UMASS/AMHERST 312066 0333 2686 5 or' K.y K> J,, DaDDDannnDDDDnDnnanananDnaDDDDDD D u D D D D D D D D o«^Sj^ a D D D D > 1 M pMt fS n D a ^ ^ mlitl I^ "^ D n D D ■» m^^j- D a D D D D D D Per D D uNn SF JSSACHUSETTS D D D D 521 lY D D D D A41 D D D D D D D , D D D D D D D D D D y D □ V. 16 D D D 1906 D D D D o D D D D n D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D n D D 1 — 1 D ' D D □ D n DnDnnnDnDDDDnnDDDnDDDDnnannaDnDa I Tuhetcalosis a« an " Portable Folding BATH TUB. Used in any room. Agents Wanted, Catalogue Free. -.Twff EMPIRE ^WASHER CO., Jamestown,n.y. I r\ Eli mmm ■ A 25-word adv. one time free, and our large 16-page, 64-col. Illustrated Maga- zine one year 25c. This-for-That ex- change column only 1-cent a word. Sam- ple magazine and particulars for stamp. The Monthly Br^irwArcf&t. SNieW Dl^lea.!^; \midLt A U ST RAL lANS Note the Address P ENDER BROS. West Maitland N. S. 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We furnish a Wired Foundation that is BET- TER, CHEAPER and not half the trouble to use that it is to wire brood frames. Circulars and samples free. J. VAIN DEUSEN & SONS Sole Manufacturers Montgomery Co. Sprout Brook, N. Y. ■^ Real Estate Wanted I To supply the wants of Cash Buyers every- where. Their names and addresses are given in full each month in our clean, in- teresting family magazine. Sample copy .25, which will be deducted from yearly subscription price of f I. if you choose to sub- scribe. The first issue may find you a buyer and save you a middleman's commission. I n U. S. Real Estate Journal ■ ■^^ 131 W. Brighton Ave., Btbacdss, N. T. ^H % ■ I ^ I ■ ^ CAVEATS, TRADE MARKS, COPYRIGHTS AND DESIGNS. ' Send your hnsineas direct to Washingtoii, saves time, costs less, better serrice. My office close to TI. 8. Patent Office. FREE prellmlB- * arv examlnationf made. Atty's fee not due until patent ' )9 secured. PERSONAL ATTENTION OIVEN-19 YEAS8 ' ACTUAL EXPERIENCE. 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L c o t a , WORTHINGTON M i J •NEW BElEj JSUPPUEZSJ SEND in your orders NOW for the Finest Bee Sup- plies in the country— manufactured by the W. T. Falconer Mfg. Co. WE HANDLE all styles of dovetailed hives, but call your particular attention to the MUTH SPECIAL DOVETAILED HIVE, with its Warp-proof Cover and Bottom Board. CASH DISCOUNTS for Early Orders : January, 7 per cent; February, 6 per cent; March, 4 per cent. : FRED NA/. MUTH CO. S1 \A/AL.IVIUX STREE-r, C I IM C I M IM AXI, OHIO BEFORE placing your order remember that we operate day and night, the largest, exclusive, high grade, double gun plant in the world. We guarantee every ITHACA GUN in every part— shooting included. We guarantee to furnish you a better gun for the money than any other maker. We allow you to try it before you buy it to convince you that this is true. For twenty-two years ITHACA GUNS have had the reputation of being the hardest and closest shooting guns on the market— the same man is still boring them and is the oldest and most experienced barrel borer in America. Don't wait! Order now! We are flooded with orders after the shooting season opens. Send for Art Catalogue and special prices on seventeen grades guns $17.75 to $300. ITHACA GUN COMPANY, Ithaca, N. Y. mt99f¥m0ktmf^^m0»mtm Vol. XVI JANUARY. 1906. No. 1 ONL DOLLAR A POUND OFFERED. Those Who Think They Can Profitably Feed Sugar in the Production of Comb Honey are Offered an Opportunity to Increase the Profits. By THOS. CHANTRY. . EDITOR: In looking over the November num- ber of The Bee- Keeper I notice a letter from our friend, E. F. At- water, and a reply by A. C. Miller; al- so a letter from Dr. W. R. Claussen, all on the suject of su- gar feeding. While I think A. C. Miller a strictly honest and consci- entious man, some of the statements he makes cannot be verified in our coun- try. I heard so much of it that I insti- tuted some experiments and have proof outside of my own statements. I have handled from 300 to 450 colonies in Da- kota and Nebraska for several years and never fed any sugar except to keep bees from starving (and very little for that) only as an experiment. I found that bees would let sugar syrup sour, untouched when honey could be had from the flowers; and when there was nothing afield they would take the syrup for breeding and store it in the brood-nest, but in no case could I get them to work in sections and finish them, even though I used drawn combs and unfinished sections. I tried it enough and in various ways so that I know it can not be done in Iowa, Nebraska or the Dakotas at any profit to the bee-keeper, only as a means of having bees in good healthy condition, and strong for the honey flow. After an early frost one fall we had a few weeks of very warm weather, but bees all over the country were get- ting nothing. Our bees were strong. I selected a colony in a seven-inch hive and weighed it and caged the queen to keep any food from being used for brood rearing, and put on a super, after weighing, and a feeder filled with syrup, half and half sugar and water late in the evening. Next morning it was all THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 3mmvy time when utliei't^ ai'ti getting nothing, by feeding sugar syrup or a mixture, or glucose, or any other way, and at the market price of honey get one cent taken in of profit for your pains, I will give $100 progress for 100 pounds of it. Another experiment: We always have a starving time here between fruit bloom and sweet clover. I put glucose into a feeder in a super of two colonies and sugar syrup in the rest. I came again in thirteen days and found the glucose colonies both dead and