover. My bees have not done much on ac- count of the wet weather. There is a great crop of white clover, and if the weather is favorable, I think the pros- pects will be good for a honey crop. I had one very large swarm on May 6, and one on May 18. I use the Tinker hive, which, I think, is the best hive made for comb honey. I had one colony of Italian bees in a Tinker hive last sea- son, and took from it 61 pounds of comb honey. N. W. Shultz. Shreve, Ohio, June 26, 1892. Swarm-Catchers — Prosperous Season. I notice on page 806, that Mr. Henry Durham, of Indiana, claims to have made and used a swarm-catcher two years ago, that has been patented by a bee-keeper in Minnesota a few weeks ago. I do not think that the latter can claim priority of invention.* I also made and used the same swarm catcher two years. I have had three of them in use in my apiary since June, 1890, and now have five. Mine was not exactly the same shape, but it covers all the claims that the one just patented can claim. It does not appear to me that the patent is valid. I have had some experience in patents, and if I under- stand the patent law rightly, it does not allow patents to be issued on any article that has been in use for two years, or more, by other parties. I am prepared to show, beyond a doubt, that I have made and used this same invention for two years, and I presume that Mr. Dur- ham can show the same thing. I had intended to describe my swarm- catcher in the Bee Journal, and give 64 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. my fellow bee-keepers the benefit of its use, without having any royalty attached thereto. I hope this will meet the eye of some one who is prepared to answer whether any one can slip into the Patent Office and put a clincher on an article that his neighbors have had in use for two years or more ; then turn around and charge three or four prices for it. The swarming season is just at hand, and the bees are generally in fine condi- tion. The fruit-bloom is now past, and the white clover never showed up any better than it does now, for this time of the season. Everything now points to a prosperous season for the- Minnesota apiarist. C. H. Pond. Kasson, Minn., June 20, 1892. An Experience in Shipping Bees. In May I sent to New York State for a nucleus colony and queen ; they came all right, until they got to this end of the route, and some one cut a hole in the screen, and let most of the bees out. I was at the express office when they came, and one of the train men said there was a few bees in the car. I set out not to take them, and make the express company pay for them. It was very hot, the depot master was away, and bis son was left to see to things. If I left the bees they would have to be shut up in a small room all night, and I pitied them, so I paid the express charges on them, and took them home. By taking extra care of them, I shall have a fair coloDy by fall. The wire was cut with a knife about three inches long, and a piece of paper stuck on with wax to keep the bees in that had not not escaped. Charles E. Holley. WestFarmington.Me., June 25,1892. Italian Bees in Combs of the Blacks. On page 638, of the Bee Journal for May 12, Mr. J. M. Pratt says : " I be- lieve the cause of much dissatisfaction with the Italian bees is, that bee-keep- ers buy queens of some good breeder, and introduce them to colonies of black bees, and the queens are forced to lay in cells built by the black bees, which are too small for pure Italians. Of course, the bees will then be no larger or better than the common blacks." Mr. Pratt seems to think that the black bees are the smallest, but I think that he is wrong. If he will examine both the Italians and blacks, when they are not loaded with honey, he will find that the blacks are slightly larger than the Italians. The Italian bees have larger honey-sacs than the blacks, and of course they will seem larger when loaded, than the blacks, when, in reality, they are smaller. I do not think that breeding Italians in comb built by the blacks can make them any smaller, or, in other words, prevent them from getting their full growth, unless the comb is too old. Ed. Clark. Nat, Ala. Winter Losses and Honey-Dew. Bees nearly all died in this section last winter One man near Burlington had about 50 colonies last fall, but has only two left this spring. Out of 30 colonies, I have only 7 left. Nothing but "honey^dew," and that as black as tar, to live on last winter. I think that was the cause of the great fatality. I. P. Wilson, M. D. Burlington, Iowa, June 27, 1892. A Girl's Experience with Bees. Bees wintered well in this part of the country, and did well until the middle of May, then starvation stopped brood- rearing, so the honey harvest will find many colonies short in bees. My father tried to keep the bees from swarming this spring, and has been successful so far ; we have had only one swarm out of 160 colonies. We have about 30 or 40 colonies each with 32 one-pound sec- tions in a super filled with white clover. To-morrow linden begins to bloom, so the bees may get part of a honey crop yet; however, we do not expect as much as in some other years. My father is very busy this spring, and I have to do the largest part of the work with the bees. He gives me orders in the morn- iug about what has to be done, and looks over the work in the evening to see if the work is done right. We fill the supers, and prepare everything for the bees in the winter months, but still it keeps a little girl busy to attend to 160 colonies. Last year we had 240 colonies, and I had to do about all the work alone. Louise Schumacher. Weston, Mo., June 27, 1892. When You Have any honey to sell, get some Honey Almanacs and scatter in your locality. They will sell it all in a very short time. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 55 Combed and Extracted. Caring for Empty Combs. 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 hav- ing them hung up 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 circula- tion 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 immense 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 proportion between the bees and combs, I would much rather leave them to the tender mercies of the bees. — Emma Wilson, in Gleanings. "Who is My Neighbor?" Any man to whom I can render a kindness is my neighbor. What can you do to help some one ? Go and read to that old blind woman, and be sight to the blind. Seek out for yourself some work of practical mercy and help. Do not leave this to a "committee." The Good Samaritan didn't send a commit- tee, he went himself. " Go and do thou likewise." Have you ever visited the hospital or the almshouse, or the prison? Have you ever felt in your heart the warm currents of blessing flowing in upon your soul, as in the name of Jesus you have helped some sufferer, or lifted some unfortunate or.e ? Don't wait until Christmas, when there is a general outburst of benevolence. Seek out op- portunities constantly. There is a story told of a Russian soldier who, pacing his beat one bitter night, came across a poor man, appar- ently freezing to death. The soldier took off his warm overcoat and put it on the poor man. The soldier sometime afterwards died. Appearing in heaven, he came before his Saviour, who, to his intense amazement, was clad in his overcoat. "You've got my coat on," said the soldier. "Yes," said the Saviour, "you gave it to me that bitter night. Inasmuch as ye did it to one of the least of these, my brethren, ye did it unto me." — Rev. A. W. Patten, in Epworth Herald. A Russian Honey Drink. Mr. Wm. R. Ebell, a Russian by birth, has bought 40 acres of ground about three-quarters of a mile outside of the city of Kendallville, Ind., and is making a great effort to establish a colony of Russians. The plan is to carry on all kinds of work and manufacturing. In this manner all the members of the colony will have employment. The part that interests us most is that he is brew- ing a Russian drink, which is made principally from honey. It is a very popular drink in his country, and used in large quantities. It is kept in public places, and sold about as we sell soda- water in this country. He has already received several barrels of honey. We think the new honey fresh from the flowers and hives, containing all of its flavor and odor, full of strength, having lost nothing by standing and candying, would make the best drink. We have advised him to buy direct from the bee-keepers when he can get it, sometimes, and especially this time of the year, not a week old. What kind of honey will be the best for the business has not been determined yet. That used in Russia was "strained" honey, very strong, and of all kinds, but we ought to be able to furnish each kind separate. Let him experiment and find out which is best for this purpose. It looks as though this enterprise would use up a large quantity of honey. The drink is not intoxicating. — Bec-Kccpcrx' Guide. Don't Fail to read all of page 37, 56 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. ^A**BRIC^*¥**\, PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY GEORGE W. YORE I €®„ At One Dollar a Year, 199 Randolph St., CHICAGO, ILLS. TO CORRESPONDENTS. The Bee Journal is sent to subscribers until an order is received by the publishers for its discontinuance, and all arrearages are paid. A Sample Copy of the Bee Journal will be sent FREE upon application. How to Send Money.— Remit b? Express, Post-Office Money Order, or Bank Draft on New York or Chicago. If none of these can be had. Register your Letter, affixing Stamps both for Sostage and registry, and take a receipt for it. toney sent thus, IS AT OUR RISK; otherwise it is not. Do not send Checks on Local Banks— we have to pay 25 cents each, to get them cashed. Kerer Send Silver in letters. It will wear holes in the envelope, or may be stolen. Make all Money Orders Payable at Chicago, 111.— not at any sub-station of Chicago. Postage Stamps of any denomination may be sent for any fraction of a dollar; or where Money Orders cannot be obtained, stamps for any amount may be sent. Subscription Credits.— The receipt for money sent us will be given on the address-label of every paper. The subscription is paid to the END OF THE MONTH indicated. ,Jo not Write anything for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Emerson Binders, made especially for the American Bee Jouknal, are convenient for preserving each weekly Number, as fast as received. They will be sent, post-paid, for 50 cts. each. They cannot be sent by mail to Canada. f,ost Numbers.— We carefully mail the Bee Journal to every subscriber, but should any be lost in the mails, we will replace them if notified before all the edition is exhausted. Always State the Post-Office to which your paper is addressed, when writing to us. Special Notices. The Date on the wrapper-label of this paper indicates the end of the month to which you have paid for the Journal. If that is past, please send us one dollar to pay for another year. The Convention Hand-Book is very convenient at Bee-Conventions. It con- tains a Manual of Parliamentary Law and Rules of Order for Local Conven- tions ; Constitution and By-Laws for a Local Society; Programme for a Conven- tion, with subjects for discussion, and about 50 blank pages, to make notes upon. It is bound in cloth, and of the right size for the pocket. We will pre sent a copy for one new subscriber to the Bee Journal, with $1.00. An Apiary Register is a splendid book to have in an apiary, so as to know all about any colony of bees at a moment's notice. It devotes two pages to each colony. We will send one large enough for 50 colonies, for $1.00, post- paid ; for 100 colonies, for $1.25; or for 200 colonies, for $1.50. After using it for one season, you would not do without it. The Premiums which we give for securing new subscribers to the Ameri- can Bee Journal, are intended as pay for work done in getting new names among your friends and acquaintances, and are not offered to those who send in their own names as new subscribers, unless such name or names form a part of a club of at least three subscribers. A Binder for preserving the copies of the American Bee Journal as it arrives from week to week, is very convenient. You should have one, as it is so handy for reference from time to time. We mail it for only 50 cents, or will give it as a premium for two new subscribers, with $2.00. Lost Copies we are glad to replace, if notified before the edition is exhausted. When Talking About Bees to your friend or neighbor, you will oblige us by commending the Bee Journal to him, and taking his subscription to send with your renewal. For this work we offer some excellent premiums that you ought to take advantage of. AMERICAN BKii JOURNAL. 57 < I I itltl <.«. LIST. "We Club the American Bee Journal for a year, with any of the following papers or books, at the prices quoted in the L,AS'r column. The regular price of both is given in the first column. One year's subscription for the American Bee Journal must be sent with each order for another paper or book : Price of both. Club. The American Bee Journal $100 and Gleanings In Bee-Culture.... 2 00.... 175 Bee-Keepers' Guide 150. ... 140 Bee-Keepers' Review 2 00 175 TheApiculturist 175.... 165 Canadian Bee Journal 2 00 ... 175 American Bee-Keeper 150 140 Nebraska Bee-Keeper 150 135 The 8 above-named papers 6 25 5 25 and Langstroth Revised (Dadant) 2 40 2 25 Cook's Manual (1887 edition) 2 25.... 2 00 Quinby's New Bee-Keeping. 2 50.... 2 25 Doolittle on Queen-Rearing. 2 00.... 165 Bees and Honey (Newman) .. 200 175 Binderfor Am. Bee Journal. 150 140 Dzierzon's Bee-Book (cloth). 3 00.... 2 00 Root's A B C of Bee-Culture 2 25.... 210 Parmer's Account Book 4 00 2 20 Western World Guide 150.... 130 Heddon's book, "Success,".. 150 140 A Year Among the Bees 1 50 1 35 Convention Hand-Book 125 115 Weekly Inter-Ocean 2 00 175 Toronto Globe (weekly) 2 00 ... . 1 70 History of National Society. 1 50 1 25 American Poultry Journal. . 2 25 1 50 The Lever (Temperance) 2 00 1 75 Orange Judd Farmer 2 00 ... 175 Farm, Field and Stockman.. 2 00 175 Prairie Farmer 2 00 1 75 Illustrated Home Journal.. 1 50 1 35 American Garden 2 50 2 00 Rural New Yorker 3 00 2 25 Do not send to us for sample copies of any other papers. Send for such to the publishers of the papers you want. Almost Every Bee-Book that is now published we mention on the second page of this issue of the Bee Journal. Look over the list and select what you want. For every new yearly subscriber that you secure for us at $1.00, we will allow you 25 cents, to apply on the purchase of any book we have for sale. This is a rare chance to get some valua- able apicultural reading-matter, and at the same time aid in spreading helpful apiarian knowledge among your friends. » ■ ^m ■« > Webster's Pocket Dictionary we offer as a premium for sending only one new subscriber with $1.00. It is a splendid little Dictionary — and just right for the pocket. Premium to Every New Subscriber. — We will give to every new subscriber (with $1.00), for whom it is desired in place of getting any other premium we offer for work done, a copy of "Rural Life " — a valuable pamphlet of over 100 pages, devoted to "Farm Topics, Live- stock, Poultry, Bees, Fruits, Vegetables, Household, Home, and Miscellaneous Matter." Or we will send it, postpaid, for 25 cts. This is a rare chance for new subscribers to get some excellent reading for nothing—by sending $1.00 for one year's subscription to the Bee Journal. Bee-Keeping for Profit, by Dr. G. L. Tinker, is a nice, 50-page pamphlet, which details fully the author's new system of bee-management in producing comb and extracted honey, and the con- struction of the hive best adapted to it — his "Nonpareil." The book can be had at this office for 25 cents, or will be given for one new subscriber, with $1. Wants or Exchanges. Under this heading, Notices of 5 lines, or less, will be inserted at 10 cents per line, for each insertion, when specially ordered Into this Department. If over 5 lines, the additional lines will cost 20 cents each. JAP. Buckwheat, pkg. 6c; bu.$1.20. Clover, Hives, Supplies, Queens, cheap. lA2t L. J. CLARK, Wiscoy, Minn. OR SALE OR EXCHANGE-Italian Bees and Queens. Address, Otto Kleinow, 22Etf No. 150 Military Ave., Detroit, Mich. WANTED— Everybody to send me 10 cents in exchange for my little book, " The A B C of Ferret Culture." It tells all about the care and management of this little animal. 25Atf N. A. KN APP, Rochester, Lorain Co., O. OW— If you want Pure Italian Queens, send for my price list. Send now. H. M. STEPHENS, lA4t Munden, Republic Co.. Kan. N WANTED— Everybody to send for sample of the Thinnest and Best Surplus Foun- dation made— 14 to 16 square feet to tbe lb. 24A-H W. H. NORTON, Skowhegan, Me. WANTED TO EXCHANGE-My new price- list of Italian Bees, White and Brown Leghorn Chickens, White and Brown Ferrets, and Scotch Collie Pups— lor your name and address on a postal card. N. A. KNA PP, 25Atf Rochester, Lorain Co., Ohio. 58 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. HONEY AND BEESWAX MARKET. CHICAGO, July 2. -Comb honey is dull and no demand. Selling finest grade white at 15c. With new crop prices will rule firmer. Extracted is scarce and in good demand at < nor paper cartons, 1-S>. We quote: Comb, l-tt>, 14@15c. Extracted— Basswood,7>4@71/4c; buckwheat, 5 lA@6%,; Mangrove, 68@75c per gal. Good demand for dark extracted honey. Beeswax, in fair supply, with small demand, at 26@27c F. G. STROHMEYER & CO.. 120 Pearl St. Winter Problem in Bee - Keeping ; by G. R. Pierce, of Iowa, who has had 25 years' experience in bee-keeping, and for the past 5 years has devoted all his time and energies to the pursuit. Price, 50 cents. For sale at this office. We Club the American Bee Journal and the monthly "Illustrated Home Journal " one year for $1.35 ; or both of these Journals and the semi-monthly "Gleanings in Bee-Culture," for one year, for $2.10. The Honey-Bee ; giving Its Natural History, Anatomy and Physiology. By T. W. Cowan, editor of the British Bee Journal, 72 figures, and 136 illustra- tions. $1.00. For sale at this office. The Amateur Bee-Keeper, by J. W. Rouse, is a book of 52 pages, intended, as its name indicates, for beginners. Price, 25 cents. For sale at this office. The Busy Bees, and How to Manage Them, by W. S. Pouder. Price 10 cents. For sale at this office. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 71 • PUBLISHED BY ■ * GEORGE W. YORK& CO. ' CHtCAGOLJILL.. — ONE DOLLAR FEB, YEAR. Club Rates, — Two copies, $1.80 ; 3 copies, $2.50 ; 4 copies, $3.20 ; 5 copies, $3.75. Mailed to any addresses. THOMAS G. NEWMAN, GEORGE W. YORK, Editors. Vol. XXI, My 14, 1892. SO. 3, Jaunty plumes and nodding grasses. Hum of bees and cannon boom, Under dewy skies and starlit, Booms that bui-st in fiery bloom. Lilt of robin, blare of trumpet. Brooklet's flow, and rocket's whiz. You can guess without the telling J ust what merry month it is ! —Selected. Great Britain has had an excel- lent honey season this year ; at least it is so reported. This Means You.— When order- ing any of the books or articles which we offer clubbed with the Bee Journal, or otherwise ; or when sending anything intended for us, such as subscriptions to the Bee Journal, or matter for publi- cation, be sure to address everything to —George W. York & Co., 199 Ran- dolph St., Chicago, Ills. The American Bee-Keeper for July says: "It seems almost a certainty that a hard winter or spring, one during which there are heavy losses of bees, is followed by an abundant honey-flowing season. The previous two winters have been mild in most parts of the country, and consequently almost all bee-keepers brought their colonies through with little if any loss, and when the time for the expected honey-flow was at hand, everybody was ready with large and numerous colonies to gather it, but it came not. "Clover, the past two years, has, in most localities, yielded but sparingly of its nectar. Last winter was not severe, but the past spring has been one of the most disastrous ones for bee-keepers that we have had in a number of sea- sons. Many colonies went into winter quarters with insufficient stores, and unless fed artificially, the long, wet spring was too much for them, and many dwindled away and died out com- pletely, while hardly any came out strong and in good condition. "The season has now advanced enough to cause us to feel confident it will be an exceptionally good one for those who have the bees to gather the honey." By Return Mail — Beautiful Queens of the 5-banded variety. Don't miss this chance. One untested queen in July, $1.00 ; 6 for .$5.00. August or September, 1 untested queen, 75 cents ; 6 for $4.00. — J. F. Michael, German, Darke Co., Ohio. Nearly One-Half of the bees, it is thought, were lost throughout the country the past winter and spring. What a fine chance for those that are left ! Honey will be worth something this year. You are Invited to send in something for publication from your experience, that may help your fellow bee-keepers. 72 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. The Bee-Keepers' Union has another "feather in its cap." It has won another victory without expense or effort. Mr. John F. Haeger, of Hill City, Tenn., on July 2, 1892, wrote as follows concerning the influence of the Union, and its effect upon a threatening neighbor : My neighbor threatened to poison my bees with arsenic, because his grapes rotted this year, it being a rainy reason. I mentioned to him the consequences of bees putting arsenic and honey in the surplus cases, as consumers might die from its effects. I also explained to him the reason for the existence of the Bee-Keepers' Union, and convinced him of his folly. The next day he apologized. Stick another feather in the Union's cap ! John F. Haegeb. After reading the above, and the many similar reports of the quiet but effective influence of a "standing army" of bee-keepers for their protection against threats and persecutions, we cannot understand how any apiarist can feel right while outside of the Bee-Keep- ers' Union. Send $1.00 for a year's membership to Thomas G. Newman, the General Manager, 199 Randolph St., Chicago, Ills. Be Sure to read offer on page 69. A Money-Bee Enemy in Cali- fornia is mentioned in Insect Life. Specimens of the insect — Heteropteron apiomeris flaviventris — have been sent to Washington for examination by the Entomological Division. Both the adults and the nymphs were seen feeding upon honey-bees in California. Mrs. Jennie Atchley, who, among other prominent bee-keepers, an- swers queries in the Bee Journal from week to week, is again sick, we are sorry to learn. Her many admiring friends will unite in the hope that she may soon be wholly restored to usual health and strength. Small Bees.— Mr. W. C. Frazier, of Atlantic, Iowa, on July 2, 1892, mailed us a sample of some small bees, concerning which he wrote as follows : I send you a sample cage of the smallest bees I have ever seen. As you will notice, they are pure Italians. All the bees from this queen are like the sample. W. C. Frazier. Thinking that perhaps Prof. Cook might like to see the bees sent by Mr. Frazier, we mailed them to the Profes- sor, who commented thus upon them : The bees from Mr. Frazier are very small, though I have seen them equal in diminutiveness before, I think. If all are so, as I conclude may be the case from Mr. F.'s letter, it must be owing to some peculiarity of the queen. If only a part are so, which would be less strange, and which I judge may be so from the samples sent, then I presume it arises from being reared in old combs, which has been bred in so long that the cells are very small, and so the cramped quarters make the small bees. — A. J. Cook. Experience in any line is a good thing to listen to, and especially is it true when considering the importance of successful advertising. Here is what a bee-supply firm says, that has spent lots of money in advertising their goods : This is about the time a great many advertisers withdraw their advertise- ments until next season, thinking there- by to save considerable expense, but it is poor economy. Our experience is that an advertisement which appears every month in the year pays several times better than one which runs only during the busy season. That firm has the correct idea about the matter. Bee-keepers may see an advertisement when reading their bee- paper months before the time when supplies are needed, and remember it when ordering goods ; while during the busy season few apiarists have time to examine advertisements very closely. While it pays to advertise at any time, it pays better to advertise all the time. Don't Kail to read all of page 69. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 73 A Stand for Comb Honey exhibits at Fairs or other places is shown by the engraving below. It could also be used to advantage in every grocery store, to arrange the sections of comb honey in such a way as to call to it the attention of customers, thereby selling large quantities of honey, as nice comb honey needs but to be seen to insure sales. Stand for Comb Honey. Bee-keepers should be awake to the employment of every means to dispose of their crops of honey to the best ad- vantage, and induce local grocers to put up such a stand as this to help in selling the product of the apiaries in their midst. This stand, to show 25 pounds of honey in 4}^x4% sections, is about 2% feet wide at the base, and 4% feet in height ; size of glass, 20x36 inches. The Apiculturist for July is on hand, as bright and neat as a new pin. Bro. Alley has this to say about us in that issue, for which we extend thanks : Brother Thomas G. Newman has been obliged to give up his connection with the American Bee Journal. Hundreds will regret his retirement. So far as the American Bee Journal is concerned, it seems to have passed into good hands, and the Apiculturist wishes Bro. York success in his business. Mr. S. E. Miller, who now is one of the esteemed correspondents of the Bee Journal, and who has long and ably conducted the Apiarian Department of the Farm, Field and Stockman, wrote a? follows about the change in the man- agement of the Bee Journal : With the first number of June, that " old reliable " authority on bee-matters, the American Bee Journal, passed into new, yet not untried hands. George W. York, for eight years Mr. Newman's able assistant, assumes control. Mr. Newman is retained as editorial father. All interested in the honey-bee and its work, will join with us in wishing Mr. York a long and prosperous voyage in the journalistic sea. Good "Wishes are always appre- ciated by the publishers of the Ameri- can Bee Journal, and while we would like very much to record all of them from our thousands of well-wishers, we can only publish a few. The following is from J. M. Pratt, of Todd's Point, Ky., written when sending his subscrip- tion for another year : I have been a reader of the American Bee Journal since 1877. I cannot be without it and keep bees. Often one article alone has been worth more to me than the price of the Bee Journal for one year. While it has stood the test of age, it is always new, fresh and inter- esting every week. Our best wishes and hopes are that its continuation in the future will be as full of usefulness and prosperity as it has been in the past. J. M. Pratt. The Gossip is like the bee ; there is always a sting in her tale. 74 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Another Bee - Smoker im- provement was patented on June 28, 1892, by Mr. Alanson G. Hill, of In- diana. It is patent No. 478,006, en- titled "Bee-Smoking Apparatus." From the specifications received, we extract the following paragraphs : The objects of my improvement are, first, to provide a bee-smoker having a fire-box or cylinder so constructed that the draft-funnel from the bellows enters the cylinder at the top above the flame, and in a direct line with the smoke- funnel, instead of at right angles there- to, as heretofore constructed; second, to provide a bee-smoker having a cylinder with a raised or false bottom, proper vents, and an adjustable hinged funnel- top, and so constructed that the fire- cylinder will require no hand-shields, and will at all times be in a perpendicu- lar position, whether the smoker is at rest or in use, thereby avoiding the usual derangement of its contents. The manner of using my improved smoker is as follows : After starting a fire in the cylinder with proper fuel, the operator works the bellows by the thumb and finger. As my bee-smoker when in use is car- ried in an upright position, and the draft-funnel enters the fire-cylinder in direct line with the smoke-funnel in- stead of at right angles thereto, the draft from the bellows will drive the smoke to its work with more directness, increased force, and greater efficiency, while at the same time, the draft-funnel being above the flames, the fuel and ashes will remain undisturbed by the most vigorous operation of the bellows. Honey Out of the Rock is the name of a new religious song-book which we understand is " greatly ad- mired." It very likely would be much appreciated by bee-keepers, but perhaps one called "Honey Out of the Hive" would be more welcome just now, in view of the unfavorable honey season in some localities. But should there be a good fall crop of honey, bee-keepers may then be permitted to use " Honey Out of the Rock " for their spiritual benefit, and " honey out of the hive " to delight and recuperate their physical natures. Instinct or Reason in Bees. — On this subject the Phrenological Jour- nal takes the position that the acts of bees are governed by intelligent thought. To prove this, it cites the fact that bees gather honey only in climates subject to wintry weather. If our bees are taken to Australia, where the summers are perennial, they learn in a few years to store no honey, gathering it only as they need it for sustaining life. The only way the Australian can get honey is to import queens from old countries every few years, they not having learned that the storing up of honey is unnecessary. — Exchange. Electricity.— Prof. Elihu Thom- son, the inventor and brains of the Thomson-Houston Electric Company, contributes an entertaining, scientific and thoughtful paper on "Future Elec- trical Development," to the July 'Neiv England Magazine. He explains the possibilities of electricity, in all the public and private conveniences of life, and gives practical examples of its application to manufactures, rapid tran- sit, and domestic offices, such as cook- ing, ironing, heating, gardening, raising fruit and vegetables, etc. Honey-Bees haui>t the flowers and blossoming trees of New York, es- pecially the horse-chestnuts. The blos- soms of this tree have a peculiar fasci- nation for bees of all sorts, and in regions where bees are plentiful, there is a noise as of a swarm about each horse-chestnut. It is an old tradition that the horse-chestnut blossom contains an intoxicant which makes the honey seekers drunk, and causes them to drop senseless to the ground, where they be- come the prey of ants. — Exchange. The Season is late, being several weeks behind the usual time; but it is quite likely that it will continue as much longer, and thus average up all right. American bee journal. ib The Adulteration of Honey — We have received from Mr. Chas. F. Muth, of Cincinnati, Ohio, copies of some correspondence between the .Ameri- can Analyst, of New York; and both Prof. H. W., Wiley and Mr. Muth. The latter desired us to publish it in the Bee Journal, so that the bee-keepers might understand the whole matter* especially as the recent Report issued by the De- partment of Agriculture* classed Mr. Muth with other adulterators of ex- tracted honey. The following letter accompanied a copy of Prof. Wiley's, sent to Mr. Muth by the editor of the American Analyst, Dr. H. Lassing : Messrs. Chas. F. Muth & Son, Cincinnati, Ohio. ■ Dear Sirs : — We enclose herewith a copy of a letter just received from Dr. Wiley, which we shall publish in July 1 number. We enclose it to you as soon as received, so as to give you ample time to reply, if you think it best to do so. Yours very truly, The Analyst Publishing Co. New York, June 22, 1892. The letter referred to in the foregoing, written by Prof. Wiley, is as follows : Editor American Analyst. Dear Sir : — The spirit which you show, of giving ample opportunity for every one to be heard on the question of adul- terated honey, is most gratifying ; es- pecially is your invitation to dealers whose goods have been found to be adulterated, to explain the matter in your columns, an evidence of good faith on your part, that you wish only to do justice to the parties. I have read with much interest the letters from different manufacturers in your issue of June 15. In one of these letters reference is made to me in a way which seems to call for some explanation, and I beg the favor of being allowed in your columns to make some comments on the letter from Chas. F. Muth & Son, published on page 211 of the issue mentioned. I have no desire whatever to do Mr. Muth any injustice, and I am ready at any time to make amends m case I have done so. I understand that Mr. Muth bears a very high reputation for honesty and straightforwardness among his asso- ciates, and I should be extremely sorry if anything I should say or do should tend to diminish the esteem in which he is held. It was unfortunate for him that the samples of honey bearing his label should have been found to be adul- terated, but it only shows the necessity, which is incumbent on dealers, to be more careful of their goods. From an ethical point of view, 1 will say I doubt very much whether Mr. Muth is justified in selling honey which he purchased in California as the pro- duct of his own Italian apiary. He says at least, in his letter, that the amount of honey which he himself produces is of very little importance commercially, while his chief business is in buying and selling honey. Mr. Muth, unconsciously or otherwise, perpetrates a fraud on the community when he sells honey pro- duced by others as his own. It is not exactly adulteration, but it is a business process which is something nearly akin to it. With Mr. Muth's methods of doing business, however, I have nothing what- ever to do ; what I desire to call atten- tion to is his statement that he left samples of honey with me, and that the best I could say was, "that they were adulterate'd, and that one was probably pure." Now, Mr. Muth has either never read my report on these honeys, or else he purposely misconstrues it, or he has forgotten what I said. The report to which he refers, was not made at Flint, Mich, (but that is not a matter of any consequence), but it was published in the American Apiculturist, Vol. Ill, No. 12, 1885. It was published verbatim in Bulletin 13, Part 6, page 801, et. seq. I beg you to turn to that report and see how grave an injustice Mr. Muth has been guilty of. The statement in his letter is one which we would not expect to come from one of his high standing in the community, and I feel very sure that Mr. Muth will cheerfully correct it when his attention is called to it. I would caution Mr. Muth, however, in this matter about depending too much upon his memory in matters of such grave importance. I did not pronounce a single sample of honey obtained from Mr. Muth, to be adulterated. There were a few samples obtained from him, described on page 802, but which it is expressly stated in the description were not produced by him. One was No. 14, described as a sample from Louisiana; another was No. 16, described as a sample from Florida; another was No. 17, described as a sample from Florida. These num- bers— 14, 16 and 17 — are included in a 76 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. table on page 804, which is headed, " Honeys apparently adulterated with inverted sucrose." On page 805, in describing this table, I use the following language : "These 16 samples I have grouped together on account of their great lev- orotatory power It is possible that this great deviation to the left may have been due to the entire absence of dex- trine or sucrose in the honey, or that it might have been produced by the bee- food being rich in sucrose, which suf- fered a nearly complete inversion in the body of the insect. " It would be quite improper to defi- nitely assert that invert sugar syrup had been added as an intended adulter- ant. I think it quite possible that bees having access to sucrose food might at one time produce a honey like that in Table No. 2, and at another like that in Table No. 3." At the same time I received these samples of honey from Mr. Muth, he gave me other samples which were pro- duced by himself, described on page 803, viz. : Sample No. 39, donated by C. F. Muth ; sample No. 40, donated by C. F. Muth ; and sample No. 43, donated by C. F. Muth. On page 805 I say of these samples : "These honeys, obtained directly or indirectly from well-kmown apiarists, I have every reason to believe to be pure. If they contain any adulteration it has been added by artificial feeding, and not intentionally. It will be observed that these honeys are strongly levorotatory, and indeed so much so, that some of them might have appeared in Table No. 3." Now, Mr. Editor, I do not have the honor of your personal acquaintance, but I leave it to you to say whether or not any fair-minded man in reading my report would dare to say that I had pronounced the honeys in Table No. 3 to be adulterated ; or would Mr. Muth, if he had access to the facts of the case, have said in his letter that "the best Mr. Wiley could say of the samples was that they were adulterated, and that one was probably pure." This old story that I pronounced gen- uine samples produced by Mr. C. F. Muth, to be adulterated, has been going around through the bee-papers for many years, together with a vast amount of personal vituperation ; I think it is about time for such publications to cease, and thus I call attention, through your columns, to the facts itvthe case. I also beg to correct another expres- sion in Mr. Muth's letter, viz. : The ref- erence to the machine which is used for the conversion of corn-starch into glu- cose. This reference to the machine was not made by Prof. Scovell, as Mr. Muth supposes, but by myself in discuss- ing Prof. Scovell's data. In the samples of honey purchased in the open market in the East, none bearing the label of C. F. Muth & Son was found. The adulterated samples of Muth's honey were analyzed by Professors Weber and Scovell, and the comments on the analyses were made by myself. You allude to this same reference as " undignified," and perhaps it is so, but when I saw the enormous frauds which were practiced on the community by selling glucose as pure honey, and es- pecially under the name of well-known apiarists, I felt that some drastic meas- ures were necessary to correct the fault. I, therefore, sometimes may have in- dulged in the use of language not alto- gether proper, but if so I am ready to make any necessary apologies. I am sorry to say that if Mr. Muth continues to depend upon his own taste, he will probably continue to sell adul- terated honey to the end of time, labeled "absolutely pure," as I do not believe it is quite possible to discriminate by the taste, between the pure and the adul- terated article. I, however, am no ex- pert as Mr. Muth is, ami hence cannot express any positive opinion on this question. Mr. Muth claims that he is no adulterator ; will he now acknowledge in a suitable way, that he is no mis- quoter of facts, by acknowledging the error which he made in his letter to you? I am only too anxious to join Mr. Muth and all others who are disposed to put an end to honey adulteration, and it was for this purpose that Bulletin No. 13, Part 6, was prepared. I heartily endorse the sentiment expressed by Thurber, Whyland & Co., in favor of national legislation to prevent the pos- sibility of such frauds as are indicated in Part 6. All the bee-keepers them- selves ought to join most heartily in this movement, for if the adulterated honey could be kept out of the market, the price of the pure article would certainly be very much increased, and their busi- ness become all the more profitable. The bee-papers also should help this along, but, strange to say, instead of .doing so they have devoted an immense amount of space to the personal abuse of the writer ; denouncing his methods and his honesty, and questioning his veracity and his capacity, and denying absolutely that any adulteration of honey is prac- AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 77 ticecL I am at a loss, of course, to ex- plain such conduct, but evidently there is a motive for it, otherwise they would be willing to accept the facts, and help the good work along. I am, Respectfully, H. W. Wiley, Chemist. Washington, D. C, June 20, 1892. Mr. Muth's reply to the foregoing letter of Prof. Wiley, is as follows : The Analyst Publishing Co., New York. Gentlemen : — Allow me to give you a short history of my experience as a bee- keeper, which will explain satisfactorily to any one my "fraud on the commu- nity," as Mr. Wiley pleases to term it. It was, I believe, in the spring of 1869, when the first honey extractor made its appearance in America — a wooden barrel with a revolving basket of tin inside of it, imported, I believe, by J. H. King, of New York. My friend, I. H. Hill, of Mt. Healthy, O., bought one of those extractors, which I used as a pattern, and had, at once, one made for myself. On the roof of my house at the foot of the hill, at the edge of our city at that time, was my apiary. The garret was my extracting room, and the wooden extractor became leaky, and the idea offered itself, "Why not have the re- volving basket in a tin can V" In August, 1869, Mr. Henry Stephen- son, a bee-friend and tinner, made for me a tin honey extractor — very likely the first tin honey extractor in America. The following year, 1870, Mr. Stephen- son made a dozen or more tin honey ex- tractors, which I sold to my bee-keeping friends. Aided by the honey extractor, I had produced over 500 pounds of fine clover honey on the roof of my house, and, like my friends, was surprised at the large crop. We sell, now, a carload to one of our customers every five or six weeks. All of the 500 pounds were sold by the time that the crop of 18J0 was har- vested, which was larger than that of 1869. We bought some honey from neighboring bee-keepers to supply our demand, and increased our apiary. My labels of to-day are the same as they were twenty odd years ago, plain and unostentatious, and read : " Pure machine extracted honey from the Ital- ian apiary of C. F. Muth." The "Son" was added afterwards, when my son be- came a partner in the business. Fancy labels were offered us many times, and promptly refused, because, in my esti- mation, our pure honey did not need them, and I knew that "snide" goods were generally adorned with fancy labels ; besides, our trade had become accustomed to our plain labels, and we, naturally, disliked to make a change, considering the old labels our trade- mark. I enclose samples of our labels, the same we have had for twenty odd years. Being in the mercantile business, we had our own square-glass honey-jars, made and sold them largely to other bee- keepers, who bought also the same labels that we used. We had them printed, omitting the name of producers, so that we could have their addresses printed at short notice. Being a bee- keeper; I had no more idea, 23 years ago, than I have now, of imposing on the public by the means of my labels. Our labels might be changed slightly to meet the extra-nice criticism of some fault-finder, but considering them a trade-mark, we are apt to leave them as they are. As we produce 8,000 to 10,- 000 pounds of extracted honey in a good season, I leave it to the reader to judge of the importance of the so-called fraud by our labels. To me, the matter seems ridiculous. Further, I deny the statement of Prof. Wiley, that we ever labeled California honey as coming from our own apiary. If we ever had such labels printed, I should know it, and we should still have some on hand. When quoting Prof. Wiley's report, I had not the least desire of misquoting or doing an injustice to the Professor. I merely quoted the sense of his report. Its exact wording is as immaterial to mo as the date when, or the place where, it was made. It is immaterial to me whether it was at Flint, Detroit, or In- dianapolis ; but the fact is, that at one of those places I gave the Professor, at his request, a number of samples of honey for analyzation. All of it was pure honey, without any doubt about it, i. e., if there is any pure honey at all. I do not know what standard Prof. Wiley has for pure honey, but I verily believe that my samples could have served the Professor as a standard. Prof. Wiley reported at the next an- nual meeting in person, in substance, as follows, that most of those samples were adulterated, and that one was probably pure. Present were Prof. Cook, of the Agricultural College at Lansing, Mich., Mr. Thomas G. Newman, of the Ameri- can Bee Journal, of Chicago, and a large number of other bee-keepers who remember, and will verify my statement. 78 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL, Our bee-papers and bee-keepers, my- self included, have been, and are fight- ing adulteration, and we solicit the aid of Prof. Wiley, as well as that of any other chemist. But we have no use for " scientific pleasantries," such as Prof. "Wiley inlulges in. His article in the Popular Science Monthly, alleging that a factory in Phil- adelphia was manufacturing comb honey of stearine (or paraffine) and filling the cells with glucose, then capping them over in a nicer manner than the bees could do it ; stating furthermore that this spurious honey sold readily in our markets for pure honey, has done harm to the bee-keepers and honey-dealers. If Prof. Wiley had not been posted on the subject, he should have posted him- self before giving to the world such a falsehood. If he would have explained his " scientific pleasantry " in due time, as he was forced to do later, it would have been more becoming to the high office»he fills, and it would have created less "bad blood" among bee-keepers. In this case, I may also lack " statistical preciseness, but it alters not the fact that Prof. Wiley wrote the article men- tioned above for the Popular Science Monthly, and never took it back until a few years afterwards, when he was com- pelled to do so by the action of bee- keepers and editors of bee-periodicals, which had become too strong for him to resist. Is it a wonder that bee-keepers and editors of the bee-papers don't count on Prof. Wiley as one of their friends? And are bee-keepers to blame if they don't ? The adulterator is the natural enemy of every honest producer and dealer, and every assistance in the battle against him will be gladly accepted. Yours very truly, Chas. F. Muth. Cincinnati, Ohio, June 27, 1892. A Large Portion of the Agri- cultural Exhibit which Illinois will make at the World's Fair will be selected from the exhibits made at the State Fair at Peoria the coming fall. In order to encourage the farmers to make especially fine exhibits of farm, orchard and garden products, the State Board of Agriculture, which has in charge the preparations of the State's World's Fair exhibit, has offered a number of cash prizes aggregating $6,500. National Flower of the United States, Query 827.— 1. What is jour choice for the National Flower to represent the United States of America ? 2. Please give your rea- son for such choice.— Esmeralda. 1. I have no choice. — G. M. Doolit- tle. 1. I really don't know. — J. M. Ham* BAUGH. 1. I have no choice in the matter.— M. Mahin. 1. Golden-rod. 2. " Because." — H. D. Cuttino. 1. Golden-rod. 2. Great distribution. —J. P. H. Brown. 1. If not used by other nations, I'd say " the rose." 2. I like it best of all flowers. — C. C. Miller. 1. The golden-rod. 2. It is a hand- some flower, hardy, and is spread over a very large extent of territory. — P. H. Elwood. 1. Clover (the Trlfollum) . 2. It is the most useful, the sweetest, and in masses in the field as pretty as any. — Mrs. L. Harrison. 1. The golden-rod. 2. The editor would show me the door before I had half finished, were I to begin. — Mrs. J. N. Heater. 1. The beautiful golden-rod. 2. Be- cause it is found in every State and ter- ritory, is representative in its character, and a good honey-plant. — C. H.Dibbern. 1. The golden-rod. 2. There are no wild flowers in this country more ad- mired by most people than the golden yellow flowers of the golden-rod. — G. L. Tinker. 1. The " golden-rod." 2. Because it grows everywhere ; is indigenous, con- sequently the only natural universal valuable plant in the United States. — J. E. Pond. 1. White clover bloom. 2. Some select golden-rod, but to us it is a useless weed. All the "golden-rod honey" harvested here is " Spanish-needle honey." — Da- dant & Son. 1. I have nothing nearer a favorite than the golden-rod. 2. That plant AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 79 seems very appropriate. Its choice is detrimental to bee-keepers, because for every plant cultivated, there will be a hundred cut for "National " bouquets. — James Heddon. 1. Golden-rod. 2. a. Because of its euphonious name. b. Its fine appear- ance, both in nature and in paintings. c Because it grows over a wide range of country. — Eugene Secok. 1. I have not canvassed the matter sufficiently to bring myself to a decided opinion, but I rather incline to the golden-rod. 2. It is handsome, and common throughout the country. — R. L. Taylor. 1. The pansy. 2. I always liked the pansy ; it is a beautiful flower. It is first in the spring, and last in the fall. It will stand a very great deal of cold- ness and abuse, and still show up its smiling face. — E. France. 1. I would say the lily, but as some other nation (France), I believe, has chosen this, I would suggest some of the white blooming varieties, such as the white chrysanthemums. 2. Because white is an emblem of peace, and where peace is, happiness is almost sure to abound. — Mrs. Jennie Atchley. 1 and 2. The golden-rod has more points in its favor than any other plant that has been brought forward. It is a hardy plant, with a beautiful flower, growing abundantly throughout nearly our whole territory. These are essential qualifications, and are not possessed to the same degree by any other candidate. — James A. Green. 1. If we are to have a National Flower, I should prefer the golden-rod. 2. Because of its beauty, and being known in all parts of our country ; but I am not in favor of a National Flower. The stars and stripes are good enpugh for me. We have got too much of the " Old World's " products and ways now for our good. — A. B. Mason. I cannot feel any interest in a mere sentiment of that kind. I would rejoice to see a little more honesty in politics, in government, in trade, in society, in all things among men in the United States of America. After that, I would prefer — 1. The golden-rod. 2. Because it is a child of nature — beautiful, be- cause the- hand of man has never put any artificial touch in its native airs. — G. W. Demaree. 1. Our choice, by all means, for a National Flower to represent the United States of America, is the " golden-rod." 2. The reason for such being our choice, is because it is indigenous to the soil, and grows in nearly, every" State and Territory, it is purely an American flower ; is tall and stately, full of beauty and grace, and does well represent the country, which stands as a beacon for the glorious future of the world. It is a grand floral pole, and would well repre- sent the United States as its National Flower. — Editors. Old or Young Bees.— Mr. A. Leggott, of Puyallup, Wash., sends us the following item from a California newspaper, being a question about swarming bees : To settle a difference of opinion, please tell us whether it is the old bees or the young ones that come out when they swarm ? Answer : Old bees. Mr. L. wrote that it was news to him, that old bees leave the hive when swarming. It may be " news," but it is a fact, nevertheless, that the old bees, as well as the old queen, leave the hive when they swarm. The young bees are at first nurse-bees in the hive, and at- tend to various inside duties. More than 1,000 men are now at work on the mammoth Manufactures Building for the World's Fair. The force was recently doubled by order of the Exposition authorities, who con- cluded that the contractor was not making as rapid progress as was de- sirable. The authorities are determined that all of the buildings shall be com- pleted in time for dedication in October, and the public may be assured that this will be done. The total number of workmen at Jackson Park now exceeds 7,000. It will probably be increased to 10,000, or more. The Globe Bee-Veil, which we offer on the third page of this number of the Bee Journal, is just the thing. You can get it for sending us only three new subscribers, with $3.00. 80 AMERICAN 'BEE JOURNAL. On important Subjects. Interesting Apiarian Reminiscences, J. H. TOWNLEY. Being indebted to some unknown friend for a copy of a recent date of the American Bee Journal (the first periodical issued in the world devoted exclusively to bee-culture), I know of no way to reach him with thanks except through that paper. The first issue of the American Bee Journal appeared in 1861. The late war commenced that year, and its publi- cation was discontinued until the close of the war, when it was resumed. From 1866 to 1882, when I went out of the bee-business and moved from Michigan to Dakota, I was a continuous subscriber for and reader of the Bee Journal. The first copy I have seen since then was received this week. Many of the names of correspondents and advertisers in it now were familiar there 10, 15, and a few 20 years ago. Two from my former State— A. J. Cook and H. D. Cut- ing — I was somewhat acquainted with. PROF. COOK'S EARLY BEE-LESSONS. In June (I think in 1867), after a ride of 30 miles on the cars, and 7 in some other way, Prof. Cook, an entire stranger to me except in name, stepped into my door one morning while the family were at beakfast, on urgent, pressing, business ; business so pressing that he could scarcely finish his break- fast, before it was, " Come, Townley, I have work for you to-day ;" and he was correct. Before he stepped on the ground he had work planned for every moment he had to spare. During the six or seven hours he was there, he kept my hands busy trans- ferring all the contents of box to frame hives, starting nuclei, showing the modus operandi of rearing queens arti- ficially, and other kinds of work that one finds it necessary to do in an apiary; and my tongue was kept equally busy in answering questions. He came there to learn, and knew just what course to pursue to obtain the desired informa- tion. If he did not enjoy the lesson hugely, the expression of his face greatly belied his emotions. The pupil then, is the teacher now ; and the novice who reads and heeds the lessons taught in " Cook's Manual," will not go far astray. Among the familiar names seen in the Bee Journal is that of one to whom I have sold tons of extracted honey, one whose dealings with me were always prompt and honorable — that of Mr. C. F. Muth, of Cincinnati, Ohio. THE YELLOW BANDS ON ITALIAN BEES. During the ten years that I have not been a reader of the Bee Journal, two more yellow bands have appeared on the abdomen of the Italian bee. Now there are five, ten years ago there were three ; and 25 years ago, when they were first extensively disseminated, one needed a powerful magnifying glass and a vivid imagination to discover even three on some that were sold for pure Italians ! There is probably no doubt but that, with a long continued and persevering effort in breeding with that object in view, bees may be produced with nearly the whole abdomen yellow. But will it pay ? If one admires the high color, and in breeding makes utility the primary object, and beauty a secondary one, it certainly will. On the other hand, if beauty alone is aimed at in breeding, one who pursues that course will, like many a youth, sooner or later, learn that all else has been sacrificed to fancy. That the American Bee Journal may continue its usefulness as long as bee-keeping continues to exist, is the sincere wish of one, who, through the greater part of a life of nearly three- score years and ten, has been an enthu- siastic worker among the bees. Ashton, S. Dak., July 2, 1892. Removing Propolis from Separators, EMMA WILSON. When I cleaned the T tins with con- centrated lye, I felt pretty sure that hives, supers, separators, etc., could be cleaned in the same way, but I was so busy I could not take time just then to experiment, so I concluded to say noth- ing about it until I could find time to test the matter. This morning (May 5) being the first opportunity I have had, I concluded to experiment a little. I put on the 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 experiment. I AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 81 dropped a few separators into the boiler while the water was yet cold, to see what effect it would have on them. I could not see that it affected them in the least until the water almost reached the boiling-point, when the propolis dis- appeared. What I was most afraid of, was, that the separators while wet would cling so closely together that the lye would not reach every part, and that they 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 do not 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 .59 separators, that being the number I had handy. Of course, they were tied loosely. I dropped them in, having a strong cord tied around the middle of the bundle to lift them out by. I let them boil two or three minutes, and took them out; 32 of them were perfectly clean. The rest, the center of the bun- dle, still had some propolis left on, and were treated to a second dose. Taking a very large quantity of the separators at one time, there might be more trouble than I think, about getting them clean, but I do not believe there would be if the water were kept hot enough, and enough of the lye used. I do not think any harm would come from having 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 do not 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 thought of ; and while they are much improved by the scraping, they are not nearly as nice as when cleaned with lye, and the scraping is harder work. I did not have anything 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 separa- tors could be cleaned at a time with no very great amount of labor. It is such a comfort to have everything clean ! 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. — Gleanings. „ Marengo, Ills. Self-Hiving: Arrangements for Swarms. HENRY ALLEY. As I brought to notice the first suc- cessful self-hiver, I naturally am inter- ested in anything that appears in the bee-papers in relation to these most use- ful articles for the apiary. I recently read much that Mr. Dibble has said about self-hivers, and I must say that I am amazed at some of his statements and claims. Mr. Dibble, like several others, claims to have devised the best of self-hivers. I find, however, that before reading all the wonderful things concerning their devices, as given by the inventors, they acknowledge that their swarmers do not catch all the bees that issue — "only a few bees and the queen." Well, it seems that Mr. D. has simply arranged the principle of my drone-trap, and placed it at the side of the hive, instead of at the entrance. The entrance, as it appears to me, is covered by a nanow strip of perforated metal. Mr. D. says that the trap (Alley's presumably) clogs, etc. Well, if my trap will clog with four rows of holes, what will bees do with one entrance and one row of holes ? The truth is, there are 100,000 of my traps in use, and they have always given good satisfac- tion. The fact that the sale of them is increasing each year, best attests to their practicability. Now, if Dibble's self-hiver catches only a few of the bees and queen when a swarm issues, how can it be considered an improvement on the trap ? The trap has always done this to the satisfaction of all who use them. Mr. D. gives notice that he has applied for a patent for using the empty hive over the one the bees are in, for hiving swarms by this arrangement. I wish to say that the first swarm ever hived by an automatic device, was hived by the same arrangement which Mr. D. pro- poses to patent. Mr. D. says further : " Put me down as saying, the man who succeeds in giving us a successful trap of any kind, will give us something be- sides an entrance trap. We must have a trap when we can at a glance tell where our queens are. We must know instantly, when passing through a yard, 82 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. which colonies have cast swarms, ivith- out opening a /iiue." Further on I present the reader an illustration of a self-hiver devoid of all objectionable features enumerated by Mr. D. ; and, what is more important, is the fact that this arrangement not only catches every bee that issues and hives them in the box, but it catches and destroys every drone that attempts to leave the hive for a flight. They cannot clog the entrance at all. This swarmer is placed at the entrance of the hive the bees occupy, and, as it has such "a wide entrance, the bees are not in the least hindered in going out and in when at work. The box is provided with two covers — one is solid wood, and the other is a light frame covered with wire cloth. The all-wood cover keeps out the wet and light, the other keeps the bees from flying out when the wood cover is raised to see if the bees have swarmed. For a person absent from home one or more days at a time, this swarmer will be found just the thing. On returning home, all the apiarist needs to do is to raise the cover of the box. If the bees have swarmed, the box will be found full of bees, and working nicely, as there is room in each box for five Langstroth frames. The box can be made as large as the person using it desires. Now, to show that I am making no idle claims, I am ready to pay $5 for every swarm this hiver fails to self-hive. I do not mean hiving the queen and a few bees, I mean all the bees that come off with the swarm. I feel warranted in making this offer, with the experience I have had with it this season. Below is a brief description of a per- fect self-hiver : The trap (Fig. 1) is made nearly twice as wide, from end to end, as those usually sold for drone-and-queen catch- Ftg. 1. — Combination Drone-and-Queen Trap and Self-Hiver. ers. It is also provided 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 ventilation to the largest colony of bees. 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. Hardly does the drone go to the en- trance when he discovers one of the four tubes, and, before he knows it, is in the trap. It is the same with the Fig. 2. — The Perfection Self-Hiver. . queen. As surely as she leaves the combs with a swarm, she is trapped. Figure 2 illustrates the swarmer com- plete, ready to catch a swarm. The box is 18 inches long, 10% inches wide, and 10 inches deep. This is large enough to give the largest swarm all the room they need to cluster in for awhile, at least. Half of the front of the box is cut away, and the trap is pushed in to fill the space, and so that the front of Fig. 1 is " flush " with the front, or face of the box. The bottom of the metal where the bees pass through, is depressed, so that the bees enter the hive easily, and with as little delay as possible. The trap is provided with a small swinging door at one end, so that the queen can be taken or shaken out, also for removing dead drones, etc. The trap can be used separately for catching drones when not used as a self-hiver. When a swarm issues, the queen en- ters the trap. The bees, after circulat- ing about in the. air, return, or they may settle on some tree and hang there for awhile, 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. This arrangement is a self-hiver in every sense of the word, as it catches the entire swarm. Now, is not this an easy and interest- ing operation, as well as a labor and bee saving device. Just think how happy a person can be when he leaves home in the morning, to know that on his return he will find his bees already in a box ready to be hived, if they have swarmed during his absence. His wife or attend- ant will not have a chance to say when the bee-keeper returns home, " The bees have swarmed and decamped." No, AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 83 sir; no bees can decamp, nor will a swarm be found hanging 50 feet in the air on the limb of some neighbor's tree ; in some chimney, or in the coving of some house. The other morning a swarm came off just as I was going to the post-office. They settled on a limb of a tree near by ; when I returned 20 minutes later, the swarm had returned to their old location, self-hived, and so quiet that no one would have selected that colony as the one that had just cast a swarm. Experience in Bee-Keeping. Etc, J. E. PRICHARD. I commenced last year with 3 box- hives of black bees, and being desirous to know more about the industry, I got a queen from an Ohio breeder, and in- troduced her on June 11. I procured one 3-frame nucleus on July 11, and six Mo. 2 dovetailed hives, complete, and then awaited developments. I did not get a swarm, but destroyed 2 colonies by the " driving process," and obtained about 25 pounds of surplus honey in one-pound sections, which I sold for 25 cents per pound ; mostly from the 3-frame nucleus that I secured from an Indiana dealer in bees. I had 2 colonies of Italians and 3 of blacks which wintered well on the sum- mer stand, under a shed. This spring I transferred one, and in just 35 hours it was robbed to death. I then drummed out one, and that all dwindled to death, so I virtually had only 3 colonies left to commence with. That is the dark side ; now for the bright side. On May 20 came the first prime swarm ; on the 24th, another, and on the 20th, another. On June 1, I had an after-swarm ; on the 2d, another, and on the 3d, another. Talk about fun! The June 1st swarm, after' staying in 21 hours, and drawing out the founda- tion nicely, left ; but I think it went to the parent hive, and came out the next day ; so I did not lose them. I divided one last year's colony on June 5, and this morning (June 11) I examined the whole lot, and found them all doing well. Some are at work in the supers, while others, notably the after-swarms, are filling their combs with the whitest honey I ever saw ; it is capped snow- white, but they have no brood — perhaps it is too soon. I am a novice, and want to learn by experie ce, with common- sense suggestions from the Bee Journal. SOME BEES THAT HEAR. I was astonished when I read what Julia Allyn wrote on page 774, and to test the thing I went to the bee-yard last night, and, taking a small empty box I held it in front of the hives, and some distance away, and tapped on it, so as to make a noise ; all the bees re- sponded immediately, and filled the en- trance. My bees hear, if others have deaf ones. I leave them to their enjoy- ment. I love the pursuit, and am in it to a finish. Port Norris, N. J. Mint Use of Brooi-Comte, C. H. WOOLDRIDGE. Allow me to call attention again to the question I asked, and which was very truthfully answered on page 804, about making use of brood-combs. About a year ago same one, in an arti- cle in the Bee Journal, entitled, I be- lieve, -'Some Points on Bee-Keeping," said: "Do not hive swarms on full combs, or you will be the loser instead of the gainer." The reader was left to guess the reason why. I believe this matter to be of much importance, especially to the producer of comb honey, although I am not sure that I fully understand the whys and wherefores. Is the reason because the queen, be- fore leaving the parent hive with the swarm, has laid nearly all her eggs, so that she would be light, and therefore able to fly with the swarm ? and, in consequence of this, would not be able to fill the empty combs (in the new hive) with eggs ; therefore the combs are filled with the nice white honey which should have gone into the surplus de- partment (as swarming occurs in this locality when the white clover is in bloom) ? Or is it because the queen will lay too many eggs just at this par- ticular time, and therefore it costs more to rear the bees than they would be worth after being reared? In either case (that is, if either is a fact) the question is still before us — what to do with the combs ? Last year I used my extra combs by giving one to each swarm, with starters on all the other frames, and put the partly filled case of sections from the hive whose colony just swarmed, on the 84 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. new hive, and the storing of honey went right along ; but whether I lost or gained by this method, I cannot say, or whether I might use two or more combs with as good results I do not know. My hope was, in propounding this question, to get some points touching upon its importance. Will those who have had experience along this line, please give it in the Bee Journal. I have just been cutting the drone- comb out of the hives of 49 colonies of bees, and fitting in worker-comb in its place, and I used about 70 combs to do the job. Some hives I found to have as much as 2 to 2% combs of drone-comb. That is the way the money (or honey) has gone. Brownville, Iowa, June 23, 1892. Cold Water for Moths in Cuts. C. H. DIBBERN. We are trying many experiments this season, one of which is the cold water cure, for the moth in brood-combs. Heretofore we have generally been obliged to melt up a good many moth- infested combs, to save them during the summer. Now we have a large trough near the honey-house,- that we keep full of water, and when we find combs that show signs of moth, we douse them in, and leave them submerged for two or three hours. We think this is better than sulphur smoke, as it does away with the strong sulphur odor on the combs, and washes out most impuri- ties. We rind that it is not necessary to run the combs through the extractor, as a quick, swinging motion will throw out all the water. The combs should be loosely piled up to dry. We now allow the bees to remove all the honey before subjecting the combs to the water. We have exposed honey more freely right in front of the apiary this spring, than ever before. Sometimes we had as many as twenty hives containing honey setting along in a row with the caps off, off, exposing the tops of frames. That seemed to be about the only way we could get the bees to take the honey that we wished to get rid of before the white clover bloom. Years ago we would not have dared to do such a thing, but somehow we have had no trouble from robbers whatever. They seemed very grateful for the honey, and worked on in a very ordinary way, and not at all cross. — Western Plowman. Milan, Ills. CONVENTION DIRECTORY. Time and place of meeting. 1892. July 21.— Carolina, at Charlotte, N. C. A. L. Beach, Sec. Steel Creek; N. C. Aug. 17. — Wabash Valley, at Vincennes, Ind. Frank Vawter, Sec, Vincennes, Ind. Aug-. 27.— Haldimand, at S. Cayuga, Ont. E. C. Campbell, Sec, Cayuga, Ont. Sept. 7, 8.— Nebraska, at Lincoln, Nebr. L. D. Stilson, Sec, York, Nebr. Oct. 7.— Utah, at Salt Lake City, Utah. John C. Swaner, Sec, Salt Lake City, Utah. 1893. Jan. 13, 14.— S.W.Wisconsin, at Boscobel.Wis. Benj. E. Rice, Sec, Boscobel, Wis. J®"* In order to have this table complete, Secretaries are requested to forward full particulars of the time and the place of each future meeting. — The Editors. North American Bee-Keepers' Association President— Eugene Secor. ^Forest City, Iowa. Secretary— W. Z. Hutchinson Flint, Mich. National Bee-Keepers' Union. President — James Heddon . .Dowagiac, Mich. Sec'y and Manager— T. 6. Newman, Chicago. )Af IJglPpil^w Reports, Prospects, Etc. ^P~ Do not write anything for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Rolling in the Honey. My bees are booming ; that is, just rolling in the honey. D. A. Cadwallader. Prairie du Rocher, Ills., July 4, 1892. Prevention of Honey Granulation. I noticed an inquiry on page 11, as to how to prevent granulation of sugar syrup in brood-combs. If the syrup is made iu the usual way, and not stirred after taking from the fire until quite cool, it will not granulate. I wintered a colony on sugar syrap without an ounce of natural stores, and they win- tered as well as any bees I had, and the syrup did not granulate. Lawson Hegler. McLean, Ohio, July 2, 1892. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 85 Failure of Honey Predictions. The honey in this locality is not, to say, white, and at least 75 per cent, short of the last three years. There has been no swarming in the surround- ing country, as far as I have heard. Mr. Sara Wilson's predictions, on page 580, will not hold good for this part of Ken- tucky for white clover. There is one cause by which we may know there will be a failure of white clover six months ahead. There is no cause by which we may know of a good flow of honey ahead of time, only He who sends the rain, wind, and sunshine knows that. J. M. Pratt. Todd's Point, Ky., June 28, 1892. Commencing to Extract Honey. Bees are doing very well. I wintered 40 colonies in chaff hives on the summer stands, and lost only one. I will com- mence to extract honey to-morrow. I have had only three swarms so far ; I am trying to prevent swarming, and think I will succeed by giving plenty of room. A. A. Simpson. Swarts, Pa., July 4, 1892. A Queen from Arkansas. I have to-day received and introduced a queen from Arkansas. The queen's abdomen is yellow, including the tip; also a large crescent on the thorax. The workers are fine, showing the three bands when empty. The drone also accompanying the other bees has an abdomen nearly 'all yellow. It is too late to test the queen's progeny on white clover, but I will try them on sweet clover and fall flowers. C. E. Mead. Chicago, Ills., July 4, 1892. Land One Vast Flower-Bed. I feel something like Hawkeye, the old Indian hunter. One day he got into a covey of Indians, and was shooting right and left, and all at once his stock of powder gave out. He stood his rifle up against a rock, and said to himself : " Stand there, La longu carabine," mean- ing you are of no more use to me than the mullen-stock ; and that is the way with my bee-hives. They are as useless to me as so many dry-goods boxes. I have 7 colonies of bees, good and bad, left yet. I had one swarm come out on June 18, and one on June 19. I had a colony in a ten-frame hive, that, when I put them out last spring, was heavy, and had lots of bees ; and last week I took out the combs and found ten worker bees and one queen ! I transferred them to a hive that I have transferred 11 col- onies to this spring, and now there are perhaps 50 workers in it, all told. I just had another swarm come out and go back again. I have lots of hives filled with combs, and considerable honey for the swarms that my yet issue. The prairie and timber land is one vast flower-bed. I can show more honey- plants in blossom than can be seen in any State east of here. If I had my 50 colonies, I could fill the hives with honey in short order. My farm is on the edge of the timber belt in the famous park region of Minnesota, and cannot be ex- celled in anything. I hope my friend, Mr. Lillibridge, of Port Allegany, Pa., will not be offended at my joking him about the hemlock trees. Mark D. Juokins. Osakis, Minn., June 24, 1892. Can Bees Hear? On page 774 of the Bee Journal for June 9, I notice an item taken from the American Farmer, which asserts that bees cannot hear. If this be true, why do they make the various noises so familiar to our ears, and which clearly indicate their temperament ? Why, at the sound of the swarming note from one colony, will another suddenly take a notion to swarm ? and how does a band of scouts lead off a swarm to the loca- tion they have previously chosen ? Wherever be the location of their ears, it seems to me that bees must hear, or be conscious of sound, and that is what we call hearing. If they do not hear, will some one please explain ? Robert H. Williams. Beatrice, Nebr., June 30, 1892. Nearly 135 Pounds Per Colony. I had 60 colonies of bees in March, and have 78 now. I have taken 8,024 pounds of honey, about 1,000 pounds of it being comb. I sell extracted honey at 5 cents per pound, wholesale. .1 sold 5,191 pounds of it to one firm, delivered six miles from here. lam losing a large amount of bees by the trembling dis- ease ; they hop off, grasshopper fashion. The above honey is mostly from orange bloom. P. W. McFatridge. Ontario, Calif., June 27, 1892. 86 AMERICAN JBEE JOURNAL. Queens Piping Before Swarming. On page 22, Mr. George F. Evans asks the meaning of several queens piping before the exit of a swarm. Is it anything different from the ordinary programme at the time of the issuing of any second swarm, or when "the old queen has been lost, and a swarm issues on the maturity of a young queen ? In such a case, one queen is running around in the hive piping in a shrill tone, while another, or perhaps several answer back from their cells in a coarser tone. This noise made by the queen at large is called "piping" or " teeting," and the noise made by those in the cells is called "quahking." At least those names were formerly used, and they apply very well now. Put your ear against the hive of any strong colony that cast a swarm about two days ago, and if a second swarm is to issue, you will hear the piping and quahking. C. C. Miller. Marengo, Ills., July 6, 1892. Red Ants — Good Honey Crop. I have been rid of red ants since Feb- ruary, by keeping chickens in my apiary of 33 colonies. My bees wintered well, and I am getting a good crop of honey from sourwood and white clover. We have had no early honey nor honey-dew. John F. Haeger. Hill City, Tenn., July 2, 1892. My Experience in Eee-Keeping. I commenced bee-keeping eight years ago, and now have 32 colonies. My first swarm issued on June 19, and I have had several since that time, but have put them back, and put on guards to keep the queen in. I would like to know if bees will do well with entrance guards on their hives. This is the first year that I have tried them. If they will do as well with them on, it will be quite a help if put on in the right time. I do not expect much from my bees this year, as it rains almost every day. I have but 2 or 3 colonies that have done anything in the sections. If it keeps on raining next week as it has in the past, I think" I shall have to feed them. I had 21 colonies in the spring, bought" 20 more, and had to transfer 14 of them. The first 9 that I transferred did well, and 4 out of 5 of the last that I transferred on Ma'y 30, as it was quite warm, left the hive entirely, and I lost 3 out of 4- One of my neighbors got them. I was told that he had it in a box, and I had to give him one dollar for his trouble. As part of my bees are kept from home, I have used guards on the hives since that, and I do not see but they are doing as well as my bees kept at home. I would like to know what made the bees leave, as 1 have trans- ferred quite a number of swarms before, and have been successful with them. It was so warm that the comb broke down some, and they were working on apple- blossoms quite freely. I am much pleased with the Bee Journal, and wish that I had taken it before. I see my neighbor Doolittle's name often in it. I live about eight miles from him. All bee-men in this section think that he is as good authority as we have. W. F. Millier. Mottville, N. Y., July 4, 1892. Dead Drones and Virgin Queen. On page 21 Mr. George F. Evans men- tions finding a dead virgin queen in front of a colony that had not swarmed. Probably the dead queen was a stranger from some other apiary, that was lost on her wedding trip. I have had this happen in my apiary. I never knew of sister queens making war upon each other in the parent colony after they were hatched. Last season I even found six live queens in a swarm in the morn- ing, which had been hived nearly 24 hours. Probably a small nucleus would cast a swarm in the swarming season if two queens were hatched exactly at the same time. If virgin queens fought in the parent colony, we would hardly see swarms of a quart or two issuing from colonies in large hives that were already weakened by casting too many swarms. Those dead drones might have been taken from the combs when ridding them of worms. J. H. Andre. Lockwood, N. Y. An Encouraging "Stray Straw." There is an old saying, that "drown- ing men catch at straws." I was just on the verge of despair when I received Gleanings of July 1, and in reading " Stray Straws," I noticed these words from the pen of a worthy brother and ready writer, Dr. C. C. Miller — "Don't get clear discouraged ; I've known sea- sons a good deal worse than I think this will be." Now, are not the Doctor's hopes strong? — "think this will be." There is almost too much territory uu« AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 87 solved here. Can you ever remember when on July 4 there was not a poand of honey in many of the hives (save what you had fed. the night previous), and strong with bees ? Think for a moment — no stores, and no surplus on July 4. These are the conditions of the writer's bees at the present time. But three days in June and two days in July thus far, in which bees could do anything. Despair and famine stared me in the face, and seeing Dr. Miller's words of encouragement, I immediately ordered a barrel of sugar, and continued feeding. See what virtue there is in " Stray Straws." Thanking the Doctor for the words of encouragement, I shall in the future (if successful in this) ever be a thorough peruser of the American Bee Journal and " Stray Straws." A. Y. Baldwin. - De Kalb, Ills., July 6, 1892. Very Wet Season. Bees have not done very well thus far. Basswood is to blossom some, and we hope for some honey from it. June was one of the wettest on record — but eight days that it did not rain. W. H. Scott. Barre, Vt., July 4, 1892. Combed and Extracted. Bees as Weather Indicators. An old apiarist, who has been a close observer of the habits and movements of bees, declares that bees are quite re- liable weather indicators. He says that if the day is to be lowery and wet, the bees will be sluggish, stupid and inac- tive in the morning, while on the con- trary, if the day is to be bright and fine, they will be full of life and activity. — Selected. Good Prospects for a Big Crop. The losses of bees the past winter and spring make the bees that are left of double value, and each owner of one or more colonies should aid the bees with food, if necessary, to enable them to become strong in numbers as early as possible. Swarming will be late this year at best, but the prospects for a big honey crop are in many respects the best for years. The wet weather started an extra heavy stand of white clover, and all kinds of blooming plants that yield honey, and this will probably be a year for a big basswood bloom. So let us get everything ready, and we will score a victory, as honey is sure to bring a good price. Since writing the above, we have been walking in the bee-yard, and the sight presented to-day (June 4) is most inspir- ing ; the sun is shining, and the bees are bringing in both pollen and honey at a great rate. Many of our colonies are very strong, and we expect to report a big yield this fall. — B. Taylor, in the Farm, Stock and Home. Shade Important for Bees. Bees get heated in the excitement of swarming, and like a cool, shaded hive. If the sun shines hot upon it late in the afternoon, they will desert it. One day a large swarm was hived in our apiary, and placed under the shade of a large cherry tree. The next morning was very hot, the sun shone upon the hive, and the bees came out and left. It is not only necessary to place bees in the shade, when they are first hived, but to keep them shaded until they are firmly es- tablished in their new home. If they come out, try by all means to learn the cause, and remove it if possible. Where there is a spraying outfit at hand, it might be used in wetting down bees, to prevent their absconding. A farmer acquaintance has a few colonies of bees, located near large oak trees. These trees make a great deal of trouble during swarming, as the bees clustered in their tops. Now when a swarm issues, he throws water upon them. This causes them to cluster low down. A spray of water can be used to good ad- vantage to prevent uniting. — Mrs. L. Harrison, in Orange Judd Farmer. To Quiet Bees When Swarming. One of the best and most effectual ways of handling a swarm of bees when swarmed or settled, is to give it a good sprinkling with a watering can. After that a person can handle them with satisfaction. — National Stockman. A Prayer delivered at the handle of a sharp hoe, kept in rapid motion, will keep the weeds out of your garden. 88 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. ^AMETCCAN^ PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY GEORGE W. YORK I CO., .At One Dollar a Year, 199 Randolph ST., CHICAGO, ILLS. TO CORRESPONDENTS. The Bee Journal is sent to subscribers until an order is received by the publishers for its discontinuance, and all arrearages are paid. A Samp/© Copy of the Bee Journal wiL be sent FREE upon application. Ho iv to Send Money.— Remit b/ Express, Post-Office Money Order, or Bank Draft on New York or Chicago. If none of these can be had, Begister your Letter, affixing Stamps both for postage and registry, and take a receipt for it. Money sent thus, IS AT OUR BISK; otherwise it is not. Do not send Checks on Local Banks— we have to pay 25 cents each, to get them cashed. Never Send Sliver in letters. It will wear holes in the envelope, or may be stolen. Malte all Money Orders Payable at Chicago, 111.— not at any sub-station of Chicago. Postag-e Stamps of any denomination may be sent for any fraction of a dollar; or where Money Orders cannot be obtained, stamps for any amount may he sent. Subscription Credits.— The receipt for money sent us will be given on the address-label of every paper. The subscription is paid to the END OF THE MONTH indicated. -Jo not Write anything for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Emerson Binders, made especially for the American Bee Jouknal, are convenient for preserving each weekly Number, as fast as received. They will be sent, post-paid, for 50 cts. each. They cannot be sent by mail to Canada, f.ost lumbers.— We carefully mail the Bee Journal to every subscriber, but should any be lost in the mails, we will replace them if notified before all the edition is exhausted. Always State the Post-Office to which your paper is addressed, when writing to us. Special Notices. The Date on the wrapper-label of this paper indicates the end of the month to which you have paid for the Journal. If that is past, please send us one dollar to pay for another year. The Convention Hand-Book is very convenient at Bee-Conventions. It con- tains a Manual of Parliamentary Law and Rules of Order for Local Conven- tions ; Constitution and By-Laws for a Local Society; Programme for a Conven- tion, with subjects for discussion, and about 50 blank pages, to make notes upon. It is bound in cloth, and of the right size for the pocket. We will pre sent a copy for one new subscriber to the Bee Journal, with $1.00. An Apiary Register is a splendid book to have in an apiary, so as to know all about any colony of bees at a moment's notice. It devotes two pages, to each colony. We will send one large enough for 50 colonies, for $1.00, post- paid ; for 100 colonies, for $1.25; or for 200 colonies, for $1.50. After using it for one season, you would not do without it. » i ^» ■ » • The Premiums which we give for securing new subscribers to the Amebi- can Bee Journal, are intended as pay for work done in getting new names among your friends and acquaintances, and are not offered to those who send in their own names as new subscribers, unless such name or names form a part of a club of at least three subscribers. • < i ^» ■ « • A Binder for preserving the copies of the American Bee Journal as it arrives from week to week, is very convenient. You should have one, as it is so handy for reference from time to time. We mail it for only 50 cents, or will give it as a premium for two new subscribers, with $2.00. Lost Copies we are. glad to replace, if notified before the edition is exhausted. When Talking About Bees to your friend or neighbor, you will oblige us by commending the Bee Journal to him, and taking his subscription to send with your renewal. For this work we offer some excellent premiums that you ought to take advantage of. AMERICAN Bhl^L JOURNAL. 89 CX,IJBBIN« 1, 1ST. We Club the American Bee Journal for a year, with any of the following papers or books, at the prices quoted in the LAST column. The regular price of both is given in the first column. One year's subscription for the American Bee Journal must be sent with each order for another paper or book : Price of both. Club. The American Bee Journal $1 00 — and Gleanings In Bee-Culture.... 2 00.... 175 Bee-Keepers' Guide 150. .. 140 Bee-Keepers' Review 2 00.... 175 The Apiculturist 175.... 165 Canadian Bee Journal 2 00 ... 175 American Bee- Keeper 150 — 140 The 7 above-named papers 5 75 — 5 00 and Langstroth Revised (Dadant) 2 40.... 2 25 Cook'sManual 200.. . 175 Doolittle on Queen-Rearing. 2 00.... 16o Bees and Honey (Newman).. 2 00 — 175 Binder for Am. Bee Journal. 150.... 140 Dzierzon's Bee-Book (cloth). 2 25.... 2 00 Root's A B C of Bee-Culture 2 25 ... . 210 A Year Among the Bees — 1 50 — 1 35 Convention Hand-Book 125 — 115 History of National Society. 1 50 ... . 1 25 Weekly Inter-Ocean 2 00.... 175 The Lever (Temperance) .... 2 00 ... . 1 75 Orange Judd Farmer 2 00 . . . 1 75 Farm, Field and Stockman. . 2 00.... 1 75 Prairie Farmer 2 00 ... 1 75 Illustrated Home Journal .. 1 50 — 1 35 American Garden 2 50 ... . 2 00 Rural New Yorker 300.... 2 25 Do not send to us for sample copies of any other papers. Send for such to the publishers of the papers you want. Almost Every Bee-Book that is now published we mention on the second page of this issue of the Bee Journal. Look over the list and select what you want. For every new yearly subscriber that you secure for us at $1.00, we will allow you 25 cents, to apply on the purchase of any book we have for sale. This is a rare chance to get some valua- able apicultural reading-matter, and at the same time aid in spreading helpful apiarian knowledge among your friends. ■+--+• -^^ ■ » > Bee-Keeping for Profit, by Dr. G. L. Tinker, is a nice, 50-page pamphlet, which details fully the author's new system of bee-management in producing comb and extracted honey, and the con- struction of the hive best adapted to it — his "Nonpareil." The book can be had at this office for 25 cents, or will be given for one new subscriber, with $1. Premium to Every New Subscriber. — We will give to every new subscriber (with $1.00), for whom it is desired in place of getting any other premium we offer for work done, a copy of "Rural Life" — a valuable pamphlet of over LOO pages, devoted to "Farm Topics, Live- stock, Poultry, Bees, Fruiis, Vegetables, Household, Home, and Miscellaneous Matter." Or we will send it, postpaid, for 25 cts. This is a rare chance for new subscribers to get some excellent reading for nothing — by sending $1.00 for one year's subscription to the Bee Journal. A Year's Numbers of the Amercian Bee Journal contain over 1,850 pages — what a wonderful amount of bee-literature for only $1.00 ! Could you afford to do without it at that price — 2 cents per week ? Send us the names and addresses of your bee-keeping friends, who do not receive the Bee Journal, and we will mail them sam- ple copies. We want every bee-keeper in the land to see it, and know of its value as an "assistant" in the apiary. Wants or Exchanges. Under this heading, Notices of 5 lines, or less, will be Inserted at 10 cents per line, for each insertion, when specially ordered into this Department. If over 5 lines, the additional lines will cost 20 cents each. WANTED— Everybody to send me 10 cents in exchange for my little book, " The A B C of Ferret Culture." it tells all about the care and management of this little animal. 25Atf N. A. KNAPP, Rochester, Lorain Co., O. WANTED.— Those having small sums of money "saved up" can find perfectly SAFE investments, at 7 per cent, interest, for long or short time, by writing to THOS. G. NEWMAN, 199 Randolph-st., Chicago. Ills. OW— If you want Pure Italian Queens, send for my price list. Send now. H. M. STEPHENS, lA4t Munden, Republic Co.. Kan. N WANTED TO EXCHANGE— My new price- list of Italian Bees, White and Brown Leghorn Chickens, White and Brown Ferrets, and Scotch Collie Pups— for your name and address on a postal card. N. A. KNAPP, 25Atf Rochester, Lorain Co., Ohio. 90 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. HONEY AND BEESWAX MARKET. CHICAGO, July 9. — Comb honey is dull and no demand. Selling finest grade white at 15c. With new crop prices will rule firmer. Extracted is scarce and in good demand at 7@ 7i4c. Beeswax, selling at '.26c. S. T. PISH & CO.. 189 S. Water St. NEW YORK. July 9— No comb honey sell- ing. Extracted, new Southern, choi> e, 65 to 70 cts. per gallon.; common, 60 cts. per gallon. Beeswax— 26@28c, according to quality. HILDRETH BROS. & SEGELKEN, 28-30 West Broadway. KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 9— The old crop of comb honey is all cleaned up. First ship- ment of new c >mb honey this week, which we quote at 16c. for No. 1-lbs. CLEMONS, MASON & CO., Cor. 4th and Walnut Sts. CINCINNATI. July 9.— Demand is good for extracted, slow for comb. Supply good of all kinds, Comb. ll@14c. Extracted, 5@8c. Beeswax is in fair demand, at 2o@27c for good to choice yellow. Supply good. C. F. MUTH & SON, Cor. Freeman & Central Aves. NEW YORK, July 9.— Demand for comb is very small. Considerable comb honey on the market, of 2nd grade, but no fancy of any ac- count. Some demand for extracted, clover 6 @7c; buckwheat, 5@5!4c.; Southern, 65@75c per gal.; Calif., 6 <4@7c. per lb. Beeswax— a little easier, with supply to meet demand, at 25@27c. ; 1 to 2c more per lb. for extra select. CHAS. ISRAEL & BROS.. 110 Hudson St. ALBANY, N. Y., July 9. — Demand is very little, and market quiet. We are selling some Florida new orange-blossom extracted honey to good advantage. Beeswax— 28@30c H. R. WRIGHT, 326-328 Broadway. DETROIT, July 9.-Best white comb honey 12@13c; but little left to sell. Extracted, 7 @8c. Beeswax. 26@27c. M. H. HUNT. Bell Branch, Mich. CHICAGO, July 9.— Very little choice comb on market; demaud equals supply; sells at 13 @15c; dark. 10@12c. Extracted, very scarce; good demand; white sells at 7@8c, dark, 6@7c Beeswax is plentiful, fair demand, 25@26c J. A. LAMON, 44-16 S. Water St. MILWAUKEE, July 9.— Demand very mod- erate, supply average of all grades but com- mon quality. Best 1-lbs. 15@16c; common, 12@13c Extracted, white, in barrels, 7c; in kegs, 7y2c; in pails. 7>4@8c. Beeswax— de- mand fair, supply small. Price. 23@28c A. V. BISHOP. 142 W. Water St. SAN FRANCISCO. July 9 .—Demand quiet as old crop is nearly exhausted and new crop not in yet. We quote: Extracted, 5^06 cts. Comb, 1-lbs., 10<&1 lc; 2-lbs., 6@8c. Beeswax — 24@25c. SCHACHT, LEMCKE & STEINER, 16 Drumm Street. NEW YORK, July 9. —Demand is light, and supply large, except buckwheat comb. We quote: Fancy white comb, 12@14c; buck- wheat, 9@llc. Extracted— Clover and bass- wood in good demand at 6y2@7c; buckwheat indemandat 5@6c Beeswax in fair demand at 26@28c F. I. SAGE & SON, 183 Reade St. CHICAGO, July 9. — Selling slowly, trade being in strawberries and other small fruit. No fine comb honey on the market— it would bring 15@16c. Extracted, 6, 7 and 8c, accord- ing to quality and kind. Beeswax. 27c R. A. BURNETT. 161 S. Water St. BOSTON, July 9.— Demand is light. White 1-lbs., 13@15c. No 2-lbs, on hand. No Bees- wax on hand. Extracted, 7@8c. Demand is light for all. BLAKE & RIPLEY, 57 Chatham St. MINNEAPOLIS. Minn.. July 9— Market is dull in general, though some is being worked off. but mostly at cut prices. Fancy white, 15 @17c, 1-lb. sections; dark, 8@10c. Extracted white, 7@8c. ; dark. 5@6c STEWART & ELLIOTT. KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 9.— Old honey is cleaned up. both extracted and comb. New crop will be in about July 10, here. HAMBLIN At BEARSS. 514 Walnut St. NEW YORK, July 9.— Demand moderate, and supply reduced, with no more glassed 1-fi) nor paper cartons, 1-lb. We quote: Comb, 1-ft, 14@15c. Extracted— Basswood,7M@7!4c; buckwheat, 5 ^©O^; Mangrove, 68@75c per gal. Good demand for dark extracted honey. Beeswax, in fair supply, with small demand, at 26@27c P. G. STROHMEYER & CO.. 120 Pearl St. Winter Problem in Bee - Keeping ; by G. R. Pierce, of Iowa, who has had 25 years' experience in bee-keeping, and for the past 5 years has devoted all his time and energies to the pursuit. Price, 50 cents. For sale at this office. We Club the American Bee Journal and the monthly "Illustrated Home Journal " one year for $1.35 ; or both of these Journals and the semi-monthly "Gleanings in Bee-Culture," for one year, for $2. 10. The Honey-Bee ; giving Its Natural History, Anatomy and Physiology. By T. W. Cowan, editor of the British Bee Journal, 72 figures, and 136 illustra- tions. $1.00. For sale at this office. The Amateur Bee-Keeper, by J. W. Rouse, is a book of 52 pages, intended, as its name indicates, for beginners. Price, 25 cents. For sale at this office. The Busy Bees, and How to Manage Them, by W. S. Pouder. Price 10 cents. For sale at this office. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 103 PUBLISHED Br ^ GEORGE W. YORK & CO . chi cagq,ill: ' ONE DOLLAR FEB YEAR. Club Rates,— Two copies, $1.80 ; 3 copies, $2.50 ; 4 copies, $3.20 ; 5 copies, $3.75. Mailed to any addresses. THOMAS G. NEWMAN, GEORGE W. YORK, Editors. Vol. XIX, July 21, 1892. No. 4. " The Seeds we have sown with an earnest will, Though among the thorns they fell, The harvest may bring for the reaper's hand. The l-esult we cannot tell." Ants, it is said, are abated as a nuisance in an apiary by scattering fresh lime around the hives. 'Why fiat send us one new name, with $1.00, and get Doolittle's book on "Scientific Queen-Rearing" as a premi- um ? Read the offer on page 101. The Guadaloupe Bees, an exchange says, store their honey in bladders of wax about as large as a pigeon's egg, and not in combs. The bees have no stings, are small, and of a black color. The honey is of the oily consistency, and never hardens. The "Weather and honey pros- pects in England, the past few weeks, is thus written about in the British Bee Journal for June 23, 1892 : British bee-keepers still have much to be thankful for, though not quite so warm as we could wish for a few days. Since we last wrote there has been sun- shine enough to keep bees going on fairly well, and a very satisfactory quantity of early honey has already been secured. The " Royal " show will have tested its quantity, as well as its quality, before these lines are read, but it is a good sign, when we hear of several bee- men having got off sufficient to complete their entries for the exhibibition, and that it •will certainly be staged. Thus far, then, the weather has been kind to us; how long it will last, it is hard to say. From all quarters come encouraging reports of the outlook ; bees in the south have done very well indeed for a fort- night past, and are now gathering honey well on towards the north, so that after all we may expect colonies to be at work in supers all over the country by the third week of the present month. Swarming has not been excessive so far, and altogether there is every hope of a good and profitable season. The Michigan State Fair, De- partment of Bees and Honey, have made some changes In the premium list for this year. Mr. J. H. Larrabee, of Agricultural College, Mich., writes as follows about if: I wish to call attention to several changes in the premium list of the Michigan State Fair, Department of Bees and Honey. Entries close Sept. 2, 1892. All honey is to the product of the exhibitor, and this year's crop. Some premiums have been altered, and a third premium has been added to the whole list. It is hoped there will be a larger exhibit by new men this year. J. H. Larrabee. By Return Mail — Beautiful Queens of the 5-banded variety. Don't miss this chance. One untested queen in July, $1.00 ; 6 for $5.00. August or September, 1 untested queen, 75 cents ; 6 for $4.00. — J. F. Michael, German, Darke Co., Ohio. 104 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Much Appreciated have been the many words of sympathy and con- gratulations which have come to us out of the great kindness of heart which abounds among all the bee-fraternity. As said before, we cannot publish them all, but can only express our sincere thanks for the kind expressions, and give place but for a few in the Bee Journal. Mrs. L. C. Axtell, of Roseville, Ills., who has for years been one of our pleased readers, wrote as follows on July 9, 1892: I was sorry to hear of Mr. Newman's poor health and withdrawal from the Bee Journal. Yet I am glad it has fallen into so good hands, for I see it is still spicy and good, and should be read by all who keep bees. May you be pros- pered, is our wish. Mr. & Mrs. L. C. Axtell. Mrs.' W. C. Steddom, of Oregonia, O., on July 8, 1892, expresses herself in these encouraging words : I was quite sorry indeed to learn that Mr. Newman had sold his interest in the American Bee Journal, but as it comes to our home every week in the same pleasing style, and is read with the same interest, I feel assured that it has fallen into good hands. That Mr. Newman may soon regain his health, and have a long and happy life, are the earnest wishes of Mrs. W. C. Steddom. From across the Atlantic also have been received heartiest words of sympa- thy, and wishes for the continued pros- perity of the American Bee Journal. Mr. William Carr, of Manchester, Eng- land, wrote thus on June 29, 1892 : I was very grieved to see that, through Mr. Newman's continued ill-health, he had sold the Bee Journal. I do hope, and will pray to God, that he may soon be restored to good health again, which is the greatest blessing we can have on this earth ; and that if I should be able to come to the great World's Fair next year, I shall find him quite restored to health. I am very much pleased to know there will be a grand apiarian ex- hibition at the World's Fair. I sincerely wish Messrs. George W. York & Co. every success in their under- taking, and I will do all I can in this country to assist them. I often look at Mr. Newman's photo- graph, taken at Mr. Cowan's house on July 28, 1879, and I have shown it to numerous friends, and told them about the American Bee Journal. I wish to thank Mr. Newman for all his kindness, and sincerely wish him every happiness he can desire. William Carr. "Where to Keep Honey.— The Indiana Farmer gives the following ad- vice on the keeping of comb honey : Do not on any account store honey in a cellar. The dampness causes it to sweat, and then the cappings will break, and you have a lot of ruined honey. Our honey room is in the second story of our house, and will hold two tons. It is six by ten feet, and nine feet high, with two doors — one on each side — one opening from the hall, the other opening into a room over the porch. This room has one window. Here we put our honey first to let it harden, keeping the room light. After exposing it to the light for about two weeks, we place it in the honey room. Never on any account place more than two boxes on top of each other, but place shelves above each other on the order of a library. If little red ants bother the honey, place the honey on a bench, and put each leg or foot in a pan of water, and my word for it, if you keep water in the pans no ants will bother the honey. Our honey room is as dark as anything can be made to be, writes a bee-keeper in an exchange. Music will be one of the delightful attractions at the World's Fair. Ac- commodations for musical entertain- ments have been decided upon, and the construction of the necessary buildings has been ordered. They include a re- cital hall, seating 500 people ; a music hall, with accommodation for 120 players, 300 singers, and an audience of 2,000 ; a festival hall for perform- ances upon the largest possible scale, with 200 players, 2,000 singers, and an audience of 7,000. The music hall will contain a fine .concert organ, and in festival hall will be placed an organ for chorus support. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 105 Nameless Bee-Disease.— Mr. Jacob Moore, of Ionia, Mich., wrote us as follows on July 6, 1892, about the peculiar actions of his bees : My bees have something the matter with them, and I cannot tell what it is. In the morning they will come out and seem powerless to fly, but scamper away from their hives and die. They do not seem to be bloated, and they cannot be old. All the colonies seem to be alike — 27 in number. What is the trouble, and what is the remedy ? Bees have gathered but little honey up to the pres- ent time, but they are gathering now. Jacob Mooke. Upon receipt of the foregoing, we re- ferred the matter to Prof. Cook, who gives his opinion thus : If there were any flowers now out that were likely to be sprayed with the arsenites, I should think that Mr. Moore's bees had been poisoned. It does not seem a typical case of the " nameless bee-disease." It may be the malady in a modified form. I suggest that he give salt water liberally, and if no improve- ment is observed, to replace the queen with a new one. I believe that Dr. Miller has no faith in this cure ; but so many have reported to me success by its adoption, that I am disposed to think it effective. I have never had occasion to try it personally.— A. J. Cook. Bees in a Candy Store. — In a recent issue of the Utica, N. Y., Globe, was an account of some bees, that, being attracted by sweets, invaded a confec- tionery store in New Brunswick, N. J., last month, The lively experience had with the bees will not soon be forgotten by those who occupied the store. Bees generally seem to "want the earth," and almost as frequently they get it, too, without much opposition on the part of some people. The following is the item referred to : A few bees, apparently attracted by the odor of sweets, entered the confec- tionery store of Frank T. Theburg last Friday. Mr. Theburg and his clerk were behind the counter, and in a rear room four men were at work making fresh candy. The bees were " shooed " out without difficulty, but it would ap- pear that they were only a prospecting party. About 10:15 o'clock a very large swarm entered the rear room through a window. The men then fled into the store. Mr. Theburg hurried around the counter to close the window in the rear room, but when he reached the doorway he could hardly see the window. The room was black with bees. His employes in the store were lashing towels furi- ously to right and left, but the bees only buzzed the louder, and stung the harder, and soon all the men rushed into the street. On Saturday some one told him that if he caught the queen-bee and took her out, or killed her, the rest would leave the place. " George," he said to his clerk, " go and catch the queen-bee." George did not do so. On Saturday, ordinarily the busiest day in the week, no business was done. Yesterday Mr. Theburg began to burn sulphur. He bought a pile of it, built a fire in a big can, and put the sulphur on it, made a wild rush into the rear room, with his face and hands protected, set the can on the floor, and flew out again. This morning he filled a small box with the dead bees he found on the floor. There are still several hundred crawling about in the show-windows, but the floor is strewn with dead bees, and those that still crawl will die within a few days. Two of the Cannon, which, it is believed, were at one time mounted on board Christopher Columbua' flagship, were received at Chicago recently. The cannon are of the ancient and clumsy pattern of such guns turned out in the fifteenth century. Nothing but the body of the guns remains, the woodwork, of course, having rotted away centuries ago. The guns themselves are almost worn to pieces, and are not much more than huge chunks of rust. Indeed, the cannon are put on the "scrap iron " list in the Custom House papers. These historic old pieces have been secured for exhibition at the World's Fair. One of the naval officers who was detailed for work in connection with the Columbian Exposition, found the relics at one of the West Indian islands. Tradition and substantial proof showed that the cannon had been used in a fort erected by Columbus' son, and that they were brought from Spain with Columbus' fleet. The ruins of the fort are still to be seen. Don't Fail to read all of page 101. 106 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Getting Bees Out of Supers. — Mr. Alfred Rusbridge, of Chichester, England, author of a book on "Bee- Keeping ; Plain and Practical," sent us, on June 23, 1892, the following about removing honey from the hives, and getting the bees out of the surplus ar- rangements, which will be very timely now : Favored by the fine spell of genial weather prevailing since the flowering time of the fragrant hawthorn, or May- flower, bees are filling the supers in a manner alike creditable to their habits of industry and perseverance, and grati- fying to their owner. To an enthusias- tic apiarist, whether he be a novice or a veteran, a pile of well-filled supers on the hives in his own apiary, is a sight delightful to contemplate ; the whole process of comb-building — So wonderfully and beautifully done — being expedi- tiously and most artistically " executed on the premises " by his own staff of exceedingly clever artisans, good temp- lars one and all, who toil merrily in their vocation, the livelong day, week by week the season through, without pay, and without any thought of strik- ing for an eight-hour working-day ! My aim is to show the inexperienced bee-keeper in the simplest possible man- ner, how to dispossess his bees of their surplus honey, stored in the supers, without trouble, and, what is more to the purpose, without danger of getting stung in the process. In the height of summer, the best time for removing supers from the hives is either early in the morning, say before 8 o'clock, or, if this time of day be not convenient, late in the afternoon. Let us take our station at the rear of the hive to be operated upon. Don veil and gloves, and you are sting proof. A few simple articles are requisite, i. e., furni- gator, Aston's bee-trap, attached to a shallow wooden tray, and four wedges, each nine inches long by an inch broad, tapering from an inch in thickness to a point. Shorter wedges are very liable to slip in the process. The fumigator being in readiness, we first of all pry the supers gently up from their attachment to the top of the hive (a putty knife is most suitable for the purpose) sufficiently to insert the wedges at the corners. These we gradually push in, meanwhile briskly plying the fumi- gator around to drive the bees inwards. Alarmed at the sudden invasion of smoke, they are rushing panic-stricken from the top of the hives downwards into the brood-combs. A few seconds pass, and the whole pile, 60 pounds weight at least, is then lifted bodily off, and placed on top of the tray close by. The only outlet from this is through the bee-trap attached to the side. Tiny slips of talc close its half-dozen aper- tures. These yield to the slightest pressure froni the inside, and once out- side the bees cannot possibly re-enter. If the queen is not in the supers (and she is generally absent, as a rule), the bees soon miss her and become excited, and commence humming loudly. Ere long they fairly stream out of the out- lets of the bee-trap. By the evening, or the next morning, as it may be, the super is cleared of every bee. But, on the other hand, if the queen chance to be present in the supers at the time — which contingency may pos- sibly happen, say once in a dozen in- stances— the bees are then very loth to quit. In this case, allow the supers to remain undisturbed on the tray for another day, by which time the major portion of the bees will have quitted it for the purpose of their usual daily foraging in the fields, entering the hive (and not the supers) on their return home. Apply to the latter a little extra fumigation, after which carefully re- move the honey-combs, one by one, and as soon as the queen is seen (her majesty is easily recognized by her long, taper- ing body) gently brush her off with a feather at the hive entrance. It is well to have an empty super in readiness close at hand (unless the sea- son is over), to replace the filled ones as soon as the latter are removed, as, dur- ing the honey-gathering season every day is of importance. The material which I invariably use for fumigating purposes, consists of a sugar-bag previously well cleansed and dried, cut up, and rolled into pieces the size of sausage. It is very effective, perfectly harmless to the bees, and leaves no unpleasant odor behind. In June more than 90,000 people, or a daily average of 3,000, visited the World's Fair grounds and paid 25 cents each to see the sights. The largest at- tendance on any one day was 12,038, on May 29. Be Sure to read offer on page 101. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 10T The Axe-Covered Grindstone. Though bright to my heart are some scenes in my lad-time, Which fond recollections present to my view. One thing I remember that brought me no glad-time. But lent to my childhood an indigo hue. How awful when sneaking away from my mother, As down to the creek with my tackle I fled, To hear father's voice, " One good turn needs another ; Come, turn at the grindstone that hangs by the shed." The old crooked grindstone, The wobbling- old grindstone, The old squeaking- grindstone that hung by the shed. Ah, many's the hour I've turned it and grunted, For it was the millstone that burdened me down ; While nuts were to gather, and squirrels to be hunted, There was always an axe or a scythe to be ground. It never was oiled, and was hard in the turn- ing ; " Only grease of the elbow it needs," father said, And the handle would often slip off without warning. And instantly tumble me heels over head. The old dented grindstone, The worn away grindstone, It gathered no moss as it hung by the shed. '•This stone," father said, "like earth turns on its axes, But comparison fails on the matter of force." I said, "Though the speed of the earth ne'er relaxes. I am sure it would stop 'neath those axes of yours." The nicks they were deep in the axe or the hatchet, And father bore on till sweat dropped from his head ; If I'd pause to put water on them I'd catch it. "Watch the crank and keep on with the motion," he said. Oh, that old shady grindstone, That slow-grinding grindstone, That hard-running griudstone that hung by the shed ! Yes, dear to my heart are some scenes of my childhood, The orchard, the cider, the neighbor's peach trees, The school-hours 1 pleasantly passed in the wildwood, And the honey I stole unbeknown to the bees, But that circular horror, whose motion was rotary. To-day makes my anger all fly to my head, And I'm willing to go and make oath to the notary, That I was ground dull by that stone by the shed. That lop-sided grindstone, That old hated grindstone. That confounded grindstone that hung by the shed. — Western Plowman. Webster's Pocket Dictionary we offer as a premium for sending only one new subscriber with $1.00. It is a splendid Dictionary — and just right for a pocket. California Bee-Keepers are about to receive some deserved recogni- tion at the hands of the Government. Mr. C. N. Wilson, in the Rural Califor- nian for July, writes thus concerning the prospects in that line : "At last the State University officers are giving some attention to apiculture, and a good beginning in scientific bee- keeping will, no doubt, soon be made at the University. So far, as we know, none of its officers, either regents or faculty, have any practical experience in apiculture, and it may be necessary to do as has been done at the Michigan State University ; that is, secure the services of a practical bee-keeper to take charge of the work ; that institution has an apiary of its own, and Mr. J. H. Lar- rabee, an experienced bee-master, is in charge. Prof. A. J. Cook has hereto- fore given much attention to the work in the apiary, and written and published a work on bee-keeping that is a credit alike to himself and the institution with which he is connected. His experiments have been of great value, so much so that the Department of Agriculture at Washington has given the matter at- tention, and now the expenses at the University are provided for wholly, or in part, by the United States Govern- ment. " If the expense to our University is an item in the account, it is possible we may induce the Agricultural Depart- ment to do as much at least for api- arian interests on this coast as has been, or will be done by it east of the Rocky Mountains. "Our climatic conditions and indigen- ous growths of nectar-producing plants are in most respects different from any- thing in the East, and a different line of experiments are required to get at the best results. At any rate, the Univer- sity officers will take some action." When You Have any honey to sell, get some Honey Almanacs and scatter in your locality. They will sell it all in a very short time. 108 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Queries mmd Replies. Pounds of Beeswax from One Hive, Query 828.— How many pounds of bees- wax can be rendered out of the combs of one dovetailed hive, with a solar wax extractor ? —Subscriber. Various amounts, according to age, condition, etc. — J. M. Hambaugh. With old combs I do not think you will get more than one pound. — H. D. Cutting. From one to two pounds, according to age and condition of combs. — James Heddon. If new combs, perhaps 2 pounds ; if very old comb, not over X pound. — G. L. Tinker. I have never used a solar extractor ; probably from 1% to 2 pounds. — Mrs. L. Harrison. I do not know. Much would depend upon the age and condition of the combs. — M. Mahin. It depends upon how many combs, what size of combs, and how old they are. — Dadant & Son. About one pound from an eight-frame Langstroth hive (whether dovetailed or not). — Mrs. J. N. Heater. One pound, more or less, depending somewhat upon the age of the combs, and the thoroughness of work. — Eugene Secor. I do not know, as I never tried it. I Should think about one pound, or a little more, would come out of eight combs. — Mrs. Jennie Atchley. It depends upon the state of the combs. If in a good condition, about two pounds. If filled with pollen, co- coons, etc., if you get % pound you will do well. — G. M. Doolittle. That would depend upon the age of the combs. Old combs with the cells filled with the cocoons of the larvse of the bees will not yield as much wax as new combs. — J. P. H. Brown. That will depend upon whether foun- dation is used, if it is light or heavy, or whether the comb is made by the bees ; the more brood there has been reared, the less wax can be secured. — A. B. Mason. I do not know. I never used the dovetailed hive, or the solar wax ex- tractor. This question is not very clear. You do not say how many stories high — there may be 10, 20 or 30 combs. — E. France. I once rendered a lot of such combs in a wax extractor, and got very near two pounds from eight combs, on the aver- age, and I suppose a " solar " would do as well. But combs are not alike. — R. L. Taylor. ' I have never tested the matter, but I do not see why more or less could be taken from a "dovetailed" than from any other hive. As nothing is said about size, the query reminds me of "the old chestnut," viz. : " How big is a piece of chalk ?" — J. E. Pond. All that there is in it, which will de- pend upon the completeness of the combs. A large solar wax extractor, such as Mr. Larrabee now has in the College apiary, is a most excellent ad- junct to any bee equipment. The one here is mounted" on two old tricycle wheels, and is very convenient. — A. J. Cook. Your question is too indefinite to haz- ard an answer. You do not give the size and number of the combs, and I know of no hive in general use that is put together with the joint known by mechanics as "dovetailed work." I have noticed, when rendering combs with my solar wax extractor, that combs of the Langstroth size will yield from 2% to 3 ounces of clean wax per comb. Combs of the same size vary considerably in the amount of wax they contain ; some sets of combs of the Langstroth size average over 3 ounces per comb. — G. W. Dem- AREE. Much more will depend upon the age of the com.bs than upon whether the hive was dovetailed or nailed together. You will do well to get about one pound from an eight-frame hive of ordinary combs. — Editors. Doolittle's Queen-Rearing: book should be in the library of every bee-keeper ; and in the way we offer it on page 101,'there is no reason now why every one may not possess a copy of it. Send us one new subscriber for a year, and we will mail the book to you as a present. Read our great offer on page 101. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 109 On Important Subjects. Fruit-Raising witli Bee-Culture, Etc, G. M. DOOLITTLE. I have been asked some questions, which I will answer in the Bee Jour- nal. Question — As bee-keeping, or the profits from the same, seem to be uncer- tain of late years, how would it do to combine small fruit-raising with the same ? Answer — There is only one part of the small fruit-raising that can be combined with bee-keeping to advantage, accord- ing to my opinion. Of course, I would advise all to raise enough small fruits to supply the needs of the family, but if sufficient fruit is raised to make a finan- cial success out of the sale of the fruit, the financial part of bee-keeping will suffer just in proportion as the financial part of the fruit increases, as the pick- ing and marketing of the fruit comes right at a time when the bees need the most attention. If the bees are properly attended to, the fruit will be neglected, and if the fruit is properly attended to the bees would be neglected. But there is a part of the small-fruit business which can be made profitable in connection with the bee-business, and that is the sale of plants. As this part of it comes in early spring, so far as digging and shipping plants is concerned, it does not interfere in the least with the bees, for at that time they are in the cellar, or require little if any attention when out-doors. Then, again, the rooting and caring for the plants comes mainly in August, after the hurry with the bees is over, so that it can be done about as well as not, by the man who wishes to economize all of his time, while the covering and fix- ing for winter comes at a time when there is nothing at all, practically speaking, to do with the bees. That this plant business, as above, can be made quite profitable will be seen, when I say that, with very little effort, I did a business on this alone a few years ago, amounting to $150 a year. When I gave up the subscription business, I dropped plant-selling also, being obliged to do less work along these lines after the care of my father's estate fell upon me. Notwithstanding what I have said about the plant business above, if I were to choose any business to go with bee- keeping, it would "certainly be farming, for the reason that this gives steady employment nearly all the year, es- pecially where stock is raised. At the times where more is to be done along both lines than the bee-keeper could attend to, a man capable of doing farm work could be hired very easily ; while hired help along other lines, which would be satisfactory, is something not easily obtained. SWARMING WITHOUT A QUEEN. Question — Last year I was troubled with excessive swarming, and it seemed to me that some colonies of bees swarmed without queens. Do bees ever swarm without a queen to go with them ? Answer — Most of the authorities say No, and so I would have once said, but to my certain knowledge I had one swarm that came out without any queen with them. It happened on this wise : Early one morning I wished to use a queen, and so went to a hive which had a rather smallish colony of bees in it, and took away the queen they had. From a change of queens, made a few days before, this colony had only sealed brood from the previous queen, and only eggs from the queen now took away. Near noon of this day several swarms issued together, and circling around came over this hive from which I took the queen in the morning, and very much to my surprise this colony began to swarm, and to all appearances issued the same as any swarm having a queen. I then thought, and still continue to think, that these bees knew that there were several queens in the air, and not being satisfied with the condition their hive was left in, they swarmed out similar to bees do in early spring when they get in a demoralized condition. prevention of after-swarms. Question — Will the cutting out of all queen-cells but one prevent after- swarms ? Last year I did this on sev- eral colonies, and then I had them swarm out until there was hardly a quart of bees left. Answer — The trouble here was, that the queen-cells were not cut at the right time, for the cutting of queen-cells can be done so as to make a success of it, or a complete failure. By the old plan of waiting five or six days after swarming, or from the time a queen has been taken away from a colony, it was nearly 110 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. always a failure, for in this case the bees have plenty of larvae that were still convertable into queens, and the question of swarming was only delayed a few days longer; and as this delay only gave them more strength, of course they would swarm all the more. Years ago when I tried this plan in proving what was correct in the " books," and what was not, I so cut the cells in a good colony five days after it had swarmed, when eleven days later, or sixteen days, dating from the issue of a prime swarm, a rousing second swarm issued. Leaving them clustered on the limb, I opened the old hive, and by actual count there were 39 queen-cells in that hive which were built after I cut them out, the one left when cutting out before having been destroyed, and most of these had queens just ready to gnaw out. These were all clipped off, the queens in them being destroyed, and the swarm returned, with no swarming afterward. From this I learned to wait eight days in case where a swarm had issued, and twelve days where the queen had been taken away, when, as a rule, the first young queen would be hatched, when a sure thing is made of it, both as to no more cells being built, and also in know- ing that the colony would have a young queen, neither of which is sure by the old method. In cutting cells at any time, it is always best to shake the bees off each comb as it is inspected, otherwise some cell is liable to be missed, in which case swarming is sure to result. Borodino, N. Y. Young Queens as Drone-Layers, W. C. FRAZIER. The communication on page 46 is interesting, but there are a few things in it to which I must take exception. I am certain that I have had queens swarm naturally and not be superseded for more than a year after. However, as I do not let my bees swarm, I will leave this to some other to answer. But to the assertion, '• Again, when a queen begins to fail, she begins to lay drone- eggs — a young queen never does." This I do not find to be correct. I have 20 young queens reared this season, whose worker progeny has not yet hatched, that have some of them more than a brood-comb full of capped drone-brood. It depends much upon the condition of the colony about the queen laying drone- eggs ; these had been queenless long enough for all brood to be capped, and all drone-brood was destroyed ; the young queens layed the brood-combs full of eggs as they came to them, and where there was drone-comb they filled it the same as the worker-comb. In my colonies there is now but one queen that has not been reared this season; nearly all have had their queens " shipped " 24 days or more. Not ten of them have young bees hatched from this season's queens to-day, and I be- lieve there is capped drone-brood, more or less, in 40 of them. Atlantic, Iowa, July 9, 1892. Prof, H, W, Wiley and Bee-Keepers. PROF. A. J. COOK. Dear Editors : — Excuse me if I take considerable space in your excellent paper regarding a matter which is of no small interest to bee-keepers, and which well merits careful consideration. In 1881, Prof. H. W. Wiley published an article in the Popular Science Monthly (Vol. XIX, page 252) in which occurred the following words: "In commercial honey, which is en- tirely free from bee-mediation, the comb is made of paraffine, and filled with pure glucose, by appropriate machinery. This honey for whiteness and beauty rivals the celebrated white clover honey of Vermont, but can be sold at an immense profit at one-half the price." Of course, this was entirely a fabrica- tion. As our best informed bee-keepers knew then, and as thorough investiga- tion has proved since, there was not a shadow of truth in any part of the statement. Yet Prof. Wiley had had the statement from an able, candid scientist, and believed it wholly true. He thought he was telling the truth, and, as is his wont, he put it in an inter- esting, not to say humorous, setting. This article -was widely copied, and from the well-recognized ability and high standing of its author as a chemist, it was generally believed. In these days of wonderful inventions, we can hardly blame either Prof. Wiley, or his readers, for such credulity. Thus the influence of the article was great, and its effect very serious to the bee-keeping interests. Bee-keepers had their comb honey re- fused, over and over, with the taunt that it was artificial. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Ill Thus bee-keepers were hurt, and often, I dare say, indignant. They saw their business unjustly suffering, and seemed powerless to prevent the wrong. Prof. Wiley knew nothing of this, and so, when convinced of his mistake, would only regard it as a harmless error. Could he have known the real facts, I believe he would have been quickest to retract and correct. Our bee-papers knowing, as Prof. Wiley could not know, the injury which the business had suffered, attacked Prof. Wiley in no mild fashion ; in fact, about the most energetic language possible was made use of to designate his wrong doings. This led to Prof. Wiley's article in the Indiana Farmer. He had sup- posed the narration more of a joke than anything else, and so, misinterpreting the action of the bee-keepers, he did not reply, as he certainly would have done, had he appreciated the true state of the case. He had received no word or letter from any bee-keeper, but had only seen these attacks, and as he could not pos- sibly understand the righteous indigna- tion of bee-keepers, he penned the un- fortunate letter to the Indiana Farmer. Prof. Wiley regarded the attacks as violent and uncalled for, and so replied to the whole matter as though it were a joke — not a matter touching the real interest and prosperity of bee-keepers. Most of us mistook his phrase "Scien- tific pleasantry." We supposed that he meant that he published the first article as a joke, and not as a truth. On the other hand, when he published his first article he believed it wholly true, and of such interest that it would create won- der and provoke interest and merriment, hence his expression. Thus we see Prof. Wiley has not been untruthful, nor has he been even disingenuous. Since these letters, Prof. Wiley has issued two Reports on honey adultera- tion. Without the least doubt, both of these Reports were the result of careful analyses, and as skillfully made as the present chemical methods will permit. If not wholly reliable, it is only because of the complex nature of honeys, and the want of sufficient research, and of conse- quent reliable methods for such analyses. Prof. Wiley's Reports make it still more evident that extracted honey is largely adulterated, and so are most valuable. I regard Byron Walker as a very sincere friend of every bee-keeper in showing that wholesale adulteration is carried on in Detroit and Chicago. Prof. Wiley ishelpingon this good work. Adulteration of extracted honey is ex- tensive. Let us hunt out the wrong doers. Prof. Wiley is helping us to do it. Now, what every bee-keeper should desire is, that we know just who is adul- terating ; and, to do this, we must have accurate methods to detect adulteration. Prof. Wiley will take hold with all his energy, backed up by the aid of the Government, to help us in securing such methods if they are not now in existence. He has no desire to do ought, to in any way injure the honest producer. He is very desirous to bring every adulterator — every abettor of fraud — into sure and speedy condemnation. Therefore, brother bee-keepers, I urge in deference to our best interests, and to fairness to,one of our ablest and most gentlemanly scientists, that we desist from any further criticism or attack upon the mistakes of the past ; that we do not demean ourselves by further ref- erence to the " Wiley lie," or "scientific pleasantry," but gratefully accept Prof. Wiley's promise of aid ; and together work (and I believe it will be success- fully) to throttle this horrid demon of fraud and dishonesty. I wish to say that I have had full and extensive correspondence with Prof. Wiley in relation to this matter, and so I am sure that he is not misrepresented here in relation to it. Agricultural College, Mich. [Prof. Wiley is invited to further cor- roborate Prof. Cook's statements as to his (Prof. Wiley's) being anxious to sincerely aid bee-keepers in detecting adulterators of honey, by announcing such fact in the Eke Journal, over his own signature ; and also, we think, though somewhat late, it would help matters very much if he should now acknowledge his error in making the statement referred to by Prof. Cook, in 1881, and make suitable apology to bee-keepers for the same. It seems to us, that such would be the honorable and manly thing to do, as it demeans no man to admit making mis- statements unconsciously, and ask par- don for the same when proven damaging, as that is merely another way of saying that he is wiser now than before mak- ing such misstatements. In fact, it appears to us that such would be the only really conscientious way to conduct one's self after unfortunately being in such a position. — Editors.] 112 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Stanclarcl SectionlSlioulfl Hold 16 Ounces. C. L. BUC'KMASTEB. On page 771, of the Bee Journal for June 9, 1892, I find the criticisms of Mr. C. B. Jenks on the standard size of sections as advocated by me on page 670. Mr. Jenks assumes that there is a standard section, and the people are familiar with that standard. This is not exactly true : yet, I know that the 4^x4J4, of five different widths, is very familiar in the market, and I be- lieve the 7-to-the-foot is the most fre- quently found. I have never used this size, but I do not believe it will contain, when separators are used, more than 9/14 of one pound. There are five of these sizes in the market, and they are all called "pound boxes" by the grocerymen, and are sold as such. Now, if all the comb honey were in the4Mx- 4% section, there would still be no standard ; and, many times, the narrow, sections would be substituted for the wider ones. It is a well-known fact that the pro- ducer of comb honey must sell his honey to the wholesale dealer. » The crates of honey are placed upon the scales, and after deducting the weight of the crates, the producer receives the price of the net honey. Do you see that it does not make any difference to the producer whether his sections are full weight or short? But when the consumer, having bought of the retail grocer, weighs a section, and finds it short, he says, " What a fraud the bee-keeper is !" I see Prof. H. W. Wiley, in Bulletin No. 13, of the United States Depart- ment of Agriculture, says that he was not able to find a full-weight package of comb honey among .the very great numbers analyzed by the Division of Chemistry. While I feel that the Pro- fessor is a little too severe on some of our honey-producers, yet I believe he has told the truth about the packages of comb honey, and I believe that Bulle- tin No. 13 will do a great deal of good in the direction of establishing a stan- dard package that will hold what it is sold for. The bee-keepers' associations of the United States should do some- thing to establish a one-pound section. The difficulty of making the change from the 4^x43^ section to a standard 16-ounce section I wish to explain. This can be easily done by adding to the height without changing the thick- ness. This amount can be found by a proportion, e. g. : Assuming the 4%x- 43^x1% holds % of a pound, we have % : 1 : : 4J^ in. : x in. From this we have x=5% inches, which is the height of the 4^x1% to hold a full pound. This will add 1 5-12 inches to the height of the super. The putting on of this strip is the only expense of the change — about 2% cents each. All the other furniture will do just as it is. I think I have shown how the change from a short weight to a standard, hon- est 16-ounce package can be made with very little expense. This section being oblong, will easily distinguish it from those now sold ; it will soon be sought for in the market, and the producer of it will be known as an honest man — "The noblest work of God." Columbia, Mo. Tie Clipping: of Queens' Wings, EUGENE SECOR. I have had some experience this sea- son that leads me to decided views on this subject. In years gone by I have practiced clipping, and the only reason I can give for discontinuing it^is the time it takes to go .through the apiary and perform the operation. I can see no other objection to it. I believe the queens live just as long, are never superseded by the bees because of it, and for record purposes are more val- uable than perfect-winged queens. And when some swarms will persist in going to the top of the tallest tree in our yard (30 or 40 feet high), as they often do, I wish every queen in the lot was under easy control. Some one may say, "Use queen-traps and catch them as they come out." These have never given me the satisfac- tion I could desire. If we knew with any degree of certainty when a prime swarm would issue, so that we should not have to obstruct the hive so long, they would do very well, barring their cost. The automatic swarm-hiver is another invention along the same line, and open to the same objections in a greater degree, and I have my doubts of its practicability. The swarm-hiver, such as B. Taylor uses, will be a good thing, I believe, but of course there must be an attendant present to use it promptly, or that will be a failure. It is not always possible to have a person constantly in the yard during the swarming season. Ip a small apiary it would hardly pay to hire, and AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 113 the proprietor is often some distance away. After practicing several methods other than clipping the wings of the queens, I am compelled to confess that I like the latter. Another argument in its favor is the certainty that swarms will not decamp. It will out-wit some of the wise ones who put out decoy hives to catch their neighbors' bees. Of course, to get the full benefit of the system of clipped queens, the apiary will have to be so managed as to avoid after-swarms, as the young queens go further and alight higher than old ones. With the Heddon method of hiving and after manipulation, after-swarms are reduced to the minimum. Forest City, Iowa. Late Season. Empty Coiis. Etc, C. H. DIBBERN. The bee season, as well as all other seasons, is very late. During the cold weather in May we resorted to every method we could think of to induce the bees to build up, but it was a discourag- ing business. The feed we gave them only seemed to stimulate them to fly, when many would succumb to the cold, and never return. Now, what we have saved from the wreck are doing much better, and are building up very fast, and by the time clover is at its best, we hope to have most of the colonies boom- ing. SELF-HIVERS FOR SWARMS. When we returned from the out-apiary a neighbor told us that while we were absent, we lost a fine swarm, as they had settled in a tree, but in a short time had disappeared. We had already noticed that one of the hives with our latest self-hiver on had swarmed, and when we answered that we knew that, and also where the swarm had gone, the lady seemed greatly puzzled. Then we told her about the hiver, and how nicely it is working for us this year. We have had but few swarms so far, but we are just delighted with it. No more climbing of tall trees, with rope and ladder for us ! We are getting good, fair-sized swarms, and by a little after manipulation, can fix them up just right. For another year we expect to have our hiver and system so perfect, that any farmer can use it successfully. What a relief this will be to the overworked farmer's wife and daughters, who in addition to their numerous cares and duties, are constantly cautioned to " watch the bees." Yes, and how many swarms will it save, that under the old plan, were soon over the hills and far away. Yes, sir, it is a success, and will surely revolutionize the industry. TAKING CARE OF EMPTY COMBS. What bothers us more than anything else is to take care of all the extra comb. We would like to save all, to hive the issuing swarms on, but the moths are getting pretty numerous, and so we will be compelled to render many into wax. At home we are trying the cold- water cure for the moth, with very good results. We have a tank near the honey, house, and whenever we see a comb infected, we submerge it, for two or three hours, and that fixes them until more eggs are laid, but by keeping a good watch they can be kept down. At an out-apiary we have not time to treat them in that way, and have resorted to fumigation with sulphur in the bee-cave. Somehow we never did succeed very well with sulphur on brood-comb. We will try again, however, and give them a good dose of it. LATEST BEE-ESCAPE DEVICE. Well, what about the bee-escape ? Really, our bees have been " escaping " so fast of late that we have had no great need of it. The weather has been so unfavorable, and the season so late, that "we have not yet been able to make all the test we wish before making our latest device known. We have an abid- ing faith, however, that it is all that can be desired, and far ahead of any- thing now out. If there is any honey crop to be harvested, we expect to be there with our bee-escape. We have several other devices that we are experimenting with this year, and if we gain nothing else, we will gain some useful knowledge. FAIR CROP OF HONEY EXPECTED. According to all the latest bee-papers received, no great amount of surplus honey has been secured anywhere in the United States up to date. The season is generally very late," but with fair weather there is no reason why a fair crop of nice white clover honey should not yet be gathered. As the season is late in opening, it is reasonable to expect it to extend beyond the usual time. We have just returned from a visit to our out-apiary, and found the white clover coming out in fine shape. Some of the 114 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. hillsides have the appearance of being covered with snow. The strong colonies are also commencing operations in the sections. Notwithstanding all our losses and drawbacks on account of the weather, we fully believe that we will secure a very fair crop of honey. If we do not secure it, then there is something wrong over which we have no control. Like producing a crop of anything else, we should do well our part, and trust the balance to the promise that "seed-time and harvest shall not fail on the earth." DECOY HIVES FOR STRAY SWARMS. Farmers and small bee-keepers usually lose quite a percentage of their swarms. These early swarms are the very bees that should gather the surplus crop, and the loss of them seriously affects the profits of the business. Our new swarmer and system, that we are now perfecting, promises to solve this problem com- pletely. Then bee-keeping will be re- lieved of one of its chief sources of anxiety. But while so many swarms are flying around loose over the country, why not catch a few of them by means of decoy hives ? If you have any old hives on hand, no matter if they are mere boxes, or even nail-kegs will do, put them up in good-sized trees in the woods. Also scatter a few through the orchard, or any place where the bees will be apt to find. A comb or two, placed in the decoys, is a great inducement for swarms to take possession of them, and it is sur- prising how many of the decoys will find occupants during the. swarming time. We manage every year to catch a num- ber in this way, and while some may be our own, we feel sure that we catch more than we lose by desertion. HAVE EVERYTHING NICE AND CLEAN. If you are using hives full of comb on which the bees have died, to hive swarms in, be sure they are reasonably cleansed of dead bees and bad combs, also that they are not hopelessly in- fested by moth. Better melt up all such combs, and hive on nice sheets of foundation. In fact, it will pay to use good, heavy foundation to poor comb of any kind. When surplus sections are put on the hives, be sure they are nice and clean, and that the foundation will not drop down as soon as the bees begin to hang on it. Better go a little slow, and have all in nice shape. — Western Plowman. Rock Island Co., Ills. Surfeit Among Bees that were Starved, E. STRONG. On page 9, I notice that Prof. Cook has given a little time to the study of a nameless or strange disease, of which there has been great complaint, for some years. He pronounces it a condition rather than a disease, and closes with this shrewd observation : "The appear- ance suggests a very meager diet." I think he is right. I have for some- time regarded this trouble as surfeit, caused by bees being too suddenly "fed" when in a starving condition, and gorg- ing themselves with too heavy and con- centrated a syrup, or with old honey not sufficiently thinned. My bees have not escaped this trouble, and doubtless all, at times, have had a touch of it. It is far from a pleasant sight, in the early part of the season, to see hundreds of bees, young and healthy, crawling away from the hive to die, slowly. Some will be two days in dying. A few seem to recover. I picked up half a tea-cupful before a hive, and took them in by the stove, and left them to warm up. They soon "came to," and were crawling all over, and you would say, " Put them into the hive, and they would be all right." But in a short time they again came out into the grass to die. This shows that they are not chilled bees, although they act some like it. They look and act as though they might be poisoned by fruit-spraying. I thought so this year, but as we have been told that bees are probably not poisoned by spraying, I looked into the matter more closely. Well, the previous day I overhauled a dozen colonies. It was the close of the fruit-bloom, and the wet, cold ground was white under the apple-trees. I selected such colonies as looked hungry, and the first five did not have one pound of honey, all put together, and one col- ony gave the flat buzz of starvation. In feeding them I gave extracted honey, undiluted. Of the 5 colonies fed, only 2 were hungry enough to be sick. A few bees came out that night, but the next morning a great many were out, and this continued for nearly a week. No other colonies were sick. If it were poison, a few bees, at least, would be seen at other hives. These colonies were all strong, and full of brood, and this had taken all the honey. In some of the published complaints, I see that this trouble followed the feed- AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 115 ing of starving bees. Perhaps the same would be true of other cases, if all the conditions were given. It might be a suitable subject for the Experiment Station to determine, how near starved bees must be, to become gorged ; and also how thin the food should be to pre- vent the surfeit. Of course, if not suffi- ciently starved, no surfeit will occur. But this year many colonies starved to death long after the pollen season opened, and the combs were supplied with pollen when there was nothing else. Kalamazoo, Mich., July 6, 1892. Honey and Bees in a Tree, G. O. COUVILLON. About two weeks ago I found a colony of wild bees in an old oak-tree, and noticing a great number of bees coming in and out of a hole in a large limb of the tree, in active duty, which generally indicates a good supply of honey, I con- cluded to fell the tree and see what treasure there was in it, and at the same time try to capture the bees. Accordingly, next morning, with vol- unteer aid from several of my friends, eager to have a taste of the nectar, we soon had the giant tree down on the ground. With bee-veils and plenty of smoke, we soon had access to their sweet treasure, and, unmindful of a few stings from as many enraged bees, we succeed- ed in getting about 40 pounds of good comb honey, and enough brood-comb to fill five Langstroth frames. The next morning, seeing the bees clustered in the cavity of the limb, I concluded, if possible, to hive them. I brought two empty hives, each with a well-filled frame of honey, brood and eggs, which I took from other hives in my apiary, with all the other frames filled with comb foundation. With a soup-ladle I managed to scoop up the bees, and divide them as equally as pos- sible in each hive. They are now work- ing vigorously, and seem well pleased with their change of abode. I was suc- cessful enough to capture the queen (whose wing I clipped), and gave her to one colony, and furnished the other with one from a nucleus colony. SQUIRKEL AND SCREECH-OWL SKELETONS. At the bottom of the cavity in the tree, and covered with dry leaves, decayed wood and moss, were the skeletons of a squirrel and a screech-owl, with egg- shells (doubtless from the screech-owl). I was puzzled to know how the unfortu- nate inmates found their way in, as the only entrances were -two small holes, about one inch in diameter. Then how did they get in there ? Presumably they used it as their winter quarters, and either the hole became too small for their exit, or they were suddenly be- sieged by the bees, and stung to death. Carencro, La., June 29, 1892. Italian vs. BM Bees, Etc. CHARLES E. FALKNER. I notice there are still a few that up- hold the common black bee, as being superior to the Italians. I wonder if they ever had a good colony of pure Italians, and gave them the same chance they did their blacks. If the black bees were better honey gatherers than the Italians, why did the majority of the practical bee-keepers Italianize them in order to get rid of them ? I say the majority, but should have said about all the bee-keepers. Ten years ago it was not uncommon to go through the country and find two- thirds of the bees blacks, and now you would scarcely find any blacks at all. The only time that I can compare the blacks with the Italians, is in a year like the present one — when we have to feed them. I find that the blacks eat just as much syrup, and gather just as much honey as do the Italians when there is nothing for them to gather. All the difference I can see, then, is that you are liable to get the "big head" before you get through feeding blacks. Pioneer, Ohio, July 4, 1892. Up to July 4 the honey-flow was a total failure. The apple bloom furnished scarcely any honey at all, and white clover was but little better. The fre- quent rains washed the nectar out of almost all the bloom, and now the bass- wood is in bloom, but we can expect but little honey from it, as we are having another wet spell, and it looks as though it would continue for a few days longer. I had to feed my bees up to June 10, to keep them from starving ; since that time they barely made a living. The bees are in a splendid condition, but that will all amount to nothing unless we soon have different weather. The farm- ers here are sowing an immense lot of buckwheat, and probably the bees will yet find help from some source, so they can store enough honey to keep them from starving the next winter. 116 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. CONVENTION DIRECTORY. Time and place of meeting. July~21.— Carolina, at Charlotte, N. C. A. L. Beach, Sec. Steel Creek. N. C. July 27.— S. E. Minnesota and W. Wisconsin, at La Crescent. Minn. John Turntoull, Sec, La Crescent, Minn. Aug. 4.— Kock River, at Morrison, 111. J. M. Burtch, Sec. Morrison, 111. Aug. 17.— Wabash Valley, at Vincennes, Ind. Frank Vawter, Sec, Vincennes, Ind. Aug. 27— Haldimand, at S. Cayuga, Ont. B. C. Campbell, Sec, Cayuga, Ont. Sept. 7, 8.— Nebraska, at Lincoln, Nebr. L. D. Stilson, Sec, York, Nebr. Oct. 7 — Utah, at Salt Lake City, Utah. John C. Swaner, Sec, Salt Lake City, Utah. 1893. , „ Jan. 13, 14.— S.W.Wisconsin, at Boscobel.Wis. Benj. E. Kice, Sec, Boscobel, Wis. 11^" In order to have this table complete, Secretaries are requested to forward full particulars of the time and the place of each future meeting.— The Editors. North American Bee-Keepers' Association President— Eugene Secor.^Forest City, Iowa. Secretary— W. Z. Hutchinson. . . .Flint, Mich. National Bee-Keepers' Union. President— James Heddon . .Dowagiac, Mich. Sec'y and Manager— T. G. Newman, Chicago. M/ Reports, Prospects, Etc. J3T" Do not write anything for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Bees Should Get Lots of Honey. The weather is hot, and bees should get lots of honey from such fields of clover as we have here. T. F. Bingham. Abronia, Mich., July 9, 1892. Bringing in Honey. Bees are now bringing in honey. Sun- day, July 10, was the first good day for the bees this spring. They have had a hard time of it, and had tQ. be fed to keep them alive. John Turnbiill. La Crescent, Minn., July 11, 1892. "Working on the White Clover. In the spring of 1891, I had 60 colo- nies of bees,«which I increased to 93, with lots of honey-dew from black wal- nut and oak, when the flow seemed to cease. I took off about 500 pounds, hoping to get late honey, but failed to get any at all ; so when fall came I just left all the sections on the hives, as I was afraid they would not have enough to winter on, and it was not fit for any- thing else. I was not able to feed them sugar syrup, and • thought I would try an experiment with them, so I put them under shelter with the surplus on them, with no packing, and left them to take their chances, and out of 93 I had 38 colonies left, and to date I have 58, all doing well on white clover, which is in abundance at this time. They are working in the sections nicely. I have taken off some honey, and I think next week I will be able to take off more in one-pound sections. My first swarm was on June 8. Those that have not swarmed are the ones that are gathering the most honey. If swarming could be prevented, I could get lots of honey. S. Burton. Eureka, Ills., July 11, 1892. Bees Improving the Time. I think that the bees have got through starving in this locality, as we have had one week of weather that they could work most of the time, and they have improved the time. The loss of bees has been great in this county — it will average XA or %. Some have lost all, and those colonies left are very light in honey and bees. My loss in bees was 2 colonies out of 40. A. E. Bradford. Hammond, Wis., July 11, 1892. Shipping Bees — Basswood Bloom. What would be the best time to ship bees to the State of Washington — spring or fall ? Would 50 or 60 colonies go all right by putting wire-cloth over the top and bottom of the hives ; then lay an inch strip on the car bottom, parallel with the rail ; then a 2-inch piece cross- wise of the rail, then put on the hives, frames parallel with the rails ; then another 1-inch on that row of hives, with a 2-inch piece crosswise again for the second row, and so on to the top of the car ? As the car is 8 feet wide, and about 6 feet deep, I could put about 30 in a tier, across one end of the car, that AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 117 would be only two tiers in one end of the car, and 3 inches of air between the bottom and top of each tier of hives. Would they be apt to buzz or hum much on the road ? The agent tells me the trip will take about 11 days. How early in the spring, or late in the fall, would it do to ship them ? The season is very backward here on account of so much cold and rainy weather. Colonies are not as heavy as they were a month ago, unless they have been fed, but after the heaviest rain of the season (July 2, 6 inches on the level), it has cleared off, and we have had eight or nine days of fine weather for bees to work on the clover, and the farmers to work at haying. Basswood is just beginning to bloom, and if the weather continues fair, we may get some honey yet. Subscriber. Lenawee Co., Mich., July 11, 1892. [Bees may be shipped, if properly prepared for the journey, at almost any time of the year, but the spring, before the hives are filled with honey, is pref- erable. If the car is properly ventilated, and the combs in the hive run parallel with the rails on which the cars run, your plan, as detailed above, will do very well. — Editors.] Bees Doing1 Nicely. My bees are doing nicely. I wintered il colonies on the summer stands, and all came through in good condition. Robt. Harvey. Aurora, Ills., July 12, 1892. Linden Promises a Good Yield. My loss of bees the past spring and winter was 80 colonies, mostly from being confined on honey-dew in the cellar. I interviewed Mrs. L. Harrison in regard to wintering bees on honey- dew. She told me not to " put all my eggs in one basket," but put some bees in the cellar, and the balance on the summer stands. Now I wish I had left all of them out-of-doors, for I left only 30 colonies out, and 28 wintered all right. I had about 40 colonies of black bees, and not one of them lived to see the clover bloom. One consolation I have is, that the loss weeded out all the inferior, and left the best. The clover honey is coming in very fast now in the afternoon. The nights are too cool to secrete honey in the fore- noon. The linden is just blooming, and the trees are full, and promises a good yield of nectar, if the weather keeps damp and moist. A hard rain does not wash the honey out of the bloom like it does on clover, for the bloom hangs down like a bell, and the water runs off. The prospect for a fall crop of honey is good, as the heart's-ease is coming in the corn in abundance, and in the creek bottoms and all lowlands. All the bees in this vicinity are dead, with few ex- ceptions ; but I heard of a great many swarms going to the forest. They must have come a good distance. I looked on the sand-bars along the creek about the time the new swarms began watering, and I think I caught a "line " on them. Geo. Poindexter. Kenney, Ills., July 8, 1892. "Off" Year for Basswood Bloom. I am now here in charge of my bees. The honey crop this year, up this way, from basswood will be a very light one, as this seems to be the "off" year for basswood bloom. M. M. Baldridge. Richland Centre, Wis., July 12, 1892. Good Fall Crop Expected. I have had no swarms this spring, though I have not lost any of my old colonies, which number 10, but I have had to feed some through April and May. : This has been the worst spring for bees that I ever saw. It has either rained, or the wind has blown so hard that the bees could not gather any stores all spring, though they are quite busy now, and the colonies are large and strong. I think we will get a good crop of fall honey, and perhaps a few swarms this month. Mrs. R. A. Olin. Fall River, Kans., July 10, 1892. An Honest Pound Section. We depend upon the consumers of honey for the sale of our product. A seven-to-the-foot section averages 1-4 ounces. I have enquired of several grocers, how much they ask for their honey, and the answer came at once, so much a pound, handing out a 14-ounce section. I asked them if that was a pound, and three out of four answered "Yes." When requested to weigh it, they would say, "Some of them run over, others under a pound." The truth 118 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. is, many of the honey consumers are not receiving what they pay for. The remedy is, stamp the weight on each section, or give an honest pound ! I think the "Novice wide frame" has the credit, or blame, for the 4^x4}^ section. Honey is not ripened quickly in thick combs. The size of section ought to be such that there should be no waste space in the supers, and not discard the supers on- hand. A section 6x4^x1% inches holds one pound, using separa- tors. It fits the Langstroth supers with only % inch at the end to wedge, and fits the 8-frame supers lengthwise or crosswise. It is too late to change this season, but not too late to get at our best interests. C. E. Mead. Chicago, Ills., July 4, 1892. No Honey and No Swarms. The honey crop in this section is a complete failure so far. There has been no honey and no swarms. The basswood and sourwood is just commencing to bloom, but no prospect of any honey from that source that I can see: This ends our honey season until the fall flow. T. K. Massie. Concord Church, W.Va., July 9,1892. Putting on the Sections. I have 16 colonies of bees all doing well except one, and that has been dying. The young bees hatch out and crawl out at the entrance and die ; sometimes there would be a double hand- ful in one night. They had sealed honey ; the queen is all right, and has a nice lot of brood. The bees look all right. We have had two weeks of find weather, and the bees have been storing from white clover and Alsike. We are putting on sections now. The swarming season is about over here. The Bee Journal, is a welcome vis- itor at our house. I could not do with- out it, for the small sum of one dollar a year. John Otly. Haynie, Wash., July 2, 1892. A "Woman's Good Report. I notice on page 53 that Mr. N. W. Shultz thinks that 61 pounds per colony is a big yield, and intimates that the hive used had much to do with it. My hives are of the Bay State pattern, which has closed-cud frames. Last sea- son my one colony gave me 2 swarms, and I got 40 one-pound sections of honey. This spring found one colony queenless. I have used it and one col- ony with a queen for increase by divi- sion. The one with a queen stored 20 one-pound sections full of snow-white honey before I had queens ready for my nucleus colonies. My third colony has not swarmed this season, and I have taken off 32 one-pound sections full, and there are 48 more nearly ready to come off the hive. I expect they will fill a few sections more this fall. My bees are Carniolans, and I am only a beginner in apiculture, and have made lots of mistakes. The Bee Journal is a wel- come visitor. Mrs. O. G. Howe. Tilton, N. H., July 11, 1892. Excellent Yield Expected. Bees have done splendidly since July 4. White clover is abundant, and should the weather not get too hot, we will have an excellent yield of honey this season. My bees wintered well — I did not lose a colony. They are all in good working condition now, but have not swarmed much this season. C. Zoll. Vermont, Ills'., July 13, 1892. White Clover in Abundance. The spring here in northern Iowa was very late. I took my bees out on April 10, and there was not an average of more -than one day a week that bees could get out in several weeks — either cold, windy, or rainy ; but the many heavy showers and long rains have brought on the clover in great abun- dance, that had been set back by drouths in the five former years, and I hear that Mr. Bird, our pioneer bee-keeper that has had a large apiary for 20 years here at Bradford, says that he never knew such a clover harvest as we are having now ; so I think such men who never rob their bees of winter stores, and have good ventilated cellars or chaff hives, must have a good crop, as basswood is yet to follow. Mrs. F. A. Dayton. Bradford, Iowa, July 11, 1892. The Globe Bee-Veil, which we offer on the third page of this number of the Bee Journal, is just the thing. You can get it for sending us only three new subscribers, with $3.00. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 119 Combed and Extracted. Inoculation Against Bee-Poison. Fifteen years ago, when an English gentleman began the culture of bees, he suffered severely from stings, but they have now lost their force. For several years past they have caused only a slight and rather pleasurable sensation, and that lasts only for a few minutes. But this thorough inoculation against bee-poison leaves him as susceptible as ever to the sting of a wasp. — Northwest- ern Agriculturist. Don't Disturb the Bees. With new honey and pollen coming in at a rapid rate, one is inclined to want to see what is going on inside the hive, and while a few examinations each week may not injure the bees, it is a better plan to give them time without too much interruption. The brood is easily chilled, and the hives cool off very quickly while standing open. With the bees confined to what frames they can cover nicely, and with plenty of stores in close proximity to the brood- nest, but little is to be done except to wait until they grow stronger. — Indiana Farmer. Why Bees Work at Night. Bees work at night in the hive and build comb as perfectly as if an electric light shone there all the time. It has often been asked why they prefer to work in the dark. Every one knows that honey is a liquid without any solid sugar in it. After standing, it gradually assumes a crystalline appearance, or granulates, and ultimately becomes a solid mass. It has been stated that this change is due to the same agent which alters the molecular arrangements of the iodine of silver on the excited collodian plates and determines the formation of cam- phor and iodine crystals in bottles. Honey has been experimentally en- closed in well-corked flasks, some of which were kept in perfect darkness while the others were exposed to the light. The result was that the portion exposed to the light soon became crys- tallized, while that kept in the dark re- mained unchanged. Hence, we see why the bees are so careful to obscure the glass windows which are placed in their hives. The existence of the young depends on the liquidity of the saccharine food pre- sented to them, and if light were allowed access to this, it would, in all proba- bility, prove fatal to the inmates of the hive. — Pearson's Weekly. Poultry and Bees. I am a farmer on a small scale, but make a living all the same. I do not plant cotton nor sugar-cane, nor corn nor oats, nor wheat, but I always have a crop, rain or shine. Last year I raised 600 bushels of potatoes, 200 dozen cabbage heads, 400 dozen eggs, 600 spring chicks, and nearly 3,000 pounds of honey. My principal crop this year will be poultry and honey. I sold 22 colonies of bees, for which I received $66, and 2,440 pounds of honey for which I have realized 8 cents per pound, or $195. Up to July 1, I had sold 360 young fryers at an average of 15 cents each, and 364 dozen eggs at 10 cents per dozen. I have done all this, and tended to a pasture of 250 acres. — Farmer's World. Common Sense in Fruit-Raising. Common sense is a great requisite in the making of a profitable orchard. Do not expect a healthy, thrifty growth of young trees from land which you have been continuously cropping in grain and grass for years, and from which you continue to take off exhausting crops after the trees are planted. The trees must have something to feed on if they are to grow, and if the land does not supply their need, you must furnish fertilizers. Another important point about starting the trees is in regard to the pruning at time of planting. The roots should be cut back one-half, and the top pruned in due proportion. The branches of a tree as it comes from the nursery are often not where they are wanted. If opposite each other there is danger that the tree will split as it grows older. It is a good practice to take off the top entirely, leaving only buds on the main trunk, and these can be allowed to develop into branches where wanted. All that are not wanted should be removed with the thumb and finger before becoming large enough to require the knife. — American Fanner. 120 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. ^AMEWKSAtf^ PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY GEORGE 11 YORK & CO., At One Dollar a Year, 199 Randolph St., CHICAGO, ILLS. TO CORRESPONDENTS. The Bee Journal is sent to subscribers until an order is received by the publishers for its discontinuance, and all arrearages are paid. A Sample Copy of the Bee Journal will be sent FREE upon application. How to Send Money.— Kemit by Express, Post-Office Money Order, or Bank Draft on New York or Chicago. If none of these can be had. Register your Letter, affixing Stamps both for postage and registry, and take a receipt for it. Money sent thus, IS AT OUR RISK; otherwise it is not. Do not send Checks on Local Banks— we have to pay 25 cents each, to get them cashed. Never Send Silver in letters. It will wear holes in the envelope, or may be stolen. JVIake all Money Orders Payable at Chicago, 111.— not at any sub-station of Chicago. Postagre Stamps of any denomination may be sent for any fraction of a dollar; or where Money Orders cannot be obtained, stamps for any amount may be sent. Subscription Credits.— The receipt for money sent us will be given on the address-label of every paper. The subscription is paid to the END OF THE MONTH indicated. <.>o not Write anything- for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Emerson Binders, made especially for the American Bee Journal, are convenient for preserving each weekly Number, as fast as received. They will be sent, post-paid, for 50 cts. each. They cannot be sent by mail to Canada. r,ost Numbers.— We carefully mail the Bee Journal to every subscriber, but should any be lost in the mails, we will replace them if notified before all the edition is exhausted. Always State the Post-Office to which your paper is addressed, when writing to us. Special Notices. The Date on the wrapper-label of this paper indicates the end of the month to which you have paid for the Journal. If that is past, please send us one dollar to pay for another year. Lost Copies we are glad to replace, if notified before the edition is exhausted. The Convention Hand-Book is very convenient at Bee-Conventions. It con- tains a Manual of Parliamentary Law and Rules of Order for Local Conven- tions ; Constitution and By-Laws for a Loca^Society; Programme for a Conven- tion, with subjects for discussion, and about 50 blank pages, to make notes upon. It is bound in cloth, and of the right size for the pocket. We will pre sent a copy for one new subscriber to the Bee Journal, with $1.00. An Apiary Register is a splendid book to have in an apiary, so as to know all about any colony of bees at a moment's notice. It devotes two pages to each colony. We will send one large enough for 50 colonies, for $1.00, post- paid ; for 100 colonies, for $1.25 ; or for 200 colonies, for $1.50. After using it for one season, you would not do without it. ■ ♦ ■»■ ^> ■» ♦ The Premiums which we give for securing new subscribers to the Ameri- can Bee Journal, are intended as pay for work done in getting new names among your friends and acquaintances, and are not offered to those who send in their own names as new subscribers, unless such name or names form a part of a club of at least three subscribers. — » ■ i ^m ■ « » A Binder for preserving the copies of the American Bee Journal as it arrives from week to week, is very convenient. You should have one, as it is so handy for reference from time to time. We mail it for only 50 cents, or will give it as a premium for two new subscribers, with $2.00. When Talking About Bees to your friend or neighbor, you will oblige us by commending the Bee Journal to him, and taking his subscription to send with your .renewal. For this work we offer some excellent premiums that you ought to take advantage of. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 121 4 I.I Itltl ^ LIST. We Club the American Bee Journal for a year, with any of the following papers or books, at the prices quoted in the LAST column. The regular price of both is given in the first column. One year's subscription for the American Bee Journal must be sent with each order for another paper or book : Price of both. Club. The American Bee Journal $1 00 and Gleanings in Bee-Culture.... 2 00.... 175 Bee-Keeoers' Review 2 00 — 175 The Apic'ulturist 175.... 165 Bee-Keepers' Guide 150... 140 American Bee-Keeper 150 — 140 Canadian Bee Journal 2 00 — 1 75 The 7 above-named papers 5 75 — 5 00 and Langstroth Revised (Dadant) 2 40.... 2 25 Cook's Manual 2 00.... 1 75 Doolittle on Queen-Rearing. 2 00 — 1 65 Bees and Honey (Newman).. 2 00 175 Advanced Bee-Culture 150.... 140 Dzierzon's Bee-Book (cloth). 2 25 — 2 00 Root's A B C of Bee-Culture 2 25 ... . 210 A Year Among the Bees 1 50 — 135 Convention Hand-Book 125 — 115 History of National Society. 1 50 ... . 125 Weekly Inter-Ocean 2 00.... 175 The Lever (Temperance) 2 00 — 1 75 Orange Judd Farmer 2 00 1 75 Farm, Field and Stockman.. 2 00.... 175 Prairie Farmer 200.... 175 Illustrated Home Journal.. 1 50 1 35 American Garden 2 50 2 00 Rural New Yorker 3 00 ... . 225 Do not send to us for sample copies of any other papers. Send for such to the publishers of the papers you want. Almost Every Bee-Book that is now published we mention on the second page of this issue of the Bee Jouknal. Look over the list and select what you want. For every new yearly subscriber that you secure for us at $1.00, we will allow you 25 cents, to apply on the purchase of any book we have for sale. This is a rare chance to get some valua- able apicultural reading-matter, and at the same time aid in spreading helpful apiarian knowledge among your friends. • ■ i — ■ • ♦ ■» _ Bee-Keeping for Profit, by Dr. G. L. Tinker, is a nice, 50-page pamphlet, which details fully the author's new system of bee-management in producing comb and extracted honey, and the con- struction of the hive best adapted to it — his "Nonpareil." The book can be had at this office for 25 cents, or will be given for one new subscriber, with $1. Premium to Every New Subscriber. — We will give to every new subscriber (with $1.00), for whom it is desired in place of getting any other premium we offer for work done, a copy of "Rural Life " — a valuable pamphlet of over 100 pages, devoted to "Farm Topics, Live- stock, Poultry, Bees, Fruits, Vegetables, Household, Home, and Miscellaneous Matter." Or we will send it, postpaid, for 25 cts. This is a rare chance for new subscribers to get some excellent reading for nothing — by sending $1.00. for one year's subscription to the Bee Journal. This Means YOU.— When order- ing any of the books or articles which we offer clubbed with th,e Bee Journal, or otherwise ; or when 'sending anything intended for us, such as subscriptions to the Bee Journal, or matter for publi- cation, be sure to address everything to —George W. York & Co., 199 Ran- dolph St., Chicago, Ills. Wants or Exchanges. Under this heading, Notices of 5 lines, or less, will be inserted at 10 cents per line, for each insertion, when specially ordered into this Department. If over 5 lines, the additional lines will cost 20 cents each. FOUNDATION, 38 to 50 cts. QUEENS, 60 cts.— to exchange for Wax or offers. 4Atf W. E. WELLS, Wallaceburg, Ark. FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE— Italian Bees and Queens. Address, Otto Kxeinow, 22Etf No. 150 Military Ave., Detroit, Mich. WANTED— Everybody to send me 10 cents in exchange for my little book, " The A B C of Ferret Culture." It tells all about the care and management of this little animal. 25Atf N. A. KNAPP, Rochester, Lorain Co., O. WANTED.— Those having- small sums of money "saved up" can hud perfectly SAFE investments, at 7 per cent, interest, for long or short time, by writing to THOS. G. NEWMAN, 199 Randolph-st., Chicago. Ills. OW— [f you want Pure Italian Queens, send for my price list. Send now. H. M. STEPHENS, lA4t Muuden, Republic Co.. Kan. WANTED TO EXCHANGE— My new price- list of Italian Bees, White and Brown Leghorn Chickens, White and Brown Ferrets, and Scotch Collie Pups— for your name and address on a postal card. N. A. KNAl'P, 25Atf Rochester, Lorain Co.. Ohio. N 122 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. HONEY AND BEESWAX MARKET. CHICAGO, July 16. — Comb honey is dull and no demand. Selling- finest grade white at 15c. With new crop prices will rule firmer. Extracted is scarce and in good demand at 7@ 7i4c. Beeswax, selling at 26c. S. T. FISH & CO.. 189 S. Water St. NEW YORK, July 16.— No comb honey sell- ing. Extracted, new Southern, choice, 65 to .70 cts. per gallon.; common, 60 cts. per gallon. Beeswax— 26@2 8c, according to quality. HILDRETH BROS. & SEGELKEN, 28-30 West Broadway. KANSAS CITY, Mo.. July 16.— The old crop of comb honey is all cleaned up. First ship- ment of new comb honey this week, which we quote at 16c. for No. 1-lbs. CLEMONS, MASON & CO., Cor. 4th and Walnut Sts. CINCINNATI. July 16.— Demand is good for extracted at 5@8c Stock on hand small. Demand slow for comb honey, at 12@16c for best white. Beeswax is in fair demand, at 23@25c. for good to choice yellow. C. F. MUTH & SON, Cor. Freeman & Central Aves. NEW YORK, July 16.— Demand for comb is very small. Considerable comb honey on the market, of 2nd grade, but no fancy of any ac- count. Some demand for extracted, clover 6 @7c. ; buckwheat, 5®5!4c; Southern, 65@75c per gal.; Calif., 6y2@7c. per lb. Beeswax— a little easier, with supply to meet demand, at 25@27c. ; 1 to 2c more per lb. for extra select. CHAS. ISRAEL & BROS., 110 Hudson St. ALBANY, N. Y., July 16— Demand is very little, and market quiet. We are selling some Florida new orange-blossom extracted honey to good advantage. Beeswax— 2S@30c H. R. WRIGHT. 326-328 Broadway. DETROIT, July 16.-Best white comb honey 12@13c. ; but little left to sell. Extracted, 7 @8c. Beeswax, 26@27c. M. H. HUNT. Bell Branch. Mich. CHICAGO, July 16— Very little choice comb on market; demand equals supply; sells at 13 @15c. ; dark, 10@12c Extracted, very scarce; g-ood demand; white sells at 7@8c, dark, 6@7c Beeswax is plentiful, fair demand, 25@26c J. A. LAMON. 44-46 S. Water St. MILWAUKEE, July 16— Demand very mod- erate, supply average of all grades but com- mon quality. Best 1-lbs. 15@16c; common, 12@13c. Extracted, white, in barrels, 7c; in kegs, 7J4c; in pails. 7!4@8c. Beeswax— de- mand fair, supply small. Price. 23@28c. A. V. BISHOP. 142 W. Water St. SAN FRANCISCO. July 16— Demand quiet as old crop is nearly exhausted and new crop not in yet. We quote: Extracted, 5>4@6 cts. Comb, 1-lbs., 10@llc; 2-lbs., 6@8c Beeswax — 24@25c. SCHACHT, LEMCKE & STEINER, 16 Drumm Street. NEW YORK, July 10.— Demand is light, and supply large, except buckwheat comb. We quote: Fancy white comb, 12@14c; buck- wheat, 9@llc. Extracted— Clover, and bass- wood in good demand at 6!4@7c; buckwheat indemandat 5@6c. Beeswax in fair demand at 26@28c. F. I. SAGE & SON, 183 Reade St. CHICAGO. July 16.— Selling slowly, trade being in strawberries and other small fruit. No fine comb honey on the market— it would bring 15@16c. Extracted, 6, 7 and 8c, accord- ing to quality and kind. Beeswax. 27c. R. A. BURNETT, 161 S. Water St. BOSTON, July 16 -Demand is light. White 1-lbs., 13@15c No 2-lbs, on hand. No Bees- wax on hand. Extracted, 7@8c Demand is light for all. BLAKE & RIPLEY, 57 Chatham St. MINNEAPOLIS. Minn.. July 16 —Market is dull in general, though some is being worked off. but mostly at cut prices. Fancy white, 15 @17c, 1-lb. sections; dark, 8@10c. Extracted white, 7@8c. ; dark, 5@6c STEWART & ELLIOTT. KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 16.— Old honey is cleaned up. both extracted and comb. New crop will be in about July 10, here. HAMBLIN & BEARSS. 514 Walnut St. NEW YORK, July 16. — Demand moderate, and supply reduced, with no more glassed 1-fc nor paper cartons, 1-lb. We quote: Comb, 1-lb, 14@15c.' Extracted— Basswood,7M@7^c; buckwheat, 5i4@6J4; MangTove, 68@75c per gal. Good demand for dark extracted honey. Beeswax, in fair supply, with small demand, at 26@27c. F. G. STROHMEYER & CO.. 120 Pearl St. "Winter Problem in Bee - Keeping ; by G. R. Pierce, of Iowa, who has had 25 years' experience in bee-keeping, and for the past 5 years has devoted all his time and energies to the pursuit. Price, 50 cents. For sale at this office. ■ < »i *m • • ■ • We Club the American Bee Journal and the monthly "Illustrated Home Journal " one year for $1.35 ; or both of these Journals and the semi-monthly "Gleanings in Bee-Culture," for one year, for $2. 10. The Honey-Bee ; giving Its Natural History, Anatomy and Physiology. By T. W. Cowan, editor of the British Bee Journal, 72 figures, and 136 illustra- tions. $1.00. For sale at this office. The Amateur Bee-Keeper, by J. W. Rouse, is a book of 52 pages, intended, as its name indicates, for beginners. Price, 25 cents. For sale at this office. The Busy Bees, and How to Manage Them, by W. S. Pouder. Price 10 cents. For sale at this office. AMERICAN" BEE JOURNAL. 135 I * PUBLISHED J3Y-: GEORGE W. YORK& CO. CHICACO.rLL. t ONE DOLLAR FEB YEAR. Club Rates,— Two copies, $1.80 ; 3 copies, $2.50 ; 4 copies, $3.20 ; 5 copies, $3.75. Mailed to any addresses. THOMAS G. NEWMAN, GEORGE W. YORK, Editors. Vol. XII July 28, 1892. No. 5. " The Man who could, if be would, but won't Bestow on his wife a dime, Is the man who would, if he could, but can't Get married a second time." Pure Beeswax and clean, un- salted butter make an excellent substi- tute for " creams " and balms. For Chapped Hands or any sort of roughness, sage-tea, or oat-meal gruel, sweetened with honey, is said to be good. Honey-Day of the Colorado State Bee-Keepers' Association will be held in Longmont, Colo., on Sept. 28, 18%2. There should be a good attendance of the membership of the Association, as a very enjoyable time is sure to be had by all who can arrange to be there. All Bee-Keepers who read this will help to make more complete the interesting result of an excellent effort now being made by Bro. A. I. Root, of Medina, Ohio, if they will comply with the following request made in the last issue of Gleanings : We shall be very much obliged if bee- keepers all over the country, just as soon as they read this, will send us a postal card, answering, by number, in not more than four or five words, these two questions : 1. How has the honey season been with you this year ? 2. What is your average per colony up to date ? We are well aware that this will be too early for many localities, on account of the lateness of the season ; but we want just such information as you are able to give at the time of signing the postal card. What we desire to do is to report the condition of the honey season, so far as possible, throughout the coun- try. We urge every subscriber of the American Bee Journal to at once write the postal card to Mr. Root, so that the forthcoming report may show as fully as possible the general honey season this year, and the average pounds of honey taken per colony. It will be an exceedingly nice thing to know, though it means a good deal of work for Bro. Root, to get the thou- sands of responses in shape for publica- tion. Bro. \V. Z. Hutchinson, Flint, Mich., says this, in the July number of his Bee-Keepers'' Review, about the white clover honey harvest in his locality : An old-fashioned white clover honey harvest is what this locality is now being blessed with for the first time in five years. Good ! That is about what quite a number are writing to this office now, from -a number of different localities throughout the country. Many are growing enthusiastic over the prospect, and expect to secure a bountiful yield of honey this year. 136 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. The North American. — On page 141 of this number of the Bee Journal, Mr. Frank Benton has an in- teresting article on the time of the next meeting of the North American Bee- Keepers' Association, which is com- mended to all our readers. While all of Mr. Benton's points are very well taken, yet it seems to us that what Bro. Hutch- inson suggests in regard to the time of holding the convention will meet with the approval of very nearly all who can attend the convention. Mr. H. says this in the nee-Keekers' Review : The North American might meet in Washington the next week after the National G. A. R. Encampment, which would be about Sept. 27 for the bee- keepers to meet. This date is suggested by Frank Wilcox, of Mauston, Wis. If this date will allow us to take advan- tage of the reduced rates resulting from the G. A. R. meeting, then that is the time to hold the meeting. We would suggest that as Bro. Hutch- inson is the Secretary of the " North American," he is just the one to corres- pond with the G. A. R. transportation committee, and ascertain definitely how long a time after the date of the re- union, and how long before, the tickets will cover. It may be that the conven- tion of bee-keepers could meet before the date of the G. A. R. reunion, in case the tickets did not extend far enough beyond that date to give sufficient time for holding the convention afterward. At any rate, if the North American Convention is to be held in September, it is high time that it be known, so that all intending to be present may have ample opportunity to prepare to enjoy the mellifluous event. Bro. Hutchinson, as usual, will do all in his power to make the coming con- vention a memorable one. Meeting, as it will, at the Nation's Capital, it should be such a gathering as will command the attention and respect of the whole country. Here is what Bro. Hutchinson says further, in speaking of the programme, and those who expect to be present at meeting in Washington : I am already .planning a programme, and shall be very glad of suggestions. I wish every reader would send me a list of the topics he would like discussed, and of the men that he would like to have lead in the discussions. I shall work hard to make the coming meeting one of the best that the society has held. One thing more, let each who expects to attend write to me and let me know, that a list of all such may be published. Nothing increases the attendance like knowing in advance that "So-and-So" will be there. Now, let every one interested comply at once with the requests made by Sec- retary W. Z. Hutchinson, addressing him at Flint, Mich., so that he may be enabled to carry out the splendid plans already so auspiciously begun. Some Bee-Keepers are having grand yields of honey now. On July 17 Mr. A. J. C. Patterson, of Dicks, Mo., wrote thus concerning the bee-season in his locality : My bees are doing well. It is a glori- ous year with us. I have obtained more honey than I ever did before. Mr. Jas. F. Partlow, of Iowa Falls, Iowa, on July 20, when renewing his subscription to the Bee Journal, said : Bees are booming. White clover and basswood were never as good as now. Apparently the " silver lining " of the multitudinous clouds of the past few months is beginning to reveal itself. Bee-keepers all over the • land will wel- come the " lining " side of the " gloomy clouds" for some time to come — they have had quite enough of the dark side for the present. Let all take heart, and also take advantage of the opportunity to catch the "honey-shower." Webster's Pocket Dictionary we offer as a premium for sending only one new subscriber with $1:00. It is a splendid Dictionary — and just right for a pocket AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 137 MRS. JENNIE ATCHEEY. Mrs. Jennie Atchley, of Floyd, Texas, the subject of this sketch, is of German- English descent, and was born at Deca- tur, Meigs County, Tenn., on July 14, 1857, making her now 35 years old. Her first bee-keeping began when 12 years of age. When 17 years old, she . . .21 ■;■*' •>%•■.., ,, >P! / **%x ') MRS. JENNIE ATCHLEY. married Mr. Emerson J. Atchley. In 1877, in order to be up with the times, she secured all the bee-literature obtain- able, and at once began queen-rearing as a specialty, and shipped her first queens and bees by the pound in 1879 and 1880, and her queen-trade grad- ually increased until 400 nuclei could not keep her supplied with queens to fill orders. Her preference has always been for the Langstroth frame, and at present she uses the eight-frame Simplicity hive. Mrs. Atchley, like many others, has had her sweet and bitter in apiculture, es- pecially in queen-rearing. She has always had a great desire for flowers, chickens, pigs and bees, pre- ferring to do as much of the work as possible herself, and "she finds both pleasure and health in the open air and out-door work, and now does all the labor of queen-rearing and hive-making, and everything that is done in the api- ary, with her three children to help her, viz. : Amanda, aged 17 ; Willie, aged 15; and Charlie, 13 years of age. These children have been brought up in the apiary, and scarcely know any other work. During the present season, Mrs. Atchfey will ship more than 2,000 queens, besides full colonies, several hundred pounds of bees, nuclei, etc. She owes her present enviable position in apiculture, to Mr. A. I. Root, of Medina, Ohio, who has by kind words and encouragement, by private corres- pondence, and through the medium of Gleanings, helped her over many sad trials and difficulties of the past 15 years. Her family now consists of Mr. Atchley and seven children. Mr. A. has been a bee-keeper for 25 years, but his speci- alty was honey production until lately, when they have all been compelled to assist in the queen-rearing. Mrs. Atchley is well-known to the readers of the Bee Journal, through her various articles, and answers to queries from week to week. Many ad- miring friends will be delighted to be permitted to look into her pleasant countenance, which graces this page. It affords us much satisfaction to have this opportunity to present to our readers one among the few prominent apiarian women of America. Ernest Root, in a recent issue of Gleanings, stated that in a solar wax extractor the use of double glass causes at least 10 per cent, more heat than single glass. 138 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Reports of the Season are daily growing better, from nearly all over the, country, and bee-keepers (as well as the bees themselves) are taking new hope, and feel that the worst is now past for this year. The basswood seems to be yielding very heavy, and clover is unexpectedly proving its old- time claim to being an excellent yielder of nectar. Gleanings, for July 15, speaks thus editorially of the season at Medina, Ohio, and particularly of the basswood honey-flow : The flow from basswood has been ex- ceptionally 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. At this date, July 12, 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.— It transpires that some of this honey, at least, is from white clover, which, this year, we thought would amount to nothing. The So-Called Punic Bees. — Mr. Thos. Win. Cowan, one of the editors of the British Bee Journal, has returned from his trip to Northern Africa, whither he went to trace the origin of the so-called Punic bees. In the issues of his paper for June 23 and 30,1892, he writes thus of the results of his investigations, from which we make the following extracts : Now that we have returned from our travels in Tunis and Algeria, no doubt our friends will like to know something about the bees of these countries, of the different apiaries we have visited, and of our experiences with bees in Africa, pleasant and otherwise. The journey was undertaken in the interests of bee-keeping, and for the purpose of removing, if possible, some uncertainties that existed with regard to the bees of North Africa. Our origi- nal plan has been, with few variations, carried out ; and after visiting Tunis, Algeria, and taking Switzerland on our way, we have returned home greatly benefited by the change. During our travels we visited 32 apiaries, and gath- ered very much information. Whether or no there were two races of bees in North Africa was the object of our visit, and we also wanted to see for ourselves if the gentleman who had supplied them had two races in his neighborhood, and if the stories about the difficulty of getting these bees were true. On our arrival in Tunis, before going to visit an old correspondent of the British Bee Journal, who is a large pro- prietor, cultivating 9,000 acres of land, as well as being a bee-keeper, we en- gaged a guide and interpreter, and through him made our investigations. Our readers, we hope, will not be sur- prised to hear that we were on the very spot from whence Tunisian bees had been-sent to England, and the proprie- tor was not a little astonished to hear that his bees had been called Punies by the importer. We very soon found out all about them, and instead of there being such a difficulty in getting them, there was none at all. Now, as regards those bees that were sent over to England : The closest in- vestigation showed that they were just the ordinary Tunisian bees, identical with those of Algeria and Morocco. The most careful inquiries were made, but no other bees were found. We need hardly say that no such race as "Punic" was found, and no one that we came across knew of any other race of bees but the ordinary ones. The Regency of Tunis is not large, and there was no more difficulty in getting information about persons there than there is in Sheffield. We visited Carthage, and saw all that there was to be seen, but found none of the so-called Punic bees there. Mrs. Jennie Atcnley has sent us a sample of her very yellow bees, which are indeed exceedingly active, bright and beautiful. It is surprising what pleasing results may be obtained in the way of color and business in bees by careful selection in breeding. Honey-Candy is made as follows: " Take one pint of sugar, with water enough to dissolve it, and four table- spoonfuls of honey. Boil until it be- comes brittle on being dropped into cold water. Pour off into buttered pans. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 139 Queries mrd Replies. Mertilizei Queens anfl Drone-Ens. Query 829.— If the eggs of unfertilized queens produce drones, from what source do those eggs derive their vitality ?— Tennessee. I do not know. — E. France. From the queen. — M. Mahin. From the mother. — C. C. Miller. From the Creator. — Eugene Secoe. From their " ma." — James Heddon. From the queen. — Mrs. L. Harrison. I give it up. Ask something easy. — C. H. DlBBERN. From the queen, the same as all eggs do.— A. B. Mason. I am not posted, but I should say the queen. — G. M. Doolittle. I will leave this for Prof. Cook to an- swer.— Mrs. J. N. Heater. From the queen, of course. From what other source could they ? — R. L. Taylor. According to the Dzierzonian theory of parthenogenesis, from the queen. There is still room here for scientific in- vestigation.— J. P. H. Brown. This takes the "wind all out of my sails." When you determine in what way the life-germ is retained in the egg after being parted from its mother, you will be on your road to an intelligent solution. — J. M. Hambaugh. From the ovaries of the queen. We now know that eggs from many insects are fertile without fecundation. The eggs of bees are so, and in developing when unfecundated always produce drone or male bees. — A. J. Cook. There is no "if " about it, for it is a fact. It is a law of nature, which has been called " parthenogenesis " by the scientists, and it must be that the vitality comes from the mother. It is queer, but it is so. — Dadant & Son. It appears to be a law througout Na- ture in reproduction, that the inherent vital principles of the female are pre- potent in developing male offspring, while the male possesses prepotent power in producing female offspring. In the union of the vital principles of the male and female, the state of development of the ovum at the time the union occurs has more to do with the development of sex than any other factor — the male principle being prepotent only when the ovum first matures. At a late stage of its maturity the progress towards the development of a male has so far ad- vanced that the union with the male elements has no longer power to deter- mine sex, but simply to vivify. Thus proving that in mammals the ovum comes very near the point of generation without the male elements, as there is at least progress in the evolution of a male, while in certain insects the unfer- tilized ovum invariably develops a male. — G. L. Tinker. Read up the subject of " partheno- genesis," and all will be explained. The little book of " Dzierzon," explains the matter, as regards honey-bees ; but the works of an entomologist will do the same, and also in regard to other insects that breed in the same manner. Par- thenogenesis, as it relates to wasps, is as peculiar as to the " apis mellifica." — J. E. Pond. I think it would take a full column of the Bee Journal for me to explain my- self on this question. But the eggs seem to derive their vitality from the queen alone, this being one of Nature's freaks. It is said by some of our grand- parents in bee-culture, that the drone of a pure Italian queen is not touched by the mating of the queen to a black drone, but if it were not ill manners for a child to dispute grandpa, I would say differently.— Mrs. Jennie Atchley. There is no " if" about it. The word "unfertilized" or "unfertile," when applied to the queen honey-bee, means that she has not met the maie. This is the sense in which these words are used in all bee-literature, if the writer under- stands himself. Virgin queen honey- bees possess the singular function — or vitality, if you please— that enables them to produce male progeny ; that is all we know about it. I could give you some nice "theory," but the facts as to the source of " vitality " are beyond my grasp. — G. W. Demaree. The Dzierzon theory of parthenogene- sis explains the fact so thoroughly that there remains no question about it — no place for an " if." The eggs of unfer- tilized queens will produce drones, and drones only. The source of vitality is the queen, Nature or God. — Editors. 140 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Combed and Extracted. Blue-Jays and Bee-Martins. The California blue-jay frequently helps himself to a breakfast in the apiary, no doubt first attracted to the spot by the imperfect or dead brood thrown out of the hive by the bees ; but in time the jay discovers that worker- bees are palatable morsels, and after the first taste of honey from that source it will perch on top of the hives and de- stroy large numbers of worker-bees. It would be doing the fruit-grower and bee-keeper both a service if the blue-jay was driven out of California. When peaches and apicots are ripening, the jay swoops down on the fruit, driving his beak into the finest specimens, and gashing them so that linnets, hornets, wasps and bees have an opportunity to destroy what the jay has left of the injured fruit. There is another bird still worse than the blue-jay. The bee-martin breeds and multiplies in southern California, so that in and about an apiary where there are trees, they become a great nuisance, and destroy large quantities of worker- bees. They have a habit of getting in the hive of bees as they come home from the pasturage. The martin, on the wing, with its mouth wide open, hovers in the air taking every bee it can reach ; one bird will destroy hundreds of bees in a day. — C. N. Wilson, in the Rural Caiifornian. Occupations of Insects, Birds, Etc. The marmot, so naturalists say, is a civil engineer ; he not only builds houses, but constructs aqueducts and drains to keep them dry. • The white ants maintain a regular army of soldiers. The East India ants are horticulturists ; they make mushrooms, upon which they feed their young. Wasps are paper manufacturers. Caterpillars are silk- spinners. The bird "ploceus textor"is a weaver ; he weaves a web to make his nest. The prima is a tailor; he sews the leaves together to make his nest. The squirrel is a ferryman ; with a chip or a piece of bark for a boat, and his tail for a sail, he crosses a stream. Dogs, wolves, jackals, and many others are hunters. The black bear and heron are fisher- men. The ants are regular Jday-labor- ers. The monkey is a rope dancer. The association of beavers presents us with a model of republicanism. The bees live under a monarchy. The Indian antelopes furnish an example of patri- archial government. Bees are geometricans ; their cells are so constructed as, with least quantity of material, to have the largest-sized spaces and the least possible loss of interstice. So also is the ant-lion ; his funnel- shaped trap is exactly correct in its con- formation, as if it had been made by the skillful artist of our species, with the aid of the best instruments. The mole is a meteorologist. The bird called the lime-killer is an arithmetician, so also, is the crow, the wild-turkey, and some other birds. The torpedo, the ray, and the electric eel, are electricians. Temporary Loss of Prolificness. Gfoing through the apiary, a good many years ago, I noticed a colony that seemed to be decreasing, when it should have been increasing in population. On looking them over I found the brood- nest very small, occupying only a small part of three combs, perhaps four inches in diameter in the center one. There was one queen-cell completed, the old queen was there, and a very few eggs. All of the comb not containing brood was filled with honey. The queen was young, and had been a good one, so I knew the colony should not be in any such condition. I destroyed the queen- cell, extracted the honey from all the combs, and closed the hive. Four weeks later there was the usual amount of brood in it. From some unknown cause the queen had temporarily lost her pro- lificness, and later had regained it. At another time I found a colony in a similar condition except that there was a young queen, apparently not fertile, instead of a cell. I took the extractor and gave the colony a dose of the same medicine. In due time there were two fertile and apparently prolific queens in it. They soon made the hive (contain- ing 20 Quinby frames) very populous, and kept it so the remainder of the sea- son. With Italian bees, two queens in a hive— an old one that has lost her fecundity, and her daughter — is quite common, as they seem to permit super- annuated queens to live until they die of old age. But two fertile queens in a hive is a very rare occurrence. — J. H. Townley, in Farm, Stock and Home. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 141 On Important Subjects. When Shall tie North American Meet ? FRANK BENTON. It was my intention, at the Albany meeting of the North American Bee- Keepers' Association, to suggest Wash- ington, D. C, as a very suitable place for holding the next convention. Illness, however, prevented my attendance, and so I refrained from trying to influence the choice. But some one else seems to have had the same idea regarding the selection, and as a result the National Capital has been chosen. I am greatly pleased at this, and bespeak for all who come, an interesting visit. To make it of value, from the bee-keeper's special stand-point, depends, of course, wholly upon the members of the Association. Whatever may lie in my own power that will contribute to the success of the meeting, I shall gladly do. And just at this juncture, I think it is in the interest of the society to have the other side of the question raised by Mrs. J. M. Null, on page 101 of the American Bee Journal for Jan. 22, 1892, presented for the consideration of the Executive Committee, and members of the Associa- tion generally- Mrs. Null says : " I see that the next meeting of the North American Bee-Keepers' Society is to be at Washington. Why not have it at the same time as the G. A. K. reunion ? Then many ladies could attend in company with their husbands, and all would get the benefit of the very low rates given to the Grand Army of the Republic." The editor of the American Bee Journal remarks : "That is an excellent suggestion about holding the National Convention at Washing- ton. D. C, at the same time' as the Grand Army reunion. We commend this to the con- sideration of the Executive Committee." A consideration of the facts which follow, will, I think, convince most of those interested in the success of the meeting referred to, that such a plan would not be a wise one. 1. The reunion of the Grand Army of the Republic will be held in September — a time when, as is apparent to all, many bee-keepers cannot come because they will then be engaged in securing the fall harvest, or in preparations for it, or, in more northern sections, in prepar- ing their bees for winter, while some queen-breeders will find their work can- not be left for a week or more at that time, and it must be borne in mind, too, that many bee-keepers are also en- engaged in farming, fruit-raising, poul- try-raising, or similar occupations, which afford some leisure during winter, but which cannot be left for a conven- tion in early autumn. Furthermore, many who could attend in winter may not have the ready means to spare in September, having had, in order to secure the season's harvest, to invest in supplies, and perhaps to pay "help, with- out at that date having realized much if any return for the year. 2. Washington will then be filled to overflowing with visitors, and the ex- citement and distractions which will attend the military parades and displays will completely drown the "hum" of the peaceful, busy bee, and her handful of representatives as well. It is ex- pected that fully 500,000 visitors will be in Washington during the reunion, thus twice the population of the city. It will, indeed, have to be a lively bee- convention to compete in interest with the brass bands of the big Grand Army of the Republic show. Most bee-keepers have attended conventions, and their interest in the success of another would have to be strong to cause them to give their undivided attention to it when imposing military parades, grand decor- ations, and fine music, such as will be here in September, 1892, are before the doors. 3. Hotels and boarding-houses will be crowded to their utmost, this, even not- withstanding the fact that Washington, for its size, is perhaps better supplied with such accommodations than any other city in the Union. Quarters for between 50,000 and 60,000 G. A. R. people have already been engaged, and long before September next, all avail- able lodgings will be taken. During the reunion of the Grand Army of the Republic last year, in Detroit — a larger city than Washington — hotels and board- ing-houses were all full, and prices were high. Mrs. Benton and myself wish we might entertain all bee-keepers who come, and have no other acquaintances or relatives with whom they prefer to stop, but you see there's a great blank ! The latch-string is out, but if all favored us, we'd have not only to "double-up" a good deal, but over in the middle of the beds you'd be " as thick as bees !" 4. The heat is very likely to be great here in September, and especially un- 142 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL, bearable for those coming from the North, the atmosphere being moist and sultry. The folly of holding conventions here during the warmer months was shown at the meeting of the "American Association for the Advancement of Science," held here last summer, when the devotees of science had to pass through a regular holocaust in return for the privilege of holding converse with their fair Goddess. "The American Pomological Society " met in September, and found the weather little better. On the other hand, the ''Modern Language Associa- tion," the "National Geographic So- ciety," the " National Florists' Associa- tion," and numerous other societies which have met here during the fall and win- ter, have found that, even at its worst, the weather was no hindrance to their proceedings, while much of the time during their sessions it was delightful. As an off-set, it is urged that members of the North American Bee-Keepers' Association would secure the advantage of reduced railway rates. The fare to Albany last year was the full rate going and one-third of the full rate returning. No doubt the same privilege will be granted this year ; and it is not expected that the Grand Army will secure a greater reduction in September, though should they, it will be not less than full fare going, and return free. One might infer from Mrs. Null's re- mark about the attendance of ladies, that many Grand Army of the Republic men, themselves not interested in bee- keeping, have'wives that are so. If this is true, let me point out, in passing, how fortunate these men are in comparison witb their colleagues, whose wives scream "Murder," and take refuge in the cellar or garret when an innocent bee, scenting sweets, comes in an open window. Through very thankfulness these men should send their wives to the Bee-Keepers' Convention, even though they cannot come, or do not care to do so themselves. And, seriously, has not the wife as much right to spend their common earnings to attend such a con- vention as the husband has to use them to come to the Grand Army reunion ? Mrs. Null thinks the convention, if held at the same time as the reunion, would be considerably increased in num- bers through the presence of this class. I am sure every one would be glad to see a large attendance of lady bee-keepers, and also of the wives and daughters of bee-keepers, whether with their own hands they assist or not in the work of the apiary, but I think most of my readers will fully agree with me that the Grand Army reunion will hardly prove an attraction which will bring this about. I believe, on the other hand, as already indicated in paragraph No. 2 of this communication, it would prove a dis-traction. It is plain, if it induced any bee-keeper to come to Washington who would not otherwise do so, that bee-keeper's interest and time would be divided between the two bodies. And it is natural to suppose that all attending the bee-convention would be more or less attracted by the Grand Army doings, so that it would surely be very hard to make a conven- tion held here then a highly successful one. In view of this, I suggest, therefore, the early part of the coming winter, say during the first half of December next, as a much more favorable time, and I trust that whoever' has any further argument, in favor of or against the time here suggested, will be heard from at once through the bee-periodicals. If, in order to secure reduced railway rates it is necessary for the Association to meet when some other gathering takes place at the National Capital, it would be best that this should be a convention of some literary, religious, or scientific body, rather than a great national cele- bration, as the city would not then be overcrowded. I might, if it is desired, ascertain in regard to the dates for such meetings, and inform the Executive Committee in time to get due notice to all parts of the country. Washington, D. C. [For editorial remarks, see page 136 of this number. — Eds.] Remoying Surplus Honey anfl Tiering Up, DR. C. C. MILLER. Question — During the surplus season, would you once a week remove filled sections, or keep tiering up ? Answer— If, by removing filled sec- tions, you mean picking out of the super while on the hive the finished sections, I certainly would not do that. As a gen- eral rule, perhaps always, except to- wards the end of the harvest, I never remove anything except a whole super at a time. In the busy part of the sea- son all the sections in a super will be pretty evenly finished up together, and sometimes I leave the super on until AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 143 every section in the super is entirely finished. Oftener, however, the four corner sec- tions in the super will not be finished until sometime after the others. So I do not wait for them to' be finished, but take off all supers that have only four to six unfinished sections, and when they are taken to the house I fill up a fresh' super with these unfinished sections, and put them back for the bees to finish up- Queston — In tiering up, do you place the empty super on top, al a Doolittle, or underneath, a la Root ? Answer— Both. If the prospect is very strong that they will surely finish up what they already have, and make a good start in another super, then I put the empty super underneath. But if it is somewhat doubtful, then I put the empty super on top. In the latter case, the bees will not be likely to enter the super unless they need the additional room, and if honey is not coming in very reaidly, the super beneath will be finished up sooner. If I were obliged to adhere to one plan or the other throughout the entire sea- soon, I think I would put the empty super on top, for when bees are working well in one super, they are not very slow about entering one above it, providing the flow is good. But if toward the end of the season an empty super is put under, the bees are pretty sure to com- mence in it, even if they are not getting enough to finish up what they already had. Question — Ordinarily how high do you tier up ? Answer — That depends. There are- colonies and seasons when one super is more than enough. But in a good sea- son a strong colony is likely to need room in two additional supers before it has had time to finish up the first. That would make three supers high. Judgment is needed in this matter, and, no matter how good your judgment, you must do some guessing, for sometimes the season stops short early, and some- times it hangs on a month longer than you expected. I have had as many as five or six supers on at a time on strong colonies when honey is coming in with a rush (that was in good old times when there was such a thing as good crops), and the whole five or six were well oc- cupied ; and then I have taken off from such a colony five or six supers nearly all filled, but hardly a section finished. Better too few than too many. Question — When putting on only 12 sections in the fall, what becomes of the space occupied by the other twelve ? Answer — The space is left vacant, only a little board, 12x4 J^x}^, rests upon the T tins in place of the lacking row of sections. This little board, shut- ting off direct communication from be- low, seems sufficient to prevent the bees starting in the empty space, with rare exceptions. WHY DO BEE-KEEPEBS DISAGBEE ? Question — Why do leading bee-keepers disagree so widely on so many important matters in bee-culture? Answer — Look here. Aren't you get- ting just a bit inquisitive? Well, per- haps the three principal reasons are difference in location or circumstances, prejudice, or ignorance. The man whose principal honey-flow is in the fall will differ in his manage- ment from the one whose harvest ends with white clover. We are all tinctured with prejudice sufficiently to make us think a little better of plans we are familiar with, just because we are familiar with them. And when you remember that modern bee-keeping is only fifty years old, you can readily believe that there is still ignorance on a great many points, and the guesses made on obscure points are not likely to agree. If I could find a man entirely informed on every point connected with bee-keeping, I could keep him busy one while answering questions about things I don't know. — National Stockman. Marengo, Ills. T&e Season in Minnesota, Etc. C. THEILMANN. After reading the report of Mr. Pond, of Kasson, Minn., on page 54, 1 want to give mine, to show the great difference in localities which are comparatively near each other. Mr. Pond writes that white clover never showed up any better than it does now. Here we have but little white clover this year, and what little there is, yields but little honey. With apparently the most favorable weather for the past week, there is absolutely no honey in any flowers worth mentioning. It is almost discouraging for the bees and their keepers, to see the hives full of bees hanging and lying around idle, day after day and week after week, 144 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. without even getting enough for their living right in the middle of the white clover season, and have to be fed honey to keep them from starving to death, which 1 had to do the past three weeks. The outside combs in the brood-chamber are as dry as paper, and after feeding nearly 1,500 pounds of sugar up to date, hardly a sign of it can be seen in the hives. Some three weeks ago several swarms came out, but since then there has not been any, and for the past week most of them have killed off their drones. A great many colonies have eaten most of their younger brood in an out-apiary, to which I had not been in a week's time, which had considerable more white clover there than at home, upon which I depended in vain. When I put my 320 colonies of bees out on April 9, only one colony was dead ; on the whole, they were in good condition, and had plenty of stores with what they got outside until about three weeks ago, although we had very cold and wet weather. On June 15, we had the heaviest rain and most lightning in 36 years, which was followed with two more very heavy rain-storms within the same week. The floods were higher, and did more damage in this vicinity since the country was set- tled. Nearly all the fences and bridges were swept away, and many nice fields totally destroyed. Some of my neigh- bors' bees were drowned, and I had to move some of mine to keep them out of the water. All the crops in the valleys and ravines are badly damaged, and many totally destroyed; $1,500 will hardly cover my loss alone. Small crops on the upland look pros- perous, after a week of the finest weather any one could wish. Corn is at least three weeks late, and has hardly time to get ripe, even with the most favorable weather from now on. CAUSE OF NON-SECRETION OF NECTAR. Now, why is there hardly any honey in any of the flowers since these heavy rains, accompanied with continuous lightning ? I have heretofore given my reason and theory in the Bee. Journal, which was contradicted by some of the correspondents, while others agreed with me, viz. : I claim that the dis- charge of so much and heavy electricity, accompanied with heavy rain-falls, will destroy the honey-secreting properties which are in the atmosphere ; and fur- thermore, is damaging and sickening to most of the vegetable kingdom. Since this heavy discharge, most of the plants and trees — yes, and corn— have looked feeble and blighted. Some of the leaves look as if they were burned by fire, and many are falling from the trees. Before the storms, everything looked a dark, rich color, and was rank in growth. There was a good prospect of linden bloom, but since then the buds look feeble, and many are falling off now. It will be about a week before they will be in bloom, and what they will do for the bees, the future only will tell. We hope for the best. Some years ago it ap- peared to me that these uncommonly heavy storms affected the honey secre- tion, but more particularly so the past four years. Theilmanton, Minn., July 11, 1892." Various Bee-Smote Comuared. Etc. ERNEST R. ROOT. I have experimented much with smok- ers, and have been quite closely con- nected with the manufacture, so far as it relates to details of construction, of some hundred thousand. I have experi- mented with nearly all the smokers ever advertised, from the original bellows smoker, first advertised by Father Quinby, to the perfect smokers of to- day. I suppose I ought to know some- thing about smokers. But may be, be- fore I get through, you will conclude that I do not. Naturally enough, I ought to recom- mend and praise up, above all of its competitors, the smoker in which I am particularly interested ; but my opinion can hardly be biased if I give, the palm to the "other fellow's" smoker — the Bingham — in the manufacture of which we are in no way interested. I am sure I would very much rather give the pref- erence to our own — the Clark — but I am afraid if I did so, our boys in the apiary would ask me why I pick out the Bing- ham when I propose to "tackle " a col- ony of cross or uncertain temperament, or why it is that it is generally used by them in the apiary. Yes, the Bingham is used more largely in our apiaries than the Clark. It is strong and well made, gives a good volume of smoke, of the subduing kind, and is always prompt for emergencies. It burns any kind of fuel, although our boys very much prefer the excelsior saw- dust, such as comes, from the hand-holes in making hive-bodies. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 145 The Bingham has one distinctive fea- ture, that, in my mind, makes it super- ior to all other smokers; and that is, the absence of any connecting tubes be- tween the bellows and lire-box, or stove, •lust so sure as the tube connects the two, as in some of the hot-blast smokers, it has a tendency to become clogged with creosote, and to carry smoke into the bellows ; with the result that the bellows valve becomes stuck up and wheezy. We have a bellows that has been in use, in connection with the Bingham fire-box, for the last three or four years; and the leather valve is just as clean, apparently, as the day we began using it. I may be mistaken, but I think you will not find a like condition in all other smoker bellows that have been in use for the same length of time ; therefore, in hot-blast smokers I would object to the use of any connecting-tube between the two parts of the implement. The very absence of a tube in the Bingham prevents smoke from entering the bel- lows, and causes it to last and do good . service. The only disadvantage is, that the blast is considerably weakened; although for general manipulations of the hive it is strong enough. But there are some advantages which the cold-blast smokers (particularly the Clark) have over the Bingham, or any of the hot-blast smokers with which I am acquainted. Aside from the fact , that the blast is cold, it has very much more force. With an ordinary Clark, a stream of smoke may be forced through four or five hive-bodies, or eight or ten supers, for the purpose of driving the bees out of the same. Again, with our cold-blast Clark, or' the Hill — a very ex- cellent cold-blast smoker by the way — you can start the fire very readily — much more so than in the hot-blast ; and in replenishing they do not require the handling of a hot cone, although Mr. Bingham has made an improvement in his smoker by the use of a" spiral-spring handle, by which the cone may be re- moved without burning the fingers. This safety device (while I first liked it) I do not think is strong enough to en- dure the twisting and pulling often re- quired to remove the cone top. The Clark also, when well going, yields a smoke for pungency nearly equal to the hot-blast, and it sells at a price considerably Jower. For ordinary manipulations in the apiary it answers very nicely. In the last year or so it has been improved considerably, by the use of perforations in the fire-box, not only to increase the draft, but to prevent fire dropping, something that used to annoy when the door was revolved enough to allow a sufficient draft. The new blast-tube is so large it rarely clogs up so as to make much trouble, although it requires to' be cleaned occasionally ; and the valve, in the bellows, becomes in time a little wheezy from creosote, although it may be cleaned with a little care. FUEL FOR BEE-SMOKERS. For fuel we have tried rotten wood, hard wood, pine sticks, sawdust, shav- ings, excelsior, paper, rags, peat, corn- cobs, and a peculiar kind of sawdust that comes from making hand-holes with a. wobbling saw in bee-hives. The last-named we find to be far superior to all the others. It lights quickly, and smolders enough to give quite a dense blue smoke. It is readily obtainable of the supply manufacturers. It should be remarked, however, that the fine sawdust should be carefully sifted out. — Bee-Keepers'1 Review. Medina, Ohio. Tie Mating of Queen-Bees, GEO. S. WHEELER. Mr. A. C. Aten's version (page 18) of the mating of the queens in my apiary, is not the correct one, as I had, at the time mentioned, only one small colony of Italians with few drones, and some 20 colonies of black bees with thousands of drones, and not another colony of Italian bees within ten miles, yet nearly every queen reared from the Italian colony produced three-banded bees. The next season, having introduced these queens producing bees that were three-banded to nearly all my colonies, I expected my queens to be purely mated, and of course should have fine three-banded Italians ; but such was not the case, as nearly every queen reared the second year pro- duced plenty of black bees. I have no doubt that my queens, the first season, mated with black drones, as the chances would be very small for them to meet Italian drones, when there was only one small colony of Italians with few drones, and 20 colonies of black bees with an abundance of black drones in my own yard, and my neighbors' bees were all black. I feel quite certain that very many times from a pure, very light colored Italian queen, one can rear queens that 146 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. will about all produce bees that would show three bands, and pass for pure stock, if they have only black drones to mate with. New Ipswich, N. H., July 16, 1892. How to Make Honey-Vinegar. CHAS. DADANT & SON. There are, in the formation of vine- gar, two kinds of fermentation. The first transforms into alcohol the sugar, or saccharine matter of the fiquid 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 develop best at a temperature of about 75° to 80°. The second fermentation, which de- velops acetic acid, finds its germs in the atmosphere, and many take place almost immediately after the other has begun, and long before the saccharine matter has been 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, nevertheless. The more prompt and thorough the alcoholic fermenta- tion, the more readily will the liquid be transformed into vinegar when the acetic fermentation begins. Honey does not contain the germs of fermentation in sufficient quantity to make a thorough alcoholic fermenta- tion ; and when mixed with water and left to itself, it will require several months to convert the mixture into an alcoholic beverage, and several months more to change it to vinegar. If we are not in a hurry, we may suc- ceed in making good vinegar by filling a barrel half full of water, adding two pounds of honey to the gallon of water, and a few gallons of fermented or un- f ermented 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. By this method half a barrel of honey- water may be changed into good vinegar in two or 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 keep- ing two barrels for vinegar. One con- tains 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 fermenting a certain amount of honey-water in our wine-cellar, and this is used only when it has already under- gone 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 honey — for instance, by wash- ing cappings or honey utensils, barrels, cans, etc., we test its strength with a fresh egg, which should float, just show- ing itself at the surface. This method to induce a prompt and thorough alcoholic fermentation in honey-water is to mix it with a large quantity, the more the better, of crushed fruit, such as cherries, berries, grapes, apple pomace, or even with the pomace of 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 covered 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 dur- ing fermentation. 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 be- fore. The addition of a gallon or two of strong vinegar will induce a more prompt acetic fermentation. Good au- thorities also recommend the use of vinegar " mother " — a slick, slimy sub- stance 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 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 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 147 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. 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° will best aid the making of vinegar. There is a quicker method of making vinegar on a large scale, but this re- quires a special building and apparatus. — Gleanings. Hamilton, Ills. Wonderful Adaptability of Bees in Nature G. W. DEMAREB. When speaking of the works of Na- ture, most writers speak in a way that leaves one in doubt as to what they mean by the very hard word " Na- ture." It is not my purpose to discuss the question of the source of all devel- opment and all power. It is enough to satisfy me when I inquire into the marvelous adaptability of the things in Nature, to accept of the faith of the best and ablest of men who hold that no other than the great Architect of the universe could have so planned all things as to make them work with such marvelous harmony. The honey-bee is a small factor in Nature's work's ; Taut when her career is traced through to the end, her mission cannot be computed in value in the make-up of the total harmony. The flowers secrete nectar (and the bees, with eager, glad hum, gather it), but not for the bees alone. The flowers of fruits and plant seeds need the visits of the bees to transmit the tiny grains of pollen from one flower to another to cross-fertilize the embryo seeds that they may reproduce flowers to secrete nectar for the bees. Without flowers that produce nectar, there would be no bees, and without the bees there would be a great reduction of varieties of vegetation. It is a well demonstrated fact that the red clover would produce no seed in this country, and presumably nowhere else, without the intervention of bees in their office of distributing the pollen from blossom to blossom. The honey-bee has a sharp " stinger " as a weapon of defense, and she could not defend her precious stores without a dreaded weapon. The agency that gives the sharp pain from the sting of a bee, is formic acid. But the formic acid serves another purpose no less impor- tant in the economy of bee-life. It acts as a preservative to the honey by pre- venting fermentation. Heat in the hive is "necessary to the incubation of the eggs laid by the queen, and to develop the infant bees. But heat serves another important purpose. It holds in available form the formic acid in the effluvium arising from the body of the bees, while the honey in the open cells absorbs the formic acid, which makes the honey well-nigh imperishable. The heat also raises the_ temperature of the pellets of wax, and makes them sus- ceptible of being welded and drawn out into matchless honey-comb. The "hum "of the bee is caused by the lightning speed with which its wings beat the air, but this is not all, the "hum" is the "voice" of the bee, and is the chief means of communication be- tween bees. The " hum " of the bee is a simple mechanical sound, as much so as the sound of the " iEolian harp ;" but strange as it may seem, the honey-bee can and does express her passions by the sound of her wings. The gentle, har- monious "hum" means contentment and peace. The high, shrill "key" means fierce anger, and the experienced apiarist needs no other warning to avoid a "black eye." The "hum" that imi- tates the frying-pan just before dinner, means " come in," " gather iuto a body." But the invitation is only for " our set," none other can enter. The royal, the crowned of earth cannot cross the threshhold unchallenged if they are not of " that guild." Honey-bees often visilj deserted bee- hives to carry away the bits of wax and propolis they contain, and they often visit hollow trees in search of the lib- erated albumen and glucose substance produced by the chemical changes that take place in decaying wood, and while thus employed they unwittingly serve the economy of nature as "decoy bees' 148 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. to discover to wandering swarms places for new homes. This beautiful and provident provision in the economy of bee-life, so often noticed by the close-observing apiarist, has led many superficial observers, in fact some weW known authors, to im- agine that bees systematically send out " scouts " to look up a future home for the swarm. It makes nb difference how often these ■ enthusiastic people are told that it is positively contrary to the in- stincts and habits of bees to do any work in advance of their wants, many of them cling desperately to the old "scout" superstition, and are deeply troubled when the light of modern research is " turned on," showing that bees, like other animals, are guided by the laws of instinct, and not by the power of an intellectual, foreseeing, calculating mind. The experience of thousands of years has demonstrated that "instinct " alone has been sufficient to perpetuate the lives of animals in the wild state. I have alluded to the rigid exclusive- ness of bees. While I know of no society of animals so exclusive in their habits as the honey-bee, I know of none so thoroughly social inside of their homes or environments. Other animals exert physical force to domineer over each other. Bees live in perfect peace, and maintain quiet and fairness under the most distressing circumstances. I have discovered large colonies of bees at the extreme point of starvation, in the early spring, everything going to show that they had divided out their scanty stores, to live or perish together. Bees wintered well in Kentucky, and everything promised a prosperous sea- son for them in the early spring. But since then the weather has been too wet and cool for insect life and prosperity. Our bees are badly behind with their numerical strength, and unless the sea- son of flowers is unusually extended, there cannot be a heavy yield of surplus honey gathered this year. Bee-keepers of Kentucky should care- fully save up in one-pound boxes some of the finest honey they may take this season, to put on exhibition at the World's Fair next year; also some of the finest of their honey taken with the extractor. — Farmer's Home Journal. Christiansburg, Ky. Why Not send us one new name, with $1.00, and get Doolittle's book on "Scientific Queen-Rearing" as a premi- um ? Read the offer on page 133. CONVENTION DIRECTORY. Time and place of meeting. 1892. July 27.— S. E. Minnesota and W. Wisconsin, at La Crescent. Minn. John Turnbull, Sec, La Crescent, Minn. Aug. 4.— Rock River, at Morrison, 111. J. M. Burtch, Sec, Morrison, 111. Aug. 17.— Wabash Valley, at Vincennes, Ind. Frank Vawter, Sec, Vincennes, Ind. Aug. 27.— Haldimand, at S. Cayuga, Ont. E. C. Campbell, Sec, Cayuga, Ont. Sept. 7, 8.— Nebraska, at Lincoln, Nebr. L. D. Stilson, Sec, York, Nebr. Oct. 7.— Utah, at Salt Lake City, Utah. John C. Swaner, Sec, Salt Lake City, Utah. 1893. Jan. 13, 14.— S.W.Wisconsin, at Boscobel.Wis. Benj. E. Rice, Sec, Boscobel, Wis. In order to have this table complete, Secretaries are requested to forward full particulars of the time and the place of each future meeting. — The Editors. North American Bee-Keepers' Association President— Eugene Secor.„Forest City, Iowa. Secretary— W. Z. Hutchinson. . . .Flint, Mich. National Bee-Keepers' Union. President— James Heddon . .Dowaglac, Mich. Sec'y and Manager— T. G. Newman, Chicago. setfcjypr& Reports, Prospects, Etc. \RS~ Do not write anything for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Some Noted Apiarian Visitors. As I am just able to sit propped up in bed, I wish to tell you who visited me to- day. It was Dr. W. K. Marshall, of Marshall, Texas, now in his 84th year — the pioneer bee-keeper of Texas. He bought the first Italian queen ever brought to Texas — more than 40 years ago — the same queen that the late Judge Andrews, of McKinney, rode on horse- back over 100 miles to see. Dr. Marshall is still an enthusiast on bees, is well posted, and yet able to preach four times a day. W. R. Graham, of Greenville — the comb honey man of North Texas — also visited me. Both of these friends came over to AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 149 witness the Doolittle process of queen- rearing, which they saw under full head- way, and were very m uch pleased with it. Bees are gathering some honey now, and I think our cotton-blbom flow is upon us, which will last until Septem- ber. I have some new thoughts to write when I get able. Mrs. Jennie Atchley. Floyd, Tex., July 15, 1892. Bees Storing Surplus Honey. We are having a very wet spell — it has been raining here for at least 40 days, almost incessantly. Yet, with all the rain, our bees are storing surplus honey, which seems hardly credible, but is a positive fact, for which I cannot account. John Hager, Jr. Arabi, La., July 12, 1892. Good Fall Honey-Flow Expected. Last winter I lost 3 colonies out of 66 in the cellar, from poor stores, I think. I put them on the summer stands on April 5 to 10, mostly in good condition, though some were weak in bees, but all had honey or honey -dew to carry them through: but owing to the cold rains, they dwindled very fast. I was sick all through May, so I could give them no care. The strong colonies robbed the weak, until I had but 32 left. They are mostly strong now, and working in sur- plus cases, filling them with white clover and linden honey, of which there is an abundance of bloom. Everything looks fair for a good fall flow of nectar. J. L. Flint. Marion, Iowa, July 18, 1892. Sure of a Good Honey Crop. I began the bee-work at my home yard on April 15, 1892, with only 38 colo- nies of bees, a few of them being in frame hives, but most of them in log hives. To take the whole, it was a bad lot of hives to begin with. One must get ready for work, so I purchased Cook's "Bee-Keepers' Guide," and studied it well, and by experience I find it well written, easy to understand, and all correct. I also purchased an extrac- tor, which I find very useful, as I can sell all my extracted honey here at 10 cents a pound, and retain all the combs. Now I have all my bees in hives of my own make; have increased my number to 107 colonies, each hive with 8 to 11 frames chock-full of bees. My bees did good work through May. The rain be- gan about June 1, and it was so wet until July 7, that bees could gather no more than they consumed for brood- rearing. I am glad to say that the clouds have passed away, and we are having some fine weather, and our sour- wood is in its prime, and plentiful. Sumac is yet to bloom, so I feel sure of a good honey crop yet. I see much said about bees swarming, swarm-catch- ers, etc. I have full control of my bees, which is easy, and will be explained in the future. W. M. Scruggs. Tracy City, Tenn., July 18, 1892. Bees in Good Condition — Punics. The month for robbing bees is here, and what little clover there was, is gone, and the bees begin to try every colony, but they are a little too strong to give the robber bees comfort. The white clover was a complete failure again this year in this part of the country ; the bees have just made a living, but they are in good condition, all strong in stores. I have had but 15 swarms from 35 colonies, making 50 in all. Our only " show " is golden-rod and asters now, which very seldom fail. What are the so-called Punic bees doing this year? I do not see anything in the Bee Jour- nal about them. Are they storing so much honey that it keeps the owner busy all the time taking it out ? I have been expecting to see a large re- port from some one ; perhaps it will come soon. Wm. Housel. Wertsville, N. J., July 12, 1892. [For something about the "Punic" bees, we refer you to page 138 of this number. — Eds.] Paste for Labels, Etc. On page 796, of the Bee Journal for June 16, is a recipe for paste, which is full of errors. In the first place, a defi- nite quantity of water (2 quarts) is given, and the rest is expressed as "parts." What does a " part " mean? Does it mean "parts " in relation to the 2 quarts ? If it does, there would be about 2 pounds of sugar of lead — would be rather poison, would it not? Again, the flour cannot be stirred in as directed. I have had lots of trouble getting labels to stick, and I spent $1 experimenting with that recipe, using ounces where it said "parts," but it would not stick. 150 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. I am now having paste made as fol- lows : Good clear corn-starch paste, 1 quart ; pure gum-arabic (dissolved in just enough warm water to dissolve it), 1 jounces; % ounce of alum, and % ounce of sugar of lead, the two pulver- ized and put into enough water to dis- solve them. Mix the whole together. I am only trying this, but I have no doubt it will do the work. That recipe caused me to waste a dollar, and I write so that others may not go and do like- wise. Bees are just rolling in white clover now, and prospects are good for Span- ish-needle. F. H. Richardson. Moberly, Mo., July 14, 1892. [We are glad that Mr. Richardson wrote about his experience with the paste recipe. Of course, we cannot test everything that is published in the Bee Journal, and so have to leave that to the readers. We would advise, how- ever, "going slow " on any new sugges- tions that are offered, unless accompa- nied by a strong endorsement. This will apply to new things in any line, or else we all sometimes are liable to "get stuck " worse than were the labels that Mr. R. experimented with. — Editors.] Asparagus as a Honey-Plant. Please inform me whether bees gather honey from asparagus, and as to the quality, etc. I can hear them in the asparagus as thick as in the white clover. The weather here now is quite warm, and bees are working well. R. S. Mackintosh. Langdon, Minn., July 21, 1892. [Asparagus yields pollen, but jnot honey. — Eds.] Boiling the Honey in and Swarming. Bees in this neighborhood did very poorly last winter and spring. I do not think that there was over 30 per cent, of the bees left late in the spring ; what the cold, wet weather and starvation did not kill, the robber bees tried to finish. This spring was a trying one for me, which I shall never forget as long as I may keep bees. I saved 18 colonies out of 21, fall count. All spring it was too cold and wet to do anything with, them, as I keep mine on the summer stands ; and then they came through very weak, and staggered as if they were intoxicated. They are doing well now, as they are just rolling the honey in, but are filling the brood-chamber more than I like to see. Swarming has just fairly set in now. The Bee Journal is a welcome visitor in this house. I would not like to do without it. Frank Hentrick. Wall Lake, Iowa, July 15, 1892, Have Had a Good Honey-Flow. I have a nice apiary of 40 colonies in fine condition, and they are gathering a fine quality of basswood honey now. I produce the comb honey ; the prices range from 15 to 20 cents per pound here. It is my whole delight to handle bees. We have had a good honey-flow here this season so far, but it is getting a little dry now, though it looks as if it would rain, it has been threatening rain for several days. I have been reading the book en- titled " Bees and Honey," and it does me good to read it. J. W. Fouts. Missouri Valley, Iowa, July 18, 1892. Bees in Fair Condition. Colonies are strong in bees, and in fair condition, but no honey yet. They wintered without any loss on the sum- mer stands, packed in chaff. I think that out-door wintering is preferable to any other for this locality, at least I am satisfied with it. We experienced a very cold and wet spring, but are having very warm weather now. I do not know much about how other people's bees are getting along in this section, as I have been confined to the house for more than two months with a sprained knee. J. W. Peterson. Grand Island, Nebr., July 19, 1892. Bees on a Bush — The Prospects. Mr. Charles Wood, of this county, found bees working around his place the other day, and commenced baiting them, and soon had a strong " line" working, which he followed but a short distance when he found a large swarm hanging on a bush. There had been two or three rainy days, and the bees had the appear- ance of being there through the storm. They were undoubtedly hungry, and had built no comb. The prospects are that we shall be obliged to record another failure in the honey crop in this locality. There is AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 151 plenty of clover, and for the past two weeks the conditions have seemed favor- able, but it produces little honey. I am very sorry, for I am making some ex- periments for our Agricultural College, and am "doing" some fancy work for the World's Fair. I shall be obliged to feed back, if I get this work completed. Geo. E. Hilton. Fremont, Mich., July 18, 1892. Experience in Bee-Keeping. I commenced keeping bees in 1885, when I bought a colony of bees in a log, giving $1.00 for them. I transferred them in the spring of 1887, in the Sim- plicity hive, and also sold 15 colonies. I started in the past winter with 43 colonies, and sold 9 this spring, and 4 starved. I have increased the balance to 65 colonies at present. Rev. W. P. Faylor, of Iowa, sent me a sample of his six-banded bees-, which was very nice. I reared a queen this spring whose prog- eny is as good as those of Mr. F. We have not had much honey yet. Bees are very late swarming in this locality. B. F. Beheleb. Jumping Branch, W. Va., July 19. One of the Best Honey -Flows. As I stated on June 15, there was a good honey-flow, and it still continues. Linden is just coming into bloom, and bees leave their hives in quite a fain to secure the linden bloom. My colonies have averaged 40 pounds each, already. Oh, why did not Sam Wilson tell us that we would have one of the best honey- flows in western Iowa, instead of telling what he did ? Then I would not have worked so hard in the hot sun. I would have prepared in the spring, instead of now. Oh, you missed it badly, Sam. Yes, you did ! Thos. Johnson. Coon Rapids, Iowa, July 18, 1892. Apiarian Patience Almost Exhausted. Three years of failure in succession, followed by heavy winter losses, have tried the patience of bee-keepers here severely. The spring was unusually hard on bees, continued wet weather, and a honeyless fruit-bloom was not at all favorable for their wants. Feeding, however, gave me a worker-force that would mean something in a honey har- vest. Clover comes in abundance ; the fields are white with its bloom ; hives are supered ; bees are ready and wait- ing ; but again it yields so sparingly that they search in vain for a living, so that they are consumers instead of gatherers. We are trying hard to be satisfied with the pleasure part of our pursuit, but would like to know the true cause of a honey-dearth when every- thing seems so favorable for its produc- tion. A. B. Baird. Belle Vernon, Pa., July 15, 1892. Poor Season — Introducing Queens. I commenced bee-keeping eight years ago, and now have 47 colonies. I have not had a single swarm this season, and a poorer honey crop this year than ever before. My neighbor's bees are just about starving.' I am keeping mine- up by feeding. We had too much rain in the spring, and it is too dry now, but I am not yet discouraged. To introduce queens, I remove the old queen at the same time, put the new queen in, in a wire cage, and at the same time give them a little sugar syrup with about ten drops of essence of peppermint. I use the cone feeder, and think it is the best that I have tried. By this plan I can introduce safely 24 out of every 25 queens. I would sooner think of being without bee-hives than without the Bee Journal. Jas. M. Smith. Perkiomenville, Pa., July 18, 1892. A Year's Numbers of the Amercian Bee Journal contain over 1,650 pages — what a wonderful amount of bee-literature for only $1.00 ! Could you afford to do without it at that price — 2 cents per week ? Send us the names and addresses of your bee-keeping friends, who do not receive the Bee Journal, and we will mail them sam- ple copies. We want every bee-keeper in the land to see it, and know of its. value as an "assistant" in the apiary. Doolittle's Queen-Rearingf book should be in the library of every bee-keeper; and in the way we offer it on page 133, there is no reason now why every one may not possess a copy of it. Send us one new subscriber for a year, and we will mail the book to you as a present. 152 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY GEORGE JBT. WRK M €§., At One Dollar a Year, 199 Randolph ST., CHICAGO, ILLS. TO CORRESPONDENTS. The Bee Journal is sent to subscribers until an order is received by the publishers for its discontinuance, and all arrearages are paid. A Sample Copy of the Bee Journal will be sent FREE upon application. JI o w to Send Money.- Remit by Express, Post-office Money Order, or Bank Draft on New York or Chicago. If none of these can be had. Register your Letter, affixing Stamps both for postage and registry, and take a receipt for it. Money sent thus, IS AT OUR RISK; otherwise it is not. Do not send Checks on Local Banks— we have to pay 25 cents each, to get them cashed. 2Verer Send Silver in letters. It will wear holes in the envelope, or may be stolen. JXIake all Money Orders Payable at Chicago, 111.— not at any sub-station of Chicago. Postage Stamps of any denomination may be sent for any fraction of a dollar; or where Money Orders cannot be obtained, stamps for any amount may be sent. Subscription Credits.— The receipt for money sent us will be given on the address-label of every paper. The subscription is paid to the END OF THE MONTH indicated. -Jo not Write anything1 for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Emerson Binders, made especially for the American Bee Journal, are convenient for preserving each weekly Number, as fast as received. They will be sent, post-paid, for 50 cts. each. They cannot be sent by mail to Canada. Cost Numbers.— We carefully mail the Bee Journal to every subscriber, but should any be lost in the mails, we will replace them if notified before all the edition is exhausted. Always State the Post-Office to which your paper is addressed, when writing to us. Special Notices. The Date on the wrapper-label of this paper indicates the end of the month to which you have paid for the Journal. If that is past, please send us one dollar to pay for another year. Lost Copies we are glad to replace, if notified before the edition is exhausted. The Convention Hand-Book is very convenient at Bee-Conventions. It con- tains a Manual of Parliamentary Law and Rules of Order for Local Conven- tions ; Constitution and By-Laws for a Loca1 Society; Programme for a Conven- tion, with subjects for discussion, and about 50 blank pages, to make notes upon. It is bound in cloth, and of the right size for the pocket. We will pre sent a copy for one new subscriber to the Bee Journal, with $1.00. An Apiary Register is a splendid book to have in an apiary, so as to know all about any colony of bees at a moment's notice. It devotes two pages to each colony. We will send one large enough for 50 colonies, for $1.00, post- paid ; for 100 colonies, for $1.25 ; or for 200 colonies, for $1.50. After using it for one season, you would not do without it. ■ — ■ * i ^» '« > The Premiums which we give for securing new subscribers to the Ameri- can Bee Journal, are intended as pay for work done in getting new names among your friends and acquaintances, and are not offered to those who send in their own names as new subscribers, unless such name or names form a part of a club of at least three subscribers. » ■ ^m ' » • A Binder for preserving the copies of the American Bee Journal as it arrives from week to week, is very convenient. You should have one, as it is so handy for reference from time to time. We mail it for only 50 cents, or will give it as a premium for two new subscribers, with $2.00. When Talking About Bees to your friend or neighbor, you will oblige us by commending the Bee Journal to him, and taking his subscription to send with your renewal. For this work we offer some excellent premiums that you ought to take advantage of. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 153 "We Club the American Bee Journal for a year, with any of the following papers or books, at the prices quoted in the LAST column. The regular price of both is given in the first column. One year's subscription for the American Bee Journal must be sent with each order for another paper or book : Price of both. Club. The American Bee Journal $1 00 — anc" Gleanings In Bee-Culture.... 2 00.... 175 Bee-Keepers' Review 2 00.... 175 The Aplculturist 175.... 165 Bee-Keepers' Guide 150. ... 140 American Bee-Keeper 1 50 — 1 40 Canadian Bee Journal 200 — 175 The 7 above-named papers 5 75 — 5 00 and Langstroth Revised (Dadant) 2 40.... 2 25 Cook'sManual 200.... 175 Doolittle on Queen-Rearing. 2 00.... 165 Bees and Honey (Newman). . 2 00 — 1 75 Advanced Bee-Culture 150.... 140 Dzierzon's Bee-Book (cloth). 2 25 ... . 2 00 Root's A B C of Bee-Culture 2 25 ... . 2 10 A Year Among the Bees — 1 50 — 135 Convention Hand-Book 125 — 115 History of National Society. 1 50. . . . 1 25 Weekly Inter-Ocean 2 00.... 175 The Lever (Temperance) .... 200.... 175 Orange Judd Farmer 2 00... 1 75 Farm, Field and Stockman .. 200 — 175 Prairie Farmer 2 00 ... . 1 75 Illustrated Home Journal . . 150 — 135 American Garden 2 50.... 2 00 Rural New Yorker 300.... 2 25 Do not send to us for sample copies of any other papers. Send for such to the publishers of the papers you want. Almost Every Bee-Book that is now published we mention on the second page of this issue of the Bee Journal. Look over the list and select what you want. For every new yearly subscriber that you secure for us at $1.00, we will allow you 25 cents, to apply on the purchase of any book we have for sale. This is a rare chance to get some valua- able apicultural reading-matter, and at the same time aid in spreading helpful apiarian knowledge among your friends. » • ■ ^m > » Bee-Keeping for Profit, by Dr. G. L. Tinker, is a nice, 50-page pamphlet, which details fully the author's new system of bee-management in producing comb and extracted honey, and the con- struction of the hive best adapted to it — his "Nonpareil." The book can be had at this office for 25 cents, or will be given for one new subscriber, with $1. Premium to Every New Subscriber. — We will give to every new subscriber (with $1.00), for whom it is desired in place of getting any other premium we offer for work done, a copy of "Rural Life " — a valuable pamphlet of over 100 pages, devoted to "Farm Topics, Live- stock, Poultry, Bees, Fruits, Vegetables, Household, Home, and Miscellaneous Matter." Or we will send it, postpaid, for 25 cts. This is a rare chance for new subscribers to get some excellent reading for nothing — by sending $1.00 for one year's subscription to the Bee Journal. This Means YOU. — When order- ing any of the books or articles which we offer clubbed with the Bee Journal, or otherwise ; or when sending anything intended for us, such as subscriptions to the Bee Journal, or matter for publi- cation, be sure to address everything to —George W. York & Co., 199 Ran- dolph St., Chicago, Ills. Wajits or Exctiapges. Under this heading, Notices of 5 lines, or less, will be inserted at 10 cents per line, for each insertion, when specially ordered Into this Department. If over 5 lines, the additional lines will cost 20 cents each. FOUNDATION, 38 to 50 cts. QUEENS, 60 cts.