syrup untouched, while everyone having sugar goft^ &M ikvA^i looked prosperous w'ith"^ in. Next night it was again filled and only a part used. Sections were filled a little, but none finished. Fifty pounds were given them, but not all over two weeks, and no more in the supers, and not a section finished. I killed the queen of another large col- ony and shook them in a box 14x14x22 inside and hauled them four miles and at night let them run in and weighed on two more supers, and gave them 25 pounds of good ripe extracted honey, thinned a little, and work commenced to progress rapidly. Afterward a syrup gyrup ^as breeding finely made of one part pure thick honey, two parts dry sugar and two parts hot wa- ter was used throughout the experi- ment, and as supers were finished they were set over escapes and taken off and weighed and increase of weight was noted, and each week I was obliged to add another colony of bees, as be- fore, until four were added. One hundred and twenty-five pounds of dry granulated sugar was given; 125 pounds water and 62 and one-half pounds good ripe honey. The supers gained 94 pounds and the brood nest 20 pounds, making a total gain of 114 pounds. The food was given in such a way that it was impossible to rob and there was no fighting or commotion, so that we know there was no robbing. The results were: It cost four swarms of bees 125 pounds of sugar and 62 and one-half pounds of thick honey to get 94 pounds of section honey and 20 pounds gain in the brood nest. Where did all the water and so much weight of the sugar and honey go? The honey in sections was pronounced very good by everyone who ate it. In this country we have no foul brood law, and I would give bees honey only in combs from colonies I knew to be healthy. I would not risk honey that had been extracted from a promiscuous lot or buy it to feed. Now, don't understand me to disagree with Mr. Miller, as to the value of honey over sugar. My experiments would surely show that honey is cheap- er at double the price, but it is too dangerous. As for the small amount of honey that might be carried into the sections next year: The people who eat it will never make a protest; only those who want to be over zealous. Dr. W. R. Claussen has never made a "stake" in profits on feeding sugar and selling the sugar thus made into honey. No, nor anyone else, for it can- not be done at the present prices of sugar and honey. I read all the bee papers and have yet to see where anyone has ever re- commended feeding sugar syrup for profit after having tried it, and I am sure I never will, and am, furthermore, I claim, like Prof. Cook and many certain that no consumer eating such others, that the bees made it into honey honey will ever object to it as far as —pure honey. Anyway, it cost more than twice what we got for it; so I say to anyone in this part of the country, if you take sections and foundation and get them filled by the bees at a food value is concerned. Of course, it will not have a basswood flavor or that of white clover or California sage, but it will have a honey taste and a honey value as food, and cost the producer 1^06 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPEft 8 double what honey from natural m\xvm§ it and li^k foul bread or some other will t!oBt. On page 219 of the November Bee- Keeper Bro. Miller makes a statement: "I have seen sugar feeding successfully carried out and have seen in the aggre- gate thousands of pounds of honey thus produced." If it was comb honey it was surely good, and a good food; but I am sure that such honey was pro- duced at a loss, if cost of sugar and vi- tality of bees were considered. I think I have said enough to show Dr. Claussen that there is an "earthly reason" why we may "not have bum- per crops of sugar syrup nicely stored in well sealed combs, ' ' and if he still believes that he or any other person can do it, let him try to get my $100 before he starts in on a large scale. Remarks such as Dr. Claussen uses, inferring that sugar feeding to produce honey to sell can be done at a profit is what does more harm than does all ad- vice to feed as a necessity. I have met several bee-keepers who state that some of their trouble. Sioux City, la., Nov. 27, 1905. MR. ATWATER QUOTES. A By A. C. Miller. MERRY FELLOW is E. F. At- water, who will have his joke de- spite the other fellow's feelings. It seems that I exposed some of the mud on one of his idols and cast some re- flections on others, and it grieved him, so forsooth he must needs try to poke a bit of fun at me, wherefore he writes as follows: "I want to call the attention of your readers to the following, written by A. C. Miller, in American Bee-Keeper, April 1902, page 59: "'It may not be considered to be eco- nomical management to give colonies much more honey for winter than will suffice them till fruit bloom. Perhaps it is not in some places, but it certainly is the best plan here, and colonies so competitors supplied are ready for the supers first feed sugar to increase their crop (which and produce as fine a grade of white might be true in that he kept his bees comb honey as may be desired. The breeding and strong for the flow,, rather dark honey, which may be in the combs than starved down weaklings) and to prove that it can be done he will tell how greedily his bees took syrup, etc., but I am ready with my $100 to get him to try it. I do not hesitate to tell any below, never seems to be carried into the supers, so that feature is no bug- bear."' Just because I then said that the dark honev never seems to be carried bee-keeper I ever met: "You never above, he deems it inconsistent for me fed sugar syrup when other bees were to now say that sugar syrup fed to the getting nothing and had 100 sections of bees gets transferred from the brood honey filled and sealed without the nest to the supers. sugar costing you more than the honey oh, E. F., hast thou so long blindly will bring." Say nothing of the labor worshipped at the shrine of Used-to-Be- and loss of vitality. Hence-Always-Must, that thou canst I suppose that every bee-keeper has not realize that it is possible to progress? fed his bees as did Dr. Claussen when Pray, must an author once having he has the filled combs of honey and expressed an opinion always stick to it? also evened up the stores the same way Is that the eff'ect of following thy idols, in the spring, but when his bees are all kind sir? If so, may the fates fore- out and must be fed or die he has no fend us from their teachings, honey and he had better feed sugar At times thou exhibitest the saving syrup than to buy honey and feed with grace of wanting to know a man's rea- THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER sons for the faith that is in him. So let it be and Hsten. The so-called dark honey of hereabouts is most always on the golden shade and of bland flavor when well ripened, hence when mixed in moderate quantities with light honey its presence is not suspected. Dark and strong however, like that from buckwheat, make their presence known. The occurrence of such honey and the experiments of the gentleman of whom I spoke in the last issue drew attention to the probability of error in my earlier conclusions. Such error was proved by subsequent experiments and observa- tion. What more would you have? In closing let me give you a bit of advice. Don't take my say so, go see for yourself. And, don't take the other fellow's say so just because somebody has called him a big chief; they may have an object in so doing; go see for yourself. Providence, R. I., Nov. 6, 1905. THE HONEY PRODUCERS LEAGUE. An Explanation and a Reply to N. B. K. A Member. By Dr. C. C. Miller. ON PAGE 196 of the American Bee- Keeper appears an article written by "N. B. K. A. Member," which does not speak in the highest terms of the work of "The Honey Producers' League." It seems to be in part the work of an imagination not in the best state of repair, but one item mentioned presents ground for real objection. It is that clause of the constitution which says: "This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the membership at any regular election, provided such proposed amendment be first submitted to the executive board and approved by it. ' ' That looks bad. It is bad. Worse than that, I am the chief culprit in the case, and the main purpose of my writ- ing now is to say so. When it came to the matter of amendments to be sub- January mitted to a vote, it occurred to me that it was a matter of considerable expense to have printed and sent out questions to be voted upon, and that there ought to be some sort of check agamst unnec- essary expense, and that something more than the whim of an individual should decide what should or should not be sent out. My idea was not that the executive board should use its influence in deciding any question one way or the other, but that it should have the power to say whether it was in order or worth while to send the question out. There was opposition to my idea, and as I now remember no one but myself was urgent about it, but after more or less changing of phraseology it was passed. The thing came on the spur of the mo- ment, or at least without any previous thought, and it is plainly apparent that as worded it does not express my idea, and instead of saying "such proposed amendment be first submitted to the executive board and approved by it," there should have been some such wording as this: "submitted to the ex- ecutive board and its submission to the members approved." I cannot now say whether I was too stupid or too tired to see how lame was the wording, but there it is, and I can only say that I am the one mainly to blame and throw myself on the mercy of the court. With regard to the enterprise in gen- eral, I will only take space to say that I believe it to be a sincere and honest effort to do just what is expressed on the face of it; that the members have put money into it without the hope of any resulting benefit other than will be shared by bee-keepers in general; and that if "N. B. K. A. Member" will take the trouble to inform himself more fully, he will regret his unkind sus- picions and be honest enough to say so. Marengo, 111., Dec. 6, 1905. "The Manum swarm catcher is much better with a burlap bag than with wire cloth and either way it is uncertain in its results."— Allen Latham. 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER ARTIFICIAL HONLYCOMB. That Which is To-Day Considered an Impossibility Was Accomplished Over Thirty Years Ago. By ARTHUR C. MILLLR. IT HAS LONG been strenuously as- ander Shaw about 1870 or 1872, and was serted that no such thing as artificial worked over and developed by him up comb has or can be made, and these as- to about 1876 or later. In 1874 he filed sertions are continued notwithstanding application for patents on tools and product. In 1876 both tools and comb were exhibited at the Centennial Ex- position in Philadelphia. Most of the combs made were six by six inches and intended for use in surplus honey boxes, but Mr. Fickett, who attended to the apiary end of the experiments assures me that the bees used the combs freely for brood as well as for honey. Mr. Shaw was a superintendent in a PHILANDER SHAW. the common knowledge of the Weed patents. To be sure, his process is too expen- sive for commercial purposes, but that does not alter the fact that artificial comb has been and can be made. But artificial comb was made and used over thirty years ago, and through the cour- tesy and liberality of Mr. E. L. Fickett I am now the possessor of samples of shoe factory, agent for machines used such comb made about 1874, and of the in the business and an inventor of many tools for making it. appliances, one of note being a device The process was invented by Mr. Phil- used in the manufacture of shoes, an- E. L. FICKETT. 