— to exchange for Wax or offers. 4Atf W. E. WELLS, Wallaceburg, Ark. WANTED— Everybody to send me 10 cents in exchange for my little book, " The A B C of Ferret Culture." It tells all about the care and management of this little animal. 25 Atf N. A. KN APP, Rochester, Lorain Co., O. TO EXCHANGE (or cheap for cash)— 25 col- onies Italian Bees, in good Simp, hives, well-filled with honey. Also, Ganden Wheel Plow, Daisy, new ; and good Gold Watch, new — for land, Property, or offers. 5A3 J. B. ALEXANDER, Hartford City, Ind. WANTED.— Those having small sums of money "saved up" can find perfectly SAFE investments, at 7 per cent, interest, for long or short time, by writing to THOS. G. NEWMAN, 199 Randolph-st., Chicago. Ills. WANTED TO EXCHANGE— My new price- list of Italian Bees, White and Brown Leghorn Chickens, White and Brown Ferrets, and Scotch Collie Pups— for your name and address on a postal card. N. A. KNAPP, 25Atf Rochester, Lorain Co.. Ohio. 154 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. HONEY AND BEESWAX MARKET. CHICAGO, July 23— No choice comb on the market. Some inquiries for new stock, with none to offer. A good article would bring 15 @16c. Extracted is very scarce, and plenty of inquiry for same: it would bring 7@8c. Beeswax— firm at 26@27c; good demand. J. A. LAMON, 44-46 S. Water St. CHICAGO, July 23. — Comb honey is dull and no demand. Selling finest grade white at 15c. With new crop prices will rule firmer. Extracted is scarce and in good demand at 7@ 754c. Beeswax, selling at 26c. 8. T. FISH & CO.. 189 S. Water St. CHICAGO, July 23.-Selling slowly, trade being in strawberries and other small fruit. No fine comb honey on the market— it would bring 15@16c. Extracted, 6, 7 and 8c, accord- ing to quality and kind. Beeswax. 27c. R. A. BURNETT. 161 S. Water St. NEW YORK, July 23.— No comb honey sell- ing. Extracted, new Southern, choice, 65 to 70 cts. per gallon.; common, 60 cts. per gallon. Beeswax— 26@2 8c, according to quality. HILDRETH BROS. & SEGELKEN, 28-30 West Broadway. KANSAS CITY, Mo.. July 23— The old crop of comb honey is all cleaned up. First ship- ment of new comb honey this week, which we quote at 16c for No. 1 1-lbs. CLEMONS, MASON & CO., Cor. 4th and Walnut Sts. CINCINNATI. July 23.— Demand is good for extracted at 5@8c Stock on hand small. Demand slow for comb honey, at 12@16c. for best white. Beeswax is in fair demand, at 23@25c for good to choice yellow. C. F. MUTH & SON, Cor. Freeman & Central Aves. NEW YORK, July 23.— Demand for comb is very small. Considerable comb honey on the market, of 2nd grade, but no fancy of any ac- count. Some demand for extracted, clover 6 @7c; buckwheat, 5@5i4c; Southern, 65@75c Ser gal.; Calif., 6J4@7c. per lb. Beeswax — a ttle easier, with supply to meet demand, at 25@27c; 1 to 2c more per lb. for extra select. CHAS. ISRAEL & BROS.. 110 Hudson St. ALBANY, N. Y., July 23— Demand is very little, and market quiet. We are selling some Florida new orange-blossom extracted honey to good advantage. Beeswax— 28@30c H. R. WRIGHT. 326-328 Broadway. DETROIT, July 23.— Best white comb honey 12@13c; but little left to sell. Extracted, 7 @8c. Beeswax. 26@27c. M. H. HUNT. Bell Branch. Mich. MILWAUKEE, July 23— Demand vers' mod- erate, supply average of all grades but com- mon quality. Best 1-lbs. 15@16c; common, 12@13c Extracted, white, in barrels, 7c; in kegs, 7^c; in pails. 7*48c Beeswax— de- mand fair, supply small. Price, 23@28c. A. V. BISHOP, 142 W. Water St. NEW YORK, July 23.— Demand is light, and supply large, except buckwheat comb. We quote: Fancy white comb, 12@14c; buck- wheat, 9@llc. Extracted — Clover and bass- wood in good demand at 6LA@7c; buckwheat indemandat 5@6c Beeswax in fair demand at 26@28c F. I. SAGE & SON, 183 Reade St. SAN FRANCISCO. July 23.— Demand quiet as old crop is nearly exhausted and new crop not in yet. We quote: Extracted, 5}4@6 cts. Comb, 1-lbs., 10@llc; 2-lbs., 6@8c Beeswax — 24@25c SCHACHT. LEMCKE & STEINER, 16 Drumm Street. BOSTON, July 23— Demand is light. White 1-lbs.. 13@15c No 2-lbs, on hand. No Bees- wax on hand. Extracted, 7@8c Demand is light for all. BLAKE & RIPLEY, 57 Chatham St. MINNEAPOLIS. Minn., July 23 —Market is dull in general, though some is being worked off. but mostly at cut prices. Fancy white, 15 @17c, 1-lb. sections; dark, 8@10c Extracted white, 7@8c. ; dark. 5@6c STEWART & ELLIOTT. KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 23.— Old honey is cleaned up. both extracted and comb. New crop will be in about July 10, here. HAMBLIN & BEARSS. 514 Walnut St. NEW YORK, July 23. — Demand moderate, and supply reduced, with no more glassed 1-S> nor paper csrtons, 1-B>. We quote: Comb, l-tt>, 14@15c Extracted— Basswood, 7M@7 He; buckwheat, oM@,Q%; Mangrove, 68@75c per gal. Good demand for dark extracted honey. Beeswax, in fair supply, with small demand, at 26@27c F. G. STROHMEYER & CO., 120 Pearl St. Winter Problem in Bee - Keeping ; by G. R. Pierce, of Iowa, who has had 25 years' experience in bee-keeping, and for the past 5 years has devoted all his time and energies to the pursuit. Price, 50 cents. For sale at this office. We Club the American Bee Journal and the monthly "Illustrated Home Journal " one year for $1.35 ; or both of these Journals and the semi-monthly "Gleanings in Bee-Culture," for one year, for $2.10. The Honey-Bee ; giving Its Natural •History, Anatomy and Physiology. By T. W. Cowan, editor of the British Bee Journal, 72 figures, and 136 illustra- tions. $1.00. For sale at this office. The Amateur Bee-Keeper, by J. W. Bouse, is a book of 52 pages, intended, as it* name indicates, for beginners. Price, 25 cents. For sale at this office. The Busy Bees, and How to Manage Them, by W. S. Pouder. Price 10 cents. For sale at this office. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 167 ONE DOLLAR PES YEAR. Club Rates,— Two copies, $1.80 ; 3 copies, $2.50 ; 4 copies, $3.20 ; 5 copies, $3.75. Mailed to any addresses. THOMAS G. NEWMAN, GEORGE W. YORK, Editors. Vol. IXX. AU£. 4, 1892. So. 6. The Clouds which rise with thunder, slake Our thirsty souls with rain ; The blow most dreaded falls to break From off our limbs a chain ; And wrongs of man to man but make The love of God more plain. As through the shadowy lens of even The eye looks farthest into heaven On gleams of star and depths of blue The glaring sunshine never knew. — Whittier. Father LangfStroth, in this number of the Bee Journal, tells, in quite a long article, about his sufferings with that troublesome "head-trouble." Every bee-keeper will be interested in wbat he has to say, and will, with him, rejoice that he is once more able to "feel like himself," and enjoy life. That he may long be thus spared to his hosts of loving friends, will be the earn- est wish of all the readers of the Ameri- can Bee Journal. The North American. — We have received the following letter from Bro. Hutchinson, the Secretary of the Association, concerning the views of some who expect to attend the meeting to be held in Washington : Friend York: — The American Bee Journal for July 28 is just at hand, and I have read the article of Mr. Ben- ton, and your comments. If I may judge by the letters that I am getting every day since the July Review was mailed, then Mr. Benton's letter voices the views of the majority of the bee-keepers. They all say : " It is too early." " It is too hot." " I can't leave then." "There will be too big a crowd — we can't take any comfort." " Won't have any money then." And so it goes. Personally, I should prefer December, when there will not be such a crowd, and the weather will be cooler. Reduced rates we must have, or there will be no crowd, and that is why I favored the Encampment time ; but Mr. Benton as- sures me that several societies will meet in Washington during the last weeks of the year, and that by meeting at the same time, reduced rates can be secured. Although my preference would be December, I have no desire to use my influence to have it held at that time. What the Executive Board desires to know and do, is the wish of the ma- jority. I shall write to-day to the other members. W. Z. Hutchinson. The Bee Journal has no preference in the matter, but only desires the time of meeting to be when the most bee- keepers can attend, and when reduced railroad rates can be secured. No doubt the question will be settled now very soon, so that all may know when they are to go to Washington, and can ar- range their private affairs accordingly. By delaying until December, it will give ample time to prepare a splendid pro- gramme for the occasion. We will keep our readers posted in regard to what is being done about de- ciding as to the date, etc. Breeding-Queens. — Friends : During August Jennie Atchley will mate 100 of the very finest 5-banded Queens to hand-picked Drones. Should you de- sire fine breeder, write her at Floyd, Tex. 168 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. The Woman's Committee on Bee-Culture, o'f the World's Fair, has been heard from. Mr. W. C. Frazier, of Atlantic, Iowa, editor of the Apiarian Department of the Iowa Homestead, has had some correspondence with the chair- man (or chairwoman) of the committee, and writes us as follows about it : I send you a letter from Mrs. Olm- stead, which explains itself. The cattlemen, the horsemen, the sheep, swine and poultry breeders would not touch a show where a set of women who knew nothing of their business (cattle, horses, sheep, etc., business) were going to act in the capacity of judges. Why should the bee-keepers have to ? Think of ten women selecting the " grandest rooster," or hunting out a "just perfectly lovely pig," on which to bestow the first premium ! To award the premiums in the bee and honey de- partment will require more judgment than to go over the poultry and swine, point by point, and give a reason for the awards. I know whereof I speak. There are perhaps over 300,000 bee- keepers in the United States — not more than 100 are capable of judging such a show, and not 25 of the capable ones could be induced to assume the respon- sibility. " Fools rush in where angels fear to tread." W. C. Fraziek. The letter referred to by Mr. Frazier, as having been received from Mrs. 01m- stead, of Savannah, Ga., is dated July 1, 1892, and reads as follows : Your letter of June 25 has been re- ceived, and contents noted. As I understand the relation of the various committees from the Board of Lady Managers to exhibitors, it is two fold : first, to endeavor before the open- ing of the Exposition to awaken inter- est, and induce exhibitors to make a dis- play of their wares, works, arts, etc.; and, secondly, in connection with the Gentlemen Commissioners, to pass judg- ment upon the relative merits of com- petitive exhibits during the time that the Exposition is opened. I can well appreciate that the bee- keepers would prefer that only those ladies should be upon the committee in " Bees and Bee-Culture" who are prac- tical 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 making 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 nec- essarily allied to the ability to create. The Committee on Fine Arts, for in- stance, might well judge of the merits of pictures and statups, without being able to paint the one, or chisel the other. I do not profess to be a skilled bee- keeper, but to the best of my powers I am informing 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 ex- hibit to the Fair, and that I shall have the pleasure of meeting you there. Very Respectfully Yours, Mrs. Charles H. Olmstead, Chairman of Committee on Bee-Culture, (Lady Manager for Georgia.) We do not understand that 'the Com- missioners, either gentlemen or ladies, are to award premiums in any of the departments of the World's Fair, but that various Superintendents will be appointed who will have in charge par- ticular portions or exhibits of the Fair, and will aid in making the awards upon competitive exhibits. We may not be correct in this, but such is our under- standing of the matter. Perhaps Dr. Mason can give us more light. A Swarm of bees located recently in the vase that crowns the tall column of the left side of the principal entrance to the building which contains the Agri- cultural Department at Washington, D. C. So "Uncle Jerry" Rusk is now a bee-keeper. It ought to serve as a hint that the Government should do more for bee-keeping. Friend Benton will now have at least one colony to experiment with. Mr. N. Awrey, of Canada, has been selected to take charge of the Canadian apiarian exhibit at the World's Fair next year. The Dominion Govern- ment will pay for cases at the Fair, and also all cost of transportation to and from the Exposition, so that no expense will fall upon the exhibitors. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 169 The Bee-Age, we understand, "has been dropped for the present." It was one of the new bee-papers that blossomed a few months ago. We never saw even one copy of it. We also learn through the Progressive Bee-Keeper for July (which, by the way, only got so far as to print the cover for June) that " there will be a very large crop " of new bee-papers in the near future, if all who think of starting them "carry out their plans." With the poor honey seasons of the past few years we should think that it would be rather discourag- ing business to start new bee-papers. But then, it is easy enough to start them — the trouble seems to appear when their publishers try to keep them going. Of course, we have the very kindest of feelings toward every one who is inter- ested in the pursuit of bee-keeping, or who tries to advance its literature ; and that is just the reason we do not like to see our apiarian friends lose their money, either by starting new bee- papers, or by subscribing for them. Once in awhile there is an exception, we are glad to say. Mr. H. K. Staley, of Pleasant Ridge, Ohio, called on us last week, and found us trying to " keep cool." Mr. S. is much interested in electrical matters, as well as in the " busy bee." Many of our readers will remember his interest- ing and well-written articles which have appeared in the Bee Journal, during the past five or six years. Good Country Roads is a subject which is now being much agi- tated, and well may it be, for who has a better right to receive help from the Government than those who pay the taxes — the country people? There is now a Memorial before Congress on the subject of a "Comprehensive Exhibit of Roads, Their Construction and Main- tenance at the World's Columbian Ex- position." It is desired that our readers write to their Members of Congress for copies of the Memorial ; and also urge their representatives in Congress to vote for the Bill which provides for this com- prehensive road exhibit. The passage of this Bill will result in the saving of millions of dollars an- nually, as the exhibit will teach the best and cheapest method of making good country roads in all parts of the United States. As vast sums of money are spent every year in the construction and maintenance of the highways of this country, it is of the greatest importance to show the people how to use this money to the best advantage. The establishing of a permanent road exhibit and a college for road engineers at Washington, D. C, is also contem- plated. The World's Fair presents, a magnifi- cent opportunity to inaugurate a great national movement for improving the highways of the country. Let all labor together to bring about this result. If the people will now speak to their repre- sentatives in no uncertain tone, the work will be accomplished. The Bee - Supply Business seems a great attraction to many bee- keepers. In one of our apiarian ex- changes we read this sentence recently, by one of our prominent bee-keepers and queen-rearers: "If I had a bee-jour- nal I would go into the supply businegs." It was really amusing to us. Just as if a bee-keeper must have a bee-paper in order to go into the supply business ! It must be that some people think that a bee-periodical is simply a catalogue for apiarian supplies. Though there may be some excuse for so thinking, when looking over some of the bee-papers, yet the best ones, we think, are true to what they profess to be. As far as the American Bee Journal is concerned, it is now perfectly free and independent of the bee-keepers' supply business, as all well know who read it from week to week. We may change our minds some day, but we now really believe that a periodical of any kind can render the best service to an industry of which it is the exponent, when not in- terested financially in the various appli- ances used in such industry or pursuit. Read 8. F. & I. Trego's Advertisement. 170 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. The Apiarian Exhibit at the "World's Fair, and also the Rules govern- ing the same, were mentioned on page 793 of the Bee Journal for June 16, 1892. In reply to a question which we asked Mr. Buchanan, he wrote thus : I beg to say that the formal notice sent out by the Director-General, and which you printed, has application to all individual exhibitors, and states the method to be adopted by this Depart- ment regarding the honey exhibit. We expect the State Commissions from the different States to furnish these cases, and the individual producers of honey, through their State associations, or through the State Commissions, to make the exhibit. We have sent a letter to the Executive Commissioner of each one of the honey-producing States, ask- ing him to state definitely the length of case that will be desired by his Board to accommodate the exhibits of honey from his State. This arrangement, of course, does not contemplate in any way the exhibit of appliances and implements. These will be exhibited by the manu- facturers, and this Department will treat each application individually. Very Respectfully Yours, W. I. Buchanan, Chief, Department of Agriculture. Sealed Covers and Absorbents still occupy considerable attention in bee-periodicals. Bees must be kept dry. In a warm, dry cellar, with the hives raised from the bottom boards, it mat- ters little, so far as the bees are con- cerned, whether the covers are sealed or not. Out-of-doors the covers must be protected if they are left sealed, then they will be warm, and there will be no condensation of moisture over the bees ; it will take place at the sides and cor- ners of the hive, or near the entrance. If the cover is removed, and the bees covered with some porous packing, the moisture will pass up through the pack- ing and condense above it. Packing should never be used with the intent that it should absorb and retain the moisture. There must be abundant ventilation above the packing to allow the excess of moisture to pass off. — Bee- Keepers'1 Review. Several Eggs in a Cell, Etc. — Mr. A. P. Raught, of Volo, Ills., on July 18, 1892, wrote thus about his experience with queens : Please answer these questions in the Bee Journal : 1. I have a young Italian queen that lays sometimes two and three eggs in a cell. Has any one had the same experi- ence ? If so, what is the result ? 2. Also, I gave to a queenless colony a frame of brood with eggs and larvae on July 7, and on July 15 they had a queen hatched. What would be the result of such a queen ? Would she be good for anything ? A. P. Raught. The foregoing questions we referred to Mr. G. M. Doolittle, who has kindly replied as follows : 1. If the colony is small, this shows that the queen is a good, prolific one, or she lays more eggs than the bees can care for. If the colony is strong, and the queen lays those in only a few cells, she will probably prove a drone-layer, or else worthless. 2. Eight-day queens are of not fre- quent occurrence, and rarely become fertile. They are prolific for a few months, and die of old age before a year is past. The older the larva when fed for a queen, the shorter the life of such queen. — G. M. Doolittle. The Marion County Agricul- tural Fair will be held at Knoxville, Iowa, on Sept. 20 to 23, 1892. We have received the Premium List, which is a very neat 80-page pamphlet. In it we find the following under "Bees, Bee-Products, and Bee-Keeping Imple- ments," with Mr. J. W. Bittenbender, of Knoxville, as Superintendent : Italian queen with her bees in observatory hive $1.50 $1.00 Comb honey, best display of not less than 20 lbs.. 1.50 1.00 Extracted honey, best dis- play,not less than 20 lbs. 1.50 1.00 Beeswax, 10 pounds 1.00 .50 Display of honey plants. . . 1.00 Butterflies to the number of 150,- 000 will be shown in the Pennsylvania exhibit at the World's Fair. The col- lection is said to be the most complete and finest in the world. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 171 Making: Honey- Vinegar out of much that is usually wasted in cap- pings, pieces of comb, etc., is a splendid way to economize in the apiary, and at the same time have something really valuable after the work is done. Bro. Hutchinson, in a recent number of the Bee-Keepers' Review, in his terse and thoroughly practical way, remarks thus on this matter of making honey-vinegar: In the close times that bee-keepers are now having, it is well to look after all the odds and ends ; to see that no scraps of comb are thrown away, and that the rinsings from the cappings, or utensils that have contained honey, are not wasted. In many an apiary I pre- sume that enough of these rinsings are thrown away in a year to make a barrel of vinegar. On page 146, Messrs. Dadant & Son, tell just how to make honey-vinegar — they tell it in such a plain way that all can understand it, and profit by it. An Experience with Funics — On page 14, we published Father Langstroth's impressions of the Punic bee — impressions which he received while on a visit to the apiary of Bro. A. I. Root, editor of Gleanings. In the number of that paper for July 15, just received, we find the following interest- ing editorial experience, which we re- print for the benefit of those who are anxious to hear of reports concerning the so-called Punic bees : Our Punics are doing no better in honey — indeed, we doubt whether they are doing as well — as the average colony of Italians of equal strength ; and, with the exception of the Cyprians, they are the meanest bees we ever brought into the apiary. July 4 we wanted to show A. I. Root the new race. He at once suggested that we open the hive without smoke, which we did, perhaps a little uncere- moniously. The air was immediately filled with hundreds of mad bees ; and so persistent were they that we gladly ran for a veil and smoker, although Mr. R., true to his aversion for bee-veils, crouched down under a sheltering grape- vine with his hands up to his face. We then smoked the bees, but they boiled all over, about as bad as black bees ; and, like black bees, they would hold themselves suspended on the wing, perfectly motionless, apparently, with the exception of the wings, right before the eyes, in a tantalizing way. By the way, we would prefer to be stung, and done with it, then to be held in constant fear of it. The next day one of our boys attempt- ed to run a lawn-mower some few rods away from the Punic colony ; but he was very glad to put on a veil, and even 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 next thing to serious. The bees were also younger when he was here, and, of course, gentler. Now that they are two or three weeks older, they are regular little demons, unless handled carefully. We should state this, however, that they delight more in bluster and angry buzzing than in actual stings. In our last issue, we stated that they were the worst bees for depositing pro- polis 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 Punics besmeared the sec- tions 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 Punics 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 character- istics of the common black bee. Bee Journal Posters, printed in two colors, will be mailed free upon application. They may be used to ad- vantage at Fairs over Bee and Honey Exhibits. We will send sample copies of the Bee Journal to be used in con- nection with the Posters in securing subscribers. Write a week before the Fair, telling us where to send them. We would like to have a good agent at every Fair to be held this year. Here is a chance for a live man — or woman. 172 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Dissatisfied Humanity. A man in his carriage was riding along, A gayly dressed wife by his side ; In satin and laces she looked like a queen, And he like a king in his pride. A wood-sawyer stood on the street as they passed, The carriage and couple he eyed, And said as he worked with his saw in a log ; "I wish I was rich, and could ride I" The man in the carriage remarked to his wife, " One thing I would if I could— I'd give all my wealth for the strength and the health Of him who is sawing the wood." A pretty young maid with a bundle of work, Whose face as the morning was fair, Went tripping along with a smile of delight While humming a love-breathing air. She looked on the carriage ; the lady she saw, Arrayed in apparel so fine, And said, in a whisper : " I wish from my heart, Those satins and laces were mine." The lady looked out on the maid with her work, So fair in her calico dress, And said : "I'd relinquish position and wealth Her beauty and youth to possess." Thus it is in this world, whatever our lot, Our minds and our time we employ In longing and sighing for what we nave not, Ungrateful for what we enjoy. —Selected. Progeny of Italian Mated will Black. Query 830.— Do you believe that an Italian queen, yellow or dark colored, mated with a bla k drone, will produce all three or more yellow banded worker bees ? — N. C. No. — A. B. Mason. No. — C. C. Miller. No. — H. D. Cutting. No. — Eugene Secoe. No.— J. P. H. Brown. I doubt it. — E. France. Yes. — J. M. Hambaugh. No. — Mrs. L. Harrison. No. No. — Mrs. Jennie Atchley. Yes, but not often. — Mrs. Heater. She will produce hybrid bees. — G. M. Doolittle. No; but as some of the bees — yes, many of them — will have all the bands according to the law of variation, it would seem that a case might be possi- ble where all could be three-banded. — James Heddon. An Italian queen so mated might, or might not. I have no doubt some Ital- ian queens so mated would, while more would not. — R. L. Taylor. I think not. , All such queens have appeared to produce many one and two banded bees with me ; also many with no bands at all. — C. H. Dibbern. Yes. I have had such hybrid queens. The workers are disposed to be ugly, and if queens are reared, the mixing with black blood will be seen at once. — G. L. Tinker. Not unless they have been bred in-and- in for color only, for several generations. The mismated daughters of imported queens all produce some black bees. — Dadant & Son. I think that some Italian queens that have mated with black drones will pro- duce bees that are all, or nearly all, three banded. Some of the lightest colored bees I have ever had, mixed with the black race, the grandmother of the queen being a pure black. — M. Mahin. I think that in rare cases she might do so, which would show great prepo- tency on her part. In most cases, there would be workers one and two banded, and possibly without any of the yellow bands. Crossing bees works just as crossing higher animals. — A. J. Cook. Yes, to some extent. She may, how- ever, produce no three-banded bees, but as the blood is mixed, the liability is to produce bees with three, two and one yellow band, and some as black as though no yellow blood existed. This has been tested, and found to be so in hundreds of apiaries. — J. E. Pond. No. Such a case has never come un- der my observation. And I go further, and say that not all Italian queens, " yellow or dark colored," though mated with a male of her own race, will pro- duce all" three or more " yellow banded worker bees. There is no further room to doubt that the Italian bee is a thor- oughbred produced by nature. She is not a pure blood. Hence the necessity of breeding her to a type agreed upon by common consent. Three bands may not be as high a standard as some may aspire to. The field is open. — G. W. Demaree. Yes ; such a case is quite possible, but generally such a queen would pro- duce bees having one, two or three bands — regular hybrids — or no bands at all. It all depends upon the stock the queen descends from — her strength and potency. — Editors. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 173 On Important Subjects. An Account of My Mi-Trouble. KEY. L. L. LANGSTBOTH. For many years, as most of my read- ers 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 disqualifies me for enjoying almost anything per- sonal 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 conven- ient, would I have my library of bee- works hidden from my sight ; and often I have been so morbid that even the sight of a 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 that is, that it not only fails to interest me when I am the most unwell, but by association of ideas, too often deepens my distress. To use the words of the old poet Herbert — My thoughts 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 reading. As soon as I awake I try, by chess problems, the most intricate that I can find or in- vent, to forestall the approach of gloomy thoughts, continuing to play as though a fortune 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 incessantly moving and supervising the pieces on the chess- board. (I very seldom play with any antagonist — on an average, not as often as once a year, lest I should abuse their time.) 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 God of hope fill you with joy and peace in be- lieving, and make you to abound in hope, by the power of the Holy Ghost?" No ! no ! God has not promised to over- rule his natural laws by constant mirac- ulous interposition. Can you give a wholesome appetite for food to a person intensely 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 appetite for it? It is a great help, doubtless, even un- der the most depressing circumstances, to know that God 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. This hope often sustains us when otherwise we might be 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, O my soul, and why art thou disquieted within me ? Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him for the help of his counte- nance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me. Deep calleth unto deep, at the noise of thy waterspouts. 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 help of my countenance and my God." Not now ! oh, not now ! but I shall yet praise him. "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 uto the altar of God, unto God, my exceeding joy. Yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God, my God!" In the 30th Psalm we have the experi- ence of one who, out of the deepest de- pression, had been raised tc the heights of joy and gladness. "O God, my God, I cried unto thee, and thou has delivered 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. Weep- ing may endure for a night, but ioy 174 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL coraeth in the morning. Thou hast turned my mourning into dancing. Thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness." If further confirmation is needed, see the book of Job, the 3d chapter especi- ally, 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, because I hope that some of my readers, almost overpowered by gloomy forebodings, may find help, and much more, from my own personal experiences, and from their confirmation by God's word. Of the Psalms in particular, it is evident that all of them which express our strongest emotions could have been born only out of deep, personal experi- ence ; some, "When gladness wings our favorite hours;" others, when we are almost disposed to repeat that anguished cry of our Savior, " My God ! my God ! why hast thou for- saken 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 thy 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. To resume the description of my own experience : I entered Yale College in my 17th year ; and can remember that, even be- fore that time, I had times when I lost my usual interest in my studies. Twice, in college, they were entirely suspended; but neither my parents nor myself, at that time, had any idea of what was the matter with me. While tutor of mathematics at Yale, from 1834 to 1836, I was similarly affected ; so, also, when pastor of the old South Congregational Church in Andover, Mass. I was at last compelled to resign my pastorate, and became principal, succes- sively of the Abbott Female Seminary, and the High School for young ladies, at Greenfield, Mass., and afterward ac- cepted the charge of the Second Green- field Congregational Church. During the latter part of this charge I made many of my sermons on foot, walking long distances, and trying severe exer- cise to get the better of the incipient attacks. Never, however, was I able to effect this. An attack might be of longer or shorter duration before it prostrated me; but it always had but one issue. Strug- gle as I would, fight as I could against it, my condition was that of the man lost in the quicksands, so vividly de- scribed by Victor Hugo. Walking care- lessly over its treacherous surface, he first notices that his freedom of move- ment is somewhat 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 es- cape to the firmer land, only to find that each step that he takes sinks him deeper and deeper, until the engulfing sands reach his lips, and his shrieks of agony are stilled. His head disappears ; only the faint motion of a sinking hand is visible, and soon every trace of him dis- 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 1853, while passing his hand over my neck, ex- claimed, " How can a man with the flesh over his spine, in such a rigid con- dition, be otherwise than miserable !" 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 spinal column at intervals for sev- eral hours a day, rubbing and kneading it, much as they do in the massage treatment, all the while passing a cur- rent of electricity through his own body into mine, until at last he effected what seemed 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 1 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 sev- eral months, elapsed from the time I AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 1T5 could first perceive that another attack was coming on, recovery from these attacks has almost always been very rapid. Let me describe my recovery from my last attack, which had lasted over three years : In the winter of 1891 I suffered from grippe, complicated with other danger- ous symptoms. Our change of residence in Dayton, in April last, seemed to my daughter, to give me considerable re- lief, although I was not myself assured that I was substantially better. In walking to church on the morning of April 17, 1 stopped for a moment to notice the bees working on the fruit- blossoms. If the worst of the attack had not been over, instead of stopping I should have given the bees a wide cir- cuit to avoid the sight of them. The next day I retired to my room after breakfast, to get, if possible, more sleep. In my diseased state my sleep is so poor that I often spend at least twice as many hours in bed as when well. (Had it oc- curred to any of them to try the Moxa cauterizing of my spine, by which Dr. Brown-Sequard cured Senator Sumner, it might have succeeded.) My mind became unusually active ; my thoughts darted with great rapidity from one subject to another, when, almost instantaneously, the oppressive burden of gloom seemed to be lifted from me, and I cried out in joyful ecstasy, " 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 possibly a year and a half. When this change comes, an electrical thrill seems to pass through my hands, extending itself to the very tips of my fingers, just as though some- thing like quicksilver were forcing itself through them for an exit. At times this sensation is so powerful as to be quite painful. I never have these symptoms except when I am free, or soon about to be, from the head-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 at once replied, " I could wish that this happi- ness might be spread a little thinner, if only it could thus be made to last a little 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 my thoughts. Every one to whom I try to explain my- self, or whom I ask to execute my direc- tions, seems to catch my thoughts, or to obey me, so slowly that with great diffi- culty 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 dis- posed to work as it were double tides, until I quite wear myself out. We read of intermittent springs which discharge no water until they are full enough for a syphon arrangement. Then they gush forth and flow until en- tirely empty, to remain quiescent until they are full again. After long depres- sion, seldom speaking unless personally addressed, shutting myself up in my room, I seem to act (Ps. 88:8. — J am shut up ; I cannot come forth. No com- mentator, so far as I know, seems to me to have apprehended the full meaning of these words. Only profound melan- cholia can adequately interpret them) as though I had been cheated out of my legitimate 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 months. 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 con- trol it better. Sometimes, however, it seems to have its advantages ; for after I have given scarcely a willing thought to anything connected with bees, for a year or more at a time, I have, in a very short time, regained my position in the mass of inventors, and often been able to keep step with those who have been forced to leave the ranks. Dayton, Ohio, July 4, 1892. Honey-Predictions and Foul Brood. SAM WILSON. On page 85, I notice that Mr. J. M. Pratt says my predictions have failed in his part of Kentucky. It has failed there, as it has in almost every other place, because bees could not get out to gather the honey on account of the un- favorable weather which has prevailed over the entire country up to the date of his letter. I only claim to know whether flowers will contain nectar or not — T do not claim to know anything about the weather. Reports so far show that the flowers have plenty of nectar, but the 176 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. weather will not allow bees to get out to gather it. If the clover has plenty of nectar, my predictions hold good. The western part of Kentucky ought to have had a better honey-flow than in Shelby county, and east of there. I hope that bee-keepers will report if they have had a failure. Please state what caused it — bad weather, or for the want of nec- tar in flowers. Nature does not make nectar in a day, in a week, nor in a month ; it takes as long to make it as it does to make corn and wheat, and it comes from the earth, the same as corn and wheat. I have read what Mr. C. J. Robinson has written about "foul brood," and I think his theory is rightabout its origin. Some particular colony of bees had to take the disease sometime without get- ting it from other bees, and if it can start once, it can do so again under the same conditions. The idea that foul brood cannot originate seems very fool- ish to me. If it did not originate, how did it get here ? Cosby, Tenn., July 18, 1892. Tie Mating of Queen-Bees, S. E. MILLER. Queries 819 and 820 (pages 668 and 698) are such that may never be ac- curately answered ; nevertheless they are questions of vital importance, and we should do our best to arrive at some- thing as near the facts as possible. Let us put the question in this shape : If I have only Italian drones, and a neighbor within 1% miles of my apiary keeps black bees, may I expect to have the greater part of my Italian queens to be purely mated? The best we can do in this matter is only conjecture, and varies in the minds of leading lights in bee-culture, from one to four miles. Many believe that drones congregate in great numbers, and that the queens fly among them and find a mate. For my part, I am inclined to believe that the loud noise overhead, that is taken to be a congregation of drones, is nothing more than the workers going to and from a certain field. But admitting that drones do congregate, let me ask what there is in the instinct or nature of a drone that would take him three or four miles from the apiary to meet his comrades ; and how does he know just where this "convention " is going to be held, so far from his home ? (Have they a "secretary?") Is it not more reason- able to suppose (for supposition is all that we have to go by) that the drones would congregate within a short dis- tance of the apiary, where each drone, after making a few circles about the apiary, will come within hearing of the " officers," and first members of the con- vention that have arrived, and join them ? But let us imagine that the conven- tion is called to order. The next thing on docket is to make a loud noise to attract the attention of queens that may be out in search of a mate. Now let us go to a hive where there is a virgin queen about five days old. She comes out of the hive, and in all probability this is the first time that she has seen the outside of the hive. Does instinct teach her that in one certain direction, some three of four miles away, a great number of drones are congregated await-, ing her arrival ? How does she know in which direction to go ? Have we any reason to believe that the All-Wise Creator should so arrange it that this most important inmate of the hive should endanger her life among rapacious birds and insects by flying so long a distance ? Would it not be more reasonable to believe that a queen, when she leaves the hive, makes a series of circles, each time making a larger circle, until she comes within hearing of the drones ? or, what is more reasonable, meets a drone that is circling about the apiary in a similar manner ? Which theory looks most reasonable? A queen and drone mating two or more miles from any apiary is no evidence to the contrary, as both may be from a tree, or trees, in the woods. Early in May, in passing through the apiary, I noticed a commotion among the bees, in front of a nucleus hive hav- ing a queen about five days old. I sat down to watch, and soon saw the queen appear, but could not tell whether she came out of the hive or returned from a flight; I think the former. She took wing, and I looked at my watch, and when she returned she had been gone five minutes. She remained a minute or more, and flew away again, and this time was gone only about one minute. This she repeated once more, and re- turned without meeting a drone, and went into the hive. The day was cool, and partially cloudy, with the sun shin- ing intermittently, and only a few drones were flying. Then followed a week or more of weather that bees flew scarcely any, and when a warm day came I witnessed a AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 177 repetition of what I have described above. This queen finally mated when she was 21 days old, and turned out to be a good layer. Testimony seems to be pretty strong that drones do congregate, but why should we assume that they go three or four miles from the apiary to do so ? Some one may say, that is a provision of nature to prevent in-and-in breeding, but I should say that is assuming too much. Do the males of quails and other gre- garious fowls go miles away from the covey with which they were reared, to find a mate in pairing time? or do they choose a mate out of the flock they are with? I should say, keep plenty of Italian drones and no black ones in your own yard, and the greater part of your Ital- ian queens will be purely mated, if there are no black drones reared nearer than two miles from your apiary. Bluffton, Mo. Missouri Slate Bee-Keepers' Convention. The sixth semi-annual convention of the Missouri State Bee-Keepers' Asso- ciation was held at Warrensburg, Mo., on April 6 and 7, 1892. The convention was called to order at 2 o'clock p.m., by President G. P. Mor- ton. The Secretary being absent, Mr. A. A. Weaver was chosen as Secretary, pro tern. He then read the report of the previous meeting, which was accepted, after which 12 new members were en- rolled. The President then read his address, which was referred to a committee of three for examination, and report. The committee appointed were Messrs. R. A. Leahy, G. A. Ashworth, and L. W. Bald- win. Mr. W. S. Dorn Blaser, of Higgins- ville, then read an essay on " Apicul- tural possibilities and difficulties," which was discussed at some length. An essay on the "Grading of Honey," was read by Mr. C. C. Clemons, of Kan- sas City, which was also discussed, and some attention given to the size and weight of sections. A committee was also appointed to examine Mr. Clemons' essay, and report at the evening session. After a short recess, the President appointed as a Committee on Resolu- tions, the following : J. S. Atkins, J. H. Jones and C. C. Clemons ; and Messrs. G. H. Ashworth, J. S. Atkins, and L. W. Baldwin were appointed to answer questions placed in the question-box. Mr. G. P. Morton, of Prairie Home, then read an essay entitled, "Spring dwindling of bees." The essay, con- densed, embraces these points : See that every colony is provided with a vigorous, prolific queen. Breed full stock of young bees in the fall. Supply with abundance of stores. Use spring protection if you do not protect through the winter. If these points are closely observed, and just a little attention given the bees in the spring, you need have no fears of spring dwindling. After a discussion of the essay, the question-box was consulted, and the following questions answered : To which is apiculture more profit- able— the honey producer or supply dealer ? The honey producer. What is a suitable location for success- ful honey production ? Where there is plenty of white clover and linden. Can comb honey be produced without separators, and be classed first grade ? It is not practical. EVENING SESSION. The committee on the President's message reported, by having the mes- sage read by paragraphs, and passed on by the convention, as follows : 1. The arrangement for the World's Fair exhibit was left to the Executive Committee. 2. Experimental Station was laid over for Executive Committee's report. 3. Amendment of Constitution to have one meeting a year instead of two. The motion to amend the Constitution was lost. 4. Classification of freights on ex- tracted honey. Dicided to postpone in- definitely. 5. Affiliation with the North American Bee-Keepers' Association. Laid over until fall meeting. 6. Consolidation of the Missouri Bee- Keepers' Association with the Horticul- tural Society. It was decided not to consolidate. The convention then adjourned to 9 a.m., April 7. SECOND DAY — morning session. The convention was called to order at 10 a.m., by the President. It was decided that a part of the time taken up by the regular programme be 178 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. set apart for the ladies of the World's Fair Committee. GRADING OF HONEY. The committee on Mr. demons' essay on " Grading Honey " reported by rec- ommending the adoption of the system recommended in the essay. The report was accepted, and the committee dis- charged. The grades recommended are as follows : No. 1 White Comb should be all white, good flavor, combs straight, even thick- nees, firmly attached to sections. Cells well filled, with white cappings, except those next to the wood. Wood slightly soiled with travel stains not barred from this grade. No. 2 White Comb should be white, good flavor, white or light amber cap- pings. Sections not less than three- fourths filled and sealed. No. 1 Amber Comb should include all amber honey of good flavor, combs straight, and even thickness, firmly at- tached to the sections. Cells well filled and sealed, except those next to the wood. Wood slightly soiled from travel stains not barred from this grade. No. 2 Amber Comb should include all honey of good flavor, irregular combs, and any color. All sections at least three-fourths filled. Extracted, White, should be light, good flavor and clean. Amber, should be light, good flavor, and clean. Dark, should include all honey of good flavor and too dark to grade amber. The Secretary then read an essay by Mr. E. T. Flanagan, of Belleville, Ills., entitled, "The future outlook for honey production." The essay was discussed, the weight of the discussion being that the future outlook of the honey produc- tion is favorable. Mr. P. P. Collier was appointed to serve on the Executive Committee on the World's Fair subject, the committee to report at 3 p.m. It was decided that the convention be held over until Friday, and a telegram to this effect be sent to Mr. Gwinn, of the World's Fair Commission. AFTERNOON SESSION. The place of the next meeting was declared the first order of business. Independence and Appleton City were proposed, and Independence was then selected. On motion, the time for holding the fall meeting was placed between the. 1st and the 15th of October. . The report of the Executive Committee was read as follows : The committee recommends that we ask the State to give an appropriation of $5,000 for an exhibit at the World's Fair of the products of the apiary, such as honey, beeswax, foundation, honey- vinegar, bees, hives, sections, honey ex- tractors, wax extractors, etc. We also recommend that we pay about 20 cents per pound for the amount of comb honey, and 10 cents per pound for extracted honey necessary to make the display, honey to be shipped to Kan- sas City or St. Louis for inspection and acceptance. We further recommend that the asso- ciation authorize your worthy President (after we know that we will get an ap- propriation sufficient to justify an effort in preparing an exhibit) to proceed to investigate where he can get the neces- sary products for the display, and that the association bear the expense of the correspondence. Also, that the association empower him to call a meeting of the Executive Committee at any time he may deem it necessary. John Conser. P. P. Collier. C. C. Clemons. J. S. Atkins. G. P. Morton. Committee. The report was adopted. The financial report of the Secretary was read, and it was ordered that the amount due him be paid. A special con- tribution amounting to $7.50 was taken to pay the account. QUESTION-BOX. The following questions were taken from the question-box and answered : What can be done to prevent the use of propolis by the bees ? But little, as our best honey producers are great pro- polizers. . What is the best method to prevent increase ? Let the colony swarm once, and double back all after swarms. What objection have the honey pro- ducers to paying 10 per cent, commis- sion for selling their honey. No objec- tion, when commission men give it their special attention. Mr. J. W. Rouse then read an essay entitled, "Some Light on the Winter Problem." The subject was discussed at length, and condensed by J. H. Jones, of Buckner, as follows : Prepare your bees well in early fall by feeding, if necessary, with good, AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 179 wholesome food, and pack well with good packing all around and on top. question-box. The following questions were taken from the question-box and answered : Should beginners buy bees in box- hives, and if so, how many ? Buy the best bees and the best hives you can get. What superiority do the Carniolans possess over others ? Nothing offered. Mr. John Conser, of Sedalia, read an essay on "Hives and New Methods Against Swarming and its Causes." The subject was discussed to some extent, after which J. West Goodwin, of the Sedalia Bazoo, addressed the convention on " Pioneer Bee-Keeping, " and it was decided to furnish Mr. Goodwin with the membership list of the association. THIRD DAY — morning session. After reading several letters addressed to the Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. W. S. Dorn Blaser read an essay on the " Apicultural Exhibit at the World's Fair," which was discussed and referred to the Executive Committee. Wm. F. Clarke, of Canada, had sent an_essay entitled, " Apicultural Litera- ture, its Influence and Effects." This essay and its subject were dis- cussed at length, and decided that api- cultural literature is essential to success- ful bee-keeping, and its influence exten- sive for good or ill. A motion prevailed that future con- ventions of the association be held three days instead of two. Also, that a part of the second day of conventions be set apart for a school for beginners, said school to have preference over all other business on that day. Next, Hon. J. M. Hambaugh, of Spring, Ills., member of the Illinois Legislature, read an essay on " A State Appropriation for the Collection of Statistics and Dissemination of Informa- tion on Apiculture." The subject was discussed and deferred^ until the fall meeting for further consideration. Also the question of an Experiment Station was discussed at some length, and de- ferred for further consideration. AFTERNOON SESSION. The subject of '-Hindrances to Bee- Culture" was discussed. Points such as the following were offered and dis- cussed: Foul brood; bee paralysis; lack of attention ; poor seasons ; lack of knowledge ; low prices of honey, etc. The committee on resolutions pre- sented the following report, which was unanimously adopted, and the. commit- tee relieved, with thanks : Your Committee on Resolutions begs leave to make the following report : Resolved, That we tender our sincere thanks to the proprietor and manage- ment of the Minnewawa Hotel at Pertle Springs, for their kind and courteous attention and accommodations to us while with them ; and we find that the valuble reputation of the " Springs" as a summer and health resort is not in the least exaggerated. Resolved, That we tender our thanks to the citizens of Warrensburg and vicinity, and the press, for the interest manifested and courtesies extended to our convention while in sessfbn. Resolved, That we tender our thanks to Col. J. West Goodwin, editor of the Sedalia Bazoo, for his presence and well- worded address before the convention. Resolved, That we extend our thanks and gratitude to the Missouri State Board of Agriculture for their kind consideration in publishing our annual report of 1890 and 1891, and for bind- ing the same in separate form. C. C. Ceemons. J. S. Atkins. J. H. Jones. Committee. The convention then adjourned. [The foregoing report is condensed from the Progressive Bee-Keeper, which published it in full, including all the essays, some of which we hope soon to be able to give to our readers. — Eds.] Wax-Motn — Introducing; Queens. Etc. BY "MALTA." I find that when top-bars are "saw- cut " right through, the moth finds a first-rate nest in the upper side of the cut. She just eats away some of the wax, and even nibbles the wood, and then when the egg is hatched, the worm goes on right down into the septum of the comb. The bees cannot get at this part, owing to the quilt fitting close down. I put a stop to it by not letting the wax come up to the level of the upper side, and then filling up with putty; or else by using frames not cut right through -only grooved on the un- der side. THE INTRODUCTION OF QUEENS. I found the simplest plan of introduc- ing queens to be as follows : 180 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. My hives all had a back door, closed when not required. When a new queen was required, the nucleus hive in which she was located was brought up and put with its door as close to the back door as possible, and facing the same way. When they had become accustomed to the change, and were flying all right, a space at the back of the queenless hive was partitioned off by means of a tightly- fitting division-board made of perforated zinc (not excluder zinc), and the frames from the nucleus with the bees and new queen put into this space, and the back door opened, and a day or two after the zinc partition was taken away, frames closed up, , etc. The ncent had become the same, and I never had a case of fighting or killing the queen ; and with hives having fer- tile workers, this was the only plan to insure success. I suffered a good deal with certain races, from these pests — I suppose, from bad management. FEEDING DRY SUGAR. Dry-sugar feeding is never mentioned. It is clean, wholesome, and no trouble. It does not induce robbing, and is most useful to tide over a sudden bad time. Panama. Queens Mating — Bees stealing Eggs, R. I. CROMLEY. On page 737 of the Bee Journal for June 2, 1892, I noticed an article writ- ten by Mr. W. J. Davis, about young queens mating with drones five miles distant from his apiary. I think that drones have a certain place to congre- gate, and their noise attracts virgin queens that may be on the wing at the time, and they go to these places and are fertilized. I have discovered two places that they congregate in great numbers, about % mile from my apiary. Go there when I will, when the drones are flying, and I can find the air full of them, over a space of two acres. If I stand between my apiary and the place of congregating, I can see the drones coming and going continually. STEALING EGGS TO REAR QUEENS. I also noticed an article written by Mr. Geo. E. Fellows, on page 741 of the same number of the Bee Journal, about bees stealing eggs from another colony, for the purpose of rearing a queen, as they were queenless. I do not think such is the case. I had a case similar to his, but I do not think the larva was stolen. Last August I received an Italian queen from Italy ; she was 16 days on the way, and the accompanying bees were all dead but three or four. I in- troduced her successfully into a queen- less colony ; there were neither eggs nor larvae in the hive. I looked at her every few days to see if she was laying, and kept this up for two weeks, but I could never find any eggs. I did not look at her again for a week, and, to my surprise, I could not find her, but found a very nice queen-cell nicely sealed, which hatched eight days later. There is no doubt but this cell was built for the queen, and the only egg she laid was in this cell. This looks as though a queen had in- stinct enough to know that a colony cannot prosper without a queen. About 70 per cent, of the bees in this neighborhood died during the past win- ter. White clover is very plentiful in this section this season, but secretes no nectar for the bees, as they do not work on it at all. Muncy Station, Pa., July 15, 1892. Hiving Swarms. Alstte Clover. Etc. C. H. DIBBERN. The new modified swarmer is working nicely, and we are getting very fair- sized swarms. The beauty about the thing is, that you do not have to be con- stantly on the watch for swarms. The fact is, our bees are not watched at all. Every few days we look over the hives and see if any have swarmed. If so, we change the surplus cases to the new hives, and give them bees enough to make them strong working colonies. We are using hives full of combs to hive the swarms on, and place them right on the hives, that we expect to swarm. We believe that by using hives containing combs, we get much larger swarms by the swarmer than where foundation or empty hives are used. Then just now we are very anxious to use up all the combs we have on hand, as the bees can care for them much bet- ter than we can. We have heretofore disputed a state- ment made by Mr. Henry Alley, of Massachusetts, that when two or more swarms issued at about the same time, each would go back to its own location when the self-hiver was used. Our ex- perience seemed to justify us in making AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 181 the contradiction, but we had not had many cases of the kind, and our swarm- ers were more or less imperfect. In justice to Mr. Alley, we have to ac- knowledge that we were mistaken in our conclusions. On June 28 we had five swarms in the air at once, and although they clustered for a short time in a huge bunch, they commenced to return each to their own hive, to our entire surprise. We have had several cases since that, and now must own up that where no queen is allowed to get out, the bees will not all go to one hive. This is a point that will make the self-hiver much more valuable than it would otherwise be, and we are only too glad to make the cor- rection. In riding over the country during the last few weeks we noticed quite a good deal of Alsike clover. Even along the roadside there is quite a sprinkling, which clearly indicates that it is a plant that has come to stay. Melilot is now at home with us, and now Alsike is another welcome addition to our honey- producing flora.— Western Plowman. Rock Island Co., Ills. Convention Notices. COLOR ADO— The Colorado State Bee-Keep- ers' Association will hold their " Honey-Day " in Longmont, Colo., on Sept. 28th, 1892. Littleton, Colo. H. Knight, Sec. ILLINOIS— The Rock River Bee-Keepers' Association will hold its next semi-annual meeting- at the Whiteside Hotel, in Morrison, Ills., on Thursday, Aug. 4, 1892. Morrison, Ills. J. M. Burtch, Sec. MINNESOTA.— The next meeting of the Southeast Minnesota and the West Wisconsin Bee-Keepers' Association will he held in Masonic Hall, at La Crescent, Minn., on July 27, 1892. John Turnbull, Sec. La Crescent, Minn. WISCONSIN.— The Southwestern Wisconsin Bee-Keepers' Association will hold its next annual meeting as Boscobel, Grant Co., Wis., on Jan. 13 and 14, 1893. All members of the Association are requested to be present as the following officers ars to be elected; President, Vice-President, Secretary. Assistant Sec, and Treasurer. Blank Reports will be sent each member, for the year 1892, with instructions. A cordial invitation is extended to all bee- keepers, and especially to those that would like to join with us. Bach member will be no- tified at least one month before the meeting. Boscobel, Wis. Benj. E. Rice, Sec. The Globe Bee- Veil, which we offer on the third page of this number of the Bee Journal, is just the thing. You can get it for sending us only three new subscribers, with $3.00. CONVENTION DIRECTORY. Time and place of meeting. 1892. Aug. 17.— Wabash Valley, at Vincennes, Ind. Frank Vawter, Sec, Vincennes, Ind. Aug. 27.— Haldimand, at S. Cayuga, Ont. E. C. Campbell, Sec, Cayuga, Ont. Sept. 7, 8.— Nebraska, at Lincoln, Nebr. L. D. Stilson, Sec, York, Nebr. Oct. 7.— Utah, at Salt Lake City, Utah. John C. Swaner, Sec, Salt Lake City, Utah. 1893. Jan. 13, 14.— S.W.Wisconsin, at Boscobel, Wis. Benj. E. Rice, Sec, Boscobel, Wis. In order to have this table complete, Secretaries are requested to forward full particulars of the time and the place of each future meeting. — The Editors. North American Bee-Keepers' Association President— Eugene Secor.JForest City, Iowa. Secretary— W. Z. Hutchinson.... Flint, Mich. National Bee-Keepers' Union. President— James Heddon ..Dowagiac, Mich. Seo'y and Manager— T. G. Newman, Chicago. &£3£!2B§Bl Reports, Prospects, Etc. 13&~ Do not write anything for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Hot, Hotter, Hottest ! The weather is hot; for six days in succession it was above 90° in the shade. It is 90° in the shade at this moment. In 1891 the temperature reached 90° but once. It has been there a dozen times so far this year. Henry Alley. Wenhain, Mass., July 22, 1892. [We can sympathize with Bro. Alley, for at the time he was " enjoying " 90° in the shade, we were trying to " enjoy " 95°. Oh, but wasn't it hot? 'Tis said that " Uncle Jerry Rusk came West to hear the corn grow" during those hot days! During the hot. spell here in Chicago, hundreds of people died, or were overcome by the extreme heat. One hundred horses died in one day from 182 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. the effects of the heat. But now (July 29) the cool wave has reached us, and also a splendid rain, so we are all right again — and ready for more renewals of subscriptions and new names. Send them along, and we will take care of them, though it should reach 100° in the shade ! — Eds.] Bees in Splendid Condition. I have 82 colonies of Italian bees, in 8-frame chaff hives, which are in splen- did condition. I will obtain from 1,200 to 1,500 pounds of comb honey, for which I am getting 15 cents a pound. W. M. Ragon. Macomb, Ills., July 25, 1892. Piping and Quahking of Queens. On page 86, I am made to say that piping and quahking of queens would be heard two days after the issuing of a prime swarm. At any rate, it should be eight days. I want to say to Mr. Andre (see page 86) that my young queens are not so sisterly as his, for they just seem to en- joy killing one another. C. C. Miller. Marengo, Ills., July 23, 1892. A Novel and Handy Drone-Trap. Put two chickens into a coop, with plenty of water, but no food except drones, pulling off their legs so they cannot crawl away. Feed the chickens 3 or 4 days, then turn them into the apiary, and see them walk up to the hives and pick off hundreds of drones. Hens are the best, as they have no combs on their heads to be stung by the bees. Geo. Poindexter. Kenney, Ills., July 25, 1892. The "Silver Lining" is Here, Etc. The "silver lining" to the cloud is here at last. The good honey season for this year, which I predicted, is here. Basswood is not here yet, but from 18 colonies I have extracted about 900 pounds, and doubled them, so that I am in good shape for basswood when it comes. The honey, so far, is mostly from milk-weed. In four days this week several colonies stored from 20 to 3 5 pounds each. C. A. Montague. Archie, Mich.. July 22, 1892. Encouraging Prospect for Fall Crop. The honey crop in this (Calhoun) county has not been a very good one so far. White clover yielded well, but the bees could not work on it more than about three days in a week, and now some more of the honey-dew is coming in, but not so much as last year. The prospect for a fall crop is encouraging, yet the late high waters have killed some of the smart-weed and Spanish- needle along the river-bottoms, making it not quite as good as it would have been. Frank X. Arnold. Deer Plain, Ills., July 27, 1892. Swarming Pretty Lively. Last autumn I had 22 colonies of bees, and they all wintered excepting one. I have now 40 colonies, and ex- pect to have more by fall. This morning 3 colonies swarmed at once, 2 swarms settling on the same twig, and the third on the limb of a large tree. I put the first two into one hive, and as soon as they were all in the hive, the third swarm flew off from the limb where they had settled, and went into the same hive. Albert Fay. New Richmond, Wis., July 20, 1892. Can Bees Hear? — Rolling in Honey. Yes, they can, whether they have ears or not. I will illustrate : A colony has just swarmed. I shake the bees down on a canvas, two yards from the front of the new hive. They spread out like so much molasses, and in a few moments one reaches the hive entrance, tilts her- self forward, and sets up the "home call." Instantly the colony head for her, and run like a flock of sheep, straight for that call. Again : I hived a swarm to-day. They alighted on the north side of a thick strip of currant and plum bushes, on a maple, 30 feet high. I cut off the branch, shook off a quart of bees, and they went up into the air, and I carried the branch and bees to the other side of the bushes, shook them on the canvas, and of course a great buzzing took place. Over the bushes the lost bees came with a rush, and into the pile of bees. Yes, they can hear. The bees are just rolling in the honey now, and I look for a good season. C. F. Greening. Grand Meadow, Minn., July 27,1892. Read our great offer on page 165. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 183 Combed and Extracted. Salt for Bees. On account of the avidity with which bees take salt, I had supposed it as necessary to salt them as to salt ray horses, hogs and cattle. If one does not keep a salt trough for the bees they are apt to swarm about his stock and well troughs, and many are drowned ; but so long as salt water is given to them, they do not go or bother any- where else. But aside from this ques- tion of mere convenience, I have found it safest to be guided by nature ; and since bees show such a love for salt, it would seem that it is necessary for them, and hence" should be our practice to give it. Where there are streams or ponds convenient, bees, especially if not salted, will resort to these for water ; but even then there are certain spots that seem, to yield mineral or brackish water where they go to suck. This shows their need of something more than ordinarily pure water, and since they leave all other watering places for a salty one, we can fairly conclude that it is best to give it. — Wm. Camm, in Bee-Keepers' Guide. Another Way to Preserve Combs. Many bee-keepers like myself have not a suitable cellar to hang up our empty combs in. The way I care for them is as follows : I use the Bristol hive. I put a sheet of tarred paper, one inch larger than the top or bottom of the brood-box, on 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 brood-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% inches 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 between the tarred paper, it cannot 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 preserve them, packed in brood-boxes, from mice, moths, bugs, dust, and ants, until I want to use them. — H. B. Isham, in Glean- ings. Bees Carrying in Honey and Pollen. Having moved two of my hives during the winter to a wooden bulding close to my house, I can watch the bees through a glass coming in and going out, and though I am not quite certain, I think the old bees mostly bring in the honey, and the young ones the pollen. It was certainly so during the colder weather we have had, but now many of the younger bees are beginning to be mid- dle-aged, and the difference is not so marked. A young bee has a good deal of down on its body, and may be called a " brown bee." The old bees have less down, and when full of honey, the body is swollen, black and bright, and looks almost as if honey would spurt out if the bee were pricked with a pin. A bee, loaded with honey, trails its body along the floor, while an empty bee, or one bringing in pollen only, scarcely touches the floor, and even only with the tip of its tail. I feel very sure that an old black bee will not be seen bringing in pollen. I send you a rough drawing, showing the difference. We all know that a bee, full of honey, does not sting in the same way as an empty bee, and it is possible the change of shape may render it more difficult to put out the sting. [Our own observations incline us to believe that young bees also bring in honey, and that both young and old bees frequently bring in honey and pollen at the same time. We agree with our cor- respondent as to the reason bees laden with honey do not sting. — Eds.] — British Bee Journal. Doolittle's Queen-Rearing: book should be in the library of every bee-keeper ; and in the way we offer it on page 165, there is no reason now why every one may not possess a copy of it. Send us one new subscriber for a year, and we will mail the book to you as a present. 184 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. -TV lilJOil^iL PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY GEORGE 11 WEE & €®„ At One Dollar a Year, 199 RANDOLPH St., CHICAGO, ILLS. TO CORRESPONDENTS. The Bee Journal is sent to subscribers until an order is received by the publishers for its discontinuance, and all arrearages are paid. A Sample Copy of the Bee Journal will be sent FREE upon application. How to Send Money.— Remit by Express, Post-Offlce Money Order, or Bank Draft on New York or Chicago. If none of these can be had, Register your Letter, affixing Stamps both for postage and registry, and take a receipt for it. Money sent thus, IS AT OUR RISK; otherwise it is not. Do not send Checks on Local Banks— we have to pay 25 cents each, to get them cashed. Never Send Silver in letters. It will wear holes in the envelope, or may be stolen. Make all Money Orders Payable at Chicago, 111.— not at any sub-station of Chicago. Postag-e Stamps of any denomination may be sent for any fraction of a dollar; or where Money Orders cannot be obtained, stamps for any amount may be sent. Subscription Credits.— The receipt for money sent ue will be given on the address-label of every paper. The subscription is paid to the END OF THE MONTH indicated. >)o not Write anything1 for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Emerson Binders, made especially for the American Bee Journal, are convenient for preserving each weekly Number, as fast as received. They will be sent, post-paid, for 50 cts. each. They cannot be sent by mail to Canada. f.ost Numbers.— We carefully mail the Bee Journal to every subscriber, but should any be lost in the mails, we will replace them if notified before all the edition is exhausted. Always State the Post-Office to which your paper is addressed, when writing to us. Special Notices. The Date on the wrapper-label of this paper indicates the end of the month to which you have paid for the Journal. If that is past, please send us one dollar to pay for another year. Lost Copies we are glad to replace, if notified before the edition is exhausted. The Convention Hand-Book is very convenient at Bee-Conventions. It con- tains a Manual of Parliamentary Law and Rules of Order for Local Conven- tions ; Constitution and By-Laws for a Loca1 Society; Programme for a Conven- tion, with subjects for discussion, and about 50 blank pages, to make notes upon. It is bound in cloth, and of the right size for the pocket. We will pre sent a copy for one new subscriber to the Bee Journal, with $1.00. An Apiary Register is a splendid book to have in an apiary, so as to know all about any colony of bees at a moment's notice. It devotes two pages to each colony. We will send one large enough for 50 colonies, for $1.00, post- paid ; for 100 colonies, for $1.25 ; or for 200 colonies, for $1.50. After using it for one season, you would not do without it. • — * i ^» i» • The Premiums which we give for securing new subscribers to the Ameri- can Bee Journal, are intended as pay for work done in getting new names among your friends and acquaintances, and are not offered to those who send in their own names as new subscribers, unless such name or names form a part of a club of at least three subscribers. « 1 1 ^m i ■ » A Binder for preserving the copies of the American Bee Journal as it arrives from week to week, is very convenient. You should have one, as it is so handy for reference from time to time. We mail it for only 50 cents, or will give it as a premium for two new subscribers, with $2.00. When Talking About Sees to your friend or neighbor, you will oblige us by commending the Bee Journal to him, and taking his subscription to send with your renewal. For this work we offer some excellent premiums that you ought to take advantage of. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 185 11. 1 IJI6!>« UIST. We Club the American Bee Journal for a year, with any of the following papers or books, at the prices quoted in the LA§T column. The regular price of both is given in the first column. One year's subscription for the American Bee Journal must be sent with each order for another paper or book : Price of both. Club. The American Bee Journal 81 00 ano" Gleanings in Bee-Culture 2 00 1 75 Bee-ReeDers' Review 2 00 175 The Apic'ulturist 175.... 165 Bee-Keepers' Guide 150 140 American Bee-Keeper 150 140 Canadian Bee Journal 2 00 ... 175 Nebraska Bee-Keeper 150 135 The 8 above-named papers 6 25 5 25 and Langstroth Revised (Dadant) 2 40 ... . 225 Cook's Manual 2 00 1 75 Doolittle on Queen-Rearing. 2 00. . . . 1 65 Bees and Honey (Newman) . . 2 00 175 Advanced Bee-Culture 150 140 Dzierzon's Bee-Book (cloth). 2 25 2 00 Root's A B C of Bee-Culture 2 25 ... . 210 A Year Among the Bees 1 50 1 35 Convention Hand-Book 125 115 History of National Society. 1 50 ... . 125 Weekly Inter-Ocean 2 00 175 The Lever (Temperance) 2 00 175 Orange Judd Farmer 2 00 ... 175 Farm. Field and Stockman.. 2 00 175 Prairie Farmer 2 00 175 Illustrated Home Journal.. 1 50 1 35 American Garden 2 50 2 00 Rural New Yorker 3 00 2 25 Do not send to us for sample copies of any other papers. Send for such to the publishers of the papers you want. Almost Every Bee-Book that is now published we mention on the second page of this issue of the Bee Journal. Look over the list and select what you want. Ft)r every new yearly subscriber that you secure for us at $1.00, we will allow you 25 cents, to apply on the purchase of any book .we have for sale. This is a rare chance to get some valua- able apicultural reading-matter, and at the same time aid in spreading helpful apiarian knowledge among your friends. Bee-Keeping for Profit, by Dr. G. L. Tinker, is a nice, 50-page pamphlet, which details fully the author's new system of bee-management in producing comb and extracted honey, and the con- struction of the hive best adapted to it — his "Nonpareil." The book can be had at this office for 25 cents, or will be given for one new subscriber, with $1. Premium to Every New Subscriber. — We will give to every new subscriber (with $1.00), for whom it is desired in place of getting any other premium we offer for work done, a copy of "Rural Life " — a valuable pamphlet of over 100 pages, devoted to " Farm Topics, Live- stock, Poultry, Bees, Fruits, Vegetables, Household, Home, and Miscellaneous Matter." Or we will send it, postpaid, for 25 cts. This is a rare chance for new subscribers to get some excellent reading for nothing — by sending $1.00 for one year's subscription to the Bee Journal. This Means You. — When order- ing any of the books or articles which we offer clubbed with the Bee Journal, or otherwise ; or when sending anything intended for us, such as subscriptions to the Bee Journal, or matter for publi- cation, be sure to address everything to —George "W. York & Co., 199 Ran- dolph St., Chicago, Ills. Carniolan, Cyprian and Albino queens are being inquired for at this office. Those having such for sale would doubtless find buyers by advertising. Wants or Exchanges. Under this heading, Notices of 5 lines, or less, will be inserted at 10 cents per line, for each insertion, when specially ordered into this Department. If over 5 lines, the additional lines will cost 20 cents each. TO EXCHANGE— Pure Tested Young Ital- ians, 3 to 5 bands, 50 cents to $1.00 — for cash, wax or offers. F. C. MORROW, 6Atf Wallaceburg, Arkansas. WANTED— Everybody to send me 10 cents in exchange for my little book. " The A B C of Ferret Culture." It tells all about the care and management of this little animal. 25Atf N. A. KNAPP, Rochester, Lorain Co., O. WANTED.— Those having small sums of money "saved up" can find perfectly SAFE investments, at 7 per cent, interest, for long or short time, by writing to THOS. G. NEWMAN, 199 Randolph-st., Chicago. Ills. WANTED TO EXCHANGE-My new price- list of Italian Bees, White and Brown Leghorn Chickens, White and Brown Ferrets, and Scotch Collie Pups— for your name and address on a postal card. N. A. KNAPP, 25Atf Rochester, Lorain Co.. Ohio. 186 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. HONEY AND BEESWAX MARKET. CHICAGO, July 30— No choice comb on the market. Some inquiries for new stock, with none to offer. A good article would bring 15 @16c Extracted is very scarce, and plenty of inquiry for same; it would bring 7@8c Beeswax— firm at 26@27c; good demand. J. A. LAMON, 44-46 S. Water St. CHICAGO, July 30. — Comb honey is dull and no demand. Selling finest grade white at 15c. With new crop prices will rule firmer. Extracted is scarce and in good demand at 7@ 7l/2c. Beeswax, selling at 26c. S. T. FISH & CO.. 189 S. Water St. CHICAGO, July 30.-Selling slowly, trade being in strawberries and other small fruit. No fine comb honey on the market— it would bring 15@16c. Extracted, 6, 7 and 8c, accord- ing to quality and kind. Beeswax. 27c. R. A. BURNETT. 161 S. Water St. NEW YORK. July 30. — Extracted in good demand and fair supply. We quote: Southern per gallon, 65@75c ; orange bloom, 7@7%c ty lb. Beeswax, 26@28c. „„■„_, „.™ HILDRETH BROS. & SEGELKEN, 28-30 West Broadway. KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 30— The old crop of comb honey is all cleaned up. First ship- ment of new comb honey this week, which we quote at 16c. for No. 1 1-lbs. CLEMONS, MASON & CO., Cor. 4th and Walnut Sts. CINCINNATI. July 30.— Demand is good for extracted at 5@Sc Ddemand is slow for comb honey, at 12@15c. for best white. Beeswax is in slow demand, at 23@2oc for good to choice yellow. K C. F. MUTH & SON, Cor. Freeman & Central Aves. NEW YORK, July 30.— Demand for comb is very small. Considerable comb honey on the market, of 2nd grade, but no fancy of any ac- count. Some demand for extracted, clover 6 @7c; buckwheat. 5@5%c.; Southern, 6o@7oc per gal.; Calif., 6'/2@7c. per lb. Beeswax— a little easier, with supply to meet demand, at 25@27c. ; 1 to 2c more per lb. for extra select. CHAS. ISRAEL & BROS.. 110 Hudson St. ALBANY, N. Y., July 30 — Demand is very little, and market quiet. We are selling some Florida new orange-blossom extracted hoqey to good advantage. Beeswax— 28@30c. H. R. WRIGHT. 326-328 Broadway. DETROIT, July 30.— Best white comb honey 12@13c; but little left to sell. Extracted. 7 @8c. Beeswax. 26@27c M. H. HUNT. Bell Branch. Mich. MILWAUKEE, July 30— Demand very mod- erate, supply average of all grades but com- mon quality. Best 1-lbs. 15@16c; common, 12®13c. Extracted, white, in barrels, 7c; in kegs, 71/2c; in pails. 71/2@8c. Beeswax— de- mand fair, supply small. Price. 23@28c A. V. BISHOP, 142 W. Water St. NEW YORK, July 30.— Demand is light, and supply large, except buckwheat comb. We quote: Fancy white comb, 12@14c; buck- wheat, 9©llc Extracted— Clover and bass- wood in good demand at 61/4@7c; buckwheat indemandat 5@6c Beeswax in fair demand at2G@28c , „ F. I. SAGE & SON, 183 Reade St. SAN FRANCISCO. July 30— Demand quiet as old crop is nearly exhausted and new crop not in yet. We quote: Extracted, 5V£@6 cts. Comb, 1-lbs.. 10@llc; 2-lbs., 6@8c Beeswax *? 4^*^50 SCHACHT, LEMCKE & STEINER, 16 Drumm Street. BOSTON, July 30— Demand is light. White 1-lbs., 13@15c No 2-lbs, on hand. No Bees- wax on hand. Extracted, 7@8c Demand is lg 01BLAKE & RIPLEY, 57 Chatham St. MINNEAPOLIS. Minn.. July 30 —Market is dull in general, though some is being worked off. but mostly at cut prices. Fancy white, lo @17c, 1-lb. sections; dark, S@10c Extracted white, 7@8c. ; dark, 5@6c. „m ' ^ STEWART & ELLIOTT. KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 30.— Old honey is cleaned up. both extracted and comb. New crop will be in about July 10. here. HAMBLIN & BEARSS. 514 Walnut St. NEW YORK, July 30. — Demand moderate, and supply reduced, with no more glassed 1-ro nor paper cartons, l-fl>. We quote: Comb, l-tt> 14@15c Extracted— Basswood, i %<& < '■Ac ; buckwheat, 5%@6&; Mangrove, 68@75c per gal. Good demand for dark extracted honey. Beeswax, in fair supply, with small demand, at F. gTsTROHMEYER & CO., 120 Pearl St. Winter Problem in Bee -Keeping; by G. E. Pierce, of Iowa, who has had 25 years' experience in bee-keeping, and for the past 5 years has devoted all his time and energies to the pursuit. Price, 50 cents. For sale at this office. We Club the American Bee Journal and the monthly "Illustrated Home Journal " one year for $1.35 ; or both of these Journals and the semi-monthly "Gleanings in Bee-Culture," for one year, for $2.10. The Honey-Bee ; giving Its Natural History, Anatomy and Physiology. By T. W. Cowan, editor of the British Bee Journal, 72 figures, and 136 illustra- tions. $1.00. For sale at this office. The Amateur Bee-Keeper, by J. W. Rouse, is a book of 52 pages, intended, as its name indicates, for beginners. Price, 25 cents. For sale at this office. The Busy Bees, and How to Manage Them, by W. S. Pouder. Price 10 cents. For sale at this office. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 199 PUBLISHED BY • GEORGE W. YORK& CO. •"**-" * "*"* ONE DOLLAR FEB YEAR. Club Rates,— Two copies, $1.80 ; 3 copies, $2.50 ; 4 copies, $3.20 ; 5 copies, $3.75. Mailed to any addresses. THOMAS G. NEWMAN, GEORGE W. YORK, Editors. YOLK! All 11, 1892. So. 7. Man Wants but little here below- He is not hard to please ; But woman— bless her little heart- Wants everything she sees. Iowa and Minnesota, if we may judge from reports coming in, are having the largest honey crop known for years. This certainly is very en- couraging, and bee-keepers, at least in those States, will have much reason to be grateful. The following, from Mr. A. P. Shigley, of Mankato, Minn., shows a pretty big piece of " silver lining " that had been obscured so long : There never was, to all appearances, a better honey season here than this. I have lived here for thirty odd years, and never saw anything more promising than at present. I do not know my yield per colony, but I would estimate it as over 100 pounds, spring count. A. P. Shigley. The Honey Crop for 1892.— On page 135 we called attention to an effort being made byP.ro. Root in Glean- ings, to find out something about the honey season and prospects for 1892, by postal card reports from bee-keepers all over the country. In response to that request, a number of replies were re- ceived, and here is what is said of them in Gleanings for Aug. 1 : The replies show that it is a little early yet to show what the average per colony will be for the season. 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 evident 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 bees, 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 per- haps we should have been more aston- ished than ever at the amount of honey. It has been over ten years since we were able to put on more than the second story to any colony. When the Next Meeting of the North American Bee-Keepers' Asso- ciation will be held, will very likely soon be decided, and there is little doubt now that it will be held later than Sep- tember. Secretary Hutchinson has re- ceived some letters from those interested in the event, the following being from President Eugene Secor, of Forest City, Iowa, dated July 30, which gives his views of the matter, and also something 200 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. about the honey season in his locality this year : Friend^ Hutchinson : — When I sug- gested to you some time ago that it would be a good thing to try and have the North American meet at the time of the G. A. R. Encampment, I did not think that the latter would occur so early in the season, and I therefore wish to take back what I then said, because I think this is too early, if the Encamp- ment meets some time in September. If there is any association going to meet in Washington any time from December to February, I would prefer that to meet- ing in September. I read Mr. Benton's letter, also noticed your remarks in the Review. If the brethren feel as you have suggested about it, which I have no doubt the majority do, I think it would be better to put off our meeting for the present, and try to learn of some interesting occasion in the winter time at Washing- ton, of which we can take advantage. I am getting some honey this year. The season has been the best for several years past. Basswood is just about going out of bloom — did not yield as much this year as some seasons. White clover has been much better, and with the abundant rains we have had, prob- ably the fall crop will be better than last year. Yours Very Truly, Eugene Secor. Mr. Hutchinson also received a letter from Mr. Frank Benton, who lives at Washington, and is watching things at that end of the line. Mr. B. wrote as follows on July 28, regarding the matter of time-limit of the G. A. R. Encamp- ment tickets, etc. : Neither at the railway ticket offices here, nor at the Grand Army head- quarters, can they tell me anything as to the limits of the time during which tickets issued at reduced rates upon the occasion of the Grand Army Reunion will be available to come to Washington. At one office they informed me that such tickets will be good returning until Oct. 10. Of course no such tickets will be handled here, hence no especial in- structions have been issued to ageuts at this point. Hotel rates will surely be " stiff" dur- ing the Reunion, but at any other time I think a number of very nice family hotels — quiet places, well or even ele- gantly fitted up, and with tables well supplied, having for their regular price about $2.00 per day — will give a special figure to the members of the North American, if quite a number will com- bine and go to one place. Yours Truly, Frank Benton. P. S.— Since writing the above, I have learned that tickets are available com- ing to Washington up to the 20th of Sep- tember only. Later. — Since the above was put in type, we have received the following letter from Secretary Hutchinson, which seems to indicate that the convention will not be held in September : Friend York : — Enclosed you will find a letter which I have just received from Ernest Root. You will see that there is almost a unanimous feeling that during the meeting of the G. A. R. is not the time to hold the convention. Although I shall write to the other members to- day for their permission to announce that the convention will not be held dur- ing the Encampment, there is no ques- tion as to what the decision will be. W. Z. Hutchinson. The letter from Mr. Ernest R. Root, mentioned by Bro. Hutchinson, reads thus : Friend Hutchinson : — Mr. Benton is correct, and I am fully in accord with your views, that we must have reduced rates. If we can have the convention held in December, when there will be some sort of doings in Washington, enough so as to secure half-fare, or at least one and one-third fare, that will be the time to held the convention. The G. A. R. day would be a bad time, I am sure. If there is no such time in Decem- ber, then October or November would not be bad. As you are Secretary, how would it do to write to Mr. Benton, asking him to ascertain the date of the various conven- tions and associations that will meet between now and next January, and what sort of a reduced railroad rate will be likely to be secured at those various conventions ? Mr. Benton is on the field, and can do the work thoroughly and well. Respectfully, Ernest R. Root. Read S. F. & I. Trego's Advertisement. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 201 Some Queen Questions.— Mr. D. Lindbeck, of Bishop Hill, Ills., on July 25, 1892, sent in the following questions about qixeens : 1. Is there any way to distinguish a queen that is started from a four-days'- old larvae, from one started from 36 hours to two or three days ? 2. Are such queens (from four-days'- old larvee) as good as others ? 3. What is the best and safest way to unite a nucleus having a laying queen, with a full colony that is queenless ? I have tried, and had the queen killed. 4. I also have one colony that has killed four queens. What can be the cause ? D. Lindbeck. Mr. G. M. Doolittle, who has had years of experience with queens, an- swers the above questions thus : 1. The older the larva from which a queen is started, the smaller the queen, and the more nearly she resembles a worker. I have seen queens which looked very little different from workers. Queens started from larvas 24 to 48 hours old, are as fully developed as any, and unless the larva is of greater age, no difference can be detepted in the looks of the queen, from one that was reared as a queen from the egg. 2. Such queens are slow to become fertile, but if they so become they will lay nearly, if not quite, as well as the best of queens, for two or three months, when, as a rule, they are superseded, or die of old age. 3. Place the nucleus on the stand of the full colony, then shake the bees from their combs, as they are taken one by one from the full colony, shaking these bees from two to five feet away from the hive, allowing them to fly or crawl this distance into the nucleus, placing the combs as fast as the bees are shaken off into the nucleus. The nucleus being established, and the full colony badly disorganized by this shak- ing off of the bees, causes the proud, full colony to " take off its hat" and "eat humble pie" as it enters the nucleus. 4. Laying workers, without doubt. Get rid of them as the books tell, when they will accept a queen. Borodino, N. Y. G. M. Doolittle. by Dr. G. L. Tinker, on page 205 of this number of the Bee Journal. It is high time that bee-keepers all over the regions where once flourished thebasswood so abundantly, bestir them- selves about this matter, and act upon the advice given by Dr. Tinker, Read further what Bro. Root writes about basswood as a honey-plant, in Gleanings for July 15 : 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 1892, when my mind was occupied a good deal on other matters, my atten- tion 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 perfume of ten thousand opening blossoms was quite a prominent partof the enjoyment. Every tree that was large enough has been for several days back just bending under its load of bloom, and it seems as if a part of the load were made of nec- tar ; and, finally, when we almost be- gan to despair of any honey-flow at all, even this year, the gates, as it would seem, have been opened, and we have had a flow of honey that many think exceeds anything during the past ten years. Just as we go to press, reports begin to come in from every direction, about the honey-flow ; and my enthusiasm in growing basswoods for honey as well as for timber has again awakened. There is not a handsomer shade tree in the world, in my opinion ; and I am quite certain that there is no other plant that bears honey, that begins to furnish anything like the quantity. If I could only make the pesky little seeds germi- nate and grow as we do cabbage plants, I should just delight in furnishing the whole wide world with millions of bass- wood trees, at an exceedingly low figure. Growing Basswood Trees for the honey they yield, and for shade, is written about in an interesting article Mr. It. J. Hood, of Sparta, Ills., called on us a few days ago. Mr. Hood is a young apiarist, and takes much in- terest in the pursuit. It is a pleasure to meet those growing up to take the I vacant places in apiarian circles. 202 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. The St. Joseph Fair Associa- tion which gives its first annual Exhibi- tion and Fair at St. Joseph, Mo., on Sept. 13 to 17, inclusive, offers $50,- 000 in premiums. Rev. E. T. Abbott, of St. Joseph, is the Superintendent of the apiarian department, and the very liberal premium list is as follows : Best colony of Italian bees. .$10 $ 5 Best colony of Carniolan bees 10 5 Best display of imported queens on single combs in observatory hives 10 5 Best display of queens reared by exhibitor, with progeny on single combs, in observa- tory hives 10 5 Best display of the general , conduct and habits of a col- ony of bees in an observa- tory hive without manipu- lation 10 5 Best and largest display of honey in comb not less than 100 pounds 20 10 Best and most attractive dis- play of extracted honey, not less than 100 pounds. 20 10 Best display of beeswax and comb foundation 10 5 Best display of honey-produc- ing plants, including stalks, flowers and seeds, all label- ed with name 5 3 Best comb foundation ma- chine,^ be operated on the ground 10 5 Best honey extractor 3 2 Best wax extractor 2 1 Best bee-smoker 2 Best crate- of 500 sections, open to manufacturers only 5 2.50 Best foundation fastener. ... 2 1 Best section-press 5 2.50 Best honey-knife 2 1 Best bee-feeder Diploma. Best queen-cage Diploma. Best drone-trap Diploma. Best display of apicultural literature 10 5 Best all-purpose hive 10 5 Best and most complete gen- eral display of apicultural implements 10 5 Finest and best crate of comb honey, not less than 20 pounds 10 5 Best and finest 20 pounds of extracted honey 10 5 The " Rules " governing the exhibit in this department are these : No premiums will be allowed on arti- cles not in place by noon of the second day, and properly receipted for by the Superintendent. All honey must be new, and all comb honey must be crated in marketable shape, and the honey in each crate must be of uniform grade and color. No premium will be allowed on any article not possessing real merit. Bees will be permitted to fly, but the owner must be responsible for any dam- age they may cause. Parties desiring space should notify the Superintendent early. This department is open to the world. :%ot a Queenless Indication. — Mr. James Cormac, of Des Moines, Iowa, asks the following question : Is it an indication that a colony is queenless, not finding eggs or larvae in the brood-combs at this season ? This matter I do not remember of reading about. I cannot find queens without brushing off the bees. James Cormac. Mrs. Jennie Atchley replies to the foregoing thus : No, it is not always a sure sign of queenlessness by seeing no eggs or larvae at this season of the year. They may have a queen that is an " invalid," as the boys here call it, or so deficient that she will not lay at all. Give them a frame of unsealed larva? and eggs from another hive, and if they do not start queen-cells in three or four days, you may be sure they have some kind of a queen ; and if they do start queen-cells, you may know they are queenless. Floyd, Tex. Jennie Atchley. Ulr. H. C. Farnum, of Transit Bridge, N. Y., and Miss Jessie B. Davis, of Aristotle, N. Y., were married on April 12, 1892. Mr. F. is a progres- sive apiarist, and the Bee Journal wishes them a long and happy life, made "sweeter than honey or the honey-comb." A Bee-Keepers' Convention will be held on Saturday, Aug. 27,1892, at F. M. Green's Grove, at Whiting, Kans. All bee-keepers are invited. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 203 Two Sides on the Farm. MAY MAPLE. Lice on the chickens, and bugs on the taters. Flies and mosquitoes to pester us all ; Weeds in the dooryard, and weeds in the garden. All growing rank where the sun-showers fall. Bees hanging up in the trees in great clusters. Waiting for some one to put them in hives ; Fruit to be gathered, and children to care for— Pity, oh ! pity the poor farmers' wives. Sweet new potatoes, and tender young chicks. Bread, butter and honey, with milk new and sweet ; Peas, lettuce and beans— all the wealth of the garden, With no warmed-over, stale city dinners to eat. Cribs full of grain— Nature's gold, coined by labor, Child fingers to draw forth the harmony sweet, Without which life's music is quite half un- uttered, Oh, pity them not, for their joy is complete. —Selected. Expressions of Good-Will continue to come to us, for which we feel truly grateful. We are going to try to merit them, though we fear it will be a rather difficult thing to do. The fol- lowing paragraph is from the Nebraska Bee-Keeper for July : The "old reliable" American Bee Journal, which has been so long and successful under the management of Mr. Newman, has changed proprietorship. Mr. Newman, on account of ill-health, has retired, and Mr. George W. York has taken his place. Mr. York has for some time held the position of assistant editor, and is well qualified to carry on the work. We regret to lose Mr. Newman from the position, but if he must retire, we congratulate the patrons and bee-keep- ing fraternity, that so good a man has been found to take his place. May suc- cess attend the new management. We especially value the kindly greet- ings of our co-workers in apicultural journalism, and shall ever hope that the pleasant feeling now existing among us may continue uninterrupted indefinitely. The American Farmer for July had this to say concerning the change of management of the American Bee Journal : Owing to the continued ill-health of Mr. Thomas G. Newman, the editor and manager of the old-established and widely-known American Bee Journal, he has found it necessary to be relieved of the care and labor attendant upon the management of that Journal, and has transferred his interests to Mr. George W. York, still continuing, how- ever, to give editorial advice and counsel through the columns of the paper. Mr. Newman has done much during his active career to stimulate an interest in the pursuit of bee-culture, and it is a matter of sincere regret to learn of his retirement from the active field. We wish for the new management the same degree of success that has heretofore attended the publication of the paper. To Mr. W. C. Frazier, bee-editor of the Iowa Homestead, we extend our thanks for the following fraternal notice : The American Bee Journal has changed hands. Thomas G. Newman, who has been editor for many years, has been compelled, by failing health, to dispose of the editorial management, which has been assumed by Mr. George W. York. Mr. York is a young man of thirty, who has been assistant editor for several years, and under his manage- ment we have no doubt it will continue to be the same prompt and reliable journal, ever ready to defend the rights of the bee-keepers against their various enemies. To publish a 32-page journal each week, devoted entirely to bee-culture is a herculean task ; if you do not think so, try getting out the copy for an issue or two. While we regret that the old management has been obliged to retire, we heartily welcome and wish abundant success to the new. largest Crop Ever Known , is what they say of the white clover crop in northwestern Iowa. The fields are just covered with white blossoms that yield the abundant harvest of sweetness. The corn crop is reported as a failure in that part of Iowa, and the farmers are plowing the corn-fields and sowing them to buckwheat. That will doubtless mean a large crop of buckwheat honey later on. From nearly everywhere the reports are that the prospects never were better for a grand yield of fall honey. " So may it be." 204 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. end Replies. Queens Producing or More Banclecl Bees Query 831.— Do you not think that an Italian queen that produces worker-bees with three or more distinct yellow bauds, is purely mated ?— F. Yes. — C. C. Miller. Yes. — Eugene Secoe. Yes, most assuredly. — J. M. Ham- BAUGH. Not always,or necessarily. — M.Mahin. Yes, if all her workers are thus marked. — J. P. H. Brown. If all her bees have three yellow bands, she is purely mated. — H. D. Cut- ting. I think it would be impossible to say for certain whether she is or not. — R. L. Taylor. It is quite likely that she is purely mated, but this is not an absolute proof. — Dadant & Son. Yes, if the workers are all three, banded ; yet they may, or may not be. — Mrs. J. N. Heater. If all her worker-bees have three or more yellow bands, I should say she was purely mated. — A. B. Mason. Yes, or so nearly so that it would take several generations to detect a mixture if there was any. — Mrs. Jennie Atch- ley. I am not a very good judge of the markings of the Italian bee. I have no " full-bloods," and I don't want them. — E. France. Yes, to all intents and purposes. The American Italian was produced by selec- tion, and the "survival of the fittest." — Mrs. L. Harrison. That is the way it is generally stated, but if the Italian is only a thoroughbred or hybrid bee, the word "pure" or "purity" should find no place in our statements. — G. M. Doolittle. I understand the three yellow bands to be only one of the indications of pure Italian bees. There must be also mild- ness of temper, and a disposition to adhere well to the combs on handling. — G. L. Tinker. I should think so, provided every worker bee had three yellow bands, and no more ; although I am of the opinion that it might be possible that she might be impregnated by an impure male. — James Heddon. Yes, most assuredly, if all the bees are thus marked, as stated in Query No. 830. In very rare cases they might do so, even though impurely mated. Just as a half-blood shorthorn and poll Angus might be black and hornless, and gen- uine Angus, to all appearance. — A. J. Cook. The above is the only real visible test, and when I find a queen that invariably shows three or more yellow bands in her worker progeny, such progeny being "clever," I am sure she is purely mated. The same result, however, will follow if she mates with pure drones of the other yellow varieties, so the " cleverness " of the workers must be taken into consid- eration.— J. E. Pond. I cannot say. In common parlance, when a queen meets a male of her own race, she is "purely mated." I think it most nearly certain that I have bred queens so highly by selection and per- sistent care, that they would produce workers with three or more yellow bands — the male parent being a hybrid. I have had several colonies of bees in my yard when left to breed and swarm in the natural way, that have risen from hybrids to " three or more banded bees," and then in process of time graded down to hybrids again. — G. W. Demaree. Uniform yellow bands on bees are (as theologians tell us) the "outward and visible sign" of inward purity ; but such things are not invariably to be relied upon. Generally, three yellow bands upon all the worker-bees of a colony would indicate that the queen was purely mated. But if the workers were irascible, or not very industrious, it would be quite reasonable to doubt the purity of the queen's fertilization. — Editors. The Globe Bee-Veil, which we offer on the third page of this number of the Bee Journal, is just the thing. You can get it for sending us only three new subscribers, with $3.00. When You Have any honey to sell, get some Honey Almanacs and scatter in your locality. They will sell it all in a very short time. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 205 Youthful Bee-Keeper's Story Here is a story that is told by that vet- eran beekeeper, Mr. I. A. Root, in Glean- ings in Bee Culture. Quite a young boy in the neighborhood of San Jacinto, Cal., evinced a liking for bees. He read every- thing he could lay hold of on the subject; watched beemen; listened to their talk until he was ready to put his knowledge to some practical use. His father, how- BRINGING HOME THE BEES IN HIS TROUSERS. ever, objected to purchasing a coiony, say- ing they would find plenty of stray swarms at the proper season; and so our friend 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 the bees, 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 trousers, tied up the ( js and hived the bees in them. They evidently considered this a very fair hive, for they stayed in the trousers 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 lad of thirteen than his mother? After the bees were hived, ti en the mother looked after the boy. Thr weather was hot and the road dusty, and poor Willie's bare legs were covered with a mixture ot" perspiration, dust, and occa- sionally a bee sting. His enthusiasm, how- ever, was enough to help him hold on to his prize, and now he has a rousing colony of bees in a movable comb hive, and bids fair to be, in due time, one of the shining lights. His name is Willie Guthridge, and here is a sketch of him, as he brought home his first swarm. On Important Subjects. Basswood as a Honey-Plant DR. 6. L. TINKER. It is now July 15, and we have as yet not a single section of sealed honey, nor has any honey come into market, and the calls for it are numerous. Up to July 1 the bees were nearly starving when the basswood opened, and yielded bountifully for two weeks. There are, however, but^ few trees left here in this county, and the same may be said of the whole State of Ohio, and the strangest thing is, that so many bee- keepers have sold what few trees they had to the sawyer, and thus have cut off an almost never-failing supply of nec- tar for the bees ; and to this cause alone — the cutting down of our basswood timber — is due the frequent failure of the honey crop of late years. In the years that have gone by, the farmers always had plenty of honey all over this State. At the present time I know of farmers who have hardly had a taste of honey for the last four years, but have had to feed to keep their bees alive. This is because of the failure of white clover, which is now the only source of a large crop of honey we have left ; but it fails to produce a crop every other year, and sometimes for two or three years in succession, so that often the bees must be fed in the fall for winter. Now, these are unpleasant facts to contemplate, that every farmer and bee- keeper well knows, and it is useless to blind our eyes to truth longer, but if the industry of bee-keeping is to prosper, there must be found a remedy, and it 206 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. must be applied soon ; and that remedy is in planting the basswood, or, as it is known by the German people, the lin- den. The cause of the failure of the white clover this year has been the fre- quent heavy rain-falls for the past two months in this locality. Only day be- fore yesterday we had a precipitation of at least four inches, amounting almost to a flood ! Ten years ago I dug up three little basswood trees, and brought them home in my buggy, and planted them on the rear end of my lot in this city. They' are now about 8 inches in diameter, and not only make a most beautiful shade, but have bloomed heavily every year for the last five years ; and every year I have noted carefully the amount of nec- tar secreted, and can truly say that there is no other plant or tree in the world that yields so abundantly of nec- tar as the basswood ; neither is there a honey gathered from any other plant or tree that is superior to it in flavor, and the color is almost as clear as clover honey. The secretion of nectar goes steadily on, night and day, and not as in many kinds of plants, a little while in the night and early part of the day. How- ever, the calyx of the flowers of the basswood fill up during the night with nectar, so it can be plainly seen in the morning in the five cups of the calyx ; and I have often watched the bees take up the nectar, and how quickly they filled their honey-sacs and were away to their hives. I know of no other flower upon which the bees can get their " fill " so quickly except the flowers of the tulip tree or whitewood, which yields a strong, dark-colored honey, unpalatable to many. These facts prove conclusively that in this country, at least, there is nothing equal to or that can take the place of the basswood for honey, and I would therefore suggest that all of our bee- papers, as well as all farm periodicals that are interested in our pursuit, be frequently urged to recommend the planting of young basswood trees to farmers and bee-keepers. There is not a farm in the country but there is plenty of room to plant hun- dreds of the trees. If there is no other suitable place, they can be planted along the roadside, and will soon give a beau- tiful shade, and add to the value and fine appearance of any farm many times their cost and the labor of planting. In cities and villages their planting should be encouraged for the fine shade they give, and the beauty of well-trimmed trees that is exceeded by no other trees that are planted merely for shade and ornament. All trees planted in public places, or along roadsides, or other places where animals can get at them, should be pro- tected by two boards 6 inches wide, and 6 or 7 feet long. A few cleats 7 inches long nailed to the edges will hold them in place. WHEN TO PLANT BASSWOOD TKEES. The best time to plant the trees is in early spring, but they may also be suc- cessfully planted in the fall. They may be grown from the seed as follows : Collect the seed as soon as ripe, and before they yet dried out on the trees. Cover them up on the ground with leaves and brush, and as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring, gather them up and sow in drills. The trees grow rapidly, and will begin to bloom in about seven years from the seed. Trees five or six feet high, that may be obtained very cheaply from the nurserymen, will begin to bloom in four years. New Philadelphia, Ohio. [For editorial remarks on this subject, see page 201 of this issue. — Eds.] Be Mating of Queen-Bees. MRS. JENNIE ATCHLEY. I wish to relate a little circumstance that happened not long since. I had quite a number of young queens to hatch a few weeks ago, and from among them I confined a lot in the hives for five days, and kept them in the house, feeding them well each night. They had two frames of brood and about one pound of bees each. On the fifth day I took them to one of my mating yards, 3 miles distant, at about 4 o'clock in the evening. I put them down and opened the entrances as I went, and just as soon as I had all out of the wagon, I went back and adjusted the frames, and to my great surprise every queen had mated and returned. We saw one queen (whose wings were a little bad, but could fly) that came in very cautiously, and two or three drones followed her right to the entrance. She caught on a weed in front of the hive, and the drones did the same. Now, it could not have been over 30 minutes from the time I took them out AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 207 of the wagon until I examined them, and I do not believe it was more than 20 minutes. Drones were flying thick from the drone hives, and I know these queens did not go any 4 miles — not any % mile — from the hive to mate, but they were mated right in that yard, not over 2 acres in it. You see, these queens being 5 days old, and having been fed regularly, were crazy to fly, and conse- quently flew the first chance they had. Now, could we not confine queen as above, and select the time to turn them loose, while the drones were flying, and have them mated to just the drones we wish ? I believe it is worth trying, as these are plain facts, and no theory about it. Floyd, Texas, July 12, 1892. Bee-Questions ly a Beginner. J. F. EGGEKS. I have read up on bee-culture for sev- eral years, both books and periodicals, but I have been in actual " beesness " only since early spring. I have 6 colo- nies at home, and bought out an apiary of 13 colonies a few days ago — all Ital- ians, and hard at work. I find the bee-literature a great help to me — in fact, I would not undertake to start with so many colonies, if I had not posted myself as to their management. Here everybody winters bees on the summer stands, or in sheds, where they stand the year around, and the bees seem to come out all right in the spring, generally. I have thought of putting up a shed nearly high enough to admit the hive with supers, and have the roof so that it can easily be removed to admit the sunshine on cool days, and allow one to handle the bees over the rear wall. In winter, leaves could be packed over and between the hives. It would interest me, and probably others of your readers, to have the, fol- lowing questions answered in the Bee Journal : 1. Is ft advisable to put up a shed to shelter bees from wind an sun ? If so, what is the best way to build such a shed ? 2. How near may hives be placed with- out injury to the occupants ? 3. Is it detrimental to the bees to open the hive and handle the frames frequently, say once a week ? 4. Why do bees often clinch and tumble to the ground, or fly away, hold- ing to each other ? Is it the fighting of two bees, out of different hives ? Grand Island, Nebr., July 16, 1892. [By request, Dr. C. C. Miller has an- swered the questions asked by Mr. Eggers, as follows :] BUILDING SHEDS FOK BEES. 1. Very few bee-keepers now-a-days put up sheds for their bees. I like, as do many others, to have my hives in the shade of trees, more for the purpose of having it pleasant for the operator than for any benefit to the bees. In the ab- sence of any shade trees, I am not sure that it would not be a good plan to have some kind of a shed to shade the bees, but it need be only the simplest kind of covering or roof, high enough not to be in the "way of the operator, no side-walls whatever. THE SPACE BETWEEN THE HIVES. 2. The occupants of the hives are not likely to receive any injury directly from each other if the hives are placed close together in a straight row, as they were commonly placed years ago. There may be some mixing of the bees by their entering wrong hives, but that does not seem to make any trouble. There may, however, be serious trouble whenever young queens fly on their bridal trips, for in that case if a queen enters a wrong hive it leaves queenless the hive she left. To avoid any trouble of this sort, it is necessary to have the hives well apart, and it depends upon circumstances how far that should be. On a level plain, where there is not a tree, shrub or build- ing in sight, I think it quite possible that there would be some mixing and loss of queens in an apiary of 100 colo- nies if the hives should be placed a rod apart. But on the same spot you might with perfect safety put three hives touching each other, in any possible position. Bees are not good at count- ing, and if a bee has nothing else to go by except to find a hive, which is the fifth from the end in the third row, it is likely to make a mistake. But if the apiary consists of only three hives, the bee does not need to count. It can easily find the one at the left, right or middle. So it is a good plan to have the hives at least five or six feet apart, especially as it is more convenient for the operator to have plenty of room between them. At the same time, it is a very fortunate thing, in case it is desirable to economize room, that it is just as well to place the 208 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. hives in pairs, as to place them singly. Suppose a row of hives six feet apart. Now you may place another hive beside each hive in the row, having the pair of hives almost touching each other, and there will be no more danger of bees or queens entering wrong hives than if you had left them single. You see a bee will never make the mistake of taking the right hand hive for the left. I have said that under certain circum- stances there might be trouble in an apiary of a hundred colonies, if the hives were placed a rod apart. I will now say that the same hundred colonies might be piled up in a solid block three high, and yet be as safe as they were before a rod apart. You will easily imagine that in the present case they will not be in an open plain with no objects to help mark the localities of the respective hives, but just the reverse. Of course, no one would want to handle hives in such a pile. But if, for any reason, it should be desirable to have the hives occupy as little room as possible, it would help matters to have trees, bushes, posts or other objects near to the hives. Eoom can also be gained by placing the hives in groups of four each — a plan that I have practiced for several years. Two hives are placed side by side with per- haps a space of two inches between them, facing east. Then another pair faces west, the two pairs standing back to back. One convenience in having hives stand thus in twos or fours is, that when working at a hive you can have the hive standing nearest to be used as a table on which to place the smoker or other tool. The only objection against having hives in pairs is that in a very few in- stances when a hive has had all its brood taken away, and has no queen, the whole colony may make a stampede for the adjoining hive, which they can reach without flying. But I * do not know that they would do this if they had either brood or queen. HANDLING HIVES AND FRAMES. 8. Much is said now-a-days about " handling hives more and frames less," and while I certainly do not want to handle hives " more," I should like to handle frames " less." Some day I may know enough to handle frames less, but at present most of my hives are over- hauled about once a week. I do not think it hurts them. Of course, if bees are busy at work in the field, they are hindered a little at their work, but I do not think it counts for much. FIGHTING AMONG THE BEES. 4. I have seen two bees of the same colony fight, but except in the case of queens, it was under very abnormal cir- cumstances, and you may set'it down as a rule that when you see two workers clinched, they are fighting because one of them is trying to steal from the hive of the other. Marengo, Ills. C. C. Miller. The Development of Bee-Keening. Etc. A. E. JAMESON. The bee-industry in this locality has grown wonderfully in the last few years, and it is almost impossible to pass a farm-house without seeing a lawn dotted with a hive or two. Hive manu- facturers and bee-papers have done much toward bringing the old cracker and soap boxes out of the weeds, to be replaced on the lawn with movable- frame hives, and convince people that bees do pay. Fields and pasture land are fast seeding down to white clover, which, with the linden trees on all" streams, added to large orchards now growing and ranging in size from 5 to 160 acres (many of 20 and 25 acres), make the future prospects bright for bee-keepers. Now, when self-hiving arrangements attain the acme point, the farmer bee- keeper will be in the height of his glory, as many swarms abscond, one man catching eight this season, and dozens going into houses, chimneys, etc. One neighbor now has 3 swarms in his dwelling, which he wishes to have taken out immediately. He says they are " big, fat bees," but are not Italians, as he has heard that Italians are gentle. From my 30 colonies, spring count, I have had one swarm to leave me, and it (or one which I have good reasons to be- lieve was it) came back next day, and is doing nicely. Honey is very plentiful. Fine comb honey is selling in the small towns at 12 )4 cents per pound, and owing to the abundant yield, it was stored fast, and is very fine. The apple crop here is light, although more than will be used for home consumption. Weeping Water,Nebr., July 24,1892. Why Not send us one new name, with $1.00, and get Doolittle's book on "Scientific Queen-Rearing" as a premi- um ? Read the offer on page 197. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 209 Fiye-Banied Golden Italian Bees. Etc, O. FITZALWYN WILKINS. page 381 of the American Bee ul for March 17, 1882, is the On Journal following query : " Who was the originator of that strain of Italians known as the 'five-banded golden Italians?' " I presume no one has laid claim to being the originator, because I have not, as yet, seen any reply to my inquiry in any bee-paper which I take. I have been "keeping bees" since 1866, and have nearly every year pur- chased an Italian queen from some one — more from a Massachusetts breeder than any other, because his queens were invariably as he represented them. I have not obtained any queens from that gentleman for several years, for the reason that I am badly afflicted with color-blindness, so far as bees are con- cerned, and cannot see perfectly any- thing that is not " golden-to-the-tip." However, I believe in "giving unto Caesar the things that be Caesar's," or, in other words, giving "honor to whom honor is due ;" therefore, I will say just here, that three years since, I procured queens from several breeders, none of which produced progeny equal to that of the Massachusetts queen for gentleness and industry. In the month of June, 1890, her "children" stored in one hive 240 pounds of extracted honey, being 100 pounds more than either of the others, although I treated all im- partially. Of course, there are many who keep bees for profit, and have realized much larger returns than the above. I re- member, " some twenty years ago," one case in which 600 pounds were extracted from one hive ; at least it was so re- ported in the American Bee Journal, Vol. VII., No. 7, for January, 1872, page 164, on the middle of the second column. By the way, what has become of Gallup, " Novice," "Amateur," and a score more of the " old timers ?" Do you know I experience more real pleasure in looking over the first vol- umes of the American Bee Journal than in any other occupation except working among my yellow pets ? " Honor to whom honor is due," re- minds me that I procured queens last year from four "five-banded breeders " who "satisfaction guaranteed ;" but all of whose queens were not producers of even uniformly three-banded workers. The queens were from breeders in New York, Maryland, Illinois and Missouri, and I expected to obtain some very fine queens from them. Well, Missouri and Maryland furnished queens to fill the bill ; New York's was very poor — she produced two and three banded bees for a short time, and departed this life after a ten weeks' sojourn in our grand Dominion of Canada ! Like the "sum- mer girls" generally, she was not ready for annexation ! The Illinois queen was very prolific of three-banded workers, and extremely dark drones. The workers had cloudy spots in the bands, also extremely vixen- ish tempers. I rejoiced " with an ex- ceeding great joy " at her early admis- sion to the halls of Valhalla this spring, where^if she be not sipping nectar from the skulls of her rivals, she is doubtless sharpening her death-dealing brand on the thorax of some vanquished enemy. The other two queens — from Mary- land and Missouri — each produced four and five banded workers, gentle as butterflies (almost), and as industrious as our own Canadian beavers. The idea advanced in a New York bee- paper, would have, I think, a beneficial effect on those breeders who obtain money under false pretences, viz. : that each apiarian periodical throughout the continent should publish a " black-list " of all unscrupulous dealers in apiarian supplies. International Bridge, Out., July 4. Swarming, Tie Season. Etc, JOHN M. SEILER. I had 9 colonies, spring count, mostly in box-hives, so I worked them for in- crease, and got it. One colony did not swarm, but the other 8 cast 14 natural swarms. I sold 2, and united the sec- ond swarms. One second swarm I united with a weak one that had comb built* only on 6 of the 8 frames (I use the 8- frame Wisconsin hive) ; on June 20 I put a super on and they filled it, and on July 14 they cast a large swarm. The first swarm I got on June 9, and they filled their hive with honey, and about 40 pounds in one-pound sections ; I put a third super on, but not soon enough, as on July 27, four days after I put on the third super, it cast an 83^- pound swarm — that was 48 days after it was hived. 