6 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER January other a hot air engine, and another for from photographs; that of Mr. Shaw the pressing of wood into forms imita- having been taken some years before ting carving. Mr. Shaw died in Boston his death, while Mr. Fickett recently in 1879, aged 69 years. had his portrait taken expressly for the His invention of artificial comb was Amei'ican Bee-Keeper. The other il- ahead of the times and failed to be of lustrations were taken from samples profit to him. To-day it would be appreciated and there is a possibility of its being put on the market the coming season. Mr. Fickett, to whom the fraternity is in- debted for keep ing this inven- tion alive, was born in Auburn, Maine, in 1835, moved to Mas- s a c h u s etts in 1853, and began bee-keeping in 1860 and has continued at it ever since. Mr. Fickett early made a artificial comb made in 1874. specialty of raising queens and supplied furnished by Mr. Fickett and now in them to Mr. King, then running the the possession of the writer. Providence, R. I., December 11, 1905. LATHAMISMS. Bee-Keepers' Magazine. Mr. Fickett was the originator of the fruit-jar-feeder and describes its use in one of the New York bee papers about 1870. Despite his years, he is active "Moisture is the cause of the death and wide awake to all the details of of 99 per cent of the bees lost in win- modern apiculture. He is a pleasant ter." "Bees in winter will be found clus- tered on the sunny side of the hive. ' ' "Black or dark red is the best color for a double walled or chaff hive, but it should be shaded in the summer. ' ' "Study the age to which the bees of MOLD FOR MAKING COMBS. your different colonies live. The long and affable man and full of information lived ones are the most profitable." — on bee culture past and present. Allen Latham, at the December meet The accompanying illustrations are of the Massachusetts ApiculturalAss'n. 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER FOUNDATION V5. COMB5. Bee-Keepers of France Make Comparative Tests. By ADRIAN GETAZ. 50METIME ago, I stated that one kind of work done by the Euro- pean bee-keepers' associations was to institute experiments on the doubtful points of bee-keeping. This is a work that could well be undertaken here also. It is not compulsory in Europe, only those who are willing take part. Sometimes prizes are offered to those who will make the best reports. This is especially the case when the desired experiments require some expense. Sometimes a series of questions is sim- ply asked. At other times some exper- iments have to be conducted on certain prescribed lines. The Society of the Department de la Meuse is the most successful in work of that kind. Last year I gave an ac- count of a series of questions asked and answered concerning swarming. I also stated that another series of ex- periments had been instituted, or rather asked for, by the Society, concerning the use of ready built comb, foundation in full sheets, or starters in the supers. To understand this it must be remem- bered that those of the European bee- keepers who use modem hives work for extracted honey. But they do not always give a set of built combs. Sometimes it is only foundation or starters. Most commonly it is a few combs and the rest mere starters. The starters in the majority of cases are only a very little strip left when the comb was cut out the year before. The preference for extraced honey is easily understood when one knows that there the extracted sells at the same price as the comb honey. As the price of the wax is proportionately very high, the question to solve is which pays the better, to keep the emptied combs until next year or to melt them. Will the wax thus obtained pay better than the excess of surplus which would be obtained the following year by using built combs? Such was the program. The con- testants were requested to compare the results obtained by colonies having: First, built combs; second, full sheets of foundation; third, starters. Fui-- thermore, each series was to be divided into two— one portion having single- walled hives and the other double- walled, with packing between. Only two bee-keepers responded, Mr. Chas. Guillemin and Mr. Brunerie. Concerning the double walls, Mr. Guille- min's experiment is not conclusive. The colonies in double-walled hives gaye a little less surplus than the single- walled ones. But they had, we might say, bad luck. One swarmed, another did not work well until quite late and three of them laid out in front of the hives a part of the time. Concerning the advantages of built combs, the colo- nies having them gave a surplus of about 130 lbs. each; those with full sheets of foundation about 100, and those with starters about 80. The sea- son in that locality was exceptionally good. The amount of wax produced to complete the combs by the colonies having foundation or starters was from two and one-half to four pounds per colony. The weight of the foundation given is included. The cappings were probably also included, though nothing is said about them. Mr. Brunerie did not comply entirely with the conditions required. He sim- ply used the hives he had, so the influ- ence of double walls is not considered in his report. On the other hand, he THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER had already been experimenting on the question of built combs vs. foundation and merely continued his previous ex- periments. So his report covers four years with quite a number of colonies. The results obtained are completely different from those given by Mr. Guillemin. In Mr, Brunerie's locality there is no difference at all between the surplus produced by the colo- nies having built combs and that from colonies having received only foundation in full sheets or starters, so the combs or foundation given are a complete loss. He attributes these results to the na- ture of the honey flow in his locality. There are two flows, each lasting four or five weeks. The first occurs in May and June, the second in July and Aug- ust. During the first flow the average daily increase shown by the colonies on scales is about one and one-half pounds while the extreme maximum observed was six pounds. During the second flow the average is only about ten ounces. With such a light flow, the bees can build all the combs needed as fast as the nectar comes in to fill them. And now I'll ask to be excused if I "butt in" and add some comments of my own: In the first place, I am quite surprised at the results obtained by Mr. Brunerie. I should have expected some difference in favor of the built combs even in a locahty like his. In regard to Mr. Guillemin's experi- ments, concerning the double-walled hives, two things are to be taken into account. His single-walled hives have a double cover with a packing of oat-chaff. This is the most important part of a protected hive, as the loss of heat takes place principally through the cover. If his covers had been a single thickness, the results would have been quite different and probably very un- favorable to comb building. It may be said that such or similar covers are in use altogether in Europe. A mere board for cover is not thought of there. January His double-walled hives did not have sufficient ventilation. He admits that himself, but does not seem to realize that by giving a much larger entrance he could have prevented much of the trouble and yet retained all the advant- age of a warmer hive during the night, which is an important item in wax pro- ducing and comb building. He con- cludes his report by saying that he will continue these experiments for at least a few years. Knoxville, Tenn., Dec. 8, 1905. QUEEN-FINDING METHODS An Interesting Article Elicited by a Ger- man Questioner. By Geo. W. Adams. Dresden, N Germany, Oct 8, 1905. Mr. S G Kilg-ore states in the American Bee Journal, page 678, when requeening his apiary and in placing- the new queen in a cage on top of the frames of the colony, at the end of two days, when opening the hive the old queen will general- ly be found clinging to this occupied cage, for she will always hunt up a rival queen to give battle, etc If this is the case, the old queen only needs to be taken away from the cage and all customary hunting all over the hive to find the old queen could be .saved Kindly let me know through the columns of the American Bee-Keeper what you think of this sim- ple way to find the queen, and if you or any of your friends have had similar experiences. With best thanks in advance, yours very truly, William Hesse. yHROUGH THE COURTESY of Edi- * tor Miller I have read the inquiry of Mr. Hesse, of Dresden, Germany, as to the practical possibilities of queen finding as described by S. J. Kilgore, page 678 of the American Bee Journal. Now if I have learned anything from bee-keeping it has been not to be dog- matic, never to say a thing cannot be be- cause I have never seen it, for as to Madam Apis, "Age cannot wither or custom stale her infinite variety, "—she seems to delight in setting at naught the calculations of the most careful apiarist. In this matter of finding the old queen clinging to or near the cage of a new queen placed upon the top of the frames, 1906 TH^ AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER I have had so much negative experience that I could more readily believe that she was not allowed to approach the cage than that she would as a rule be found near it. I say this, at the same time having no doubt of the perfect honesty and sincerity of Mr. Kilgore. I wish he may prove to be right and myself en- tirely in the wrong, for such an easy method of queen finding would not only be extremely useful in my apiaiy, but place my "Adams introducing board" among the most useful appliances of the yard. It was possibly because of this trifling "invention" of mine, and because of my custom of putting a caged queen into any hive that came handy at any time and for as long as I cared to keep her there, that this matter was brought to my notice. Many years ago when requeening a good many colonies of black bees, and sometimes having to keep rather valu- able queens on hand during cold weath- er or when other business kept me from my bees, I evolved this plan of a chamber four inches by six inches, and two inches deep above the frames and a little to the rear of the centre of the hive (as being the warmest spot) with ability by reversal of bringing it nearer the front. This chamber, although of 48 cubic inches capacity, has never been used for comb-building, but so far has invariably been left free for my use, and has been very handy for preser- vation of subjects for dissection, any caged