210 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. We had lots of rain during May and June, but for two weeks after July 4, bees worked extra fast on white clover. The past week has been very rainy, but it has cleared now, and bees are hard at work on both clover and buckwheat. Mine are the brown or black bees — some call them hybrids, but they are not as cross as some say the hybrids are. I wish to ask concerning a colony of bees: I purchased a prime swarm in July 1890; in 1891 it cast 2 swarms, and this spring it was strong with bees, and plenty of honey, but it kept dwind- ling until about June 15, and since then it has gained some. Some time in June, after we had a wet, cool week, I noticed them carrying out the dried skins of larval bees ; they were black, or nearly so. They did not swarm this year, but I have noticed the same about the other colonies that have swarmed, and the first swarm carried some out, too. One of my neighbor's saw the same on his bees. What causes it? The bees are all right, and work well. Chanhassen, Minn., July 29, 1892. [Doubtless the bees were starving, and destroyed the larvsB to save feeding them. -Eds.] ■ -*- m Extracted Honey anfl Increase, FRANK X. ARNOLD. I wish to tell how I get a crop of ex- tarcted honey and increase both, where the spring crop is very short, and a good flow of honey is expected in the fall. This method is only good to practice when the colonies are strong, and one has plenty of spare combs. First, put on all the combs they need, as soon as honey is coming in, but care should be taken not to put too many on at one time — just as fast as the bees need them. Towards the end of the honey-flow, each colony should have from 12 to 16 frames of brood, and bees enough to well fill a three-story eight- frame hive. When the honey-flow is nearly over, extract them, but not all the honey, leave about 10 pounds of sealed honey ; then divide them by taking nearly two- thirds of the brood and honey with adhering bees to form the new colony, and introduce a laying queen, leaving the old queen with the original colony. The new colony now having the most brood and bees, some of the working bees will return to the old home, making that part of the division the strongest in bees, and the new colony having the most hatching brood for the next three weeks, will make them about equal in strength. This is the best method of the many I have practiced, that is, when the honey-flow is very short. Why not divide them before the honey- flow, or let them swarm, and then after the harvest extract from both colonies, and get double the amount of honey from the 2 colonies as from the old one itself ? There are many reasons for this. I have studied well the conditions of this locality, and know whereof I speak. First, if a colony is divided before the honey-flow, the division will make them unfit for surplus honey. Second, if they are left to swarm naturally, the amount of work they do during the preparation for swarming is almost nothing, as far as storing honey and comb-building is concerned ; and after the swarm issues, it will not build much comb nor store any surplus honey. Third, when they are divided after the main flow of honey, one has a good chance to rear first-class queens, and need not feed the nucleus during that time, which is another advantage. I prefer to rear queen-cells in a full col- ony, and, when ready to hatch, dis- tribute them among the nuclei. This question naturally arises : Does a colony that is the result of natural swarming, work more than one that does not ? I believe they do not work much more, for this reason, viz. : When a colony prepares to swarm, the bees consume all the honey that they can, to secrete wax, and build but little comb during that time, and when they swarm •they carry all the wax and honey with them that they can, to their new home, giving them a good start, and advantage over the colony that has been building comb freely and then divided. It is true that some colonies that are divided do not work well for some time, but the most common cause is that the colony was preparing to swarm before the division was made — they have the swarming-fever, and will not work until they forget it, or obtain the desired result. Now, which is the best way— let them swarm naturally, and hang around in the hive for a week or more, until half of the honey crop is over with before they swarm, or divide them before the honey-flow, and lose part of the crop, until they get ready to start hard-work- ing, or divide them after the honey-flow, AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 211 and do almost nothing at all? I think the latter plan is the best, for when there is nothing to do there is nothing lost, if they do not work for a few days. Where increase is wanted, I see no reason for not dividing them, for all the bees that are reared immediately after the harvest, become consumers instead of producers, and, besides this, the old colony, if not divided, will not get any stronger, as the queen has been doing her very best at egg-laying, and is sure to slack up some time after the harvest, and in two months, when the fall crop commences, the colony will not be any stronger thean either of the divisions would be. Deer Plain, Ills. Comforts in tie Apiary, CHAS. F. MUTH. With an enthusiasm ever so well de- veloped, every bee-keeper finds that bee- keeping has spells of hard labor in its tracks, and that muscle, energy and perseverance are requisites, without which none can prosper. The smoker has added so much to the comforts of the bee-keepers, that it has become in- dispensable in the aprary. IMPORTANCE OF THE BEE-ESCAPE. One of the latest inventions is the bee-escape. I was slow to comprehend its importance. Producing extracted honey exclusively, it was so easy a mat- ter for me to take the filled combs from the second story, brush the bees off, and replace them with empty combs, that no improvements seemed possible. How- ever, this season, I fastened Porter bee- escapes to ten boards covering the brood- chamber, stripped for the purpose. The bee-space must be provided for on both sides of the board. To some of the boards I fastened two escapes, to others one, in order to satisfy myself if one would be sufficient to pass out all bees during a night. The escapes must be turned down towards the brood-chamber, as a matter of course. One afternoon, when the combs of the upper stories needed extracting, I placed these ten boards with bee-escapes be- tween the brood and the honey-chamber. This was any easy job. The next morn- ing, when opening the second stories, they were emptied of bees, a few very young bees only had remained, and needed to be brushed off the combs. Before the robbers were aware of the fact that a hive was open, and before the bees of the hive knew what was going on, the full combs had been taken out, replaced by empty ones, the bee- escape taken off, and the hive covered up again. All of it was done without the aid of a smoker, and at a time when honey was scarce, and bees were on the warpath. The most sting-proof bee- keeper will appreciate the bee-escape with the first attempt, and place it among his indispensables in the apiary. In the afternoon I placed my ten bee- escapes on ten other hives, with the same result the next morning.. As the bees were out of all the upper stories alike, it appears that ten to twelve hours is sufficient time for one Porter escape to accomplish the job. VALUE OF THE QUEEN-EXCLUDER. Another late addition to the comforts in the apiary is the queen-excluder. If it seems to make but little difference to the producer of extracted honey when his queens deposit eggs in the upper stories, let him try a queen-excluder, and he cannot help but find the differ- ence in his labor when all the brood is confined to the lower story, and he may look for his honey to the upper story only. The labor saved in the fall, when the bees have to be reduced to the lower story, will be appreciated by every one. The queen-excluder has come to stay. But the knowledge of the best use of the queen-excluder we owe to our friend, G. W. Demaree, of Christiansburg, Ky. His modus operandi insures a crop dur- ing the worst season, as it is almost sure to prevent swarming, and consequently retains the foragers (the old bees) in every colony, unless the hive is smaller than a ten-frame Langstroth. Here is his method : At the beginning of the honey season, when the colonies are strong, and swarms are anticipated, place all of the combs, containing brood, honey, and adhering bees, in the upper story, leav- ing the queen below (on a comb with fresh-laid eggs, or without) ; fill the brood-chamber with empty combs, place the queen-excluder on, then the second story on top, and cover up. The bees will go down through the queen-excluder and assist their queen, and as the young bees hatch in the sec- ond story, their vacated cells will be filled with honey as soon as the flowers yield. The queen having plenty of chance to deposit eggs, and the bees 212 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. enough room to store honey, swarming is out of the question for awhile. If comb honey is the object, one can place the sections on top of the second story, and put them on the brood-cham- ber after the combs of the latter have been filled. Even during this poor sea- son, I had some sections nicely started in the third story, and finished on the brood-chamber. We owe Mr. Demaree a vote of thanks for his close observation. Cincinnati, Ohio, July 25, 1892. CONVENTION DIRECTORY. Time and place of meeting. 1892. Aug. 17.— Wabash Valley, at Vincennes, Ind. Frank Vawter, Sec, Vincennes, Ind. Aug-. 19.— Darke Co. Union, at Greenville. O. Geo. H. Kirkpatrick, Sec., Union City, Ind. Aug. 27.— Haldimand, at S. Cayuga, Ont. E. C. Campbell, Sec, Cayuga, Ont. Sept. 7, 8.— Nebraska, at Lincoln, Nebr. L. D. Stilson, Sec, York, Nebr. Oct. 7.— Utah, at Salt Lake City, Utah. John C. Swaner, Sec, Salt Lake City, Utah. 1893. Jan. 13, 14.— S.W.Wisconsin, at Boscobel.Wis. Benj. B. Rice, Sec, Boscobel, Wis. In order to have this table complete, Secretaries are requested to forward full particulars of the time and the place of each future meeting. — The Editors. North American Bee-Keepers' Association President— Eugene Secoi-.-Forest City, Iowa. Secretary— W. Z. Hutchinson Flint, Mich. » ♦ 9 ♦ » National Bee-Keepers' Union. President— James Heddon ..Dowagiac, Mich. Sec'y and Manager— T. G. Newman, Chicago. Reports, Prospects, Etc. ^F~ Do not write anything for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Bee-Keepers' Union and Bee-Keeping. After reading about the effect of the Union on page 72, I feel like joining it, so please find enclosed $1.00 for a year's membership, and put me down for the rest of my life. I will be 39 years old on Sept. 12, and have kept bees for the last 19 years, but was a "bumble-beekeeper" since I was 5 years old. I generally put my bees out of the cellar on May 1, and commence to sell honey on July 7 ; but this year was an exception, for I put out my bees on May 16, and sold new honey on July 8, so you see it makes no differ- ence whether I put my bees out on May 1 or the 16th. I have read the Bee Journal for the last 15 years, and can't keep house without it. Wm. F. Fritz. Duluth, Minn., July 30, 1892. [The Bee-Keepers' Union is doing a grand work, and its membership should number thousands, if only for the great influence such an " army of defenders " would have upon those who are inclined to treat bee-keeping disrespectfully. Let every lover of the pursuit, who wishes to enjoy his rights, send $1.00 to Thomas G. Newman, 199 Randolph Street, Chicago, ills., for a year's mem- bership. Do it now ! — Eds.] Moderate Crop — Foul Brood. Bees in this part of the country are not doing as much as we anticipated they would. A moderate crop of honey, as far as I know, has been secured. The bees are just closing up on basswood. Our bees have had the foul brood, and in consequence we have suffered quite a loss. I have driven them out this spring on foundation, and into clean hives, and have made a success of it, I think. J. C. Newman. Peoria, N. Y., July 27, 1892. Have Stored No Honey, Etc. I commenced last year with 65 colo- nies, had 6 swarms, and got about 300 pounds of honey. I put into winter quarters 70 colonies, having lost one by moths. I have had 8 swarms this year, and saved 4 ; put on the supers the last week in May, since which 5 colonies have left their quarters, with no appar- ent cause with three, but two had slight signs of moth, but no live or dead moths or bees to be seen, they were evidently weak in the spring, as they did not swarm until June 20, unless the wet, cold weather kept them back '? Up to this time many colonies had stored no honey in the supers, though we had an AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 213 abundance of white clover. 1. How do you get bees out of the supers ? 2. How do you fix the bee-house for the bees to escape ? I have wire in the windows running above the top, but the bees do not leave. A. M. Creel. Grand Pass, Mo., July 15, 1892. [1. Use a bee-escape, several of which have been described and advertised in the Bee Journal. 2. Make the windows to swing mid- way between the top and bottom, and when the bees are on the window inside, gently turn the window, and the bees will then be on the outside. — Eds.] White Clover and Knot- Weed. My crop of extracted clover honey per colony is 67 pounds, spring count. We await a good crop from knot-weed. O. H. Johnson. Essex, Iowa, July 28, 1892. No Honey, and Bees Taxed. The bee season, this year, has been an entire failure in this locality. At pres- ent I have 14 colonies, and they have not gathered a pound of surplus honey up to date. One obstacle against them is no white clover in existence here this year. The bee-keepers around here have the same complaint, and they claim it to be the severest season for bees in the past number of years; and if the incoming fall does not give them a better showing, they will not be able to survive the winter without feeding. As the taxes in this locality are quite heavy, the keeping of bees does not seem at all to be a paying business. My assessment is $1.00 for 14 colonies. H. Van Doren. South Branch, N. J., July 30, 1892. Hints on Transferring Bees, Etc. When you transfer bees at times when combs are heavy with honey, try giving the dripping, transferred combs to other colonies, the transferred bees clean combs of honey and brood, and see how much nicer it will work, as bees often become discouraged, and fail to clean up their combs, and swarm out and leave them in disgust. But the above plan is a sure remedy, for I have tried it thoroughly in the last ten days. Remember that a queen never tears down a queen-cell built over a drone- cell, so you may get "fooled" in some way, at times. You can usually detect these cells from others by the place they occupy on the combs, or by their smooth appearance. What I mean by the " place they occupy" is, they are usually built over drone-combs. Dip the bee-quilts in melted beeswax, and bees will not cut them nearly so badly. Soaking all the combs, or sealed sections, in clear water when moths have attacked them, is a good remedy. Mrs. Jennie Atchley. Floyd, Tex., July 29, 1892. Abundance of White Clover. Bees are doing but little good here, owing to the rainy season ; however, there is an abundance of clover, and no doubt the honey season is in the near future, as the rainy season seems to be over. Bees winter out-doors in this part of the country. Thos. Wickersham. Wickersham, Wash., July 24, 1892. Italianizing' Bees. I have at present only 4 colonies of common black bees — in two box and two Langstroth hives. All neighbors around here having bees have black bees, there being no Italians here at all. 1. Is it desirable, under the circumstances, to Italianize my bees ? If so, what is the best time ? I have been told that in such a case the Italians cause more trouble than they are worth. Is this true ? C. E. Chipman. Wolfville, N. S., July 28, 1892. [1. No, as it would be about impossible to keep them pure, and you would have only cross hybrids, after a time. — Eds.] Fine Quality White Clover Honey. The bees have done fairly well in this (southwest) part of Iowa, taking the backward spring into account. It was hard work for me to keep my bees alive, as the spring was so cold and wet. June 10 found me with about 100 colonies with about a quart in each one ; then the weather cleared up, and white clover covered the valleys with a white carpet, and what few bees there were gathered honey very fast for two or three weeks. I got about 6,000 pounds of white clover honey, of a very line quality, both comb and extracted. The prospect is fair for a fall flow from heart's-ease. J. R. Eskkw. Shenandoah, Iowa, July 28, 1892. 214 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Threshing Alsike Clover, Etc. I have read with interest in past num- bers articles on Alsike clover, and its profitable yield as a paying seed crop. Now, I would be thankful if some one would give the best method of threshing and cleaning the seed. Is a clover-huller needed, as in saving common red clover seed ? I will be glad to see an article in the Bee Journal giving the best method. Our honey crop is a failure this year. We had a fair stand of white clover, but the weather conditions were such that much of it does not bloom, and what bloom we had, barely gave subsistence to the bees. E. Drane. Eminence, Ky., July 27, 1892. [Perhaps Mr. M. M. Baldridge, who has had large experience with Alsike, will favor the readers of the Bee Jour- nal with an article giving the desired information. — Eds.] Stored 40 Pounds Per Colony. My bees have stored 40 pounds of white clover honey per colony this sea- son. Bert Lasby. Castle Rock, Minn., Aug. 1, 1892. A Most Trying- Season. This has been the worst season for years. Bees were in first-rate condition before fruit-bloom, but we had a snow- storm on May 19 and 20, followed by cold rain, and it rained nearly all of June. We had no surplus on July 15, though a little since, perhaps, but none ready to come off. We have had violent storms, a cyclone, and what not. It has been a trying season. L. J. Sherman. Hanover, N. H., Aug. 1, 1892. Asparagus — Shade for Bees. Asparagus yields honey here in New Jersey. Its drooping, bell-shaped blos- soms always contain nectar, and are visited by the bees in sunshine or shower. By breaking the blossoms apart, the nectar can be plainly seen. We have not taken any honey yet, but we are not disappointed, as the hives are just " piled full " of bees, and we never hope for any surplus until fall. What is the matter with Jersey bee- keepers ? It seems that "a slim trio" are all that make themselves heard through the Bee Journal. By the way, this hot weather that we have just passed through, has caused me to learn how to make an inexpensive shade for hives. The bees were hang- ing out in great bunches, so having a few old barrels handy, I simply knocked them apart, straightened the nails, placed two staves about 16 inches apart, and nailed the other staves on the top crosswise. Two foot long sticks on one end as legs to catch the hives when hung to the south side of the hive, made it complete. Joseph Ehret. Trenton, N. J., Aug. 1, 1892. They Prefer December. We read all that was said regarding the meeting of the North American Bee- Keepers' Association, in the Bee Jour- nal for July 28. It would be simply impossible for queen-breeders, as well as many other bee-keepers in this locality, to meet at Washington in September. December would suit us better. F. A. Lockhart & Co. Lake George, N. Y. What Ails the Bees ? My bees are troubled with a disease known as "claviceps apium." They have been troubled with it for the last three years, but not, as I thought, seriously. So far this year they had been entirely free from all symptoms until July 21, and for the last 2% days they have died very fast. On July 21, 4 colonies died, and to-day 50 colonies are dying very fast. I would like to know what is the trouble with them. I am at present giving them this prepara- tion : Salicyclic acid, one ounce ; soda borax, one ounce ; water, 4 pints ; but this prescription is of the year 1890, and I think that there may be some newer discovery since then. F. M. Hart. Travers, Calif., July 22, 1892. [Can some reader tell what the trouble is, and also give a remedy ? — Eds.]» Poor Season for Bees, Etc. The honey season has been very poor here. I wintered 19 colonies, and in- creased to 24 this season, my best col- ony giving me 25 pounds of comb honey. The full amount taken this year is nearly 75 pounds, as near as I can tell. I have kept bees three years, and use the eight-frame single and chaff hives. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 215 I feed my bees when they need it, and do not allow them to starve. In 1890 I wintered 4 colonies, in 1891 I wintered 13, and last winter 19 colonies, and have not lost one colony. I am a great friend of the bees. We have very few bee-keepers in this neighborhood, but a great many " bee murderers." We will have to drop this season, and work for the next one. J- O- May. Flattwoods, Pa., Aug. 2, 1892. Combed and Extracted. Fuel for Bee-Smokers. Take dry cobs and pound them up the size of hickory nuts or walnuts, and start the first time with a few coals from the stove. When refilling, save a few of the coals to start the fresh cobs ; and if they have gone out, you can start or light them with a match, or use a little rotten wood to start them, as you cannot 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 less 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.— Ches- ter Olmstead, in Gleanings. Personalities in Conversation. Keep clear of personalities in general conversation. Talk of things, objects, thoughts. The smallest minds occupy themselves with personalities. Person- alities must sometimes be talked, be- cause we have to learn and find out men's characteristics for legitimate ob- jects ; but it is to be with confidential persons. Do not needlessly report ill of others. There are times when we are compelled to say, "I do not think that Bouncer is a true and honest man," but when there is no need to express an opinion, let poor Bouncer swagger away. Others will take his measure, no doubt, and save you the trouble of analyzing him and instructing them. And as far as possible dwell on the good side of human beings. There are family boards where a constant process of depreciating, assigning motives and cutting up of character goes forward. They are not pleasant places. One who is healthy does not wish to dine at a dis- secting table. There is evil enough in man, God knows ; but it is not the mis- sion of every young man or woman to detail or report it all. Keep the atmos- phere as pure as possible, and fragrant with gentleness and charity. — John Hale, D. D. Iodide of Potassium for Bee-Stings. I have never seen iodide of potassium mentioned as a sting-cure, but having heard of its use by a bee-keeper of forty years' standing, whose verdict was " re- lief and cure instantaneous," I tried it. I have only used it in three cases, in all of which it was successful. A juvenile cousin, aged seven, was stung on the hand, and the cure was so effective that the sting only "tickled" next day, as he expressed it, though he looked as if the " tickling " was too much for him at the time. In my own case the relief was instantaneous, and no swelling ensued the first time, when the remedy was ap- plied at once, and very little the second time, when applied about five minutes after. The method of application is simply to hold a crystal of the iodide to the wound. It must be kept dry. One crystal can be use theoretically ad in- finitum— British Bee Journal. Convention Notices. COLOR ADO.— The Colorado State Bee-Keep- ers' Association will hold their " Honey-Day " in Longmont, Oolo., on Sept. 28th, 1892. Littleton, Colo. H. Knight, Sec. OHIO.— The Darke County Union Bee-Keep- ers' Society will hold a basket meeting on the Fair Grounds at Greenville, Ohio, on Aug. 19, 1892. All bee-keepers are invited to attend. Geo. H. Kirkpatrick, Sec. Union City. Ind. WISCONSIN.— The Southwestern Wisconsin Bee-Keepers' Association will hold its next annual meeting as Boscobel, Grant Co., Wis., on Jan. 13 and 14, 1893. All members of the Association are requested to be present as the following officers are to be elected : President, Vice-President, Secretary. Assistant Sec, and Treasurer. Blank Reports will be sent each member, for the year 1892, with instructions. A cordial invitation is extended to all bee- keepers, and especially to those that would like to join with us. Each member will be no- tified at least one month before the meeting. Boscobel, Wis. Benj. E. Rice, Sec. Be Sure to read offer on page 197 216 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. ^ambrioau^. BllJbUlNiL PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY GEORGE K YORK & €@„ At One Dollar a Year, 199 Randolph St., CHICAGO, ILLS. TO CORRESPONDENTS. The Bee Journal is sent to subscribers until an order is received by the publishers for its discontinuance, and all arrearages are paid. A Sample Copy of the Bee Journal wiL be sent FREE upon application. How to Send Money.— Remit b/ Express, Post-Office Money Order, or Bank Draft on New York or Chicago. If none of these can be had, Register your Letter, affixing Stamps both for Spstage and registry, and take a receipt for it. toney sent thus, IS AT OUR RISK; otherwise it is not. Do not send Checks on Local Banks— we have to pay 25 cents each, to get them cashed. Never Send Silver in letters. It will wear holes in the envelope, or may be stolen. Make all Money Orders Payable at Chicago, 111.— not at any sub-station of Chicago. Postag-e Stamps of any denomination may be sent for any fraction of a dollar; or where Money Orders cannot be obtained, stamps for any amount may be sent. Subscription Credits.— The receipt for money sent us will be given on the address-label of every paper. The subscription i3 aaid to the END OF IHK MONTH indicated. -.Jo not Write anything- for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Emerson Binders, made especially for the American Bee Journal, are convenient for preserving each weekly Number, as fast as received. They will be sent, post-paid, for 50 cts. each. They cannot be sent by mail to Canada. fllc; 2-lbs., 6@8c. Beeswax — 24@25c. SCHACHT, LEMCKE & STEINER, 16 Drumm Street. BOSTON, Aug. 6.— Demand is light. White 1-lbs., 13@15c. No 2-lbs, on hand. No Bees- wax on hand. Extracted, 7@8c. Demand is light for all. BLAKE & RIPLEY. 57 Chatham St. MINNEAPOLIS. Minn., Aug. 6. —Market is dull in general, though some is being worked off. but mostly at cut prices. Fancy white, 15 @17c, 1-lb. sections; dark, 8@10c. Extracted white, 7@8c. ; dark, 5@6c. STEWART & ELLIOTT. KANSAS CITY, Mo., Aug. 6.— Old honey is cleaned up, both extracted and comb. New crop will be in about July 10, here. HAMBLIN & BEARSS. 514 Walnut St. NEW YORK, Aug. 6. — Demand moderate, and supply reduced, with no more glassed l-fi> nor paper cartons, l-fl>. We quote: Comb, l-5>, 14@15c. Extracted— Basswood, 7&@7^c; buckwheat, 5 lA@Q\; Mangrove, 68@75c per gal. Good demand for dark extracted honey. Beeswax, in fair supply, with small demand, at 26@27c. F. G. STROHMEYER & CO.. 120 Pearl St. Doolittle's Queen-Rearing: book should be in the library of every bee-keeper ; and in the way we offer it on page 197,there is no reason now why every one may not possess a copy of it. Send us one new subscriber for a year, and we will mail the book to you as a present. "Winter Problem in Bee - Keeping ; by G. R. Pierce, of Iowa, who has had 25 years' experience in bee-keeping, and for the past 5 years has devoted all his time and energies to the pursuit. Price, 50 cents. For sale at this office. We Club the American Bee Journal and the monthly "Illustrated Home Journal " one year for $1.35 ; or both of these Journals and the semi-monthly "Gleanings in Bee-Culture," for one year, for $2.10. The Honey-Bee ; giving Its Natural History, Anatomy and Physiology. By T. W. Cowan, editor of the British Bee Journal, 72 figures, and 136 illustra- tions. $1.00. For sale at this office. The Amateur Bee-Keeper, by J. W. Rouse, is a book of 52 pages, intended, as its name indicates, for beginners. Price, 25 cents. For sale at this office. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 231 -» PUBLISHED BY ■ ' GEORGE W. YORK& CO. ' CHICAGO.rLL. — ONE DOLLAR FEB. YEAR. Club Rates,— Two copies, $1.80 ; 3 copies, $2.50 ; 4 copies, $3.20 ; 5 copies, $3.75. Mailed to any addresses. THOMAS G. GEORGE W, NEWMAN, YORK, Editors. ToLffl. Ant. 18, 1892. No. 8. Ebitoeiml Bvsbegs. Fair is the flush of the dawning Over the fare of the sky ; Sweet is the tangle of mus.ic From wild birds fluttering- by ; Brilliant the glow of the sunset, Graceful the bound of the deer ; And glad is the laugh of the children Ringing like joy -bells clear. —Selected. Father LangfStroth, in this issue of the Bee Journal, concludes the account of his " head trouble." He wishes us to correct the reading of the first sentence of the second paragraph of his first "head trouble" article, found on page 174 of the Bee Journal for Aug. 4, beginning thus : "I quote so largely," etc. He intended to have it read as follows : I quote so largely from the blessed book, because I hope some of my read- ers, overpowered by gloomy foreboding, may find help from my own personal experience, and much more from their confirmation by God's word. Not in September.— By the fol- lowing announcement received from Secretary Hutchinson, we learn that it is now decided that the North American will not meet in Washington in the month of September. Bro. H. wrote us thus on Aug. 6 : Friend York : — I am now able to an- nounce officially that the North Ameri- can will not meet during the G. A. R. Encampment. As soon as it is known definitely what societies will meet in Washington near the end of the year, Mr. Benton will let us know, and a date will be chosen. Yours truly, W. Z. Hutchinson. Now that it is finally decided to hold the convention later in the season, there will be ample time for everybody to prepare to attend when the time does come. It will also give Bro. Hutchin- son, and other leaders, a better chance to "fix up "a fine programme for the occasion. It should be made the largest and best convention ever held by the Association, as it will be a most favor- able opportunity to impress the authori- ties at Washington with the fact that bee-keeping is no mere "side-show" following the " agricultural circus." Prof. H. W. Wiley has again been heard from — this time in reply to a letter which we wrote him, asking what he " meant by the last sentence of his letter on page 77 of the Bee Journal for July 14," referring to the words, " there is a motive for it," used by the Professor when speaking of apiarian periodicals seeming to side with the adulterators of honey. We asked him if he "meant to say, or even hint, that the bee-papers are in league with adul- terators of honey." Here is his reply : George W. York & Co., Chicago, Ills. Gentlemen : — I am in receipt of your letter, asking what is meant by the ex- pression, " there is a motive for it," in the letter published on page 77 of the Bee Journal for July 14. In using this expression I had in view the fact that the bee-papers to which I alluded, viz. : the American Bee Journal in particular, and Gleanings in Bee-Culture, 232 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. had been actuated by a motive of per- sonal hostility to the undersigned. This is particularly evident from the method which they employed in referring to my publications on the subject of honey. In regard to the course of the bee- papers in denying the existence of the adulteration of honey, I had in view particularly the American Bee Jour- nal, which had stated that although the adulteration of honey was formerly practiced to a large extent, it had ceased to be profitable, and it was now no longer carried on. These are not the exact words the paper used, for I am quoting from memory, but the idea. This motive of personal hostility seemed to be the cause of such assertions, since I could not really believe that the edi- tors of the Bee Journal were ignorant of the extent to which the adulteration was practiced. I find, however, on further corres- pondence with bee-keepers, that it was the general opinion (up to the time of the publication of the official report) that the adulteration of honey was almost a thing of the past, and that the large quantities of liquid honeys which were placed on the market were practi- cally genuine. I am, Respectfully, H. W. Wiley, Chemist. We are glad to give space to the above explanation by Prof. Wiley, and also to know that he did not intend to suggest that bee-papers were trying to help the adulterators of honey. All who have read the American Bee Journal and Gleanings the past ten years know very well that they have been relentless in their warfare against the diabolical practice of adulterating honey. We did think (and do yet, for that matter) that there was but little adul- terating of honey being done, for if that were not the case, why the great scarcity of honey upon the markets during the past few years ? We have never harbored any " per- sonal hostility " toward Prof. Wiley, but only felt that it was our duty, as well as privilege, to denounce what we believed deserved the severest condemnation on the part of every lover of the pursuit of bee-keeping. In so doing, we only lived up to the light as we saw it, and as we felt that justice to all demanded. Adulteration of honey, even to the slightest extent, must cease ! If Prof. Wiley, or any one else can help to put a stop to that nefarious practice, all bee- keepers and bee-papers will rejoice, and earnestly hope that the day of reckon- ing may speedily come to every infernal scamp that attempts to ruin so honorable and desirable a pursuit as bee-keeping, in order to increase his amount cf " filthy lucre " by more filthy and detes- table practices. Only in the strongest union of all the good elements in any national moral effort, can there be hope for the over- throw of any great and threatening evil, and the final triumph of " that right- eousness which exalteth a nation." Or. C. C. Miller, in his last " bundle " of inimitable " Stray Straws" published in Gleanings — which " straws" are both wise and otherwise, but always enjoyed — has a rye (awry) straw about the new editor of the Bee Journal. The naughty (knotty) straw referred to looks like this: York, of the American Bee Journal, won't dare commit any crime, for his picture is getting into all the journals so much that he'd be detected and iden- tified wherever he sought safety in flight. Wo are glad the good Doctor reminded us of that fact, as it will keep us from doing something just awfully bad ! We wish we could "get even " with him in some way, but it is too hot to try now. We think we will just pray that he may have an extra dose of "caloric" here, so as to be prepared for his hereafter. But then, a " man of straw(s)" will burn easily enough, anyway, so we may as well give up, and let the Doctor have his own way. Salve* — Take equal parts of shoe- maker's-wax, beeswax and rosin, mix and melt over a slow fire; add a little tallow to give the right consistency, and you will have a splendid salve. Spread on a piece of cloth and apply. — Exch. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 233 Southern Minnesota Fair.— The Premium List has been received of the 13th Annual Fair of the Southern Minnesota Fair Association in connec- tion with the Olmstead County Agricul- tural Society to be held at Rochester, Minn., on Sept. 12 to 17, 1892. We have examined the Premium List very carefully, and can find only two apiarian premiums, and those are offered under " Sugar, Syrup and Honey," of which department Mrs. F. R. Mosse is the Superintendent. The two items read thus : Best shipment of honey in boxes $4.00 $2.00 Best bee-hive method of securing the honey and taking care of bees 2.00 1.00 Just think of it, nine whole dollars offered as premiums to bee-keepers ! What a wonderful inducement for a fine apicultural display ! Those Fair (or unfair) managers ought to be labored with until they give some adequate recognition to bee-keeping. Some live bee-keeper in that region should see to it that another year something be done for our industry. A copy of the Pre- mium List may be secured by addressing Mr. Geo. W. Granger, Assistant Secre- tary, Rochester, Minn. "Wireworms are quite exhaus- tively treated of by Prof. John O'B. Scobey, in Bulletin No. 4, of the Experi- ment Station at Pullman, State of Washington. A copy may be had by sending your name and address. Mr. R. D. Avery, formerly of In- dependence, Mo., stopped at the Bee Journal office one day last week. He was on his way to London Bridge, Va., where he expects to keep bees exten- sively. We wish him success. The Iowa State Bee-Keepers' Society will hold their next annual meeting on the Fair Grounds at Des Moines, beginning at 1:30 p.m., on Aug. 30, and continuing two days. It is hoped that there may a large attend- ance. The following is the programme, which promises a "feast of good things :" august 30 — 1:30 p.m. 1. Usual Preliminary Business. 2. Address by President. 3. Benefits of Bees to Agriculture — Frank Coverdale, of Welton. 4. My System of Wintering Bees — M. M. Hamilton, of Clearfield. 5. The Columbian Exposition, and the Duty of Iowa Bee-Keepers in Relation Thereto— F. N. Chase, of Cedar Ealls, Secretary of ihe Iowa Columbian Com- mission. 6. Questions by members. August 31—1:30 p.m. 1. Is any Legislation Desirable for Iowa Bee-Keepers ? — E. Kretchmer, of Red Oak. 2. Some of the Things I Don't Know About Bee-Keeping — O. B. Barrows, of Marshalltown. 3. Bees and Farming — C. D. Levering, of Wiota. 4. How Can Beginners be Best Edu- cated Not to Ruin a Market for those of More Experience?— W. C. Frazier, of Atlantic. 5. What is the Best Way of Building up Colonies in the Spring for the Honey Crop ? — Joseph Nysewander, of Des Moines. 6. Report of Treasurer and Miscella- neous Business. 7. Election of Officers. Bees are often seen in the act of sucking the juices of fruits, but as a matter of fact, it is always wasps or other insects or birds that cut the skin. Joseph Kirkland writes in the August New England Magazine by far the best account of the great Chicago Fire that has found its way into print. He gives a straight, connected story of the progress of the tire, like a good newspaper man who knows how to group his facts into a telling, vivid, and con- secutive story. The article is fully illustrated from photographs furnished by Major Kirkland's Western Publish- ers, who possess the best collection of the kind in the country. 234 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Mr. Benj. E. Rice, of Boscobel, Wis., died of lung trouble at 3 p.m. on Aug. 8, 1892. Mr. Edwin Pike, the President of the Southwestern Wiscon- sin Bee-Keepers' Association, sent us this sad information. Mr. Rice was not only the efficient Secretary of the above Association, but one of the most promi- nent and active bee-keepers in Wiscon- sin. He was born in Angelica, Allegany county, N. Y., in 1843, enlisted in the Union Army in 1861, and was badly wounded at a battle in Virginia. The Bee Journal extends to the sorrowing relatives and friends its heartfelt sympa- thy in their sad affliction. Be Sure to read offer on page 229. Pulled Queens.— Dr. C. C. Miller, of Marengo, Ills., among his "Stray Straws " in the last number of Glean- ings, gives this, which may be some- thing new to many of our readers : Toung 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 almost anywhere by merely placing her on the comb among the bees. Friend Root was quite inter- ested on seeing us use " pulled queens " on one of his visits here. Shipments of Beeswax .— Such should not be sent to George W. York & Co., or the American Bee Jour- nal, as we do not handle it. Several have forwarded some to us, and we have in every case turned it over to Thomas G. Newman. Hereafter please remem- ber that we do not handle Beeswax, or deal in Bee-Keepers' Supplies. We have also received orders for Supplies, which we have invariably turned over the same way as the Beeswax that was sent us. Read S. F. & I. Trego's Advertisement. Carelessness is. never excusable, and especially when around an apiary. Many an accident around bees, either fatal or nearly so, might have been pre- vented if some one had not been care- less. Mrs. Atchley tells in the following letter dated July 30, how she suffered financial loss through the carelessness of some men who were unloading hay in a barn near her apiary : Bro. York : — As we all love to have some one to tell our trouble to, I will tell you of a terrible accident. We have a very large barn, and we rented half of it to some hay-men to store hay in. Yesterday, while they were unloading, they let a bale of hay fall on one of the teams, and the horses ran away, and right through my apiary with the wagon-tongue down. The first hive struck was torn all to pieces ; it contained a powerful colony, with 32 fine queen-cells (Doolittle) nearly ready to take off. Besides, they bursted and knocked over seven other hives. The damage amounted to more than $25. I hope my experience will- be the means of saving another such disaster. We all should be very careful with teams and wagons near the apiary. Mrs. Jennie Atchley. Italian Bees. — Mr. Alexander Grant, of Lowell, Wis., on Aug. 7, 1892, wrote us as follows about a col- ony of bees he purchased, and questioned whether or not they are Italians : I bought a colony of Italian bees last spring, and there are some bee-keepers here who keep Italian bees that say I was swindled. The bees I got are no larger than our common brown bees, and there are a good many small, black bees among them. The drones are as black as any black drones. Should not the drones be a little yellow, like the worker-bees ? I would like to know the difference between the two kinds of bees. These little black ones are so cross, and will sting worse than a yellow jacket. They cost me $10, and $2.75 for express charges. Please let me know if they are anywhere near like the Italian bees. If not, tell me where to get some of the right kind. I do not think that I will keep these any longer than this fall ; that is, if I can get bet- ter ones. The man I bought these bees from pretends to be one of the leading AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 235 bee-men of the country. I would like to have this put in the Bee Journal, so that he could see it. Alexander Grant. In order that Mr. Grant, as well as any others, may hereafter know what Italian bees should look like, we take this description of Italian bees from Prof. Cook's "Bee-Keepers' Guide-, or Manual of the Apiary :" "The Italian worker-bee is quickly distinguished by the bright yellow rings at the base of the abdomen. Perhaps "golden" would be a better term, as these bands are often bright orange. If ITALIAN WORKER-BEE. the colony be pure, every bee will show three of these golden girdles. The first two segments or rings of the abdomen, except at their posterior border, and also the base or anterior border of the third, will be of this orange-yellow hue. The rest of the back or dorsal surface will be much as in the German race. Underneath the abdomen, except for a greater or less distance at the tip, will also be yellow, while the same color ap- pears more or less strongly marked on the legs. "The workers have longer lignite or tongues than the German race, and their tongues are a little more hairy. They are also more active, and less in- clined to sting. " The queen has the entire base of her abdomen, and sometimes nearly the whole of it, orange yellow. The varia- tion as to the amount of color is quite striking. Sometimes very dark queens are imported right from the Ligurian hills, yet all the workers will wear the badge of purity — the three golden bands. "The drones are quite variable. Sometimes the rings and patches of yellow will be very prominent, then, again, quite indistinct. But the under- side of the body is always, so far as I have observed, mainly yellow." L,i"ve Bees and samples of liquids can now be sent in the mails to the Dominican Republic we learn from the following published in the United States Official Postal Guide for July : Post-Office Department, Office of Foreign Mails, Washington, D. C, June 5, 1892. The International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union, at Berne, Switz- erland, has officially informed this De- partment that the Postal Administration of the Dominican Republic gives circu- lation in its mails to live bees and sam- ples of liquids, fatty substances and powders. Consequently those articles will be admitted to the mails hereafter dispatched from this country for the Dominican Republic, provided they are packed in exact accordance with the conditions prescribed in paragraphs "i " and "j," Note 14, page 905, of the United States Official Postal Guide, for January, 1892. By direction of the Postmaster-Gen- eral, N. M. Brooks, Superintendent of Foreign Mails. The Dominican Republic is just east of Cuba, being the eastern and larger part of the island of Hayti, which has an area of 18,000 square miles, and a population of 250,000. The Cortland Union Bee-Keep- ers' Association will hold their annual picnic at Floral Trout Park, Cortland, N. Y., on Aug. 24, 1892. A special in- vitation is extended to all interested. 236 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Combed and Extracted. Getting Bees Ready for Winter. This is none too soon to have an eye to getting bees ready for winter. Plenty of good sealed honey, young queens, and vigorous bees are the desiderata. Let all good colonies alone if they are storing surplus. It is wise to save all the honey possible while the flow of nectar lasts. On looking over an apiary of any size, colonies will be found that are not stor- ing surplus, although they may have been a few weeks since ; their case of sections may be partially filled, but they have swarmed probably more than once, and are so weak that they will not finish them during the season. One case of sealed sections is worth much more than many partially filled, and all such should be removed to colonies that are able to complete them, in lieu of giving empty ones. When the case of partially-completed sections are removed, the state of the colony can be ascertained, and if found queenless it had better be united with some colony containing a laying one. — Mbs. L. Harrison, in Prairie Farmer. Care of Comb Honey. If one has surplus cases enough, the best way to care for the honey is to pile up the cases in a dry, warm room — never store it in a cool cellar. Pile the cases with sticks between, so the air can cir- culate through them. If the room is warm and dry enough, the honey in cells not capped over, will thicken and not run out. If a queen-excluding honey-board has been used, there will be little or no pollen in the sections, and little danger from the moth. To guard against them, however, it will be best to fumigate once with sulphur about two weeks after re- moval from the hives. When ready for market the sections should be put in nice, new shipping- cases, and should be sold only at fair, paying prices. — C. H. Dibbern, in the Western Plowman. Don't Fail to read all of page 229. OverstocHni a Location with Bees, Query 832.— How many colonies of bees are required to overstock a location on a peninsula so narrow that within a range of three miles there are only about eight square miles of territory, with an abundance of fruit blossoms, white clover, basswood, milk-weed, and golden-rod ?— Michigan. From 100 to 150 colonies.— J. M. Hambaugh. That is a pretty good lay-out. It might support 100. — C. C. Miller. That is a good location, but a very difficult question to answer. — H. D. Cut- ting. Commence with 50, and increase until you find you have too many. — E. France. We have never tried such a location, so we could not answer knowingly. — Dadant & Son. It is too hard a question. May be 100. Perhaps 200. Possibly 50— in some seasons. — Eugene Secor. I should say that about 100 would be about the limit that can be profitably kept in such limited space. — C. H. Dib- bern. No one knows. It probably depends upon the season. I think that more than 100 colonies would probably work in most seasons at a loss. — A. J. Cook. I judge that such a territory as you describe might in a good season support 100 colonies. What number would overstock it I cannot tell. — M. Mahin. Much depends. Fifty or 100 colo- nies might not overstock it during an extra season, while a half dozen might be too many for a bad season. — J. P. H. Brown. As a rule, 100 colonies are enough in one locality ; by separating your apiar- ies 1% or 2 miles, you could probably keep double that number. — Mrs. L. Harrison. I don't know. In fact, I don't believe much in the idea of overstocking. I only keep a few colonies for experimental purposes, so I have never had any over- stocking in my own vicinity. — J. E Pond. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 237 I would think thai, such a location would support as many colonics of bees as any inland location, as bees do not, in my opinion, work to advantage be- yond a distance of three miles. — G. L. Tinker. If none of the flowers should produce nectar, one colony would overstock it; if all should produce in abundance, a thou- sand might not. This is one of the un- knowable things except Post. facto. — R. L. Taylor. All depends upon the season. In a poor season a few colonies would over- stock it. In years when a basswood tree would furnish the needs of a colony, a large apiary would thrive there. — G. M. Doolittle. I should judge that 100 colonies would find all they could do in such a place ; but I would not like to risk any more unless the place is richer with bee- forage than any place I have ever seen. — G. W. Demabee. That will depend upon the season. If the seasons should be like this has been in my locality, one colony would over- stock it. An abundance of white clover bloom here and no honey ; I am "feed- ing " to keep bees from starving. -A. B. Mason. Oh, Bro. Michigan, you have got clear out of my reach. It would depend en- tirely, of course, upon the amount of honey-producing plants, etc., of your eight square miles. I would make a guess only, at 50 colonies. — Mrs. Jennie Atchley. Do you mean by a " range," a radius, or diameter of three miles ? Bees will readily work 3 miles in every direction on the land. Eight square miles would support from 40 to 100 colonies, ac- cording to flora and seasons, I would guess. — James Heddon. So much more depends upon the man- agement than upon the acreage, that it is very difficult to answer such a ques- tion satisfactorily without knowing whether comb or extracted honey is to be produced, and who is to take charge of the bees. With 80 colonies to the square mile, it would be well stocked. — Mrs. J. N. Heater. The location described in the question is certainly a good one, so far as flora is concerned. The production of honey, however, depends upon atmospheric con- ditions, and the kind of season generally; not on the acreage or upon the flowers, for even white clover, usually such a generous honey-producer, is reported to yield no honey at all in some localities this year, where generally it has yielded abundantly. Such reports come every year from some locality or other, and atmospheric conditions are responsible for such a state of affairs. It would certainly be advisable to try 50 or 60 colonies, and increase the number until you know experimentally the proper number to keep. — Editors. Home and Country, of New York, appeared in July, and will there- after among the illustrated magazines. Its specialties will be Literature, War History, Finance and Industrial Prog- ress. Among the interesting features of the first number are descriptions of the trial trips of the Clermont and Orleans, the first steamers navigating the Hudson and Mississippi ; a full yet concise dis- cussion of Senator Peffer's bill for the nomination and election of Presidents by direct vote of the people written by its author ; several well-written articles upon Finance and Trade, adapted to the understanding of ordinary readers ; reminiscences of Grant and Lincoln ; short stories, and a full-page illustration of the Battle of Atlanta. The subscription price of " Home and Country " is $2.00 per year. A copy of the " United States Official Postal Guide," containing lists of all post-offices in the United States, will be given to every subscriber at the regular sub- scription price. Your Subscription to the Bee Journal — is it paid up to date ? If not, please send to us a dollar for a year, and thus show your appreciation of our efforts in your behalf. Look at your wrapper-label, and if the date looks like this—" Dec91," that $1.00 sent to this office will make it look like this — Dec92. The Globe Bee- Veil, which we offer on the third page of this number of the Bee Journal, is just the thing. You can get it for sending us only three new subscribers, with $3.00. 238 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. POEM On Important Subjects. All Account of My Heart-Trouble. REV. L. L. LANGSTEOTH. (Concluded from page 175.) When 75 years old, the blind piles, of which my physician spoke in my youth, became only too apparent. I suffered so much that I seldom went aboad, 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. W. Keeley, of Oxford, O., urged me to put myself under the care of Dr. Prezinger, of Greenville, O., who had been very successful in curing 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 bad enough alone. Interviews 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 bleed- ing ulcers and numerous piles, one of which had been extruding for nearly a year. On the doctor 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 received 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 diseased state of the rectum ; but he failed to cure me. Be- fore I was fully relieved by Dr. Prezin- ger, 1 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 became aware of the intimate connection between melancholia and rectal disease. I believe that, without a single exception, all with whom I con- versed, admitted that they were suffer- ers from mental depression. Some confessed even to suicidal incli- nations. I remember one in particular who said,. " I often thought of taking my life, and was deterred only by appre- hensions of what would become of my dear wife and our poor little children !" How often we hear it said, that reihj- ion is a leading cause of so much melan- choly and insanity ! 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 be- lief in a loving Father, and no fear of "that dread bourne from which no traveler returns," why 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 legacy. Removing from Oxford to Dayton, and recovering again, I sought further treat- ment, 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 enjoyed 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 bat- tle 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; I am 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 dark- ness, in the deeps. Thou hast put mine acquaintance far from me; I am shut up and I cannot 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 Da- mocles, must inevitably have caused me constant and distressing apprehensions ; but, instead of this, scarcely any fear of the future distressed me. I could almost always say, " Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof," and 1 was very much like a playful child. Go to it an say, " Dear little child, this is a very sorrow- ful world ! How can you, then, be so light-hearted when so many trials are in AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 239 store for you ?" The happy child will not suspend his sports even long enough to listen to your sad forebodings. I have often thought, that, but for the special mercy of our loving Father in freeing me, when well, almost entirely from dismal apprehensions, 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. But as, in my cheerful moods, I seldom felt any dread of the future, yet when under the power of the 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 dis- ease ; but this knowledge not only fails to stimulate his appetite, but it seems to him almost impossible even to imagine how he can ever want to eat again. Since my recovery, in the fall of 1887, I found that I>r. Prezinger's treatment had not been continued long enough to complete the cure ; but as soon as the relapse was fully established, no persua- sions of my family could induce me to submit to further treatment. In revising this statement, I ought to correct what I said about there never being but one issue to an attack after its incipient stages were clearly devel- oped. In the fall of 1853 I was as much depressed as I had ever been, when, by the kindness of friends, I was able to visit a brother who was residing in Mat- amoras, Mexico. While traveling by steamboat, railroad and stag^e-coach to New Orleans — a journey which then occupied over a week — I recovered en- tirely before I reached that city, and had an unusually long interval of com- plete relief. Also, on another occasion while great- ly despondent, I was summoned, at the expense of one of the parties, as a wit- ness in a suit at htw, which had been brought against him for an alleged in- fringement on the right of another patentee. The entire change of scene, with all its many diversions, completely cured me. But for these instances, I might naturally infer that time was the only remedial agency, and that the dis- ease could never be arrested, but must always run its usual course. Among the many mistakes of my life, I count this to be one of the greatest, that, instead of seeking an entire change as soon as I begin to feel the approach of another attack, I have usually refused to admit the possibility of succumbing to it, and have struggled against it until no power of will was left for further conflict. Those who know how large a portion of my life I have lost by this disease will not be surprised at my un- willingness 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 avoca- tions for change of scene. With thankfulness to God I can truly say 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 occupa- tion simply by applying to them. But I have received so many favors, often most unexpected 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 preserved me from long periods of suffering and inactivity. For the many favors I have received 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 abso- lutely insane, there is no doubt that many who have strong hereditary ten- dencies 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 a pastor of the Con- gregational church in Brattleboro, \'i.. exchanged pulpits with me. On Satur- day evening his wife spoke of the sing- ular state of mind into which a well- known minister had fallen. He had 240 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. been a very acceptable pastor, and bad declined, but a short time before, an invitation from an institution of learn- ing, to solicit funds for them. As they still urged him to accept, he called a council of the neighboring ministers, who advised him not to accept the agency ; whereupon (such often is human nature) he rejected their advice. From the beginning of his work, his health, which before had been unusually good, began to fail. He became dis- couraged and morbid ; and in conversa- tion with Mrs. Walker, he contended that his afflictions were even greater than those of Job. He was reminded by her of a Christian brother known to both, who, after an absence from home of a few days, found, on his re- turn, his beloved wife dead, and her dead infant lying in her arms. Even such an overwhelming calamity he thought was more bearable than those which had befallen him ! At this point in her narrative I be- came too much excited to sit still. Ris- ing to my feet, I exclaimed, "Oh, that I could see this unhappy brother, and warn him of the fate, which, if he per- sists in cherishing these delusions, may soon overtake him ! He is on the very verge of insanity, if not already insane." After the sermon next morning, Mrs. Rockwell, the wife of the superintend- ent of the insane asylum of that place, said to us, " Do you know that Mr. " (the very brother we had been talking about) " was brought to our in- stitution last night, quite insane ?" 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 '•oul cry out in anguish, " I do well to give myself up to the indulgence of sripf. I have no heart for anything 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 be- come rebellious murmurings against the divine will. I cannot here forbear giving a short extract from Walter Scott's Antiquary. An old fisherman had lost his son in a storm at sea. His landlord makes him a visit of condolence. "When he came in front of the fisher- man'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, thatf you feel your- self 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 handker- chers 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 necessity." Many of my experiences when under the attack of melancholia resemble very closely those of the poet Cowper. He had long spells of despondency, when his pen was entirely idle, and no persua- sions 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 delight that he perceived that it attracted the attention of the afflicted poet, and that he began to resume the work of revision, so long suspended. This reminds me of an incident in my own experience. The first revision of my work, " 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 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 awakened 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 hope- less outcast from all God's mercies ! Let me give some of its mournful stanzas AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 241 from the last original piece Cowper ever composed : THE CAST- AWAY. Obscurest night involved the sky ! TV Atlantic billows roared. When such a destined wretch as I, Washed headlong from on board, Of friends, of hope, 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, or 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, snatched from all effectual aid, We pei-ished, 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 around about him, we are sure that justice as well as judgment is the ever- lasting foundation of his throne, and that what we know not now, we shall know hereafter. Blessed be the teachings of that Book which enable us to follow the flight of such a soul as that of Cowper's from all the fetters and limitations of diseased flesh and sense to the presence 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 lifee 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 she grasp the mighty vision. And receive its influence ? Angels guard the new immortal Through the wonder-teeming space, To the everlasting portal, To the spirits'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 path 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 ! for the Lamb shall feed them, 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 burst asunder— See the new-clothed myriads rise ! Thought, repress thy vain endeavor ; Here must reason prostrate fall ; Oh th' ineffable for ever ! Oh th' eternal All in all ! — JOSIAH CONDEK. Dayton, Ohio, July 14, 1892. Pleurisy-Root as a Honey-Plant, JAMES HEDDON. In a recent number of the American Bee Journal I recollect reading in a report of some botanist to whom had been sent a plant of "pleurisy" (he called it), that said plant was a variety of milk-weed, and tangled the bees as they gathered the honey. I doubt that the plant was pleurisy, and if so, why should that splendid honey-plant here possess no such tanglers ? Our pleurisy surely has no such threads, and no one ever saw a bee tangled nor bothered in the least, in any way, when gathering honey from that plant. Again this year it is yielding copiously (it always does), and the best yields of basswood never attract the bees from it. It not only blooms with basswood, but weeks afterward. It is too bad to have such a false impression go among bee- keepers regarding their best friend— this best of all honey-plants — the pleurisy. While it is one of the milk-weed fam- ily, it has milk only in the root, and certainly has no " tanglers " — at least the variety we have has not. It is a perennial, hardy and tenacious, and in no sense noxious. This plant, together with sweet clover (both growing in wasts places), is now keeping our two large apiaries quite busy. Dowagiac, Mich., Aug. 4, 1892. ■ ♦•^»- — Read our great offer on page 229. 242 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL,. We "Bee-Kings" in California. WM. G. HEWES. Most of the California bee-keepers as- pire'to be "bee-kings," but which they will not be until 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 20 to 40 tons — more than the apiary can fill in three seasons on an average. These jumbo extractors, which most of the bee-men think a necessity, a little reasoning will show to be a useless ex- pense. I have alone taken in one day, with Thomas G. Newman's Excelsior non- reversible extractor, 1,000 pounds of honey. Four persons can take 3,000 pounds. A good season here lasts eight weeks. Working six days a week, and taking out 3,000 pounds a day, we have 144,000 pounds 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 pounds. 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 useless to go on ; for anybody can see that $50 machines are money out of pocket, not to speak of 30-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 Mr. Osburn, which I have seen, does he claim a crop of 80,000 pounds. His season lasts, ac- cording to his statements, four months. Why ! fie upon you ! I can take single- handed, with the meanest little machine ever constructed, that amount of honey in that length of time. If this last statement of mine smacks of bragga- docio, remember that the habit of lying is said to be superinduced by our glori- ous California climate ! Reversible extrators are a good thing, as the 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 from one apiary, can be handled easily with a $ 10 Cowan. In Gleanings I have sometimes se"en a statement by the editor, which reads something like this: "In California, where crops of from 50 to 100 tons are taken in a single season," etc. Mr. Root, will you please name an individual who- ever secured a crop of 100 tons of honey ? Have you not been imposed 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 biggest crop I ever heard of was that of Easley, who, in 1884, from two (and I am not sure but that there were three) apiaries took 87 tons of honey. Two years later, from the same api- aries, Mr. W. T. Richardson, then and now the proprietor, canned up some 60 tons. Mr. Wilkin scattered bees all over Ventura county in 1884, and sat- isfied his ambition with a crop of 50 tons. Mr. Moffitt is reported to have had two crops of 50 tons. Mr. Mitchell, of Soledad Canyon, Los Angeles county, has had the pleasure of some 40 tons of honey as the product from his bees for a single season, and a few more I can name who have secured from 20 to 30 tons. But a large majority of the would-be " bee-kings," among whom is your humble servant, have never topped 10 tons. The largest yield to the spring colony, of which I know anything definite, is that of Mr. Wm. Whittaker, of Piru Canyon, Ventura county; in 1884, from some 150 hives, he took over 30 tons; 419 pounds per colony is, I believe, the exact average. Mr. Nathan Shaw, also of Ventura county, somewhere back in the seventies, averaged more, I believe, than Mr. Whittaker, but I have not the exact figures. — Gleanings. Newhall, Calif. Honey-Vinegar from Cappina Etc, H. FITZ HART. Drain the cappingsdry, and put them into a barrel that they will about two- thirds fill ; cover with water, and let stand 48 hours. Drain the liquor off, press the cappings tightly together, and in 24 hours the heat will rise (like a hot-bed) to about 120°. The sweetened water is now taken and tested with an egg ; if too weak, add honey, if too strong, add water. It is then heated over a fire to about 110° (part can be heated sufficiently to bring the whole to that point, but unless the weather is cold, the heating is not abso- AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 243 lutely necessary), and again poured over the heated cappings ; let stand again for 48 hours, and pour off into the barrel it is to remain in. A few combs filled with pollen will be found to accelerate the alcoholic fermentation. By this process I have made strong honey-vinegar in six weeks. A lot started on July 11 is now far advanced in acetic fermentation. We have had rain here every day since June 8, resulting in a considerable diminution of our honey crop. I have extracted from 150 colonies only 3,600 pounds of very dark iioney, but the bees are stronger than usual at this season, and tLe prospect of a fall crop is good, provided it does not rain for another two months as it is raining now. Avery, La., July 30, 1892. The Season in A. W. Wisconsin, REV. STEPHEN ROESE. The season of 1892 with its discour- aging experience will long be remem- bered by bee-keepers in this section of the country. The losses by winter- killing were few, but spring dwindling and starvation swept away more than one-half of the bees through the country here. The weather having been cold and rainy all the spring and forepart of the summer, even to this date (July 30) with the exception of a few hot days from April 1 until June 20, we did not have 15 full days of sunshine, and bees dared not venture from home, for they never would return. The season being uncommonly late, and no nectar in any of •the honey-producing plants, the best cared-for colonies were soon brought to the verge of starvation. Apple-bloom did not benefit bees in the least, all clover fields having been killed out, and what little white clover did appear, did not seem to be noticed by the bees ; and were they not fed and specially cared for here, the y^mng brood would chill, and colonies die off one by one. On reading the wonderful honey re- ports, and bees booming, in the Bee Journal, the sensible bee-keeper's thoughts were nearly brought to a stand- still. Providence must either have favored special ones, or forgotten to be gracious to others. Mr. C. Theilmann, of Theilmanton, Minn., has given a fair picture and true statement of things regarding apiculture in this .section of the country ; and judging from the tenor of most of the writers in the American Bee Journal, his statements are correct. It is only during the last three or four days that bees have been busy on bass- wood, but surplus honey of any kind has not been seen yet, for truly not more than two weeks ago the combs in the brood-nest were empty of honey, and only the strong colonies retained their drones. Swarms have been very few and late, only such colonies which were strong in early spring had made prep- arations for swarming. The writer has thus far not realized one new swarm to every 3 colonies alive this day. The late and most terrible storms we had here a few days ago, have laid nearly all crops of any kind flat on the ground, as if a roller had passed over them ; and unless buckwheat and fall flowers will help us out, bee-keepers will have to feed their bees for winter, to save them from starvation. The writer saved about two-thirds of bis apiary as "by the skin of the teeth," by feeding carefully, and placing hot bricks over the brood-nest night and day to keep the young brood from get- ting killed, and leaving on the winter packing until the middle of June ; and for all this labor and anxiety I have not one drop of honey yet. I wonder if Dr. Miller thinks this is fun. Maiden Rock, Wis. The Wintering Problem, C. LOWER. What I know about the wintering problem is this : That the first two points in wintering bees that are in a healthy condition, with plenty of stores, is to keep them dry and quiet ; top ven- tilation will give the former, and to keep bees quiet in winter quarters, the temperature must not mark more than 47° above zero. I prepare my bees for winter quarters thus : The hives are 1% story, with cloth over the brood-frames, which I turn back 2 inches at the back part of the hive, and cut a piece of wire-screen large enough to cover the opening, and then fill up the hive with oats straw, so full that the cover will not go down by about one inch, and I find that the un- derside of the cover, and one or two inches of the top of the straw, kept quite wet, while the lower part of the straw, and also the bees were dry and comfortable. 244 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Winter before last my bees, in this condition, survived a temperature of 16° below zero ; and last winter a neigh- bor left his bees on the summer stands without any protection until Jan. 15, while on the mornings of Jan. 12 and 13 it was 18° below zero, and his bees were still all right. Mr. W. W. Duffield (Sept. 17, 1891, page 367) mentions cases where bees in eastern Kentucky survived the winter of 1886 by top ventilation, although he attributed to other causes. And Mr. J. H. Andre (April 28, 1892, page 576) gives an account of 10 colonies being lost for the want of top ventilation. Last winter I kept a thermometer in my bee-house, and one out-doors from Dec. 19, 1891, and about sunrise each morning noted the degrees of each until Feb. 26, 1892, and the lowest was on Jan. 19, 1892, when it marked 3° below zero in the bee-house, and 22° out-doors ; and the highest in the bee- house was on Jan. 24, 1892, at 2 p.m., when it went up to 48° above zero, and the bees became very restless. On Feb. 25, 1892, at 4 p.m., the same degree was reached with the same re- sult ; and on March 13, 1892, when it was 29° above in the bee-house, and 22° out-doors, I placed the thermome- ter in a hive, on top of the brood-frames, with the cloth removed, and in one hour it showed 62° above zero. I tested another hive in the same way, with the same result, showing a differ- ence of 33° inside and outside of the hive ; and if the thermometer had been placed in the cluster of bees, it probably would have shown 10° or 15 J higher than it did placed above them. It is hard to freeze a healthy colony of bees, if they are kept dry, but if the dampness that arises from the bees is suffered to condense in and around the cluster, freezing is a dangerous point to reach. Decorah, Iowa. Non-SwarmiiiE Hives ani Self-Hiyers, JOHN CONSER. The season here is very backward. White clover is not abundant, although enough to keep the bees breeding up, and cause swarming with the strongest colonies. Bees are working in the sec- tions some, although the crop of white honey will be a short one. I work two apiaries, one in the non-swarming hives and new methods, of 60 colonies, and no swarms from any of this apiary. The hives are running over with bees, and in fine condition. The most of my honey will be from this apiary this season. The other apiary of 80 colonies is run on old principles with the Simplicity hives, and the bees have been swarming almost every day for the last two months, and doing very little in the sec- tions. I have had some colonies that swarmed three times with laying queens, in the last two months. I have been testing three of the Alley- Dibbern self-hivers this season. It has been a failure as far as hiving the bees in the other hive. Although the queen is hived in the new hive, the bees vacate and go below to their brood every time, one or two hours after swarming. It is "no go" unless the combs of the old hive are shaken in front of the new one, then moved away. This is a good deal of work, aud no better than dividing the old colonies, by taking away one-half of the combs and putting them in a new hive, and allowing them to rear a queen. Both methods cut off the surplus honey. Again, with the self-hiver three or four swarms will unite on some tree, even if their queens are caged in the trap ; they will remain awhile, then all will go into one hive together, or to the woods, with some virgin queen. Sedalia, Mo., Aug. 6, 1892. The Season— WMte-RingeJ Bees. J. W. MILLER. By the way* I keep bees, too, and everywhere I go I am asked, " How have your bees done this season ?" Well, I am going to tell. There are two an- swers— one is "Swarming," and the other is "Honey." I had 14 colonies last spring, and they swarmed 68 times, and my honey crop is 1,200 pounds short. I never saw white clover in such abundance, and basswood, buckwheat and all kin^s of flowers. My bees are under perfect control, and when I started them off on clover, they would return, and if they could have talked they would have said, "There is no sweet there." Basswood and buckwheat was the same. I would like to hear a reason why there is no honey this season in some localities. I have had great experience in bee- hunting, having found as high as 38 trees in one season. Three years ago last spring I found three trees which I cut, took the bees home, and put them AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 245 into hives. Two colonies were Italians, and one was white-ringed. The white- ringed bees seem to know just how to take care of their honey. Two years ago I wanted some of their honey, and went to a hive, opened it, and began to take out honey, but I was obliged to drop it and take the " white- rings "out of my hair and clothing. I thought they would sting me to death, sure. I ran, I rolled, I hallooed, I kicked and I jumped. Finally, my wife came to my assistance with pails of water, and began throwing it on me, which soon made the bees let go. I then set a day when I would try them again, but I went prepared with netting and tub of water. I opened the hive and began by throwing water on them, and in five minutes there was not a dry bee in the hive. It conquered them, so that they are now just us quiet as any of the rest of my bees. They are the longest, and have rive distinct white rings, and will winter out-of-doors. My best white-ringed colony, last year, stored 112 pounds of surplus honey, while the I talians stored 72 pounds. I would like to know if this white- ringed bee is known', and what its race is. Rodney, Mich., Aug. 4, 1892. [Will Prof. Cook please give some light on the "white-ringed bees?" It might be well for Mr. Miller to mail a sample of the bees to Prof. Cook, at Agricultural College, Mich., for exami- nation.— Eds.] Convention Notices. COLOR ADO— The Colorado State Bee-Keep- ers' Association will hold their " Honey-Day " in Longmont, Colo., on Sept. 28th, 1892. Littleton, Colo. H. Knight, Sec. PENNSYLVANIA. -The Susquehanna Co. Bee-Keepers' Association will hold their 11th annual meeting: at Rush, Pa., on Thursday. Sept. 1, 1892, at 10 a.m. All are cordially in- vited. Bring- along- any new fixtures of inter- est that you may have. H. M. Seeley, Sec. WISCONSIN.— The Southwestern Wisconsin Bee-Keepers' Association will hold its next annual meeting- as Boscobel, Grant Co., Wis., on Jan. 13 and 14, 1893. All members of the Association are requested to be present as the following officers are to be elected ; President. Vice-President, Secretary. Assistant Sec, and Treasurer. Blank Reports will be sent each member, for the year 1892, with instructions. A cordial invitation is extended to all bee- keepers, and especially to those that would like to join with us. Each member will be no- tified at least one month before the meeting-. Boscobel, Wis. Edwin Pike, Pres. CONVENTION DIRECTORY. Time and place of meeting. 1892. Aug. 19.— Darke Co. Union, at Greenville, O. Geo. H. Kirkpatrick, Sec, Union City, Ind. Aug. 27.— Haldimand, at S. Cayuga, Ont. E. C. Campbell, Sec, Cayuga, Ont. Aug. 30, 31.— Iowa State, at DesMoines, Iowa. J. W. Bittenbender, Sec, Knoxville, Iowa, Sept. 1.— Susquehanna Co., at Rush, Pa. H. M. Seeley, Sec, Harford, Pa. Sept. 7, 8.— Nebraska, at Lincoln, Nebr. L. D. Stilson, Sec, York, Nebr. Oct. 7.— Utah, at Salt Lake City, Utah. John C. Swaner, Sec, Salt Lake City, Utah. 1893. Jan. 13, 14.— S.W.Wisconsin, at Boscobel.Wis. Benj. E. Rice, Sec, Boscobel, Wis. In order to have this table complete, Secretaries are requested to forward full particulars of the time and the place of each future meeting. — The Editors. North American Bee-Keepers' Association President— Eugene Secor.JTorest City, Iowa. Secretary— W. Z. Hutchinson Flint, Mich National Bee-Keepers' Union. President— James Heddon . .Dowagiac, Mich. Sec'y and Manager— T. G. Newman, Chicago. SEkZSU0^1 Reports, Prospects, Etc. EST" Do not write anything for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Best Season Ever Known. Last season was one of the poorest honey seasons we have ever had in this section of county. From 90 colonies I did not get one pound of nice honey. This season is one of the best that I have ever known. Last year I did not have one swarai from 90 colonies — this year they have swarmed all the time. They would commence swarming before breakfast, and keep it up until supper- time. I think that last winter and spring at least 50 per cent, of the bees in this section of country died. The amount of surplus honey per colony is not as good as were in hopes of getting this year. Edwin Rick. Chaffee, N. Y., Aug. 1, 1892. 246 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Feeding Dry Sugar to Bees. I notice on page 180 a statement by " Malta " that it is possible to feed dry sugar to bees successfully to keep them from starving, or for winter stores. I wish "Malta" would tell how to feed it in that way. Some of my bees need feeding now, and the weather is so warm. I abhor melting up sugar or candied honey. Feeding dry sugar would be a great boon, when necessary to feed. Thos. A. Anderson. Montgomery City, Mo., Aug. 8, 1892. [Perhaps "Malta" will be kind enough to describe his manner of feed- ing dry sugar to bees, so that bee-keep- ers may take advantage of that manner of feeding whenever the bees are short of stores. — Eds.] Small Loss in Wintering Bees. I winter my bees in the one-story chaff hives, with a chaff cushion over the brood-frames, on the summer stands. I have quit feeding ; I unite and double back until they will winter without feed- ing. I have lost 5 colonies in the past seven years, and that was caused by neglect. I make my own hives. B. F. Beheler. Jumping Branch, W. Va., Aug. 8. Not Much to Gather Honey From. Bees have not done much this season in western Connecticut. The spring was backward, and there was no white clover, and not much basswood. The bees did not have much to gather honey from— the only thing to rely on is golden-rod and asters for winter stores. I shall get perhaps 100 pounds of comb honey in sections for the season. H. H. Knapp. Danbury, Conn., Aug. 3, 1892. Characteristics of Punic Bees. I do not think it makes much differ- ence to the honey producer whether there are one or a dozen varieties of bees in North Africa. I have only seen the bees from a Punic queen mated with a yellow drone, but they differ from Italians, blacks or hybrids of the same in their habits. They stand the change- able weather in spring much better. They work earlier in the morning, and are stronger and quicker on the wing. In swarming they fly straight to a tree and cluster at once, and if everything is ready they can be on the stand in the apiary in ten minutes from the time the first bee leaves the hive. Their guard at the entrance is small, but effective, even against the bee-moth. The only objection I have to them is that (contrary to my expectations) their work in the sections is Italian, and does not compare favorably with the work of our other hybrids. I think it would be well to have the opinions of some who have Punics bees, and know they are pure. If our queen had mated with a black drone, I do not suppose we would have known the difference, and would likely have thought them pure. Wm. Clark. Pulaski, Ky., Aug. 4, 1892. Will Store Enough for Winter. I have 70 colonies of bees, spring count, all in good condition, with no in- crease and no honey to spare for this year. The weather is very dry, and they average a pound a day at this time; but I think they will store honey enough to last through the winter. John Roller. Richwood, Wis., Aug. 10, 1892. Bad and Short Season. On June 8 I extracted 2 gallons of white clover honey, per double Lang- stroth hive. From June 9 we had daily rains to July 27, and up to that date bees gathered little or no surplus honey. We have had no rain the past five or six days, and now it looks as if the bees would store surplus honey. So far I consider the season bad and short. P. E. Couvillon. Carencro, La., Aug. 2, 1892. My Experience with Punic Bees. I procured a Punic queen from Henry Alley last October, and introduced her to a small colony of common black Cali- fornia bees. In three days after the queen was introduced, I examined them, and found all the combs full of eggs, and by Dec. 1 they were a good-sized colony. I examined them on March 1, and found them full of brood sealed up. On April 1 they filled a hive containing 15 frames 12x12 inches. I then divided them, and the new hive now contains 13 frames 83^x17 inches full of brood and AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 247 honey. The old colony since April 1 has filled 17 frames 12x12 inches with new comb and brood, which I gave to other colonies, and they now have 15 frames full of honey and brood. My other colonies of common California bees have stored less than one-third as much honey to the colony of equal size as the Punic bees. From my little experience with Punic bees, I consider them far superior to any other bees I have tried. Theie has been much said about Punic bees — for and against them — but if they are given a fair trial, their good qualities will win the favor of all good bee-keepers. They are quick and active, good workers and hardy, and build up to very strong colo- nies without swarming, if they have plenty of room. They build white comb, and the brood is very compact and reg- ular. I am satisfied that all who will give the Punic bees a fair trial, will be pleased with them. Ivan N. Moore. Los Angeles, Calif., Aug. 3, 1892. No Honey from Basswood. Bees have been doing fairly well here this season. Basswood bloomed nicely. I have two nice basswood trees close to a pump where we get water ; these trees blossomed out in good shape, but I never saw but one or two bees on the trees, and I think there has been but very little honey gathered from basswood. I have 25 colonies now in good condition. I sent to Illinois and got 2 frames of brood and bees the first of July, and put one frame in each hive, and now I have two good colonies from them. Mark D. Judkins. Osakis, Minn., Aug. 9, 1892. Saving Combs from Moth, Etc. Last fall I had 28 colonies of bees, and on June 1, 1892, I had but 17. Two died during the winter, and 9 spring dwindled. To save the combs from the moths, I put some of them in hives under the strongest colonies, and some I saved by leaving them exposed to the rain in one-story hives without covers. Others I tied together, and put in a barrel of water until the pollen was about all dissolved, then removed, and left in a warm place to dry. There is no danger from moths after the pollen is all out. I have combs lying out in the yard now, and not a sign of a worm in them. I also have a few combs put in a very warm place, and not a sign of a worm yet. The honey crop will be very light in this locality. I have not heard of or seen a section of new honey this season. There was a good crop of white clover, but it was of short duration. Sweet clover is in full bloom, and the bees are busy on it when the weather permits. Joseph Mason. Wallace, Ills., Aug. 5, 1892. Unfavorable Season for Bees. We had March weather in February this year, and the consequence was that buds opened, or nearly so, and the bees began gathering pollen and bred up alarmingly fast. Then commenced the cold, wet weather, as was almost uni- versal the forepart of the season. July 1 found the bees in a starving condition, and as a result fully 25 per cent., on an average, of the colonies died in this locality. There has been no surplus honey here, and only an exceptional swarm, so far as I know among the bee- keepers, and very little " prospects of any. W. H. Hepler. Manhattan, Kans., Aug. 5, 1892. About Half a Crop of Honey. The honey season is now over. Bees have, in my immediate vicinity, gathered about 50 per cent, of a good crop. From other reports received I think the State report will be less than 35 per cent, of a full crop. Basswood did not yield as freely as it does some years. Swarming was very light— not over 30 per cent. ; with 12 oolonies I had but one attempt at swarming, and only 3 increase thus far. Fall flowers may yield a little yet. H. W. Scott. Barre, Vt., Aug. 3, 1892. Bee Journal Posters, printed in two colors, will be mailed free upon application. They may be used to ad- vantage at Fairs over Bee and Honey Exhibits. We will send sample copies of the Bee Journal to be used in con- nection with the Posters in securing subscribers. Write a week before the Fair, telling us where to send them. We would like to have a good agent at every Fair to be held this year. Here is a chance for a live man — or woman. 248 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. ^AftfEpHCAftv* *v PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY GE&RQE W. J&RK I CO., At One Dollar a Year, 199 Randolph St., CHICAGO, ILLS. TO CORRESPONDENTS. The Bee Journal is sent to subscribers until an order is received by the publishers for its discontinuance, and all arrearages are paid. A. Sample Copy of the Bee Journal will be sent FREE upon application. How to Send Money.— Remit by Express, Post-Ofuce Money Order, or Bank Draft on New York or Chicago. If none of these can be had. Register your Letter, affixing Stamps both for postage and registry, and take a receipt for it. Money sent thus, IS AT OUR RISK; otherwise it is not. Do not send Checks on Local Banks— we have to pay 25 cents each, to get them cashed. A'erer Send Silver in letters. It will wear holes in the envelope, or may be stolen. Afafre all Money Orders Payable at Chicago, 111.— not at any sub-station of Chicago. Postag-e Stamps of any denomination may be sent for any fraction of a dollar; or where Money Orders cannot be obtained, stamps for any amount may be sent. Subscription Credits.— The receipt for money sent us will be given on the address- label of every paper. The subscription is paid to the END OF THE MONTH indicated. i Jo not Write anything for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Emerson Binders, made especially for the American Bee Journal, are convenient for preserving each weekly Number, as fast as received. They will be sent, post-paid, for 50 cts. each. They cannot be sent by mail to Canada. f,ost Numbers.— We carefully mail the Bee Journal to every subscriber, but should any be lost in the mails, we will replace them if notified before all the edition is exhausted. Always State the Post-Office to which your paper is addressed, when writing to us. Special Notices. The Date on the wrapper-label of this paper indicates the end of the month to which you have paid for the Journal. If that is past, please send us one dollar to pay for another year. Lost Copies we are glad to replace, if notified before the edition is exhausted. The Convention Hand-Book is very convenient at Bee-Conventions. It con- tains a Manual of Parliamentary Law and Rules of Order for Local Conven- tions ; Constitution and By-Laws- for a Loca1 Society; Programme for a Conven- tion, with subjects for discussion, and about 50 blank pages, to make notes upon. It is bound in cloth, and of the right size for the pocket. We will pre sent a copy for one new subscriber to the Bee Journal, with $1.00. » ♦ « ♦» An Apiary Register is a splendid book to have in an apiary, so as to know all about any colony of bees at a moment's notice. It devotes two pages to each colony. We will send one large enough for 50 colonies, for $1.00, post- paid ; for 100 colonies, for $1.25 ; or for 200 colonies, for $1.50. After using it for one season, you would not do without it. » i ^m i » > The Premiums which we give for securing new subscribers to the Ameri- can Bee Journal, are intended as pay for work done in getting new names among your friends and acquaintances, and are not offered to those who send in their own names as new subscribers, unless such name or names form a part of a club of at least three subscribers. A Binder for preserving the copies of the American Bee Journal as it arrives from week to week, is very convenient. You should have one, as it is so handy for reference from time to time. We mail it for only 50 cents, or will give it as a premium for two new subscribers, with $2.00. When Talking- About Bees to your friend or neighbor, you will oblige us by commending the Bee Journal to him, and taking his subscription to send with your .renewal. For this work we offer some excellent premiums that you ought to take advantage of. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 249 « II KICl^. LIST. We Club the American Bee Journal for a year, with any of the following papers or books, at the prices quoted in the LAST column. The regular price of both is given in the first column. One year's subscription for the American Bee Journal must be sent with each order for another paper or book : Priee of both. Club. The American Bee Journal $1 00 — and Gleanings in Bee-Culture. ... 2 00 ... . 1 75 Bee-Keeoers' Review 2 00.... 175 The Aplculturist 175.... 165 Bee-Keepers' Guide 150... 140 American Bee- Keeper 150 — 140 Canadian Bee Journal 2 00 ... 175 Nebraska Bee-Keeper 150 — 1 35 The 8 above-named papers 6 25 — 5 25 and Langstroth Revised (Dadant) 2 40 ... . 225 Cook's Manual 2 00. . . . 1 75 Dooiittle on Queen-Rearing. 2 00 — 1 65 Bees and Honey (Newman).. 2 00 — 175 Advanced Bee-Culture 150 — 140 Dzierzon's Bee-Book (cloth). 2 25.... 2 00 Root's A B C of Bee-Culture 2 25 ... . 210 A Year Among the Bees 1 50 — 1 35 Convention Hand-Book 125 115 History of National Society. 1 50 ... . 1 25 Weekly Inter-Ocean 2 00.... 175 The Lever (Temperance) 2 00 175 Orange Judd Farmer 2 00 175 Farm. Field and Stockman.. 2 00 175 Prairie Farmer 2 00 1 75 Illustrated Home Journal . . 150 135 American Garden 2 50 2 00 Rural New Yorker 3 00.... 225 Do not send to us for sample copies of any other papers. Send for such to the publishers of the papers you want. Almost Every Bee-Book that is now published we mention on the second page of this issue of the Bee Journal. Look over the list and select what you want. For every new yearly subscriber that you secure for us at $1.00, we will allow you 25 cents, to apply on the purchase of any book we have for sale. This is a rare chance to get some valua- able apicultural reading-matter, and at the same time aid in spreading helpful apiarian knowledge among your friends. Bee-Keeping- for Profit, by Dr. G. L. Tinker, is a nice, 50-page pamphlet, which details fully the author's new system of bee-management in producing comb and extracted honey, and the con- struction of the hive best adapted to it — his "Nonpareil." The book can be had at this office for 25 cents, or will be given for one new subscriber, with $1. Premium to Every New Subscriber. — We will give to every new subscriber (with $1.00), for whom it is desired in place of getting any other premium we offer for work done, a copy of "Rural Life " — a valuable pamphlet of over 100 pages, devoted to "Farm Topics, Live- stock, Poultry, Bees, Fruits, Vegetables, Household, Home, and Miscellaneous Matter." Or we will send it, postpaid, for 25 cts. This is a rare chance for new subscribers to get some excellent reading for nothing — by sending $1.00 for one year's subscription to the Bee Journal. This Means You. — When order- ing any of the books or articles which we offer clubbed with the Bee Journal, or otherwise ; or when sending anything intended for us, such as subscriptions to the Bee Journal, or matter for publi- cation, be sure to address everything to —George W. York & Co., 199 Ran- dolph St., Chicago, Ills. Please Send Us the Names of your neighbors who keep bees, and we will send them sample copies of the Bee Journal. Then please call upon them and get them to subscribe with you, and secure some of the premiums we offer. Webster's Pocket Dictionary we offer as a premium for sending only one new subscriber with $1.00. It is a splendid Dictionary — and just right for a pocket "Why Not send us one new name, with $1.00, and get Doolittle's book on "Scientific Queen-Rearing" as a premi- um ? Read the offer on page 197. Wants or Exchanges. Under this heading, Notices of 5 lines, or less, will be inserted at 10 cents per line, for each insertion, when specially ordered into this Department. If over 5 lines, the additional lines will cost 20 cents each. TO EXCHANGE— Pure Tested Young- Ital- ians, 3 to 5 bands, 50 cents to $1.00— for cash, wax or offers. F. C. MOKKOW, (iAtf WaUaceburgr, Arkansas. 250 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. HONEY AND BEESWAX MARKET. CHICAGO, Aug. 13— No choice comb on the market. Some inquiries for new stock, with none to offer. A good article would bring 15 @16c. Extracted is very scarce, and plenty of inquiry for same; it would bring 7@8c. Beeswax— firm at 26@27c>, good demand. ,J. A. LAMON. 44-46 S. Water St. CHICAGO, Aug. 13.— Comb honey is dull and no demand. Selling finest grade white at 15c. With new crop prices will rule firmer. Extracted is scarce and in good demand at 7@ 7lAc. Beeswax, selling at 26c. S. T. FISH & CO.. 189 S. Water St. CHICAGO, Aug. 13.— New comb honey is offered at 15@16c. for best grades of white ; dark, 10@13c, but sales are few, as the weather is hot, and fruit is used for the table. Extracted is selling at 6@7@8c, according to kind and quality. Beeswax, 23@26c. R. A. BURNETT. 161 S. Water St. NEW YORK, Aug. 13.— Extracted in good demand and fair supply. We quote: Southern per gallon, 65@75c. ; orange bloom, 7@7^c. $ lb. Beeswax, 26@28c. HILDRETH BROS. & SEGELKEN, 28-30 West Broadway. KANSAS CITY, Mo., Aug. 13.— The old crop of comb honey is all cleaned up. First ship- ment of new comb honey this week, which we quote at 16c. for No. 1 1-lbs. CLEMONS, MASON & CO., Cor. 4th and Walnut Sts. CINCINNATI. Aug. 13.— Demand is good for extracted at 5@8c. Ddemand is slow for comb honey, at 12@15c. for best white. Beeswax is in slow demand, at 23@25c. for good to choice yellow. C. F. MUTH & SON, Cor. Freeman & Central Aves. NEW YORK, Aug. 13.— Demand for comb is very small. Considerable comb honey on the market, of 2nd grade, but no fancy of any ac- count. Some demand for extracted, clover 6 @7c. ; buckwheat, 5@5^c. ; Southern, 65@75c per gal.; Calif., 6lA@7c. per lb. Beeswax— a little easier, with supply to meet demand, at 25@27c; 1 to 2c more per lb. for extra select, CHAS. ISRAEL & BROS.. 110 Hudson St. ALBANY, N. Y., Aug. 13.— Demand is very little, and market quiet. We are selling some Florida new orange-blossom extracted honey to good advantage. Beeswax— 28@30c. H. R. WRIGHT. 326-328 Broadway. DETROIT, Aug. 13— Best white comb honey 12@13c; but little left to sell. Extracted, 7 @8c. Beeswax, 26@27c. M. H. HUNT. Bell Branch. Mich. NEW YORK, Aug. 13— New comb and ex- tracted honey is arriving in small quantities. Comb honey is in very light demand at 15@- 16c. for fancy white in one-pound sections. Extracted is selling at 6@8c. for white. De- mand is limited. Comb honey we would ad- vise keeping in the country until say about Aug. 25 to Sept. 1. F. I. SAGE & SON. 183 Reade St. SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. 13— Demand quiet as old crop is nearly exhausted and new crop not in yet. We quote: Extracted, 5!4@6 cts. Comb, 1-lbs., 10©llc; 2-lbs., 6@8c. Beeswax — 24@25c. SCHACHT, LEMCKE & STEINER, 16 Drumm Street. BOSTON, Aug. 13— Demand is light. White 1-lbs., 13@15c. No 2-lbs, on hand. No Bees- wax on hand. Extracted, 7@8c. Demand is light for all. BLAKE & RIPLEY. 57 Chatham St. MINNEAPOLIS. Minn., Aug. 13.— Market is dull in general, though some is being worked off. but mostly at cut prices. Fancy white, 15 @17c, 1-lb. sections; dark, 8@10c. Extracted white, 7@8c; dark, 5@6c. STEWART & ELLIOTT. KANSAS CITY, Mo., Aug. 13.— Old honey is cleaned up, both extracted and comb. New crop will be in about July 10, here. HAMBLIN & BEARSS. 514 Walnut St. NEW YORK, Aug. 13. — Demand moderate, and supply reduced, with no more glassed l-flt> nor paper cartons, 1-ft. We quote: Comb, l-ft>, 14@15c. Extracted— Basswood,7^1@7Hc; buckwheat, 5^@6J4; Mangrove, 68@75c per gal. Good demand for dark extracted honey. Beeswax, in fair supply, with small demand, at 26@27c. F. G. STROHMEYER & CO.. 120 Pearl St. Doolittle's Queen-Rearing: book should be in the library of every bee-keeper ; and in the way we offer it on page 229, there is no reason now why every one may not possess a copy of it. Send us one new subscriber for a year, and we will mail the book to you as a present. Winter Problem in Bee - Keeping ; by G. R. Pierce, of Iowa, who has had 25 years' experience in bee-keeping, and for the past 5 years has devoted all his time and energies to the pursuit. Price, 50 cents. For sale at this office. We Club the American Bee Journal and the monthly "Illustrated Home Journal " one year for $1.35 ; or both of these Journals and the semi-monthly "Gleanings in Bee-Culture," for one year, for $2.10. The Honey-Bee ; giving Its Natural History, Anatomy and Physiology. By T. W. Cowan, editor of the British Bee Journal, 72 figures, and 136 illustra- tions. $1.00. For sale at this office. The Amateur Bee-Keeper, by J. W. Rouse, is a book of 52 pages, intended, as its name indicates, for beginners. Price, 25 cents. For sale at this office. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 263 -* PUBLISHED BTT : * GEORGE W. YORK 6b CO ' CHICAGO.ILL. T "^ m ONE DOLLAR FEB YEAR. Club Kates,— Two copies, $1.80 ; 3 copies, $2.50 ; 4 copies, $3.20 ; 5 copies, $3.75. Mailed to any addresses. THOMAS G. NEWMAN, GEORGE W. YORK, Editors. Vol. XIX. AM. 25, 1892. No. 9. The Man who fears to go his way alone. But follows where the greater number tread, Should hasten to his rest beneath a stone ; The great majority of the men are dead. —Life. A General Gathering: of bee- keepers will occur on Sept. 8, 1892, at the Fair Grounds at Hamline, Minn. It will not be a regular convention, but held for the express purpose of giving the bee-keepers a chance to become ac- quainted with each other, as well as with the working of the State associa- tion ; and above all, to make arrange- ments regarding their exhibit at the World's Fair next year. Mr. A. K. Cooper, editor of the Bee-Keepers' Maga- zine and Secretary of the Minnesota Bee-Keepers' Association, and Mr. J. P. West, the President, will be in attend- ance at Hamline. On Pretty Good Terms.— Friend Hutchinson, of the Bee-Keepers' Review, always has some good sugges- tions to offer — a kind of " special topics" we presume. In his August number we find the following observation and hint : The bee-keeping editors are all now on pretty good terms with one another. If there is one of them holding a "grudge" against another member of the fraternity, I'll tell him how to get his revenge, if he must have it. Let him keep perfectly still about it, but go quietly to work and so improve his own journal that it will "run out" the other fellow. But we don't know of anybody that we want to "run out," though of course the item was not meant for us, as we have no " grudge " against anybody. If a brother editor has a " grudge " against us, we would advise him to "drop it," as holding on to it won't make him any happier, or us either. So far as we know, there is now perfect harmony among bee-editors, which is just as it should be. Mrs, Stephen Berry, while out looking at her flowers recently, was stung on the right temple by a honey-bee. She went into the house and was im- mediately taken ill. Before a physician arrived, she died. Death occurred within thirty minutes of the time when she was stung. According to medical opinions the poison was implanted in an artery, and, entering directly into the circula- tion, quickly found its way to the heart. She was 35 years old. The Boy in the following amusing anecdote seemed to feel much-abused : " Why, Willie, why are you crying so?" "Boo-hoo ! Mamma won't let me have any sugar on my honey." Great Britain, during the month of June, imported honey to the value of nearly $18,000. Read S. F. & I. Trego's Advertisement. 2 64 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Mr. Jolin H. Larrabee, the Government experimenter in apiculture at the Michigan State Agricultural Col- lege, has been discontinued. This we learn from a letter written to Bro. Root by Prof. Cook, and published in Glean- ings for Aug. 1, which reads thus : Deak Mb. Editor : — I regret to write that our friend Larrabee has been dis- continued in his position as experimenter in apiculture for the United States Government. The cause is, the large reduction ($10,000) of the appropria- tion by Congress to the Entomological Division of the Department of Agricul- ture. I think this a grave misfortune, as it seems to me that at least one per- son might be selected and kept for the purpose of aiding this pursuit. There are yet several thousand dollars to be expended in experimental work and re- search in entomology. I believe if bee- keepers would cry loud enough they would yet get the mere pittance of $1,000 annually. A. J. Cook. Agricultural College, Mich., July 16. Bro. Root follows the above letter with these paragraphs of very excellent editorial suggestions and fitting endorse- ment of the splendid work which Mr. Larrabee has done for apiculture during his short year of service as Government experimenter in apiculture. Read care- fully what Bro. Root says, viz. : We are thoroughly in accord with Prof. Cook's belief, that, if bee-keepers will cry loud enough, they will get the mere pittance of $1,000 annually. Mr. Larrabee is and has been a successful bee-keeper; and since he commenced experimental work at the college, for tho Government, he has rendered most excellent 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 off just when grand work was being and about to be done, is a little hard on our industry. We hope every one of our subscribers will write at once to Prof. C. V. Riley and Jeremiah M. Rusk, Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D. C, asking for the continuance of Mr. John H. Lar- rabee as apicultural experimenter, and that the appropriation of at least $L, 000 be again granted for the support and maintenance of an apicultural station. 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. It would seem that it should not be necessary to more than even hint that bee-keepers desire the continuation of Mr. Larrabee in the position which he has filled with such entire satisfaction and great profit to the industry of bee- keeping, in order to have him re-instated in that position. It has come to a pretty pass, when such a Government as ours cannot afford the "mere pittance of $1,000" for the advancement of so promising a pursuit as bee-culture. We are loth to believe that the " powers that be" in Washington are so near- sighted or blinded as to be unable to see the great necessity for just the kind of work that Mr. Larrabee was performing for the "300,000 bee-keepers" of our country. We most heartily "second the mo- tion " made by Bro. Root, and would urge all the readers of the American Bee Journal to at once rush such a resounding "cry" into the ears of Prof. Riley and Secretary Rusk as shall cause them to heed the request, or from the very " roaring " of the bee-keepers make them cry — " Enough ! We yield to thee— Take back thy Larrabee." We certainly believe in petitioning for whatever is wanted, and when those in authority understand our needs, we feel sure they will respect our prayers and grant our desires. If ten or fifteen thou- sand letters urging the continuance of Mr. Larrabee at the Michigan Agricul- tural College, were to be sent to Wash- ington within say two weeks, we have not the least doubt that our helpful " Larra-bee " would be "winging" his way back to the "hive" on the "old stand ;" and the $1,000, or more, would follow him as fast as it is needed. Let every one who reads these words, write immediately to Prof. C. V. Riley or Jeremiah M. Rusk, expressing their requests in such a humming, honied AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 265 style as shall remind the honorable Washington gentlemen of the sweetness of the labors of the " blessed bees," and shall cause them to yield to the entreat- ies of so deserving a cause. Later. — Since the foregoing was put in type, we have received Gleanings for Aug. 15, and we would call attention to what Rro. Root says further in regard to Mr. Larrabee's return to " his position as experimenter in apiculture :" In our last issue, we announced that J. H. Larrabee had been discontinued from his position as experimenter in apiculture to the United States Govern- ment. It will be remembered 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 have just received word from the Department this morning, informing us that the employment of Mr. Larrabee is quite out of the question, as the appro- priation by Congress has been reduced from $27,500 to $17,500, and that the latter sum is insufficient to carry on the more legitimate work of the Division. Mr. Frank Benton, however, is retained on the force at present, so apiculture will not be entirely neglected. From this, of course, it will now be useless to write to Washington asking for Mr. Larrabee's return. We are glad that Mr. Benton is to be retained, -so that our pursuit will have at least one representative at " head-quarters." Mr. Benton will faithfully watch the inter- ests of bee-keepers, as he is fully com- petent, and intensely devoted to the work. Feeders and Feeding: is to be the special topic of the September Bee- Keepers' Review. The July and August numbers were devoted to " Smoke and Smokers." Those two issues couldn't have been said to be "smokeless" or " smokerless ;" so it was not entirely a "smokeless battle," even in a bee-peri- odical. Don't Fail to read all of page 261. Sugar-Honey in Germany. — It seems that a new enemy has arisen to deceive the over-credulous and annoy the producers of honest honey — this time, according to " reports," from " over the sea." We shouldn't wonder, however, upon a thorough investigation, that it will prove to be like many another statement — merely the foolish imaginings of a notoriety-seeking scrib- bler. Mr. W. M. Barnum wrote us as follows concerning the new would-be enemyof our pursuit, on Aug. 5, 1892, from Belmont, N. Y. : Friend York: — You, and our old friend Newman, have done yeomanry service to the bee-keeping cause, in de- fending it from the spurious and danger- ous attacks of the cranks and fools who dare, in the face of their better judg- ment (let us hope !) to send out to the world such ridiculous messages as the enclosed. They are nothing more than an attack upon apiculture — and an ex- tremely dangerous one at that. The one I send you is far worse than the average, as it comes from one of the leading " plate companies" of the coun- try (Century Press Co., Washington, Nashville, Albany, etc.), and is sent out this week to their hundreds of news- paper patrons. The assumption they make of the possibility to make a " per- fect substitute," or artificial honey, should be counteracted or withdrawn without delay. Let the bee-keepers awake to the danger — financially and morally — of this subtle enemy. Fraternally Yours, W. M. Barnum. Here is the paragraph referred to by Mr. Barnum in the above letter : A substitute for honey has been intro- duced in Germany under the name of " sugar-honey," and consists of inverted sugar, water, minute amounts of min- eral substances and free acid. It has the characteristic taste and odor of bee- honey. An examination shows that the artificial product is both chemically and physically a perfect substitute for bee- honey. As the article can be produced at a lower price than honey, the only product left to the bee-grower is the beeswax. What next ! We are no sooner rid of the unfortunate and careless "manu- factured comb honey" statements and 266 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. their baneful effects upon the pursuit of bee-keeping, than another even more dangerous and diabolical creature of some addle-brained scrawler for the press comes forward to fill the gap caused by the execution of its hydra- headed predecessor. How indefinite is the wording of all such deceptive paragraphs as is this. Notice how it begins — " A substitute for honey has been introduced in Germany," etc. It does not say where it originated — that is left for the imagination of the reader, and of course every observing person would at once know that it could only have been born in the place where brains ought to be, but where unfortu- nately is material little more valuable than first-class sawdust. We venture to say that the writer of that paragraph wouldn't know the "characteristic taste and odor of bee- honey " from the perfume of a decom- posed skunk, or a good article of asa- fetida. "A perfect substitute for bee- honey !" Who examined it and pro- nounced it "both chemically and physi- cally a perfect substitute," when, if the contemptible prevaricator is to be be- lieved, it never saw a bee. And then to think that the bees must forever and ever spend their time in making wax ! What a grand and in- spiring business — making combs to be melted into beeswax ! Why, it wouldn't be a "honey-bee" any more, but a "wax-bee." Oh, what stuff! What foolishness ! It is a great pity that such exact lineal descendants of the original Ananias and Sapphira could not be treated with the same prompt and effective judgment as was visited upon their progenitors, as was recorded in the Sunday School les- son of Aug. 14. If only such immediate and impressive retribution could be in- voked to-day upon our modern Ana- niases, we should soon be relieved of the necessity of so frequently being compelled to notice the non-sensical effusions of the many who attempt to write upon subjects of which they know nothing. No doubt that paragraph will be read by hundreds of thousands, while its con- tradiction will never be seen by one- tenth part of that number. You know " a lie never stops to put its hat on," but rushes right on, hatless, and almost headless, while truth follows at a snail- like pace. All that bee-keepers can do is to give such vile creatures a " black eye " whenever they can do so, at the same time never ceasing to produce the very best article of honey that can be put up by the honest, hard-working little but "blessed — bees." Reminds One of the Flood. — Mr. Henry Stewart, one of our regu- lar advertisers writes thus about the Amercian Bee Journal as an adver- tising medium : "Judging from the way each mail is bringing in the inquiries, your readers must read the advertise- ments in your Journal,. The showers of cards and letters that are coming down upon this office, reminds one of the floods of a few weeks since — but I assure you they are far more appre- ciated." If you have anything you want to sell, the advice is — put an advertise- ment in the Bee Journal. John M. Rev, of East Saginaw, Mich., " is always up with the sun, and is a busy man, jovial, social, the boss bee-keeper of the valley, and conducts the 'Sweet Home Apiary.'" That is what the Saginaw Trade Review said of him in its issue for July, which contained a general " write up " of the principal business men of the town, and of course gave a good "send off" to our friend Rey. May his " Keys" increase ! "Why Not send us one new name, with $1.00, and get Doolittle's book on "Scientific Queen-Rearing" as a premi- um ? Read the offer on page 261. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 267 Stand for Extracted Honey. — On page 73 we gave an illustration of a stand for comb honey ; on this page we present a stand for showing off ex- tracted honey. It may suggest some ideas to our readers who are looking for something of the kind, either to be used at Fairs, or in local groceries. EXTRACTED HONEY STAND. The more attractive and novel the arrangement of honey placed before people, the greater will be the demand for honey. Pure liquid honey, or that in the comb, often needs but to be seen to secure customers and dispose of any quantity of it. Kind Letters are still being re- ceived, and friendly press notices are being given, about the former and the present management of the old Ameri- can Bee Journal. Again we wish to express our appreciation of such kindly and fraternal utterances. The follow- ing is from Rev. Stephen Roese, of Maiden Rock, Wis., dated July 28, 1892, one of the numerous correspond- ents who have often written for the Bee Journal during the past few years : It is with feelings of regret that we notice the change in the editorial and managing department of our "old re- liable " American Bee Journal. Thomas G. Newman, its former editor, is a man highly esteemed by all who know him. He labored hard for the interest and advancement of our com- mon cause. His good-will, good deeds, and kind words will continue to live in the memory of all who know him. Since our own personal acquaintance, or cor- respondence, our business transactions, and all, were most agreeable and satis- factory. While we are wishing our dear old friend, in his retirement, a hearty farewell, with God's blessing and our best wishes on his pathway of life, we bid his successor a heartfelt welcome, with a good-will for his future success, and also a willingness, on our part, to lend a helping hand in whatever may be needed to make the "old reliable " what it aims to be — " the oldest, cheapest, and best bee-paper in the world." Yours Very Respectfully, Stephen Roese. Mr. Thos. Wm. Cowan, editor of the British Bee Journal, gives this friendly notice in his paper for July 7 : We regret to see that, owing to failing health, Mr. Thomas G. Newman has been obliged to retire from the proprie- torship of the American Bee Journal. This he has sold to Mr. George W. York, who has been an assistant in editing and publishing it for eight years. We have for so long a time known Mr. Newman, and have always had such friendly relations with him, that we cannot but feel regret that he has been obliged to relinquish the responsi- bility and anxiety of proprietorship. We are, however, pleased to see that Mr. Newman still remains one of the editors of the American Bee Jourral, and we hope the time may be far dis- tant when he severs his connection en- tirely. The American Bee Journal has been successfully conducted by him for nearly twenty years, and it has always held a leading position amongst bee-papers. We wish Mr. York every success in his new undertaking, and hope that he will continue a worthy follower in the footsteps of Mr. Newman. 268 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. The Month of August. CURTIS MAY The field lies parched in thirst. Hushed in languor and heat ; The rough, wild hedge bears on its edge Its rose, pale-cheeked and sweet. The hills in their tents of cloud Through the doorways lean and look. And under the bank where the weeds grow rank Hums low the narrow brook. The butterfly's soft wing Flits past hollow and hill ; The shining bees like argosies Sail trough air-seas deep and still. The dragon-fly darts and dips Where the pool has scooped its urn, And like coals of Are strewn in marsh and mire The red swamp-lilies burn. — N. T. Voice. Weeds and Grass in the Apiary, Query 833.— 1. What would be the best material to keep the weeds and grass down in the apiary? 2. Would the ordinary water- lime or cement do, if put on pretty thick ?— Iowa. I don't know. — J. M. Hambaugh. 1. Salt. 2. Yes.— M. Mahin. I think common salt the best. — G. L. Tinker. 1. A lawn-mower. 2. Yes. — R. L. Taylor. Yes ; or sand, or coal ashes, or flat rocks. — Dadant & Son. A good scythe in the hands of a good man. — G. M. Doolittle. 1. Salt. 2. Yes, if well done, but it is expensive. — H. D. Cutting. 1. Pull them out. 2. No ; they will come through it. — Mrs. J. N. Heater. 1. Salt. Boiling water. A sickle. Ashes. Other things. 2. I should think so. — C. C. Miller. 1. A scythe. Most of our bees are in pastures — the stock keep down the grass. — E. France. 1. A very thick layer of sawdust will do it ; or (2) the cement, if put on thick enough. — J. P. H. Brown. 1. A sharp scythe or lawn-mower. 2. It will "do," but I would not advise it. Too expensive. — Eugene Secor. I have never tried lime or cement. A good, sharp scythe and lawn-mower are the tools for me. — C. H. Dibbern. 1. I don't know. 2. 1 would not want a cemented yard. I prefer a grass yard, kept down the best I can. — G. W. Dem- aree. 1. I use salt, and find it answers the purpose well. I prefer a nicely-trimmed lawn, but my yard is small. 2. I don't know, having never tried it. — J.E.Pond. 1. I use salt, or when that fails, mus- cular power with a good pair of lawn- shears, or a lawn-mower. 2. I do not know, as I never tried it. — Mrs; Jennie Atchley. Paving with brick would be preferable, but by placing your hives in straight rows, so that you can run a lawn mower, grass is not very objectionable. — Mrs. L. Harrison. 1. In my small apiary a lawn-mower and a sharp Bingham honey-knife work like a charm. 2. Yes, if mixed with sand and water. I use salt where I don't want anything to grow. — A. B. Mason. 2. I think so. I kept grass down in this way for some years. I now prefer a closely-mown lawn. It is so beautiful, and if kept closely mown in June and July, is very nice and convenient. — A. J. Cook. Pieces of boards (old bee-hives) in front, and a short scythe, and plenty of tramping as you work your colonies, other places. Remember that green is the best color for the ground-work of your apiary, both for you and the bees. — James Heddon. Yes, the water-lime or cement would do, if put on thick enough, but it is too expensive. Salt will kill vegetation. Sand, sawdust, or coal-ashes will keep down the grass or weeds, or you might use bricks or plank for the same pur- pose. But why go to such expense and trouble ? Grass is very pleasant to the eye, and far preferable to anything else in the apiary. A lawn-mower will easily keep it in order. Then humanity as well as bees ought to be pleased. — Editors. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 269 On Important Subjects. Bee-Culture in Agricultural Colleges. C. L. BUCKMASTER. Why should it require argument to prove that bee-culture ought to be es- tablished in our colleges of agriculture ? Yet, after good reasons have been pre- sented, many of the Boards of Curators turn a deaf ear to the petitions of the bee-keepers. There seems to be two prominent rea- sons why experiment apiaries are not at once established when the college is founded, viz. : 1. There are so many branches to be provided for that the curators are very liable to overlook some. The Boards of Curators are generally composed of law- yers, doctors, preachers, bankers, and other professional men, while few farm- ers, and especially bee-keepers, receive the appointment. 2. Bee-keepers and bee-keeping asso- ciations do not do their duties along this line. They should put themselves in communication with the Dean of their College of Agriculture. They ought to besiege him with petitions that he may present them to the Board. He, by all means, should be invited to the meet- ings of the bee-associations, and be re- quested to read essays on the subject of bee-culture in connection with the farm economy. The bee-associations of the State should often meet in the Agricultural College buildings, and visit the farms ; thereby getting personally acquainted with the teachers of the institution. Fellow bee-keepers, turn your meetings from meetings of pleasure at some popu- lar watering-place (where you will be robbed by some second-class hotel- keeper), into a meeting of business where you can enjoy the hospitality of the college town, and do something for the cause of practical education. This is a day of practical education — the period of manual training schools. The hand is being taught to accompany the eye. Boys and girls are being taught to do as well as to know. This is the new education. Now, I want to say there is nothing that is superior to hive-building to train the hand ; and nothing surpasses the exhibition of the constructions and the economy of the busy bee that will so de- velop the growth of the human intellect. The day of the old college curriculum has passed. The boy will no longer be required to read seven years of Latin and Greek before he is permitted to study science ; but science will be taught in such a practical way, in the future, that it will train the mind, and at the same time store it with useful facts, which will enable the college graduate to at once battle with the difficulties of life. The time has now arrived when the scientifically educated mechanic, agriculturist, horticulturist, stock-raiser, manufacturer and miner are far ahead of the old-fashioned lawyer, preacher and doctor. I want to say that we are now making a determined effort to have an experi- ment apiary established in connection with the Missouri College of Agricul- ture, with a practical bee-keeper as teacher; and if we can have the co- operation of the leading bee-keepers of our State, there will be no doubt of ou success. Last spring, by the invitation of Dr Ed. D. Porter, Dean of our College of Agriculture, I gave six lectures on prac- tical bee-culture to his class in agricul- ture. I found the subject very accept- able to the young ladies and young gen- tlemen ; and they seemed anxious to prove the facts set forth in the lectures by experiments. Many expressed a de- sire to take a thorough course, and asked the Doctor that an experiment apiary might be established. Columbia, Mo. The Mismatim of Queen-Bees, JOHN D. A. FISHER. Mr. Geo. W. Wheeler, some time ago in the American Bee Journal, wrote that if I would wait until this summer, I would have all sorts of mixtures and colors among the bees produced by my queen of this year's rearing. No pre- diction could have been truer, for all of my young queens, so far, have mismated except one, and I do not know that she is purely mated, although her bees are all finely marked. Last year my young queens were purely mated except two, or at least I thought so, as they produced all finely- marked worker-bees. I was highly de- lighted at my success in getting so nearly all my young queens purely mated ; but 270 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL this summer's success has tumbled me down below zero. I tell you, I don't know. I don't un- derstand this queen-mating business. I let bees rear all the drones they choose, and the drones had full liberty to fly, and there were multitudes of what I thought to be pure Italian drones flying in and around my bee-yard ; and now, if it were not for the old queens in my yard that are pure, I would have a yard full of hybrid bees. There must have been a large congregation of my neigh- bor's black drones that had their regular meeting-place near my apiary all this season. Mr. Wheeler will say, "Your queens were not all purely mated last year, and this year the black blood is cropping out." Now, I have some queen-bees that were three years old last year, and their daughters produced bees that were all well marked. This year the daugh- ters of these same old queens produced hybrid bees. How does he reconcile that? I am very much interested in this mating of queens, and am doing some hard thinking on this matter. I cannot yet agree with Mr. Wheeler that a pure and yellow Italian queen mated with a black drone will produce all well-marked worker-bees, although his predictions in my case came true to a dot. I now believe that the place where the drones locate there congregating spot has something to do with this mat- ing of queens. I don't know. Oh, how I do wish I did know. Won't some one be so kind as to tell me, in the columns of the "old reliable" American Bee Journal,. Woodside, N. C. A Young Attorney's First Case, A. C. TYRREL. A number of years ago I had occasion to visit a new settlement in Tennessee, and while waiting for the person I wished to see, I followed a motley throng to the court-house in which a case of unusual interest was pending, at least to the parties directly interested. The judge — a kindly disposed, well meaning old man — although not very well versed in Blackstone, had been elected by the people of his district not on account of his legal lore, but because he advocated certain principles then popular with the masses. The attorney for the plaintiff — Adol- phus Skinner, Esq. — had lately " hung out his shingle," and by dint of much persuasion and promising to divide with his client the amount of the judgment rendered against the defendant, suc- ceeded in being retained as counsellor in the case. The defendant's attorney was a stranger to the residents of the county, having been sent by the "National Bee- Keepers' Union " to defend the case ! The action was called for trial, and a jury impaneled after" much whispering between the plaintiff and his attorney, those only being retained who had no opinion on this or any other subject, and without prejudice for or against either party — taking their word for it. The plaintiff's attorney then arose with as much dignity as his small stature and calibre would admit, cast his eagle eye up to a spider's-web on the wall, and over the sleepy jurors, thrust his hand into his pocket for an enormous chunk of " pig-tail" tobacco (which he .hastily crammed into his mouth), hemmed and hawed to clear his throat, and commenced to state his case in a falsetto voice, by saying that the de- fendant was a man of vicious and vulgar habits, and wholly unfit to be entrusted with the care, custody and control of bees in the young and growing city of Podunk ; and that he expected to prove by his witnesses — men of a high degree of moral character and rectitude — that his client on or about the 15th day of July, 1888, received serious injuries by reason of the running at large of noxious insects owned and controlled by de- fendant. Having proceeded thus far to his evi- dent satisfaction, he suddenly lost his voice and thread of the argument, and, taking the petition, read a curious medley of synonyms, once very popular with lawyers, now but seldom (?) used. The following is a copy of the petition : In the Superior Court in and for the County of Dhawalaghiri, State of Ten- nessee. John S. Smith, 1 Plaintiff. vs. [ Petition. Tom A. Jones, Defendant. To said Honorable Court : The plaintiff complains of the defend- ant, and for cause of action states and says : 1. That the defendant is a person formed, organized and existing for the AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 271 purpose of carrying on trade and busi- ness in the city of Podunk, and State of Tennessee, but not incorporated. 