bees being fed and tended as if they belonged to the colony. For cold weather I prefer the chamber to be 2x4 however. The fact that if is covered by glass, allowing inspection with no disturbance is of value, the glass being darkened by a bit of cloth being laid over it. The construction of my introducing board is like this: 1 use an 8-frame hive — Hoffman frames — and so my board is 14x20, half-inch stock, cleated across the ends to prevent warping with cleats one inch thick and of suffi- cient width, through this "cover" (for it exactly covei's the hive, allowing the real cover to shut down over the above mentioned cleats, on which the cover rests). I cut a square hole a little to the rear of the centre, and around this hole nail cleats three-quarters of an inch thick, on these lay a piece of glass, drop a piece of cloth or very thin wood over the glass to shut out the light, which brings the cover of the whole up nearly to a level with the end cleats, put the real cover over all, and there you have an observation or warm sto- c,.., BoorA CH>r,V:er E:5'fl J J \ I ADAMS' INTRODUCING BOARD. rage chamber; or, as I term it, the Adams Introducing Board. Try it! But to get back to my subject: In all the years I have used it I have never seen the free queen approach the pris- oner, or enter this chamber of which, of course, the tops of the brood frames make the bottom. I think this fully answers the ques- tion of Mr. Hesse, and if he or any other person wishes to I'epeat my ex- periments they can easily make up the little device which I have described and find so convenient. Rowley, Mass. Tales from Beeville — Stings. A soft answer may turn away wrath -but not that of an angry bees. 10 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER January PARTHENOGENESIS IN ANTS AND BEES. By Burton N. Gate*, Clark University. (The relation of fertilization of the egg to the sex of the progeny in Hy- menoptera. ) THE PROGENY of a queen bee are well known to consist of three casts; males or drones developed from an unfertilized egg; queens and work- ers, developed from eggs of the same ovary, but fertilized. This theory in bees is a half-century old, but in ants no definite proof of the same was re- ported until the work of Miss Adele M. Fields, whose paper (1) just published gives conclusive evidence in several genera of ants that the Dzierzon theory for bees, is true for ants. Since ants have closely allied hymenoptera to apis, the investigations are of importance, in proof of the origin of male bees. A brief outline of the rise of our present conception in bees may be of interest in this connection. All dates from old Onkel Swammerdam — 1637- 1686. He determined the queen to be the mother of the colony— a most pro- nounced discovery. But in his explana- tion of how her eggs were fertilized, he erred. He observed the strong characteristic odor of the males, and said that this, intensified by the large numbers of drones present in the hive, impregnated the queen. John De Braw, writing in 1777 on the sex and propaga- tion of bees, suggested that fecunda- tion of the egg occurred after they were laid. A few years later, Huber showed by ingenious experiments, the errors of the earlier investigators. He proved the meeting in the air of the queen and drone, within a few days from her emergeance from the cell, to be an act of copulation. But he did not Note— (1) Fielde, Miss Adele M. Observations on the Progeny of Virgin Ants. Biological Bulletin of Marine Laboratory, Woods Hall, Mass., Nov. 1905. Vol. IX. No. 6; p. p. 255-360, discover the relation of the spermatazoa transmitted in this union by the drone. These things were first being under- stood in 1853 when Dzierzon gave con- clusive proof of the drone resulting from an unfertilized egg. But with ants, closely allied hymenoptera, such evidence has been wanting until Miss Fielde's observations were made. And just here, her observations on ants are of importance in relation to bees; her work lends strength and support, and confirms our investigations on bees. Briefly, her observations are these: Miss Fielde took extreme precaution in establishing her nests for observa- tion, and procured ant groups of "indu- bitably virgin workers." "The eggs deposited in these nests were certainly unimpregnated. ' ' Her experiments show without exception, that from virgin workers "no other than male young had been produced." Similarly with a virgin queen, (Cre- mastogaster lineolata,) constantly ob- served for more than two years (in this period 68 males were produced) it was found to be producing male offspring only. Miss Fielde modestly concludes, that "some virgin workers (all of which she has had opportunity to observe) lay eggs and that many ant eggs which have had no contact with spermatozoa produce males." Thus Dzierzon's the- ory for bees may be extended to the Formicidae. Knowledge of this fundamental law explains many an occurrence in the bee yard. It accounts for a laying worker depositing male eggs only. It accounts for an old queen filling the hive with drones. In this case, the queen having exhausted the sperms supplied by the drone at mating— although according to Cheshire she had from four to twelve or according to Leukort, even twenty- four million spermatazoa transmitted to her— became a "drone-layer." Similarly an injured or diseased queen, whose ducts are not able to transmit 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 11 the sperms to the eg^s, are "drone-lay- ers." These few and many more oc- currences in our hives are explainable in knowledge of this theory which Miss Fielde has just now emphasized. Worcester, Mass.. Nov. 