2. That on or about the 15th day of July, 1888, the defendant was the owner and in possession of lot 1, block 2, in the city of Podunk,. as aforesaid ; that he kept and owned a skep, colony, or stand of bees in said city and State, as aforesaid, of vicious, willful, venge- ful, vindictive, venomous and unlawful disposition. 3. That at the time and times afore- said, and prior thereto, and from thence until and at the time, period and date of the injury and damage to the plain- tiff hereinafter mentioned, set forth and to be stated, the defendant well knew that said malignant, uncivil and discour- teous bees were accustomed and ever ready with, or without provocation, to attack, bite, puncture and sting unof- fending mankind, persons and things. 4. That on or about the 15th day of July, in the year of our Lord one thou- sand eight hundred and eighty-eight, as aforesaid, the said bees, or four-winged insects then and there being, in the day- time of said day, to-wit : About the bo%r of 4 o'clock p.m., on the corner of Mason and Dixon street, in said city and State, as aforesaid, about 15 feet from said corner of said streets, then and there being, unlawfully, wrong- fully, feloniously, and of his or their deliberate and premeditated malice, did make an assault, with the intent then and there him the said defendant un- lawfully, feloniously, nefariously, and of his, ber, or their deliberate and pre- meditated malice, to kill, puncture, wound and murder, and that they, the said bees or insects, instigated, stirred up and encouraged by the said defend- ant, with certain deadly and fatal weap- ons, to-wit : With a certain sharp- pointed weapon or weapons to their abdomen attached, then and there had and held him the said defendant's bees by their next friend and owner thereof, in and upon the cheek of him the said plaintiff then and there unlawfully, wickedly, wilfully, purposely, felon- iously, iniquitously and nefariously, and of their premeditated and deliberate malice, did strike, cut, thrust and punc- ture, with the intent aforesaid, one wound of the length of one inch, and of the depth of three inches, of which said dangerous and mortal wound, he, the said defendant from the 15th day of July, 1888, until this time, did languish, and languishing did live in mortal terror, anguish and bodily pain as aforesaid, and against the peace and dignity of this defendant herein. 5. At the time complained of, he, the plaintiff, caught, captured and imprison- ed one of his assailants after his power for evil had been curtailed and cut off by reason of the deprivation of his said weapon or stinger when engaged in his unlawful and unholy act and deed as hereinbefore mentioned, and the same is hereto attached and marked "Exhibit B." 6. That on the 15th day of July, 1888, as aforesaid, while the defendant was the owner and proprietor of the bees herein complained of, said insects or bees did attack, chase, bite, worry, sting and puncture this plaintiff on his left cheek as aforesaid, and left a piece of sharp-pointed weapon or sting about six inches in length in his, said defend- ant's cheek, in consequence thereof and thereby, by said willful, malignant and vicious act, he, the said plaintiff, became sick, lame, indisposed, diseased, weak and morbid, and so continued for the space of three hours next following the aforesaid attack, and was prevented, hindered and kept by reason of his ter- rified,, damaged and injured condition and state from attending to his lawful and legitimate business, and necessarily expended, paid out and contributed to one Dr. Mercer, M. D., the sum of $1.60 in endeavoring and trying to be cured of his said sickness, lameness, and prurient, itching disease to the damage of this plaintiff in the sum of $5,000. Wherefore, plaintiff prays judgment against the defendant in the sum of $5,000, and interest thereon at 7 per cent, from the 15th day of July, 1888, and for such other and further relief and aid as justice and mercy may dic- tate and dispose. (The jurat to this petition is omitted for want of time and space.) Madison, Nebr. (To be continued if necessary.) Experience in Clipping Wings of Queens, KHANK COVERDAI.K. On account of being quite busy about my farm work the past spring, I thought to let my queens go undipped, and chance that old-fashioned method just once. In the last ilays of June, swarming was the order of the day, and of course I used a ladder and sharp knife, and an old-fashioned gunny-sack on a pole put 272 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. up to catch the cluster in. What incon- venient places some swarms would clus- ter in ! I think most assuredly that no device could be invented to properly take these last-mentioned swarms from the trees. But up the ladder I went, then out on the limbs the rest of the way, and with the knife I sawed and cut, and when nearly two-thirds off, the limb cracked, which shook off some of the bees, and I finished cutting the limb down the ladder. As I laid the cluster in front of a new hive, for awhile all seemed well, until I heard a rustling and hunting on the ground on the part of the bees which were about to cluster again at the top of the tree. I had failed to get the queen, and with mad bees flying around my head, and great drops of sweat falling- from my brow, I stood gazing at the top of the tree, and I said to myself, " If I could only be forgiven of this evil, I would do so no more." But no, there was no forgiveness, save that I yet might clip my queens' wings — a thing not at all easy to do after the section-cases are on the hives, which are rolling brimful of bees. However, I thought I would try, and while I was going towards the honey-house, it came quite fresh to my mind. Experience in hunting black queens had been no easy task, but with shears and Bingham smoker under fair puff, the task was at once begun. I puffed in just a little smoke to cause the bees to stay back, and took one frame out all right, and the next frame was given a slight jar, and before I got through 30,000 bees all boiled out over the edges of the hive, and without find- ing the queen it was closed. Then for the next, I got an extra hive to set the frames over, which seemed to somewhat help the matter. After that day, I declined hunting for any blacks. The hives of my best Italians were then opened, the first having a Doolittle queen, and finding myself not disap- pointed, all went on finely as far as the Italian colonies lasted. Now, as the queens were half clipped (including some hybrid colonies), I determined, if possible, to finish the job again in a few days when it was quite warm, and in the afternoon, with honey coming in quite freely, the work was again begun, and I determined this time to go very gently, opening up the cover easily, and using a very small amount of smoke. I was then quiet for one minute, when with another slight puff of smoke the opera- tion was continued. No jarring was done ; large numbers of the bees were in the field, and frame by frame was examined, first on the one side, and then on the other, until 15 black queens were clipped, and every colony was treated in this easy and calm way. Welton, Iowa. Hie Season — So-Calleft Punic Bees, c. p. m'kxnnon. Last winter I lost 4 colonies out of 50 in the cellar. I found some pollen-bear- ing flowers in bloom about April 1, and one nice, warm day in the evening I put the bees on the summer stands, mostly in good condition. The weather was fair, and I expected the bees would have a lively time the next day, but the wind changed, it turned cold, and rained, and hundreds of my bees were lost. It just kept on raining, and the bees were get- ting weaker, until 15 colonies were dead, and the rest very weak. (It rained 25 days in May.) The bees be- came so weak that it was impossible to ge^hem ready for the harvest. They bred up very rapidly during clover bloom, and commenced swarming during linden bloom. I saved 19 prime swarms, hived them on full combs, and they are now in good condition for the fall flow — if we have one. I will have 150 or 200 pounds of white honey in sections. THE SO-CALLED PUNIC BEES. Last faTl I bought a virgin queen of the so-called Punic bees ; she proved very prolific, and wintered well. They were the first bees to take in pollen, and bred up very fast, and were the first to swarm ; but they have not the most honey. Some of my Italian hybrids are the first with the honey. The Punics are ahead of all the bees I have when it comes to stinging. They are the mean- est bees to work with I ever saw. I in- tend to pinch the queen's head off and replace her with an Italian. I see on page 138, that Mr. Cowan, editor of the British Bee Journal, has found that Punic is only a new name for Tunisian bees. I would like to ask if the Tunisian bees have been tried in this country, and what their characteristics are. Let others give their experience with the Punic bees — some of our lead- ing bee-men — and if they are " no good," say so, and inform the bee-keepers of the country, that they may invest in something more profitable. Bangor, Iowa, Aug. 8, 1892. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 273 Great Increase from One Cian Colony, B. W. LAW. My friends, Dr. Warner and Mr. Somerford have suggested to me that my experience in starting an apiary might be worth reporting. As an indication of the possibilities of bee-keeping here 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 done, I do not feel that it is any- thing to be proud of. Summarized briefly, the increase from one colony had amounted, in 18 months, to over 30 colonies, and these had produced 7,240 pounds of honey. Our friend Dr. Warner has an apiary, and my better half thought it would be nice to have a colony 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 be- gun laying Nov. 16. 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 as- sisted and thought it rather interesting. I attended to them myself the next time, and my interest grew, and we thought we should make 5 colonies, Dr. Warner having explained to us how to increase by dividing. Our experience (Mrs. L. got almost as deeply interested as I did) the next three months was doubtless very much that of mosi beginners. How cross the hybrids were ! We got brood and cells from our friend's pure Italians, and were bound to have no other queens. By and by we forgot our limit of 5 colo- nies, 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, however, and were away three months, leaving the bees to the care of our friend. He could not see them very frequently. 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, giving away two, and placed sections on two. The bellflower lasted only until about Jan. 6, giving 230 gallons. This usually lasts until a month later. Romerillo (Bidens leucan- thus) following, soon gave about as much more. This honey candies — the only honey produced in Cuba which does not remain liquid, so far as I know. Fruit and other blossoms produced some further surplus, but continued rains prevented us from obtaining more than half the mangrove flow ; besides, I had sold eight of my best colonies before it began. My hives have nine frames 13 2^x13^ in brood-chamber, and eight above. I began with ten frames below, spaced according to rule, but found better re- sults w4th one less. My location is very favorable in one respect. About three- quarters of a mile distant are molasses storehouses ; and when everything else fails, the bees manage to scrape a living from the drainings of the hogsheads. This undoubtedly helped them through our two bad months, August and Sep- tember. One circumstance, however, is unfavorable, and that is, our house is located on the edge of the bay, so that half of the area of the range is water. The total amount of extracted honey was 7,025 pounds; comb honey, 215 pounds ; wax, 70 pounds. Of the 27 colonies, about two-thirds were strong ; but all gave surplus in upper stories. Since beginning to extract I have per- mitted no increase until now, not intend- ing to keep on with the apiary. I now propose to increase to 100, and if I get as good results per colony next season, I will report again. One result I have still to mention — a fund of health and enjoyment from my work with the bees that I could have obtained here in no other way. — Gleanings. Havana, Cuba, July 1, 1892. Season of 1892— Wlat I Haye Learned, G. W. DEMABEE. I have written something under this head for some of the bee-periodicals each season for several years past. Some of the seasons have been a great success, and some have been poor in results. The season just past has been the greatest failure in the way of a honey crop that I have had to speak of. We have had plenty of bloom, but the weather has been abnormal to a remark- able degree the entire season, from the 274 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. early spring to this date. Excessive rainfall, with cloudy, cool weather, with short intervals of excessive heat, char- acterized the season covering our early honey harvest. What little honey we got was stored between June 15 and the 25th, and for several days during that short harvest the weather was so abnormally hot and sultry, that the bees deserted the brood- chambers and surplus cases, to hang on the sides and under parts of the hives. The temperature went up to 100° in the shade on June 23, 24 and 25, and there were terrific electric storms such as do not occur twice in an ordinary life-time. Under these conditions, what little honey we were able to take was injured in flavor, and is a poor article at best. We have been told that the bees digest the nectar in their honey-sacs, and con- vert the raw nectar into the genuine article — honey. I never believed this monstrous theory for a .moment. All my experience goes to show that good weather is essential to good honey ; that all nectar handled by the bees must fer- ment slightly to convert the sugar it contains, in the process of curing ; and if the weather chances to be the reverse of good — as it was in 1882, and now in 1892 — the fermentation may go too far, and result in slightly sour, twanggy honey. KENTUCKY WORLD'S FAIR HONEY EXHIBIT. Kentucky, so far as my rather ex- tended correspondence has informed me, has procured no comb honey worthy to represent our State at the World's Fair next year. We have only now to try and arrange with our State Agricultural Commissioners to make an exhibit of the next year's crop, during the latter part of the Fair. We can put of our early white honey, in position at the Fair, by July 15, or about two months before the Fair is closed. UNFAVORABLE SEASON FOR EXPERIMENTS. The season has been so utterly out of line with what we habitually expect to see, that I did not pursue my usual ex- periments this summer. To succeed with anything, I must feel a live inter- est in it, and as my bees could do noth- ing, I was powerless also to do anything with them. But a poor season — a real failure of a season— is not without some advantages. If you can feel interest enough to ob- serve closely, you may discover your best bees, and be able to improve your stock by breeding from the best next season. My apiary is Italian — with half dozen colonies of Carniolans on trial — one col- ony of pure native black bees as a curi- osity, and one colony of so-called Punic bees. It was a close fight against ad- versity between the best of my Italians and the best of the Carniolans. But I presume that the Carniolans have gained strength from the yellow blood that they have borrowed from the Italians. The native black bees have, as usual, showed their weakness under adversity. EXPERIENCE WITH THE PUNICS. How about the little, black Tunisian bees ? There is tender ground here, my friend, and we must speak tenderly. The latter part of last season I procured a Punic queen and introduced her to an Italian colony. She laid well, and reared plenty of bees for winter, and the colony was well stocked with bees in the early spring. Her bees were darker than any colony of native black bees I have seen, but were not "black," as they have been described. A majority of persons who were shown this colony of bees, failed to discover any difference between their general ap- pearance and that of some very black colonies of native bees ; but when their attention was called to their inky ap- pearance, they would readily admit that these bees might be distinguished from the native bees if one thought to make the discrimination. In the early spring I was clipping the wings of some queens, and undertook to clip the black African — but I didn't. They were in some respects the most un- manageable colony of bees I ever tried to handle. They did not sting as vi- ciously as some bees I have handled, but when the tops of the frames were un- covered, they would boil up and cover the tops of the frames, and spread out over the edges of the hive in a way that made handling of the frames a most un- pleasant job. I could drive them with smoke, but they would rush back before I could set down the smoker and touch a frame. The best I could do was to put on the surplus cases, and give them a wide berth. The result was, they gathered no surplus, but it is a fact that 25 per cent, of my Italians did no better this worst of all seasons. At the end of the season, I gave the colony an Italian queen, and this is the end of " Punics " in my apiary. The prospects for fall honey are very good, and our bees must have this, or bo fed. Christiansburg, Ky., Aug. 15, 18(J2. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 275 Growing tie Basswood in California. C. N. WILSON. It would be a great thing for the bee- keepers of this Coast if some enterpris- ing person or company would propagate basswood or linden timber in California in sufficient quantity to make one-piece sections as required by our bee-keepers. We do not know that any person has attempted the propagation of this timber on a large scale in this State. That the trees will grow well and grow quickly is beyond question, and we are quite cer- tain it would be as profitable for timber culture as the blue-gum. In our rich soil and warm climate the growth of trees goes steadily on through- out the year, and the basswood being a tree of rapid growth, it would soon ma- ture so as to yield good material for one- piece sections ; even small growths of it could be used to advantage, and as the tree has wonderful vitality, when cut sprouts come quickly and in great num- bers from the roots, so that a basswood grove would soon spring up. We are of the opinion that many localities in the northern part of the State are adapted to the growth of this timber. The cer- tainty that it would find a ready market at good prices ought to be sufficient in- ducement to start some enterprising person or company in the business. As the matter stands we are entirely at the mercy of the Eastern manufac- turers of one-piece sections. We are obliged to pay heavy freight rates on the railroad to get the sections, the charges amounting to more than the price paid for the sections at the factory. The comb honey-producer of southern California is obliged to put his product on the market in as neat a package, and in as good shape as his Eastern competi- tor in order to secure good prices for his honey, and so far nothing has been found in California' that is equal to basswood for one-pound sections. It is light and white, being entirely free from any gummy substance in its make up. BASSWOOD FOR HONEY AND SHADE. There is another reason why basswood should be propagated here, and that is its yield of nectar-producing bloom, affording a honey but little inferior to that gathered from our sages. It would doubtless bloom at a time of year that would completely fill the gap between the blooming of the sage and sumac, thus giving employment to the bee that would return large profits to the bee- master. It is more than probable that bass- wood could be made to flourish wherever the sycamore or buttonwood will grow, and when once established would re- quire no irrigation ; though doubtless it would make a quicker and larger growth in locations where it would be supplied with water during the very warm weather. The linden is a beautiful shade-tree, and could be used to advantage in our cities and villages by supplanting that villainous, good-for-nothing pepper-tree. Some of our Eastern cities, especially Washington, D. C, have some splendid specimens of linden shade-trees along the streets, and in the public squares and parks. Whether the State Forestry has given the basswood or lindens a place in its experimental work, we are not informed, but it is worth the bee-keeper's while to investigate the subject and get what information he can from that quarter, not forgetting that a plentiful supply of young basswood or lindens can be had at very low rates from Eastern nursery- men. After the rainy season sets in is the best time to plant the young trees. Thousands of dollars can be saved to bee-keepers every year if the basswood can be successfully grown in any con- siderable portion of California. Give the basswood or linden a fair chance for life in California. — Rural Californian. Convention Notices. COLOR ADO.— The Colorado State Bee-Keep- ers' Association will hold their " Honey-Day " in Longmont, Colo., on Sept. 28th, 1892. Littleton, Colo. H. Knight, Sec. PENNSYLVANIA.— The Susquehanna Co. Bee-Keepers' Association will hold their 11th annual meeting at Rush, Pa., on Thursday, Sept. 1, 1892, at 10 a.m. All are cordially in- vited. Bring along any new fixtures of inter- est that you may have. H. M. Seeley, Sec. WISCONSIN.— The Southwestern Wisconsin Bee-Keepers' Association will hold its next annual meeting as Boscobel, Grant Co., Wis., on Jan. 13 and 14, 1893. All members of the Association are requested to be present as the following officers are to be elected: President. Vice-President, Secretary. Assistant Sec, and Treasurer. Blank Reports will be sent each member, for the year 1892, with instructions. A cordial invitation is extended to all bee- keepers, and especially to those that would like to join with us. "Each member will be no- tified at least one month before the meeting. Boscobel, Wis. Edwin Pike, Pres. Read our great offer on page 261. 276 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. CONVENTION DIRECTORY. Time and place of meeting. 1892. Aug. 27.— Haldimand, at S. Cayuga, Ont. E. C. Campbell, Sec, Cayuga, Ont. Aug. 30, 31.— Iowa State, at DesMoines, Iowa. J. W. Bittenbender, Sec, Knoxville, Iowa, Sept. 1.— Susquehanna Co., at Rush, Pa. H. M. Seeley, Sec, Harford, Pa. Sept. 7, 8.— Nebraska, at Lincoln, Nebr. L. £». Stilson, Sec, York, Nebr. Oct. 7.— Utah, at Salt Lake City, Utah. John C. Swaner, Sec, Salt Lake City, Utah. 1893. Jan. 13, 14.— S.W.Wisconsin, at Boscobel.Wis. Edwin Pike, Pres.. Boscobel, Wis. In order to have this table complete, Secretaries are requested to forward full particulars of the time and the place of each future meeting. — Thb Editors. North American Bee-Keepers' Association President— Eugene Secor.JPorest City, Iowa. Secretary— W. Z. Hutchinson Flint, Mich National Bee-Keepers' Union. President— James Heddon ..Dowagiac, Mich. Sec'y and Manager— T. G. Newman, Chicago. sE!£?ll0XM Reports, Prospects, Etc. E^~ -Do not write anything for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Bees are Doing Well. I have 82 colonies of bees in good condition. Bees are doing well here this summer. The most of mine will store from 50 to 60 pounds of comb honey per colony this year. Thompson Kirby. Ashley, Mich., Aug. 11, 1892. Methods of Preventing- Increase. For the past two seasons I have fol- lowed the plan of the Dadants to pre- vent increase, viz. : To hive the new swarm beside the parent colony, and after 48 hours, at the same time giving more room by adding empty supers. This works fairly well, but is not a sure preventive of after-swarming, especially where one is running for comb honey. I tried a new way this season, putting the newly-hived swarms into a dark, cool cellar, and leaving them there for 30 to 48 hours. They were perfectly quiet in the cellar, and went to work builidng comb, and I was surprised at the amount they made, and I found some honey stored in the new comb. When taken from the cellar and shaken in front of the parent colony, they marched in in a very cool and quiet manner, and there was no after-swarm- ing in the 4 colonies so treated. I shall try the plan another season with all new swarms. I have been using the Porter and Tay- lor bee-escapes the past two seasons, and shall have to give the preference to the Taylor, as it has never clogged or failed to do its work. N. P. Aspinwall. Harrison, Minn., Aug. 11, 1892. Have Done Nothing' for a Week. I began this season with 12 colonies, and increased them to 17 by natural swarming. I have taken only 40 pounds of honey so far. Bees have done noth- ing for a week. G. W. McConnell. Pembroke, N. H., Aug. 15, 1892. Bee-Forage Drowned. Bees did not do as well here last spring as formerly in March, but the other two crops promised a big yield, had not our levees broke and drowned all the forage for the balance of the season. I got, in March, 10 barrels of honey, each hold- ing 50 gallons. E. Stahl. Kenner, La., Aug. 7, 1892. . My Experience in Bee-Keeping. I am a novice in bee-keeping, but was brought up in a "bee-yard" in West Virginia. I came to Kansas in 1880, but did not have a good chance to " try my hand " at bee-keeping until 1891, when I bought a stray swarm for $1, which a farmer found clustered on a sumac bush. Then a neighbor gave me one, which, in a short time, cast a swarm, and I then considered myself rich in the possession of 3 colonies. Last fall I bought 13 colonies, 4 or 5 of which were in soap or cracker boxes. At the opening of the honey season I transferred them to 10-frame Lang- stroth hives, which are good enough for AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 277 me. I have had only two swarras this season — both from the same colony — one on May 27, and one on May 29. This was caused by taking the queen from an old colony, and introducing her into a queenless one, when the old colony went to rearing queens, as though everything depended upon how many they could rear. A few days later I found eight queen-cells on two frames, and it " wasn't much of a day for queens, either." I now have 18 colonies in fair condition, and storing some surplus honey. This has been a very poor season in this section of the country, on account of the drouth, but we are getting some fine rains in the last few days, and hope for a good fall honey crop. Where can I get some basswood trees? I would like to try them in Kansas. Drone. Leonardville, Kans., Aug. 15, 1892. [Those who have young basswood trees for sale would doubtless find pur- chasers by advertising in the Bee Jour- nal.— Eds.] Worst Season in 13 Years. The honey crop is a total failure here in northern Kentucky, as I only got 250 pounds from 165 strong colonies, spring count. Everything looked favorable for a big crop of honey. There was plenty of clover, and plenty of prospects, but no honey. It is the worst season in 13 years, or since I have been keeping bees. C. T. Biggers. Minerva, Ky., Aug. 14, 1892. Five-Banded Italian Bees. I received two five-banded queens from Texas on May 15, and started them with three frames of brood and bees. They have filled two supers of the Root 8-frame dovetailed hive. One queen is on the third super. I had black bees right by the side of them, that have not 5 pounds. I tell you, " five-bands " are " Daisies." C. V. Mann. Riverton, Ills., July 15, 1892. Meeting of the North American. I notice what is said in regard to the meeting of the North American Bee- Keepers' Association. I think ihat September is too early for us Canadians. There arc times when we can go from Suspension Bridge to Washington and return for $10. That would suit us. I hope every reasonable effort will be made to get a large attendance, but do not let us ever get less money in the treasury than when Mr. C. P. Dadant resigned his position as Secretary. He worked hard, and would take nothing. I did a little, and refused to take what the Association kindly voted me. We wanted to raise the financial standing of the Association, and that should be one aim of every future Secretary. I should like to see an able chairman — a resident of Chicago — elected to the Presidency, for the World's Exposition meeting. R. F. Holtermann. Brantford, Ont., Aug. 12, 1892. Fair Season for Honey. The season has been fair, though quite dry since June 1. The hive on scales from June 8 to July 21 gained 165 pounds in weight, after which there was a loss of about % pound per day. The best day (July 2) was a gain of 9 pounds, after 1% inches of rain. My 71 colo- nies stored 4,000 pounds of honey, with an increase of 12 colonies. About % of the honey was extracted. J. L. Strong. Clarinda, Iowa, Aug. 11, 1892. Bees Did Real Well on Clover. Bees, as a rule, have done but little here. As the spring was so cold and wet many died, and those that lived through were so weak that they gath- ered but little honey when the white clover came in bloom. But my bees have done real well, as my 38 colonies, spring count, have given me, of clover honey, extracted and comb, about 2,500 pounds, and I hope to get a fall crop from heart's-ease and yellow Spanish-needle. Bees have swarmed but little this season. John Haskins. Douglas, Mo., Aug. 10, 1892. Salting Bees — Poor Honey Seasons. Last week I met an old friend — tu.e American Bee Journal — the first copy I have seen since it passed under the new management. It contained an arti- cle (page 183) from my own pen, writ- ten for the Bee-Keepers'1 Ouide, on the subject of salting bees. I could only repeat what I then said. Since then I have allowed my salting trough to go 278 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. dry, so that scarcely a bee could be seen about it; then I would pour water in it, and the bees were soon about ic as thick as ever. To prevent bees from drowning, I have used chips, clover chaff, straw, boards with holes in them, and allowed to float on the water ; but I have also tried- corn-cobs, and like them best. This part of the State has become so drouthy that there are few locations in which it will pay to keep bees, or at least to trust to bee-keeping as a busi- ness. For years I have been trying to find some part of the United States where skill and attention would give a fair honey crop every year ; but so far I have not been able to find such a country. Here it hardly pays to keep even a few for table honey, much less for market. I do not think there are over one-fourth of the colonies kept that were here ten years ago. If the seasons do not improve, there will soon be no bees here except in a few river bottom situations. I regret to be forced to say this, for there is no pursuit more congenial to my taste than bee-keeping. Wm. Camm. Murrayville, Ills., Aug. 9, 1892. Lots of Honey from Buckwheat. My bees have done very well this sum- mer, and are now getting lots of honey from buckwheat. G. W. Bell. Bell's Landing, Pa., Aug. 16, 1892. Bee-Keeping Near San Francisco Bay. This is the first year I have done any- thing among the bees for five or six years. Ours is not considered a good location for bees — it is too near the coast, being 3 miles from San Francisco Bay, and about 12 or 13 miles from the Pacific Ocean. The finest part of our crop was partly extracted, when we received word that our brother Andrew was sick. He was, for a number of years, in the employ of the Government, in the Pension Depart- ment at Washington, D. C. After three weeks' sickness, he died on June 2. He was a young man of much promise, and would in all probability have made his mark in the world. His sickness and death was the cause of our doing nothing among the bees all through June and July. The fruit season was then over, and my two remaining brothers, who are the youngest members of the family, and yet school-boys, were given charge of a gang of boys, who were hired to harvest the fruit. These brothers I speak of, are inter- ested in the bees with me, and as I had newspaper work to attend to in the neighboring town, only about one-half of the hives were extracted from since June 1. We did not work for comb honey, though a couple of colonies gave us some very nice honey in the sections. In all, we obtained nearly a ton of ex- tracted sweets, and there must be yet 500 pounds to throw out of the combs. In looking through the hives recently to introduce queens, etc., I found that robber bees were exceedingly numerous. In fact, it was bad to open a hive, for the robber bees soon swarmed around. W. A. Pryal. North Temescal, Calif., Aug. 8, 1892. Combed and Extracted. Some Extra Large Bees. Mr. J. P. Murdock, of Florida, writes me that he has some extra large bees, so large that 13 of their worker-cells measure 3 inches, 7 drone-cells 2 inches, and^nore than half the bees fail to pass the ordinary perforated zinc. He says these bees are the result of selection in breeding from an Italian queen imported 11 years ago. He has sent me a copy of the Florida Dispatch, containing an account of his experience in getting these bees, and of his discovering their unusual size, and I make the following extract from the article : " Last season all who saw my bees would remark, ' what big bees !' This occurred so often that I concluded to test the matter and see how well I had succeeded. So I sent to a number of our bee-men of the North a sample cage, and asked in return a similar favor. In the meantime I rigged up a balance, by which I could weigh to sixteenth grains. By this I found the heaviest dozens went a little more than 23 grains, and the lightest about 17 grains. Now, a dozen of mine went up to thirty -eight and three-sixteenths grains, more than double the size of some I received. Well, it set the parties who saw these big fellows to ' buzzing ' at once, and all wanted to try them. The result is, I have at this AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 279 time a number of these queens North, trying to break the record on surplus. Just here I hear that fellow remark, ' another trick to sell queens.' Not quite, my dear sir. I have the first queen yet to sell for lucre." I have sent for a queen, and expect to know something about these big bees by actual, personal experience. — W. Z. Hutchinson, in Bee-Keepers1 Review. Keeping Bees from Annoying at Fairs. It will soon be time now to hold our county fairs ; and at such times the bees and candy-men are liable to come in con- flict. 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 entrances 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 pre- caution 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 fanned 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, our bees made so much trouble that the candy-men threatened to sue us for damages, because the bees swarmed the stands so strong that people were afraid. We have mentioned this before, but it will bear repetition for the benefit of those who have bees located near fair grounds, and who should do everything in their power to prevent bees fTom being a nuisance. — Gleanings. One Field of 100,000 Lilies. This is a sight to be seen only on picturesque islands of the Bermudas. There these flowers are raised as a reg- ular field crop. In value and in the es- teem of the inhabitants they come next to the potato, though both are less es- teemed than the onion, which is the staple crop of the islands. No more beautiful sight can be imagined than at this season of the year greets the eye of the traveler as he comes suddenly upon one of these fields, hundreds of yards square, and a mass of most fragrant white. Unfortunately, the lily fields are not in the most profitable state. The beau- tiful bloom represents to its owners waste, for the lilies should be marketed in the form of buds. They are cut from the stems and packed in cases, 64 in a box, and sent by express all over the United States! If kept in a cool, dry place, the buds will remain without opening for several weeks, while by being placed in water they can be brought to perfection in a day or two ; or, if the water is slightly warmed, in a few hours. This fortunate peculiarity of the lily has made it possible for it to be transported notwithstanding the long journey. The culture was introduced only a few years ago upon the Bermudas by an American gentleman, Gen. Hastings. Some of the largest fields are still owned by this gentleman, and it is said that on one of them at any time in the season over 100,000 lilies may be seen in bloom at the same time. — Buffalo Ex- press. Bee Journal Posters, printed in two colors, will be mailed free upon application. They may be used to ad- vantage at Fairs over Bee and Honey Exhibits. We will send sample copies of the Bee Journal to be used in con- nection with the Posters in securing subscribers. Write a week before the Fair, telling us where to send them. We would like to have a good agent at every Fair to be held this year. Here is a chance for a live man — or woman. Your Subscription to the Bee Journal — is it paid up to date ? If not, please send to us a dollar for a year, and thus show your appreciation of our efforts in your behalf. Look at your wrapper-label, and if the date looks like this—" Dec91," that $1.00 sent to this office will make it look like this — Dec92. The Globe Bee- Veil, which we offer on the third page of this number of the Bee Journal, is just the thing. You can get it for sending us only three new subscribers, with $3.00. 280 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. -75^ T PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY I I €@., -At One Dollar a Year, 199 RANDOLPH St., CHICAGO, ILLS. TO CORRESPONDENTS. Tiie Bee Journal is sent to subscribers until an order is received by the publishers for its discontinuance, and all arrearages are paid. A Sample Copy- of the Bee Journal wiL be sent FREE upon application. How to Send Money.— Remit by Express, Post-Office Money Order, or Bank Draft on New York or Chicago. If none of these can be had, Register your Letter, affixing Stamps both for postage and registry, and take a receipt for it. Money sent thus, IS AT OUR RISK; otherwise it is not. Do not send Checks on Local Banks — we have to pay25 cents each, toget them cashed. Never Send Silver in letters. It will wear holes in the envelope, or may be stolen. Make all Money Orders Payable at Chicago, 111.— not at any sub-station of Chicago. Postage Stamps of any denomination may be sent for any fraction of a dollar; or where Money Orders cannot be obtained, stamps for any amount may be sent. Subscription Credits.— The receipt for money sent us will be given on the address-label of every paper. The Subscription is paid to the END OF THE MONTH indicated. ■ Jo not Write anything for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Emerson Binders, made especially for the American Bee Journal, are convenient for preserving each weekly Number, as fast as received. They will be sent, post-paid, for 50 cts. each. They cannot be sent by mail to Canada. Cost Numbers.— We carefully mall the Bee Journal to every subscriber, but should any be lost in the mails, we will replace them if notified before all the edition is exhausted. Always State the Post-Office to which your paper is addressed, when writing to us. Special Notices. The Date on the wrapper-label of this paper indicates the end of the month to which you have paid for the Journal. If that is past, please send trs one dollar to pay for another year. Iiost Copies we are glad to replace, if notified before the edition is exhausted. The Convention Hand-Book is very convenient at Bee-Conventions. It con- tains a Manual of Parliamentary Law and Rules of Order for Local Conven- tions ; Constitution and By-Laws for a Loca1 Society; Programme for a Conven- tion, with subjects for discussion, and about 50 blank pages, to make notes upon. It is bound in cloth, and of the right size for the pocket. We will pre sent a copy for one new subscriber to the Bee Journal, with $1.00. » » • » » An Apiary Register is a splendid book to have in an apiary, so as to know all about any colony of bees at a moment's notice. It devotes two pages to each colony. We will send one large enough for 50 colonies, for $1.00, post- paid ; for 100 colonies, for $1.25 ; or for 200 colonies, for $1.50. After using it for one season, you would not do without it. ■ • ■ i ^m • » • — i The Premiums which we give for securing new subscribers to the Ameri- can Bee Journal, are intended as pay for work done in getting new names among your friends and acquaintances, and are not offered to those who send in their own names as new subscribers, unless such name or names form a part of a club of at least three subscribers. » 1 1 ^» i * m A Binder for preserving the copies of the American Bee Journal as it arrives from week to week, is very convenient. You should have one, as it is so handy for reference from time to time. We mail it for only 50 cents, or will give it as a premium for two new subscribers, with $2.00. When Talking About Bees to your friend or neighbor, you will oblige us by commending the Bee Journal to him, and taking his subscription to send with your (renewal. For this work we offer some excellent premiums that you ought to take advantage of. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 281 4 * 1 ICIifM. IJgT. "We Club the American Bee Journal for a year, with any of the following papers or books, at the prices quoted in the LAST column. The regular price of both is given in the first column. One year's subscription for the American Bee Journal must be sent with each order for another paper or book : Price of both. Club. The American Bee Journal 81 00 — and Gleanings in Bee-Culture.... 2 00.... 175 Bee-Keepers' Review 200.... 175 The Apiculturlst 175.... 165 Bee-Keepers' Guide 150... 140 American Bee-Keeper 150 140 Canadian Bee Journal 2 00 ... 175 Nebraska Bee-Keeper 1 50 — 1 35 The 8 above-named papers 6 25 — 5 25 and Langstroth Revised (Dadant) 2 40 — 2 25 Cook'sManual 200.... 175 Doolittle on Queen-Rearing. 2 00. . . . 1 65 Bees and Honey (Newman). . 2 00 — 1 75 Advanced Bee-Culture 150.... 140 Dzierzon's Bee-Book (cloth). 2 25 ... . 2 00 Root's A B C of Bee-Culture 2 25 ... . 210 A Year Among the Bees 1 50 1 35 Convention Hand-Book 125 115 History of National Society. 1 50. . . . 1 25 Weekly Inter-Ocean 2 00.... 175 The Lever (Temperance) .... 200.... 1 75 Orange Judd Farmer 2 00 175 Farm. Field and Stockman. . 2 00.... 1 75 Prairie Farmer 200.... 175 Illustrated Home Journal . . 1 50 1 35 American Garden 2 50 2 00 Rural New Yorker 300.... 2 25 Do not send to us for sample copies of any other papers. Send for such to the publishers of the papers you want. Almost Every Bee-Book that is now published we mention on the second page of this issue of the Bee Journal,. Look over the list and select what you want. For every new yearly subscriber that you secure for us at $1.00, we will allow you 25 cents, to apply on the purchase of any book we have for sale. This is a rare chance to get some valua- able apicultural reading-matter, and at the same time aid in spreading helpful apiarian knowledge among your friends. Bee-Keeping- for Profit, by Dr. G. L. Tinker, is a nice, 50-page pamphlet, which details fully the author's new system of bee-management in producing comb and extracted honey, and the con- struction of the hive best adapted to it — his "Nonpareil." The book can be had at this office for 25 cents, or will be given for one new subscriber, with $1. Premium to Every New Subscriber. — We will give to every new subscriber (with $1.00), for whom it is desired in place of getting any other premium we offer for work done, a copy of "Rurai, Life " — a valuable pamphlet of over 100 pages, devoted to " Farm Topics, Live- stock, Poultry, Bees, Fruits, Vegetables, Household, Home, and Miscellaneous Matter." Or we will send it, postpaid, for 25 cts. This is a rare chance for new subscribers to get some excellent reading for nothing — by sending $1.00 for one year's subscription to the Bee Journal. Xllis Means You.— When order- ing any of the books or articles which we offer clubbed with the Bee Journal, or otherwise ; or when sending anything intended for us, such as subscriptions to the Bee Journal, or matter for publi- cation, be sure to address everything to — George "W. York & Co., 199 Ran- dolph St., Chicago, Ills. Please Send Us the Names of your neighbors who keep bees, and we will send them sample copies of the Bee Journal. Then please call upon them and get them to subscribe with you, and secure some of the premiums we offer. Webster's Pocket Dictionary we offer as a premium for sending only one new subscriber with $1.00. It is a splendid Dictionary — and just right for a pocket. Wants or Exchanges. Under this heading, Notices of 5 lines, or less, will be inserted at 10 cents per line, for each insertion, when specially ordered into this Department. If over 5 lines, the additional lines will cost 20 cents each. TO EXCHANGE— Pure Tested Young Ital- ians, 3 to 5 bands, 50 cents to $1.00— for cash, wax or offers. F. C. MORROW", 6Atf Wallaceburg, Arkansas. WANTED— To sell or exchange for good, young Italian or Carnioian Queens, a good 3- frame Excelsior Honey Extractor, only run one year, and cost $12.50. It takes the Langstroth frame. Will sell it for $6.00, or ex- change for good Golden Italian or Carnioian Queens, or for anything I can make use of. THEODORE JAMES, 10 Montgomery St., North Abams, Mass. 282 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. HONEY AND BEESWAX MARKET. CHICAGO, Aug.^19— No choice comb on the market. Some inquiries for new stock, with none to offer. A good article would bring 15 @16c. Extracted is very scarce, and plenty of inquiry for same : it would bring 7@8c. Beeswax— firm at 26@27c; good demand. J. A. LAMON. 44-46 S. Water St. CHICAGO, Aug. 22.— We have inquiries for white 1-lbs. comb honey, and quote it at 16c. for best grade; amber comb at 14c. Good de- mand for extracted, at 7@8c. Beeswax. 26c. S. T. FISH & CO.. 189 S. Water St. CHICAGO, Aug. 19.— New comb honey is offered at 15@16c. for best grades of white ; dark, 10@13c, but sales are few. as the weather is hot, and fruit is used for the table. Extracted is selling at 6@7@8c, according to kind and quality. Beeswax, 23@26c. R. A. BURNETT. 161 S. Water St. NEW YORK, Aug. 19.— Extracted in good demand and fair supply. We quote: Southern per gallon, 65@75c. ; orange bloom, 7@7Y2c. $ lb. Beeswax, 26@28c. HILDRETH BROS. & SEGELKEN, 28-30 West Broadway. KANSAS CITY, Mo., Aug. 19.— The old crop of comb honey is all cleaned up. First ship- ment of new comb honey this week, which we quote at 16c. for No. 1 1-lbs. CLEMONS, MASON & CO., Cor. 4th and Walnut Sts. CINCINNATI. Aug. 19.— Demand is good for extracted at 5@8c. Ddemand is slow for comb honey, at 12@15c. for best white. Beeswax is in slow demand, at 23@25c. for good to choice yellow. C. F. MUTH & SON, Cor. Freeman & Central Aves. NEW YORK, Aug. 19.— Demand for comb is very small. Considerable comb honey on the market, of 2nd grade, but no fancy of any ac- count. Some demand for extracted, clover 6 @7c. ; buckwheat, 5@5^c. ; Southern, 65@75c per gal.; Calif., 6»4@7c. per lb. Beeswax— a little easier, with supply to meet demand, at 25@27c; 1 to 2c more per lb. for extra select. CHAS. ISRAEL & BROS.. 110 Hudson St. ALBANY, N. Y., Aug. 19.— Demand is very little, and market quiet. We are selling some Florida new orange-blossom extracted honey to good advantage. Beeswax— 28@30c. H. R. WRIGHT, 326-328 Broadway. DETROIT, Aug. 19— Best white comb honey 12@13c. ; but little left to sell. Extracted, 7 @8c. Beeswax. 26@27c. M. H. HUNT. Bell Branch, Mich. NEW YORK. Aug. 19.— New comb and ex- tracted honey is arriving in small quantities. Comb honey is in very light demand at 15@- 16c. for fancy white in one-pound sections. Extracted is selling at 6@8c. for white. De- mand is limited. Comb honey we would ad- vise keeping in the country until say about Aug. 25 to oept. 1. F. I. SAGE & SON. 183 Reade St. SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. 19.— Demand quiet as old crop is nearly exhausted and new crop not in yet. We quote: Extracted, 5l,4@6 cts. Comb, 1-lbs., 10@llc.; 2-lbs., 6@8c. Beeswax — 24@25c. • SCHACHT, LEMCKE & STEINER, 16 Drumm Street. BOSTON, Aug. 19.— Demand is light. White 1-lbs., 13@15c. No 2-lbs, on hand. No Bees- wax on hand. Extracted, 7@8c. Demand is light for all. BLAKE & RIPLEY. 57 Chatham St. MINNEAPOLIS. Minn.. Aug. 19.— Market is dull in general, though some is being worked off. but mostly at cut prices. Fancy white, 15 @17c, 1-lb. sections; dark, 8@10c. Extracted white, 7@8c. ; dark. 5@6c. STEWART & ELLIOTT. KANSAS CITY, Mo., Aug. 19.— Old honey is cleaned up, both extracted and comb. New crop will be in about July 10, here. HAMBLIN & BEARSS. 514 Walnut St. NEW YORK, Aug. 19. — Demand moderate, and supply reduced, with no more glassed l-ft> nor paper cartons, l-fl>. We quote: Comb, 1-ft, 14@15c. Extracted— Basswood,7M@'7^c; buckwheat, 5 54@6&; Mangrove, 68@75c per gal. Good demand for dark extracted honey. Beeswax, in fair supply, with small demand, at 26@27c. F. G. STROHMEYER & CO.. 120 Pearl St. Doolittle's Queen-Rearing: book should be in the library of every bee-keeper ; and in the way we offer it on page 261, there is no reason now why every one may not possess a copy of it. Send us one new subscriber for a year, and we will mail the book to you as a present. » » ♦ » » Winter Problem in Bee - Keeping ; by G. R. Pierce, of Iowa, who has had 25 years' experience in bee-keeping, and for the past 5 years has devoted all his time and energies to the pursuit. Price, 50 cents. For sale at this office. We Club the American Bee Journal and the monthly "Illustrated Home Journal " one year for $1.35 ; or both of these Journals and the semi-monthly "Gleanings in Bee-Culture," for one year, for $2. 10. The Honey-Bee ; giving Its Natural History, Anatomy and Physiology. By T. W. Cowan, editor of the British Bee Journal, 72 figures, and 136 illustra- tions. $1.00. For sale at this office. The Amateur Bee-Keeper, by J. W. Rouse, is a book of 52 pages, intended, as its name indicates, for beginners. Price, 25 cents. For sale at this office. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 295 »• PUBLISHED BY : ■ GEORGE W. YORK& CO. ■ CHICAGO, ILL. t ONE DOLLAR FEB YEAR. Club Rates,— Two copies, $1.80 ; 3 copies, $2.50 ; 4 copies, $3.20 ; 5 copies, $3.75. Mailed to any addresses. THOMAS G. NEWMAN, GEORGE W. YORK, Editors. mm. sept. 1,1892. so. lo. Seek Not to Walk by borrowed light, But keep unto thine own ; Do what thou doest with thy might, And trust thyself alone. Work for some good— not idly lie Within the human hive ; And though the outward man should die. Keep thou the heart alive. —Alice Cary. A Free Portrait of your favorite Presidential candidate is offered on page 293, in connection with the Orange Judd Farmer and the Bee Journal. We have a set of these Portraits in our office, and can say that they are very fine indeed. They are 12x16 inches in size, and, as a picture, would ornament any home. The Orange Judd Farmer is an elegant, 16-page, weekly farm and home paper, and should be read by all who want to make a success of farm work, and also have a well-informed household. The Honey Market.— It is safe to say that there is less honey now in the hands of producers as well as dealers and commission men, than at any time since 1877; the scarcity extends over the eastern, western and southern States. Excessive rains in some sections, drouths and cold, foggy weather in others have conspired to make the honey yield much less than usual, for this year, and last year the crop was much below the average. The markets throughout the United States are quite bare of either comb or extracted honey, and as present indications for a good yield of late honey are not favorable, home demand wil[ require' most if not all the honey now in sight, leaving noth- ing or very little of the commodity for export to foreign cpuntries. A good article of honey is therefore likely to command a good price, regardless of the low price of sugar. — Exchange. In Sunny Southland is the name of a new department which is begun on page 300 of this issue, and will be conducted by Mrs. Jennie Atchley. She will endeavor to make it an interesting and profitable feature of the Bee Journal for those keeping bees in the " Sunny South," and it is hoped that their appreciation will be manifested by an increased number of readers from that "Paradise" of our country — for it indeed will be a Paradise for bees, when once it is fully developed apiculturally. Mrs. Atchley is a good writer, and knows, from practical expe- rience, whatever ideas she transmits through her sharp pencil. We bespeak for her efforts a hearty appreciation, not only in the South, but all over our fair land, or wherever the Bee Journal goes — and that is everywhere. "Why are cheap bargains like pris- ons ? Because they're mostly "sells" (cells). Read S. F. & I. Trego's Advertisement. 296 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. "Worlc at Jackson Parle has progressed considerably during the past two weeks. Except on the Manufac- turer's Building, all the structural iron work was in place on Aug. 9, 1892. The Machinery Hall and Electricity Building are the only structures incom- plete. Work on landscape gardening is now far advanced. Twenty-three State buildings are in progress. The Wash- ington building will at once be com- menced. Montana will probably be the first State building finished, for the in- terior work, as well as the exterior staff work, is already well advanced. The Turkish village on the^Midway Plaisance will be immediately started. Work has been commenced on the building for Germany. The Government depart- ments are being actively pushed for- ward. The main building is about finished, except around the base of the dome, while the battle-ship Illinois is now commencing tc look something like a man-of-war, with its white covering of cement and smoke-stacks in place. Work has also been begun on the Gov- ernment life-saving station. Queens Mating: from Upper Stories.— Mr. John McKeon, of Dry- den, N. Y., on Aug. 12, 1892, wrote us as follows about his experience with a queen : In the forepart of last month I had a swarm to issue from a 2-story hive that I was using for extracting, so I picked up the queen, and when the swarm was out I put the parent hive to one side, and put a hive with empty combs with a queen-excluder on top. I hived the swarm, and transferred the brood to the second story, and then transferred to the third story the surplus combs. In about a week I cut out all the cells but one, and as that one seemed to be younger, I thought it best to leave it a day or two longer, and, besides, I could not use it just then. Well, I forgot about it, so when I did open the hive the queen had hatched. I looked for her, but did not find her at that time, and did not search any more. On Aug. 8th I opened that hive, and was surprised to find four combs well filled with brood in all stages. I found a fine, large yel- low queen, and doing good work. How did that queen become fertile ? She had not been out of the hive. It may be said that it was the old queen. No, sir ; the old queen was in the bottom hive with a full sheet of excluder zinc on top, and with a clipped wing. The queen above was not clipped when I found her. I wish to say, also, that there was plenty of drones in the above hives. I have been taught that queens are only fertilized outside, and on the wing. I would be pleased to hear what Mr. Doolittle thinks of this case. John McKeon. Dryden, N. Y., Aug. 12, 1892. The foregoing being referred to Mr. Doolittle, he replies thus : Unbeknown to you, or otherwise, there was a crack or hole in or about one of those upper stories large enough for the queen to go out and return, to meet the drones, and was fertilized, without doubt, on the wing, as all queens are. This is the principle upon which the "Mating of Queens from Upper Stories," as given in my book, is founded. While under favorable cir- cumstances the plan works successfully, as in this case, yet at other times and under other circumstances, it is an en- tire failure, the bees "balling" the young queens when two or three days old. G. M. Doolittle. England seems to be ahead when it comes to encouraging bee-culture. It is reported that about $3,000 has been appropriated by the Government to pro- vide free teaching in practical bee-keep- ing. And yet our United States — the wealthiest country on the Globe — cannot afford the " mere pittance of $1,000" for bee-culture ! Circulars for 1892 have been re- ceived from — Henry Stewart, Wauzeka, Wis. — 16 pages — Stewart Honey-Boxes and other Bee-Supplies. Noah D. West, Middleburgh, N. Y.— 4 pages — Spiral Wire Queen-Cell Pro- tectors and Queen-Cages. John A. Salzer Seed Co., La Crosse, Wis. — 24 pages, with brilliantly-colored cover. O. R. Coe, Windham, N. Y.— 4 pages — Coe's Hotel in the Catskill Mountains. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 297 The Nebraska State Bee-Keep- ers' Convention will beheld in the Honey Hall on the State Fair Grounds at Lin- coln, Nebr., on Sept. 7 and 8, 1892. It is desired that every bee-keeper of that State attend the meeting. The pro- gramme, as arranged, and published in the Nebraska Bee-Keeper for August, is as follows : FIKST DAY — SEPT. 7. Roll Call. Reports of Officers. President's Address. Essays and Dis- cussions. • SECOND DAY — SEPT. 8. Election of Officers. Essays and Dis- cussions. The following essays and persons are announced : Where Should We Market Our Surplus Honey ? — E. Whitcomb. Queen-Rearing — Chas. White. Woman as a Bee-Keeper — Mrs. J. N. Heater. Bee-Journalism — L. D. Stilson. Nebraska and Iowa as Honey-Produc- ing States — E. Kretchmer, of Red Oak, Iowa. Bee-Keeping as an Avocation — Aug. E. Davidson. Honey-Producing Plants — A. C. Tyr- rel. How to Begin Right in the Apiary — J. M. Carr. Difficulties of a Beginner — W. F. Jen- kins. The Hive We Use, and Why We Use It — Discussion, led by Levering Broa. Statistics of the Year — Secretary L. D. Stilson. Hard to Please. — It is strange how differently constituted members of the human family are. A great variety may be found in the ranks of any pur- suit. Some can see no good in any- thing, and find fault with everything. These kind of people work injury to an industry, and, while it may be impossi- ble to change their natures, perhaps some of them, by reading the following anecdote, related by a certain Dr. Todd, will realize how ridiculous they appear : Some people are always out of sorts. The weather is always just what they don't want. I met one of these men awhile ago, a farmer, who raised all manner of crops. It was a wet day, and I said : "Mr. Nayling, this rain will be fine for your grass crop." " Yes, perhaps ; but it is bad for the corn, and will keep it back. I don't believe we shall have a crop." A few days after this, when the sun was shining hot, I said : " Fine day for your corn, sir." "Yes, but its awful for the rye. Rye wants cold weather." Again, on a cold morning, I met my neighbor, and said : " This must be capital for your rye, Mr. Nayling." " Yes, but it is the very worst weather for corn and grass. They want heat to bring them forward." Prof. Chas. E. Bessey, of Lin- coln, Nebr., we learn by the Nebraska Bee-Keeper, is getting up a display of the honey-plants of Nebraska, and de- sires the co-operation of bee-keepers. Those wishing to aid him in making the collection, will kindly send him a postal card asking for instructions. Other States should also undertake such a dis- play, so that the whole country may be represented in what would be an inter- esting floral feature of the apiarian exhibit at the World's Fair next year. Friend Hutchinson, editor of of the Bee-Keepers' Review, is " pictured" in the Canadian Bee Journal for Aug. 15. In the comments about the like- ness (?) we find that it is called " a very spirited representation " of our brother editor. Quite true. It is so " spirited " that it might be taken for a " ghost" or " hobgoblin," were it not for the name under the picture. All joking aside, the Canadian Bee Journal has been much improved during the past few months. It is Announced that the Post- master-General of the United States has decided to issue a new series of postage stamps, with designs appropriate to the commemoration of the discovery of America. 298 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 'Twixt Sleep and Waking. In the stillness o' the mornin', a6 I lie 'twixt sleep and waking, I kin hear the lambs a' bleatin', an the roos- ter's 'rousin' crow, The gobblin' o' the gobbler, the young calves' rav'nous bawlin'. The neighin' o' th' little colts, the milk cow's solemn low ; An' I see th' grass is green, an' there's blos- soms on th' trees, An' 1 hear th' hum o' bees as they gather honey there, An' then, twixt sleep an' wakin', I jest feel a little homesick, Altno' I tell th' fellows that I gin'rally don't eare. —New York Herald. The World's Fair Buildings will be dedicated on Oct. 21st instead of the 12th, Congress having passed a bill to that effect. October 21st is the exact anniversary of Columbus' landing, al- lowance being made for the correction in the calendar made by Pope Gregory. The change of date of dedication was made in the interest of chronological accuracy, and also to oblige New York city, which will have a Columbian cele- bration on Oct. 12th. The Minnesota Fair will be held at Hamline, Minn., on Sept. 5 to 10. Mr. J. P. West, of Hastings, Presi- dent of the State Bee-Keepers' Associa- tion, is Superintendent of the depart- ment devoted to "Honey, Bees and Apiarian Supplies." Mr. M. Cutler, who has sent us a copy of the Premium List, and who is Chairman of the Ex- ecutive Committee of the Minnesota State Bee-Keepers' Association, says this in a letter to us : As many of our apiarists have a good crop of honey this season, and the pre- miums are very liberal, it is hoped that all will take an interest in the exhibit, and make it one of the best ever made in the Northwest. Under the heading of the bee and honey department we find the following interesting information, which is quite novel in a premium list : T N. — Fruit Is not injured by bees because a bee has no biter. A bee's life is not measured by days and weeks, but by its activity. We can be mei and still humble be(es). Bee Superstition. — A curious custom at one time prevailed in Buckingham- shire. At the death of the person who attended to the bees, a member of the family would go out in the evening and tap at every hive, repeating before each, " Bees, bees, your keeper is dead !" This is done to prevent the bees forsaking the hives. The Premium List and "Rules Govern- ing the Exhibit " are as follows : Exhibitors must be residents of Minnesota. All honey must be the product of bees owned by the exhibitor, and all articles for premiums in this division must be owned by the exhibitor. A breach of these regulations, or of any rule of this Society, will forfeit all premiums that may be awarded. No entries received after Sept. 3. CLASS 64— HONEY. 1st P. 2d P. 3d P. Most attractive display of comb honey $15 $10 $8 Most attractive display of ex- tracted honey 15 10 8 Display of 20 lbs. comb honey, quality and manner of putting up for market considered 9 6 4 Display of 25 pounds extracted honey, quality nnd manner of putting up for market consid- ered 9 6 4 CLASS 65— BEES, SUPPLIES, ETC. Single nucleus of Italian bees.. 7 5 Singie nucleus of black bees. ..7 5 Single nucleus of Syrian bees. — 7 5 Single nucleus of Carniolan bees 7 5 Collection of queens of different races 12 8 Most attractive display of bees- wax 7 5 Specimen of beeswax, not less than 10 lbs..soft.bright,yellow wax to have preference 6 3 Honey vinegar, not less than one gallon, shown in glass 5 3 Assortment of honey candies. .. 4 2 Display of apiarian supplies and implements 10 5 Largest and best variety of uses to which honey may be applied, illustrated by Individual sam- ples of the different things into which it enters as a com- ponent ; for example, canned fruits, cakes, pastry, meats, vinegar, etc 15 8 5 GRAND SWEEPSTAKES. Largest, best, most interesting, attractive, and instructive ex- hibition in this department, all things considered 25 15 10 The Total Value of honey im- ported into Great Britain during July, 1892, was nearly $63,000. We learn this from the British Bee Journal of Aug. 11. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 299 The Chicago Kire. — The near approach of the World's Fair awakens increased interest in Chicago and her wonderful history. To-day Chicago is probably th9 finest city in the world architecturally, and all practically built within twenty years. The most thrilling and wonderful chapter in the city's his- tory is the one telling of the great fire and the subsequent rebuilding. It reads like a tale from Fairy Land. The new and magnificent " Cyclorama of the Chicago Fire" just opened in this city, shows in a most surprising manner the city during the great fire ; with its thousands of acres of red-hot ruins, thousands more of a surging sea of flame, and countless thousands of panic- stricken people fleeing for their lives, it is the most grand, awe-inspiring, and realistic scene ever produced by man. The whole effect is greatly intensified by the introduction of novel mechanical and electrical devices, making the whole situation seem like reality. This re- markable exhibition is»located on Michi- gan Avenue, near Madison Street, and will remain as a prominent attraction during the World's Fair. Our readers should make a note of this great work, and not fail to visit it. We had the pleasure of viewing this matchless piece of art and nature com- bined, last week, and were simply amazed at the scene presented. We could almost imagine ourselves in Chi- cago on that "red-hot" Monday, Oct. 9, 1871 — over 20 years ago. Ten famous artists, both in Europe and America, executed the splendid view. It would have required twenty years for •one man to have alone performed the work necessary to put the picture in its present completed condition. It is viewed by thousands daily, and no one should leave Chicago without spending an hour looking at what a city of ruins this was a few years ago. In order that the reader may form something like a correct idea of the magnitude and destructiveness of the greatest fire known to history, we give below a few figures to remember about the Chicago Fire : Number of acres burned per hour, 125. Number of buildings burned per hour, 1,000. Number of people rendered homeless per hour, 6,000. Value of property burned per hour, $12,000,000, or a million dollars every five minutes. Loss, over $200,000,000. People homeless, 100,000. Number of lives lost, unknown. If all the buildings burned in Chicago were placed end to end, it would make an unbroken row 150 miles long. The painting was supplied to the Chicago Fire Cyclorama Company, by Messrs. Reed and Gross, of Chicago and Melbourne, Australia, the foremost men in the world for the production of works of this class. The contract has been fulfilled °by them to the entire satisfac- tion of the Company, and to the surprise and delight of all beholders of this great work. The subject is the most difficult one that has ever been trans- ferred to canvas, and altogether it is the most elaborate and expensive work of art ever attempted. Messrs. Reed and Gross received for their contract $250,- 000. The paints used in making the Paint- ing were all specially prepared and ground in poppy seed oil, and are prob- ably the finest ever used upon a Cyclo- rama. Some of the colors cost from $5.00 to $30.00 per pound. Nearly two tons of paints and oils were re- quired. The canvas is nearly 50 feet high, and about 400 feet long. Approx- imately 20,000 square feet of surface. In a letter to the Cyclorama Company, Prof. David Swing — one of Chicago's popular preachers — who was here dur- ing the Fire, writes as follows : Your artists have done wonders with the scene known as the Chicago Fire. I had little hope that any painters could do anything with so large a sub- ject ; but to those who saw the whole affair, your painting is true and really wonderful. 300 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. CONDUCTED BY Floyd, Hunt Co., Tex. Introductory Remarks. Friends :— Before taking up this work, I wish to say that I have been repeatedly urged to start a bee-paper, but, after due consideration, I concluded that it was best and safest not to do so. Having already been permitted "to ride" a little way upon "journalistic waters," I find that many times "the sea " is rough. Therefore, I have made arrangements to ride in one of the old, reliable, trustworthy and well-tried "boats" — the American Bee Journal — and I shall feel much safer there, than in a " new boat" of our own. And then, I had rather let Bro. York lose the sleep — don't you see ? Now, dear Southern bee-keeping friends, let us try to make our depart- ment interesting to all alike, and " know no North, no South," etc., but as we know where ihere is union there is strength, so with the best ability I have, I expect to give you bits of bee news and items of interest weekly, and with the help of our Southern bee-friends I trust we shall make our department a success. Jennie Atchlet. Hand-Picked Drones — Simp. Hives. Bee-Notes by the Way. If Your Think that bees can't hear, just hold a frame before you, and hollow loud, and watch them "squat." You need not let your breath strike them, either. Dr. Miller, in " Stray Straws." seems yet not to know why bees swarm. Why, Doctor, they swarm just because they want to. I Wonder Where Bro. E. France is going to get $140 to pay rent on his 560 colonies of bees this year, as he gets no honey at all. Oh, well, I guess " where there's a will there's a way." Our Next Week's Subject will be about bee-caves in Texas, and mistaken ideas, etc. Southern bee-friends, give us your aid, and along with your articles send us some subscribers. Let us spread our American Bee Journal all over Texas and the South. Mr. C. V. Mann, of Riverton, Ills., has asked me to answer the following questions : 1. What is meant by " hand-picked drones ?" 2. Why do you prefer the Simplicity hive, and only 8 frames ? To the first question I would say that I mean by " hand-picked drones," just the same as hand-picked apples. When I wish to get the best looking ones, I go to my drone hives, lift out the frames, and with my hands I pick out the very yellowest drones, put them in a large cage, take them to the " mating yards," and place them in a nucleus. You see, the drones from any queen are not all marked just alike, hence I " hand-pick " for the bsst. To the second question let me say that I use the Simplicity hive just because I like it best, and 8 frames are plenty for queen-rearing, besides being much lighter than the old 10-frame hive. Again, I find the majority perfer nuclei made of the Langstroth frame. I do not raise a "hive war" with any one, for I know that the hive does not cut as large a figure in the case of the bee- keeper, as does the one that operates the hive. Any good, movable-frame hive, not too large or too small, is all right ; but, it is best to use a uniform frame. Migratory Bee-Keeping, Etc. I have learned that moving bees from one field to another does not pay here, as a rule, unless the flow is a failure, and you can get to where honey is more plentiful. What I am striking at is this : If you have a good flow of honey at home, for two or three weeks, then at once move to where the bees can have another two weeks' flow at once, it will not pay here, as the bees are so reduced that they are not sufficiently strong to gather much honey. But, should the bees have time to recuperate before moving, it will pay. Remember, that brood-rearing almost entirely stops here when we have a flow of honey, is why they reduce. Dr. Miller asks this in his "Stray Straws" in Gleanings: "Do laying workers ever exist in a hive where you find sealed worker brood ?" Yes, Doc- tor, lots of times. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 301 Dr. Marshall's Early Bee-Keeping. Mrs. Jennie Atchley. — In your let- ter on page 148 of the Bee Journal, you were mistaken as to the time I re- ceived the first queen brought to Texas. I had made arrangements to get a queen from Mr. Langstroth in 1861, but the war came on before I received it. In 1865 I ordered a queen, and received it in May, 1866. It came by express, and cost me in all $22. I now know it was by no means a first-class queen. The next queen I received was an im- ported queen from Dadant, and the best queen I ever received. She was not a very bright color, but large, and all her workers clearly marked, and good workers. I commenced bee-keeping in Texas in 1854. My first bee-keeping was in In- diana in 1839, and I have been at it ever since. When I gave it my full attention, it paid moderately well. I got the first Langstroth hive in 1865. 1 had used several hives of improved form before, but no movable frames. The best honey year we have had in Texas was in 1860. The early part of the year was dry — no rain from Feb- ruary to August. Then we had plenty of rain, and everything took a second growth. The honey-dew was so abun- dant that it dropped from the hickory trees. My bees swarmed in September, and in a few days would fill the hive with comb. When I commenced bee-keeping there were no books and no bee- papers; so very many of my facts were gathered by my own observation aDd experience. Long before the Langstroth frames, I had made bars like the top of the King frames, and by attaching comb I had straight combs made, and thus first was able to see the queen. Of course, the bees attached the combs to the side of the hive. I am now astonished that I did not see the necessity of side and bottom bars. I am now, for the first time in 50 years, without bees, but 1 think I will get a few finest quality bees for com- pany. I have tried Cyprians and Holy Land queens, and the Italians ; and I have no hesitation in sayiDg — taking them all in all — the pure Italians are the bees, best for all purposes. W. K. Marshall. Marshall, Tex., Aug. 11, 1892. Be Sure to read offer on page 318. Queries mmd Replies. Old Sections witn Undrawn Starters.. Query 834.— Having a number of sections with starters in them, which the bees did not draw out, would it be advisable to use them, or put other starters in them ? Lucile. Use them. -A. B. Mason. Use them. — Dadant & Son. Use them. — G. M. Doolittle. Use them. — Mrs. L. Harrison. Use the old ones. — James Heddon. I should use them. — R. L. Taylor. Use them, if they are clean. — E. France. Use the last year's sections as they are. — Eugene Secor. If they are clean and bright, yes ; otherwise, no. — J. M. Hambaugh. If they are clean and firmly fastened, use them as they are. — Mrs. J. N. Heater. You can use them to good advantage if the sections are not soiled. — H. D. Cutting. That comes on disputed ground. So far, I have used the old ones. — C. C. Miller. If the sections are clean, and the starters are not worm-eaten, I would use them. — J. P. H. Brown. You can steam the starters a little, and they will answer just as well as to use new ones. — J. E. Pond. Cut them out, if the foundation is at all soiled or propolized. If not, they may be used again. — C. H. Dibbern. If in good condition, soften a little by keeping them in a rather warm room, and use them. Why not? — A. J. Cook. I have used such, and saw no differ- ence between them and those that had starters of new foundation. — M. Mahin. I would use the old starters if not soiled too much. When finished, you cannot tell much if any difference. — Mrs. Jennie Atchley. If they are clean, I think they would be all right, but if soiled or hardened by exposure to sunlight, I would put in new. — G. L. Tinker. I often use them with as good results as any. But it is best to not put them on until the weather gets warm, as the starters will be a little hardened by con. tact with the air so long. — G. W. Dem aree. 302 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. On Important Subjects. Black or German Bees Compared. G. M. DO0LITTLE. During the forepart of this year there seemed to be more than the usual amount of discussion in the American Bee Journal relative to black bees, some claiming them superior to the Italians, while others considered them fully their equals, as to aj.1 the good qualities which go toward making the desired bee of the future. In answer to Query 810, I see that the Dadants hint that these black bees may be as liable to sport as to color as are the Italians, and, if my memory serves me rightly, at the Albany conven- tion, Mr. C. P. Dadant claimed that there were black bees in this country varying as. much as to color as the Ital- ians varied. These claims remind me of the claims of Several years ago, when it was said there was a great difference in the black or German race of bees, as to color, dis- position, etc., some claiming that there was a little black bee that was nearly worthless, while from the same race of bees there could be obtained a large brown bee that was equal, if not super- ior to the Italian. Others claimed that, if we would have the best bees known to the world, we must procure the light gray bee ; and still others were equally sure that the dark gray bee," of the same race, was far ahead of any other bee there was. As I have always been anxious to have the best, I have tried all kinds that have ever been in the United States, except the Egyptians and Punics. In these trials I " took in " all of these different strains of the black or German bee, to see what there was in »the different claims put forth for them, and how these bees — brown, gray, etc. — differed from the bees kept by our fathers ; and I must say, without desire to hurt any- body's feelings, that I could not detect the slightest difference in any of them, or between them and the bees I formerly kept before I became acquainted with the Italians ; and this is why I claim that these bees are a fixed or distinct race. They do not, with me, sport as to color, as do the Italians. This sporting of the Italians, proves conclusively to my mind that this va- riety of bees came from an intermingling of races, for were it otherwise, why should they not be as constant as to color as are the German bees ? The last of the Germans I tried, was the large brown bee, claimed to be in- digenous in Arkansas. As this queen came late, she did not lay any after she came that fall, so no young bees were reared until after they were put out of the cellar the next spring. In May, upon carefully comparing their color, actions, etc. (after there were plenty of these bees in the hive), with all the others which I had, I could not detect enough difference between then* to be noticeable. However, in these close ex- aminations, there was one thing which I did find that made me love the Italians better than ever, and which I wish to tell the readers of the American Bee Journal about. Having tired of the " gray " bees which I had been experimenting with, I changed their queens at about the time I got the "brown" queen spoken of above, giving Italian queens to these colonies, and as they had not reared brood during the winter, less than one- fourth of the bees were young Italians in these cases, and about the same pro- portion of young black bees in the other case. When I opened the colonies where the young Italians were, they " stood their ground" on the combs, the same as all Italians will, while a little too much smoke, or. a little jar, would set the black bees to running like a flock of sheep over these young yellow bees to such an extent as to nearly knock them off the comb ; still they would not run or stir, only as they were carried with the multitude that was surging by. To tell it just as it was, I had a feel- ing of pride come over me for the good behavior of these young, fuzzy little bees, which showed so much more brav- ery and steadfastness than their older companions. Upon going to the colony where about one-fourth of the bees were young blacks, I found things just the reverse. Here the young bees would dodge about among the older Italians, run down to the bottom of the combs, and tumble off on the ground, or into the hive, accord- ing to where the comb was held ; and when I came to the queen she was so nervous and fidgety that it was no pleasure to look at her ; yet the older Italians "stood their ground," never seeming to care how badly their younger sisters and mother were frightened. The pleasure with which Italians are handled is, alone, quite a large item in AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL- SOS their favor, which I had partly over- looked until I obtained these black bees for these experiments. I am well aware that this trait of the black bees makes it easier to take the combs free of bees when working for extracted honey, yet I could not think of tolerating this "running nuisance" for the sake of getting them off the combs a little more easily, especially now that we have the bee-escapes, which largely do away with this shaking of bees off the combs. In only one thing do the black bees excel the Italians, according to my ex- perience, that is, they will cap their combs a little whiter than any other race or variety of bees with which I am acquainted ; but they use much more wax in doing it, so that, while the combs look prettier, there is a loss in wax to nearly balance the looks. The claim that they enter the surplus apartment more easily than any of the other races, has no weight with me, for, with my management, any of the varie- ties do 'hot hesitate to go into the sec- tions as soon as honey is to be had from the fields in sufficient quantity for prac- tical work there. Borodino, N. Y. Honey Prospects and Marieting. THOS. JOHNSON. In answer to several inquiries regard- ing the prospects for honey, etc., I will say that I have written to several East- ern bee-keepers, and but few have an- swered, so I have taken for granted that silence means that they have no surplus honey. One man from Ohio says that he has no surplus, but expects to get enough honey for his bees to winter on. After watching the reports from dif- ferent sections of the country, I sum it up in this way : Minnesota, Iowa and Northern Mis- souri had a white clover flow of honey, but not much linden and basswood. Bees worked two days in this locality on linden, then the south winds began to blow, and soon cooked the bloom until it did not furnish much nectar. In regard to prices for white clover honey, I would say to those that have had the good luck to secure a first-class article, they need not be alarmed but that they will receive a good price for the same, because there is less quantity on the market this year than in 1891. If this is not true, then the reports which I have received through corres- pondence and through the different bee- papers are not true. Some three weeks ago I took 144 sections of comb honey and three dozen 3-pound Mason jars of extracted honey to Guthrie Center, and they offered me 12% cents a pound for comb honey, but they did not want extracted honey at any price. They said that they were buying at 12% cents, and selling at 15 cents per pound. I then made arrangements with a bakery firm to sell the 3-pound Mason jars at 50 cents each, and told them that if they could sell the comb honey a* 18 cents per section, to sell it ; and if not, to let it stand until fall, and then it would sell at 20 cents per pound. Ten days after I left the honey, I was there, and I intended to bring it home, but lo, and behold ! he had sold over 40 sections of the comb honey, and about half of the Mason jars of the extracted honey. Now, the reader will like to know why my honey sells for 3 cents per pound more on the market than the honey of other bee-men. I will say that I first select the best and whitest sections that I can find for sale, and brand them with my own perfect brand, when the bees fill them with honey. On some cool morning I scrape all the propolis from them, and after I am through with my honey, they look as clean and neat as when I prepared them for the bees, ex- cept the nice, clean honey that adorns the inside of them. How often have I heard this expression made when I have been exhibiting the honey for the mar- ket : " That is the cleanest and whitest honey I ever saw !" Now, fellow bee-keepers, it is just as easy to prepare your honey clean as to pack it in a haphazard shape, as many of the bee-keepers do in this part of the country, and I suppose all over the United States. I know very well a bee- keeper, who; for the last six years, has had no honey to speak of, and a few days before I took my honey to Guthrie Centre he brought his from the southern part of the county, but all he asked was 12% cents. The groceryman told him that he would buy it, if he would clean the propolis from the sections, so at it he went, in the store. Think of it, the thermometer registering 90°, and an experienced apiarist in a grocery store cleaning sections of honey ! If it had been down to about 50°, I think the groceryman would have had a nice lot of groceries to sell customers afterwards. 304 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. It is not surprising to me that such men as the one described " know it all ;" and Dr. Miller's little book entitled " A Year Among the Bees," is of not much force to them. No ; if they had read it, they would have known better than to have been scraping sections on a hot day. Coon Rapids, Iowa, Aug. 13, 1892. Bee-Feeling ani Bee-Feeders. W. Z. HUTCHINSON. Why bees shall be fed, when they shall be fed, what they shall be fed, and how it shall be done, are all points that will bear discussion. There is no time of the year when bees may not need feeding to keep from starving. There is one time of the year when it ought never to be necessary to feed, and that is in the winter. Modern bee-culture, with its small hives, reversible frames, divisible, in- terchangeable brood cases, contraction of the brood-nest, and honey extractors, has made it easy to rob the bees of their hard-earned stores, that it is often over- done, and then the act is followed by a neglect to furnish, by feeding sugar, enough stores to last the bees until they can again visit " the flowers that bloom in the spring." The man who is suffi- ciently acquainted with himself to un- derstand his failings in this direction, ought to use large hives, and never take a drop of honey from the brood-chamber. So seldom ought it to be necessary to feed bees in winter, that Bro. Hill, of the Guide, took me to task quite severely because I told in "Advanced Bee-Cul- ture," how the work ought to be done when by some hook or crook the bees had gone into the cellar short of stores. WINTER FEEDING OF BEES. The best method of feeding bees in winter is to give them a frame of honey. If all of the honey is in the hives, look over all of the colonies, or a sufficient number of them to find combs of honey to give the starving colonies. It is well known that all colonies do not consume the same amount of stores, and the variation is so great that it often hap- pens that enough combs of honey may be spared from those that have plenty to supply the needy. If no honey is available, and some colonies must be fed, a candy made of granulated sugar is the best substitute. It may be caked in shallow dishes, and the thin cakes laid over the bees and covered with enameled cloth and two or three thicknesses of old carpet. Or the candy may be " run " directly into the frames, and the frames hung in the hives adjoining the clusters of bees. "Good " candy is also recommended for this purpose. Thin boards are tacked to one side of an empty brood-frame, thus forming a shallow tray. It is then filled with candy, and the other side covered with boards except a small space at the top, which is left for the bees to enter. SPRING FEEDING OF BEES. After the bees are placed upon the summer stands it is better that there be sufficient food in the combs so that feed- ing will not be necessary until settled warm weather has come. Right here is where I believe that bee-keepers have made their mistake in practicing stimu- lative spring feeding — they feed too early. All that the bees need is plenty of food already in the combs, and pro- tection from extremes of temperature. Brood-rearing needs no encouragement at this stage of the programme. The vitality of the bees should be preserved and reserved until it can be used to the best advantage. If brood-rearing is commenced in earnest in time to bring the colony up to its maximum strength at the begin- ning of the main honey harvest, it is better than to have it reach this pitch earlier in the season. After the season has advanced until warm, pleasant weather is the rule, and the first "brood "has hatched out, and the bees have commenced to boom, then is the time to keep them booming by protection and by feeding when there is not enough honey coming in to do this. After brood-rearing has commenced in real earnest, there ought to be no check. On the contrary, it ought to go on increasing, reaching its maximum at the opening of the main harvest. Where the harvest comes early, and is of short duration, as is the case where it comes from clover alone, there is no hope of success unless the colonies are in prime condition at the opening of the harvest, and in all earnestness let me ask you, are there more potent agencies in bring- ing about this result than protection, and feeding when necessary? STYLE OF SPRING FEEDERS. I am not sure what style of feeder is best for spring stimulative feeding. By the way, I do not like the word " stimu- AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 305 lative" as applied to this kind of feed- ing. I would feed simply to take the place of the natural honey-flow when the latter fails. A feeder ought to possess the follow- ing points: It should allow the api- arist to learn if it needs filling without its being removed. It should allow of re-filling without coming in contact with the bees. It should not be accessible to robbers, nor attract their attention. I doubt if there is any advantage in a feeder that places the food in close con- tact with the cluster. If the weather is so cool, or the colony so weak in num- bers that the bees will not leave the cluster to visit the feeder, I have my doubts as to the advisability of feeding. The Heddon feeder is the first one that I ever saw that I thought enough of to make any use. It is exactly the size of the top of the hive, and the bees come up at the openings on either side. within range, but the difficulty is that if a spell of cool weather prevents the bees from flying, no food is brought in at a time when it is most needed. Besides this, the colonies that stand the most in need of feeding are quite apt to be the ones that take the least. With open- air feeding I have seen the combs of some colonies fill up. and white burr- combs appear on the tops of the frames, while other colonies would show scarcely a trace of any feed brought in. The fact that honey contains nitrog- enous matter would lead one to think that it would be the best food to give colonies that were heavily engaged in brood-rearing, but when there is an abundance of pollen in the hive, or being brought in, as is usually the case in this locality, sugar, at the present prices, is decidedly the kind of food. More honey can be secured by giving the bees an abundance of room in the THE "NEW HEDDON" FEEDEK They pass over and down between the perpendicular slats, the upper edges of which are "bee-space" below the cover. The reservoir is in the center, and just over it a part of the cover slides back in grooves to allow the feeder to be filled. The inside partitions, next the reservoir, reach the cover, but do not quite reach the bottom of the feeder. This allows the feed to pass under the partitions and rise up between the thin slats. While this feeder is pre-eminently adapted for the feeding back of ex- tracted honey to secure the completion of unfinished sections, or for feeding bees for winter, I know of no reason why it is not just as suitable for the spring feeding of which we are talking, as is any other feeder. The Heddon feeder will answer as well as any for an open-air feeder; but, after giving this style of feeding a pretty fair trial upon several occasions, I cannot give it a very warm approval. In my apiary there were no other bees supers to the very end of the harvest. This results in a larger proportion of unfinished sections, but from the "feed- ing back" of about 16,000 pounds of extracted honey,, I know that these sec- tions can be finished up at a profit. FALL, FEEDING OF BEES. Fall feeding, to give the bees an abundance for winter, is the next kind of feeding that demands attention, and for this purpose I think that nearly all will agree that sugar is the best food. Instead of trying to get a bounty on honey because there is one on sugar, let us try getting all of the honey possible from the bees, replacing it with the cheaper and safer sugar. Let us so manage the bees that the close of the season finds them destitute, because we have taken away the 10-cent honey, and it can be replaced with 3-cent syrup. Let me digress here enough to say that most bee-keepers dread feeding, 306 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. because this part of bee-keeping has been given less attention than some of the other branches ; they have not been educated to feed, and have not the proper arrangement for doing the work. Most bee-keepers, when obliged to feed, make the syrup in small quantities, perhaps on the kitchen stove, and then do the feeding with anything that can be picked up. There must be some kind of a tank on a stove in the honey-house. This stove may be a wood-stove, or it may be gasolene or kerosene. I have always used the latter. The tank must be large enough to make a large quant- ity of feed at one time. The tank that I used held 100 pounds. There must be a gate at the bottom to draw off the feed. To carry it to the hives, a large watering pot is a good thing. Then have feeders of such a style, and so arranged that it is only neccessary to walk along and slide back the covers and pour in the feed. The Heddon feeder will hold as much as 15 pounds. Two fillings would be sufficient to supply any colony with stores for winter. When feeding is made a busi- ness, and everything is properly ar- ranged, it loses its annoying features, and becomes as pleasant as any apiarian work. Sugar syrup for winter ought to be about the consistency of thin honey, and about one-fifth honey added to prevent granulation. Feeding ought not to be delayed later than September. I have fed earlier than this, but found no advantage in so doing. If done in time for the bees to seal the stores, it is sufficient. If feeding has been delayed uutil it is so cool weather that the bees are not inclined to leave the cluster, they may be fed by putting some rather hot feed in the feeder and setting it under the hive, when the heat from the feed will rouse up the bees and they will come down and take the feed ; but feeding • ought not to be neglected until this plan is necessary. HOW MUCH HONEY TO FEED. To know how much honey to feed, take enough combs from the hives to fill a hive. Extract the honey. Put them in an empty hive, and weigh all together. Add from 3 to 5 pounds for the bees. Weigh each colony, deduct the weight of hives and combs, and the remainder will show about how much honey is in the hives. For out-door wintering, I feed until there are 20 pounds in each hive ; for in-doors, I give 15 pounds. Very large colonies might need more. Better have too much than too little. — Bee-Keepers* Review. Flint, Mich. T3ae Honey-Bees of Ceylon, W. W. LYON. Here is what Sir Samuel Baker says about the honey-bee in his " Eight Years Wandering in Ceylon :" VAKIETIES OF CEYLON HONEY-BEES. " The honey-bees are of four very dis- tinct varieties, each of which forms its nest on a different principle. The largest and most extensive honey-gath- erer is the • bambera.' This is nearly as large as a hornet, and it forms its nest upon the bough of a tree, from which it hangs like a Cheshire cheese, being about the same thickness, but 5 or 6 inches greater in diameter. " The honey of this bee is not so much esteemed as that from the smaller va- rieties, as the flavor partakes too strongly of the particular flower which the bee has frequented ; thus, in differ- ent seasons, the honey varies in flavor, and is sometimes so highly aperient that it must be used with very much caution. This property is, of course, derived from the flower which the bee prefers at that particular season. " The wax of the comb is the purest and whitest of any kind produced in Ceylon. So partial are these bees to particular flowers, that they migrate from place to place, at different periods, in quest of flowers which are then in bloom. "This is a very wonderful and inex- plicable arrangement of Nature, when it is considered that some flowers which particularly attract these migrations only blossom once in seven years. This is the case at Newera Ellia, where the nillho blossom induces such a general rush of this particular bee to the dis- trict, that the jungles are swarming with them in every direction, although during the six preceding years hardly a bee of the kind is to be met with. "There are many varieties of the nillhe. These vary from a tender dwarf- plant to the tall and heavy stem, to the common nillho, which is nearly as thick as a man's arm, and about 20 feet high. "The next honey-gatherer is very similar in size and appearance to our AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 30T common hive-bee in England. This variety forms its nest in hollow trees, and in holes in rocks. Another bee, similar in appearance, but not more than half the size, suspends a most deli- cate comb to the twigs of a tree. This nest is no larger than an orange, but the honey of the two latter varieties is of the finest quality, and quite equal in flavor to the famed 'mielvert,' of the Isle de Burbon, although it has not the delicate green tint which is so much esteemed in the latter. " The last of the Ceylon bees is the most tiny, although an equally indus- trious worker. It is a little smaller than our common house-fly, and builds its diminutive nest in the hollow of a tree, where the entrance to its mansion is a hole no larger than would be made by a lady's stiletto. " It would be a natural supposition that so delicate an insect would produce a honey of corresponding purity, but, instead of the expected treasure, we find a thick, black, and rather pungent mo- lasses." Norris, Ills. Arranging Honey m Store Windows. EMMA WILSON. I feel very much aggrieved, and my special grievance is with commission men this time. I wonder why they don't make their honey look a little more at- tractive. In passing down South Water Street, Chicago, I saw very little, if any, honey that looked very tempting. Per- haps I don't know very much about the circumstances, and it may be they were making the very best display they could with what they had on hand. It is very easy to find fault. However, I know that one house might have done better, for they had some very nice honey up-stairs, while the display in the window was very poor. The room up-stairs was dark, and the honey could be seen only by scratching a match, or by the use of a lamp. The reason given for not having a better display down-stairs 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 inoppor- tune time to visit. Perhaps they were all waiting, expecting something nicer. I hope so, I am sure. I hope they got it, too, and made their windows look so nice with it that people passing felt they wanted some of the honey right away. I know that commission men have a great many obstacles to contend with, and not the least of these is a lack of room. With much of the honey seen, the fault was not with the commission men, as no amount of painstaking on their part could have made it look at- tractive. 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 shape, 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 grading. 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. Somtj cases shown were mostly nice, white honey, but several sections containing a good deal of pollen had been put in. There were other cases containing sections of beautiful white comb and honey, but a few of the sections were soiled, and a few contain- ing 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 get our honey ready for market, 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. Last year we piled the cases all around the sides of the honey-room, glass side fac- ing 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 have not sufficient room; but couldn't they do something toward it ? — Gleanings. Marengo, Ills. 308 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. ■Be Season in Central Iowa. O. B. BABROWS. Unless we have a fall flow of honey, which has not come yet, this part of Iowa will have an exceedingly light crop of surplus honey. We had an ex- ceedingly fine flow of white clover honey from about the middle of June until about July 23, and during that time two or three days of linden or basswood. Now, why is there not a large surplus ? Because we did not have the bees to gather it. To illustrate : I put 100 colonies of bees into the cellar the last of Novem- ber, 1891, in excellent condition except having the so-called honey-dew to win- ter on. About Feb. 1, they became un- easy, showed signs of diarrhea— bad odor — and would crawl out and die on the cellar bottom, until about April 1 I put them out, and many of them were weak in numbers. The sun shone but one or two days in the week, and the bees would fly out and get chilled, and drop down and die. I put the hives back into the cellar, with lots of honey in them, and when spring dwindling was over, I had 48 colonies left, but they were generally weak. By July 1 they built up and commenced swarming, and as I had the hives I let them swarm, and put them into those which had comb built and considerable honey. Well, the white clover and basswood flows were both over by July 23, and I don't think I have over 800 pounds of surplus honey, while some years I have had over 5,000 pounds. Jacob Moore, who lives four miles east, put 112 colonies into the cellar, and had 43 left, with a surplus now of per- haps 1,000 pounds, where he has had some seasons 8,000 pounds. Mr. Pink- erton may have a little over 1,000 pounds of comb and extracted honey, while one year he had 11,000 pounds. Mr. J. W. Sanders lost nearly all of his bees, and does not expect any sur- plus honey. My hives do not weigh quite as much to-day as they did on July 24, which shows that the white clover and linden bloom are over, and that the fall flow has not begun, and possibly may not begin this year. I am inclined to think that what is true of central Iowa will apply to the large part of the State. This part of Iowa has not yet secured one-fourth of a crop of honey. This place (Marshalltown) has a population of about 10,000, with 12 or 15 grocer- ies, and all the honey I have seen was what I sold one of them (about 40 pounds). Farmers who keep a few bees have lost about all of them, and it is only a few who pay considerable attention to bee-keeping, that have any bees left. I see most of the bee-men living in this county, every few days, and hear from many outside of the county. During the early part of the season I spend most of my time with my bees, and know whether they are gaining or losing in weight. I keep a record, and know my bees nearly as well as a farmer knows his horses or cattle as to pedigree. We may get a fall flow of honey yet — it is what we are all looking for, but it has not begun yet. The colonies are slowly growing lighter in weight. Of course, some farmers may have half a dozen colonies near a buckwheat patch, that are gathering a little honey, but put 100 colonies near that same patch, and the honey gathered from it would not be perceptible. Marshalltown, Iowa, Aug. 16, 1892. Convention Notices. COLOR ADO— The Colorado State Bee-Keep- ers' Association will hold their " Honey-Day " in Longmont, Colo., on Sept. 28th, 1892. Littleton, Colo. H. Knight, Sec. WISCONSIN— The Southwestern Wisconsin Bee-Keepers' Association will hold its next annual meeting as Boscobel, Grant Co., Wis., on Jan. 13 and 14, 1893. All members of the Association are requested to be present as the following- officers are to be elected; President, Vice-President, Secretary. Assistant Sec, and Treasurer. Blank Reports will be sent each member, for the year 1892, with instructions. A cordial invitation is extended to all bee- keepers, and especially to those that would like to join with us. Each member will be no- tified at least one month before the meeting. Boscobel, Wis. Edwin Pike, Pres. Bee Journal Posters, printed in two colors, will be mailed free upon application. They may be used to ad- vantage at Fairs over Bee and Honey Exhibits. We will send sample copies of the Bee Joubnal, to be used in con- nection with the Posters in securing subscribers. Write a week before the Fair, telling us where to send them. We would like to have a good agent at every Fair to be held this year. Here is a chance for a live man — or woman. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 309 CONVENTION DIRECTORY. Time and place of meeting. 1892. Sept. 7, 8.— Nebraska, at Lincoln, Nebr. L. D. Stilson, Sec, York, Nebr. Oct. 7.— Utah, at Salt Lake City, Utah. John C. Swaner, Sec, Salt Lake City, Utah. 1893. Jan. 13, 14.— S.W.Wisconsin, at Boscobel.Wis. Edwin Pike, Pres., Boscobel, Wis. In order to have this table complete, Secretaries are requested to forward full particulars of the time and the place of each future meeting. — The Editors. North American Bee-Keepers' Association President— Eugene Secor.,Forest City, Iowa. Secretary— W. Z. Hutchinson Flint, Mich National Bee-Keepers' Union. President— James Heddon . .Dowaglac, Mich. Sec'y and Manager— T. G. Newman, Chicago. s&k&ZSOMEBPM Reports, Prospects, Etc. ^P~ Do not write anything for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. A Glorious Honey Season. We have had a glorious honey season here. I have taken 3,300 pounds so far from 46 colonies, spring count, and it is still coming. I have also increased my number of colonies to 100. Walter Harmek. Chief, Mich., Aug. 24, 1892. Good Honey Season So Far. This has been a good honey season so far. There was the best crop of white clover in this part of the country that was ever tnown, and the bees stored surplus honey from the middle of June to the present time, excepting about three weeks that the weather was very dry ; but we are having plenty of rain now, and the prospect for a good honey- flow this fall is very good. Last fall I had 7 colonies to winter, and lost 2, but they were weak in the fall. I have 12 strong colonies now. I winter my bees on the summer stands, and use the Langstroth hive. It was very wet here last spring, and so cold that the bees did not get to work any on the fruit bloom, but they made up for lost time on the white clover. Charles Seckman. Saltillo, Nebr., Aug. 22, 1892. Good Crop from Clover and Basswood. The Tennessee correspondent of the Bee Journal that predicted a failure of the honey crop for the vicinity of Glen- wood, Iowa, was away off. We have had a good crop from clover and bass- wood. The flow from fall flowers is just commencing, and the prospect is good. E. ^V. PlTZER Glenwood, Iowa, Aug. 22, i892. Bees and Honey-Plants in Nebraska. My bees did well enough after the cold, wet weather, of which we had so much last spring. So far I find the rape the most profitable honey-plant that we can raise here. I did not get a plant of the Spider or Simpson honey-plant. I planted seed of both. The rape is the most sure to grow, as it is an oily seed, and grows fast. I think my third sow- ing will come to bloom in a week or so. The white clover dries up in dry weather, and on the alfalfa the bees have not worked yet. The Colorado folks claim that the bees work on it there, and store nice white honey from it. I have a nice patch of Russian sun- flowers but my bees seem to care very little about it as long as they have rape or buckwheat to work on. Gottlieb Ballmer. Gothenburg, Nebr., Aug. 22, 1892. Fine Honey-Flow — Styles of Hives. We have had a fine honey-flow for the past 30 days, and our bees have made good use of the time. My colonies that were set aside for comb honey now aver- age 60 pounds each, and those worked for extracted honey average 90 pounds. Our sumac began to bloom on July 20. It has given the bees all the work they could do, and it seems to be a favorite bloom among all the rest, as they left white clover and various other blooms, and all went for the sumac, which will last about ten days longer. Golden-rod is beginning to bloom, and is plentiful, though I have never seen a bee at work on it. My regular style of hives are as fol- 310 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. lows: 17}^ inches by 14J^, and 10 inches deep, and take 11 frames, 12%- x8% inches. For experiment I have two that are shallower that take frames 12%x6 inches. I find that the shallow hive is the best for comb honey. The bees go into the sections earlier than they do in the deep hives. I have two other hives with frames only 4% inches deep, with only 11 frames, that are giving more section honey than those 8% inches deep. I have other styles for experimenting, and will give results later in the season. W. M. Scruggs. Tracy City, Tenn., Aug. 19, 1892. Stored a Lot of Surplus Honey. I have 5 colonies which are doing well, as are all the bees in this locality. They have stored quite a lot of surplus white clover honey, and heart's-ease has just commenced to bloom. I sowed 9 acres of buckwheat. All we need now is a good rain ; then we will have a good fall crop. Bees are stronger than they were. John H. Rupp. Washington, Kans., Aug. 22, 1892. Report of the Season So Far. I lost 3 colonies of bees last winter, and started in the spring with 24. They have increased to 45, and have already given me a surplus of 700 pounds of honey, 200 of which is comb honey. I expect to take BOO or 400 pounds of comb honey yet, which is still on the hives, and I think it will be capped by the time frost comes. S. LlNDERSMITH. Faribault, Minn., Aug. 19, 1892. some surplus honey from those two flowers. If not, John D. A. Fisher, wife and babies will have no honey to sweeten there buckwheat cakes next winter. John D. A. Fisher. Woodside, N. C, Aug. 16, 1892. Crop Almost an Entire Failure. We have almost had an entire failure in getting any honey this summer. It has been the worst year for bees in this part of the country that I ever experi- enced. So far I have taken about 16 pounds of honey. There has been so much rain, and it seems that my bees could not get much honey when we had fair weather. They gathered just about honey enough to keep them going, so I did not have to feed any to keep them alive. They gathered just about enough to keep the queens laying, and the bees are in good condition to catch the golden-rod bloom, which is beginuing to bloom ; and the asters, which will be in full bloom in a few weeks, I hope to get Nice Honey from Raspberry. I bought 16 colonies of black bees in box-hives, and transferred them to Quinby hives last spring. I put the sections on when the raspberry began to blossom, from which I got a nice lot of comb honey. I took 46 one-pound sec- tions from each of my 3 best colonies, and it was nice. I will tally one for that plant. I took off the first honey on June 29, and have now taken off 466 pounds, with 644 sections still in the hives, and nearly all full. I am putting in frames to get some extra combs built for next spring's early feeding, to fill the hives with young bees for the rasp- berry flow of honey. I have had no swarms. From my best hive I have taken 98 sections, with 28 on yet. There are lots of bees around me, nearly all in box-hives, and they have not stored any honey, or swarmed much. J. A. Delamarter. East Meredith, N. Y., Aug. 13, 1892. Combed and Extracted. Honey Marketing and Prices. Many have advised to sell all our honey at home, and have nothing at all to do with those terrible "middlemen." Well, it is all right to sell all the honey we can at a fair price, to the neighbors, or to grocers in the nearest towns, but many of us are so situated that we can- not dispose of a great deal in that way, and it often happens that such parties will want to buy at prices far below market value. We have known people to sell their product for about one-half what it was worth, and then congratu- late themselves that they had beaten the middleman out of his commission. As to the time of marketing the sur- plus, we will say, don't be in any hurry* especially if you have fine goods to offer. Of course, it is best to sell as soon as we can, when we can get fair prices. In- AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 311 deed, we usually find the early market the best. Somehow, new honey in nice, clean sections, is a great attraction, and usually meets with ready sales. Owing to the great scarcity of fruit this year, we should insist on a good price, cer- tainly not less than 17 cents per pound at wholesale. That is by no means high, as we have sold honey at 40 cents a pound years ago when wages were much lower than now. This price will cer- tainly not make bee-keepers very rich soon, when we remember that it is the first honey of any consequence we have had for three years. Then, if we commence selling our fine white honey at a low price, what can we expect to get for the late crop, that will be darker, and not so good ? Better to put away a liberal allowance for the family, for the bee-keeper should have a supply for his family and for company at all times. One point we want to make : When honey is sent to market, be sure that it is in nice shape, and packed so it will not get damaged. Scrape each section of all the propolis, and pack in neat, new cases. If you have a lot of the paper, such as the Dadants pack be- tween their comb foundation, it is just the thing to wrap the sections of honey in. If the sections are thus wrapped, a shipping case will stand much more jarring and rough handling than other- wise, besides keeping out the dust, and showing that some care has been taken in preparing it for market. Some have advised packing the sec- tions upside down in the shipping cases, claiming that they will stand more rough handling than when packed as they stood on the hives. This is true, if not built down to the bottom ; but the trouble from leaking, from the unsealed cells, greatly overbalances all the ad- vantages, so we pack all right-side- up, and have but little complaint on account of breakage. — C.H.Dibbern, in Plowman Moths Kept Out with Salt. The best way to keep out moth is by the use of salt. Put in the salt as you put away your combs. Hold the combs in your left hand, take the right hand and throw it against the comb. Be sure and get it all over both sides, and put in a tight box and a dry place. It must be dry, or the salt may melt and injure the combs. When ready to use again, shake out the salt a little. Some salt won't harm your bees. I have tried many ways, and found it the best. Of course if your combs are already filled with living moth, it will do very little good. This is only a prevention. Always have a double-story hive, bees can be better taken care of with a double-story hive. Keep your colonies to work as much as possible, by extract- ing or giving plenty of room, not too much at a time. Give it to them as they need it.— P. Henry, in the Western Rural. Carniolan Bees a Dark Race. Frank Benton, in a long article in the Apiculturist, admits that there are a few yellow bees in Carniola, but explains that they were brought in, by a system of migratory bee-keeping, from neigh- boring provinces. Mr. Benton says that he regards the Carniolans as a distinct and well established type — one of the dark races, and neither the history of bee-keeping in Carniola, nor his obser- vations while traveling and residing there and breeding Carniolans exten- sively, would lead him to think that pure Carniolans were other than dark- colored bees. As I said a year or more ago, the so-called golden Carniolans get their color from the admixture of yellow blood. — Ree-Keepers'' Review. Uniting Small Colonies. During an abundant flow of honey, those hives where little activity is mani- fest should be examined, and their con- dition ascertained. Open early in the morning or late in the evening, when but few bees are flying. A hive which has but few bees, and is queenless this month, is not worth saving; better take care of the comb to prevent its being destroyed by the larvae of the bee-moth, and unite the bees with an after-swarm. Perform the operation as follows : In early morning or late evening, re- move all the combs but one or two, and confine these to one side of the hive b'y a division-board. Prepare another hive containing a like swarm in the same way. When the bees have become ac- customed to the side of their hive, place the comb in the prepared hive, when the two swarms will soon communicate at the entrance, or across the division- board. The queenless bees will ascer- tain that their neighbors have a queen, and the other colony that their new tenants have honey. Friendly relations will be soon established, and a strong colony be the happy result. — Mrs. L. Harrison, in Orange Judd Farmer. 312 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. ^AM**5*10^^ *Vi PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY GEORGE W. YORK S. €§., At One Dollar a Year, 199 Randolph St., CHICAGO, ILLS. TO CORRESPONDENTS. The Bee Journal is sent to subscribers until an order is received by the publishers for its discontinuance, and all arrearages are paid. A Sample Copy of the Bee Journal wiL be sent FREE upon application. How to Send Money.— Remit b/ Express, Post-Office Money Order, or Bank Draft on New York or Chicago. If none of these can be had. Register your Letter, affixing Stamps both for postage and registry, and take a receipt for it. Money sent thus, IS AT OUR RISK; otherwise it is not. Do not send Checks on Local Banks— we have to pay 25 cents each , to get them cashed. Never Send Silver in letters. It will wear holes in the envelope, or may be stolen. Malte all Money Orders Payable at Chicago, 111.— not at any sub-station of Chicago. Postag-eStampsof any denomination may be sent for any fraction of a dollar; or where Money Orders cannot be obtained, stamps for any amount may be sent. Subscription Credits.— The receipt for money sent us will be given on the address-label of every paper. The subscription is paid to the END OP THE MONTH indicated. i Jo not Write anything1 for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Emerson Binders, made especially for the American Bee Journal, are convenient for preserving each weekly Number, as fast as received. They will be sent, post-paid, for 50 cts. each. They cannot be sent by mail to Canada. Cost Numbers.— We carefully mail the Bee Journal to every subscriber, but should any be lost in the mails, we will replace them if notified before all the edition is exhausted. Always State the Post-Office to which your paper is addressed, when writing to us. Special Notices. The Date on the wrapper-label of this paper indicates the end of the month to which you have paid for the Journal. If that is past, please send us one dollar to pay for another year. Lost Copies we are glad to replace, if notified before the edition is exhausted. The Convention Hand-Book is very convenient at Bee-Conventions. It con- tains a Manual of Parliamentary Law and Rules of Order for Local Conven- tions ; Constitution and By-Laws for a Loca1 Society; Programme for a Conven- tion, with subjects for discussion, and about 50 blank pages, to make notes upon. It is bound in cloth, and of the right size for the pocket. We will pre sent a copy for one new subscriber to the Bee Journal, with $1.00. An Apiary Register is a splendid book to have in an apiary, so as to know all about any colony of bees at a moment's notice. It devotes two pages to each colony. We will send one large enough for 50 colonies, for $1.00, post- paid ; for 100 colonies, for $1.25 ; or for 200 colonies, for $1.50. After using it for one season, you would not do without it. ■ * 1 1 mv i » « The Premiums which we give for securing new subscribers to the Ameri- can Bee Journal, are intended as pay for work done in getting new names among your friends and acquaintances, and are not offered to those who send in theW own names as new subscribers, unless such name or names form a part of a club of at least three subscribers. « i «^ • » • A Binder for preserving the copies of the American Bee Journal as it arrives from week to week, is very convenient. You should have one, as it is so handy for reference from time to time. We mail it for only 50 cents, or will give it as a premium for two new subscribers, with $2.00. When Talking About Bees to your friend or neighbor, you will oblige us by commending the Bee Journal to him, and taking his subscription to send with your renewal. For this work we offer some excellent premiums that you ought to take advantage of. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 313 4 I I Itltl ^4. l^ISX. We Club the American Bee Journal for a year, with any of the following papers or books, at the prices quoted in the LAST column. The regular price of both is given in the first column. One year's subscription for the American Bee Journal must be sent with each order for another paper or book : Price of both. Club. The American Bee Journal $1 00 — and Gleanings In Bee-Culture. ... 2 00 ... . 1 75 Bee-Keepers' Review 2 00.... 175 The Aplculturlst 175.... 165 Bee-Keepers' Guide 150. .. 140 American Bee- Keeper 150 — 140 Canadian Bee Journal 2 00 ... 175 Nebraska Bee-Keeper 150 — 135 The 8 above-named papers 6 25 — 5 25 and Langstroth Revised (Dadant) 2 40 ... . 225 Cook'sManual 200.... 176 Doollttle on Queen-Rearing. 2 00. . . . 1 65 Bees and Honey (Newman).. 2 00 175 Advanced Bee-Culture 150 — 140 Dzierzon's Bee-Book (cloth). 2 25.... 2 00 Root's A B C of Bee-Culture 2 25 ... . 210 A Year Among the Bees 1 50 — 1 35 Convention Hand-Book 125 115 History of National Society. 1 50 ... . 125 Weekly Inter-Ocean 2 00.... 175 The Lever (Temperance) .... 200.... 175 Orange Judd Farmer 2 00 175 Farm, Field and Stockman.. 2 00 1 75 Prairie Farmer 200.... 175 Illustrated Home Journal.. 1 50 1 35 American Garden 2 50 2 00 Rural New Yorker 300.... 2 25 Do not send to us for sample copies of any other papers. Send for such to the publishers of the papers you want. Almost Every Bee-Book that is now published we mention on the second page of this issue of the Bee Journal. Look over the list and select what you want. For every new yearly subscriber that you secure for us at $1.00, we will allow you 25 cents, to apply on the purchase of any book we have for sale. This is a rare chance to get some valua- able apicultural reading-matter, and at the same time aid in spreading helpful apiarian knowledge among your friends. ♦ « ■ ^m ■ > * Bee-Keeping for Profit, by Dr. G. L. Tinker, is a nice, 50-page pamphlet, which details fully the author's new system of bee-management in producing comb and extracted honey, and the con- struction of the hive best adapted to it — his "Nonpareil." The book can be had at this office for 25 cents, or will be given for one new subscriber, with $1. Premium to Every New Subscriber. — We will give to every new subscriber (with $1.00), for whom it is desired in place of getting any other premium we offer for work done, a copy of "Rural Life" — a valuable pamphlet of over 100 pages, devoted to " Farm Topics, Live- stock, Poultry, Bees, Fruits, Vegetables, Household, Home, and Miscellaneous Matter." Or we will send it, postpaid, for 25 cts. This is a rare chance for new subscribers to get some excellent reading for nothing — by sending $1.00 for one year's subscription to the Bee Journal. This Means You.— When order- ing any of the books or articles which we offer clubbed with the Bee Journal, or otherwise ; or when sending anything intended for us, such as subscriptions to the Bee Journal, or matter for publi- cation, be sure to address everything to —George W. York & Co., 199 Ran- dolph St., Chicago, Ills. Please Send TJs the Names of your neighbors who keep bees, and we will send them sample copies of the Bee Journal. Then please call upon them and get them to subscribe with you, and secure some of the premiums we offer. Webster's Pocket Dictionary we offer as a premium for sending only one new subscriber with $1.00. It is a splendid Dictionary — and just right for a pocket. "Why Not send us one new name, with $1.00, and get Doolittle's book on "Scientific Queen-Rearing" as a premi- um ? Read the offer on page 318. Wants or Exchanges. Under this heading, Notices of 5 lines, or less, will be inserted at 10 cents per line, for each insertion, when specially ordered into this Department. If over 5 lines, the additional lines will cost 20 cents each. TO EXCHANGE— Pure Tested Young Ital- ians, 3 to 5 bands, 50 cents to $1.00— for cash, wax or offers. F. C. MORROW, 6Atf Wallaceburg, Arkansas. 