28, 1905. NO USE FOR CAUCASIANS. One of America's Foremost Honey Pro- ducers Weeding Out the Blood of the "Noble Race" for 22 Years. By J. B. HALL. p DITOR American Bee-Kebper: * — You wished me to report my ex- perience with Caucasian bees. I com- ply for the benefit of those of my apia- rian brothers who have not already tried them. As I have no axe to grind, (not having for sale any bee-keeper's -supplies or bees, but honey only,) I say this for their benefit, not my own. I would say that I received, on May 24, 1884, two colonies of Caucasian bees from Julius Hoffman, of Canajoharie, New York. He reports that he re- ceived them through the Russian con- sul to the U. S. My experience with them was they were the gentlest bees that I ever possessed, and the best winterers if given honey gathered by other bees to wintei' on. Their characteristics: A very small, dark bee, thickly covered with down and having three distinct gold bands on the first three segments of the abdo- men; said bands being about the breadth of a hair. Another peculiarity was in the number of queen cells started and matured. We have counted per- fect queens thrown out at the front of a hive to the number of one hundred and twelve, and these not as with other bees, thrown out at one time, but in about 'seven days. Another peculiar characteristic they have is that of cap- ping their honey with concave, instead of convex caps, so that the ribs or side- walls of the cells show distinctly on the face of the comb— an undesirable feat- ure in the production of comb honey. In view of the fact that I keep bees for the production of honey, as I sup- pose all apiarists do, I have no use for such blood in my apiaries, and have been weeding it out for the last twenty- two years. For the admirer of the pretty, gentle bee, I have found that a cross of these queens with Italian drones produces a very handsome bee indeed. But with us, "handsome is as handsome does." Woodstock, Ont., Can., Nov. 25 1905. MORE CAUCASIAN EXPERIENCE. Canajohare, N. Y., Dec. 21, 1905. Editor American Bee-Keeper:— I am sorry not to have been able to answer yours of December 2nd any sooner. In regard to the Caucasian bees I will say: I imported them in 1880, consist- ing of two nucleus colonies. I ordered them from a party in St. Petersburgh, Russia. They were sent direct from the Caucasus mountains to St. Peters- burgh and from there in the original package to Germany and after a fly, were brought over here to my place by a cousin of mine. Most of the bees were dead but the queens alive. My experience with them is this: The two queens varied some in looks, one showing narrow yellow stripes resembl- ing the Italians, and one having silver- gray hair covering. Their progeny proved to be very gentle, and the queens very prolific. The Caucasians, how- ever, did little or no work on buck- wheat, but produced the finest grade of white comb honey. When preparing for swarming they would raise from 75 to 100 queen cells in bunches, the cells being of a very small size. This fact, and not being good workers on buckwheat, made them undesirable for me, as I am lo- cated in a buckwheat section. The Caucasians, however, are a very good bee for clover sections. Very truly yours, JULIUS Hoffman. 12 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER THE, ROYAL COCOON. January Notions, Old and New, About Queen-Cells. By ALLEN LATHAM. \ i /"HY DOES the royal larva spin a ^^ cocoon over only a portion of the cell-wall ? Some of the old masters averred that the upper portion of the cell was left providentially for the easy stinging of the occupant by a rival. Such a reason is not tenable, since it is manifestly impossible for the sting to penetrate even the waxen wall of the cell. Even after a rival queen has torn a hole in a cell she rarely, if ever, stings the occupant— leaving the destruction of the immature queen to the workers. It is well known that worker-bees will not tolerate an injured queen cell. Several times during the past season I mended queen-cells which had become injured. On one occasion a valued cell was torn completely off the comb, and the nymph left exposed in the cocoon- portion. I selected an old, vacated cell, cut it down, fitted it roughly to the in- jured cell, sealed the ragged line with melted wax, and replaced the cell in the hive. The queen from that cell is now in one of my colonies. Knowing thus that cells could be suc- cessfully repaired, I tried repairing a cell which had been torn open by a vir- gin rival. A piece of foundation was laid over the opening and melted into place with a hot wire. The queen from this cell had not been stung; she is to- day alive and well. Since I have shown that the generally accepted answer to the question which heads this article is false, it falls upon me to furnish another answer. The cocoon is imperfect simply as a matter of convenience and safety to the larva spinning it. The cell in which she lives is overlarge, and if she once gets turned about in this cell she finds it extremely difficult to regain the nor- mal position. In consequence of this condition she spins a cocoon about that portion only of the cell which she can conveniently and safely reach without letting go from above. This answer has not been tested for its correctness to my complete satisfaction, but as a guess it is logical and has not been founded upon the throw of a die. In connection with this is seen why the larva does not spin the cocoon to the extreme apex of the cell, spinning down only so far as she can conveniently reach. THE CELL OPENING. We often see the expression, "cell with decreased opening