314 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Honey & Beeswax Market Quotations. The following Quotations are for Saturday, August 27th. 1892 : CHICAGO, Ills. — We have inquiries for white 1-1 bs. comb honey, and quote it at 16c. for best grade ; amber comb at 14c. Good de- mand for extracted, at 7@8c. Beeswax. 26c. CINCINNATI. Ohio.— The demand is good for extracted at o@8e. Demand is slow for comb honey, at 12(g»15c. for best white. Beeswax is in slow demand, at 23@25c. for good to choice yellow. NEW YORK, N. Y.— Demand is moderate, and supply reduced, with no more glassed 1-ft nor paper cartons, 1-U>. We quote: Comb, l-fl>, 14@15c. Extracted— Basswood,7^@7>4c; buckwheat, 5 %@6J4; Mangrove, 68@75c per gal. Good demand for dark extracted honey. Beeswax, in fair supply, with small demand, at 26@27c. DETROIT, Mich.— Best white comb honey 12@13c; but little left to sell. Extracted. 7 @8c. Beeswax, 26@27c. SAN FRANCISCO, Calif— Demand is quiet as old crop is nearly exhausted and new crop not in yet. We quote: Extracted, 5%@6 cts. Comb, 1-lbs., 10@Hc; 2-lbs., 6@8c. Beeswax — 24@25c. BOSTON, Mass. — Demand is light. White 1-lbs., 13@15c. No 2-lbs, on hand. No Bees- wax on hand. Extracted, 7@8c. Demand is light for all. MINNEAPOLIS. Minn.— This Market is now dull in general, though some is being worked off. but mostly at cut prices. Fancy white, 15 @17c, 1-lb. sections; dark, 8@10c. Extracted white, 7@8c. ; dark. 5@6c. KANSAS CITY. Mo— Old honey is wholly cleaned up. both extracted and comb. New crop will be in about July 10, here. ALBANY, New Fork.— No receipts of new comb yet, but some call for mixed at 13@14c. Light, 15@16c; dark, 12@13c. Extracted is in good demand at 7(§(9c. Beeswax- according to quality and style. Doolittle's Queen-Rearing: book should be in the library of every bee-keeper ; and in the way we offer it on page 318, there is no reason now why every one may not possess a copy of it. Send us one new subscriber for a year, and we will mail the book to you as a present. Winter Problem in Bee - Keeping- ; by G. R. Pierce, of Iowa, who has had 25 years' experience in bee-keeping, and for the past 5 years has devoted all his time and energies to the pursuit. Price, 50 cents. For sale at this office. List of Honey and Beeswax Dealers. Chicago, Ills. S. T. Fish & Co., 189 South Water Street. J. A. Lamon. 44 & 46 South Water Street. R. A. Burnett, 161 South Water Street. New York, N. Y. F. G. Strohmeyer & Co., 120 Pearl Street. Hildreth Bros. & Segelken, 28 & 30 West Broadway. F. I. Sage & Son. 183 Reade Street. Chas. Israel & Bros., 110 Hudson Street. Cincinnati, Ohio. C. F. Muth & Son, cor. Freeman & Central avs. San Francisco, Calif. Schacht, Lemcke & Steiner, 10 Drumm St. Detroit, Mich. M. H. Hunt, Bell Branch, near Detroit. Minneapolis, Minn. Stewart & Elliott, Boston, Mass. Blake & Ripley, 57 Chatham Street. Albany, N. Y. H. R. Wright, 326 & 328 Broadway. Kansas City, Mo. Hamblin & Bearss, 514 Walnut Street. Clemoms, Mason & Co., cor. 4th & Walnut Sts. Your Subscription to the Bee Journal— is it paid up to date ? If not, please send to us a dollar for a year, and thus show your appreciation of our efforts in your behalf. Look at your wrapper-label, and if the date looks like this—" Dec91," that $1.00 sent to this office will make it look like this — Dec92. » » i — i « We Club the American Bee Journal and the monthly "Illustrated Home Journal " one year for $1.35 ; or both of these Journals and the semi-monthly "Gleanings in Bee-Culture," for one year, for $2. 10. The Amateur Bee-Keeper, by J. W. Rouse, is a book of 52 pages, intended, as its name indicates, for beginners. Price, 25 cents. For sale at this office. When You Have any honey to sell, get some Honey Almanacs and scatter in your locality. They will sell it all in a very short time. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 327 PUBLISHED BY: GEORGE W. YORK& CO. CHICAGOJLL. ■'.< Xf^v^WMg-.S^, ONE DOLLAR FEB TEAR. Club Rates,— Two copies, $1.80 ; 3 copies, $2.50 ; 4 copies, $3.20 ; 5 copies, $3.75. Mailed to aay addresses. THOMAS G. NEWMAN,)- ,_nDC GEORGE W. YORK. \ tD1TORS- MIXX. Sept. 8, 1892. NO, 11. Father Langstroth is thus re- ferred to by Dr. C. C. Miller in a " Straw" in Gleanings : Have you sent to Father Langstroth the amount you promised ? If you made no promise, it would be a nice thing anyhow to send something to him. We owe him much, and he ought not to lack in his few last years. Address thus : Rev. L. L. Langstroth, 120 Ford St., Dayton, Ohio. Mr. C. E. Mead, a bee-keeper in the city of Chicago, who has now 8 or 10 colonies, presented us with a fine sample of sweet clover comb honey, for which we say, "Thank you." Mr. Mead is 3 miles directly west of the Court House, and keeps his bees in the back yard. They do not disturb the neigh- bore, either. Another Union for bee-keepers is proposed, to be organized for the special object of putting a stop to the nefarious practice of adulterating honey. This is a project that will command the earnest attention of every producer of honest honey, and £lso strike terror in the ranks of the diabolical adulterators. Mr. J. F. Mclntyre, in Gleanings, opens the subject of " another bee-keep- ers' union for the express purpose of fighting the adulteration of honey ;" but we agree with Bro. Root, " that it might be more feasible to modify the constitution of the existing Bee-Keepers' Union so as to cover the objects " as stated by Mr. Mclntyre. In a communi- cation from Mr. Thomas G. Newman, the efficient General Manager of the present Bee-Keepers' Union referred to by Bro. Root, we are told how the new work could be embraced, and the con- stitution changed so as to permit of un- dertaking the prosecution of honey adulterators, as well as those who are foolish enough to think that they can have bee-keeping declared a nuisance. Before saying more, we desire to urge all of our readers to peruse carefully the following from General Manager New- man, as he not only speaks of the glorious record of triumphant victories won by the National Bee-Keepers' Union, in its eight years of splendid work, but also makes some excellent suggestions relative to the subject un- der discussion : To Members of the Bee-Keepers' Union : In Gleanings in Bee-Culture for Aug. 15th, Mr. J. F. Mclntyre suggests a matter of considerable importance for deliberation at the coming meeting of the North American Bee-Keepers' Asso- ciation at Washington. He says : 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 328 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. a few dishonest 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. Personally, the Manager of the Na- tional Bee-Keepers' Union has waged war upon adulterators for many years, as is well-known to readers of bee-litera- ture generally, but the Union was formed for quite another purpose, that of de- fending 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 de- cisions 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 institutions are projected. It is also true that all bee-keepers are not alike personally interested in its objects, as Mr. Mclntyre asserts, and therefore its membership is very limited. Mr Root makes these editorial comments upon the suggestion of Mr. Mclntyre : Whether it would be best to organize a new union having new functions we cannot say. It occurs to us that it might be more feasible to modify the constitution of the existing Bee-Keep- ers' Union so as to cover the objects above set forth. We have no doubt that every member of that organization would vote to have this change made, providing that General-Manager New- man should sanction it. It may not be best, however, to interfere with or en- large the scope of an organization that has already done great good by the precedents in law which it has estab- lished 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 Gen- eral Manager, in such a unanimous fashion, shows that I have the confi- dence of the members of the Union, and they have in this manner stamped with their approval the work I have done for the Union — but when it comes to the consideration of a new policy for the future, the members of the Union are fully competent to determine for them- selves as to the expediency thereof, and I am fully persuaded that they will act for the permanent prosperity of the organization, without deference to my personal views or desires. I would thank Bro. Root for the compliment intended, and shall treat it as such. In order to add this new feature to the National Bee-Keepers' Union, the Constitution must be amended ; and, perhaps, 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 the bee-periodi- cals, so that the members may vote understanding^, after mature delibera- tion. 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 encount- ered will be the diversity in the laws of the several States. A National law should be enacted by Congress against adulteration, applicable alike to every State and Territory. Then something may be accomplished — until then, I fear much of the labor will be in vain. Another trouble is that the honey from different localities varies so much in consequence of the diverse soils and atmospheric conditions. On that account even the analyzation of honey by chem- ists of National reputation is totally unreliable. Another thing must be provided for — the new departure would require so much time and energy of the General AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 329 Manager that a salary should be at- tached to the office. I have done the best I could for the love of the pursuit alone, but it is hardly probable that my successor would accept the office on that condition, with that additional feature attached, to prosecute all honey adul- terators. 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 some other person must be elected to that important position. Fraternally Yours, Thomas G. Newman, General Manager. Chicago, Ills., Aug. 29, 1892. The columns of the American Bee Journal are open for the fullest and freest discussion of this subject, which is fraught with so much that touches almost the very life of bee-keeping in any land. There will be ample time and opportunity to thoroughly consider every point involved, before the meeting of the North American convention at Washington. Bro. Root says further : A union, such as Mr. Mclntyre out- lines, with competent, conscientious officers, it seems to us ought to secure easily a membership of not less than 1,000. With annual fees of $1.00 from each member, some telling and effective work could be done. No doubt there will be plenty of op- portunity for doing "telling and effec- tive work " along the line indicated. We are almost inclined to believe that a good place to begin would be right here in Chicago. One man here has already offered to spend some time with the edi- tor of the American Bee Journal, promising to show us something in the line of adulteration that would open our eyes. Now, what we want is a good " union " that will just " go for " those practicing adulteration, in such a way as shall compel them to cease their in- iquitous work. There is no doubt that the adultera- tion of extracted honey is what has kept down the price of the pure article. With glucose at 1% cents per pound, it has been an unequal battle between the producer of honest honey and the maker of dishonest mixtures ; and when a good, square dose of anti-adulteration law is once administered to the human hyenas, we rather think there will be such a " shaking up of the dry bones" in the devil's household as shall surprise old Satan himself. Re-organize the Union, then pulverize the rascals that won't recognize the law! G. W. Y. James S. Judd, son of the popu- lar and widely-known Mr. Orange Judd, has been installed as "business mana- ger " of the Orange Judd Farmer Com- pany. He is a young man — 30 years of age — full of vigor and "get there" qualities, and will " manage " the busi- ness of the deservedly famous Orange Judd Farmer, with ability and success. Our esteemed friend and editor of the paper, Mr. Orange Judd, is now 70 years old, and takes solid comfort in the thought of being thus relieved in the labors of his great publishing interests. We will have more to say of Orange Judd and his life work next week. The Homestead Troubles are discussed with fearless vigor and candor by Edwin D. Mead, the eminent publicist and lecturer, in the September New England Magazine. He deals with homestead and the press, the pulpit and the politicians, and comes to the conclu- sion that it will be a bad day for the American Republic if the masses of working men ever come to believe that the State stands behind our millionnaire barons, ready to crush those whom they would crush into obedience. It is an article that all real thinkers, especially among wage-earners, will read with interest. Read S. F. & I. Trego's Advertisement. 330 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Thirty-Five of the Forty- Nine States and Territories in the Union have accepted the building sites assigned them on the Exposition Grounds, and have submitted to the construction bureau for approval the plans of the buildings they propose to erect. Nearly all the others, it is known, are about ready to take like action. Every state and Territory, with perhaps three exceptions, will erect a building. Quite a number of these buildings will be reproductions of his- toric structures, such as Independence Hall, Washington's Mt. Vernon home, old Fort Marion, etc. They will occupy the northern portion of the Exposition Grounds, and will be surrounded by walks, lawns, shrubbery and flowers. They will be used as headquarters for State boards and visitors, and as recep- tacles for exhibits showing State re- sources, etc. The Knox County Fair will be held at Vincennes, Ind., on Oct. 10th to 15th, 1892. In the Premium List we And the following liberal premiums offered in the "Apiary Department :" 1st. 2d. Best colony of Italian bees in one frame observatory hive $5 $2 Best colony of Cyprian bees in one frame observatory hive. .. . 5 2 Best colony of Syrian or Holy Land bees in one frame observa- tory hive 5 2 Best colony of Punic bees in one frame observatory hive 5 2 Best colony of Native bees in one frame observatory hive 5 2 Best and largest display of differ- ent races of bees in observatory 5 2 Best and largest collection of queen-bees alive 5 2 Best and largest number of queen- cells on one frame as actually built by bees, shown with bees in observatory hive, cells to be alive at time of entry 5 2 Note. — In awarding the premiums on the different entries of bees, the qualities of queens and bees to be con- sidered. The bees and queen-cells must all be shown in observatory hives with glass on both sides, and so arranged that both sides of the comb can easily be seen. Best comb honey, white clover or linden, not less than 24 lbs. $5 $2 Best comb honey, fall flowers, not less than 24 lbs 5 2 Best and largest display of comb honey 20 10 Best extracted honey, white clover or linden, not less than 24 lbs. 5 2 Best extracted honey, fall flowers not less than 24 lbs 5 2 Best and largest display of ex- tracted honey 20 10 Best beeswax, not less than 10 lbs. 4 2 Best and largest display of apiarian im- plements—1st, $20; 2d, $10; 3d, $5. Note. — In awarding the premiums on the different entries of honey, the com- mittee will give equal consideration to the quality of the honey, and to the style of the packages in which it is ex- hibited, as regards looks and desirable- ness for purposes of marketing. One - Cent Postage Stamps are preferred by us when it is necessary for any of our subscribers to send stamps in place of paper money, Express or Post-office Money Orders, or drafts on New York or Chicago. The Express Money Orders, or Post-office Money Orders, are the safest outside of drafts. Do not send checks on your local banks, as it costs us 25 cents each to get them cashed here. Postal Notes are no safer than cash put into the envelope, so do not waste your money in buying them, but get a Money Order instead. An Excellent Paint for hives is made by mixing raw linseed oil with equal parts of zinc, white lead, and French ocher. The combining of these forms a smooth, durable surface that will not peel or rub off. The color is nearly white. So says a friend. A Bee-Keepers' Association was organized at a picnic held at Whit- ing, Kans., on Aug. 27th, with F. M. Green as President, and Jacob Hixon as Secretary and Treasurer. The Bee Journal wishes it a successful career. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 331 The Stew art Honey Box is one of the latest inventions, by Mr. Henry Stewart, one of our old subscrib- ers. When he showed us several sample boxes we were at once surprised and pleased. It is a very ingenious thing, and seems to be destined to revolutionize the putting up of either comb or ex- tracted honey for the market. We present below a good illustration of the " box," as it looks unfolded. Here is what the inventor says concerning it : Although these boxes are destined to find their way into, and fill a long-felt want in, many channels of trade, they wer« invented by a honey-producer, to fill the needs of that industry. With the present cheapness of sugar, in order to maintain good prices for the Stewart Honey Box. extracted honey, it will be necessary for the honey-producer to take some steps to increase the demand for extracted honey as a table article, and sell less for manufacturing purposes. In order to accomplish this, it is necessary to put'up the article in convenient shape for re- tailing, and for this purpose the almost universal demand is for small packages, as most grocers will not handle the goods in bulk. But, to meet this de- mand, with any heretofore known pack- age, the cost of the honey had to be raised to that extent that the goods be- came an expensive luxury. These boxes are made of white bass- wood lumber, and are very light, and railroad companies take them at the same rate as honey in cans, or barrels, which is third-class. This difference in freight on a 500-mile haul will amount to several cents per pound. Then, these boxes are strong and durable. Do not jump at the conclusion that they are frail articles, to hold granulated honey. It is also used for the shipping and retailing of comb honey. Each box for holding sections is 2)4 inches deep, and holds three sections ; the little boxes hold the honey in place, and the waxed bottom prevents any leakage escaping. The Honey Crop for 1892 in the United States is further mentioned in Gleanings for Aug. 15th. It will be remembered that on pages 135 and 199 of the Bee Journal, this subject was referred to, and on the latter page a partial report was given. The following is what Bro. Root says later, after re- ceiving fuller information from each State and territory, thus enabling him to revise the former statement of the condition of the honey crop for 1892 : Within the last two or three weeks we have received a large number of addi- tional responses in answer to our re- quest, asking for reports regarding the condition of the honey crop of 1892. This request, the Amercian Bee Jour- nal kindly copied, urging their readers to send on ther answers to us. Through the courtesy of that journal we are en- abled to make this report very much fuller, and more accurate, than we should otherwise have been able to do. By condensing the replies, and collating them together by States, we submit the result to you in the revised table below : Alabama— fair. Arkansas— indifferent. California— very poor. Canada— fair. Colo.— below average. Co ne' ticui— poor. Delaware^-very poor. Flni Ida— fair to good. Georgia— fair. Illinois— poor to good. 1 1 d ana— poor to iair. Iowa— fair 10 very good. Kansas— fa r to good Kentucky-poor to fair. Louisiana— fair. Maine— fair. Maryland— poor. Massachusetts— fair. Michigan— fair to good. M inn.— fair to extra good. Mississippi— very poor. New Hampshire— fair. New Jersey— poor. New Yorn— poor to fair. Nurth Carolina— poor. Onio— fair to extra good. Penn — 1 ai • to good. South Carolina— fair. Tennessee— poor to fair. Texas— poor to fair. Utah— poor. Vermont— poor to fair. Virginia— fair. W«sht gton-good. West Virginia— poor. Wisconsin— poor. The adjective or adjectives defining the condition of the honey season oppo- site each State represents the majority of the reports for that State. In some cases only one or two have responded for their States, these 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 improve- ment over last year, although we cannot call it an average year. It may be well to call attention to the fact shown in the table, that Ohio, Iowa, Minnesota, Michi- gan took the lead in honey production this year, while California, usually the banner honey State of the Union, shows almost a total failure. 332 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. CONDUCTED BY Floyd, Hunt Co., Tex. Bee-Caves in Texas — Mistaken Ideas. I suppose you have all heard of the bee-caves in Texas, where the bees work through an orifice in the rock, in a stream as large as a flour barrel, and where wagon-loads of honey have been taken, etc. These statements somehow or another get magnified terribly by the time they reach the press. Now, please let me reason with you a little, and then I think you will agree with me that it is unreasonable, even for a bee-keeper, to suppose such a thing. There are strong colonies of bees that occupy caves, I will admit, but there are no more bees there than in any other strong colony, as there is a limit to their strength. As we all know, there is only one queen, or perchance two, as in some instances in our hives, but one of them is usually old, and of no value. These caves have only one swarm in them — not 4 or 5, or a dozen colonies, stationed in different parts of the cave — as some say, and others think, that all work through the same entrance. Such a cave has not been found yet in Texas. So there is only one colony, and the progeny of one queen, and they seldom have more combs than they can cover. But inexperienced people have visited these caves at times when the bees were taking an afternoon play-spell, hence the exaggeration. Others have worked into them and taken out as much as a wash-tub of honey, and that widened as it went. The bees in these cliffs are usually hived in a large crevice or crack in the bluff — very often not more than a foot deep, and at other times the combs are built clear out on the outside of the rock. One friend asks, " Do they swarm ?" Yes, they swarm as other bees do, but if the crevice is a large one, they only swarm in good years. But bees in Texas swarm if hived in a car box, just the same as if hived in a common hive. Swarm they will. Colonies have been known to swarm where they built in the grass on the prairie ; they surely had room enougn there. So, when condi- tions are right, bees swarm in Texas because — they want to. Bee-Notes from Texas. The Season and Fall Crop. — Within the last three weeks the bees here have been doing pretty well, and the hives of strong colonies are full of honey. Up to this time we have had very little sur- plus. Most of this honey is from cotton, and is very nice. The prospects were never better for a good fall crop. We are having now plenty of good rains, and all fall honey-plants are in splen- did condition. In this part of Texas the crops of wheat, oats and corn are above an average, and cotton is very promising. Queens in Good Condition. — I re- ceived a lot of six queens a few days ago from a Texas queen-breeder, in the best condition of any ever received by me — not a single bee was dead in the whole lot. They were all safely introduced, and were doing well yesterday. Bees in Statue of Liberty. — Speak- ing of the swarm of bees in that vase at Washington (page 168), reminds me that I have been told, and I think it is true, that there is a colony of bees in the Statue of Liberty on the dome of the capitol at Austin, Texas. This statue is over 17 feet in height, and stands over 300 feet from the ground. I think that what honey the bees store they will be allowed to keep. Queen that Never Laid. — I had a young queen a few weeks ago which I kept for six weeks in a pretty strong colony, and she never laid a single egg, so far as I was able to discern, and when I killed her she had not a single egg in her abdomen. I never noticed anything of the kind, and presume such instances are very rare. Queens Killing Each Other.— In regard to young queens killing each other as soon as they hatch out, mine always do, except in a colony that has cast its first swarm, and intends to swarm again, when I suppose the bees guard the young queens and keep them apart until they swarm, and then they are allowed to come together, when the strongest and most lucky one only sur- vives after a few hours' struggle. Italian Queen and Black Drone. — And still our bee-friends are trying to solve the problem : " Will a pure Ital- AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 333 ian queen, mated with a black drone, produce all three or more yellow banded workers?" I see some answer " yes " or " no," and some, " I think so," or ""I think not." In the very nature of the case, I claim that it is impossible to tell certainly, as we cannot control the mat- ing, and all of us that ha.ve had experi- ence know that queens from imported mothers, and from our purest home- reared queens, frequently produce hy- brids, from pure black to three-banded. Did you ever know such a queen to pro- duce all black workers? and if not, why not ? Until I meet with such a case as this, and with all respect for the opinions of the brethren, I must say that one would be as likely as the other ; I cannot answer " yes " or " no." Several Eggs in a Cell. — In regard to several eggs in a cell, I would say that once this spring, in examining a hive whose colony had cast a swarm and the young queen had commenced laying, I found several cells that had two or more eggs each, and one I counted had seven. I let them alone, and the queen proved to be very good and prolific. Hard to Keep Colonies Strong. — It has been the most difficult season I have ever known, to keep my colonies strong and in good working condition. Why it is so, I cannot tell, and now many of them are not strong enough to gather a large surplus. A. C. Aten. Round Rock, Tex., Aug. 10, 1892. Extracting Nectar from Unsealed Combs, Query 835.— 1. Is it advisable to extract raw nectar from unsealed combs, and ripen the "green" honey artificially? 2. If so, what kind of an arrangement is best for the purpose ?— Ohio. Not with us. — Dadant & Son. It is not advisable. — M. Mahin. 1. No. 2. I don't know. — E. France. 1. No ! Most assuredly not. — J. E. Pond. 1. I think not. 2. I don't know. — J. M. Hambaugh. 1. No. 2. A good, strong colony of bees. — EL D. Cutting. No ; but if you will do it, solar heat is the best. — Mrs. L. Harbison. 1. No. There is nothing so good as a comb for ripening honey. — R.L.Taylor. It is not advisable, and will prove un- satisfactory in the end. — J. P. H. Brown. I think it is not advisable, taking all things into consideration. — G. M. Doo- LITTLE. 1. For some, yes; for some, no. 2. Several arrangements are given in the books. — C. C. Miller. 1. No. 2. There is no arrangement that will do it half so well as the bees can, and do. — James Heddon. I think not ; and, furthermore, I be- lieve that the bees alone can make honey out of " raw nectar." — G. L. Tinker. No, sir ! Such honey is simply sweet, if ripened by heat or sun, without the flavor or fragrance of good honey. — C. H. Dibbebn. I would extract just when the bees have nicely commenced capping the honey, and draw it off in tin or earthen vessels to thoroughly ripen. — Mrs. J. N. Heater. 1. It may be done, but I doubt the advisability of doing it. 2. Large open cans, or barrels in a dry, warm place. Cover with thin cloth to keep out flies, etc. — A. B. Mason. 1. I have tried ripening raw honey, and prefer to let it ripen in the hives. 2. A large tank, such as is used by the Californians, I should think would be best. — Mrs. Jennie Atchley. I would wait until just as the bees were commencing to cap it over; then I would extract, and keep it in a hot room in vessels covered with cloth. This plan I used for years, and never heard com- plaint of the honey.— A. J. Cook. 1. Ordinarily, I believe in extracting only ripe honey. There may be locali- ties where the experienced apiarist with modern appliances might profitably ex- tract " green " nectar, and ripen arti- ficially. 2. I don't know. — Eugene Secor. 1. I think not. I don't think you could do a worse thing for yourself and for bee-culture. 2. Let the bees thicken and temper your honey in the hives ' before taking it, and you will have no use for any artificiality. When you once get a supply of good combs to " tier up " as fast as your bees need the room, you will find that nothing is cheaper and better than to make your bees cure and finish up your honey. — G. W. Dem- aree. Raw nectar should never be extracted from the combs — the bees will do the ripening best. — Editors. 334 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. On Important Subjects. Bee-Keeping; in the Pacific Islands. BY "MALTA." While strolling quietly through the lovely groves of mango, breadfruit, cocoanut, and other tropical plants, the well known roar— it was more than a hum — of busy bee-life struck my aston- ished ear, for I had been old that the nearest hives in Tahiti were at least 3 miles from Papiete, and I was actually among the houses and gardens on the skirts of the town ; however, very few steps brought me suddenly upon an apiary of nearly 100 colonies, and these I proceeded to inspect. Platforms standing some two or three feet from the ground were scattered about under the trees, and upon each stood about half a dozen hives almost touching one another, carefully pent- housed over, but otherwise very care- fully kept ; bits of wax, broken combs, empty boxes, etc., laid about anyhow, hives not painted or mended — in fact, " Tahiti-like " in every respect. The hives were peculiar — formed of a series of boxes about 18 inches high, the same across, but only 6 inches from back to front, placed one behind another with a board to close the front, and another the back ; the whole kept close together by a rough cramp and wedge arrangement. They looked exactly as 4 or 5 section- crates or "lifts" would look standing on their sides, one behind another. The edges fitted badly, or rather didn't fit at all, so that the bees found their way in where they pleased — side, back, front, top or bottom. For the perpetual summer of Tahiti, the arrangement answers well, as it gives the necessary ventilation, while the pent-house takes off the rain and shades the hives from the direct rays of the sun. Internally, each box or section of hive, had two rows of lath battens running from side to side, 4 in each row, one row close to the top, the other row about half way down, and on these the combs were supposed to be built, and then re- moved, batten and all, when completed and full. The bees appear to be very small, but sturdy, very yellow, quite as much so as Cyprians, but without the delicate figure of that race ; exceedingly hairy, and from their shape and make I should say are cross-bred. The drones also are small. Bee-keeping has been largely tried in Tahiti, but given up, there being no energy and no market for the honey, and the peculiar flavor of the cocoanut did not meet with approval. Probably queens have been imported from Cali- fornia, and hence the cross-bred stock. At Fanning Island — a coral atoll on the equator — I found a hive on the modern plan, the owner, the only white man, told me he knew nothing of bee- keeping, but managed, nevertheless, to get 60 pounds of honey in a year from his solitary hive. He had lost 2 colonies by lizards, ants and insects, so had placed the present one on a platform erected in a pond, and now defied the enemy. He said the bees were very savage, and worked all the year around on the cocoanut blossom, but he did not know when they swarmpd. The bees were dark, and clustering very thickly outside the hive, owing to heat, as he had no shade-board. The honey he showed me was pale, and without much flavor, but it was difficult tp judge fairly, as it was squeezed out by hand, and not given a chance of showing to advantage. Panama. Importing Apis Dorsata at Private Cost. W. C. FBAZIER. I notice quite a number of references of late in the bee-periodicals and else- where concerning importing Apis dor- sata — the giant bees of India — by the Government. It would be desirable if we could get the Government to engage in sue i a scheme, and would perhaps be a great benefit to the bee-keepers if we could have them undertake it. But the Government has a habit of letting private individuals undertake all such matters, and if they would move in this matter, it would be a long time before the people would come into possession of them. Now, if these bees are worth importing at all, they are worth getting at private expense. The preponderance of evidence seems to be that they would, without a doubt, be a valuable acquisi- tion. No bees have been brought to America but have proven as good here as in their native land. Nearly all the stock of all AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 335 kinds which have been brought into America have done as well, if not better, than in their native land. Why should not A pis dorsata ? Why not form a company, and send some capable person after them ? It would be impossible, by any means now known, to send them through to America from India alive, and there would have to be some intermediate station. A company with $4,000 or $5,000 could secure these bees, and have their money back from them before the Government will be ready to send for them. Just to see how many, who think we should have them, are willing to back their opinion with cash, suppose we say we will put the capital stock at $20 per share, each share holder having a vote on rules and regulations governing the company. Now, how many shares do you want ? Please don't all speak at once. Atlantic, Iowa. Hiving a Cross Swarm— Patents MARK D. JUDKIN8. On pape 113 Mr. C. H. Dibbern speaks of bee-escapes. I think the most of us had a " bee-escape " last winter and spring, through which the most of our bees escaped to " where the grape-vine twineth," never more to be seen or heard in our apiaries. My bees are doing very well now. From the 7 colonies that I had left on June 1st, they have increase to 21. I have given them full hives of comb, and they appear to appreciate them. I had a colony of "yellow jackets" come out yesterday (July 24) ; they clustered on a willow tree, the limbs of which are very brittle, and while I was getting a hive ready, the limb broke, and let them down ; but up they went, and down came another limb; they broke three limbs, and when they got settled on the fourth limb I was there with my ladder, and took them down, and shook them on a cloth in front of the hive. That was the "straw that broke the camel's back." Just at that time about half a dozen of those harmless "cusses" perched themselves on my nose, and as near as I could tell the business end of each bee came in contact with my nose at about the same time, and I felt a good deal like a fellow trying some of the new catarrh remedies. They started the tears from my eyes all right enough, but as soon as 1 got so I could see again, I hived them all right, and without any more crossness from the bees. I have not used a veil or smoker this season so far. There is no end to flowers, and bass- wood will be in bloom by July 25th, then if the coast is clear, we will get some honey. Haying has commenced, and bees will have to look out for themselves for a while. The weather is hot and dry — 80° to 90c in the shade, with a shower now and then. INVENTORS AND THEIR INVENTIONS. Frequently I notice some one speaking of worthless patents being issued. That reminds me that I am the inventor of the rirst 3-wheel riding-plow, aud every plow manufacturer between here and New York that saw my nice little plow model, pronounced it a failure. They laughed at me, and wanted to know what I wanted that third wheel for. I told them then that 3-wheeled plows would come into general use, and to-day there is not a plow company of any note that is not putting up my 3-wheel plows. But so far they have kept from paying me any royalty. I do not like to see people so quick to condemn any new device, when the in- ventor has put his time and money into it. It is the inventions that have made this country the leading country in the world; but there is a certain class of people that never risk a cent in anything unless they can see 2 cents coming back to them, and this class of people are always crying out at the top of their voice, aud warning others to look out for that and this fraud, swindle and nuisance of a patent. If the inventors of this country had been made up of the pickaninny nature that these people are, they never would have put in a dollar into the patent office for inventions, and never put in years of hard study figuring out the new and useful inventions. I am like all other inventors, I have put my last dollar into a new machine more than once, and you will find in every community these howlers. Thousands of men buy patent rights, and then never do a thing with them to make a dollar, and this class do considerable howling; when, in many cases, if some live man had taken hold of the inven- tion and pushed it, he would have made money out of it for himself and others. There are some poor inventions, but more good ones that are never used, so please don't " jump on " a man just be- 336 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. cause he has put $500 or $1,000 into improving some article. "When a man comes along selling patent rights, don't be afraid of him. He hardly ever Dites any one. Examine his invention, and if you can see some merit in it, give him credit for what you see ; but if yon do not happen to see lots of dollars and cents in it, don't call him a fraud and swindler, for perhaps the very next man he shows the device to, has a different idea of the matter, and can see that it is a good thing. Sometimes a man gets out a patent similar to some rude article that some one a thousand miles away has made and used. These people think the in- ventor has stolen their device. It would keep a many busy to look into every man's house in the United States to see if they were making a machine like his. Osakis, Minn. My Experience Willi Punic Bees, C. E. MEAD. I bought a Punic queen " because the bees were so gentle that it was hard to make them sting." I introduced her in October, 1891, but she did not lay any last year. I watched for the little black bees, but did not feel sure of seeing any until April. (I put the queen in a colony of hybrids when I introduced her.) I did not see much increase until June 15th, then they increased rapidly. On open- ing the hive I got six stings in a very short time. I find bees of all colors, from black to three nice, yellow bands. They are strong in bees and honey, but do not go into the sections as readily as the pure Italians. They are an entirely new race of bees. They resent any jar to their hive, or to a frame they are on. In actions and size they resemble the Syrians. They are not easy to control with smoke, though they all can be driven out of the hive with it. As soon as the smoke stops, they are ready to come for the operator again. They are the worst bees to handle I ever saw. Their stings are not as viru- lent as the Italians. They do not get up any earlier in the morning than my other bees. While they have done fairly well, they have not done as well as my other colonies, with one excep- tion. I do not think I have the pure Punic bees. This has not been a season to test any bees. There was only three weeks from March 15th to July 3rd that bees could fly. We had cold, northeast rains and winds. I had to feed my bees to keep them from starving, which stimu- lated them to work. The field or older bees would go out, get caught in show- ers, and never get back. The better workers a colony was, the greater the loss. My bees were no stronger on July 4th than June 1st. July 4th found my hives full of brood and young bees, with very few field bees, and not more than 2 pounds of honey to the hive. The sur- plus will not be more than 15 pounds per colony. Chicago, Ills. ■ ^ "To Scout" or Not " To Scont ?" ROBERT H. WILLIAMS. I am one of those "enthusiastic peo- ple "of whom Mr. Demaree speaks in his article on page 148, and I will try to give a reason for the faith that is within me. Last summer (1891) there was an extra hive out by the side of the others, with a frame of empty comb in it. It had been there several days, when one morning we noticed bees going in and out, and crawling around the eutrance. They were blacks, and ours were nearly pure Italians, so we knew they were not from the other hives. Having read about scouts in the books, we at once concluded that they were scouts. We watched them closely, and by 11 o'clock very few bees were to be seen. Just before dinner we were all out in the yard looking at the hive, which the bees had all left, and lament- ing that they were gone, when over an elm tree at the corner of the house came a swarm of black bees. They alighted on the front end of the hive, and in half an hour were all in, and peacefully at work. This was the 5th of July. Immediately another hive, with a piece of comb in it, was mounted in a box-elder tree in the horse-lot. The boys watched it morning, noon and night, as we went to and returned from the fields. One evening, about a week later, we noticed for the first time bees going in and out of it. They acted just as the others had done, and we thought they were scouts. They left that night, but returned the next morning, and AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 337 lingered around all forenoon. These also were blacks. Just before dinner I went down to look at them. As I drew near, I saw that the tree was surrounded by a fly- ing swarm. I went and looked at the hive, the front end of which was by this time covered with bees, all crawling in just as fast as they could. In a little while they had all gone in and were at work. They were taken down, and another hive was put up in the same place. We watched it for a while, but soon grew tired and ceased. On Aug. 30th (1891) I chanced to be mowing weeds near the tree, when I heard a swarm coming. In half an hour the whole performance was re-enacted. Since then we have caught several, but I have not been so fortunate as to see any more just taking possession of their new home. If these were not scouts, why do not bees from our own hives bother around these decoys ? Last June (1892) a colony belonging to a neighbor swarmed, and was resting on a cherry limb, when they suddenly took wing and went to a box which he had put up in an apple-tree. These, with other experiences which I have had, confirm me in the opinion that bees do systematically "scout" for a home whenever it becomes necessary. I think this would require ho more men- tal power than a great many other things which they do, and I shall believe in "scouts" until I hear something to disprove the theory. Beatrice, Nebr. Bee-veils. Honey-Plants. Hairpins, Etc, J. E. PRICHARD. I have not examined my h'ves much of late with the mercury at 112° in the sun, and 98° in the shade. It is too much to don the veil. By the by, why has there not been an improvement in that useful appendage ? The white bobbinet is almost as hot as muslin. Why not bring out something better, say a stuff with meshes 8 to the inch ? That would be fine enough. The bobbinet is about 20 to the inch, and too hot for any comfort. The next time I visit the city, I shall look for something that will afford more ventilation. Yesterday being the first endurable day, I opened the supers, and with two exceptions the bees were at work in the top sections, having them nearly full, but none of them seemed to be sealed. We do not look for honey here before fall, say about middle of September or first of October, as we have to depend entirely upon wild flora. IRON-WEED AND OTHER PLANTS. I have just discovered a honey-plant that has always been considered a nui- sance— what we here call the iron-weed. It flourishes in low swamps and mead- ows, and in ditches, often filling the latter so as to stop the water. It is covered wuh a pinkish or purple flower, and is just loaded with bees. It lux- uriates to within 20 feet of my apiary. We also have the golden-rod, blue asters, heart's-ease, or, as we call it here, "leaden-heart," and plenty of nameless flowers on which the bees work, but I do not know of their value, not being a botanist, but I shall endeavor to become a "bee-ist," as I love to handle them. I have interested one lady in the bee- business and in the Bee Journal, and she is quite enthusiastic. She has in- vited me to come and help her rejoice over her success, but I have not had time to spare, but I may soon if I have an opportunity. HAIRPINS TO HOLD TRANSFERRED COMBS. I will give a hint to older apiarists, and I wonder the lady apiarists have not before this let it out. It is this : When you want to transfer comb from a box-hive to a frame hive, just pierce the side and bottom bars with a small awl at intervals of 3 or 4 inches, with 2 holes opposite about % or 3/10 of an inch. Then get 2 or 3 papers of cheap hairpins, and when the comb is fitted in the frame, push a hairpin astride the septum, and I will wager nothing will beat it to hold the comb in place until the bees fasten it, when the pins can be withdrawn, and the job is completed. I have learned much since I com- menced bee-keeping, and the best lesson that I have learned is that I do not know much, which is more than some others have learned. I would like to have a little more knowledge of the science of parthenogenesis, as I think if it were well understood it would save us from a great many serious blunders. This has been a lovely day, and the bees are just shouting for joy. Methinks when I see them dip in some lovely flower I almost hear them take up the refrain, " O glorious fountain, here will I stay," etc. Port Norris, N. J.. Aug. 14, 1892. 338 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL Peculiarities of Swarming, Etc. 8. B. SMITH. There are some things about the honey-bee that are difficult to under- stand or explain, fn a timbered coun- try, if a swarm of bees leave their home in swarming time, and take to the woods, we have reason to believe that scouts have found a hollow tree, and prepared it for a future home ; but here in the Northwest there is a scarcity of timber, there being no timber except a few small, natural groves around a few small lakes, consequently honey-bees cannot find homes in the timber ; but this does not deter swarms from leaving their homes in the swarming season, and seeking homes elsewhere. There are a number of instances where swarms have taken possession of empty hives. One man found a very large colony in an old, abandoned well, with a large amount of comb well-filled with honey. Another colony was found in a dry-goods box. A few weeks ago one of my neighbors sent word to me that there was a swarm of bees at his place, and he wanted me to come and get them. I started at once with a hive, and when I got there I found a large swarm of bees in the grass near a haystack, and my neighbor told me that they came there about 5 o'clock p.m., two days previous. They had built a small amount of comb, and were going and coming as though they were gathering honey. I had no diffi- culty in hiving them, and they are doing as well as my other colonies. It has been a poor year for bees. The spring was late, cold and wet, and many colonies died after they were placed on the summer stands. The weather has been more favorable since the first of July, and bees have done fairly well in swarming, but have stored only a small amount of honey in the sections. CUCUMBER AND GOLDEN-ROD. There is a large amount of wild cucumber vine here, and it furnishes plenty of honey. Golden-rod is in bloom, but I do not see any bees working on it this year, so I concluded there is no nectar in it. SOWING ALSIKE FOR THE BEES. I sowed a small field with alsike clover last spring, and it is literally covered with bees every day. If it winter-kills I will sow again in the spring. I think it will pay all bee-keepers in the North- west to sow Alsike every spring pur- posely for bees. Keeville, Minn., Aug. 20, 1892. Black ys, Italian Bees. R. A. SHULTZ. I suppose some bee-keepers will agree with Mr. Ellingwood, that the black bees are a valuable race, but I do not claim that they are more valuable than the Italians. Several have claimed that the Italians are good defenders and moth cleaners, but any bees will do this if they have a good queen and plenty of bees in the hive. Keep them strong, and there is no danger from moth. As to the vindictiveness of blacks, I cannot see a great difference between them and the Italians. If I were to roll Italians between the combs, I would ex- pect to be stung, while they pay very little attention if not mashed. The blacks are very easily subdued with smoke, and are better comb-builders than the Italians. They also enter the surplus department quicker than the Itaiians, and cap their honey whiter. The Italian bees breed up earlier in the spring than the blacks, which trait we need here to gather the poplar honey. I think the Italians beat the blacks in gathering honey until the sourwood flow comes, then the blacks are ahead — they get rich on the sour- wood, while a lot of the Italians will not work on it. While extracting, the blacks are easier to get off the combs. That is a very good point for a honey-producer, though not for a queen-breeder. For honey I would rather have hybrid bees bred from an Italian mother mated with a black drone. For the pleasure of the pursuit, I would like to have some very yellow Italians just to amuse visitors, but for gathering honey I think the dark ones would beat them. I prefer blacks to build combs. It seems that some bee-keepers will not give the blacks credit for their good points, while others will not give the Italians due credit. I do not claim that the black bees are hardier than the Italians. I do not think they will excel in this— they need the same protection for winter. But generally the Italians breed here at their full capacity, and miss the honey-flow, and become con- sumers in place of producers of honey, AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 339 until they become adapted to the coun- try. This is the case when they are from some other place. They breed for the flow where the queen came from. Cosby, Tenn. Experience witli London Ear-Trumpet. REV. X.. L. LANGSTROTH. Perhaps very few of my readers real- ize how much more comfortable it is to be old in these days than it was some two or three hundred years ago. Before the invention of spectacles, how often a man, still in the prime of life, must have found himself no longer fit for nice work, through the failing of his eye- sight ! Now we have spectacles, for the relief of such inability, also for seeing objects at a distance, such, for instance, Oraphone, or London Ear-Trumpet. as the pebbles on the roadside, or the cherries on the trees, almost if not quite as well as the young. It is true, that defective teeth were not so common in the olden times as they now are, but still we know that they were so common that specimens of how this infirmity 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 hard 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 conver- sation of the social circle, it does not take long to realize what a great mis- fortune has befallen him. Such an un- fortunate 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. Slowly, but surely, he drops out of social intercourse with his fellowmen, and life has lost a very large part of its charms. About two months ago a friend, who is very hard of hearing, told me how he remedied it by pressing the thin surface of a patented invention 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 delighted with it that I took it to bed the first night to have the pleasure of hearing the clock tick when I awoke. Speaking of it to different friends, I found that there was a demand for it; but while it helped many, others seemed to get no important relief from its use. Finding that, by helping poor, deaf, humanity, I can at the same time help myself, I am prepared to sell these trumpets at the usual retail price, $4.50, to any of my readers who are hard of hearing, or have friends or ac- quaintances who may be so unfortunate. The engraving represents its appear- ance— 3% inches long and 2% inches in diameter, is the size usually preferred. On receipt, by mail, of a Money Order or Check for $4.50, I will mail one pre- paid to any address. It may be kept on trial for two weeks; and if not found serviceable, it may then be re-mailed to me in the original package (postage only 5 cents), and the Check or Money Order sent me will be returned. 120 Ford St., Dayton, Ohio. My Experience in Bee-Keeping, W. A. FEE. I have taken some interest in bees for several years, but year before last was the first I had bees of my own, which was one colony of Italians. Last year I secured 2 colonies, which made me 3 of Italians. I also caught 2 stray swarms of blacks, which started out well, but the moth got into them before I knew it, and had almost destroyed them. I united them, and in a few days they left the hive for parts unknown. I got no honey last year, being a very poor year for honey. Last fall I had 3 colonies, and lost one last winter, which I think smothered, as there came a heavy snow, and I neglected to open the entrance, and when I opened the 340 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. hive I found the bees all dead, with several pounds of honey left. When spring opened I concluded to go into the bee-business a little more ex- tensively, and as a good many persons were discouraged from last year's poor honey crop, I got bees pretty cheap. Some were in Simplicity hives, and some in box-hives, which I transferred to Simplicity hives, as I like that hive the best. I now have 24 colonies, most of them pure Italians, some hybrids and some blacks. I notice a good many praise the blacks ; as this has been a poor honey season so far, I have had a good chance to watch and see which are the best, the blacks or the Italians. My Italians are all strong, and in good condition — so are the hybrids. The blacks are weak, and wanting to rob. The only thing I find the blacks good for is to sting. « I am quite sure the story of Job in the good book would never have been written if he had been compelled to handle black bees, if they are all like mine — always ready for a fight. I intend to Italianize them all I have 3 beautiful young queens about ready to put in ; they are large and yellow. I have a one-frame observation hive in which I have a young queen which did not mate until she was 11 days old, it being damp, cool weather. We have had but five good honey days this year, one the forepart of June, and four so far this month. What they are getting is mostly from white clover. I have made a very handy scraper to scrape or cut out burr-combs without taking out the frames. It is made of a strip of sheet steel, or heavy sheet-iron, with a wooden handle. Rockport, Ind., July 14, 1892. He Rendering of Beeswax. w. m'nally. In the rendering of wax from refuse combs much depends upon how cleanly the work is done. Very often there is so much loss through carelessness in bespattering cloths, dishes, etc., which hardly compensates for the wax taken. Old combs yield very little, but it is the best plan to get these melted up, and thus prevent a feeding-ground for the wax-moth to multiply. Where one can afford to buy a wax- extractor, this will be found a most use- ful article, especially for clean, new combs, and as the whole apparatus is usually complete in itself, there is little need to soil other dishes with wax. Some bee-keepers do not care to go to the expense of an extractor, and to these the following method may be found useful : After the honey is taken from the combs, these should be washed in a run- ning stream, or under a tap, to remove all honey left, and as much of the pollen as possible. .Squeeze the combs into balls with the hands, and put in a bag — a washed sugar-bag will suit the pur- pose. Fill the boiler or copper with water, preferably rain water, and sink the bag of combs in the boiler under the surface of the water ; at the same time see that the bag does not touch the bottom. As the water boils, the wax will ooze out of the bag and float on the surface, where it may be allowed to cool, and taken off in one sheet, or it may be skimmed and dropped into cold water, which will greatly improve the color. A second melting and straining through a piece of muslin into any desired mould completes the operation. In most dairy farms there are large boilers for steaming turnips and soft food for cattle, heated with a steam- pipe let into the water in the boiler. Where the use of these could be had, a large lot of combs maybe melted up in short time by filling the bag with combs, and heating as above mentioned. Those who desire to have a first-class sample of wax should, at the beginning of the season, collect all the comb cap- pings and pieces of white comb. These should be washed and put aside until the desired quantity is collected. Wax taken from combs gathered in a clover district is of a pale yellow or straw color, while that from a heather district is almost white. It is erroneous to suppose that the more wax is boiled, it will become lighter in color. Dark wax may be made lighter in color by pouring it into cold water. When put into the moulds, allow the cakes to cool slowly, as they are apt to crack, and so mar the appearance if in- tended for exhibition. — British Bee Jour- nal. The Globe Bee-Veil, which we offer on the third page of this number of the Bee Jouknal, is just the thing. You can get it for sending us only three new subscribers, at $1.00 each. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 341 CONVENTION DIRECTORY. Time and place of meeting. 1862. Sept. 7, 8.— Nebraska, at Lincoln, Nebr. L. D. Stilson, Sec, York, Nebr. Oct. 7.— Utah, at Salt Lake City, Utah. John C. Swaner, Sec, Salt Lake City, Utah. Jan. 13, 14.— S.W.Wisconsin, at Boscobel.Wis. Edwin Pike, Pres., Boscobel, Wis. In order to have this table complete, Secretaries are requested to forward full particulars of the time and the place of each future meeting. — The Editoes. North American Bee-Keepers' Association President— Eugene Secor.. Forest City, Iowa. Secretary— W. Z. Hutchinson.... Flint, Mich National Bee-Keepers' Union. President— J ames Heddon . .Dowagiac, Mich. Seo'y and Manager— T. G. Newman, Chicago. reports. Prospects, Etc. ^~ Do not write anything for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. An Experience in Bee-Keeping. We began bee-keeping in 1888 with one colony, bought 3, and lost 2 in winter. In 1889 I increased by swarming and buying to 31 colonies. In the winter I lost, by starvation and diarrhea, 12, and by spring dwindling, after taking them out of the cellar, 10 more; so we began the season of 1890 with 9 colo- nies, and two no more than nuclei. We increased these to 15, bought 10 colo- nies, and took off about 500 pounds of extracted honey. We wintered these on the summer stands in chaff-packed outer-cases, and all came through in good condition. In 1891 we increased to 29, took off about 100 pounds of dark honey, and fed 450 pounds of sugar for winter stores. We wintered them on the sum- mer stands as before, and lost 2 colonies in the spring, one by starvation, and one by robber bees. This summer (1892) we have in- creased to 43 colonies, and have taken off about 3,500 pounds of light honey, and all our bees are in good condition for winter, with about 50 frames of capped honey, which we saved to patch up any that need it in the fall. We at- tributed our success in wintering bees the past two seasons to winter cases, and a strip two inches wide under the brood-chamber, and a good supply of honey. I think the American Bee Journal is about the best investment for any bee-keeper who wishes to make his business a success. Bee-keeping is a thing which I could not learn by inspiration, and it was only by faithful study of the " A B C of Bee- Culture," " Cook's Manual of the Api- ary," the American Bee Journal, and close attention to business, that we have had the amount of success we now en- joy. E. H. Stewart. Niagara Falls, South, Ont., Aug. 24. Poor Prospect for a Fall Flow. Well, here we are, and no honey. This has been the worst season since I have kept bees, and that is 15 years. Fruit- bloom did no good whatever — too wet and cold ; locust did not bloom at all ; and white clover was plentiful, but bees gathered no honey from it. We have taken no surplus honey, and there is very little in the hives, with poor pros- pect for a fall flow. So all our hopes for this year are blasted. I think the honey prophet from Tennessee missed it, for this part of Kentucky. His name ought to be "Jonas." Matthew Kebholz. Kane, Ky., Aug. 24, 1892. "Working1 on Heart's-Ease — Moths. Bees are booming on heart's-ease, of which there are hundreds of acres here. This has been a busy season for us, and is getting " worse and more of it." We have not secured much honey, owing to running nearly every colony for queen- rearing. We expect to get a load of black bees soon, and make the most of them into nuclei. It is rather late in the season, but we must fill our orders. A fine rain is falling to-day, which will insure a flow of honey from heart's-ease for at least three weeks. On page 247, Joseph Mason tells how to keep moth from combs by rain, or, as one might say — " throw them out-doors and let them take care of themselves." 342 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. For want of store room we "saved" about 100 combs out in the weather, but when we gave them to the bees the cocoons were so decomposed in the cells that the bees tore the combs down. All that we put over colonies and nuclei were O. K. Combs exposed to the sun will be worthless (except for wax) in a few hours of summer weather. S. F. & I. Trego. Swedona, Ills., Aug. 24, 1892. A Short Honey Crop. The honey crop in this part of the State will be short, owing to dry weather. I increased my bees from 5 colonies to 22, and if they get enough to winter on I will be satisfied. Our honey is principally from heart's-ease. A. W. Smith. Shelton, Nebr., Aug. 25, 1892. Good Prospects for a Fall Flow. This has been a very poor season for bees ; some colonies have stored no sur- plus at all, while others have done bet- ter. We had such a cold, backward spring that bees could not fly much, and it has been raining so much that they could gather but little honey since it has been warm enough for them to work. Some honey is coming in now from cotton bloom, which is the nicest honey we have. The prospects are good in this county for a honey-flow this fall, there being an abundance of fall flowers. From 6 colonies I increased to 15. I use a hive taking 8 thick-top Lang- stroth frames, and do not want anything better, unless it is the Hoffman frame. I think I will get that kind for next year, as they seem to be liked so well by those who use them. Cotton is almost a failure here. Corn and oats are good. W. R. Tate. Bowling Green, Miss., Aug. 25, 1892. Bee Journal Posters, printed in two colors, will be mailed free upon application. They may be used to ad- vantage at Fairs over Bee and Honey Exhibits. We will send sample copies of the Bee Journal to be used in con- nection with the Posters in securing subscribers. Write a week before the Fair, telling us where to send them. We would like to have a good agent at every Fair to be held this year. Here is a chance for a live man — or woman. Some Old-Fashioned Flowers. ETHEL LYNN BEERS. Where are tbe sweet, old-fashioned posies. Quaint in form and bright in hue, Such as grandma gave her lovers When she walked the garden through 'i Lavender with spikes of azure Pointing to the dome on high, Telling thus whence came its color, Thanking with its breath the sky. Four o'clock, with heart uplifting. When the loving sun had gone. Streak and stain of cunning crimson. Like the light of early dawn. Regal lilies, many-petaled, Like the curling drifts of snow, Wii h their crown of golden anthers Poised on malachite below. Morning-glories, tents of purple Stretched on bars of creamy white, Foldiug up their satin curtains. Inward through the dewy night. Marigold, with coat of velvet Streaked with gold and yellow lace. With its love for summer sunlight Written on its honest face. Dainty pink, with feathered petals Tinted, curled and deeply frayed, With its calyx heart half broken, On its leaves uplifted laid. Can't you see them in the garden, Where dear grandma takes her nap ? See cherry blooms shake softly o'er Silver hair and snowy cap ? Will the modern florists' triumph Look so fair, or smell so sweet, As the dear, old-fashioned posies Blooming round on grandma's feet ? —Exchange. House Apiary Like a Passenger-Car. James Harker, who has successfully used house apiaries for 25 years, de- scribes the one he is now using in these terms : The house is 40 feet long, and re- sembles a passenger-car. The hives along each side might be compared to the seats in the car ; that is, the hives represent the seats, and there is an alley way down the center. I use two rows on each side. The bottom rows of hives are on the floor; then half way up is a shelf on which the others rest. The house is used only in summer, it being only one thickness of stock lumber AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL- SIS nailed up and down. Each alternate board has a bee-entrance cut in it. Up to each entrance I push a hive so snugly that no bees can get into the house to bother with at work with them. I enter the house from the south end. At the north end there is nothing except a small opening for ventilation in the very hottest weather. About three feet from the house I have a row of grape- vines that I throw entirely over the house, making a complete shelter during the hottest weather, and it looks like one massive grape-arbor with an en- trance at the south. I run my apiary for comb honey, and place tho sections on top of the hives ; as fast as filled, or nearly so, I raise them up, and on goes another super. On some of them I have had 120 sections, and others, upon which I used large sections, gave me over 130 pounds of fine comb honey. In comparing the house to the car, I ought to have said, " all but the glass," as I use no windows, no screens or light of any kind. When I shut the door it is dark as night. If the bees come in the door when I am at work, I close the screen door, and go on with my work. — Canadian Bee Journal. Some Side-Tracked Bee-Keepera. 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 a tremor ! But just as I began to rejoice 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 t.oing like Jehu, when, in fact, they are side-tracked, and are standing stock still. Every now and then some one will aris'", and, right in the face of all the brilliant lights in the bee-world, and the testimony of thousands not so brilliant, will advocate black bees and box-hives. That man is perhaps honest, but he is side-tracked, and seems incapable of getting on to the main line where the progressive movement is. The bee-keeper who uses little, stingy starters of foundation in his brood- frames and sections, and claims that he can get just as much honey as the one using full sheets, is also standing on th» side-track. The bee-keeper who will go to a con- vention, smile, and shake hands all around, learn all he can and not become a member of the organization, and help with the usual fee, is not only on the side-track, but is on the dirt train (ex- ceptions, visitors from another associa- tion). On the same train is the man who gets all he can out of a bee-paper, then refuses to pay for it. Some veteran bee-keepers are strongly inclined to pitch into their brethren with a pen dipped in the gall of bitterness, because of a little difference of opinion. Their train was side-tracked in the sev- enties. Let's keep them there. Those far-western bee-keepers who put up their honey in bad-smelling, sec- ond-hand kerosene 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, there ! 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 rails were in- corporated to the ties with Illinois spikes. Toot ! toot ! all aboard ! For the land's sake, let us keep on the main line. — Rambler, in Gleanings. Sweet Corn and Golden-Rod. This morning the bees were sucking the sweet juice secreted at the axils of the leaves of sweet corn close to the stalks. Pollen from the tassels in fine powder is filling the air. Some persons jump at conclusions quickly, and, be- cause they have never seen bees work upon corn, say that they never do. Soil, as well as climate, exerts its influence upon plants in the secretion of nectar, and while a plant may yield largely in in one locality, it may be of no value for honey in another. Where the nights are cool, as in the Green Mountains of Vermont, the golden-rod yields much honey, and the heads of bloom are full of bees at such times ; but here, where the nights are wa.-ra during its blooming, it yields sparingly. — Mrs. L. Harrison, in Prairie Farmer. Don't Fail to read all of page 323. 344 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY At One Dollar a Year, 199 Randolph ST., CHICAGO, ILLS. TO CORRESPONDENTS. The Bee Journal is sent to subscribers until an order is received by the publishers for its discontinuance, and all arrearages are paid. A Sample Copy of the Bee Journal will be sent FREE upon application. How to Send M oney.— Remit b/ Express, Post-Office Money Order, or Bank Draft on New York or Chicago. If none of these can be had, Register your Letter, affixing Stamp3 both for postage and registry, and take a receipt for it. Money sent thus, IS AT OUR RISK; otherwise it is not. Do not send Checks on Local Banks— we have to pay 2b cents each, to get them cashed. Never Send Silver in letters. It will wear holes in the envelope, or may be stolen. JUalce all Money Orders Payable at Chicago, 111.— not at any sub-station of Chicago. Postage Stampsof any denomination may be sent for any fraction of a dollar; or where Money Orders cannot be obtained, stamps for any amount may be sent. Subscription Credits.— The receipt for money sent us will be given on the address-label of every paper. The subscription is paid to the END OF THE MONTH indicated. > Jo not Write anything for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Emerson Binders, made especially for the American Bee Johknal, are convenient for preserving each weekly Number, as fast as received. They will be sent, post-paid, for 50 cts. each. They cannot be sent by mail to Canada. f,ost Numbers.— We carefully mail the Bee Journal to every subscriber, but should any be lost in the mails, we will replace them if notified before all the edition is exhausted. Always State the Post-Office to which your paper is addressed, when writing to us. Special Notices. The Date on the wrapper-label of this paper indicates the end of the month to which you have paid for the Journal. If that is past, please send us one dollar to pay for another year. Lost Copies we are glad to replace, if notified before the edition is exhausted. o The Convention Hand-Book is very convenient at Bee-Conventions. It con- tains a Manual of Parliamentary Law and Rules of Order for Local Conven- tions ; Constitution and By-Laws for a Loca1 Society; Programme for a Conven- tion, with subjects for discussion, and about 50 blank pages, to make notes upon. It is bound in cloth, and of the fight size for the pocket. We will pre sent a copy for one new subscriber to the Bee Journal, with $1.00. An Apiary Register is a splendid book to have in an apiary, so as to know all about any colony of bees at a moment's notice. It devotes two pages to each colony. We will send one large enough for 50 colonies, for $1.00, post- paid ; for 100 colonies, for $1.25 ; or for 200 colonies, for $1.50. After using it for one season, you would not do without it. ■ « i ^ ■» • The Premiums which we give for securing new subscribers to the Ameri- can Bee Journal, are intended as pay for work done in getting new names among your friends and acquaintances, and are not offered to those who send in their own names as new subscribers, unless such name or names form a part of a club of at least three subscribers. * 1 1 ^» 1 1 » A Binder for preserving the copies of the American Bee Journal as it arrives from week to week, is very convenient. You should have one, as it is so handy for reference from time to time. We mail it for only 50 cents, or will give it as a premium for two new subscribers, with $2.00. When Talking About Bees to your friend or neighbor, you will oblige us by commending the Bee Journal to him, and taking his subscription to send with your renewal. For this work we offer some excellent premiums that you ought to take advantage of. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 345 CX.UBBING LIST. We Club the American Bee Journal for a year, with any of the following papers or books, at the prices quoted in the LAST column. The regular price of both is given in the first column. One year's subscription for the American Bee Journal must be sent with each order for another paper or book : Price of both. Club. The American Bee Journal $100 — and Gleanings In Bee-Culture.... 2 00.... 175 Bee-Keepers' Review 2 00.... 175 TheApiculturist., 175.... 165 Bee-Keepers' Guide 150. .. 140 American Bee- Keeper 150 — 140 Canadian Bee Journal 2 00 ... 175 Nebraska Bee-Keeper 150 — 135 The 8 above-named papers 6 25 — 5 25 and Langstroth Revised (Dadant) 2 40. . . . 2 25 Cook's Manual 2 00 ... . 1 75 Dooiittle on Queen-Rearing. 2 00 — 1 65 Bees and Honey (Newman).. 2 00 175 Advanced Bee-Culture 150 — 140 Dzierzon's Bee-Book (cloth). 2 25.... 2 00 Root's A B C of Bee-Culture 2 25 ... . 210 A Year Among the Bees 1 50 — 1 35 Convention Hand-Book 125 115 History of National Society. 1 50 ... . 1 25 Weekly Inter-Ocean 2 00.... 175 The Lever (Temperance) .... 2 00.... 175 Orange J udd Farmer 2 00 175 Farm, Field and Stockman.. 2 00.... 175 Prairie Farmer 200.... 175 Illustrated Home Journal.. 1 50 1 35 American Garden 2 50.... 2 00 Rural New Yorker 3 00 ... . 225 Do not send to us for sample copies of any other papers. Send for such to the publishers of the papers you want. Almost Every Bee-Book that is now published we mention on the second page of this issue of the Bee Journal. Look over the list and select what you want. For every new yearly subscriber that you secure for us at $1.00, we will allow you 25 cents, to apply on the purchase of any book we have for sale. This is a rare chance to get some valua- able apicultural reading-matter, and at the same time aid in spreading helpful apiarian knowledge among your friends. -• — i ■ ^m > i • Bee-Keeping for Profit, by Dr. G. L. Tinker, is a nice, 50-page pamphlet, which details fully the author's new system of bee-management in producing comb and extracted honey, and the con- struction of the hive best adapted to it — his "Nonpareil." The book can be had at this office for 25 cents, or will be given for one new subscriber, with $1. Premium to Every New Subscriber. — We will give to every new subscriber (with $1.00), for whom it is desired in place of getting any other premium we offer for work done, a copy of "Rural Life" — a valuable pamphlet of over 100 pages, devoted to "Farm Topics, Live- stock, Poultry, Bees, Fruits, Vegetables, Household, Home, and Miscellaneous Matter." Or we will send it, postpaid, for 25 cts. This is a rare chance for new subscribers to get some excellent reading for nothing — by sending $1.00 for one year's subscription to the Bee Journal. This Means You.— When order- ing any of the books or articles which we offer clubbed with the Bee Journal, or otherwise ; or when sending anything intended for us, such as subscriptions to the Bee Journal, or matter for publi- cation, be sure to address everything to —George W. York & Co., 199 Ran- dolph St., Chicago, Ills. Please Send Us the Names of your neighbors who keep bees, and we will send them sample copies of the Bee Journal. Then please call upon them and get them to subscribe with you, and secure some of the premiums we offer. Webster's Pocket Dictionary we offer as a premium for sending only one new subscriber with $1.00. It is a splendid Dictionary — and just right for a pocket. Why Not send us one new name, with $1.00, and get Doolittle's book on "Scientific Queen-Rearing" as a premi- um ? Read the offer on page 350. Wants or Exchanges. Under this heading, Notices of 5 lines, or less, will be Inserted at 10 cents per line, for each insertion, when specially ordered into this Department. If over 5 lines, the additional lines will coBt 20 cents each. TO EXCHANGE— Pure Tested Young Ital- ians, 3 to 5 bands, 50 cents to $l.u0— for cash, wax or offers. F. U. MOKBoW, OAtf Wallaceburg, Arkansas. 346 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Honey & Beeswax Market Quotations. The following Quotations are for Saturday, September 3rd. 1892 : CHICAGO, Ills.— Comb honey is coming in slowly. Good demand for choice stock at 15c. Extracted finds a ready market. Supply is in- creasing. This is a good time to ship to this market. White brings 7Hc; dark, 6@6l/2. Beeswax— Prime, 25c. J. A. L. CHICAGO, Ills. — We have inquiries for white 1-lbs. at 16c. for best grade; amber at 14c. Good demand for extracted at 7@8c. Beeswax— 26c. S. T. Y. & C. KANSAS CITY, Mo.-Recipts of comb and extracted are light, demand for both is good. We quote: No. 1 White 1-lbs. 15@16c; No. 2 white 1-lbs. 13@l4c. No. 1 Amber 1-lbs. 14® 15c; No. 2 amber 1-lbs, 10@12c, White ex- tracted 7@7^c; amber, 5@6c. Beeswax— 22 ®25c. C.-Jkl. C. C. CINCINNATI. Ohio.— The demand Is good for extracted at 5<§>8e. Demand is slow for comb honey, at 12® 15c. for best white. Beeswax is in slow demand, at 23(&25c. for good to choice yellow. C. F. M. & S. NEW YORK, N. Y.— Demand is moderate, and supply reduced, with no more glassed 1-ft nor paper cartons, 1-B>. We quote: Comb, l-fl>, 14@15c. Extracted— Basswood,7M@7Hc; buckwheat, 5 !4@6 54; Mangrove, 68@75c per gal. Good demand for dark extracted honey. Beeswax, in fair supply, with small demand, at 26@27c. F. G. S. & C. DETROIT, Mich.— Best white comb honey 12@13c; but little left to sell. Extracted, 7 @8c. Beeswax, 26<&27c. M. H. H. SAN FRANCISCO. Calif.— Demand is quiet as old crop is nearly exhausted and new crop not in yet. We quote: Extracted, 5J4@6 cts. Comb, 1-lbs., 10(s>llc.; 2-lbs., 6@8c. Beeswax — 24@25c. S., L. & S. BOSTON, Mass. — Demand is light. White 1-lbs., 13@15c. No 2-lbs, on hand. No Bees- wax on hand. Extracted, 7@8c. Demand is light for all. B. & R. MINNEAPOLIS. Minn.— This Market is now dull in general, though some is being worked off. but mostly at cut prices. Fancy white, 15 @17c, 1-lb. sections; dark, 8@10c. Extracted white, 7@8c; dark, 5<&6c. S. & E. KANSAS CITY, Mo.— Old honey is wholly cleaned up. both extracted and comb. New crop will be in about July 10, here. H. & B. ALBANY, New Fork.— No receipts of new comb yet, but some call for mixed at 13@14c. Light, 15@16c; dark, 12@13c. Extracted is in good demand at 7(§,9c. Beeswax— 26® 30c. according to quality and style. H. R. W. Winter Problem in Bee - Keeping ; by G. R. Pierce, of Iowa, who has had 25 years' experience in bee-keeping, and for the past 5 years has devoted all his time and energies to the pursuit. Price, 50 cents. For sale at this office. List of Honey and Beeswax Dealers. Chicago, Ills. S. T. Fish & Co., 189 South Water Street. J. A. Lamon. 44 & 46 South Water Street. R. A. Burnett, 161 South Water Street. New York, N. Y. F. G. Strohmever & Co., 120 Pearl Street. Hildreth Bros. & segelken, 28 & 30 West Broadway. F. I. Sage & Son. 183 Reade Street. Chas. Israel & Bros., 110 Hudson Street. Cincinnati, Ohio. C. F. Muth & Son, cor. Freeman & Central avs. San Francisco, Calif. Schacht, Lemcke & Steiner, 10 Drumm St. Detroit, Mich. M. H. Hunt, Bell Branch, near Detroit. Minneapolis, Minn. Stewart & Elliott, Boston, Mass. Blake & Ripley. 57 Chatham Street. Albany, N. Y. H. R. Wright, 326 & 328 Broadway. Kansas City, Mo. Hamblin & Bearss, 514 Walnut Street. Clemoms-Mason Com. Co., 4th & Walnut Sts. Your Subscription to the Bee Journal — is it paid up to date ? If not, please send to us a dollar for a year, and thus show your appreciation of our efforts in your behalf. Look at your wrapper-label, and if the date looks like this— "Dec91," that $1.00 sent to this office will make it look like this — Dec92. » i ^m i * We Club the American Bee Journal and the monthly "Illustrated Home Journal " one year for $1.35 ; or both of these Journals and the semi-monthly "Gleanings in Bee-Culture," for one year, for $2.10. » * ♦ • » The Amateur Bee-Keeper, by J. W. Rouse, is a book of 52 pages, intended, as its name indicates, for beginners. Price, 25 cents. For sale at this office. When You Have any honey to sell, get some Honey Almanacs and scatter in your locality. They will sell it all in a very short time. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 359 * PUBLISHED BY ' GEORGE W. YORK& CO r CHICAGO.ILL. ■ — - ONE DOLLAR, FEB YEAR. Club Rates,— Two copies, $1.80 ; 3 copies, $2.50; 4 copies, $3.20; 5 copies, $3.75. Mailed to any addresses. THOMAS G. NEWMAN, GEORGE W. YORK, Editors. Vol. XIX. Sept. 15, 1892. So. 12. A Dialogue on Queen-Searing will be commenced by Mrs. Atchley next week, in her department. It promises to be very Interesting, especially to the beginner who wishes to rear his or her own queens. Look out for this "con- tinued " dialogue about queen-bees. Mr. Jas. A. Stone, the hard- working Secretary of the Illinois State Bee-Keepers' Association, asks us to publish the following : The subscribers to the American Bee Journal, who in the future (as we get the time to mail them) receive copies of the first Annual Report of the Illinois State Bee-Keepers' Association, may consider themselves under obligation to our friends, George W. York & Co., of the American Bee Journal, who, at our request, kindly gave us your ad- dresses. Jas. A Stone, Sec. Poor Seasons or poor years are apt to occur in any business, and es- pecially in an agricultural line. While the past few seasons have been rather severe on the bee-keepers, yet it cannot be that such will continue much longer. Bro. Root, editor of Gleanings, has had some conversation with „an aged bee- keeping friend, which is summed up as follows : A few days ago we were talking with a gentleman who kept bees many years ago. We referred to the 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 succes- sion, followed by many years of good honey-flows. He also alluded to the fact that certain agricultural products were subject to cycles of four or five years. Well, our cycle of poor years, we are in hopes, is about up ; at any rate, we shall keep on hoping ; for " hope," says Eugene Secor, " is the bee-keeper's best bank account." A False Statement is going the rounds of the press to the effect that visitors will not be able to get any drinking water at the World's Fair without paying for it. There will be an abundance of excellent water free to all who want it. Those who wish to drink mineral spring water, piped to the Ex- position Grounds from Waukesha, Wis., a hundred miles distant, will have to pay one cent a glass for it. The free water will be that of Lake Michigan, brought by tunnel from a point four miles from shore, and much better than the inhabitants of most large cities are supplied with. The Bee-Age, we now learn, was never born. It seems we were misin- formed about it. But no matter, "'tis better so." When better seasons come again, will be time enough to talk of " the age of bees." Read S. F. & I. Trego's Advertisement. 360 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. The Sangamon Fair and Springfield Exposition, which was held on Sept. 5th to 9th, at Springfield, Ills., issued a very elaborate Premium List of 120 pages. Mr. Jas. A. Stone was the Superintendent of the Bee and Honey Department, and the following is the generous list of premiums offered : Largest and best display of comb honey $10 Second best 5 Largest and best display of extracted honey 10 Second best 5 Best case of comb honey, 12 to 24 pounds 3 Second best 2 Best display of candied honey 3 Second best 2 Best display of beeswax 3 Second bes> 2 Best frame of Italian bees in obser- vatory hive 5 Second best 3 Best and largest display of queen- bees in cages with progeny 5 Second best 3 Best imported Italian queen with progeny 5 Best quart of honey- vinegar 1 Best hive and furniture complete for comb and extracted honey 6 Second best 4 Best honey extractor in operation . . 8 Best exhibit of apiary supplies 10 Best display of brood foundation. . . 1 Best display foundation for surplus. 1 Best bee-escape 1 Best display of honey-plants, pressed, mounted and labeled with date of bloom 5 In a letter received on Sept. 5, from Mr. Stone, he said : "Although it is a poor honey year, our display in honey came in quite large." The Ohio State Building: at the World's Fair (see page 371) will be dedicated at the same time as are the general Exposition buildings — on Oct. 21, 1892 — according to present plans. Speeches will be made by Gov. McKinley, ex-Gov. Campbell, and Senators Sher- man and Brice. President Harrison is expected to deliver an address at the unveiling of Rebisso's equestrian statue of William Henry Harrison, which will stand in front of the Ohio building. The Review is receiving some very encouraging endorsements now-a- days, which are also very much de- served. Seldom does a periodical of such tender years mature so rapidly and apparently so substantially. It certainly deserves its measure of success, and we can heartily "second the motion" found in this paragraph, from the last number of Gleanings : What an excellent bee-paper the Bee- Keepers' Review is ! It seems to be im- proving month by month. We have wanted to pat Bro. Hutchinson on the back several times of late, but we were afraid that our readers would begin to think that Gleanings and the Review were somewhat under one management. Not a bit of it. Both journals are man- aged and conducted separately ; and although there may be a rivalry, it is, in the language of Bro. Hutchinson, " not an unpleasant one." We club the Revieiv with the Ameri- can Beb Journal — both one year for $1.75. Mr. E. F. Quigfley, publisher of the Progressive Bee-Keeper, announces in his August number, which is just re- ceived, that he has "purchased the subscription list of the White Mountain Apiarist, and will commence filling its contracts with the September issue." As it is about the time for "doubling up" colonies, we are not surprised at this case of "doubling up" of two bee- papers. Mr. Quigley seems to be pro- gressive, as the title of his paper indi- cates. Xhe Bee-Keepers' Union is again triumphant ! John Foulkes, near Dubuque, Iowa, sued his two neighbors who kept bees, demanding temporary injunctions, compelling the owners to remove the bees. As they were mem- bers of the Union, the General Manager took charge of the case. The result is, that Judge Lenehan refused to grant the injunction, because it would "inter- fere with a business which the courts recognize as legal." More particulars will be given next week. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 361 more than Pleased.— Dr. A. Sayler, of New Palestine, Ohio, in a letter dated Aug. 29th, expresses his pleasure over receiving the American Bee Journal and the book "Bees and Honey," in the following happy manner: Friend York : — Your Bee Journal, with back numbers from June 1, 1892, came to hand a few days ago, and I have been gorging most gloriously on them. More " sweets " for a dollar than I could have ""obtained spending the money for sugar. To-day, the gorgeous bee-book came — "Bees and Honey." Pictures of the great bee-lights are just what I have been longing for. This morning I read Father Lang- stroth's article on his sickness in the Bee Journal, then I wanted to see his picture. To-day's mail brought it in the book. Ah ! but he's a grand old man. He looks — an uncrowned king. The pictures in "Bees and Honey" show that all you bee-men — all the " big 'uns " — are prim and precise to a fault, and immaculately neat. Well, idlers and slouches will never get to the top in any of the branches of your craft. Yours Respectfully, A. Sayler, M. D. The Apiculturist for September came right on time, and is full of good things. Here are a few of Bro. Alley's "A pi-thoughts :" September is the best month for pre- paring bees for winter. Don't fuss with them late in the fall. Twenty-five pounds of sugar, or $1.25 worth, will carry any colony of bees through the hardest winter. Bees in the Bay State Apiary have gathered more or less honey all through the summer. Quite an unusual thing. When those bee-keepers who have the Punics learn how to handle them, little complaint will be heard from stings. There is a great knack in handling bees to avoid stings. Some people cannot handle bees any more than they can the horse, or other domestic animals. The Punics are all right. Don't be in a hurry about marketing your honey. There must have been a short crop of good honey gathered this year. Vermont bee-keepers have se- cured but little surplus, and this seems to be the condition in several States where large quantities of comb honey in sections is usually secured. A big crop of new bee-papers is prom- ised in the near future. Such things must be expected as long as fools and cranks infest the world with their ex- istence. 'Tis pretty rough to be obliged to write this stuff with the temperature at 92° in the coolest place. 'Tis rough, too, to go into the apiary and put up queens when it is 120° in the sun. We poor mortals who rear queens and pub- lish bee-papers have to do these things as well as a good many more things the common bee-keeper is not obliged to do. All "Visitors will be interested in the Agricultural exhibit, but its chief value will rest upon a much broader and more significant fact. The exhibit will afford a vast amount of information to many thousands to whom it will prove of incalculable benefit. The crops best adapted to different localities, and the reason therefor, the most improved methods of cultivation that are being pursued, the best results that have been secured, and the manner of their secur- ing, and the perfection of products in every line — all these will be shown, and will constitute the more important les- sons which the Agricultural exhibit will teach. Through the thousands who learn these lessons, and are sure to make practical utilization of them, the agri- cultural industries will receive such an economic readjustment and impetus as will result in increased productiveness and merit, and general benefit to the entire country, from the World's Fair. Catalogues have been received from the following : — Mrs. Jennie Atchley, Floyd, Tex. — 16 pages — Bees, Queens and Nuclei. John Nebel & Son, High Hill, Mo.— 20 pages — Bee-Keepers' Supplies, Ital- ian Bees and Queens. Why Not send us one new name, with $1.00, and get Doolittle's book on "Scientific Queen-Rearing" as a premi- um ? Read the offer on page 383. 362 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. MR. ORANGE JUDD. On July 26, 1892, was the 70th birthday anniversary of Orange Judd, the present well-known editor of the Orange Judd Farmer, whose home is at Evanston, Ills. Many were the sur- prises in store for him on the above date, which reminded the recipient that he had a host of warm-hearted friends who loved to show their honor for him, and their appreciation of his helpful life, by numerous sifts as well as the most loving and cordial congratulations and wishes that he might have " many, many returns of this anniversary." There are many important events in such a busy, useful life as has been that of Orange Judd, which we should be very glad to place before our readers, but in the limits of our space we can only mention a few — such as have brought the greatest good to the Ameri- can people, and the highest honor to him whose portrait so enlivens the op- posite page. Orange Judd was born July 26, 1822, in a log cabin near Niagara Falls, and grew up a hard-working farmer's son, thus gaining — as does every boy who is so fortunate as to have been born on a farm — valuable experience and prepara- tion for his life work. He was a great reader, his special inclination being towards natural philosophy and chem- istry. When near his majority he left the farm to prepare for college, refusing financial aid from home. He said to his father: "You have enough to do to give the other children a good education; I can work my own way." And he did, through nine years spent in securing such a varied, practical education as to place him among the foremost scholars of his time. Mr. Judd was given the American Agriculturist (which he edited for 30 years) when it had but 812 subscribers, and under his wise and efficient manage- ment it became very popular, and its regular circulation ran up to over 160,- 000 early in the '60's. The International Sunday School Les- son System was originated by Mr. Judd, which now is used the world over, and which is such a splendid help to bible study. The Crop Reporting percentage system now used by the General Government and State bureaus, was devised and wholly carried on by Mr. Judd for two years, when the Agricultural Bureau at Washington was induced to take up the work. A tardy but much-merited recog- nition of his work in this line recently appeared in a Government document. He was usually fortunate and success- ful in securing good lieutenants in his various departments of business and en- terprises, so that he always had time and energy for some new work. He has found time since 1850 to visit and de- scribe in part portions of every State and Territory in the Union, except Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Alas- ka ; also all the countries of Europe ex- cept Norway, Spain, Portugal, Turkey and Greece. His numerous letters and essays on " Who Should Go West, When, Where and How ?" were re-published millions of times by others, and con- tributed much to the rapid settlement of Icwa, Kansas, Nebraska, etc. His scientific explanations of the utility of irrigation were highly valued, and much re-published in the arid States and Territories. Mr. Judd's great interest in educa- tional matters is well known, and his co-operation and means, erected the " Orange Judd Hall of Natural Sciences," presented to his Alma Mater, which, at the time of its dedication in 1870, was one of the most perfect and commodious structures of the kind in the country. This, Mr. Judd often says, is the most pleasing and profitable investment he ever made ; says it pays him now a very AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 363 large annual interest in the satisfaction of seeing its benefits to large numbers. If he received this in money, it could in no way afford so good and satisfactory returns. He recently remarked : "Oh, I'm rich enough. I have a home, small, but large enough for me, and as good clothes as I care for, just the kind of simple food which is best for me, and plenty of friends. Vanderbilt has no more, and I have not his care and anxiety." The Alumni Record of his alma mater dent was authorized by Congress to select and appoint for life half a dozen or more men known for their public work and philanthropy, etc., as a " United States Board of Indian Com- missioners," to report directly to him- self. They have been called the " Presi- dent's Private Indian Cabinet." This Board supervise all letting of contracts and the quality of articles, also the pay- ment of bills, and generally looking after the welfare of the Indians. Mr. Orange Judd was appointed as the Hit H Orange Judd's 70th Birthday Anniversary. began in 1850, and first published in 1859, is a model of its kind. The last edition (1883) is a large octavo volume of over 800 pages. The trustees value its usefulness to the university so much that they have provided for a series of decennial editions, the next of which, brought up to date, and probably much enlarged, will be issued in 1893. During Gen. Grant's Presidency a unique provision was made to help remedy the disgraceful wrongs and out- rages upon the Aborigines. The Presi- " Agricultural Member," and continued until after his prostration in 1883, when he felt compelled to resign from longer service. In 1880 he spent 46 days at the Reservation along the upper Missouri, from Sioux City to 200 miles above the Yellowstone, investigated numerous wrongs and irregularities. and effected sundry changes in the methods of introducing farming imple- ments, live stock, etc., among the In- dians. His report to the President, a closely printed document of 61 pages, 364 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. was of much influence in the Indian Bureau, especially as respects imple- ments, farm operations, etc. He paved the way for the surrender of Sitting Bull and his band in the winter of 1880-81. Mr. Judd's health was impaired by hard day and night work and exposure in the hospital camps, during the Vir- ginia campaigns of 1863-64, as an ac- tive worker and assistant in the United States Sanitary Commission. He then imbibed the seeds of malarial disease which were ever after a source of trouble. In 1873 he organized his entire business in a Stock Company, to pre- serve its integrity in case of his death, and disposed of a considerable share of it to others, investing largely in real estate in and around New York, while we went with his family to Switzerland and elsewhere for a year's residence, where he partially recovered from the malarial infliction, but never quite so, even to this day. The general financial crash during his absence in Europe, in the autumn of 1873, the mismanagement and outside speculations of those in charge of the old business, of which he remained as president and responsible head, and the continuous great decline in real estate largely diminished his "reserve" in- tended for his old age, and finally in 1883 the scheming of those in the busi- ness to get possession of it, and the failure of numerous parties whom Mr. Judd had aided financially, and whose notes he had endorsed to help keep them going, became a heavy load ; and a sun- stroke in May, 1883, which entirely in- capaciated him for business during many months, all together swept away his accumulations ; except, as he says, " What I have given away is secure ; is yielding a large income to me in satis- faction in seeing it useful to the present and coming generations." This financial disaster, as it would seem to others, Mr. Judd claims was a blessing in disguise — a dark cloud, but with a bright "silver lining ;" and after fully recovering from the effects of the sunstroke, he lost no time in resuming his journey (of 31 years previous) to Chicago, with his sons fully educated and prepared for activity in the great, growing West, which their father be- lieved was the best field for them in which to enter upon their life work. Mr. Judd feels that during the past eight years he has, in his profession, done more and better work for the country than in any previous period twice as long, and he has no other idea than to keep at it a long time yet — how many more years, he is not anxious to forecast. In the foregoing we have endeavored to recapitulate some of the great things which Mr. Orange Judd has done for the good of his fellow men. In his declin- ing years we hope he may not only have the consciousness of a "duty-done" life, but may also feel that present and future generations will revere his mem- ory, emulate his noble example and self- sacrifice, and ever be grateful for the beneficent influence of such a well-spent life. Bee-Keepers' Magazine, pub- lished at Winona, Minn., by Mr. A. K. Cooper, expects to be " on hand " again with the October number. The last issue was for June. Mr. C. says he will have a "nicer looking paper" then, and "may reduce it in size to the standard, 6x9 inches." We wish him success, as we do all others interested in the ad- vancement of bee-literature. We may be jealous of some things, but we cer- tainly are not jealous of any rival bee- publishers. We wish them all the pros- perity they merit or desire. The Southern and Texas bee-keepers will meet in special session on Oct. 27th, during the Dallas. Tex., Fair and Exposition. It is hoped that there may be a general attendance of the bee- keepers of the South. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 365 CONDUCTED BY Hire. JemEsfe Mfeteltj, Floyd, Hunt Co., Tex. Introducing Queens. As quite a number have asked the best method of introducing queens, I will here say that I hardly know which way is best, but, as I have been quite suc- cessful in the last five years, not losing a single queen that I now remember of, I will give my plans. The first is the "candy plan;" but I do not like the directions that go out with the candy plan. I first know that my hive is queenless, then I lay the cage on the frames, wire downward, remove the tin from the candy end of cage, and let them severely alone for one week, and I always find the queen out and laying. A great number of queens lost by in- troducing, I am satisfied, is because the hive is opened too early. Put in the queen, and do not, under any circum- stances, touch it for a week, is my ad- vice. Another good way is to keep the queen caged over hatching brood, and have no wire cloth on the cage. But as this is more trouble, we have not used it any this year. I would never make the colony queenless before putting in the new queen, as there is more danger in your leaving some little, dumpy cell in the hive that will hatch before the queen is released, than there is in put- ting in the queen at the same operation the old one is removed. Then there is no danger of a queen hatching for 10 days, and by that time the introduced queen will be out all O. K. But, usually, the new queen is out and laying before the bees have time to start cells at all. Of course, when the colony has be- come queenless by accident, you should give them a queen the first chance, but be sure they have no virgin or queen- cell, otherwise you will fail. Should I have one of those bad colonies to intro- duce a queen to, such as Mr. Doolittle speaks of, I would put the queen into the hive three days in the cage ; I would take away all brood, and give them empty combs, or combs of honey. Then I would shake the bees all off the combs in front of the hive, and turn the queen loose with them, and as soon as they were all in I would shake them again, just as before, and then shut up the hive. In a few hours give them a frame of brood, and then let them alone. Bees Leaving the Hive — Sumac. On June 20th I placed an entrance- guard on the entrance of a colony that had a great many drones which I wanted to get rid of, and then shook the bees in front of the hive. I soon noticed an Italian queen on the alighting-board, and as the bees which I was working with were blacks, I knew she was a stranger, and the bees seemed to know it, too, for they "balled" her at once. I succeeded in getting her out, but she flew away before I could get her caged, and I saw her no more. I saw that some of the bees around the hive were yellow. This caused me to look around, and I soon found where the strange bees and queen came from. There was a weak colony a few yards away, and it was from this colony that the strangers came. Part of the bees went back to their own hive, but the queen did not return. I gave them a queen-cell, and in a short time they had a virgin queen, but it got lost before she was old enough to lay, The bees then came out and went to the hive that they went to before. What caused them to leave the first time, I do not know. They left the last time probably because they had no queen or brood with which to rear one. A few days ago a weak colony swarmed out and settled on the ground. I was somewhat surprised to find a queen with them, for I had supposed that they were queenless, thinking this was the cause of leaving their hive. 1 put them back into their old hive (the queen did not get back), and they are there yet, and have built several queen- cells. When they came out they had considerable brood and some honey. When I put them back I gave them a frame of brood and honey, and as they have stayed all right since, I think they swarmed out because they had but very little honey, although there was plenty of nectar in the flowers. Bees have gathered but very little surplus honey here this year. In the spring I had 4 strong colonies, and 2 that were very weak. I now have 7 colonies that are very strong, and 2 that are not very strong. My colony of Ital- ians has done better than any of the 366 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL.. others. In the spring it was very weak, but now it is nearly as strong as the strongest, although I have divided it once, and drawn several frames of brood and honey, besides keeping it queenless about two weeks. Sumac has been in bloom for several weeks, and the bees keep busy on it when the weather admits. There is a great deal of sumac around here, and it is spreading very fast. All that has to be done to raise a patch of it, is to clear off the ground — Nature does the rest. The sumac will soon sprout up all over the ground, and it will bloom when it is two or three years old. Ed. Cdark. Nat, Ala., Aug. 17, 1892. When Should Honey lie Extracted ? Query 836.— When should combs ordinarily be extracted— when just sealed over, partly sealed, or when sealed for some time, in order to get the largest financial returns ?— Illinois. When partly sealed. — E. France. When partly sealed. — Eugene Secor. When fairly well sealed. — A.B.Mason. When just sealed over. — L. Harrison. When sealed over, or partly sealed. — J. P. H. Brown. Just after about all the cells are sealed over. — C. H. Dibbern. It depends upon circumstances. Long sealing is safe. — C. C. Miller. Combs are not sealed over until the houey is ripe enough to extract. — J. E. Pond. As soon as the honey is sufficiently ripened ; honey does not always require being sealed entire. — J. M. Hambaugh. It will depend upon, your method of handling honey. I prefer to extract when it is well capped over. — H. D. Cut- ting. Extract when about one-third sealed, and keep in open vessels in a warm place for a short time. — Mrs. J. N. Heater. The best honey comes from combs long sealed over ; the best honey brings the best prices, and gives stability to our markets. — G. M. Doolittle. I prefer to extract when the combs are just sealed over. I do not always wait until all the cells are sealed, but I want them ready to seal. — M. Mahin. The best way is to have plenty of combs, so that you can leave the honey in them until it is fully sealed and thor- oughly ripened. — James A. Green. If the bees have plenty of comb room in which to distribute their nectar for evaporation, I prefer to remove the combs when partly sealed. — R. L. Tay- lor. Sealing has nothing to do with ripen- ing. Extract when the honey has been a week or more in the hive. It is then probably ripe, whether sealed or not. — Dadant & Son. Just as the bees commence to seal them, I think. Circumstances might make it more profitable to add extra hives, and let them cap all ; and then extract after the season was over. Each person can best judge, as he knows how his time is to be employed. — A. J. Cook. As the quality of extracted honey in making sales must affect the " financial returns," it is manifest that the honey should be well ripened before extract- ing. The best time is therefore soon after the combs are sealed. — G. L. Tinker. Much depends upon the season and disposition of the bees, and much more upon your system of management. For 20 years we have used shallow supers and the tiering system, and when rightly used " partly capped " is enough to war- rant ripe, rich honey. — James Heddon. In order to get the most honey, better extract when the bees begin to seal the combs ; and I think in this locality the largest financial returns are derived from extracting almost as fast as the bees fill the combs, for honey does not always have to be capped here to be ripe, as our bees often bring in thick, ripe honey from the fields in dry sea- sons.— Mrs. Jennie Atchley. If you have a good supply of combs to give the bees full room to store honey while they evaporate and seal that which has been stored, you will save time and labor by going over the yard not more than twice to take the whole crop. And then you will have an article that you will be proud of. Honey that is taken when thin and watery, no matter what you do to it afterward, is little more than syrup. It is an inferior stuff, that ought not to be recognized as honey. — G. W. Demaree. The main point to consider is, Should the honey be extracted before it is ripe ? The Bee Journal has always advised bee-keepers never to extract honey until it is ripe. When it has been gathered 8 or 10 days, it is safe to extract it, whether it is capped or not, for it would probably then be ripe. Ripe honey is best, brings the best price, and will therefore secure " the largest financial returns. " — Editors. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 367 On Important Subjects. Difference Between Italians anil Blacks. JAS. F. WOOD. In the following article I &hall en- deavor to show the vast difference (in different localities) between the Italian bee and our common black and hybrid bees ; also the propensity of the Italians to swarm when blacks refuse to do so under the same circumstances. As a breeder of Italians, perhaps what I have to say in favor of black bees will be read with interest ; on the other hand I shall not enumerate the superior qualities of the Italians, as I believe we are re- minded of them in print often enough by other persons than myself. First, we will look at my own locality, and a careful comparison of the two races side by side for 16 years during good, and still oftener poor, seasons shows very little difference, if any, in favor of either race. I might add, I have not kept any black bees for five or six years, so I have had no experience during this time, although the honey resources grow less and less each year, so I consider further tests in my location of no value. Next we will go to a location only 4 miles from my home (the apiary nearest my own). Here there is a continuous honey-flow from the opening of fruit- bloom until late in September ; but re- member it is only very moderate until September, when golden-rod and asters yield profusely. All the months of June, July and August the bees will gain just enough so we can barely see from one week to another that there is a trifle more honey. But, O my ! you would be surprised to see what a single colony of Italians will amount to by the way of increase. They will swarm usually three times, then in August, and often in September the old colony will cast another swarm, while the first and second swarms often will cast swarms. I have known swarms as late as Sept. 3rd to gather enough to winter, and one good colony to increase to 10 by natural swarming, without the use of founda- tion or combs. In this locality I have tested many different strains of Italians, some said to be " non-swarmers," but the result is invariably the same with all Italians in this locality, even the strain that gave me such large yields of honey in New York, and never attempted to swarm, became as others in this location, simply because the room in the brood-chamber was continually filled with brood instead of being crowded with honey, and con- sequently more bees are bred. Now compare the black bees with the Italians in this locality. They will swarm twice, usually, if they have their own way (whieh they usually do), and there is no more swarming at all, but of course the hives are crowded to over- flowing with bees, and when the fall honey-flow begins, these blacks will fill a super full of honey, while the Italians are in no condition to store surplus, as they are so reduced by swarming during August. The last swarm issued Aug. 19th, this year, and to-day have filled a hive of empty comb with brood and honey. Now, do you wonder that this man declares that the black bees are the best ? Surely, he gets his honey from them, and not a pound of surplus from his Italians, which I so kindly gave him. When I resided in New York, where buckwheat and sweet clover were both abundant, I found at the close of the season that the Italians had stored honey gathered from sweet clover, while the blacks gathered largely from buck- wheat, and not so large a yield per colony. I had about 100 colonies of Italians and 50 colonies of blacks, and the difference in yield and the value of the clover honey over the buckwheat amounted to about $1.00 per colony in favor of the Italians. In this location the blacks swarmed much more than did Italians — indeed, the Italians swarmed very little the two seasons I resided there. Do you wonder that a man in this location declares Italians the su- perior bees ? Now I have come to the conlusion that there are locations where hybrid or black bees will gather more honey than other Italians, especially is this true where dark honey of poor quality is gathered. I think this applies to the location of W. L. Coggshall, of New York, and other extensive honey pro- ducers who find the hybrid bees give best results in dollars and cents. Mr. Coggshall lives in a locality where buck- wheat is of great value, and it has been 7ny experience in many different loca- tions to observe that hybrid bees are equal to any bees (and I sometimes think superior) to work a buckwheat field. Hence, we find such bees in Cen- 368 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. tral New York to the exclusion of Italians. I think that when we are liberal and broad-minded enough to take in the different locations of this great country, and make allowance for the man whose bees swarm continually, and the other whose bees do not swarm at all, and ad- vertises non-swarmers, that we can look upon the latter as honest, while the former cannot, after trying his bees only to find them swarming as much as do his own. It is difference in location, friends, and not in the "strain "of bees. North Prescott, Mass., Aug. 26, 1892. Freeing a Colony from Laying Workers. J. F. LATHAM. I have a method for getting rid of laying workers, when I do not wish to introduce a fertile queen, that I have not seen described in the American Bee Journal. I first remove, as the magnitude of the abnormality requires, from two to four combs, containing the most drone-brood, from the brood apartment, and insert in the center of the hive the same number of combs from other colonies well-stocked with eggs and worker-brood and adher- ing bees. I then shave the heads from the drone-brood in the combs taken from the colony having the laying workers, and distribute them among the colonies from which I took the worker-brood. This done, I shave the heads from the drones in the combs remaining in the hive having the laying workers, and place them outside of the combs which I inserted — in reality forming a strong nucleus with the old bees of the colony as auxiliaries. The evidence of abnormality will soon disappear, and, if outside conditions are favorable, the colony will manifest an interest in the change by rearing queens, and preparing to again assume its normal routine. The foregoing-described process will not be applicable later than the middle or later part of July, in this latitude, and then the colony should be fed during the interim from clover to the fall bloom, which is about four weeks in this locality. Should the colony fail in their efforts to obtain a queen, the bee-keeper can furnish it with a queen, or unite it with a colony having a fecundated queen, as may be thought judicious. West Cumberland, Me. Do Bees Hear ?— Introducing Queens. C. E. MEAD. All the evidence affirms that they do. Probably the first evidence a beginner sees of this is in hiving a swarm of bees. As soon as a part have found the hive, they start the glad hum, and though most of the swarm may be in the air, or some feet away from the hive, they all come with a rush to their new home. Notice the guards in front of the hive, and see on the approach of a big fly, hornet or humble-bee, one will give a sharp, short buzz of alarm, and all the "soldier bees" on guard will be in- stantly on the alert. Place your finger-tip on a loaded worker, enough to detain it, not to hurt it ; it will give a buzz of fear, the sol- diers will come to its rescue, and it is well to let it go. There is the buzz of alarm when you drum up, a swarm, or blow smoke into a hive ; the peculiar hum of swarming bees ; and the hum of satisfaction that bees on a brood-comb sometimes give on being returned to the hive. About a week ago I saw a virgin queen come out and fly away. She did not seem to mark the hive very well. Instantly the nucleus was on the alert, and bees flew in all directions. In about eight minutes she came back, and three bees with her. As soon as the queen had entered the hive, they began a peculiar hum, and all returned to the nucleus. Some bees went to the en- trance of the hive nearest the nucleus, and returned as soon as she returned. I saw this repeated several times. Each time the bees seemed to sally out to con- duct her home. The sound of a queen's flight is unlike that of a worker or drone. Though her motions are short and erratic, like those of a drone (I am referring to a virgin queen), let one bee, inclined to be cross, come around you ; if you are quiet, it usually leaves, but let another join it — instantly the hum of both strikes a higher key. Look out, or they will strike you. I do not think this is due to the smell of each other's venom, but to hearing the threatening sound of each other's wings. NUCLEUS FOR QUEEN INTRODUCTION. I wished to introduce a queen at once. As honey was coming in, and the day was warm, I took this way of doing it, which I have not seen mentioned : AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 369 At 8 a.m. I took four frames of cap- ped brood from as many different hives, being careful not to get a queen, and placed them in the nucleus hive. All the bees that had ever had a flight be- fore, went back to the hives they were taken from. After shaking the young bees in the nucleus hive, I returned all but one brood-comb, thus leaving only young bees. I placed the cage on the frames of the nucleus. The first bees that dis- covered the queen gave the glad hum ; in half a minute all the bees had taken it up, and covered the cage. I gently pushed them away, so as to open the cage, and the queen deliberately walked out, all the workers facing her, and sticking out their tongues, offering her food. The next morning she was laying. This ought not to be tried only when honey is coming in, and the day warm. Take all the young bees on each comb that you can. Now let those who care to, or have not already observed the few instances mentioned above, verify these observations. Bees communicate by sound of wings, and express joy, anger and fear. They find a queen by the sound of her wings ; they sound the alarm of her loss, and the joy of her being found. Chicago, Ills., Aug. 1, 1892. How Far Do Bees Fly ? FRANK BENTON. Items under the above heading have been going the rounds of the papers, and the opinions expressed differ greatly, some claiming "that bees will not go farther than two or three miles," while others think the distance is greater, one even naming 12 miles as the limit. After mentioning the fact that the bee makes 190 wing-strokes in a second, one of the items widely copied says that " scientists claim that 190 strokes per second would propel the bee forward at the rate of a mile per minute," and then that " conservative writers admit the bee's velocity to be at the rate of at least 30 miles per hour." The same writer then goes on to say: "Basing our calculations on the latter figures, and supposing that they can keep up for 20 minutes, no matter how heavily laden on the return trip, the rate of speed on the outgoing would take them 10 or 12 miles from the home line." It is quite difficult to determine the rate of speed attained in flight by bees. Therefore, any computation of the dis- tance they go after honey, which is based upon their supposed speed, is liable to great error. The number of wing-strokes per second, 190, as re- corded above, was obtained by Prof. Marey by what is known as the "graphic method." A bee was held so that when its wings were in motion one of them would strike very lightly the surface of a revolving cylinder covered with smooth paper slightly smoked, and at the same time a style fixed in the end of a tuning-fork was arranged to record on paper vibrations it makes per second, it was easy to com- pare the number of these actually re- corded with the record of the bee's wing for the same time, and thus arrive at the number of strokes the bee makes in a second. It is evident, however, that the friction of the bee's wings against the paper must lessen somewhat the number the number of strokes, and in- deed Prof. Marey observed that as he lessened this friction the • velocity in- creased considerably. If the note made by the bee's wings when she is in vigorous flight could be accurately determined, the correspond- ing number of vibrations required per second to produce that pitch would rep- resent the wing-strokes made by the bee causing the sound. Dr. H. Landois thinks the note of a bee in full flight ranges from A to C of the first and sec- ond leger of the treble clef. This gives over 400 vibrations per second. If, then, " 190 strokes per second would propel the bee forward at the rate of a mile per minute" (a claim by no means to be accepted as proven), and if Landois has determined the note cor- rectly, over 2 miles per minute would be the speed attained. Conservative authorities are disposed to place the rate of speed attained by bees much below 30 miles per hour, even no more than 18 to 20 miles, and nothing is better recognized than that bees when fatigued, when flying from flower to flower, or when returning heavily laden to their hives, proceed far more slowly than when outward bound. Thus the calculation that they go 10 or 12 miles from home is plainly erroneous. How difficult it is to determine their rate of speed, and hence however erro- neous any calculations based upon such determinations may be, it is not at all difficult to tell practically how far bees actually do go after honey. Apis melliftca has been introduced into regions where the species did not 3T0 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. exist before, and careful observations have been made regarding the range of its flight, and also the yellow varieties have been taken to countries or locali- ties where only brown or black bees were found, and the dark varieties have been experimented with in regions where only yellow bees were natives. In this manner it has been readily and accurately determined that they gen- erally work within a distance of 2 miles from their hives, although they will in rare instances go as far as 2 or 5 miles, and a resident of an island off the coast of Texas reported, several years ago, having followed his bees in a boat, and found them working on the mainland, a distance of 7 miles from their hives. But no practical bee-keeper would ex- pect favorable results from pasturage located over 3 miles from his apiary, and marked advantage can only be awaited when the honey-sources are located within 2 miles in a direct line from the apiary. — Insect Life. Washington, D. C. A Trip to Historic lactinac. HENBY K. STALEY. When, according to ths ancients, Canis Major or Sirius the Dog Star is in the ascendancy, the fields dry up under the scorching rays of the sun, the pores of humanity are opened, and the brack- ish sweat rolls forth, wetting the dirt- tiest rag to the most beautmul dress. It is during these times, the dog days, that people with overworked brains, worn out and enervated bodies, and those afflicted with summer diseases, are wont to flee their homes in search of quietude and recreation, to watering- places and summer resorts. And this is what every bee-keeper should do, if he can possibly afford it, as well as the lawyer, doctor, merchant asd thief, and leave behind him the cares and anxieties of life in oblivion, and, like De Soto and Ponce de Leon, search for some influ- ence to invigorate and regenerate him, putting him in a fit attitude to again combat with the. stern realities of life, "lis said, "Life is short, and time is fleeting, And our hearts like muffled drums Are heating, funeral marches to the grave.' In view of this, it behooves us to take advantage of the extremely low railroad rates to these places of interest and recreation. But let ine advise you, paradoxical as it may seem, the opinions of others to the contrary notwithstand- ing, to first yo alone. By so doing you will soon be enabled to overcome all feeling of homesickness, gain experi- ence, and be endowed with a self-reliance which I think can never be acquired by traveling in twos or more. So, having purchased a $5.00 round- trip ticket to Detroit, I left The Queen of the West.in her garlands decked, at 9 a.m. on Aug. 25, 1892, headed for the "Fair City of the Strait." The rounceval iron-horse soon began to fly through the magnificent suburbs of Lockland, Wyoming, Carthage, Glen- dale and Cumminsville. We now roll into the Gem City amid confusion, where, after a short respite, we are flying through Northern Ohio. " Whizzing o'er the mountain. Buzzing o'er the vale ; Bless me ! This is pleasant, Riding on a rail." That the "melancholy days have come, the saddest of the year," is at- tested by the acres of dried up and withered grass. Tippecanoe, Troy, Sid- ney and Piqua are soon left into our rear, and we are now sailing toward the tremendous oily resources, tanked and otherwise, of the Standard Oil Co. It is a grand sight as one comes into Lima, to see these hundreds of hundreds of red-painted tanks, holding within their circumferential areas, millions of gallons of crude oil, drawn from Nature's greasy springs. No less interesting is it to see this crude oil. refined. The first distillation gives off gasoline, the second benzine, the third petroleum or coal oil, the fourth headlight oil, and the fifth lubricating oils. Thousands of pounds of the residuum is made into coal tar, and lots of it goes into the chewing gums, for our fair damsels to smack their jaws upon in lieu of what they term the " filthy tobacco." '•Tobacco— 'tis a nasty weed, Which from the devil did proceed ; Smoke and chew, and burn your clothes, And make a chimney of your nose." These things are especially interesting to me, since I am an exponent of For- estry, because of the consciousness that all this oil that warms up our edificies by day, illuminates our houses by night, makes our buggies run easily, cooks our meals, cleans our printing presses, tars our ropes, and sets our upper and nether maxillaries in motion, must trace AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 371 its origin back to the magnificent forests of the geological carboniferous epoch. Turpentine is the distillation of the sap drawn from the pine trees of North and South Carolina, while our rosin of commerce is the residue. Copal varnish is made from the hard gum of an extinct forest, only found in Australia about 8 feet beneath the surface soil. It re- quires about 750° of heat to melt it. Shellac varnish is made from the excre- ment, offal or dung of a fly that lives In Ceylon. When a person travels, I claim to make apiculture a grand and glorious industry. But although President Harrison seems to glory in the fast decreasing wood area of the United States (when at Malone, N. Y., he said: "We have in large part completed our great works of internal improvement. The forests liave fallen before the axes of our pioneers, and the plow now turns the soil of all that region which we once styled the ' far, great West' "), we should not shut our eyes and wink at the actual condi- Ohio State Building at the World's Columbian Exposition, in 1893. that, to use a vulgar word, he should use his " gall," and " nose around," and build up intellectually as well as physi- cally. We are now flying through the beauti- ful fields of Northern Ohio. The api- aries here, no doubt attributable to the energies of "A. I. R.," are quite numer- ous. The immaculate buckwheat fields stare us in the countenance, and we are constrained to believe that the raising of buckwheat could be carried on exten- sively and advantageously in the upper portion of the Buckeye State. Bee-keepers, you have seen your lovely lindens swept from the soil ; you have seen your farina-bearing, hard sugar maples turned into lasts, and now it should behoove each and every one of you to do your uttermost to secure the extensive planting of buckwheat, so as tion of affairs, but — remembering that with the upbuilding of the forests, sac- charine and otherwise, apiculture will surely augment itself and become a grander and more powerful industry — plant, plant, plant; and what? TREES. Well, Toledo, lyiug on the shallow shores of the deceptive Lake Erie, we now enter, where a Michigan Central locomotive stands waiting to carry us on. After replenishing the inner man, we are sailing through the Peninsular State toward Detroit. The train pulls up at her nice depot in a drizzling rain. After having my satchel checked — this is a good thing to do when you are are in a strange city — I started out to hunt hotel accommodations. Did I succeed ? Well Detroit seemed to be crowded to her uttermost, and I thought that in this wise it was one of the most damnable 372 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. cities I ever struck on the face of the earth. Weary, tired and disgustified, I made up my mind then and there to leave the city. So I went down to the foot of Wayne street, bought a round-trip ticket for $7.00 to Mackinac, and slept on board the handsome ship " City of Alpena " for the night. After having partaken of a salutary breakfast on the boat the next morning, and witnessed the exciting scenes inci- dent to departure, we were soon sailing up the bluish-green water of the Detroit river. The quaint old town of Windsor, Canada, is on our right, while the famous and world-renowned Belle Isle, lit up by electric tower lighting, we pass on the left. We are now in placid Lake St. Clair, while the picturesque St. Clair Flats are seen in the distance. This vista must be seen to be appreciated. For miles boating houses, summer re- sorts and hotels are seen on stilts and piles on the American side, while on the Canuck's hardly anything is scarcely visible. This is hard to belfeve, but nevertheless it is true. Here we are now going through the far-famed governmental ship-canal soon to emerge in the St. Clair river. The towns of Marine City, St. Clair and Oak- land are soon passed, and we find our- selves launched to the dock at Port Huron. Here are numerous small boys vending their wares of buttered popcorn and roasted peanuts. We are informed that Lake Huron is rough, but after the roustabouts have performed their duties, we cast off and are ready to face the music of the waves. Have you ever seen a mother for the first time nursing and rocking her first born ? Imagine then, this huge ship, as she sang lullabyes to those who for the first time were on board a rough sea. She soon began to play " rock-a-bye baby " on the deep, and I noticed that many people began to hie to their state- rooms and berths, and a foul odor began to pervade the cabin, and people began to walk intoxicated, and I soon came to the conclusion that Emesis began to reign supreme, " monarch of all he sur- veyed." So I stayed near the railing of the boat, filling my lungs with the cool, re- freshing oxygen, and inhaling the bene- ficial oozone of the lake, expriencing all the while a queer sensation in my abdominal head-quarters — but further than that I encountered no serious ob- stacles. Being tired out, I soon consigned my little body into the somniferous embrace of the goddess of sleep, and there nest- ling on her nigrescent bosom, I began to doze, when, bang ! bang ! kerchug ! Heavens ! what's that ? To be a little explanatory, I will say that there are two berths in each room — an upper and a lower. By paying $1.50 you secure the lower and the right to the key, while the upper costs one dollar, but then you are dependent upon the purchaser of the lower to get in and out. This is a most execrable arrange- ment, yet it is so. Turning over I un- locked the door, when in strutted an unbeknown stranger to me, who, dis- robing, leaped up into the upper berth. Well, confound it, Sullivan-like, I felt like taking the clerk of that ship and breaking his face — but these are some of the tit-bits of traveling alone. About 2 a.m. the rumbling and grumbling of trucks informed me of the fact that we were at Oscoda, a lumber town of Michigan. But albeit I vowed on my down trip to stay in the cabin all night rather than sleep with somebody else, the sights I saw next morning more than made up for the inconveniences I experienced in that hour of night, the keystone. Old Sol shining on the calm waters to our right made the lake appear like a huge flock of gregarious cow-birds, flop- ping argentiferous wings, while 18 miles distant in the horizon, the curling smoke finding its way heavenward above the "City of Alpena," was a sight so grand, glorious and soul-inspiring I am con- vinced could not be effaced from off the black-board of my memory, by the com- bined strength of all the tutors and pro- fessors that ever enjoyed the light of day. Alpena is a strictly lumbering town. Here is abundance, and hence profli- gacy. Refuse burners signify it. But already they are feeling the gnawing rat. Forests are not of mushroom growth, but require that of generations, and the question is being debated, What will become of these towns that draw their nutriment entirely from lumber resources, when the forests are cut away ? The land does not seem to be fit for agriculture, and I cannot help saying to these deluded people, What became of the kingly, superb and magnificent city of Nantucket when the never-ceasing bar appeared at the entrance of the harbor? Their salvation, commercially speaking, is only to be found in forestry. Acres and acres of logs floating on the lake, towed along by a little tug, is no uncommon sight. The outside logs are AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 373 well-picked ones, chained one to the other, thus forming a ligneous cordon around the mast of logs inside. A man away out in the distance may be seen tramping from log to log that none get away, just as a watermelon raiser watches his patch with a trusty Win- chester. Cheboygan is finally reached, and then away off in the distance Plank's Grand Hotel looms up with its wonder- ful colonnaded portico, while high on the hill white-washed Ft. Mackinac stares us in the face, and about 5 p.m. we step on the dock and register at the New Mackinac. This is a busy little town at this sea- son of the year. Although possessing a normal population of but about 490 souls, it is no uncommon thing for 5,000 or 6,000 strangers to be on the island at once. The island comprises, in round numbers, 2,000 acres, while 900 have been converted into a National Park. This is a busy little place with boats coming and going, curiosity shops galore, while a galaxy of loud-mouthed carriage drivers, infernally yelling, are seen near the dock. There is a great deal of sociability here, and the young ladies in their attire of silk and crepon — Ges Creep-on — with their dear, little footsie-tooties encased in slippers of snowy immacu- lateness, are figures that go gliding back and forth to the cottages and hotels, thus relieving the monotony. Sunday I found that pecuniarily I was'nt "in it;" that by going above Detroit my eyes were bigger than my mouth, that I had bit off more than I could chew. So I tried to unravel the knot, but soon found it to be a Gordian one, and gave up in despair. In the first place, I knew that the only way I could get money in time was via telegraph, waiving identification. But lo, and behold you, when I inquired about Kennedy, Ohio — the nearest tele- graph station to Pleasant Ridge — on this score, I found it was no money order station, and myself deep as ever in the soup. My condition was ridiculous, knowing that at one time my uncle was Mayor of Cincinnati, my father Treas- urer of Hamilton county, and my grand- father Sheriff, and myself — not able to obtain a cent of money. Having paid my board bill, I had just 78 cents left, and determined to eke that out until I struck Dayton, O., the land of my birth. Being no Mason or Odd Fellow, I could not apply to any source like that for aid, but I feel confident if I had known the address of any bee-keeper I could have easily secured the loan of money. At 10 a.m. I went aboard the "City of Mackinac," and found that I had 50 cents to spend for breakfast the next morning, and 28 cents for popcorn and "Yucatan." By eating popcorn and swallowing Yucatan spit, I man- aged to stave off hunger the rest of that day. The boat was crowded on account of people going to the International Fair at Detroit, and not being able to buy a berth, I stretched myself out on three chairs in the cabin, and slept the best way I could. Arising at 4 the next morning, I was struck with the saying that half of the world don't know how the other half lives. Here they were in a conglom- erate mass, scattered about on cots, chairs, and the floors ; men lying here and babies there, like hogs, while I had to pick my way over their bodies to the lavatory. O how I did wish I could get one of those millionaires out of his berth and pummel him in his " bay window." But not being an advocate of Henry Georgeism, I indulged in no fistic exhi- bitions. That morning I played the epicurean, eating as much as I could so as to hold out for the rest of the day. I arrived in Detroit hungry as a wolf, with but 3 cents in ray pocket, and as I promenaded up Michigan avenue, I could not help laughing at the ridiculousness of it, as bakery stores and groceries never seemed so plentiful before, when I had but 3 cents " in my inside pocket, don't yer know?" But making the best of it, I invested in three sugar rolls, which I devoured with great gusto, and then found myself 261 miles from home, without a solitary copper. So as soon as possible I boarded the train, half frozen during the night, as I could get no berth, and about 4:30 in the morning I arrived at Dayton, O., after a most eventful and never-to-be- forgotten trip, with a sharpened appe- tite for breakfast. Never before did the land of my birth seem "the fairest, the dearest, the brightest on earth," as it did that morning. Now, brother bee-keepers, when you contemplate taking a journey, follow the advice of David Crocket, " LoGk be- fore you leap." Travel at first by your- self, and you will soon have "gall" and self-reliance that will surprise you. But after you have been initiated in the ex- periences of traveling, it will pay you to journey with a companion, as you will find it 100 times more congenial. Read 374 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. this trip well, so that you will know what you will have to encounter if you attend the World's Fair, for I don't want you to borrow money from dear, old, brother York until you bankrupt him, and thus make the " old reliable" American Bee Journal a thing of the past. Pleasant Ridge, Ohio. CONVENTION DIRECTORY. Time and place of meeting. Oct. 7.— Utah, at Salt Lake City, Utah. John C. Swaner, Sec, Salt Lake City, Utah. Jan. 13, 14.— S.W.Wisconsin, at Boscobel.Wis. Edwin Pike, Pres., Boscobel, Wis. In order to have this table complete, Secretaries are requested to forward full particulars of the time and the place of each future meeting. — The Editors. North American Bee-Keepers' Association President— Eugene Secor.JTorest City, Iowa. Secretary— W. Z. Hutchinson Flint, Mich National Bee-Keepers' Union. President— James Heddon . .Dowagtac, Mich. Sec'y and Manager— T. G. Newman, Chicago. S£t££W| Reports. Prospects. Etc. tW Do not write anything for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Heaviest Flow in 6 Years — Smoking. The heaviest honey-flow of six years has been and is still upon us. How I long for my 50 colonies back again. Manipulate frames as I may, I cannot get the queens to lay well. The workers choke them down with honey. The Bee-Keepers' Review has been "smoking" for two months, and not one of you fellows would throw a cup of cold water on it ! Is this what you call "editorial good-will?" James Hamilton. Beason, Ills., Sept. 5, 1892. [Of course if a bee-paper wants to smoke, why we will have to let it smoke — we don't see any way to prevent It. Now, if it had been the editor smoking instead of the paper, Bro. Root and the writer (G. W. Y.) would have felt called upon to try to induce him to give up the useless and injurious habit. But bee- keepers, as a rule, we think smoke only when having a bee-smoker in their hands. That is the only " proper " way to do — then the sisters can enjoy it, too.] The Honey-Flow at Last. Bees have not made a living for two months, but now you ought to see my golden Italians roll in the Spanish- needle honey. I think my best colony will store 50 pounds of surplus from that plant. James W. S. Rupe. Mt. Vernon, Ills., Sept. 5, 1892. Good Year in North, Texas. As this is my third years' experience with frame hives, it is to be supposed that I would come in as a beginner. Well, I began the season with 10 colo- nies of blacks, bought 6 of the same kind, and then it occurred to me to pur- chase Italians. I got 12 nuclei and queens. I increased to 50, and have doubled back to 40. I am doubling all old black colonies with the Italians. This is a good year in the north of Texas, as I have put the sections on twice, and the bees filled them well the first of the season with as nice white honey as one would wish to see. The latter is unquestionably honey-dew. David Letot. Letot, Texas, Aug. 29, 1892. Queen Not Mated from Upper Story. Allow me to reply to Mr. Doolittle's answer to my question on page 296. He says that unbeknown to me "there was a crack or hole in or about one of those upper stories large enough for the queen to go out and return, to meet the drones." Now, it is known to me that such was not the case, for the reason that there are no cracks or holes (but the regular ones) in my upper stories, or lower ones, that would allow a mos- quito to pass through, as I do not belong to that class of bee-keepers. So that queen either passed out through the ex- cluder and was fertilized, and went back the same way, or else she was fertilized in the super. John McKeon. Dryden, N. Y., Sept. 5, 1892. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 375 Have Done Extraordinarily Well. My bees have done extraordinarily well this season. I have 35 colonies, and 31 of them are at work in the su- pers. I have extracted twice already from some of them, and I expect a large crop from broom-weed, which is begin- ning to bloom. I could not afford to do without the Bee Journal, as it is the most handy " tool " in my apiary. I read it care- fully every week, and find that I am greatly benefited by it. S. F. OZBURN. Meridian, Tex., Sept. 5, 1892. Lots of Buckwheat Honey. I had 3 swarms to-day. My bees are getting lots of honey from buckwheat. There are hundreds of acres of it within reach of them. D. G. Webster. Blaine, Ills., Sept. 5, 1892. Good Prospect for a Fall Crop. Bees are doing finely. There is a good showing for'a fall crop of honey. Bees did not swarm much. I have had 12 swarms from 39 colonies, spring count. I will report in full after I take off the surplus honey. Sampson Stout. UdalirKans., Sept. 1, 1892. Drone-Brood Poisonous to Chicks. On page 182, I notice that Mr. Geo. Poindexter recommends educating chick- ens to catch drones. I do not suppose these "drone-traps" would make any distinction between drones and queens. Besides this objection, I want to say that the larvae of moth make a nice morsel for chicks, but drones will scour the old birds and kill the young ones. In the spring of 1891 I cut out half a peck of drone-cells, and, cutting off the caps, gave them to the fowls. The little chicks would greatly relish pulling the drones out of the cells. In a day or two though, I noticed many of the chicks drooping, and some died. I rarely lose a chick after I get it out of its shell, and did not like the condition of my young broods at all. I suspected the drone feeding, but decided to give them another trial or two, as there were dis- turbing causes. Last spring I had a brood of chicks a month or six weeks old off to themselves, and one day took from some combs a handful or two of drones of different ages — some could almost crawl ; as usual the chicks de- voured them. The next morning I no- ticed they were affected with the same symptoms as before observed. Half of them did not keep up with the old hen, and before night three of them had died. It took a week for the rest to re- cover. I must be doubly sure before I state a fact, and two weeks ago I tried only a few upon a small brood of chicks, and noticing the same effects, I wrote to Mrs. Atchley, of Texas, not to use drones for this purpose. Drones have no poison-sacs, and I am at a loss to know why they should poison chicks, and scour the old birds — but I am con- vinced that they will do it. Arthur T. Goldsborough. Washington, D. C, Sept. 1, 1892. Working on Buckwheat, Etc. I put 50 colonies away last fall, and lost 2 in wintering and 7 by spring dwindling. I did uot feed any, and all hives were empty of honey when the spring flow began. We had about a week's good flow of linden, when ex- tremely hot, dry weather stopped the white clover and linden flows. I have now 63 colonies, with the bodies of the hives full, and the bees are now working on buckwheat and miscellaneous weeds, and are storing some honey in the supers. Richard Hopkins. Bear Grove, Iowa, Sept. 4, 1892. Combed and Extracted. Honey as Medicine. I do not think honey as an antidote for the ills that flesh is heir to, receives the attention it should. Pure liquid honey as an alleviator for sore, inflamed throats, has no equal. A lady who is a great sufferer in this way, keeps a glass of it on the stand by her bedside, and finds relief by taking a tea-spoonful of it whenever she awakecs, as it both cleanses and relieves. Father Lang- stroth, dear to all lovers of the honey- bee, says that his wife was in Massa- chusetts a sufferer from consumption, and her friends and advisers thought she could not live to reach her home. She did, and then commenced to take 376 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. pure liquid honey, a tea-spoonful at a time, as often as she could receive it, night and day. She recovered and lived ten years, and then did not die of con- sumption. It is claimed that clover and basswood bloom is an alleviator for pul- monary difficulties, and why should not the nectar be more powerful ? What can be more acceptable to a little child suffering from a cold or croup than pure liquid honey, when it naturally loves sweets ? — Mrs. L. Harbison, in Prairie Farmer. A Valuable Milk-Weed. Mention is made in the "A B C of Bee-Culture " of the mischievous prop- erties of Asclepias cornuti in gumming the feet of bees, and thereby disabling them ; and the plant is, therefore, rightly condemned. The remarks justly apply to the variety in question ; but a distinction should be made in favor of Asclepias tuberosa, which is one of the most valuable honey-plants of this vicinity, from the first to the middle of July. It is not chargeable with the mentioned objection of the other va- rieties, and is a rich honey-plant, fur- nishing a good quality of honey. It grows on sterile soil, and flourishes un- der conditions 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. — C. H. Murray, in Gleanings. Lighting the Fire in Bee-Smokers. We have one of the improved Bing- ham smokers, and I have used 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 conven- ient to fill a smoker, when necessary, by simply breaking off a dead limb and breaking it in pieces 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 give us ! This will work in either the Bingham or Clark. We keep a box for holding shavings at each of the out apiaries, and although they are covered with tin covers, we did have trials the past extraordinarily wet spring in keeping the shavings dry. If you have never had any experience in starting a smoker, with damp fuel, there is no use telling you about it. You could not appreciate it. A few live coals from the stove, or a piece of saltpeter wood, is a great help in lighting a smoker. I can hardly tell which smoker I like bet- ter, the Clark or the Bingham. They are both good. The Bingham is the more durable one, as it does not suck smoke back into the bellows. I think the Clark not quite so clumsy to handle, and I prefer it for driving bees out of several supers at a time, as it sends a stronger blast. — Emma Wilson, in Gleanings. Convention Notices. COLOR ADO.— The Colorado State Bee-Keep- ers Association will hold their " Honey-Day " in Longrmont, Colo., on Sept. 28th, 1892. Littleton, Colo. H. Knight, Sec. WISCONSIN.— The Southwestern Wisconsin Bee-Keepers' Association will hold its next annual meeting- as Boscobel, Grant Co., Wis., on Jan. 13 and 14, 1893. All members of the Association are requested to be present as the following officers are to be elected; President. Vice-President, Secretary. Assistant Sec, and Treasurer. Blank Reports will be sent each member, for the year 1892, with instructions. A cordial invitation is extended to all bee- keepers, and especially to those that would like to join with us. Each member will be no- tified at least one month before the meeting Boscobel, Wis. Edwin Pike, Pres. Bee Journal Posters, printed in two colors, will be mailed free upon application. They may be used to ad- vantage at Fairs over Bee and Honey Exhibits. We will send sample copies of the Bee Journal to be used in con- nection with the Posters in securing subscribers. Write a week before the Fair, telling us where to send them. We would like to have a good agent at every Fair to be held this year. Here is a chance for a live man — or woman. Doolittle's Queen-Rearing: book should be in the library of every bee-keeper ; and in the way we offer it on page 383, there is no reason now why every one may not possess a copy of it. Send us one new subscriber for a year, and we will mail the book to yon as a present. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 377 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY K & C@„ At One Dollar a Year, 199 Randolph St., CHICAGO, ILLS. TO CORRESPONDENTS. The Bee Journal is sent to subscribers until an order is received by the publishers for its discontinuance, and all arrearages are paid. A Sample Copy of the Bee JOURNAL will be sent FREE upon application. How to Send Money.— Remit by Express, Post-Office Money Order, or Bank Draft on New York or Chicago. If none of these can be had, Register your Letter, affixing Stamps both for Sostage and registry, and take a receipt for it. loney sent thus, IS AT OUR RISK; otherwise it is not. Do not send Checks on Local Banks — we have to pay 25 cents each, to get them cashed. Never Send Silver in letters. It will wear holes in the envelope, or may be stolen. Make all Money Orders Payable at Chicago, 111.— not at any sub-station of Chicago. Postage Stampsof any denomination may be sent for any fraction of a dollar; or where Money Orders cannot be obtained, stamps for any amount may be sent. Subscription Credits. — The receipt for money sent us will be given on the address-label of every paper. The subscription is paid to the END OF THE MONTH indicated. ._)o not Write anything1 for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Emerson Binders, made especially for the American Bee Journal, are convenient for preserving each weekly Number, as fast as received. They will be sent, post-paid, for 50 cts. each. They cannot be sent by mail to Canada. Cost Numbers.— We carefully mail the Bee Journal to every subscriber, but should any be lost in the mails, we will replace them if notified before all the edition is exhausted. Always State the Post-Office to which your paper is addressed, when writing to us. ' Special Notices. The Date on the wrapper-label of this paper indicates the end of the month to which you have paid for the Journal. If that is past, please send us one dollar to pay for another year. Lost Copies we are glad to replace, if notified before the edition is exhausted. The Convention Hand-Book is very convenient at Bee-Conventions. It con- tains a Manual of Parliamentary Law and Rules of Order for Local Conven- tions ; Constitution and By-Laws for a Loca1 Society; Programme for a Conven- tion, with subjects for discussion, and about 50 blank pages, to make notes upon. It is bound in cloth, and of the right size for the pocket. We will pre sent a copy for one new subscriber to the Bee Journal, with $1.00. An Apiary Register is a splendid book to have in an apiary, so as to know all about any colony of bees at a moment's notice. It devotes two pages to each colony. We will send one large enough for 50 colonies, for $1.00, post- paid ; for 100 colonies, for $1.25; or for 200 colonies, for $1.50. After using it for one season, you would not do without it. • — • ■ ^i i » m The Premiums which we give for securing new subscribers to the Ameri- can Bee Journal, are intended as pay for work done in getting new names among your friends and acquaintances, and are not offered to those who send in then own names as new subscribers, unless such name or names form a part of a club of at least three subscribers. » 1 1 ^» i » » A Binder for preserving the copies of the American Bee Journal as it arrives from week to week, is very convenient. You should have one, as it is so handy for reference from time to time. We mail it for only 50 cents, or will give it as a premium for two new subscribers, with $2.00. When Talking About Bees to your friend or neighbor, you will oblige us by commending the Bee Journal to him, and taking his subscription to send with your renewal. For this work we offer some excellent premiums that you ought to take advantage of. 378 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. < B.I JBBING 1. 1ST. We Club the American Bee Journal for a year, with any of the following papers or books, at the prices quoted in the liAS'I" column. The regular price of both is given in the first column. One year's subscription for the American Bee Journal must be sent with each order for another paper or book : Price of both. Club. The A merican Bee Journal $1 00 ano" Gleanings In Bee-Culture. . . .' 2 00 . . . . 1 75 Bee-Keepers' Review 2 00.... 175 TheApiculturist 175.... 165 Bee-Keepers' Guide 150... 140 American Bee-Keeper 150 140 Canadian Bee Journal 2 00 ... 175 Nebraska Bee-Keeper 150 1 35 The 8 above-named papers 6 25 5 25 and Lang-stroth Revised (Dadant) 2 40. . . . 2 25 Cook's Manual 2 00.... 1 75 Dooiittle on Queen-Rearing. 2 00. . . . 1 65 Bees and Honey (Newman).. 2 00 175 Advanced Bee-Culture 150 140 Dzierzon's Bee-Book (cloth). 2 25. .. . 2 00 Root's A B C of Bee-Culture 2 25 ... . 210 A Year Among the Bees 1 50 1 35 Convention Hand-Book 125 115 History of National Society. 1 50 ... . 1 25 Weekly Inter-Ocean 2 00.... 175 The Lever (Temperance) 2 00 175 Orange Judd Farmer 2 00 1 75 Farm, Field and Stockman. . 2 00 1 75 Prairie Farmer 2 00 ... . 1 75 Illustrated Home Journal.. 1 50 1 35 American Garden 2 50 2 00 Rural New Yorker 300.... 2 25 Do not send to us for sample copies of any other papers. Send for such to the publishers of the papers you want. Almost Every Bee-Book that is now published we mention on the second page of this issue of the Bee Journal. Look over the list and select what you want. For every new yearly subscriber that you secure for us at $1.00, we will allow you 25 cents, to apply on the purchase of any book we have for sale. This is a rare chance to get some valua- able apicultural reading-matter, and at the same time aid in spreading helpful apiarian knowledge among your friends. Bee-Keeping for Profit, by Dr. G. L. Tinker, is a nice, 50-page pamphlet, which details fully the author's new system of bee-management in producing comb and extracted honey, and the con- struction of the hive best adapted to it — his "Nonpareil." The book can be had at this office for 25 cents, or will be given for one new subscriber, with $1. One - Cent Postage Stamps are preferred by us when it is necessary for any of our subscribers to send stamps in place of paper money, Express or Post-office Money Orders, or drafts on New York or Chicago. The Express Money Orders, or Post-office Money Orders, are the safest outside of drafts. Do not send checks on your local banks, as it costs us 25 cents each to get them cashed here. Postal Notes are no safer than cash put into the envelope, so do not waste your money in buying them, but get a Money Order instead. This Means You.— When order- ing any of the books or articles which we offer clubbed with the Bee Journal, or otherwise ; or when sending anything intended for us, such as subscriptions to the Bee Journal, or matter for publi- cation, be sure to address everything to —George W. York & Co., 199 Ran- dolph St., Chicago, Ills. Please Send TJs the Names of your neighbors who keep bees, and we will send them sample copies of the Bee Journal. Then please call upon them and get them to subscribe with you, and secure some of the premiums we offer. Webster's Pocket Dictionary we offer as a premium for sending only one new subscriber with $1.00. It is a splendid Dictionary — and just right for a pocket. Be Sure to read offer on page 357. Wants or Exchanges. Under this heading, Notices of 5 lines, or less, will be inserted at 10 cents per Hue, for each insertion, when specially ordered into this Department. If over 5 lines, the additional lines will cost 20 cents each. TO EXCHANGE— Pure Tested Young Ital- ians, 3 to 5 bands, 50 cents to $1.00— for cash, wax or offers. F. C. MORROW, 6Atf Wallaceburg, Arkansas. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 391 a PUBLISHED BY' GEORGE W. YORK& CO. ' CHICAGO.ILL. ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR. Club Rates,— Two copies, $1.80 ; 34copies, $2.50 ; 4 copies, $3.20 ; 5 copies, $3.75. Mailed to any addresses. THOMAS G. NEWMAN, GEORGE W. YORK, Editors. YoLXXI Sept, 22,1892. 1.13. Help a Man out of trouble, and though he'll forget Your kindness as soon as his trouble is o'er— If ever again " in a hole " he should get, Ah ! then he will think of you kindly once more. Sugar, for feeding bees, will cost more money hereafter. The quaran- tine has interfered with the importation of sugar, and the refiners have taken advantage of that fact and raised the prices. At this time, quotations are very unsteady and feverish. To-day a barrel of the best granulated sugar, containing from 300 to 350 pounds, will cost at wholesale price from 5% to 5% cents per pound, and correspondingly more at retail. This will answer many queries sent to this office about the pros- pect for sugar quotations in the near future, as well as the prices for to-day. Honey is Scarce this fall, and will no doubt be scarcer before winter is half over. It ought to bring a good price, especially if a good article. Those who are so fortunate as to have any honey to sell, will be doubly fortunate this year, because of the high price which it will command. One of those who give the market quotations in the Bee Journal from time to time, has this to say in a letter received on Sept. 13, 1892: We cannot get honey enough to sup- ply our trade. So far we could fill every order received, but we have written to most of our shippers, and although we have always had honey on the way, it is very likely that we shall not have a bar- rel on hand before we know it. We could not afford to solicit sales for the last three months, but were always in danger of receiving orders that we could not till. This is the time for bogus honey, such as Prof. Wiley talks about ! The present season is contrary to all our former experience. We could show our friends (who could bear testimony) at almost any time 100 to 500 barrels of honey, but we have not 30 barrels on hand to-day, and we can ship all to-day or to-morrow. So, you see, there is no over-stocking of the market this year. The Illinois State Convention will meet at the Commercial Hotel in Chicago, Ills., on Tuesday and Wednes- day, Oct. 18th and 19th, 1892. This will be during the dedication of the World's Fair buildings, when about one fare for the round trip will be expected on all the railroads centering in Chicago. There should be a large attendance of bee-keepers. Though the honey crop has been very meager again this year, there is nothing to prevent those at- tending this convention from having a grand good time sociully, anyway. It is encouraging to meet together even if for nothing more than to exchange sympa- thies. Many a blessing and much in- spiration can be had just out of that. Come, and help to bless your brother and sister bee-keeper by your presence and — cheerful sympathy. 392 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Among the Callers at the Bee Journal office the past week, and whom we were glad to see, were the following: Eev. E. T. Abbott, of St. Joseph, Mo., who will have an interesting article in next week's Bee Journal. Mr. A. D. Webb, of Taylorville, Ills., who publishes a newspaper there. He has a few colonies of bees, more for pleasure than for profit — which may be the case with many in poor seasons. His bees are securing much honey from a species of smart-weed, commonly and erroneously called " h^art's-ease." He reports a fair crop for his locality — Christian county. Mr. Henry O. Morris, of Pueblo, Colo., who has 280 colonies of bees, and re- ports about half a crop this year. Sweet clover, alfalfa, and the Reeky Mountain bee-plant, or cleome, are the principal honey-yielders in his locality. Mr. 0. M. Morris, of Hebron, Ind., an old reader of the Bee Journal, and Mr. H. C. Ahlers, who was on his way to his home in New Orleans, La. We are glad to have our friends thus come in, and expect to see many of them next month at the Illinois State Convention. The Wabash Valley Bee-Keep- ers' Association have succeeded in rais- ing the list of premiums for 1892 at the Knox County, Indiana Fair from $6 to $200, and as they would like to keep it up to $200 hereafter, a cordial invita- tion is extended to all bee-keepers and supply dealers within reach of that Fair, to attend and make a display, and also take some of the premium money home with them. Parties wishing to exhibit will please write in regard to the space, etc., to Mr. Frank Vawter, Vincennes, Ind., the Secretary of the Wabash Valley Bee-Keepers' Association. The Fair will be held at Vincennes, on Oct. 10th to 15th, 1892. Read S. F. & I. Trego's Advertisement. FRANCIS A. OEHIHILL. We take much pleasure in presenting to our readers this week, a sketch and portrait of Mr. F. A. Gemmill, of Strat- ford, Ont. — one of Canada's most promi- nent bee-keepers — which was written for the Canadian Bee Journal by Mr. Alex. Lamond, of Sarnia, Ont., and was published in May. It will be read with much interest not only by his fellow Canadians, but by his many friends on this side of the imaginary line that sep- arates us. Mr. Gemmill is now the honored Presi- dent of the Ontario Bee-Keepers' Asso- ciation, which makes him a particularly interesting personage, as the time for holding conventions is drawing very near. The following is the sketch of his life, referred to above : Mr. Gemmill is a Scotch Canadian by birth, 46 years of age, his parents hav- ing settled in the County of Lanark, where they resided until they moved to Sarnia, County of Lambton, in 1854. In 1863, at the age of 17, he became an enthusiast in apiculture, the result of his visits to an uncle, residing in the same place. Box-hives were the order of the day at that time, and " Quinby's Mysteries of Bee-Keeping " his principal text-book. In February of 1864 he secured a copy of the third edition of " Langstroth, on the Hive and Honey-Bee," and as the Italian bee had been commanding con- siderable attention, as well as the mov- able-comb hive, he resolved to give both a trial. Accordingly, in June of that year, he had a swarm of native bees placed in one of the Langstroth observ- ing hives, which, by the way, still re- mains in his apiary. In the latter part of October he secured from Mr. Langstroth, by ex- press, an Italian queen, paying the then moderate sum of $10 for her, the same AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 393 having been sold in the forepart of the season for $15 and $20 each. She was accordingly introduced, as per the in- structions sent, but the result of the in- troduction was not known until the spring following, when he had the satis- faction of seeing young Italians disport- ing themselves on fine days in April. The subject of our sketch has not been what is now termed "an extensive apiarist," never having owned more FRANCIS A. GEMMILL. than 75 colonies at any one time. Neither has he always kept bees from 1863 until the present time, as circum- stances prevented his always remaining in the same locality ; still he has never lost his old-time interest or enthusiasm for the pursuit, and was preparing him- self to extend his sphere in this line, and establish a permanent out-apiary, when foul brood — the scourge of the apiarist — slightly manifested itself in his apiary in the fall of 1879 ; hence his action, com- bined with a few others, at the meeting of the Ontario Bee-Keepers' Association, held in Belleville, in January, 1890, urging the necessity of securing Legisla- tion in regard to this disease, with good results, and also took a prominent part in the Act preventing the spraying of fruit trees while in bloom, now in force in Ontario. Mr. Gemmill has used almost exclu- sively the eight-frame Langstroth, and latterly the New Heddon hive ; and has wintered bees, with fair success, both out-doors and in the cellar. He thinks both methods have much to commend them. Cellar-wintered bees, in his esti- mation, should be protected in spring with packing, in order to secure the best results. His present location, although an average one, is, he finds, over-stocked, there being within the city limits (Strat- ford) about 250 colonies. Notwithstand- ing this, he secures fair crops, but nevertheless is in the habit of moving his apiary some miles distant, in order to secure the benefit of a fall flow, which so far has been successful as to the amount of honey gathered, but he is not sure about the colony being bene- fited in the end ; experience rather tend- ing to show better results in wintering from colonies that have gathered no fall honey — buckwheat, however, is not in- cluded in the list of fall flowers. Besides having done considerable at queen-rearing, he is a great lover of pro- ducing comb honey, but the late poor seasons have turned his attention more to the extracted article. Although not given to trying every new-fangled de- vice, he is not slow in adopting some, merely because they are new, hence his preference for labor-saving apparatus, such as bee-escapes, etc., including a hive cart, a la Boardman, with some improvements considered of advantage in his special case. In addition to the above he has been President of two local associations for a number of years in succession. He has also been a director of the Ontario Asso- ciation for some time past, as well as 394 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. serving two years as Vice-President, and now occupies the position of President of this Association, having been ap- pointed in January last. That all should keep bees is not a hobby of his, unless they have some love for the pursuit, as well as adapta- bility, time and sufficient pluck to stick at it after once commencing. He has suggested that a season spent with a practical apiarist, or attending such a college as the one conducted by Prof. W. P. Clarke, of Guelph, a good way of teaching any contemplating a trial. In conclusion : After having served his apprenticeship as a printer in his father's office, he followed the drug business for about ten years, but has for several years past occupied a position in the Civil Service. His family consists of wife, son of 15 (who, by the way, is no novice, and is also a great aid in the apiary, although a trifle backward in coming to the front under some circum- stances), and a daughter of 12, who occasionally cages a queen when well paid for it. She thinks, however, her father can " roost " longer on a bee-hive than any other man under the sun. Handling Farm Produce is the title of a neat, 20-page pamphlet by A. I. Root, which he sends free to all who ask for it. It contains a few hints and suggestions on the method of hand- ling and marketing such farm and gar- den produce as Potatoes, Onions, Toma- toes, Cucumbers, etc., by the use of Bushel Boxes ; with a description and price-list of various styles of boxes for farm use. It also has a chapter from " A B C of Potato Culture," and a list of other rural publications issued by Mr. Root. Send your name and address on a postal card for a copy of it. It's good like everything else that comes from A. I. Root, of Medina, Ohio. Seats for 125,000 people are to be provided in the great Manufactures building at the World's Fair for the dedication exercises on Oct. 21st. The Iowa Bee-l*awsuits.— As promised on page 360 of last week's issue of the Bee Jotjknal, we present to our readers a full account of the law- suits referred to. It is written by Gen- eral Manager Thomas G. Newman, and reads as follows : In Cascade, Iowa, there lives a man who is known by the name of John Foulkes, and he imagined that he was commissioned to oust the bees from that little " burgh." Accordingly he com- menced suit against his two neighbors, who were keeping a few bees, to compel them to move the " little honey-gath- erers"— that is, when there is any honey to be obtained from the flowers. These two neighbors happened to be- long to the National Bee-Keepers' Union, and as the members of the Union (as well as others) may be interested in the case, as General Manager I will recite the facts and extraordinary claims of Mr. Foulkes, as well as the decision of the Judge. The two bee-keepers who were sued were Montgomery Wyrick and Isaac Hunter. They promptly notified me, as General Manager of the Union, and I engaged Attorney Alphons Matthews to attend to the matter. The cases came up for hearing on Aug. 4th, and, by agreement, they were submitted to the Court on ex-yarte affidavits, which were numerous on each side. The cases were finally submitted to the Court on Aug. 26, and on Thursday, Sept. 1st, Judge Lenehan issued an order refusing to grant temporary injunctions, and con- tinuing the cases, for final hearing, at the coming term, on the question whether permanent injunctions should issue on such further showing as the plaintiff may be able to make. Of course this practically decides the whole matter, for if on ex-parte testi- mony the plaintiff could not make a case strong enough to win, he cannot hope to do so, when on a final hearing, a chance is given to cross-examine the witnesses and sift the testimony. If he AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 395 failed with ex-parte affidavits, he cer- tainly cannot win when the defendant's attorney gets after him and his wit- nesses. Here is an extract from a Dubuque paper of Sept. 2nd, the reading of which will cause bee-keepers to smile audibly : THE BUSY LITTLE BEE MAY FLOURISH UNMOLESTED BY THE LAW. Judge Lenehan retired from the bench of the District Court yesterday, and will hereafter devote his time to the business of the law firm of Lyon & Lenehan. One of the last acts of the retiring Judge was the filing of decisions in the cases brought by John Foulkes against Montgomery Wyrick and Isaac Hunter. All the parties live in Cascade, and the plaintiff's residence is situated between those of the defendants, aach of whom is engaged in bee-keeping. Mr. Foulkes claimed that the swarms of bees were a dreadful nuisance, and made his life miserable. Among other things he claimed that the bees were so thick that as they swarmed around his premises they shut off the light of day, and kept his house in darkness. Through Attorneys Welch & Welch, of Monticello, he filed applications for injunctions to restrain Messrs. Wyrick and Hunter from maintaining their bee- hives. The case was submitted on affidavits Aug. 4th, Attorney Alphons Matthews representing the defendants. Deposi- tions from a large number of Cascade people were taken under consideration by Judge Lenehan, and Thursday he filed decisions denying the applications of plaintiffs. The opinion says that the defendants have been engaged in the keeping of bees for many years past, and that an injunction would deprive them of a source of livelihood in a business which the courts recognize as legal. It is understood that the National Bee-Keepers' Association took up the fight in behalf of Messrs. Wyrick and Hunter. Just think of the naughty bees swarm- ing so thickly around the premises of Mr. Foulkes as to shut out the light of day, and keep his house in darkness ! I should think there would be' fun in that court room when Attorney Mat- thews gets after the testimony on that point ! What a wonderfully diminutive bouse the Foulkes mansion must be if a few bees can keep it in darkness, and "shut off the light of day !" But perhaps the bees stung him near the eyes, and in that way "shut off the light of day " for him personally ! This is about on a par with the case where one fellow testified that the bees ate up his peaches, and made a meal of his young ducks ! The community, the Judge and the lawyers have all been dosed with copies of the " Decision of the Supreme Court of Arkansas," which decided that bees were not per se a nuisance. It is a fact that wherever that document goes, it is a sure cure for the persecution, waged by ignorance and jealousy, against our pets — the bees. Decisions like that form a "bulwark of defense" like the rock of Gibraltar, which seems stronger than ever after having been lashed by the waves of the mighty Ocean. Thomas G. Newman, General Manager of N. B.-K. Union. The Allegany County Bee- Keepers' Association of New York State was organized on Sept. 7, 1892, with 23 charter members. The following were elected as officers : President, H. C. Farnum, of Transit Bridge ; Secre- tary, H. L. Dewight, of Friendship ; and Treasurer, Herbert Spring, of Bel- videre. The next meeting will be held at Mrs. H. Green's, in Angelica, N. Y., at 2 p.m., on MSnday, Nov. 28, 1892, to which all bee-keepers are invited. We bespeak for this new organization the prosperity which always attends the earnest and constant efforts on the part of the members of such bodies. Carl Hagenbeck, the celebrated German collector and tamer of wild animals, is in Chicago to arrange for the extensive zoological exhibit which he will make in Midway Plaisance at the World's Fair. He will exhibit lions, tigers, panthers, leopards, bears, mon- keys, etc., in great numbers, and will show the largest "happy family " ever seen. 396 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. CONDUCTED BY Floyd, Hunt Co., Tex. A Queen-Rearing Dialogue. "Good morning, Mrs. Atchley. What are you going to do with those wax-cups you are dipping there ?" Well, Charles, these are the Doolittle queen-cell cups we read about. " What are you putting them on that comb for, when Doolittle says put them on sticks?" Charles, you see the weather is cooler now, and we find by sticking these cell- cups right on the sealed brood, the bees accept and finish them up better. " How do you make them stick on the brood ?" Don't you see '? Now just watch me. You see the cups are dipped stout at the base, or dipped times enough to form a good lump of wax, so I can handle them without injury. Now, I just press them down firm on the sealed brood, that way, with the tip of the cell standing a little off from the comb, that way. "What is that you are putting into these cell-cups ?" That is royal jelly, or food prepared by the bees to rear a queen with, and for the want of a better name we call it "royal jelly." " Where do you get the royal jelly ? Don't you see Willie caging queens yonder? "Yes." Well, we let these nuclei remain queenless for three days before we give them another cell, and then they are sure not to tear the cell down. By this time these nuclei have all started queen- cells, and you see Amanda yonder, going from hive to hive as if she were picking pears ? " Yes." She is taking out the larvae from the cells those nuclei have started, and with a little spoon made for the purpose, we call a " royal jelly spoon," she dips the jelly from those cells in the nuclei, and puts it into little boxes like this. So you see where we get most of our royal jelly. You can take the jelly from any place where the bees. have started cells. " Are you having your cells built in upper stories over colonies having a laying queen, as Doolittle does?" No ; we have ours all built in queen- less colonies this year, in lower stories, as the other is too slow, and rather more uncertain than having them built in queenless colonies. We know that these queenless colonies will accept and finish up a good lot every time, for they are very strong. "Where do you get these strong queenless colonies, all the time? Don't they keep running down, and become weak, and 'no good?'" No, no. You see I have selected 10 good, prolific queens whose progeny are good cell-builders. And you see those 20 hives yonder, by themselves ? "Yes." Well, that is my "cell-building api- ary." On first starting I made 10 of them queenless, letting the other 10 lay on until my first batch of cells came off ; then I take those 10 select cell-building queens out, and just turn them loose in the queenless 10 that have just com- pleted cells, and they never stop laying; by this time the brood is beginning to hatch out, and these queens at once fill the hives full of brood again. Then I give to the queenless 10 about 20 cell- cups after three days, and they usually finish up about a dozen each, on an average. Then when these get " ripe," as we call it, we take them out and give them their laying queens back, and start cells again as before, and vice versa. If at any time we see these colonies giving way, we slip in a frame of hatching bees from other colonies, and I tell you this works like a charm, and our cells are all built in full colonies. "There, now, Mrs. Atchley, let me stop you to ask were you get the larvae you are putting into those queen-cups ?" Just come here, Charles, and I will show you by opening "Old Pet's" hive. (That is the name of one of the five- banded breeders.) Now you see this is a very strong colony ; but you see this queen-excluding division-board ? "Yes." Well, Old Pet is kept over on this side with only three frames, and this side is kept up with brood from other sources. "What is that all for?" I will try to tell you. You understand Old Pet is very prolific, and a fine select breeder, and should I let her have her own way, and full access to the whole hive, she would soon lay herself to death, or lay her eggs all out ; and by keeping her penned off here, I let her lay only about enough for my needs ; AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 397 hence, she will live 4 or 5 years. Now you set this middle frame on her side in a frame of new foundation. Do you see how nice the bees are drawing it out ? And do you see how full of eggs it is ? " Yes, yes." Here I get the young larvae. I cut out a piece of this new comb that contains larvaa about one day old from the egg, and shave the cells down close so that I can get the larvaa out easy. Now this is where and how I get my queen-larvae, and there will be reared about 2,000 queens from "Pet" this year. (To be continued.) Migratory Bee-Keeping, Etc. The following I find in Gleanings, from one of our noted Southern bee-keepers : Migratory bee-keeping seems to be quite popular here. Several bee-men have brought their apiaries here from the interior to secure the mangrove yield, and these bees came in good shape, as they had built up strong on the orange blossom and other interior crops. Messrs. Poppleton and Storer also brought their bees back from the St. Lucie River, where they had secured a good crop of wild penny-royal and saw- palmetto honey, and got their bees in good condition to make the most of the summer crop here. The Florida honey crop will run considerably below the average for this season, beyond question. My friend, Harry Mitchell, made a little discovery 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, 1892. Five-Banded Bees — What are They? Elizabeth S., of Texas, asks: "What are five-banded bees, anyway ?" I am glad that this question was asked just at this time, as some inex- perienced bee-friends have almost wanted the five-banded queen-breeders put into jail, or black-list them, whichis worse. So, now, I shall try in my hum- ble way to tell all about it. All probably know by this time what a pure Italian queen is, or what is called a pure three-banded queen. Well, I work and breed the five-banded queens just the same as the three-banded va- riety. That is, the breeder I use is a pure, or as pure a five-banded queen as I can get, making all her workers, or at least seven-eighths, ^ve-banded. We also rear the untested queens from them, and if one meets a black drone and pro- duces hybrid bees, or a three-banded drone, and produces bees two, three, four and five bands, as the case may be, we call her a " five-banded queen," just because her mother is such ; just the same as we call a thi«ee-banded queen a pure Italian, only mismated, don't you see ? Now, while every precaution is taken to mate the queens, some will " switch" and produce the hybrid bees. Now, I do not claim that all the untested five- banded queens that are sent out will produce five-banded bees, but I know a majority will produce some five-banded. I simply agree to rear all the queens as being five-banded from a pure five- banded mother, and the receiver must take the risk on getting five-banded bees, just as he takes the risk on getting pure three-banded bees when he buys untested queens. And a tested, five- banded queen may produce three, four, and five-banded bees, and we simply call her a tested five-banded queen, be- cause she produces some five-banded bees, and we do not claim she will pro- duce all five-banded bees, but grade or class her according to the amount of bees or part of her progeny that are five-banded. While we breed from queens and drones that are solid yellow, some of the untested queens will prove to be hybrids, just like other Italian bees. Now I have tried to make this plain, and ask you to consider these points be- fore censuring breeders too heavy. Let us all try to " keep sweet," no matter how hot our discussions, for would not a bee-keeper look funny with a sour face ? A Free Portrait of your favorite Presidential candidate is offered on page 389, in connection with the Orange Judd Farmer and the Bee Journal. We have a set of these Portraits in our office, and can say that they are very fine indeed. They are 12x16 inches in size, and, as a picture, would ornament any home. The Orange Judd Farmer is an elegant, 16-page, weekly farm and home paper, and should be read by all who want to make a success of farm work, and also have a well-informed household. 398 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL.. Queries bed Replies. Keeping Bees on Shares. Query 837.— What share of the honey crop is it fair to give for the care of bees, the owner furnishing all needful supplies ?— Texas. I cannot tell. — R. L. Taylor. One-fourth.— J. P. H. Brown. One-half. — Mrs. L. Harrison. In your locality, one-half. — H. D. Cutting. I believe one-half is usually agreed upon. — Mrs. J. N. Heater. Say one-third. But we prefer to hire help by the month.— E. France. Just the share upon which you and the owner can agree. — G. M. Doolittle. Two-fifths for taking care of them, and one-fifth for location. — Dadant & Son. I think about one-half. This is the rule, I think, in most sections. — A. J. Cook. I should say, divide the cost of need- full supplies, and divide the crop even. — G. W. Demaree. I am not competent to answer the question. It would depend on circum- stances.— M. Mahin. This is a mooted question, and much depends. I will venture the assertion from one-third to one-half. — J. M. Ham- baugh. The returns from bees are so incon- stant from year to year, that what would be fair one year might not be the next. — G. L. Tinker. Half and half has always been the rule here. But in some countries one- fourth might pay the laborer. — Mrs. Jennie Atchley. That will depend upon the season. In a season like this, the owner should furnish everything, and pay for the care of the bees, besides. — A. B. Mason. That is a mooted question. Much de- pends upon what the keeper is to do, and how he does it. I believe the divi- sion is usually half and half. — C. H. DlBBERN. This is a question that has been asked many times, and no answer given as yet that can be followed as a rule. Wait until the season is over, and then divide equitably in accordance with results. — J. E. Pond. I don't believe much in "share" busi- ness. If I were keeping bees on share this year, I'd want all the honey and part of the old colonies for my share. — C. C. Miller. I never had any experience in renting bees, and am inclined to look with dis- favor on the practice. I think that very few such agreements are satisfactory to all parties. — Eugene Secor. Don't ask me to say, as so much de- pends upon conditions which you do not mention. Ordinarily, half and half ; and all the increase to the apiary to off- set the death rate. — James Heddon. This would vary so much — circum- stances, such as season, capability of^ apiarist, method of management, kind of hive, whether comb or extracted honey was produced, etc. — that no one can give a fair answer that will suit all cases. — James A. Green. If the cost of the " needful supplies" had been divided, one-half of the honey and increase would be a fair division. If the owner furnishes the supplies, he should have the increase, and the honey may then be equally divided. — Editors. Under a Church Roof is where Mr. Geo. R. Allen, of England, took a colony of bees from, on July 15, which he tells about in the British Bee Journal. They had been there for 30 years. The length of comb, from one extreme to the other, was 5 feet, running upwards be- tween two rafters. There was but little honey in it. From what the finder saw, he judged that the bees had been at- tacked by foul brood. Catalogues have been received from the following : N. A. Knapp, Rochester, 0. — 6 pages — Italian Bees and Queens, Leghorn Chickens, and Ferrets. Joseph Harris Co., Moreton Farm, N. Y. — 8 pages — Cotswold Sheep, Essex Pigs, Pekin Ducks, and Red Jelly Cur- rant. Have You Read page 389 yet ? AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 399 On Important Subjects. Smoke for Curing Bee-Stings. E. STRONG. The best is, to avoid being stung. To this end, a matter of prime importance is, to singe off the hair from the hands and wrists. Do this in the spring, and keep it singed off all summer. Take an ordinary lamp and turn up the blaze. The object is to burn the hair, and nothing else. I used to light a piece of paper, but this is too harsh, and for the time, nearly as bad as the sting. A mild-eyed bee becomes insane at once when its wings strike animal hair. This causes the desperate tenacity with which they cling to the hair of an animal or brush. And they sting at once, without warning, the hand that is covered with hair, when, by accident, their wings touch it, and how much more when they throw themselves against it on purpose to get up a fuss? But the hand that is singed and smooth, and very slightly rubbed over with honey and propolis, escapes with im- punity, as a rule. A lady's hand is cer- tainly well adapted to handling bees. Like most bee-men I work bare- handed and bare-faced, and escape with very little stinging, but I carefully ob- serve certain little matters that experi- ence has pointed out, and sharply com- pelled recognition. Everybody knows how to make slow motions, and move in a decrepit manner, but, in passing from one hive to another, forgets to puff a little smoke over the hands. If the hands are moist with perspiration, the smoke will cling all the better. When a bee stings, wet the spot with saliva, and smoke it with hot smoke. The pain will immediately be lessened. I know of no remedy so good as hot smoke, and so easily applied without loss of time. Time is an important fac- tor, and the smoke penetrates the wound at the same time as the poison and saliva. Smoke is the safest antidote to pain. It can even prevent and quiet lockjaw. A^dangerous wound with the blood heated up in hot weather, can be safely treated with smoke. Hold a piece of smoking punk-wood so that the warm smoke will envelop the wound for five or ten minutes about twice a day. Ob- serve the patient, and be convinced. A man in harvest time, and in the heat of the day and of his work, slid off a stack and landed on a fork. It went through the center of the hand and be- tween the bones. At this season of the year, and with the poisonous wheat rust on the tines, this was bad. He was gone to the house about an hour, smoked his hand thoroughly, and went to work again, and after that felt no more pain, and lost no more time. Is this strange ? Not at all. This has been repeated, to my knowledge, time and again. A pine sliver, one inch long and one- eighth of an inch thick, was driven into the center of the thumb from the end, and broken off, and the flesh closed over it, between the bone and thumb-nail. It was so imbedded, that no sliver was supposed to be there. It was smoked three times a day. No time was lost from work nor sleep, and when the sliver was removed after ten days, it came out opposite the way of entry. Another and chief reason for using smoke on bee-stings is to destroy the scent of the poison, so that other bees will not smell it as you go right along with your work. My better half says they sting me just as much as any one, but I do not tell of it. This is error. I sometimes work all day without a sting. Last fall, in overhauling the bees for winter, was such a day. When near night, two ladies drove up, and I went to the car- riage with comb and bees in my hands, and yet in finishing that colony, with my mind somewhere else, I received several stings. When you see a man approach a hive and quietly take off the cover carefully, and before the bees seem aware of callers, puff a little smoke over them, as he pulls off a thin cloth, and removes one rack without a bee leaving the top, except to her work, you can just mark it down in your mind, that that man can work all day with comfort to himself, and accomplish just as much as one who walks up to a hive with so heavy a boot that one or more bees will take the trouble to come out of the entrance and around the hive to see who is there. And when he rips off the cover with a jerk, so as to get in the first blow of the attack, he has the enemy at once in front and rear, and the battle begins, and only ends when the hive is closed, and work hastily done instead of slowly. But he says he is used to stings. I be- lieve it. How could it be otherwise ? 400 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. But there are times when the bee- keeper realizes that there are no in- fallible rules in bee-keeping. When the bees seem cross, he uses too much smoke, is slightly "rattled" himself, and when he will fail to construe his sentences by the rigid rules of grammar. Even Mr. Doolittle once said that his wrists were sometimes nearly paralyzed with stings. Perhaps this has no rela- tion to unsinged wrists ; however, most hands have enough hair to make a great difference, whether they are singed off smooth or not. A little honey rubbed over the backs of the hands is a great protection, but if one or two bees persist in following you and " looking you out of countenance" for a long time, pick up a 3-inch shingle, step back a ways and play ball with that bee. If you knock it crazy, and it " comes to " after lying in the grass ten minutes it may think that it is its turn to play ball, and send in a stinger with- out notice. But all this happens in a lifetime, and much more. This "ball playing" is perhaps wrong, and ought not to be advised. Perhaps it does not mend matters, but there is a certain satisfaction and sense of relief for the time. The ease with which a cover is re- moved makes all the difference in the world with the quiet manners of a col- ony, and for this purpose I know of nothing as good as a cloth covering the top of frames and hive. As to varieties of bees, the beautiful temper of a throughbred Italian bee is about as near right as we shall find in this world. We want a bee to sting on suitable accasions. The boys let them alone, and do not need to be told what the rights of honey-bees are. They may stone the helpless toad, and pull the cat's tail, but if they step on a honey- bee it is an accident every time. The tears are genuine. Kalamazoo, Mich. The Origin of Foul Brood, C. J. ROBINSON. In the issue of June 9, 1892, page 766, I essayed, in response to Dr. Miller, to explain how it transpires that foul brood originates seemingly sponta- neous. The Doctor has not, like Mr. Corneil and certain other correspondents, joined issue with me over the mooted question : " Does, or does not, foul brood, under any circumstances, origi- nate within a colony of bees?" Up to 1880 there was no record of any instance of so-called foul brood originating, and it was supposed that all cases of foul brood occurred by rea- son of inoculation — a transfer of foul brood virus from a diseased colony to healthy brood. I was the first who pro- mulgated that foul brood does, whenever certain conditions are present, originate through a peculiar fermentation of the organic matter called "chrysalis," which in a state of progressive development, is also called " aurelia," a virus that at- tacks live brood and spreads as does dead tissue (mortification) in contact with healthy tissue or chrysalis. Several years ago a correspondent mentioned that he had cases of foul brood in his apiary. He was situated many miles from any colonies of bees, so distant that his bees could not be visited by anybody else's bees, and the query with him was, Whence came foul brood among his bees? He put the question, and the reply he received was this : " There must have been colonies of bees in the woods that were diseased, and they visited the hiyes, thus transmitting the disease." Such an answer is more visionary than sensible. How came foul broody colonies in the woods, isolated from hives of bees ? The hackneyed scepticism, which people so willingly oppose to all progress of the human mind, is a comfortable pillow for lazy heads, but the period in which we live allows no time to sleep, when every hour must sweat her sixty minutes to the death. Graves said : "The empire of Reason, extending from the old to the new world— from Europe to the Antip- odes— has encircled the earth, and the sun never sets on her (Reason's) domin- ions ; individuals must rest, but the collective intelligence of the species (mankind) never sleeps." The most eminent teachers are oft- times conceited. The greatest French surgeon (Duputren) writing of the sim- ple Kentuckian's operation — ovariotomy — denounced the operation as the act of a man who should be indicted for man- slaughter, although it must long since have added to the community hundreds of thousands of useful lives of women and mothers of families. The so-called foul brood ought not to be said that it was a creation of species, unless it be conceded that ferment in all its phases was created as such in the beginning. As well might so-called blood-poison be said to be a creature, as AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 401 to say that foul brood only occurs by inoculation. Scientists well know that "blood-poison " is the result of a special ferment, whereby a virus is developed in some part of the animal economy. In a similar way foul brood virus is gener- ated incidentally. We have seen Darwin elaborating the great scientific doctrine of evolution — in life, in disease, in society, in politics, in religion ; Pasteur, demolishing all that is hypothetical in the process of fermen- except by inoculation, any more than corn can be made to grow without plant- ing the seed — philosophically, a wonder- fully awkward comparison. Corn is the fruit of a seed — the germ being re- produced ; foul brood is a virus which is generated by the evolution of organic matter, changing the organism of the soil in which it grows — the soil changed to "seed" — and all ends in further changes. Richford, N. Y. Michigan State Building at the World's Columbian Exposition, in 1893. tation, classifying his "anaerobies" and " aerobies," demonstrating that fermen- tation was " life without air," and elucidating the phenomena of lactic, butric, and acetic fermentation, and, again, dismissing to the limbo of ex- ploded hypthesis the doctrine of sponta- neous generation, and foretelling the results of bacterial processes in the dis- orders known as the "cattle plague," the "vine plague," and the "fowl cholera." It has been promulgated that foul brood cannot be brought into existence Chemical Analysis & Honey Adulteration PKOF. A. J. COOK. It is well known that sucrose or cane sugar is chemically distinct from glu- cose ; that unlike glucose it will not reduce the copper salts, and has a strong right-handed rotation. The nectar of flowers is largely cane sugar. Commercial glucose reduces the copper salts, and because of the presence of dextrose, gives a right-handed rotation. 402 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Invert sugar — cane sugar that has been reduced by heating with an acid — is left-handed iu its rotation. It is usually given as -25°. Bees gather the cane sugar of nectar, and while gathering and passing to the hive, they reduce it by digestion, or change it to invert sugar. Thus honey contains from 2 to 8 per cent, of sucrose, 60 to 75 per cent, of reducing sugar levulose and dextrose, and gives a left- handed rotation rarely higher than a -200. As bees digest the nectar of flowers, we would suppose that honey gathered very rapidly would be less perfectly digested, as it would be a shorter time in the digestive canal, and so would con- tain more sucrose, and less reducing sugar. As bees gather sweets from such varied sources — widely different flowers, sap and secretions from various insects — we would suppose that the honey might vary not a little. Thus I have long wondered if the formulae depended upon by our chemists were entirely re- liable, and sufficient to always determine the genuine from the adulterated. To determine this point, I recently sent over 50 samples of honey to three of our ablest chemists, viz. : Dr. R. C. Kedzie, Prof. H. W. Wiley, Government chemist, and Prof. M. A. Scovell, of Kentucky. I have preliminary reports which are exceedingly interesting. The samples which I sent were simply numbered. There were honeys from all our noted honey-plants, several samples of honey-dew, honey stored rapidly from pure cane syrup fed very rapidly to the bees, and mixtures of honey and glucose. The samples of honey adulterated with glucose, were detected, but with them was classed a sample of aphis honey, which our bees gathered from bark-lice, and which was rank and entirely un- marketable. Two other samples of honey-dew were pronounced genuine honey. One of these was from cynip infested oak acorns. Both were pleas- ant to the taste. The samples of honey from cane sugar syrup, one extracted the next day after it was stored, and the other not until it was capped, were both detected. But with them were classed genuine honey from basswood, white clover, both were very fine, and one from horse-mint, all very rapidly gathered. Thus my opin- ion, often expressed to my students, that our chemists could not distinguish gen- uine honey which was rapidly gathered from that secured by feeding cane syrup, is fully sustained. Three samples, one white clover, one golden-rod, and one white sage, all very rapidly gathered by the bees, gave such a high left-handed rotation that there was a suspicion of adulteration, with invert sugar. Yet these were all gen- uine honey of superior excellence. Three other samples, one from black mangrove, one from an unknown source, stored in Louisiana, and which never granulated, and one from horse-mint (the latter gathered very rapidly), de- ported themselves exactly as would in- vert sugar. Thus we see, that while the chemists can detect adulteration, even with one- third or one-fourth glucose, they could not distinguish honey from flowers, from that secured by feeding bees pure cane- sugar syrup ; that while they now can detect adulteration by use of commercial glucose (that most if not always used), they cannot by use of present methods, detect honey produced by feeding bees wholly or in part on cane-sugar syrup. — College Speculum. Agricultural College, Mich. Black German Bees vs. Italians, JOHN H. BLANKEN. It is about 23 years since the yellow bees came to this country, and it can be easily proved by bee-keepers who kept bees long before that time, whether the Italian or the black German bees are the best. We all know that years ago we had more honey, that of late years the honey crop has been growing smaller, and had we all black bees we might have more honey, because the black bees keep themselves pure, and bring in lots of honey, where Italians are getting mixed up, thus giving their owners plenty of trouble and work ; and by trying to keep pure Italians and ex- perimenting to improve our bees we are getting less honey. Mrs. Atchley says that she kept both blacks and Italians for 20 years, and long ago decided on that question. It must be remembered that within 20 years we have had good improvements in bee-culture, and we should have more honey instead of less in late years. And then, Mrs. A. says that in really good honey-years we cannot see much differ- ence between the two races. Mr. H. C. Farnum, on page 450, says that the blacks are ahead in honey- AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 403 gathering in his location, especially when honey is scarce, and thinks that the black bees should be defended. Mr. Lawrence, on page 478, says : " The little black or brown bee for me — less work, more honey, more money. Mr. Irvin Grover, on page 387, says : " I have tested the blacks by the side of the Italians, and have found the Italians superior in every point mentioned by Mr. Blanken." Some people are so down on black bees that if they see a little black bee anywhere, they will attempt to kill it. Now, if a poultry-breeder would kill all his black fowls, he would certainly do wrong ; and so it is with bee-keepers — they are doing wrong in throwing away a good black queen, for they are losing both honey and money. What I have said before, I must say again, no matter what others think about it; and those that know me will remember that I never use a smoker, neither do I use gloves, and very seldom a veil, in my own or anybody else's api- ary ; for I have been working with bees and in apiaries since my 8th year, and find that black bees are not as cross as hybrids and others, and are better workers. Jersey City, N. J. Why Clergymen Should Keep Bees, REV. J. CAKSWELL,. This is a subject which has not been touched in this paper for some time, and so a few lines upon it may not be out of place. It may reach some of my breth- ren in the ministry who have not thought of the matter before, and induce them to join our ranks and begin the study of the honey-bee, which they will find one of the most interesting that can engage their attention. A large number of the most advanced and intelligent bee-keepers belong to this class, and they have done much to make this industry what it now is. In proof of this, I need only to refer to the case of the Rev. L. L. Langstroth, who, by his inventions, writings and ad- dresses, has well earned the title of "The Father of American Bee-Keeping." We do look up to him, and reverence and respect him as a father, and sympa- thize with him deeply in the keen suffer- ings, the "much tribulation" through which he is called upon to pass. Others of the clerical profession, though not so noted at Mr. Langstroth, have added their quota to the general fund of information and experience. Still the number of clergymen who keep bees is comparatively small. Now, there are quite a number of reasons why they should keep bees, viz. : 1. For recreation and exercise. No class of men need this more. In fact they must have it if they are to make the most of themselves, and do their work in the best possible way. Now, the occupation of bee-keeping furnishes them, during a portion of the year, with the recreation and exercise they require. They cannot help becoming intensely interested in it, as their knowledge in- creases, and they go on making experi- ments and performing the manipulations necessary for successful bee-keeping. In this way their minds are drawn away from their studies and their worries, and are rested and refreshed. Whilst thus occupied in the open air, they obtain exercise for their bodies, and inhale an abundant supply of oxygen, which causes the blood to course through their veins with greater ease, and imparts fresh warmth and vitality to the entire system ; so that when they return to their studies, they are prepared mentally and physically for doing efficient work. 2. For the addition to their incomes of what it furnishes. As a class, clergy- men are underpaid, considering the time and money spent in preparation for the work, the position they must occupy in society, and the innumerable calls made upon them for Christian and benevolent objects. The result is, that very many have great difficulty in making ends meet. If they have families to educate it is only by exercising self-denial and observing the strictest economy that they can do it. In these circumstances the profits of a little apiary form a most helpful appendage, and secure many little extras which add very materially to the comforts of the home. I have heard of more than one clergyman who made enough from his bees to educate his children, some of his sons being now in the ministry. 3. For the means which it furnishes of ministering to the sick. Whilst im- parting to them spiritual consolation, he can at the same time tempt their im- paired bodily appetites by giving them a little honey done up in an attractive way, and by a slight attention of this kind, he may strengthen the tie and in- crease the affection subsisting between his people and him. 4. For the counsel he may be able to give, and the assistance he may render 404 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. to those of his parishioners and neigh- bors who may keep bees. Among the students found in Mr. D. A. Jones' apiary a few years ago, was a Roman Catholic priest from Muskoka, who came there to learn the art of bee- keeping, that he might instruct his peo- ple, and put them in the way of adding materially to their scanty livelihoods. He realized that though most of that region was unfitted for profitable culti- vation, there was an abundant supply of flora that was going to waste, and that if he could induce the poor people who had settled there to go into bee- keeping, it might very much improve their worldly circumstances. Some of the largest yields of honey we have heard of have been in Muskoka. Now, few clergymen may be situated as this priest was, and be able to turn the knowledge acquired to such account for the benefit of those under their charge ; yet all have many opportunities of being helpful to others in this respect, and it affords one a great deal of pleas- ure to do this. He may occasionally lose a little time, and be subjected to a little interruption ; but the happiness derived from being the means of render- ing assistance to others compensates him for it all. One never loses anything by being always ready to help others. In fact, this is one of the great aims of life — " not to look on our own things, but the things also of others." — Cana- dian Bee Journal. Bond Head, Ont. Pure Honey and C. F. Hntb & Son, BEV. L. L. LANGSTBOTH. Allow me to give my reasons for be- lieving that pure honey and C. F. Muth & Son have such a natural affinity for each other that they will never be found warring against each other. When my patent on movable frames was extended, in 1866, I endeavored to sell brass trade-marks, each having its own number, for 25 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 patent expired. He had no personal acquaintance with me ; but he believed that I had rights, and was determined to 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 20 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 repu- tation for fair dealing, of which any business man might justly feel an hon- orable pride ' For the 25 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 methods 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. Now, if there had been any attempt to adulterate the goods in which he dealt, how could it possibly have es- caped the notice of the hosts of bee- keepers who were welcome At times to inspect all his processes ; or how could it have failed, sooner or later, to have been exposed by some of his employes ? The only adulterants of honey which could ever be profitably used are sugar and glucose ; and as Mr. Muth deals in honey by the hundreds of thousands of pounds, he could not possibly adulterate his honeys with either on so large a scale as to make it profitable, without the kind of business he was carrying on betraying itself by the sugar and glu- cose 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 en- titled to the notice I have already given it. It is true Mr. Muth deals largely in all kinds of pure honey — good, bad, and indifferent ; for there is a large demand for all these kinds, even for the darkest and poorest, which is used in the manu- facture of printers' rollers — nothing else being able to compete with it for such a purpose. Tobacconists and brewers are also large consumers of pure dark honeys, while the choicest qualities are purchased for making the famous honey- cakes which keep fresh for nearly six months. A single maker of these cakes buys of the Muths a carload of choice honey— some 20,000 to 24,000 pounds — ever five or six weeks ! Enough has been said to show, not only that Mr. Muth is not the style of AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 405 man out of which adulterators are made, but, apart from all motives of honor and honesty, he is a man of too much good business-sense to engage in falsifications which, sooner or later, would surely be detected, and would end in the ruin of his extensive business. But may not Mr. Muth be imposed upon by those who have adulterated honeys for sale, and thus become an in- nocent agent for imposing their goods upon the public ? Now, as the only way in which honey can be profitably adul- terated is by using sugar or glucose, such fraudulent mixtures can never be imposed upon such experts as Charles F. Muth & Son. Before I lost my ex- quisite 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 associated 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 endorsement 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 my 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 believe 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 confident that Mr. Muth's labels have been counterfeited by dealers who wished to dispose of their bogus 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 cannot be easily counterfeited, become the legal trade-mark of a firm which has done so much for the bee-keepers of this coun- try by affording a cash market for their products, and by setting their faces as a flint against all adulterators and adul- terations. Dayton, O., Aug. 25, 1892. [We think that no one who knows Messrs. Muth & Son need be told that they are honest men, and would not stoop to the crime of adulteration of honey, or anything else ; and the only excuse we offer for publishing the fore- going article, is because of the reflection that has recently been cast upon their fair name by reason of the " Report on Honey " issued by the Government un- der the direction of Prof. H. W. Wiley. —Eds.] CONVENTION DIRECTORY. Time and place of meeting. 1892. Oct. 4.— Capital, at Springfield, Ills. C. E. Yocom, Sec, Sherman, Ills. Oct. 7.— Utah, at Salt Lake City, Utah. John C. Swaner, Sec, Salt Lake City, Utah. Oct. 18, 19.— Illinois State, at Chicago, Ills. Jas. A. Stone, Sec, Bradfordton, Ills. Nov. 28.— Allegany Co., at Angelica, N. Y. H. L. Dewight, Sec, Friendship, N. Y. 1893. Jan. 13, 14.— S.W.Wisconsin, at Boscobel.Wis. Edwin Pike, Pres., Boscobel, Wis. In order to have this table complete, Secretaries are requested to forward full particulars of the time and the place of each future meeting. — The Editors. North American Bee-Keepers' Association President— Eugene Secor..Forest City, Iowa. Secretary— W. Z. Hutchinson.... Flint, Mich National Bee-Keepers' Union. President— James Heddon . .Dowagiac, Mich. Sec'y and Manager— T. G. Newman, Chicago. SEk£££?X3t Reports, Prospects, Etc. ^~ Do not write anything for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Bee-Keeping in State of Washington. I notice by reference to the different bee-papers that the great majority of bee-keepers are short of surplus honey. Surplus in this part of the country is not very plentiful, mostly on account of the late, backward spring. I notice on page 303, that some of our brethren have somewhat the same kind of people to deal with that we have, viz. : to get the best honey for the 406 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. smallest possible price. I have sold all of my honey in sections for 25 cents per pound, and would not sell for any less, while some others were selling theirs for 20 cents. I told them I would keep mine until theirs was all sold, and then they'd feel like kicking themselves for selling cheap. I always scrape my sec- tions clean, while they do not take the trouble. I also stamp my name on all I send out, so that any one can tell whence it came. If merchants have their price for goods they sell, why can- not we ? Supply and demand govern the prices. This part of the State (Whatcom county) is just beginning to go into the business on the improved processes, the Langstroth, or Simplicity, taking the lead. Some are going to try the Italian bees, while some are almost tired of them, on account of their swarming propensities. Most of our bees go into winter quarters in good condition. All of the bees here are wintered on the summer stands. How is that for 49° north latitude ? J. B. Ramage. Blaine, Wash., Sept. 6, 1892. Just Rolling' in the Honey. I have now 38 colonies of bees that are just rolling in the honey from smart- weed, golden-rod and wild-aster. The wild-aster is yielding a great deal of nectar, and bees work on it all day long. W. A. Fee. Rockport, Ind., Sept. 13, 1892. Honey from Spanish-Needle, Etc. Through the columns of the Bee Journal I gave some account of my spring trials. Well, we had an abun- dance of white clover, but it did not yield much nectar, and with 45 colonies 1 secured only 450 pounds of surplus, only 30 of which was comb honey. Of 2 colonies standing side by side, and the same strength and stores, one run for comb and the other for extracted honey (I have extracting combs ready built), the "comb honey colony" would not store an ounce of surplus, while the " extracting colony " filled their super. Mr. Day, who lives near me, has 35 colonies, and run them for comb honey, but did not get a pound. Why is this ? I am looking for a grand yield of Spanish-needle honey. The fields are yellow with it in places, and I am mov- ing my bees out of town into the Span- ish-needle fields. I can squeeze a good- sized drop of nectar from each blossom. My bees worked some on smart-weed, and T should like to know what kind of honey it yields. I sell my comb honey here at 20 cents per pound ; white clover, extracted, at 12>£ cents; and Spanish-needle at 10 cents. I should like to hear the opinions of bee-keepers on the wooden package for extracted honey that is advertised. My scale hive showed as follows for the last four days : 4 pounds, 4}£, 5, and 4% pounds ; total, 18% pounds in four days, and it is only a moderately strong colony. It makes me smile to hear bee-keepers assert that bees cannot hear, and then gravely tell us of the swarming note, calls, etc., which the queen gives when on the wing. Frank Richardson. Moberly, Mo., Sept. 9, 1892. [Smart-weed honey is fairly good honey, but it has a rather sharp or " smart " taste. Some people prefer it, doubtless, on that very account. — Eds.] Good Prospects for Fall Honey. We are having nice queen-rearing weather — we never had better weather, or better prospects for fall honey than now. Mrs. Jennie Atcbxey. Floyd, Tex., Sept. 14, 1892. Bees in Good Condition for Winter. I have 55 colonies of bees, and have obtained no honey and no swarms ; but the bees are in good condition for win- ter. Anderson Hyer. Washington C.H., O., Sept. 13, 1892. Working on " Heart' s-Ease." Heart's-ease is the rage with the bees now, and I want to keep them at it. One colony stored 126 pounds of comb honey. I have 73 colonies. B F Feazel Washburn, Ills., Sept. 14, 1892. Predictions of the Honey-Flow, Etc. I notice that Mr. Thomas Johnson, of Coon Rapids, Iowa, asks why I did not tell that they would have one of the best honey-flows in Western Iowa, instead of telling what I did. What did I tell ? I said that Iowa would have a far better yield this year than last. Did that miss it badly? AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 407 I said that the eastern part of the State would have a good yield, and that it would not be good in the West ; but I did not say there would be a failure in any part of the State. I said it would be the worst failure in Mills, Cass, Guthrie, Dallas and Polk counties of any part of the State, but I did not say it would be a failure there. Mr. John- son says it has been one of the best of honey-flows. I think that Mr. Frank Coverdale, of Welton, some three or four years ago, averaged close to 140 pounds to the colony, and I think doubled his colonies, and he had about 80, spring count, as near as I remember. According to that, Mr. Johnson did not get one-third of a crop. I do not see how he can call that a good yield. I stated in my predictions that I did not have as good a chance this year, as I had last, to show that I could tell what I claimed I could ; but when the right time comes, which surely will come, I will convince you that I can tell what I profess to tell, beyond a doubt. If the weather had been favorable, there would have been double the honey this year that there was last year. It was in the flowers, but the bees could not get out to gather it. I do not know that I would have given out my predictions for this year, but bee- men kept writing me from every part of the country, for my predictions. I know I did not have a good chance to prove that I could tell what the honey-flow would be. I am glad that bee-keepers are inter- ested in my predictions, and I will prove to them that I can tell of any coming failure of honey, caused by the non- secretion of nectar when it prevails over any great portion of country the same year. I have not taken a single pound of honey yet. I think, though, that I will get some yet, as I think we will have a good fall flow from asters, if it does not get too hot and dry. It is very dry now, and has been so for a long time. Corn is cut short by half in this part of the country. Sam Wilson. Cosby, Tenn., Aug. 27, 1892. [We think it is about time that Mr. Wilson should begin to give his proof (if he has any) that he can foretell whether there will be a honey-flow or not, and not keep on saying that he can "show that he could tell what he claimed he could." If he has anything of value along the line of prophecy, it is quite time he was giving some "reasons for the faith that is in him," or he will soon be put down as a " false prophet." — Eds.] W&MB&B Combed and Extracted. Beautiful May — That Didn't Come. MRS. A. L. HALLENBECK. All through the long dreary April We longed for the lovely May, With her sunshine and birds 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 6he would smile on the morrow, And watched through each dreary day For the flowers, the birds, and the sunshine, To welcome the lovely May. But the winds grieved with mournful sighing And the clouds wept their tears of pain, Till all of her sad days were ended, And she died in the sobbing rain. JtJNE. But June came, and with it the sunshine ; It came as if meaning to stay ; The clover-blooms nod to the breezes ; The busy bees, working away. Bring joy to the hearts of their keepers, And teach us to never despair ; For He who gives all of our blessings Knows how to, and when to, and where. Millard, Neb. —Gleanings. Japanese Buckwheat. This foreigner has been tried by many and is well liked, the seed being larger than other well known varieties. Where the corn was drowned out by floods, it might have been sown. Years ago I frequently drove by a farm where near the road was a low, rich piece of ground yearly yielding an immense growth of iron-weed and useless plants. It changed hands one spring. It was before the advent of tiling, but when the low, rich piece of ground had dried out, it was ploughed up, pulverized and sowed to 408 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. buckwheat, which put a quietus on the weeds. The value of this ground was ascertained, and yearly since it has yielded good crops of different kinds. — Mrs. L. Harbison, in Prairie Farmer. Distance to Prevent " Mixed Bees." 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 practic- ing what they teach, they do not know what " mixed bees" are. When the apiary of which I am part owner was first Italianized, the Italian bees were unknown about here. At that time there were within five miles of our apiary about as many hives of black or German bees as we had Italians ; and by the second season about half of the hives of black bees within that distance showed trace of Italian blood. A few colonies mixed seven miles off. The bees in some of these hives would be pretty fair hybrids, 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 theory of nearly all the best authorities on bees (in which they surely are wrong), there could not have been any hybrid drones in the hives of black bees by the second season. — George W. Cleveland, in Gleanings. An Awful, but True, Indictment. The liquor traffic bids for ignorant vicious and purchasable votes. It domi- nates in primaries and dictates nomina- tions in conventions. It silences the police. It suborns evidence. It bribes juries and judges. It lobbies the legis- latures. It combines with all kindred evils. It seeks the balance of power. Its own forces are as compact as a Roman legion or a Macedonian phalanx. It is a secret tribunal. It is an owl of the night. It acknowledges no criter- ion but success, and worships no God but self-interest. It has no patriotism, and carries the black flag. Instance the shameful record of the Louisiana lot- tery. What that lottery was for a time, the liquor traffic is all the time. Who can outline this traffic ? To-day we see it in prospective as it throws across the dark and distant heavens, against a back-ground tragic and ter- rible, its direful and ever changing pro- file. A Titan, a fighter, an athlete, a vampire, an octopus, a python, a vol- cano. It has the stealth of the tiger, the bound of the panther, the weight of the mastodon, the momentum of an avalanche, and speed of lightning. Ter- rible is its secretiveness, it never fore- tells what it wants, nor where it goes, nor where it strikes. It advances and recoils. It threatens North and South. With one friifge of its cloud it eclipses the genius of Prentiss, while with a paralyzing glare of its lightning it "turns the poesy of Burns into tuneless babble." It was said of a French com- munist, wherever it respires it conspires with no more conscience than cold iron, no more heart than an iceberg ; it con- fronts us to-day, as ever before, always the foe of man — always inexorable — in- accessible— glacial. The man who makes friends with it lashes himself to a tomb with the boom of eternity's retribution sounding in his ears. The party which makes coalition with it invites the scorn of man and the judgment of God. If you ask the centuries what is the result of this traffic, the answer comes century by century, like the peal of minute guns from some drowning ship, or like the measured stroke of a funeral bell, or like storm-thud on granite shores : " Death — ever death — utter death." An eternal reverberation which fills all history. — Dr. B. H. Carroll. Bee Journal Posters, printed in two colors, will be mailed free upon application. They may be used to ad- vantage at Fairs over Bee and Honey Exhibits. We will send sample copies of the Bee Journal to be used in con- nection with the Posters in securing subscribers. Write a week before the Fair, telling us where to send them. We would like to have a good agent at every Fair to be held this year. Here is a chance for a live man — or woman. Doolittle's Queen-Rearing: book should be in the library of every bee-keeper ; and in the way we offer it on page 383, there is no reason now why every one may not possess a copy of it. Send us one new subscriber for a year, and we will i»ail the book to you as a present Read our great offer on page 389. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 409 *&■ Bee Journal PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY -At One Dollar a Year, 199 RANDOLPH St., CHICAGO, ILLS. TO CORRESPONDENTS. The Bee Journal is sent to subscribers until an order is received by the publishers for its discontinuance, and all arrearages are paid. A Sample Copy of the Bee Journal wil be sent FREE upon application. How to Send Money.— Remit b? Express, Post-Office Money Order, or Bank Draft on New York or Chicago. If none of these can be had, Register your Letter, affixing Stamps both for postage and registry, and take a receipt for it. Money sent thus, IS AT OUR RISK; otherwise it is not. Do not send Checks on Local Banks— we have to pay 25 cents each, to get them cashed. 2Vever Send Silver in letters. It will wear holes in the envelope, or may be stolen. Make all Money Orders Payable at Chicago, 111.— not at any sub-station of Chicago. Postag-e Stampsof any denomination may be sent for any fraction of a dollar; or where Money Orders cannot be obtained, stamps for any amount may be sent. Subscription Credits.— The receipt for money sent us will be given on the address-label of every paper. The subscription is paid to the END OP THE MONTH indicated. i)o not Write anything" for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Emerson Binders, made especially for the American Bee Journal, are convenient for preserving each weekly Number, as fast as received. They will be sent, post-paid, for 50 cts. each. They cannot be sent by mail to Canada. f«ost Numbers.— We carefully mail the Bee Journal to every subscriber, but should any be lost in the mails, we will replace them if notified before all the edition is exhausted. Always State the Post-Office to which your paper is addressed, when writing to us. Special Notices. The Date on the wrapper-label of this paper indicates the end of the month to which you have paid for the Journal. If that is past, please send us one dollar to pay for another year. This shows that Mr. Porter has paid his subscrip- tion to the end of next December : Wallace Porter Dec92 Suffield, Portage co, Ohio The Convention Hand-Book is very convenient at Bee-Conventions. It con- tains a Manual of Parliamentary Law and Rules of Order for Local Conven- tions ; Constitution and By-Laws for a Loca1 Society; Programme for a Conven- tion, with subjects for discussion, and about 50 blank pages, to make notes upon. It is bound in cloth, and of the right size for the pocket. We will pre sent a copy for one new subscriber to the Bee Journal, with $1.00. An Apiary Register is a splendid book to have in an apiary, so as to know all about any colony of bees at a moment's notice. It devotes two pages to each colony. We will send one large enough for 50 colonies, for $1.00, post- paid ; for 100 colonies, for $1.25 ; or for 200 colonies, for $1.50. After using it for one season, you would not do without it. ■ » i ^ ■» » The Premiums which we give for securing new subscribers to the Ameri- can Bee Journal, are intended as pay for work done in getting new names among your friends aDd acquaintances, and are not offered to those who send in their own names as new subscribers, unless such name or names form a part of a club of at least three subscribers. • «■ — i « A Binder for preserving the copies of the American Bee Journal as it arrives from week to week, is very convenient. You should have one, as it is so handy for reference from time to time. We mail it for only 50 cents, or will give it as a premium for two new subscribers, with $2.00. When Talking About Bees to your friend or neighbor, you will oblige us by commending the Bee Journal to him, and taking his subscription to send with your renewal. For this work we offer some excellent premiums that you ought to take advantage of. 410 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 4 I.I HHI X. 1JLSX. We Club the American Bee Journal for a year, with any of the following papers or books, at the prices quoted in the LAST column. The regular price of both is given in the first column. One year's subscription for the American Bee Journal must be sent with each order for another paper or book : Price of both. Olub. The American Bee Journal $1 00 and Gleanings in Bee-Culture. ... 2 00 ... . 1 75 Bee-Keepers' Review 2 00 175 The Apiculturist 175.... 165 Bee-Keepers' Guide 150. .. 140 American Bee- Keeper 150 140 Canadian Bee Journal 2 00 ... 175 Nebraska Bee-Keeper 150 135 The 8 above-named papers 6 25 5 25 and Langstroth Revised (Dadant) 2 40 ... . 225 Cook's Manual 2 00.... 175 Doolittle on Queen-Rearing. 2 00 1 65 Bees and Honey (Newman). . 2 00 1 75 Advanced Bee-Culture 150.... 140 Dzierzon's Bee-Book (cloth). 2 25.... 2 00 Root's A B C of Bee-Culture 2 25.... 210 A Year Among the Bees 1 50 1 35 Convention Hand-Book 125 115 History of National Society. 1 50 ... . 1 25 Weekly Inter-Ocean 2 00.... 175 The Lever (Temperance) 2 00 1 75 Orange Judd Farmer 2 00 . . . 1 75 Farm, Field and Stockman. . 2 00 1 75 Prairie Farmer 2 00 1 75 Illustrated Home Journal.. 1 50 1 35 American Garden 2 50 2 00 Rural New Yorker 300.... 2 25 Do not send to us for sample copies of any other papers. Send for such to the publishers of the papers you want. Almost Every Bee-Book that is now published we mention on the second page of this issue of the Bee Journal. Look over the list and select what you want. For every new yearly subscriber that you secure for us at $1.00, we will allow you 25 cents, to apply on the purchase of any book we have for sale. This Is a rare chance to get some valua- able apicultural reading-matter, and at the same time aid in spreading helpful apiarian knowledge among your friends. » i «^ . « «. Bee-Keeping for Profit, by Dr. G. L. Tinker, is a nice, 50-page pamphlet, which details fully the author's new system of bee-management in producing comb and extracted honey, and the con- struction of the hive best adapted to it — his "Nonpareil." The book can be had at this office for 25 cents, or will be given for one new subscriber, with $1. One - Cent Postage Stamps are preferred by us when it is necessary for any of our subscribers to send stamps in place of paper money, Express or Post-office Money Orders, or drafts on New York or Chicago. The Express Money Orders, or Post-office Money Orders, are the safest outside of drafts. Do not send checks on your local banks as it costs us 25 cents each to get them cashed here. Postal Notes are no safer than cash put into the envelope, so do not waste your money in buying them, but get a Money Order instead. This Means You.— When order- ing any of the books or articles which we offer clubbed with the Bee Journal, or otherwise ; or when sending anything intended for us, such as subscriptions to the Bee Journal, or matter for publi- cation, be sure to address everything to —George W. York & Co., 199 Ran- dolph St., Chicago, Ills. Please Send TJs the Names of your neighbors who keep bees, and we will send them sample copies of the Bee Journal. Then please call upon them and get them to subscribe with you, and secure some of the premiums we offer. Webster's Pocket Dictionary we offer as a premium for sending only one new subscriber with $1.00. It is a splendid Dictionary — and just right for a pocket. Be Sure to read offer on page 389. Wants or Exchanges. Under this heading, Notices of 5 lines, or less, will be inserted at 10 cents per line, for each insertion, when specially ordered into this Department. If over 5 lines, the additional lines will cost 20 cents each. TO EXCHANGE— Pure Tested Young Ital- ians, 3 to 5 bands, 50 cents to $1.00 — for cash, wax or offers. F. C. MORROW, 6Atf Wallaceburg, Arkansas. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 423 PUBLISHED BY'. * GEORGE W YORK& GO. CHI C AG O , 1X.L . ;' ■";'■ .:' ■>;■; ""' "v":^:"v^v::^?v^^ ONE DOLLAR FEB YEAR. Club Rates,— Two copies, $1.80 ; 3 copies, $2.50; 4 copies, $3.20; 5 copies, $3.75. Mailed to any addresses. THOMAS G. NEWMAN. GEORGE W. YORK, Editors. YoLffl, Sept, 29, 1892. So. 14. Now Doth the busy little moth Improve each shining' minute. By hunting up your nicest comb And laying millions in it. — E. L. Pratt, in Gleanings. The Postponing of the World's Fair until 1894 has not been suggested, so far as we have heard. Bro. Jones, in the Canadian for Sept. 15th, says : We wonder if there is any truth in the report that the World's Fair is to be postponed another year owing to the cholera epidemic. Should it be postponed, we will at once notify our readers on this page of the Bee Journal. Being right here "on the ground," as it were, we would likely hear of it as soon as any one. Be Sure to read offer on page 445. More Honey for Analysis Is wanted by Prof. Cook, and he desires it at once. We have received the following from him, and he wishes us to aid him by urging bee-keepers to forward samples of the honey. Read what the Professor says : Dear Mr. York : — In our investiga- tions of honey we need samples of honey fram honey-dew— dark, light, good, bad, all kinds ; from oak and from bark and plant lice. I don't care if it was gath- ered several years ago, only if it is known surely to be such honey. I would like 3 or 4 pounds sent by express at my expense. I wish all would help me in thisgood cause. If needs be, I will pay for the honey. Yours truly, A. J. Cook. Now, if the reader has any honey that corresponds to the above description, please send 3 or 4 pounds to Prof. Cook, at Agricultural College, Mich. Every bee-keeper will be glad to help in this matter, we are sure. The Professor very much desires " to go the bottom " of this thinir, so that hereafter chemists will be able to tell the difference between pure honey and the adulterated. Every producer of honey should be interested in this, and help all they possibly can. Did you read Prof. Cook's article on "Chemical Analysis and Honey Adul- teration," on page 401, of last week's Bee Journal." Every Boy and Girl will be interested in reading page 445 of this issue of the Bee Journal. And we shouldn't wonder if the older folks, also, would be much pleased. We offer the Bee Journal from now to Jan. 1, 1894, for $1.00, to a new subscriber, and give the World's Fair Combined Games and Puzzles " as premium for getting such new subscriber. Or, we club it with the Bee Journal for one year, for $1.20. The Illinois State Convention meets at the Commercial Hotel In Chi- cago, on Oct. 18th and 19th. Will you be there ? 424 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Bro. Hutchinson, of the Re- view, is now the proud father of an in- teresting "quartette "of the "sweetest" and "nicest" girls in all Michigan. We wish to congratulate our brother editor upon the recent arrival of the fourth little "queen," of whose advent he thus writes with such dainty eloquence in his September Bee-Keepers' Revieiv : Another "tiny feather from the wings of love" has been "dropped into the sacred lap of motherhood " at the home of the Review. It is one of the sweetest, nicest little girls thai we ever had. Ivy said: — " Papa, are you going to put her in the Review ?" " Yes, you write a notice, and I'll put it in." "Oh, I couldn't do that." "Well, let's see how you would start out if your were going to write one ?" "I would say, ' The editor of the Re- view has another bright, lively little daughter, although she has not made very much noise yet.' " That was as far as I could induce her to go, but it expresses the situation as well, perhaps, as would a whole page, with the exception that the baby has since redeemed herself in the way of noise-making. The Minnesota State Fair was held at Hamline, Minn., on Sept. 5th to 10th, and the St. Paul Pioneer Press of Sept. 9th contained the follow- ing notice of the meeting of the State Bee-Keepers' Association, and also the honey exhibit at the Pair : The Bee-Keepers' Association met yesterday morning in the Institute Hall to discuss plans for the World's Fair exhibit. The State Commission has set aside $500 for this industry, but the members of the association are hopeful of securing a much larger amount. Mr. A. K. Cooper, of Winona, Secretary of the association, has charge of the col- lection of the exhibit, and he proposes to secure a little honey from every county in the State where any attention is paid to the keeping of bees. In some instances he may be compelled to buy the honey, but he expects to have this donated in most cases. Both extracted and comb honey will be collected. Min- nesota is by some considered too far north for the honey-bee, but the St;;te will make an effort to secure the first premiums at the World's Fair. The past season has been a poor one for bee-keepers, but the exhibit in the main hall is a creditable one. J. P. West, of the State examiner's office, and President of the Bee-Keepers' Asso- ciation, is«superintendentof this display, and to his personal efforts is largely due the present success. J. M. Doudna, from the northern county of Douglass, has an attractive exhibit in beeswax, and some very fine honey; he has taken four first premiums and second prize in sweep- stakes. Other counties well represented are Hennepin, Houston, Kandiyohi and Wabasha. The Bee-Keepers' Association will hold its annual meeting in Minneapolis on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, im- mediately following the annual meeting of the State Horticultural Society, which will be held in the same place on the third Tuesday in January, 1893. Construction of Bee-Cellars is to be the "special topic " of the Octo- ber B.-K. R. (If anybody but an old bee-reader could guess what those three initial letters stand for, we should be very much surprised.) In the depart- ment " Among Our Exchanges " in this issue, is an item which is taken from the B.-K. R. It requires a mighty good guesser now-a-days, to understand some of the modern ways of conveying knowl- edge. But we will try to keep up with the crowd, even though we "miss it" occasionally. Drones and Electricity.— Mr. F. Greiner, in Gleanings, in his "Cobs and Kernels," says this about the ability of drones to withstand a current of electricity : Experiments made years ago in Ger- many have shown that drones cannot withstand as strong a current of elec- tricity as workers. Would it not be simpler and cheaper, by means of an electrical battery constructed in such a manner that the strength of the current could be changed ad libitum, to kill all drones of a colony instantly, than to use drone-traps for the purpose ? AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 425 In Sunny Southland— the new department conducted by Mrs. Atchley, on page 428 of this number of the Bee Journal — seems to please a great many. Our thanks are tendered to Gleanings, the Review, and the Canadian Bee Jour- nal, for the very kind and fraternal notices they have given about our new department. Read what they say about it, in the following paragraphs : Mrs. Jennie Atchley is conducting a Southern Department in the American Bee Journal. She has had experience in the right direction, and knows how to tell it in an interesting manner. — Review. We are pleased to note .that Mrs. Jennie Atchley, so favorably known among bee-keepers, has taken charge of a department in the American Bee Journal, " In Sunny Southland." There is no doubt but its many readers will profit by her writings. Friend York is leaving no stone unturned to give the readers of the American Bee Journal good value for their dollar. — Canadian Bee Journal. The American Bee Journal has just incorporated in its columns a new de- partment, called " In Sunny Southland." It is to be conducted by Mrs. Jennie Atchley, of Floyd, Tex., a well-known writer and queen-breeder. The first in- stallment, beginning with the Sept. 1st number, is good, and no doubt will maintain its initial standard of excel- lence. It is a good scheme, Bro. York, especially for the far-South readers. — Gleanings. Giving: Due Credit to our ex- change periodicals for anything that we copy from their columns, we are very particular about, and we then expect that others will be equally careful when copying anything from the Bee Jour- nal. But it seems we were led into giving a wrong credit on page 343, where we say that the clipping about a "House Apiary Like a Passenger- Car " was taken from the Canadian Bee Journal, when it should have been cred- ited to the Bee-Keepers'' Review. We took the item referred to, from the Michigan Farmer, which said that in the Canadian Bee Journal Mr. Harker said so and so, and of course we pre- sumed that the Farmer knew what it was talking about ; but we find that it also was led into the same error as our- selves, for the Canadian Bee Journal copied the whole article from the Review without giving any credit whatever — simply "cabbaged" the whole thing bodily ! Whenever we make an error in credit- ing anything copied, we are indeed glad to have our attention called to it, for we believe in giving " honor to whom honor is due" — even to giving full credit to Mr. Devil for his deviltry. We try to follow the "Golden Rule" in all things, but, like the rest of humanity, we some- times err, for it is truly written, "To err is human." We trust the editor of the Review will have mercy upon the ODe who lead the rest of us into evil, and, upon proper indications of repentance, to forgive as fully as he expects to be forgiven when- ever he makes a mistake. Honey Crop in Minnesota. — Mr. B. Taylor, of Forestville, Minn., says this in the Farm, Stock and Home, about his honey crop, and that of Min- nesota : The honey crop at the Forestville apiary is the smallest ever secured. Ten pounds per colony is all we can expect, and we believe ours is above the aver- age in this part of Minnesota. The entire Northwest is in pretty much the same condition. Comb, or good extract- ed honey, will bring a good price if well managed in marketing. Mullein for Rheumatism.— The St. Louis Globe-Democrat says this about using mullein for rheumatism : It is not generally known that a de- coction of the common mullein, which grows wild in every part of this country, is a most excellent specific for rheuma- tism. Among the German people so much confidence is felt in it that many of them use no other remedy for this disease, and it is seldom known to fail. 426 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Straw Bee-Hives.— Mr. Frank McNiver, of New Jersey, in the Ameri- can Agriculturist, gives the following description of the old "straw bee-hives," still used in some parts of Germany, we believe : While the old straw cone-shaped bee- hive is referred to in hundreds of works on bee-keeping, and in encyclopedias, we do not now remember of ever reading any direction for, or description of, their manufacture. It may be that authors generally have considered the process too simple to need describing, for these hives are usually made of braided straw forming ropes an inch or two in diame- ter, and these are laid around a form of the required size, and then skewered together to give solidity, and keep the hive in shape when removed. A full size straw hive will hold about three pecks, but they are sometimes smaller. They have been generally discarded be- cause they afford an excellent hiding place for the worms of the bee-moth, and are very difficult to keep clean, and in no way superior to hives made Of pine boards, which are also cheaper and far more convenient for dividing swarms, removing surplus honey, etc. The Honey Exhibit at the World's Fair next year should be the very best ever produced. Editor Jones, of the C. B. J., has made the following excellent suggestions regarding exhibits of honey : " For several years we exhibited ' The Lord's Prayer," ' God Save the Queen,' and many other curiosities in connection with bee-keeping. We took the best double-calendared linen paper, printed on it in large bold type anything we wished, then dipped it in beeswax and put it through the comb foundation mill, then placed it in the hive ; the bees would lengthen out the cells and fill them with honey or brood, as the case may be. " We usually placed them where the bees would fill them with honey instead of brood, in order that the comb might b« as bright as possible, then by holding this comb up to the light, you could read at the base of the cells the inscription. "We would suggest that some of our bee-keeping friends take either this linen paper, or what is called ' tracing linen' (which is perhaps a little more expensive, but will stand more rough usage, and answer the purpose better), and on it have a good picture of Rev. L. L. Langstroth, with a short sketch of his life; then dip it in bright, clear beeswax, pass it through the mill, mak- ing a slight impression on it, hang it in the hive, and have the cells drawn out full length ; take any honey out of it that may be in the cells, and have the comb on exhibition at the World's Fair. " Why not have a fine large picture of George Washington, also Christopher Columbus ? Sections of comb honey might be filled in a similar way, so that when the honey was eaten off down to the base of the cells, the pictures of gentlemen would be in the center of the section. "Perhaps some of our ingenious friends will be able to photograph on nicely capped comb honey the picture of the purchaser or producer, or something that would make it attractive, and bring our industry more prominently before the public in this way." The "Wax-Palm of Peru exudes a wax from its leaves which closely re- sembles beeswax, and is used in making candles ; while the wax-tree or Vismia, of Ceylon and Cambodia, produces a juice resembling gamboge, which is used as a medicine. There's Not a Young Person but what can secure at least one new subscriber to the Bee Journal, and get the splendid Premium offered on page 445. Try it. When You Have any honey to sell, get some Honey Almanacs and scatter in your locality. They will sell it all in a very short time. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL-. 42T Among the Hummings in " The Apiary " department of the Amer- ican Farmer for Sept. 15th, we find the following, which are interesting : One or the first inducements for keep- ing bees is that honey is the most health- ful sweet which can be produced. The farmer who does not keep bees loses more than he thinks. Competition in the bee-business need not be feared, as pure honey is always salable at a remunerative price, and even the pleasure of having it for the table will pay for the trouble and time needed. White clover stands first as a honey- plant, and linden second. The blossoms of the latter are peculiar. They are yellow in color, and arranged so that the nectar is easily gotten by the bees, and they can load up quickly and heavily. The best method of feeding bees in winter is to give them a frame of honey. All colonies do not consume the same amount of stores, so that enough combs may sometimes be spared from those which have plenty to supply the needy. It is said that there is less honey on the market now than at any other time since 1877. The scarcity is throughout the Eastern, Western, - and Southern States, and is caused mainly by rains, drouth and cold. Nor are the prospects for a late yield promising. If this is true, it follows that good honey will command the best of prices. A Protection for Shipping- - Cases full of honey while in transit to market seems to be quite a necessity now-a-days. It is surprising that bee- keepers should be compelled to padlock their honey when shipping, and yet if we may judge from the experience of some of our honey-producers, they will have to do just that very thing. Nice honey is so very tempting, that to see it is to desire it — even to the ex- tent of stealing it, by some railroad employes. Of course, railroad compa- nies should be held responsible for the safe arrival of the whole of a shipment to its destination — like anything else that Is intrusted to their care. Mr. C. H. Dibbern has had an experi- ence on this subject which it interest- ing as well as tantalizing. He tells, in the Western Plowman, how to protect the shipping-cases, and to trap those who attempt to pilfer from the swee contents. Here is what he says : " In view of the trouble we have had with thieves opening and stealing from our section-cases while in transit, we have invented a " protection " that will either stop it, or make it easier to detect the thief. "This device consists in passing a broom wire around the case after it is packed and nailed up, and fastening the ends by winding once around a wire nail, with a leaden head. The wire should be drawn taut, and cut off quite close to the nail. The nail should be driven in well, so the head will be flush with top of cover. A few blind staples should be driven over the wire at cor- ners to hold it in place. "Now, the wire is only just long enough to go around the case, and catch around the nail. Should the case be opened on any side the wire will let go, and it is almost impossible to fasten it again. If it is attempted to draw the nail, the lead will be marred, showing that it has been tampered with, which will make it easy for the officials to locate the thieves. "The leaden-headed nail is made by taking B B shot and flattening it with a hammer on a hard board, and driving the nail through it. A barbed nail is best, as it cannot be drawn out so easily. So far as we know, there is no patent on this device, and we now freely give all our rights in it to the bee-keepers of the world." A Much-Swarmed Colony of bees is heard of. It is said that Mr. L. B. Phillips, of Walnut Grove, Ala., has a bee-hive whose colony has, within Jhe past four years, cast 115 swarms? Who can beat that record ? Have You Read page 445 yet ? 