for the queen to lay in," suggesting that the opening is small to cause the queen to deposit a female egg. It is hard to wean bee- keepers of the idea that the size of the cell-opening aids the queen in determin- ing the sex of the. egg, hence this false idea about queen cells. There are two reasons for this small opening in the queen cell. First, the worker uses the rim of this opening as a scaffolding upon which to rest as she polishes the interior of the cell, or does other work therein. Second- ly, the opening is small to minimize the change of air and hence loss of mois- ture and heat from the cell, in other words, to keep the cell under uniform conditions internally. At the time the egg is deposited the cell is nearly spherical, the edges of the opening being distinctly inturned. Af- ter the egg hatches the cell is elonga- ted, but the opening remains of essen- tially the same size, and the edges con- tinue to be inturned. While the nurse- 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 13 bees are packing food about the larva they rest their legs and wings on this edge. If one considers for a moment how difficult it would be to sustain one- self inside a large kettle, suspended open side down, he may appreciate the difficulty the worker-bee would have in carrying on the duties about the queen- cell, with its highly polished interior, without the aid of the turned in edge. Though the diameter of the cell di- minishes as the cell is prolonged, there is always more or less of the edge left rough and slightly turned in, and the opening is seldom larger than that of the worker-cell. At the proper time the opening is closed by carrying on the edge till the rather evident apex is formed. WHY THE QUEEN-CELL IS VERTICAL. Do I dare venture here? What has been offered hei'etofore in this ai'ticle is backed up with evidence gained from close observation, but we now strike a subject which is scai'cely open to dem- onstration. It would probably be easy to show that originally, in the primitive ages of the honey-bee, when the queens and workers were one— all cells were vertical like those of the hornet, and that the queen-cells of to-day are sim- ply a survival of that ' primitive stage. To explain why the queen cell has re- tained this verticularity is another mat- ter. The reason, like all reasons where Nature rules, is simple to the extreme. As all natural air circulation is brought about by the force of gravity, being the running under of heavier air and the up- lifting of lighter air, the cell is placed to meet this natural condition and thus prevent air circulation in the royal cradel. With the air tight ceiling and the depressed opening the air in the cell is kept uniformly moist and warm. As moist air is light and hence forced up by the heavier, the upper portion of the queen-cell is ideally perfect. When one has observed how rapidly royal jelly dries up, and becomes unfit for the os- motic ingestion of the larva, he will ap- preciate the statements just made. I The Bee-Keeping World i St. iff Contributors: IF. GREINER, ADRIAN GETAZ ^ _ Contributions to this Department are solicited from c\II | quarters of the earth. GERMANY. EARLY BREEDING DESIRABLE. At a late bee-keepers' meeting at Durheim, Editor Reidenback spoke at length on how to produce strong colo- nies ready for the harvest. He said to accomplish this object one must under- stand the nature of bees. There is a time when the development of a colony is very rapid, then there is a time when only enough young bees are reared to keep the number good; finally, life comes almost to a standstill. Spring- time is the time when growth com- mences and with the advance of the season it increases; with the setting sun it decreases. It is poor policy to allow swarms late in the season. The time for them to grow into populous colonies is past. We need strong colo- nies to take advantage of a honey flow, because a strong colony sends propor- tionately more bees to the fields than weak colonies. Herein lies the whole secret: A strong colony, numbering 30,000 bees, can send a force of 10,000 workers to the fields, or about one- third, while a small colony of about 10,000, send out but 1,000 or one-tenth part. A large amount of honey in the hive 14 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER January has a stimulating influence upon bees in the spring. Honey produces stronger bees than sugar. It has been observed that bees reared and fed on good honey make flights when the temperature is much lower than colonies fed on sugar. These are facts and the wise bee-keeper observes them. YOUNG QUEENS MAY SWARM. It has been laid down as an old, infal- lible rule that young queens will not lead out swarms the same year in which they were reared, but Seipz Bztg. says this rule only holds good so long as queens remain at the head of the colo- nies which reared them. GOOD PRICE FOR "EXTRACTED." The honey, offered at a regular "Hon- ey Market" day, Oct. 6, 1905, in Berlin, brought 30 cents per pound for extract- ed. Comb honey is not mentioned. Leipz Bztg. On a similar occasion extracted honey brought 19 cents in Hannover on Oct. 3. Comb 31 cents. Centralblatt. Under date of Nov. 1 the same paper has this to say about the honey and wax market: "Little demand for honey, but wax is sought after by wholesale dealers at 32 cents. FORAGE MUST BE SCARCE. Alberti says, in his book on bee-keep- ing, that the average locality in Ger- many may be considered as fully stock- ed up with 30 or 40 colonies. A. Schmidt, Guschau, has come to the same conclu- sion. His average yield when but few colonies were kept was 25 pounds of ex