428 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. CONDUCTED BY Floyd, Hunt Co., Tex. A Queen-Rearing Dialogue. (Continued from page 397). " Why not keep your breeder in a small nucleus, and be done with it ?" I tried that, and the bees did not seem to take hold and draw out the founda- tion fast enough to suit me, and I just keep my breeders in full colonies, and then everything works like a charm. Where we must have lots of queens, we cannot depend upon any slow, uncertain process. But, as A. I. Root says about his force gardening, we have to force things, and we must have full colonies to do it, that's all. " How do you know when these cells will hatch that you are grafting there ?" Why, you see, they were eggs three days and larvae one day, making four days, and as the queen hatches in 16 days, you see they will hatch in 12 days more. So, to be sure of things, I work them to hatch 11 days hence, and on the tenth day I remove them to nuclei prepared to receive them. Am I making all this plain enough for you ? " Yes, yes, I understand it all now. But let me ask what you are going to do with all these cells in this thing?" You see now my cells are nearly all reared here at home, and these are placed in this little rack with their points all down. Well, the boys have fixed them that way to carry to an out yard, several miles away, and you see these cells hang in this rack just like they did in the hive, and by being care- ful we can carry them without injury A or 5 miles, and put them into nuclei prepared for them. *■ " How do you insert thb^n ?" Oh, I just go along the rows about as fast as I can walk, and by the records on top of the hives I know when I come to one that needs a cell ; I just open it, and place the cell down on the comb near the brood, and gently bring the next comb up just so that it will touch the cell enough to hold it. I do it so quickly that neither a smoker nor veil is needed. I do not stay long enough at a hive to sit dawn at all. Well, Charles, I am now ready to go over to the Robinson yard, do you want to go ? "Oh, yes, certainly. I'm here to-day to learn, and I am ' getting there,' too, and ' don't you forget it.' " Well, here we are. Now, if you will hitch the pony I will get things ready. Now, here you see the record on this hive — queen sent out to Geo. Smith, Aug. 26th? "Yes." Well, this is Aug. 29th, so you see the queen has been out three days, and I know that the colony needs a cell. "Why do you say "out to Geo. Smith ?" You see by that I know exactly who gets the queens from each nucleus, and I can tell long before Mr. Smith can, what kind of a queen he has, whether she was pure, and all about her brood, etc. " Oh, yes, I see. What have you got a big shade over that one hive for, and none over the rest ?" That is a powerful colony where I keep my drones. Don't you see them flying thick ? I usually keep this drone- hive queenless, too, for it might swarm away out here on this prairie, and carry off all my fine drones. " Why don't you keep the drones in nuclei, too, and then they would not swarm ?" Oh, drones do not seem to fly nearly so active and constant from nuclei as they do from a strong colony. " Oh, yes ; I now see you believe in 'powerful colonies,' as you call them." That's what I do. I can do more with one good, strong colony than with a half-dozen weak ones. [To be continued.] My Experience in Bee-Keeping. I commenced bee-keeping three years ago, and have grown very enthusiastic. A friend gave me 5 colonies in box- hives. He said the bees troubled his stock so much at the well, and did him no good, that he wanted to get rid of them. I told him all right, and much obliged. The next morning was a very frosty morning in April, and sunrise found me on my way home. When I got the bees I knew there was work for me, for I had never studied the culture of bees. I im- mediately searched the advertising col- umns of the papers, and in the course of a few days I found an advertisement AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 429 that read, " Everything needed in an apiary." I at once sent a postal card asking for a catalogue of supplies. As soon as the catalogue came, I chose and ordered a Simplicity hive for a pattern to make my hives by ; but by the time my pattern came, and I had made my hives and transferred the bees, the season had advanced so far that I got only a few pounds of surplus that season ; but, by the way, I thought of something else when I sent for the hive, and that was, I didn't know anything about bees. So I ordered " A B C of Bee-Culture," and also an Italian queen and a nucleus. Now, when I had reached this point, I found I had not yet started, so at it I went, the biggest lesson I ever had. I have since then studied, manipu- lated and experimented, have read the American Bee Journal for more than a year, and, to sum it all up, I think I have a pretty general idea of the busi- ness. Mr. Root will please accept my thanks for the easy way and great pains he has taken to make known the mys- teries connected with the business, in his " A B C of Bee-Culture." To make a long story short, I can say that in 1890 I had 5 colonies in box- hives ; transferred and got them well started, and in good condition for win- ter. In 1891 I learned to handle and Italianize bees, and secured an average of 40 pounds of honey per colony, and a fair increase of bees. The spring of 1892 found me with 14 colonies, and up to the present, after a very severe early season, I have secured a reasonable crop of honey, some colo- nies having gathered something over 80 pounds of surplus each. I may perhaps tell in the future some- thing I have learned ; and, if you don't watch me, I may tell something I havn't learned. W. H. White. Deport, Tex., Sept. 12, 1892. Experiments in Queen-Rearing. I have been experimenting for five years in queen-rearing, and with as many methods as you could guess in five minutes, and with good results. I first reared queens by the "slam-bang" method. What I call "slam-bang" is to remove a queen and let the bees have their own way in rearing or building cells. My second method was to remove all brood from a colony, and give them eggs from my choice stock, and have cells built on the comb at any place, cut them out, and insert them in other combs in nucleus hives. I found that was a smash- up and destruction to young bees, so I abandoned that method, and then went to work to see what could be done in the way of getting cells built on strips of combs ; one row of cells cut from the combs containing eggs, and then getting a comb around under the bottom and_ fastening one end to the left corner, and bringing it to the right and fastening the other end with the cell-cups down. Before I fasten this strip on I kill every other egg, and then I place the comb in a hive that I had prepared the day pre- vious. The way in which I prepare my hive is to take queen and all brood except one comb, to another point in the yard, and set up a nucleus hive. I shake all the bees from seven combs, and only leave the bees on three combs to start the new colony. Now I have a hive booming with bees to build cells. I now take the comb I left with the brood in, move to the new hive, and leave the comb with the cell strip un- der the bottom with eggs, for queen- cells are all the eggs that are in the hive. I then go to other hives and get comb that has no eggs nor brood in them, and put into hive No. 1, and close it. On the fourth day afterwards I open hive No. 1, and examine the comb con- taining cells, when I generally have an average of about 12 cells. I then leave them until they are 12 days old, and then I cut them out and place them in a nucleus hives to hatch and be mated. This method gives the finest cells that I ever saw, and also fine, large queens, which are very prolific. I also find that they are superior to any queens reared in any other way. I forgot to say that when I got a row of cells sealed, I removed them to a nucleus where I had previously removed the queen for this purpose, and I insert the second comb with another row of cells, and when they are nearly com- pleted I carry them to another hive, in- sert a cell of the former rearing, and have a queen hatched in the hive, and have another, or others, building cells under the same management. I find that queens are uniform in size and color, that the bees are better work- ers, on an average, as well as larger and gentler. J. W. Taylor. Ozan, Ark. Friend T., your plan as given above, is similar to the Alley method, and is a good way. 430 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL,. Do tie Bees Store Water ? Query 838.— 1. Do bees store water in their combs? 2. If they do so, at what time of the year is it done ?— Nebr. No. — Mrs. L. Harrison. I think not. — H. D. Cutting. I think not. — G. M. Doolittle. Mine never have. — James Heddon. Not in our opinion. — Dadant & Son. 1. I hardly believe they do. — C. C. Miller. I have never known them to do so. — J. P. H. Brown. 1. I have never observed that they do. — Eugene Secor. 1. I think not in its entirety. 2. Early spring- — J. M. Hambaugh. To a small extent, in early spring be- fore they find any nectar. — R. L. Tay- lor. Bees carry water, but I don't think they store much in the combs. — E. France. I have never known them to do so, but have seen the claim made that they do. I do not believe they do, however. — J. E. Pond. I have never seen water in its purity in the cells, put there by bees. I think they only carry in water as they need it. — G. W. Demaree. 1. That they do use water, every bee- keeper ought to know. 2. At the time of year when they need it, if they can get it. — A. B. Mason. I have never seen any pure water in the combs stored by bees, and do not be- live they store, any, at any time of the year. — C. H. Dibbern. I think they never do. I have hand- died bees for 23 years, and I have never seen any evidence that they stored water in the combs. — M. Mahin. Bees carry a great deal of water into the hives when actively breeding in the spring. I think they use it as they have need, for the young. — G. L. Tinker. 1. I think not. They often place water over the capped brood in hot weather. 2. Only in hot weather. They place water about their brood and combs, but I don't remember seeing water stored in combs, at all. — Mrs. Jennie Atchley. 1. No ; 1 do not think so. I never saw any signs of it. I think it is taken for immediate use. 2. They need it when breeding rapidly. It keeps them in good condition. — A. J. Cook. I have noticed what I thought to be instances of this on one or two occasions. This was in August. I do not think it is common for them to store water in any quantity. — James A. Green. Much water is used by the bees, mixed with honey and pollen in rearing their young ; but from their fanatic desire to hud water after one or two days' con- finement, we may infer that they do not have much of it in store. — Mrs. J. N. Heater. The bees use water when breeding, and carry it to the hives for immediate use, but rarely if ever "store it." — Editors. Mr. S. Stutterd, a prominent European microscopist and entomologist as well as linquist, naturalist and geolo- gist, died recently. The British Bee Journal of Aug. 25th, says this about him : It is with regret that we have to an- nounce the death of Mr. Samuel Stut- terd, which took place, after a very short illness, at Grimsby. Mr. Stutterd was a gentleman of culture and ability, and had long been connected with most of the literary and scientific institutions of the town. He took an active interest in the Mechanics' Institute, and es- pecially in the library. He was a good "all-round man." He had a good knowl- edge of the best modern literature, and was an able linguist, as well as a natur- alist and geologist. At one time he was secretary of the Science and Art Classes and of the Sketching Club. He was also a microscopist and entomologist. His name will be better known to bee-keep- ers from the fact of his having, in con- junction with Mr. H. Dieck, translated from the German that standard work by Dr. Dzierzon, entitled " Rational Bee- Keeping," which was edited in 1S82 by Mr. C. N. Abbott. Mr. Stutterd was greatly esteemed by all who, were ac- quainted with him. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 431 On Important Subjects. Drone-Bees and fbelr fays. REV. W. P. FAYLOR. The drone-bee is not so much looked upon now as formerly as an idler in the hive. From pulpit and pew, from way- side and home, he has been the remark of indolence. Recently a Presiding Elder in the West issued a call through a lead- ing periodical, for some preachers to fill vacancies on his District, and concluded his request by saying, "No drone need apply." To my mind, I believe that the drone- bee fills its sphere in life, and is just as industrious in his mission here, as any other creature. The intelligent apiarist has noticed again and again that a hive of bees with hundreds of drones has rolled the honey into the sections, while a sister colony, equal in numbers of workers, without drones, has yielded almost nothing. I now usually aim to keep some drone-comb in every hive. If I only wish drones from desirable colo- nies, then I keep drone-brood shaved down, and pick by hand a few dozen drones for each colony. During the honey season, or flow of nectar, drones may be shaken into any colony, and are almost always received. The life of the drone is very short — much shorter than that of the workers. I believe that many of the drones are caught by birds and enemies of bees. Drones are more clumsy and less rapid in their flight than worker-bees, which renders them a better prey for their enemies in the air. It is fortunate for the neuters that they can fly so fast. The drones aid in keeping up animal heat in the hive. They assist in stimu- lating activity. I have also some faith that they aid in carrying honey from one cell to another, and ripening the same. If we place a feeder with syrup in front of the hive, we will usually find drones in this feeder during all hours of the day, aiding as best they can to remove the contents to the cells of their combs. HOW TO KEEP CRONES DURING DROUTH. A correspondent from the East wishes me to give a method " for keeping drones when the honey season is past."" This I willingly do. Always aim to have some choice drones creeping out of their cells at the close of the honey harvest. Then make one or more colonies queenless, and give these emerging drones to the queenless colony, or colonies. Brood and eggs may be added once in a week or two, but look over every comb now and then to be sure that no queen gets into this hive, or hives, made queenless. Keep all queen-cells cut out before their contents emerge in the shape of virgins. Peed this colony, or colonies, well, and always feed about noon the colonies you wish drones to fly from about the time you expect virgins to come out on the wing. When there is no nectar in the fields, you will thus create activity among the workers and drones of such colonies. At any time should you run short of drones, you can rear drones by giving a good colony nothing but drone-comb, so that the queen will be compelbd to lay eggs in drone-cells. All eggs layed in drone-cells produce only drone-bees. If we remove worker-eggs from worker- cells, and place them in drone-cells, we shall get drones as a result. Whether the bees by blind instinct always extract the sperm fluid or not from worker-eggs when in drone-cells, I do not know ; but one of two things must be true — either all eggs from a fertile queen must be alike, or the worker bees possess the ability to change the eggs. Our good friend, Prof. Cook, says : " When the workers are able to ab- stract the sperm-cells, which are so small that we can only see them by using a high power microscope " (though he acknowledges, and so do I, that sperm- cells cannot be discovered in bee-eggs with any kind of microscope), "then we may expect to see wheat turn to chess." That wheat will turn to chess is evi- dent— a fact I have seen demonstrated — a change I can produce myself ; but this egg process is yet wrapped in mystery. See Cook's Manual, pages 81 and 74. DRONES MEETING A VIRGIN QUEEN. It was my pleasure yesterday (Aug. 1st) to witness a sight I have longed to see for years — thank Providence for the privilege. About 1 o'clock p.m. a virgin queen, urged strongly by the bees to go out of the hive of a nucleus colony, tried sev- eral times to fly, but failed. Then I caught her and tossed her up into the air, and discovered that she could not fly. Next I picked her up, and seeing her run about on my left hand, carried her 432 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. to within about 10 feet of a queenless colony that I had just fed some honey a few minutes before, and, to my astonish- ment, the drones came rushing about this queen on my hand like mad hor- nets. One drone threw her over on her side, but she was on her feet in an in- stant. Several drones gave her each a tap, and then left. In a short time the buzzing stopped, and the drones all went back to their hive. But not one of these drones left any of the sex-organs adhering to the queen. I do not know that this queen is pregnated, but I shall watch her closely for the next two days to see when she begins laying, and whether she at- tempts to leave the hive again. I have believed during the past that the reason the bees from one queen vary so much in color, is because the queen on her wedding-tour meets and copulates with different drones of various stripes. Then my observation has been that only about one-fourth of the queens that be- come fertilized carry enough of the vital fluid with them, received from the drones, to be visible to the naked eye at all. I have watched some virgin queens very closely, have seen them come out of the hive as many as a half-dozen times, then I have opened the hive and scruti- nized the queen very closely, but could see no trace of fertilization until the next two days, then I would see the ab- domen begin to enlarge, and know in this way that she had met some drones ; for she would begin to lay at the ap- pointed time. One fact is now settled, namely, that the queen attracts the drones, and not the drones the queen. The many are attracted toward the one, and not the one toward the many. Another truth is, that the queen must be "on the spree," or have the desired sexual-impulse to attract the drones. A few weeks ago, when there were some 30 virgin queens on the wing one day, I observed that the drones were so excited as to fly in and out of their hives like robber bees. Yes, reader, the drone fills his mission well in life, and if we can do as well as he, we shall feel well at the close of life. La Porte, Iowa. The Globe Bee- Veil, which we offer on the third page of this number of the Bee Joubnal, is just the thing. You can get it for sending us only three new subscribers, at $1.00 each. The Ming of Cut Honey. W. Z. HUTCHINSON. Although most farm products are graded, there have never been any gen- eral rules for the grading of honey. Naturally dark honey is seldom mixed with white honey, because, if this were done the whole lot would bring only the price at which the dark would sell, and for the same reason unfinished sections are seldom crated with the finished combs. In reporting the market prices, deal- ers usually make use of the terms ; "fancy," "choice," "No. 1," and "No. 2 ;" but there is much confusion in re- gard to the exact meaning of these terms. A producer may think that his honey is choice, or No. 1, but when it reaches the dealer, the latter finds it far from what the producer called it, and from this condition arise disputes and unpleasantness. Last fall, when the Northwestern Bee- Keepers' Society met at Chicago, there was an attempt to formulate a set of rules that might be used in grading honey, and, at the meeting of the North American Bee-Keepers' Society at Al- bany, N. Y., an improvement upon the Chicago rules was suggested. Since then the matter has been thoroughly dis- cussed by bee-keepers, yet there are so many points to be considered that an agreement is difficult. Possibly none will be arrived at until some set of rules has been given a trial, that actual prac- tice may point out more clearly what is needed. After attending both of the conventions mentioned, and reading all of the discussions on the subject, I am inclined to give preference to a formula reading about as follows: "Fancy." — All sections to be well- filled ; combs straight, of even thick- ness, and firmly attached to all four sides ; both wood and comb to be un- soiled by travel-stain or otherwise, all the cells sealed, and the honey of uni- form color. "No. 1." — All sections well-filled, but with combs uneven and crooked, de- tached at the bottom, or with but few cells unsealed ; both wood and combs unsoiled by travel-stain or otherwise, and the honey of uniform color. " No. 2." — Sections with comb, or both, travel-stained, or otherwise much soiled, and such sections as are less than three-fourths filled with honey, whether sealed or unsealed ; and the combs con- taining two or more colors. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 433 "No. 3." — All crates filled with honey not described in any of the foregoing grades. The color of honey to be known as " light," " amber" and "dark." The crates to be unsoiled, but if otherwise, the honey in such crates to be classed in the next grade below the one indicated in the instructions. In describing honey we would then have " fancy white," "fancy amber," "fancy dark;" and "No. 1 white," "No. 1 amber," "No. ldark;" and "No. 2 white," " No. 2 amber," and "No. 2 dark." Upon this point of color there has been a great deal of contention, some asserting that only white honey could be called "Fancy" or "No. 1." There are many people, however, that regard buckwheat honey as the best honey ; to them there would be fancy buckwheat or dark honey. Tastes differ in this respect, and the plan of calling only white honey first-class will not be feasible. When it is possible, to give the source from which honey is gathered, might answer instead of giving the color, if all people were as well informed as bee- keepers in regard to this matter ; but, as it is, it is probably best to use the words " white," " amber" and " dark." Uniform grades and terms will im- prove the price. — AmericanAgriculturist. Scientific Ignorance About Bees. EEV. E. T. ABBOTT. My Dear Mr. York : — I hand you herewith a copy of an article which I mailed to the Atlantic Monthly. You can make such use of it as you deem best. Emerson T. Abbott. St. Joseph, Mo. [The following is the article referred to in the above :1 Permit me to offer my protest against some of the statements made in Prof. Evans' article in the February number of the Atlantic. The Professor seems to have a genius for making wild and extravagant assertions in the name of science (?), for this entire article is filled to overflow with statements that lead one of a skeptical turn of mind to doubt, to say the least. I will leave it to others to criticise the improbable stories he recites about ravens, storks, etc., and confine my criticisms to a field in which I have some right to speak with authority. If his statements about birds may be spoken of as improbable — and I think they may — it will be putting it mildly to say that the statements he makes about bees are, most of them, absurd, and entirely un- warranted in the light of facts as known to every intelligent bee-keeper. SEVERAL LARVJE IN ONE CELE. Take the following: "In order to provide for emergencies, several larvas are reared in a single cell, which the old queen is never permitted to approach." It is a matter of great interest to every bee-keeper, who has read this statement, to know where the Professor got his information. Surely, if it is a fact, he is entitled to the honor of having made an original and unique discovery. I am fairly well acquainted with the reliable literature on the subject of bee-culture, and I am quite sure that this is the first time I have ever chanced to meet a statement like this. I also profess to know something about the economy of a bee-hive, and I am willing to risk my reputation for truth and veracity on the statement that no man, living or dead, ever knew more than one larva at a time to be reared in a cell. I should look upon this state- ment of the Professor's as an attempt to be funny, if I did not know that he had the reputation of being a careful writer. If this reputation was acqu'red by mak- ing such wild and improbable assertions as he does about bees, I confess it does not speak well for the intelligence of his readers. He tells us that the workers are " in- capable of laying eggs ;" but they do lay eggs all the same, and it is a question whether there is a single worker-bee living that cannot lay eggs under cer- tain conditions. It is true, they do not make a business of laying, to use the parlance of the street, but this is not proof that they can not. On the other hand, we have abundant proof that they can, and frequently do, lay eggs. HONEY-BEES IMPROVING THEIR METHODS. He informs us that the honey-bees have "improved their methods of work in the memory of man." This sounds very plausible, and I have no disposition to call in question the theory of evolu- tion with which this statement is sup- posed to be in harmony ; but the state- ment itself, in my opinion, is not true. History has not recorded a single radical change in the habits of bees. So far as we know, they build their combs 434 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. in the same way, and with the same mathematical exactness that they did ten thousand years ago. They gather pollen, honey and propolis, and perform all the economy of the hive in the nine- teenth century exactly as they did in the morning of creation, when they first evoluted into bees, or were created full- fledged and perfect — I do not care which theory you hold ; the fact remains that they are to-day where they began as bees, and history records no change in the "memory of man," or any other time. Darwin knew this, and therefore he said, " The " hive-bee is the least variable of all domestic animals." The Professor also rehashes an old story, which is known among bee-keep- ers as the "Wiley lie." I refer to his statement about "manufactured comb." This has gone the rounds of the papers of the country so long, and has been denied and proven to be false so many times, that it greatly surprises one that a man of any reputation would repeat it, or a well-known and popular journal like the Atlantic Monthly publish it. In the name of thousands of honest, earn- est, and industrious bee-keepers, I want to protest against this statement being repeated again, and I trust you may think proper to give the denial as wide a circulation as you have given the false statement. Permit me to call your attention to the inclosed article which appeared in the Popular Science Monthly for May. NONSENSICAL "SCIENTIFIC" EFFUSIONS. The Professor's effusions about " bee communities relapsing into barbarism," "barricading the entrance of their hives;" also "making of deep, narrow gateways," etc., sound like the poetical dreamings of a half-educated savage, and make one think of the science, so- called, and literature of the Dark Ages. There is a good deal of imagination and very little truth in them, therefore, they do not deserve a place in the literature of this age of facts and figures. Had he ceased to draw upon his imagi- nation here, he might have been ex- cused on the plea that he was trying to write a poetical prose ; but he gives the wings of his imagination full liberty, and takes still higher flights than any at which I have hinted. Witness the following : THE MOTHER-HIVE AND HER COLONIES. " It is undeniable that, in the life of the honey-bee, a sort of historical con- nection exists between the mother-hive and her colonies. This sense of kinship extends to the colonies of colonies, and thus gives rise to something like inter- national relations between a large num- ber of apian communities, which share the friendships and hatreds of the origi- nal stock, and transmit to their pos- terity." Lenz, he tells us, relates his experi- ence on this point. Some of his hives being blown down by the wind, he hast- ened to set them up. The bees saw him thus engaged, and, regarding him as the cause of the disaster, stung him. For years afterward they pursued him when- ever he approached the hives. This un- just antipathy was inherited by all the swarms which issued from these hives, and formed colonies elsewhere. It is wonderful how much use this learned savant has made of this little accumulation of what he evidently sup- poses to be facts. He probably sold it to the Popular Science Monthly for so much a line, and, no doubt, drew upon you for a like sum ; and, for all I know, he may still be sending it out to noted journals for such pay as his reputation will command, on its mission of enlight- ening the earth. Yet, there is not even a shadow of truth in it. In three days after a swarm has issued from the hive, should one of the bees belonging to it return to the parent colony and attempt to enter the hive with a view of helping herself to the honey, some of which she had gathered, she would be immediately informed that she had no rights there. Should she persist in her attempts to enter the hive, she would be severely chastised, if not killed outright. Lenz, to whom the Professor refers, may be authority on some things, but I do not hesitate to say that he is not au- thority on the habits of bees. 1 sub- mitted the question of the authority of Lenz and Wundt (whom Prof. Evans quotes as backing up his extraordinary statements), to one of the ablest living writers on the subject of practical bee- culture, and a man well posted and thoroughly acquainted with all the lit- erature extant on the subject. He re- plied : "I went to my library and opened Bastian, whose book contains a biblio- graphy of the authors of bee-culture, with the title of their works since 1568, to find the names of Lenz and Wundt, but Bastian did not mention them, al- though his bibliography contains the names of more than 400 bee-writers. My researches," he says, "in the books AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 435 of Baron von Berlepsch and Dzierzon were equally fruitless, notwithstanding these writers quote a great number of authors in their books." Sir John Lubbock says, "I doubt whether bees are in the least fond of one another. I have not been able to dis- cover any evidence of affection among them. They appear to be thoroughly callous, and utterly indifferent to one another." TRADITIONS (?) AMONG BEES. Prof. E. tells us that the bees that suffered the supposed wrong never for- got it, and communicated their feelings to their descendants by way of tradi- tion (!). If communicated at all it was by tradition, for the bees that did the possibly affect the males and fertile females, which alone leave descendants. I am surprised that no one has hitherto advanced this demonstrative case of neuter insects, against the well-known doctrine of inherited habit as advanced by La Marck." I know of no more fitting language to apply to these statements of Prof. Evans', in closing this long article, than that which the Professor himself has furnished us, in the early part of his article, in speaking of the positions of the late Prof. Von Prautl, "The weak point of these speculations is, they are too exclusively metaphysical, constitut- ing a logical and systematic exposition of conception, or notions without that accurate and exhaustive observation of California State Building at the World's Columbian Exposition, in 1893. stinging were all dead in two months at most, if it was in early spring, and they did not live more than six months at best. Then, again, they never had any pos- terity to which they could transmit this ill-feeling, for the queen that laid all the eggs, from which the future inhabitants of the hive were hatched, knew nothing of the stinging unless the worker-bees told her about it. Then in order to hand it down, even as a tradition, it would be necessary for her to tell the young bees and queens about it as they came into the world, and thus it would go down from generation to generation. This seems quite " fishy " to an ordinary mor- tal, but it may be good science in the country where Prof. Evans lives. So far as the transmission of tenden- cies in the bee-hive is concerned, Darwin settled the matter a long time ago. He says, "Peculiar habits confined to the workers, or sterile females, however long they might be followed, could not facts which acuteness of analysis and no vigorous process of pure thinking can supply. Prautl," he says, " is ignorant of the habits and aptitudes of ani- mals." So far as bees are concerned, Prof. Evans seems to be suffering from an attack of the same disease. St. Joseph, Mo. Bee-Questions ly a Beginner. E. S. MILES. Last spring I got a swarm of bees in the woods, by taking a portion of the tree. The next day they swarmed out. We caught and hived them in a mov- able-frame hive. The next day after, they swarmed out of that, and we hived them again, and put a queen and drone trap on. They swarmed out a couple of times after that (leaving the queen — 436 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. they only had a few drones), and then went to work. I did not pay much attention to them for several weeks, supposing them all right (they had a new hive with founda- tion) until I noticed they were flying hardly any. On looking them over I found a very light colony, with only about as much comb as they had a few days after being hived, little brood and eggs, and practically no honey. On the bottom of the frames and covers of the hives I found two or three dozen whitish or lead-colored worms, from % to 1M inches long, with dark- colored heads, fattish, and good crawl- ers, smooth, with no hair on their bodies. Are these the young of the bee-moth ? What can I do to get rid of them, and prevent them in other colonies? I have looked them over several times, dipped the bottoms of the frames in hot water, and put the bees into a new hive. I found, just the other day, 3 or 4 worms (always on the bottom of the frames). I scalded them again, and put the bees in another new hive. I. have never seen any worms on or in the combs. Since buckwheat and smart-weed are in bloom, these bees have built some more comb, and have stored quite a little honey. I also gave them a good frame of brood and partitioned them off with a division-board. They have a laying queen, and are getting a little stronger in workers all the time. I also found at one time a gray-colored moth, or miller, about one inch long, under the cover of this hive, and one once under the cover of a box-hive I have. Last spring was a hard one on bees in this locality, but the summer has been a good one, I think. Of course, I am only a beginner, and therefore not much of a judge. Denison, Iowa, Sept. 2, 1892. Mr. J. A. Green, of Dayton, Ills., to whom was referred the above questions for reply, has kindly given his opinion as follows : It would be impossible to say why the bees should have swarmed out so per- sistently, without knowing the exact circumstances. Bees will often leave the hive in which they are placed be- cause it is too small or too large, or be- cause there is some bad odor about it, or for a dozen other reasons. One of the most common causes of swarming out, is a hive that has been left out in the hot sun until it is more like an oven than an inviting home. In some of your manipulations you probably killed the queen, or she was superseded soon after the swarm was hived. During the interval that it took to rear another queen, the colony, not having any accessions of young bees, dwindled rapidly in numbers so that before the progeny of the young queen began to hatch out, only a small propor- tion of the original colony was left. Or, it may have been that the honey- flow ceased so soon after you hived them that they were unable to build more comb. Bees consume large quantities of honey in secreting wax to build combs, and if the daily supply is pn'y sufficient for daily needs, or less, little or no comb will be built, nor will foun- dation be drawn out. The queen is thus restricted in egg-laying for want of cells in which to deposit her eggs, so that the strength of the colony is not kept up. As you say you found little honey in the hive, the latter explanation is perhaps the more probable. The worms you found on the bottom of the hive were the larvae of the wax- moth, the perfect insect being the miller you saw. The way to keep them out of your colonies is to get Italian queens and Italianize your bees. Strong colo- nies of common bees are seldom injured to any extent by moths, but even the smallest colonies of Italians are proof against them, as they are so much more energetic than the common German or black bees. Moth worms are to be found in the combs of nearly all common bees during the summer, but such things are a rarity in an Italian apiary. This, too, is one of the least important points in which the Italians are superior to the blacks. J. A. Green. Appropriations for Apiarian Statistics. HON. J. M. HAMBAUGH. It is with pleasure I have the honor of addressing you in accord with the kind request of your worthy Secretary upon the subject of " A State Appropriation for the Collection of Statistics and Dis- semination of Information in Apicul- ture." Truly, this is a subject that com- mends itself to the consideration of every fair-minded man who has the weal of his fellow-man sincerely at heart. It is universally conceded that apicul- ture is one of the legitimate industries of our land, and while it may not rank AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 437 as high in a financial point of view as some of our sister industries in point of finances invested and annually received and disbursed, yet, when the relation- ship of our industry is considered with that of horticulture, floriculture, and the many seeds and grasses of our coun- try, to say nothing of the products furnished our markets in the way of honey and beeswax, we will find, when unbiased investigation is given, the sub- ject of apiculture is one of the most im- portant on the category of industries. All subject-matter given in the direc- tion of the dissemination of knowledge upon this important subject will be a boon to humanity and should be given the widest possible circulation. I am not sure that any argument could be presented, that would insure the clemency and favorable consideration of our law-makers upon the simple grounds of the importance of the pursuit in the visible financial consideration of the in- dustry considered within the scope of its own product. It is by no means a new theory, that the sexual transmissions of plant-life is carried on largely by the visitations of insects during the time of their blooming, but that the education of the masses upon this important subject in the past has been sadly neglected is very appar- ent ; and as we advance in wisdom and intelligence these once mooted questions will become standard facts, and the vocation of bee-keeping will be nurtured as one of the leading and most useful industries in our land. In order to present this matter in its most impressive form to the members of the General Assembly, you must enlist one of its members in your service, who is thoroughly conversant with the rou- tine of legislative work, and who will be painstaking in every particular. He must know there is no flaw in his Bill as presented, and when it is once consigned to the Committee on Appropriations, he must be able to show by outside pressure that the bee-keepers are in earnest. There should be a committee appointed by your State society, composed of the representative bee-keepers of your State, to go before the Committee in behalf of the Bill. The bee-keepers composing the constituency of the various members of the Committee on Appropriations should also write letters to their mem- bers soliciting their vote in its favor. Another very important matter will be to secure the services of the members of the State Horticultural Society, and have them make an appeal, in person if possible, and if not, by letter, to the Committee, which you w'll find wUl bear great weight for favorable consideration in the minds of the various members composing that body. It is an important point to secure as early action as possible on the part of the Committee, and should you succeed in having it returned back to the House or Senate (as the case may be) with the recommendation "that it do pass," you can consider half the battle won. It should be remembered, however, that every Bill presented must go through the same routine in each branch of the Legislature ; hence the necessity of early action on the part of the Committee, and having it placed upon the calendar. All appropriation bills are granted the right of way over all other bills, hence there is but little danger but some dis- position will be made, should it ever get out of the committee room. — Read at the Missouri State Convention. Spring, Ills. The Honey Crop a Fair Average. F. K. MANNING. The honey crop is a fair average this summer. There was an abundance of white clover, the roadsides and pastures being white with bloom, and the bees made good use of it. My bees have gath- ered, as near as I can figure it, 65 pounds per colony, of white clover honey, and what the fall average will be I cannot tell. The prospect is good in this section for a large yield of fall honey, as the corn-fields are covered with the big smart-weed. My a,)iary is in the yard between the house and work-shop, and in passing from and to my shop, it makes me re- joice to hear the humming of the little workers as they go and come from the fields. I have just 100 colonies, and nearly all hybrids. On July 27th, I put the strongest col- ony I had on a pair of scales in the even- ing, and balanced the scales ; and on the evening of the 28th I balanced the scales again, and there was a gain of 14J^ pounds. How is that for one day's work from hybrids ? It makes a bee-keeper rejoice to get a good crop, as in this section there was no honey the last two summers, and the honey this summer, I think, is the nicest I ever saw. The sections are filled square and full. Last year my bees gathered but very 438 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. little of the black honey, and I think the most of ray colonies had some of that to winter on, and those that had it came out in the spring in as good condition as those that had honey that was gathered from Spanish-needle and smart-weed. I usually winter my bees in the cellar, but last winter I left them on the sum- mer stands, packed with chaff, and they came out in fair condition in the spring. Out of 75 I lost only 2, but through April 4 were robbed, so that left me 69. I increased to 100, and that is as many as I want to attend to and do the work right. The prospect is good for the bees to gather a good quality of honey to winter on, and I hope that we will have good, strong colonies to start with next spring. I think that the prospect is better for the bees to winter than it is for the bee- keepers in this section, as there are no potatoes, cabbage or vegetables to speak of, of any kind ; and as that stuff is the back-bone for the Dutch and Irish, I often think how cruel it is to abuse the little honey-bee, as there is no other living thing on earth that will gather the honey and store it in the sections for the bee-keeper, for there are thousands and thousands of pounds of it in the fields, and it would stay there if it were not for the honey-bee. Reynolds, Ills., Sept. 12, 1892. Bee Journal Posters, printed in two colors, will be mailed free upon application. They may be used to ad- vantage at Fairs over Bee and Honey Exhibits. We will send sample copies of the Bee Journal to be used in con- nection with the Posters in securing subscribers. Write a week before the Fair, telling us where to send them. We would like to have a good agent at every Fair to be held this year. Here is a chance for a live man — or woman. Doolittle's Queen-Rearing book should be in the library of every bee-keeper ; and in the way we offer it on page 447, there is no reason now why every one may not possess a copy of it. Send us one new subscriber for a year, and we will ro^il the book to you as a present. CONVENTION DIRECTORY. Time and place of meeting. 1892. Oct. 4.— Capital, at Springfield, Ills. C. E. Yocom, Sec, Sherman, Ills. Oct. 7.— Utah, at Salt Lake City, Utah. John C. Swaner, Sec, Salt Lake City, Utah. Oct. 18, 19.— Illinois State, at Chicago, Ills. Jas. A. Stone, Sec, Brad ford ton. Ids. Oct. 19.-N. E. Ohio. N. Penn. & W. New York at Sairerstown, Pa. George Spitler, Sec, Mosiertown, Pa. Nov. 28.— Allegany Co., at Angelica, N.'Y. H. L. Dwight, Sec, Friendship, N. Y. 1893. Jan. 13, 14.— S.W.Wisconsin, at Boscobel.Wis. Edwin Pike, Pres., Boscobel, Wis. In order to have this table complete, Secretaries are requested to forward full particulars of the time and the place of each future meeting. — The Editors. North American Bee-Keepers' Association President— Eugene Secor.. Forest City, Iowa. Secretary— W. Z. Hutchinson Flint, Mich Read our grea offer on page 445. National Bee-Keepers' Union. President— James Heddon ..Dowagiac, Mich. Sec'y and Manager— T. G. Newman, Chicago. s£H£5S£2iie£ Reports, Prospects, Etc. J2&~ Do not write anything for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Pretty Good Fall Honey-Flow. There has been a pretty good fall honey-flow, as predicted by W. T. Fal- coner sometime ago. Bees have stored an average of 20 pounds of comb honey per colony in the last two weeks, besides filling up the brood-chambers. Most of it is gathered from Spanish-needle. Edw. Smith. Carpenter, Ills., Sept. 19, 1892. Report for the Season. September 16th closes the honey sea- son in this vicinity. July and August were exceedingly good months for bees. The 20 years that I have been in the bee-business I never saw basswood trees AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 439 so full of blossoms as the past season, and it yielded large quantities of honey. Golden-rod blossomed nicely, and the hot days we have had kept the bees in the sections. I shall have no unfinished sections to keep over. I have had a large lot of honey to sell at 20 cents a pound. I keep part Italians and part black bees. I prefer the black bees to Ital- ians for comb honey. I am honest about this. I love the beautiful Italians, and take pride in showing them to friends that call to see me ; but when we come to section honey, I would rather have the black bees to work for me. White clover was a total failure with us this season. May and June were two wet months, and bees had hard work to gather honey enough to live on and keep up brood-rearing. The new growth of white clover that has come up abund- antly this season gives us encourage- ment to look for a big honey season next year. C. A. Marsh. Sharon, Vt., Sept. 16, 1892. Hopes for a Better Season Next Year. This season has been the poorest in 20 years for bee-keepers here in the East ; but we live in hopes of a better one next year. Wm. W. Cary. Colerain, Mass., Sept. 19, 1892. Enough. Honey for Wintering. Again we have no honey crop. Fortu- nately, however, the bees will have enough to winter on. E. J. Baxter. Nauvoo, Ills., Sept. 19, 1892. Bees in Fine Condition — Honey-Plants My bees have only made a living so far. From 9 colonies I have obtained only 67 % pounds of extracted honey, and 2 swarms. I have visited some few small apiaries of this (Cocke) and Hara- blin counties, and find that there is no surplus honey here. My bees are in fine condition for winter, and I am expecting to get some honey yet from golden-rod and from a weed that blooms just before frost — we call it " white-top "or " frost- weed." We have a fine place for bees, with plenty of timber to get honey from, viz : The poplar commences to bloom the first of May, and lasts about three weeks ; then we have the clover that the bees work on, but they do not get much honey from it ; then about June 10th the basswood blooms ; then the sour-wood commences immediately after the basswood, and lasts until about the first of August. The chestnut blooms in June, from which we get honey some- times. We also have the maple, the holly, and the black gum. In the fall we have the smart-weed, Spanish-needle, butter-weed, golden-rod, frost-weed, and plenty of other varieties which are too numerous to mention. Wm. Webb. Sutton, Tenn., Sept. 12, 1892. Plenty of Stores for Winter, Etc. This has not been a very prosperous season for the apiarist. 1 started with one colony, increased to 4, and took off 40 pounds of comb honey. I had one swarm on May 6th, one on the 12th, and a swarm from the first swarm on June 20th. All have plenty of stores to winter on. I captured a swarm of Italian bees 3 years ago this summer, and clipped the queen's wing. They did not swarm last summer, and I took off 61 pounds of comb honey. This same queen swarmed on May 6th, and a second time on June 20th. The hive is very full of bees and brood, and not 20 drones in the hive. Now, I am sure this queen is 4 years old. Who can produce a queen to beat this one ? N. W. Shut/tz. Shreve, O., Sept. 12, 1892. Heart's-Ease and Buckwheat Honey. I have 27 colonies of bees, and ob- tained, this year, 1,200 pounds of comb honey from heart's-ease and buckwheat. Jas. W. Townley. Octavia, Nebr., Sept. 16, 1892. Combed and Extracted. Carbolic Acid for Uniting Bees, Etc. Carbolic acid may be used to good ad- vantage in uniting colonies, or in driving robbers away from a hive that is being robbed. The manner of using is in the form of a solution, one part of acid to seven of water, with one-half dram of glycerine added to each ounce of the mixture. The glycerine holds the acid 440 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. in suspension, and makes a clear solu- tion. The mixture is applied with an ordinary atomizer, such as is used for spraying perfumery. When wishing to unite two or more colonies, I spray the entrances of the hives, say 24 hours before uniting, and the travel of the bees to and from the hives during this time gives all the bees the same odor. I have for three seasons been practicing this mode of uniting, and have yet to see the first quarrel. My former method of uniting was to place one body containing the bees over another with a sheet of wire screen be- tween, leaving the bees in this shape say 24 hours, when they would all be scented alike, then removing the screen. This plan worked well, but the trouble was that when the weather was hot a great many bees would worry themselves to death ; besides, it is more work than the spraying plan. In cases of robbing I have broken them up almost instantaneously by use of the same application. I generally place some straw or grass over the en- trances, and thoroughly spray the same; also the sides of the hive. This com- pletely changes the odor, and has had the effect of baffling the robbers. — J. F. Shirk, in B.-K. R. "Who'll Accept this Challenge P Dr. Edward Everett Hale, who has lived in Boston all his life, says : " I like to put myself on record also as saying that all the poverty, all the crime, and all the vice which attract public attention in Boston, among what we call ' the poorer classes,' may be ascribed to the free use of intoxicating liquors. I have said a hundred times, and I am willing to say it again, that if anybody will take charge of all the pov- erty and crime which result from drunk- enness, the South Congregational Church, of which I have the honor to be the minister, will alone take charge of all the rest of the poverty which needs ' out-door relief ' in the city of Boston." The Change of Nectar to Honey. The experiment of Schonfeld, in Ger- many, 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 con- densing 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, allowing the water to pass through its walls. I believe nectar would much sooner turn sour than thicken to the consistency of honey in- side of the hive." Schonfeld, in his ex- periment, formed a colony of young bees only, which he knew would not and did not go out in search of food. To this colony he introduced a comb filled with sugar syrup, but inclosed in wire cloth. Then he fed this colony the same kind of thin syrup. At the end of seven days the fed and stored syrup was compared with the screen-inclosed syrup, and only an insignicant difference was ascertained in favor of the first named. The syrup in the inclosed comb had not soured, and was so nearly of the same consis- tency that Von Planta, who made the analysis, thinks it questionable whether, in this process of concentration, the or- ganization of the bee plays any part at all. — F. Greiner, in Gleanings. Study of Honey-Producing Flowers. There is no subject of more impor- tance to the bee-keeper, nor is there one that gives him more pleasure, than the study of honey-producing flowers. No matter whether they bloom in the gar- den, the field or forest, or perchance along the roadsides, if bees gather honey from them, they at once become an ob- ject of much interest and special investi- gation. The question of bee-forage is one that every one engaged in bee-keep- ing should investigate, for upon the amount and duration of honey-produc- ing plants in the vicinity of the apiary depends the success or failure of the enterprise. In locating an apiary for honey pro- duction, one should have an eye to the amount of bee-forage in reach of the location, for no amount of labor and skill in manipulation of our bees will pay where it is wanting. If situated in a poor location, and we wish to take up bee-keeping, we can help much by sow- ing buckwheat and Alsike clover, and interesting our neighbors in this direc- tion also. — G. M. Doolittle, in National Stockman. "Why Not send us one new name, with $1.00, and get Doolittle's book on "Scientific Queen-Rearing" as a premi- um ? Read the offer on page 447. Don't Fail to read all of page 421. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 441 ^AMEMCAtf.^ PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY At One Dollar a Year, 199 Randolph St., CHICAGO, ILLS. TO CORRESPONDENTS. The Bee Journal is sent to subscribers until an order is received by the publishers for its discontinuance, and all arrearages are paid. A. Sample Copy of the Bee Journal will be sent FREE upon application. How to Send Money. — Remit b/ Express, Post-Office Money Order, or Bank Draft on New York or Chicago. If none of these can be had, Register your Letter, affixing Stamps both for postage and registry, and take a receipt for it. Money sent thus, IS AT OUR RISK; otherwise it is not. Do not send Checks on Local Banks— we have to pay 2o cents each, to get them cashed. Never Send Silver in letters. It will wear holes in the envelope, or may be stolen. Maize all Money Orders Payable at Chicago, 111.— not at any sub-station of Chicago. Postag-e Stamps of any denomination may be sent for any fraction of a dollar; or where Money Orders cannot be obtained, stamos for any amount may be sent. Subscription Credits. — The receipt for money sent us will be given on the address-label of every paper. The subscription is paid to the END OF THE MONTH Indicated. i Jo not "Write anything for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter. Emerson Binders, made especially for the American Bee Journal, are convenient for preserving each weekly Number, as fast as received. They will be sent, post-paid, for 50 cts. each. They cannot be sent by mail to Canada. Cost Numbers.— We carefully mail the Bee Journal to every subscriber, but should any be lost in the mails, we will replace them if notified before all the edition is exhausted. Always State the Post-Office to which your paper is addressed, when writing to us. Special Notices. The Date on the wrapper-label of this paper indicates the end of the month to which you have paid for the Journal. If that is past, please send us one dollar to pay for another year. This shows that Mr. Porter has paid his subscrip- tion to the end of next December : Wallace Porter Dec92 Suffield, Portage co, Ohio The Convention Hand-Book is very convenient at Bee-Conventions. It con- tains a Manual of Parliamentary Law and Rules of Order for Local Conven- tions ; Constitution and By-Laws for a Loca1 Society; Programme for a Conven- tion, with subjects for discussion, and about 50 blank pages, to make notes upon. It is bound in cloth, and of the right size for the pocket. We will pre sent a copy for one new subscriber to the Bee Journal, with $1.00. An Apiary Register is a splendid book to have in an apiary, so as to know all about any colony of bees at a moment's notice. It devotes two pages to each colony. We will send one large enough for 50 colonies, for $1.00, post- paid ; for 100 colonies, for $1.25; or. for 200 colonies, for $1.50. After using it for one season, you would not do without it. • » i ^ ■» » The Premiums which we give for securing new subscribers to the Ameri- can Bee Journal, are intended as pay for work done in getting new names among your friends arid acquaintances, and are not offered to those who send in their own names as new subscribers, unless such name or names form a part of a club of at least three subscribers. • ii ^ 1 1 » A Binder for preserving the copies of the American Bee Journal as it arrives from week to week, is very convenient. You should have one, as it is so handy for reference from time to time. We mail it for only 50 cents, or will give it as a premium for two new subscribers, with $2.00. When Talking About Bees to your friend or neighbor, you will oblige us by commending the Bee Journal to him, and taking his subscription to send with your renewal. For this work we offer some excellent premiums that you ought to take advantage of. 442 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. CLIJBBirVG LIST. We Club the American Bee Journal for a year, with any of the following papers or books, at the prices quoted in the LAST column. The regular price of both is given i n the first column. One year's subscription for the American Bee Journal must be sent with each order for another paper or book : Price of both. Club. The American Bee Journal $1 00 ano" Gleanings In Bee-Culture 2 00 175 Bee-Keepers' Review 2 00.... 175 The Aplculturlst 175.... 165 Bee-Keepers' Guide 150. .. 140 American Bee- Keeper 150 140 Canadian Bee Journal 2 00 ... 175 Nebraska Bee-Keeper 150 135 The 8 above-named papers 6 25 5 25 and Langstroth Revised (Dadant) 2 40 2 25 Cook's Manual 2 00.... 175 Dooiittle on Queen-Rearing. 2 00 — 165 Bees and Honey (Newman).. 2 00 175 Advanced Bee-Culture 150 140 Dzierzon's Bee-Book (cloth). 2 25.... 2 00 Root's A B C of Bee-Culture 2 25 ... . 210 A Year Among the Bees 1 50 1 35 Convention Hand-Book 125 115 History of National Society. 1 50 ... . 1 25 Weekly Inter-Ocean 2 00.... 175 The Lever (Temperance) .... 2 00.... 175 Orange J udd Farmer 2 00 175 Farm, Field and Stockman. . 2 00 1 75 Prairie Farmer 2 00.... 175 Illustrated Home Journal.. 1 50 1 35 American Garden 2 50 2 00 Rural New Yorker 3 00 . r. . 2 25 Do not send to us for sample copies of any other papers. Send for such to the publishers of the papers you want. Almost Every Bee-Book that is now published we mention on the second page of this issue of the Bee Jouknal. Look over the list and select what you want. For every new yearly subscriber that you secure for us at $1.00, we will allow you 25 cents, to apply on the purchase of any book we have for sale. This is a rare chance to get some valua- able apicultural reading-matter, and at the same time aid in spreading helpful apiarian knowledge among your friends. Bee-Keeping for Profit, by Dr. G. L. Tinker, is a nice, 50-page pamphlet, which details fully the author's new system of bee-management in producing comb and extracted honey, and the con- struction of the hive best adapted to it — his "Nonpareil." The book can be had at this office for 25 cents, or will be given for one new subscriber, with $1. One - Cent Postage Stamps are preferred by us when it is necessary for any of our subscribers to send stamps in place of paper money, Express or Post-office Money Orders, or drafts on New York or Chicago. The Express Money Orders, or Post-office Money Orders, are the safest outside of drafts. Do not send checks on your local banks as it costs us 25 cents each to get them cashed here. Postal Notes are no safer than cash put into the envelope, so do not waste your money in buying them, but get a Money Order instead. This Means You. — When order- ing any of the books or articles which we offer clubbed with the Bee Journal, or otherwise ; or when sending anything intended for us, such as subscriptions to the Bee Journal, or matter for publi- cation, be sure to address everything to —George W. York & Co., 199 Ran- dolph St., Chicago, Ills. Please Send Us the Names of your neighbors who keep bees, and we will send them sample copies of the Bee Journal. Then please call upon them and get them to subscribe with you, and secure some of the premiums we offer. Webster's Pocket Dictionary we offer as a premium for sending only one new subscriber with $1.00. It is a splendid Dictionary — and just right for a pocket. Wants or Exchanges. Under this heading, Notices of 5 lines, or less, will be inserted at 10 cents per line, for each insertion, when specially ordered into this Department. If over 5 lines, the additional lines will cost 20 cents each. WANTED— To sell, good Apiary and Fix- tures at Pattonsburg. Mo. Good loca- tion. Address, G. F. TUCKER. HA4t Vellville, Ark. TO EXCHANGE— Pure Tested Young Ital- ians, 3 to 5 bands, 50 cents to $ 1.00— for cash, wax or offers. F. C. MORROW, 6Atf Wallaceburg, Arkansas. GEORGE W. YORK, i DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY I Weekly, $1.00 a Year. Editor. f TO Bee-Culture. I Sample Pree. VOL. XXX. CHICAGO, ILL, OCTOBER 6, 1892. NO. 15. " The Sweetest Lives are those to duty wed. Whose deeds, both great and small, Are close-knit strands of unbroken thread Where love ennobles all. The world may sound no trumpets, ring no bells— The Book of Life the shining record tells." Strong; Colonies, with plenty of healthful stores, are important essentials in safe wintering of bees. Mrs. L,. Harrison will give some excellent hints on " Fall Work in the Apiary," in next week's Bee Journal. Look out for it. The Old Reliable has simply been "renewing its youth" the past week. That's all. Though born a year before its present editor, it seems only a bright " youngster " to-day. How Many Queens did you rear this year ? is asked by the Bee-Keepers'1 Review. It will publish the replies given by queen-breeders, together with a list of the names of those who respond. Our Prof. Cook— we mean the bee-keepers' Prof. Cook — is a very busy man at the Michigan Agricultural Col- lege. He has 50 students daily to look after, and furnish "intellectual pabu- lum" on various subjects. What a glorious opportunity for moral influenc- ing, as well as giving educational aid. The Professor must indeed have his hands and heart full. Dr. Marshall, of Marshall, Tex., is biographically represented on pages 458 and 459 of this number of the Bee Journal. We love to honor those who have helped to place the art of bee- keeping upon the elevated plane which it occupies to-day. Dr. Marshall is one of them. Read his biography, and go forth to imitate him and others like him. Langstroth's Annuity Fund which was formed a few years ago, is thus noticed in a letter received from its originator, we believe, Dr. C. C. Miller : An Open Letter to the Friends of Father Langstroth : — Four years ago an effort was made to get up a small annuity for Father Lang- stroth, in the shape of a free-will offer- ing from his friends. In order that it might be entirely spontaneous no names were published. Although a smaller sum than desired was raised, yet there was a hearty response from quite a num- ber, some saying that a larger amount would be sent, if necessary. But it ap- pears that through forgetfulness, or whatever cause, quite a number have 456 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. failed to send the annual amount prom- ised. The object of this communication is not to urge the claims of the man who has done so mucb' for bee-keeping. Those claims are too well known. It is only to stir up by way of remembrance, with no desire that any should con- tribute who are not entirely cordial in the matter. But whatever is done, should be done quickly. Life is uncertain, and the days of our benefactor cannot be many, at the most. Besides, the needs of the present should be met, and if promptly met now, they may become less as the grandsons of Father Langstroth are more and more able to become his pro- tectors. So, if you want to act when it will do the most good, now is the time. Don't send any money to me, but send direct to Rev. L. L. Langstroth, 120 Ford Street, Dayton, Ohio. C. C. Mlllee. Let there be a prompt response to the above gentle reminder, Dot only from those who have subscribed to the "An- nuity Fund," but from all who desire to show their esteem for Father Lang- stroth, and appreciation of his great value to American bee-keeping. But for his timely and marvellous invention of the movable-frame hive,bee-culture to- day might still be carried on unprofit- ably in old-time box-hives and log-gums. Father Langstroth has been the api- arist's greatest benefactor, and now, in the evening of life, he should not be permitted to want for anything that lies within the power of modern bee-keepers to provide. This is not charity — it is a debt we all owe to the " Father of Ameri- can bee-keeping." Let's pay up ! Preparing Bees for "Winter. — Don't delay the matter of getting the bees in proper condition for winter. A good crop of honey may depend upon that very thing. It pays to plan ahead, and especially in bee-keeping, where there is so much uncertainty involved. Mr. B. Taylor, of Forestville, Minn., in writing on this subject, advises plenty of honey, young queens, and a number of bees as the great considerations. Where the hives do not contain at least 20 pounds of sealed stores, the bees should be fed sugar syrup up to that weight. The feeding should be done as early as possible, so as to be well sealed before cold weather. At the Forestville Apiary extra care will be taken to have all colonies in first-class condition for next year's work. Fumigating Comb Honey, Bro. Hutchinson says in the Review, is something he has never had to do, though many others have been compelled to do it. Mr. Doolittle writes Gleanings that the proper amount of sulphur to use is four dunces to every 75 cubic feet in the room. Put some ashes in the bottom of a kettle, then some coals, and after this the sulphur. Hurry out of the room, peep in the window, and as soon as the last fly on the window stops kick- ing, wait five minutes, then open the windows and allow the fumes to pass out. " The "Winter Problem in Bee-Keeping " is the title of a splendid pamphlet by Mr. G. R. Pierce, of Iowa, a bee-keeper of 26 years' experience. It is 6x9 inches in size, has 76 pages, and is a clear exposition of the conditions essential to success in the winter and spring management of the apiary. Price, postpaid, 50 cents ; or given as a premium for getting two new sub- scribers to the Bee Journal for a year. Now is the time to read this pamphlet, and thus prepare your bees properly for winter. Send to us for a copy. Mr. Chas. Dadant gave us a delightful call one day last week. He was returning from a 6-weeks' vacation up in Put-in-Bay, and looked as if he had been enjoying himself in the cool regions of the north. He is the senior member of the firm that are the largest comb foundation manufacturers in the world — at Hamilton, Ills. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 457 Supply Factory Burned.— Mr. J. W. Bittenbender, of Knoxville, Iowa, we regret to learn, was burned out on Sept. 28th. We copy the follow- ing from a local newspaper report of the fire: At a few minutes after 12 o'clock yesterday (Sept. 28th) the alarm of fire was given, and it was soon ascertained that the manufacturing establishment wherein J. W. Bittenbender & Co., man- ufactured apiarian supplies, was in flames. They were putting in a new engine and boiler, and had just fired up, and it is supposed that the fire origi- nated from a spark which ignited the roof of the old building. When it was discovered, it had but just started, and an effort was made to put it out, and nearly succeeded, but the roof was so dry, and the wind so strong, that it got beyond the control of the men, and the building was soon enveloped in flames. Considerable lumber, the honey-house and factory were consumed. The loss cannot now be fully estimated, but will amount to some $3,000 or $4,000, without any insurance. It is a very severe loss to Mr. Bitten- bender, who has worked hard to build up a paying business, and was just in shape to fill all orders for supplies. In a private letter from Mr. Bitten- bender, dated Sept. 29th, he says : We w'll rebuild with brick, and much better than before. We always carried half insurance, but 16 days ago the company rejected our insurance on ac- count of our building being of wood material. We had made arrangements to put iron all around it, and it was to be commenced in a few days. Our buildings are a total loss. We saved about $ 1 ,000 worth of machinery, with a stock of linden lumber of 60,000 feet, to start with again. The Stray-Strawer of Glean- ings— our good friend, Dr. C. C. Miller — always has a head of plump grain at- tached to every "straw" that he "grows." A farmer who, one spring, was com- plimented upon his sleek and fat horses, said, " Why, I fed 'em only oat-straw all winter, and then it wasn't half '-thrashed!" No wonder his horses were so fat, if they had oat-straw with over half the grain in it. Well, that is just the way with Dr. Miller's "Straws"— only they are clean, "straight, and wholly un- thrashed, and that's why there is so much " intellectual fattening " in them. In Gleanings for Sept. 15th, we find the following, which we select as sam- ples of what the Doctor there has " strawn :" "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 stain ? 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 plenti- ful this season. Last week we found three of them on one comb. Double-tier shipping-cases are used by Frank Rauchfuss, a piece 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. Shaving-soap is not a necessity, even for those who shave. I have 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. A writer in Deutsche Imker 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-spoon- fuls of honey in half a pint of water at bedtime. Honey consumed by a colony wintered out-doors, says the Imker, averages for October, 2 pounds ; November, 1 pound; December, 1 pound ; January, 2 pounds; February, 3 pounds ; March, 4 pounds ; April, 6 pounds ; total, 19 pounds. But you cannot tell which colonies will go below or above the average, so the safe way is to allow 50 per cent. more. This season is unusual at both ends. Clover unusually abundant in bloom, but a failure as 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 pres- ent, and for some time preceding this 458 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 5th of September, the bees are just rolling in the honey from buckwheat and cucumbers, and crowding the queens. Salt codfish ought to have a law to protect it from the cruelty of cooks. It is barbarous to boil it — makes it hard and tough. Soak until fresh and thor- oughly softened, then merely warm it ; pour off the water and dress with butter. A $200 Prize Offered.— Frank Leslie's Weekly, ever enterprising, offers $200 to the subscriber who guesses nearest to the plurality which the candi- date for the Presidency may receive. This means the plurality of the popular vote. Frank Leslie's Weekly contains nearly every week great front-page car- toons, which quite equal those of its lively contemporary, the Judge. In illustrating the news events of the week in its highest possible artistic manner, and in giving also the latest pictures of foreign events, it fiHs a want that no other weekly in the country does. Frank Leslie's will be sent for five weeks for 50 cents. This includes the privilege or guessing on the plurality. Shipping: Honey to a distant market should never be done if you can possibly find sale for it at home at a good price. Use all possible means to educate those about you as to the value of honey as a food and medicine. In this way more satisfactory prices are generally obtained, and you have the satisfaction in knowing those about you are enjoying one of the best sweets on earth, for no sweet is more enjoyable than nice honey. Mr. H. P. Landon, of New York, has perhaps "the largest house-apiary in the world." It is 11x100 feet, and holds 200 colonies. Mr. L. says, " It is a perfect success." "When You Need a friend don't pick out the man whose dog never wants to follow him. — Rani's Horn. REV. W. K. MARSHALL, D. D. Rev. W. K. Marshall was born in Indiana County, Pa., on July 19, 1808. Saon July 19, 1892, he was 84 years old. He is still hale and hearty, and is doing full work. He graduated at Jefferson College, in Pennsylvania, in 1835, and in 1836, entered the ministry in the Presbyterian Church, and has been actively engaged in the work of the ministry in that church up to the present time. At an early period Dr. Marshall com- bined bee-keeping with his professional work. In 1839 he procured his first colony of bees, which was secured in the following way: Bees could not then be bought, for the reason that all bee-keepers believed that if they sold their bees, they would sell their luck. An old German in the neighborhood, who had a large stock of bees, and who was a warm friend, was anxious for Dr. Marshall to get bees, and told him it was right to steal bees. When the Doctor informed him he could not steal, he said if he would leave the money on the stand where the bees stood, the bees would not find it out, and it would be all right; Dut it would not do to let any person see him. Soon one cold morning, Dr. Marshall, with his wagon, took 2 colonies of bees, and left a five-dollar gold-piece in the place. At an early period he conceived the idea of an improved hive. He first made a hive in two parts, with slats between them, hoping in this he could divide the bees, and make two hives. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 459 He next made a hive with bars on top 1}£ inches wide, and attached comb starters to them. He was astonished when he saw the Langstroth frame, that he did not see the necessity of end and bottom pieces. Dr. Marshall came to Texas in 1854, and in 1855 started an apiary of some 20 colonies. In 1865 he first began to use the Langstroth hive, and in 1866 procured the first Italian queen, and REV. W. K. MARSHALL. D. n. probably the first that was brought to Texas. With the movable frames, the Italian bee, and with his own discoveries, and those of others, he commenced progres- sive bee-keeping. At one time his apiary run up to 350 colonies, and he secured, one year, 20 tons of honey. Dr. Marshall took the Amekcian Bee Journal, when first published at Wash- ington, D. C, and, as he supposes, the first, and at that time the only bee- paper published in the United States. ne has written largely on bee-culture, for the home papers, and has been an active member of the Texas State Bee- Keepers' Association. He has been a close observer, and much of his knowledge in bee-culture is the result of his own observation and experience. Though in his 84th year, he is an active worker in bee-culture, and in every other good cause. " Foul Brood " is often the cry when brood has died from some other cause. Ernest Root has been describ- ing some cases of dead brood that ap- peared in two or three colonies in their Shane yard. The cappings were per- forated and sunken, and the dead larvae was of a coffee color, but two decisive symptoms of foul brood were lacking, viz.: ropiness and the " glue-pot odor." In one case the queen died, and a cell was given. When the new queen began to lay, her brood was healthy. The other cases of the disease, or whatever it was, finally disappeared of themselves. A bee-keeper a few miles from Medina, reported similar experiences. Mr. Root thinks that this trouble, whatever it is, has often been mistaken for the real, virulent foul brood, and perhaps been cured (?) by the use of salt, carbolic acid, or some other nostrum. That is, some such "medicine" was used, and, as the trouble disappeared, it was nat- urally supposed that foul brood had been cured. — B.-K. R. Prof. L,. H. Pammel, of the State Agricultural College at Des Moines, Iowa, has sent us a 60-page pamphlet which contains one of his interesting lectures and also two essays. The lec- ture is on "Pollination of Flowers," and the essays are entitled "Cross and Self Fertilization in Plants" and "The Effects of Cross-Fertilization in Plants." The lecture is profusely illustrated, and all are written in Prof. PammePs happy style. We shall make extracts from these subjects as soon as we have room. 460 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. A Song of Long Ago. JAMES W. RILEY. A song of long ago. Sing it lightly— sing it low- Sing it softly— like the lisping of the lips we used to know When our baby laughter spilled From the hearts forever filled With a music sweet as a robin ever trilled ! Let the sumer fragrant breeze, And the leaves <>f locust trees, And the apple buds and blossoms, and the wings of honey-bees, All palpitate with glee, Till the happy harmony Brings back each childish joy to you and me. Let the eyes of fancy turn Where the tumbled pippins burn Like embers in the orchard's lap of tousled grass and fern ; And let the wayward wind, Still singing, plod behind The cider press— the good old-fashioned kind ! Blend in the song the moan Of the dove that grieves alone. And the wild whirr of the locust and the bumble's drowsy drone ; And the low of cows that call Through the pasture bars when all The landscape fades away at evenfall. Then, far away and clear. Through the dusky atmosphere, Let the wailing of the kildees be the only sound you hear. Oh, sweet and sad and low As the memory may know Is the glad, pathetic song of long ago ! —Selected. The New England Maga- zine for October is specially attractive for the quantity and quality of its poetry. Everett S. Hubbard contributes a fine Columbus poem, " The Three Ships," which has the place of honor in the number. Charles Edwin Markham, the Californian poet, is represented by a poem in his best vein, "A Harvest Song." Madison Cawein, of Kentucky, is some- what metaphysical in "The Ordeal." James B. Kenyon contributes a pretty fancy, "The South Wind." St. George Best is topical with "Mars." Stuart Sterne, a New York poet, in "Vespers" and "Matins," gives us true poetry and sentiment. All these poets are of the younger generation, and are scattered throughout the Union, so that it cannot be said that the New England is bound by local prejudices, or closes its columns to the youger singers. And poetry is undoubtedly still read, the croakers to the contrary notwithstanding. CONDUCTED BY Floyd. Hunt Co., Tex. Hot in Texas. It was 90° in the shade here yester- day and day before. Bees are booming. We are getting a good honey-flow now — Sept. 28th. A Correction. The second line of the first column, on page 397, should read thus : " You see this middle frame on her side is," etc., instead of the way it was printed. A Queen-Rearing' Dialogue. (Concluded from page 428.) I see your nuclei are tolerably strong, too. How do you keep them that way? Well, Charles, you see I let my queens lay a frame or two of brood before shipping them, if I am not crowded too much with orders. But, if I can't do this, and I am compelled to ship as soon as they begin to lay, I bring frames of brood from other yards and keep them up, and I tell you it is a good thing to have a yard with laying queens all the time to draw brood from in this queen business. " What do you do when you have more cells than you have nuclei to take them?" Well, I always have a few strong, queenless colonies in some of my yards, and I draw frames of brood and bees enough from them to take all my sur- plus cells, which increases my number of nuclei a little every once in a while. "I see you do not introduce virgins much." No, I don't fool any time away intro- ducing virgins, for I find that a virgin is nearly always a few days longer in be- AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 461 ginning to lay, than one that is not moved at all. "Yes, but don't you lose more time when you give cells, than if you had virgins to put in? " No. You see my nuclei are only queenless three days when I give the cell, and the cell usually hatches the next day after I put it in, so my nuclei are queenless ouly about 5 days, and it is best for them to be queenless awhile when we introduce virgins. So the cell will hatch out and its queen lay just about as quick as my introduced virgin ; and I like it better. It is less trouble, and somehow I like the queen better, too. "Well, I see, Mrs. Atchley, that this queen-rearing business must have some system about it to make a success of it." Yes, Charles, every fellow must know his post of duty, like taking down a cir- cus tent, if we wish to get a long fast. So, now, Charles, we have gone over all this " preamble," and only shown the good working side of it all. Now, to show you that it is not all sweet and no bitter, I must tell you that all the cells do not hatch, and we often lose queens in mating, and for these reasons some of our nuclei go without queens so long that they take a laying worker, and a great many other things go wrong. But I have learned to do just like the bees do when the sun melts their combs all down, and just go to work and repair the loss as quickly as I can, and I am here to tell you that queen-breeders have their ups and downs just as much, or a little more, than honey-producers do. Now I hope I have made this all plain. Southern Bee-Keepers, don't forget about the bee-meeting at the Dallas, Tex., Fair, on Oct. 27th. A grand time is expected. Turning Out Brood — Retaining Drones Here are some questions asked by Mr. C. V. Mann, of Riverton, 111.: 1st. What is the cause of bees throw- ing out brood at this time of year? 2nd. Is the brood chilled or starved ? If not, what ails it? 3rd. Why do bees retain their drones longer in some seasons than in others? My bees are doing well on buckwheat, Spanish needle, heart's-ease and burr- vine. — C. V. Mann. 1st. There are several reasons for bees throwing out brood at this or other times of the year. One prominent cause is a sudden fall in temperature. So far we must give the bees credit for their in- stinct, that runs very close after reason. They seem to think that winter has come, and they feel they will not get honey enough to support their brood, and pull down and drag out is the order. Another cause, here in the South, is the center or foundation moth, that makes a little webb at the base of the cells, and injures the brood, and the bees tear them out. I have noticed bees in little groups, all working hard to free themselves, but, on account of being fast by the moth-webb they could not get loose. But I think in your case it was the fall in the temperature. 2nd. I do not think that the brood is starved, only the bees seem to think, as other folks do sometimes, that they have "bitten off more than they can chew," and go to work and tear down. 3rd. The reason your bees retain their drones longer this season, is on account of their prosperity, as you say they are getting plenty honey yet. Bees seldom kill their drones at all in this locality, so long as they gather honey, so I suppose this will hold good in your State, too ; while at other times the flow of honey is cut off by some means, and drones are killed early. A cool night will cause bees to throw out brood, even if they are gathering honey, and still they will not molest the old drones. At the Dallas Fair, in Texas, on Oct. 27th, a great bee-meeting will be held for Southern bee-keepers. Don't fail to be there. Doolittle's Queen-Rearing: book should be in the library of every bee-keeper ; and in the way we offer it on page 479, there is no reason now why every one may not possess a copy of it. Send us one new subscriber for a year, and we will mail the book to you as a present The Amateur Bee-Keeper, by J. W. Rouse, is a book of 52 pages, intended, as its name indicates, for beginners. Price, 25 cents. For sale at this office. Read our great offer on page 453. 462 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. When Should Bees Begin to Breed in the Spring? Query 839.— How early in the spring do you prefer to have your bees begin to rear brood ?— Ark. As soon as they leave the cellar. — C. C. MlLLER. March, in this latitude (Wisconsin). — E. France. When willows and soft maple begin to blossom. — R. L. Taylob. As soon as pollen comes in from the fields. — G. M. Doolittle. In our latitude (Georgia) the last of January. — J. P. H. Brown. In this latitude (western Illinois) in February. — J. M. Hambaugh. About the middle of April in this lati- tude (Iowa). — Eugene Secor. As soon as they are removed to the summer stands. — C. H. Dibbern. Not until there is a prospect of set- tled warm weather. — James A. Green. Not much, if any, sooner than they can have frequent flights. — James Hed- don. I prefer to have them begin in the winter ; not wait until spring. — A. B. Mason. With a location for an early honey- flow, the earlier the better. — Mrs. J. N. Heater. By the first of March. I often have two frames of brood in February (Michi- gan).— H. D. Cutting. Let them begin when they see fit. They know better than we do, when to begin. — Dadant & Son. About the time natural pollen begins to appear, or about Jan. 20th to Feb. 1st in this locality (Texas). — Mrs. Jen- nie Atchley. The bees are the best judges of the time. Keep your bees strong, give them food if they are short of stores, and leave the rest to them. — Mrs. L. Har- rison. Just as soon as the weather and con- ditions induce them to rear brood. If my bees have plenty of stores they never make any mistakes along this line (Ken- tucky).— G. W. Demaree. That would depend upon climate and circumstances. I would not care to have them breed before the spring is sufficiently advanced for them to have frequent flights. — M. Mahin. As soon as the pollen is in the flowers. In some seasons this is too early. On the average, I find bees should be out and rearing brood as soon as they can begin to collect. — A. J. Cook. As early as they will, which is usually in a small way from the 1st to the 15th of February, and on a larger scale from the middle of March on ; depending upon how much food they have, and the protection given. — G. L. Tinker. Just as soon as they choose — their in- stinct is, to my mind, a better guide than any rule that can be laid down. No one can foretell in regard to bitter cold days in early spring, so I keep colo- nies confined to the combs they can cover, and let them " go it alone." — J. E. Pond. " Judge." — The Omaha Bee, in speaking of Judge, says that it did fair work in 1888, but that in this campaign it is outdoing itself. Judge was never making such great hits as it is this year ; it is leaving all its rivals behind. Such great pictures as the "Cleveland Parachute," and the bursting of the Peck boom, are memorable in campaign cartooning. But Judge has some great pictures in store, and the five papers for the next five weeks of the campaign will be sent for 50 cents. Address, The Judge Publishing Co., 110 Fifth Avenue, New York City. There's Not a Young Person but what can secure at least one new subscriber to the Bee Journal, and get the splendid Premium offered on pag« 453. Try it. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 463 >i*if f f *i ^^■».^.*^a^a^,a^a^a^ Report of the Iowa State Bee- Keepers' Convention. Written for the American Bee Journal BY J. W. BITTENBENDER. The 10th annnal convention of the Iowa State Bee-Keepers' Convention met on the Fair Ground at Des Moines, with the President, Secretary, and Treasurer, and a very good attendance of the members. All were enthusiastic, and bee-subjects were discussed with much interest. The bee-keepers reported a fair crop of white honey, mostly comb, with the most sale of comb honey at 15 cents per pound, and extracted at 10 cents ; with a few sales at 12% cents. Some locali- ties reported some fall honey gathered. Bees are in good condition for winter, and the prospects are fine for a good honey crop in 1893. The programme was then taken up, it being 1:30 p.m. After the usual preliminary business was transacted, Mr. Eugene Secor, of Forest City, delivered the following President's Annual Address : It is natural for bees to breed and multiply. The Creator implanted this propensity in every living thing, and of course bees are no exception. In order to fulfill this law it is necessary for them to provide food to last through the winter. In their wild state it was not difficult to meet these two requirements. From the abundance of wild flowers, and with the instinct of industry im- planted, they could easily store not only a sufficient amount of honey to winter upon, in the mild climate of which they were natives, but often a surplus. To succeed in bee-keeping it is neces- sary to understand these instincts in the bees, and control them to our own ad- vantage and profit. The propensity to increase is so strong that if left to them- selves they are inclined to increase in- ordinately, and at the expense of sur- plus honey. If controlled and guided by a master hand, they will often store several hundred pounds per colony. It will be readily understood, then, that intelligence and skill are necessary to make bee-keeping pay. You old bee- keepers understand this. If none but skilled workmen were present, it would not be necessary to call attention to first principles. THINGS BEE-KEEPEKS SHOULD KNOW. Just as the farmer should understand the nature of his soil, and the crops best adapted to it, so the bee-keeper should thoroughly comprehend the most impor- tant principles of his art, and by obser- vation and experience learn to apply them. There is ample scope for use of his best judgment and highest skill. He should undersand the flora of his local- ity; then the problem of how to increase the strength of his colonies before the main honey-flow appears ; and how to have the least number of bees per col- ony when they are only consumers, will tax his best mental powers. How to prevent excessive swarming when honey is the object sought, will require skill and executive ability. How to obtain the largest product with the least manipulation will require study and experience, What are the essential improvements in hives and apiarian im- plements, requires knowledge and judg- ment. How to get our surplus honey in the most attractive form for market is a thing that comes not by intuition, but by observation and study. How, when and where to market our product is worthy of our best thought. Knowing that bees are natives of a warmer climate than this, it should be our endeavor to give them such care and protection as is needed for their safe wintering, and our own future profits. Therefore, the whole range of intricate and important questions is presented to every one who would prosecute the in- dustry of bee-keeping to a successful issue. A MUTUAL INTERCHANGE OF IDEAS. We are met here for the purpose of mutual help. No one knows all there is worth knowing on any subject. Knowl- edge gained from the experience of any intelligent and observing bee-keeper may be of value to the fraternity, and should be freely given for the benefit of the pursuit. The only way the industry of bee-keeping can be made to assume its proper place among the rural occupa- tions, is for bee-keepers to develop the art through mutual suggestion and 464 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. criticism, and then by united front and organized effort it will receive the recog- nition it deserves. There are enough bee-keepers in Iowa to accomplish everything we desire, if united. FOUL BROOD AND HONEY ADULTERATION. Happily for us there is not much legis- lation needed in our interest. So far we have been comparatively free from the scourge of foul brood, but if that disease should get a foot-hold we might feel the need of the proper legislative authority for stamping it out. We have no statute in this State to prevent or punish the adulterators of honey. I have no evidence that this fraud is practiced here, but if mixed in any of the cities outside of our borders, I have no doubt the producers of pure honey, as well as every consumer of the adulterated article, are injured and cheated. We ought to have a pure food law that would include honey. MOST DESIRABLE POUND PACKAGE. One of the things I should like to hear discussed is the most desirable pound package for comb honey. I believe the conviction is growing among the largest honey-producers and commission men that the one most in use is not the best for our purpose. This matter was dis- cussed at our last National Convention. A package was exhibited which was per- haps 43^x6x13^ inches, which was very attractive. The additional surface adds to its appearance. I have a notion, too, that the thin combs are finished and capped sooner than one two inches in thickness. I should like to hear from some of our large honey-producers on this subject. APIARIAN EXHIBIT AT THE WORLD'S FAIR. The Columbian Exhibition will claim our attention in 1893. It is probable that there will be no State Fair next year. It is hoped that the bee-keepers of Iowa will do their part towards show- ing the honey resources of the State, and the progress being made in the art. The amount of honey expected from any individual producer will not tax his patriotism or his purse to any great ex- tent. In all probability arrangements will be made to transport all exhibits of this character without cost to the exhib- itor. It is to be hoped that exhibitors of honey and implements from Iowa will prepare two lots — one to be shown in the Government building, where all the States can exhibit together, and the other in the Iowa building, where only Iowa products are shown. ADVANTAGE OF COMPARING NOTES. If the past two or three seasons have not been as profitable as we could wish, it is all the more important that we should compare notes with those who have learned to reap success where we have found only failure. If our bee- keeping experience has been too much along the line of the old methods in vogue when it was thought to be all luck, we should learn of our more pro- gressive neighbors that in bee-keeping, as in every other business, it pays to think, and then to act. That this convention will prove a stimulous to our activities, and the means of unifying the bee-keepers of Iowa, is the wish and prayer of your presiding officer. Eugene Secor. Following the President's address, was an essay by Mr. Frank Coverdale, of Welton, entitled, Benefit of Bees to Agriculture. In treating this subject I will attempt only to point out a few good traits of the honey-bee beneficial to the agriculturist. On fine days the bees are continually on the hunt for honey, pollen and wax. This is not necessary only that they might exist and have their being, but that the bees might do the work that was intended for them upon the stage of nature. Let him who wishes to observe the grand workings of the honey-bee go out into the fruit orchards on a fine summer day with all in full bloom, and what a pleasant sight it is to behold. Pollen and honey laden bees — ah, yes, they are there for a purpose. Their carrying pollen-grains from one blossom to anotner causes a more perfect fertiliza- tion, which means more perfect fruit on each tree. All the fruit-trees in the orchards, vines in the gardens, clovers in the meadows — yes, even the ragged bloom by the roadside, the heart's-ease in the grain-field, asters by the brooklet — all open with all their grandest beauty and invite the bees to come to the feast ; and while they are yet at the feast, pol- len— the fertilizing dust — is showered all over them, changing not at all from one kind of blossom to another; and while gathering nectar, they do not avoid carrying pollen to every blossom that they visit. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 465 Will a man invite the intruder, or the stranger, to reach his hand into his pocket, and take out the gold and silver without ever expecting anything in re- turn ? No ; this would be folly, and not in the least in nature's way. Will the flowers of the field yield up their richest all, for naught ? All of the clovers, which we are so largely dependent upon for the restora- tion of fertility to the soils of the great corn belt, are almost absolutely depend- ent upon the bee-family for their exis- tence. Wind will not properly distribute the fertilizing dust, hence the work must be done by bees. . The apple and plum families are much better served by wind ; however wind does not blow every day, and on such days bees will work most rapidly. Thus a continual fertilization is carried on until the bloom has faded. Ah, no ; the benefit of the honey-bee to the agriculturist is not generally known. Among the clovers is where her greatest work is done. In sunny June her hum will be heard in the pas- ture field, gathering honey from white clover, giving it such a perfect fertiliza- tion that it is always filled with seed ; this seed falls to the ground in great quantities, aud, during the following season, grows large quantities of feed for live stock, thus furnishing beef for the hungry, and fertility to the soil. Alsike clover, which promises to become a part of the pasture and hay fields of Iowa, yields seed to perfection because of the honey-bee. Just as white clover ceases to bloom, the bee of the hive (with a few bumble- bees) will, as a rule, be found on red clover; hence, at this date, the above begins to fill with seed, and continues to do so until frost shuts them off ; and if the grasshopper doesn't destroy the bloom, or the clover-seed midge do her work, a good supply of seed will be the certain result. Much clover seed means cheap seed ; cheap seed means cheap fertility to the soil ; cheap fertility means riches for the farmer ; and riches for the farmer means prosperity for the city. Let the agriculturist take good care of the bees, for their agency is of great importance, not only in their as- sistance in fructifying the earth, but for the production of a most delicious and health-giving food for humanity. FBANK COVERDALE. Mr. Coverdale's essay was then dis cussed as follows : Mr. Fultz said he did not think that bees wore of as mnch benefit to fruit as is usually supposed, as he raised fruit in the State before many bees were in the country. Mr. Clute said that he found wild bees in 1850, aud also that bees are essential to fertilize fruit-bloom. He found fruit more perfect as bees increased in num- bers. Mr. Kimball had learned by personal experience that bees were very beneficial to the fruit-growers. Mr. Coverdale — Is there a variety of clover that bees cannot gather honey from ? When they desire, I have known bees to gather honey from red clover, when grasshoppers cut the corollas. Mr. M. M. Hamilton, of Clearfield, then read an essay as follows, entitled, My System of Wintering Bees. I have been requested to give my plan of wintering bees. When I first turned my attention to bee-keeping, the win- tering of bees was what bothered me most. I read books on the subject, and inquired of those who were keeping bees in this section of country, and the in- formation gained was so varied that I was at a loss to know which method to adopt. Some wintered their bees on the sum- mer stands, and saved all the colonies, while others lost part, or all of theirs ; some wintered their bees on the summer stands, and placed a box over the entire hive, leaving an entrance for the bees, packing hay around the sides and over the top, and then covering the whole with long slough-grass. This last plan proves very successful, but is very in- convenient for examining the bees (which, I think, is very necessary to wintering), and is more expensive than my method, which is this : I use the summer stand, which is made of two pieces six inches high and about 16 inches long, with strips nailed from one to the other for the hive to rest ou. I first pick out as dry a place as possi- ble, sheltered on the north, and build a shed high enough to admit the hive with the super on, about 4% feet wide, and long enough to admit all the colonies. I place the first colony about 10 inches from the end, and 10 inches from the back, packing with prairie hay. I then place another colony about 10 inches from the first, and pack the same as the first, and so on until I have them all packed away I then place an absorbing cushion in the super, and the bees are ready for the cold weather. 466 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL I spread hay or straw in front of the hives, so that on fine days, when the bees come out for a flight, if they should fall before they get to the hive, they do not get chilled on the cold ground. I have examined the bees after a cold spell, and would find the top of the cushion covered with frost. I would prop the cover up, and let the sun shine in on the cushion, and dry it, then turn it over, shut the cover down, and the bees were ready for another cold spell. This plan is very convenient about feeding, as it is easy to get to the bees, and has proved an entire success with me in wintering bees. The first winter I put away 14 colo- nies, and did not lose any until spring, then I lost three for want of food. The next winter I put away 23, and saved all of them. I lost one the latter part of May, owing to the rainy weather and neglect of feeding ; also one colony in June from robbers. The balance came through the long, cold, rainy weather in very good condition. Some have tried the above plan, and have had good results. Some have tried other plans, such as putting the hives on boards on the ground, and covering with hay, not putting cushions on, and lost about one-third of their bees. Others have tried putting them in a close shed, with no way to get out, and they lost nearly all of their bees. I feel that for this section of country my plan is the best, as it has proven so for the past two winters. But it might not do for more northern localities, where the winters are more severe. M. M. Hamilton. The discussion on the subject of Mr. Hamilton's essay was as follows : Mr. Fultz has wintered his bees in chaff hives successfully for the past ten years. Mr. Coverdale winters his bees both in-doors and out-doors with small per cent, of loss. To winter bees well, they must have good food, and be well packed. Mr. Lent winters his bees on the sum- mer stands with packing around them. Mr. Hudson winters his bees on the summer stands, and ventilates the hives on warm days. Mr. Secor said we want a method of wintering that is good and cheap. Mr. Fultz said that bee-men lose more bees by spring dwindling than by win- tering. A member asked the per cent, of loss. He wintered his bees in the cellar, hav- ing put in 59 colonies, and took out 35 alive; they dwindled down to 21. Mr. Kimball said that a colony poorly prepared for winter will come out poorly in the spring, and will suffer much from dwindling. A colony with new comb, and with little or no pollen, winters best. Mr. Fultz thinks that the cause of spring dwindling principally originates by putting the bees out too early in the spring. Mr. Coverdale advised packing bees well with three inches of packing all around, and six inches of chaff on top. He said that every one should study his own locality, and learn how to prepare the bees in accordance with the circum- stances of the several localities. The convention then had the pleasure of listening to a very interesting speech by the Secretary of the Iowa Columbian Commission — Mr. F. N. Chase, of Cedar Falls, who strongly impressed the duty upon Iowa bee-keepers of preparing a honey exhibit for both the Exposition building and the Iowa building. He showed how important it was, and that it would afford much pleasure and com- fort to make such an exhibit. In regard to expenses, the commis- sioners would receive all honey and pay all expenses ; but that as yet there has not been any appropriation made by the commissioners to defray expenses, and perhaps will not be until the Iowa bee- keepers have stated what honey will be offered for exhibition. No one exhibitor is entitled to exhibit, in the World's Fair building, more than 100 pounds of comb honey, and 50 pounds of extracted. But in the Iowa building it is not limited. All Iowa bee-keepers that have any honey which they contemplate exhibit- ing at the World's Fair, should let it be known by addressing the Secretary of the Iowa State Bee-Keepers' Association, J. W. Bittenbender, of Knoxville, Iowa. The convention then adjourned until the following day — Aug. 31. J. W. BlTTENBENDER, Sec. (Concluded next week.) Every Boy and Girl will be interested in reading page 453 of this issue of the Bee Journal. And we shouldn't wonder if the older folks, also, would be much pleased. We offer the Bee Jouknal from now to Jan. 1, 1894, for $1.00, to a new subscriber, and give the "World's Fair Combined Games and Puzzles" as premium for getting such new subscriber. Or, we club it with the Bee Journal for one year, for $1.20. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 467 Outside Indications that Bees are Getting Honey. Written for the American Bee Journal BY G. M. DOOLITTLE. A correspondent writes, "How can I tell when my bees are gathering honey without opening the hives ? When bees are busy going and coming from the hive, and we see no pollen on their pol- len baskets, does it indicate that they are getting honey ? Pleas"e answer through the American Bee Journal, as I am taking that paper, and like it very much." Bees may be flying very briskly, and yet not be securing any honey from the fields. When young bees come out for the first time to take an airing, a casual observer might think they were at work very busily, while the truth would be that they were doing nothing but play. These young bees have deceived very many in times of scarcity of honey, in being taken for robbers, for in actions they behave very much as robbers do in heading toward the hive and circling away from it, and also in being full to look at. I have often watched them, asking myself the question, "How can they be distinguished from robbers by the inexperienced ?" and must say that only in looks do they appear differently, they being light colored and covered with down, while robber-bees are generally old, dark-colored bees with the down scraped off. The actions of the two are very similar. Again, in the summer season, when a large quantity of brood is being reared, I have often thought that the bees were getting honey quite rapidly, immediately after a long-continued rain, and won- dered at it ; but an examination showed that they were loaded only with water, which is required in large quantities when brood-rearing is going on rapidly. Once more : Bees often fly briskly when neither honey nor pollen is being gathered, especially in the spring of the year. At this season they will fly out every pleasant day, marking their loca- tion, etc., and getting ready for the time when there is something which can be gathered. Bees which are securing honey do not fly as easily on their re- turn as do bees when not at work, but come down on the alighting-board with a kind of dropping motion that at once shows that the bee has a load of some- thing. Then the sound of the wings is different, for the motion is slower, and gives only a tired hum, instead of a sharp sound, as is given by angry bees. In times of basswood, when there is a large yield, the bees will start out in early morning, and come home loaded so heavy that they will fall short of the hive several feet, and often fall all around in the grass and on top of the hives, being unable to rise for sometime. As the day advances they do not show this so much ; but as night comes on, they begin to fall as before, some even staying out over night, darkness over- taking them before they reach home. In such times as this it is easy for any- one to tell that the bees are getting honey. In times of clover and other flowers, when the yield is not so great, if you will get your eye on a level with the alighting-board, it is quite easy to de- tect a loaded bee, even though the load may be light, from one that has no load. Such loaded bees hold the abdomen lower down than bees with no load, so that the abdomen strikes the board as soon as the feet do, while with a heavy load it strikes first, often causing the bee to bound up, as it were, and some- times tumble over entirely. Many an hour have I watched the bees in this way, to see what could be told from out- side appearances. But so far I have given nothing defi- nite, only as the increase of honey in the hive kept pace with the signs from without, which point to the above being right. How did I tell for certain that these outside appearances were correct ? Well, if you will catch a bee and dissect it, you can know for a certainty what it has in its honey-stomach, and this is the way I tell, if I am not sure I am right from outside appearances. As the bee drops on the alighting- board, with a quick motion put the finger on the thorax, bearing down until the thorax gives way, which will kill the bee at once, and do it quicker than any other way I have seen tried — even quicker than the "painless death," as 468 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. the scientists suppose, which they prac- tice in killing their specimens for scien- tific research. Having killed the bee, pick it up by the wings, when you will take it by the thorax with the left hand, and with the point of the blade of your jack-nife pull off the horny scales of the abdomen by slipping it under them and placing the thumb above. When the honey-sac is secured, it is easy to tell what it con- tains, by the taste. Don't undertand that I go around killing and dissecting bees all the time during the summer months in this way, for only five or six are killed in a season to guide me in my observations, for I always think it is very cruel to kill any- thing, only as something of importance is to be gained. From the above I think the corres- pondent, or any one, can tell when the bees are at work, and when they are at play. All should practice these outside observations, along the many lines that are offered us, for often by them we can learn when and what needs doing ; when different plants are in bloom, etc. When we see brood outside on the alighting-board, we know that bees are troubled with moth-worms, or are starv- ing, in which case they need our assist- ance. When we see many round cap- pings on the alighting-board, we can know that drones are hatching ; or, if only one or two, and these thick and dark colored, we can know that young queens are hatching. If the bees are entering the hive cov- ered with yellow dust, we can know that they are working on selandine or pump- kin ; and, if a white dust, then on teasel, in this locality. And so, by observation and practice, the bee-keeper can take in many things at a glance. Borodino, N. Y. Apiarian Display and Premiums at St. Joseph, Mo., Fair. Written for the American Bee Journal BY REV. E. T. ABBOTT. The Fair closed on Saturday, Sept. 17th, very auspiciously. The weather throughout the week was all that could be asked, and the crowd was immense — 56,000 people went through the gates on Thursday. The display in the apiarian depart- ment was in every way creditable, con- sidering the season, and was a success. The premiums were liberal, and the Association paid the exhibitors in this department about $300 in premiums. There were two attractive displays of comb honey. Messrs. Kimball & Large, of De Witt, Iowa, were awarded the first premium, and Miss Mary Poteet, of St. Joseph, the second. There were three displays of extracted honey, all of which were neatly arranged and attracted much attention. Kimball & Large carried off the first, and the St. Joseph Apiary Co. the second prize. There were two displays of apicultural literature, the St. Joseph Apiary Co. re- ceived the first, and Miss Poteet the sec- ond premium. The St. Joseph Apiary Co. took first on the best display of apiarian imple- ments, and Kimball & Large the second. There were three entries for the best crate of 500 sections, but owing to an error in entering them, one was ruled out. G. B. Lewis & Co. received first prize, and A. I. Root second. There were four entries for the best all-purpose hive — the Root dovetailed hive, a dovetailed chaff-hive, the im- proved Langstroih Simplicity, and the " St. Joe" hive. The first premium was awarded to the St. Joseph Apiary Co. on their "St. Joe" hive, and the second to Kimball & Large, on a dovetailed chaff- hive. There were a number of entries on bees, queens, comb foundation, section presses, smokers, etc., all of which were awarded liberal premiums. The Fair, as a whole, was a success, and the Fair Board deserve the thanks of the bee-keepers for the liberal en- couragement they gave this industry. This was the first Fair for most of the Board, and some things did not work very smoothly at the opening, but it is to be hoped that they have learned by experience, and that next year all of this friction will be avoided. Long live the apiarian department of the St. Joseph Fair Association ! St. Joseph, Mo. What Variety of Buckwheat is Best for Honey? Written for the American Bee Journal BY D. J. JOHNSON. What kinds of buckwheat yield the most honey ? is a question well worth considering for bee-keepers. I believe the favor is with the Japanese for yield- ing the most honey. I have experimented four years in succession with four kinds, AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 469 and find that the bees work a great deal more on the marblehead, Australian and silverhull than they do on the Japanese variety, in my locality, but the latter yields one-third more bushels of seed per acre than do the other three varie- ties. The Japanese ripens ten days earlier than the marblehead and Aus- tralian when sown on the same date. The other kinds bloom longer, and afford pasture longer, and while the four va- reties are in bloom at the same time, there are generally ten bees on the marblehead, Australian and silverhull My Experience in Bee-Keeping in Louisiana. Written for the American Bee Journal BT P. E. COUVILLON. Five years ago I captured a colony of black bees in my orchard, in a wooden half-barrel. The year after I got three more, making four. I made box-hives, and the third year I got more colonies, making nine. Last year I had 13, which I got Mr. S. R. Wallace, a neigh- Waslrington State Building at the World's Columbian Exposition, in 1893. kinds, to one on the Japanese variety. I would like to hear from other bee- keepers as to what their experience has been with the varieties of buckwheat ; and whether localities have anything to do with it, like some other honey-plants. I have kept bees for at least 23 years, and buckwheat helped me out more than one year that I would have had to feed if it had not been for this valuable honey-plant. My surplus this season was 45 pounds of comb honey per colony, spring count, which I sold at 15 to 18 cents per pound. Summit Mills, Pa., Sept. 26, 1892. bor, to help transfer to 10-frame Lang- stroth-Simplicity hives. Mr. Wallace is well identified in bee- culture. He sold me four Italian queens, which were successfully introduced. I lost, last winter, 2 colonies by moths, and last spring I started with 11 good, strong colonies in single hives. I have to-day 22 colonies in double hives, and 12 in single hives. I bought more Italian bees last May, and now I have nearly all pure Italian bees. I extracted, on June 8th, 30 gallons of honey ; then the rainy season set in, and for 57 days we had daily rains, and 470 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. my bees gathered no surplus honey. Now, during the past four or five weeks of good weather, they gathered a great deal of honey, and I am extracting 4 gallons of honey from each top of my double hives, well capped from the top to the bottom of the frames. I shipped a barrel of honey this morn- ing, and expect to have another one ready in a few days. I did not extract from the single hives, as their bees have been hived only since last month, and 3 of them this month. lam succeeding very, well in rearing pure Italian queens, and I have only 3 more colonies of hybrids, which is very good. I have three brothers who commenced last year, and have, between them, 26 colonies in Langstroth hives, some black, and some Italian bees, making all together 60 colonies among the four of us. I keep my apiary clean. My hives are all painted, and rest on scantlings in one straight row, under fruit-trees three feet apart. They are near my store, and they seem to be more gentle than bees away a certain distance from the house. My bees are not troubled now with moths, the yard being clear of grass, and I raise a good many chickens, which, I believe, help to destroy the moth-millers. I am rather a novice at the bee-busi- ness, but as you see, I am doing well, I think. I ought to have, in a year from this date, 80 or 90 colonies all in double hives, if no bad luck occurs. I leave them on the summer stands all winter. Carencro, La., Sept. 12, 1892. Some Valuable Honey-Plants of Kansas. Written for the American Bee Journal BY PBOF. C. L. STRICKLAND. I wonder how many readers of the good American Bee Journal know that "malsemoney" (Lycium-Sulgarl) is a wonderful honey - producing plant, or vine, and may be trained to assume a beautiful form as a hedge or garden fence. But the way to prepare it as fol- lows : Take pieces of the roots, and after plowing and harrowing the ground, make rows 4 feet apart, and as land in some places is cheap, put in an out-of- the-way corner, and tend as you would corn. Train it in rows 3 feet wide, by 3 or 4 tall. Keep clean, and I verily be- lieve that an acre will produce more honey than 80 acres of any other honey- plant known to us. The bloom is of a purple color and is also continuous, and the drops are of large size, but whether it would flourish in all the States or not I could not tell. Ground once used or occupied by this plant can never be used for anything else, as the smallest root will start a vine at once when disturbed. This plant is solely for honey and fancy hedges. It begins to bloom and produce honey here about May first, and continues in constant bloom until killed by frost in October. The main vine is strong, and will stand 40° below zero. Cold or wet, hot or dry, appears to make no impression upon it. ALFALFA FOR HAY AND HONEY. Next comes the great alfalfa. This plant, upon land, properly prepared, will produce a fine crop of hay the sec- ond year, and also will give a good run of nectar. It commences to bloom about June 1st, and continues at a high rate for 2 or 3 weeks, giving a honey of a delicious quality and as clear as " Sil ver Drip." This plant is the king on ac- count of its meritorious qualities, and honey as a free gift. Bees are strong here. We have had part of our fall honey-flow from weeds. One more good rain would give us an- other boom, if not too late. Last spring was "rough" on the little bee. I fed up to June 7th, when alfalfa came to my relief. And thus we pass on, in paths of apiculture, "up hill and down." Peabody, Kans., Sept. 18, 1892. The Baron Berlepsch, in sev- eral different experiments made to find out how many eggs are daily deposited by the queen-bee, discovered that she laid 1,604 eggs in 24 hours, as the re- sult of the first. In the second, she de- posited, on an average, 1,913 daily for the space of 20 days. In the third one, an average of 2,400 daily was found for the same length of time. In the fourth she deposited 3,021 in 24 hours. She was seen by him to deposit six in one minute. Later experiments with two and three story hives go to prove that the queen actually lays as many as 5,000 eggs during every 24 hours for a period of a week or so. — Selected. AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 4T1 0T* Do not write anything for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without Interfering with either part of the letter. iMjm^m^jmu Uniting Nuclei by Feeding. As it is time to unite colonies for win- ter, I want to tell how I unite my nuclei. I place a super on the nucleus which I want to build up, fill a feeder with honey, and if I have not a feeder I take any shallow dish ; put in the food some pieces of wood for floats, and set on the frames in the super. I shake the bees, that I want to unite, in front of this hive, smoking them as they run in. I also smoke the ones in the hive. Their fighting propensities become so absorbed in the sweetness of what is in the feeder, that all are in peace and tranquility. I never have lost any bees when I united by feeding. Wm. H. Bright. Mazeppa, Minn., Sept. 27, 1892. Experience with Blacks and Italians. I started in bee-keeping the spring of 1891, having bought my bees, which were all blacks. One of my neighbors concluded that he would transfer one of the colonies, and in the transfer he killed the queen ; he then told me that if I would introduce a queen we would be "halvers." So I bought an Italian queen and put her in all right. They were very weak in the fall, and on April 1st, 1892, there was about one pint of workers, and the mother-bee in the hive. They went to breeding, and I began feeding, and that Italian queen, this, year, has laid the eggs for three good colonies of bees, while my blacks have only kept in good working order. My Italians got rich off the sour-wood in July, and cast a swarm, while the blacks did nothing to compare with them. We all know the good qualities of the Italians, how they will defend their stores, keep out moths, etc., and concerning robbing. I have just been out among the bees, and robbers are numerous, but not an Italian can I see — they are mostly blacks, some with a light dash of Italian blood. But the Italians, when they see that stores are to be had easily, and others are at rob- bing, and some colony has given up to be robbed — the Italians are like the old saying, "Jennie put the kettle on, and we'll all take tea." With the experience I have with the Italians, I would say they are as far ahead of the black bees as the Berk- shire hogs are ahead of the old bristle- backed rangers. Nearly all intelligent bee-men say that the Italians are the superior race of bees so far. My Italians are now at work, while the blacks are lounging around. Wm. Webb. Sutton, Tenn., Sept. 15, 1892. Bees in Good Condition. Bees are in good condition. They have stored from one to three gallons per colony here this summer, from June to the present time. H. C. Ahlers. New Orleans, La., Sept. 22, 1892. Doing Well on Golden-Rod. The bees are doing well on the golden- rod. We have had some heavy frosts, but that does not hurt the golden-rod. I will give this week's work of the bees : Sept 12th, 8% pounds ; 13th, 0 ; 14th, 4 pounds; 15th, 4%: 16th, 5; 17th, 3; 18th, 11%. Total, 36% pounds. When I got home from church to-day, I had a big swarm of bees clustered on top of a hive. I have stones on top of the hives to weight the covers down, and the bees were clustered on the stone. I have had 5 swarms to come out this year, and they have all clus- tered on top of other hives, and around the stones on top. I take an empty hive in one hand, the smoker in the other, and smoke them a little, and they walk right in. Geo. W. Nance. Peiro, Iowa, Sept. 18, 1892. Best Season for Several Years. I want to say that the best season for honey for several years in this part of the country, is now just closing — a con- tinual flow since clover bloom. Seven colonies have filled to completion 525 one-pound sections, one of which colo- nies completed 120 of the above. 1 shipped 3 cases of 72 sections a week 472 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. ago to St. Louis, which sold for 16 cents per section ! At home I get 12 % cents per section ; next week I will raise the price to 15 cents per section. I have kept one colony building comb and storing honey in Langstroth frames to feed with next spring, and have secured 24 of the same with sealed honey. My bees swarmed once during the summer — June 18. I provided plenty of room and shade by planting butter-beans for that purpose. Bees are booming on golden-rod, asters, etc. now. D. A. Cadwallader. Prairie du Rocher, Ills., Sept. 26. Poor Season for Bees. I had 47 colonies, spring count, and extracted 275 pounds of honey, 112 pounds of comb honey, and had 33 swarms, but the most of them went back to the old hives in a few minutes ; sometimes a part would go back, and just a few remain in the new hive. There is not more than one-fourth of the new swarms that gathered enough to winter on, but all of the old ones are in good condition for winter. I attend to most of the bees within five miles of me, and find that none of them have done any better than my own. I cannot see that my bees have stored anything since July 20th. There is more golden-rod here this season than I ever saw before, but the bees pass it by. I extracted a few pounds some days ago, but it looked more like Mew Orleans molasses than like honey. Extracted honey is worth 10 cents a pound, and comb honey 15 cents, here. C. C. Zinn. New Windsor, Colo., Sept. 26, 1892. Bee Journal Posters, printed in two colors, will be mailed free upon application. They may be used to ad- vantage at Fairs over Bee and Honey Exhibits. We will send sample copies of the Bee Journal to be used in con- nection with the Posters in securing subscribers. Write a week before the Fair, telling us where to send them. We would like to have a good agent at every Fair to be held this year. Here is a chance for a live man — or woman. The Globe Bee-Veil, which we offer on page 476 of this number of the Bee Journal, is just the thing. You can get it for sending us only three new subscribers, at $1.00 each. Keeping Comb Honey. A question: — "Where and how can I keep honey afyer it is taken out of the hive? Last summer I took some out about August 1st, and put it into a room upstairs. There were a few old combs, flour and other stuff in the room. In three or four weeks after, there were a lot of little butterflies and worms all over the honey." Ans. — The above correspondent raises an important question in keeping comb honey, and we reply by cautioning against allowing old combs in any place where section honey is stored. All old or waste comb should be rendered into wax, and never be allowed around where bees are kept, as it is sure to be a nurs- ery for the bee-moth in warm weather. When comb honey is infested with moths it can be cleared by setting the cases or sections in a large box or other tight room, then burning some sulphur in an iron kettle, covering all up tightly, and using great care to not set the box or house on fire. When moths infest our comb honey, as they have sometimes done, we set the cases tightly on top of each other and then burn sulphur on top in an empty hive body. Two pounds of stick-brim- stone, burned in a tight room 12 feet square, will destroy all animal life in it. — Selected. Alcohol on the Brain. "I was present at an autopsy of a noted old 'rounder' of my town a few weeks ago," said John A. Holliday, of Troy, N. Y., to a St. Louis Globe repor- ter, "and I was startled and shocked at what I saw. The dead man was about sixty years old and had been the town drunkard for forty years. The doctors had surmised that when they cut his head open a pronounced smell of alcohol would issue from the skull. " I thought it only one of those grim sort of jokes that the -iEsculapians in- AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 473 dulge in sometimes when they are carv- ing a fellow-man to mince-meat in the interest of their science. But I soon learned that it was no joke, for when the surgeon's saw had cut off the top of the man's skull the odor of the alcohol that filled the room was strong enough to almost sicken one. Then one of the surgeons struck a match and held it close to the brain. Immediately a blue flame enveloped the entire portion of the cerebral organ exposed, and the quiver- ing flesh sizzled as if on a gridiron. "That experiment and disclosure set me to very seriously thinking about the error of my way. I am not a temperance lecturer nor a prohibition politician, but I most respectfully and firmly decline your invitation to have something. I don't want my brain to float around in a sea of alcohol, as did that of the poor old town drunkard of Troy. There is no telling how many other men's brains will reveal the same condition, if an au- topsy is held upon them." — N. Y. Wit- ness. Value of Alsike Clover. The farmers here (Wisconsin), are beginning to grow Alsike quite exten- sively. 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 unthrashed red clover. — M. M. Baldridge, in Gleanings. Bee-Culture for Health. A delicate young lady on a farm took up the culture of bees as an out-door in- centive, hoping thereby to build up her health. She has not only improved digestion and appetite, but established a delightful interest and study, a re- numerative industry, a financiai success. Start out to cultivate thoroughly any valuable resource of mind, body or busi- ness, and you will develop a use, a ser- vice, that fits all around, and makes the world better worth living in. When You Have any honey to sell, get some Honey Almanacs and scatter in your locality. They will sell it all in a very short time. o not Write anything- for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without Interfering with either part of the letter. Hmerson Binders, made especially for the American Bee Journal, are convenient for preserving each weekly Number, as fast as received. They wil 1 be sent, post-paid, for 50 cts. each. They cannot be sent by mail to Canada. f,ost Numbers.— We carefully mail the Bee Journal to every subscriber, but should any be lost in the mails, we will replace them if notified before all the edition is exhausted. Always State the Post-Office to which your paper is addressed, when writing to us. Special Notices. The Date on the wrapper-label of this paper indicates the end of the month to which you have paid for the Journal. If that is past, please send us one dollar to pay for another year. This shows that Mr. Porter has paid his subscrip- tion to the end of next December : Wallace Porter Dec92 Suffield, Portage co, Ohio 474 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL.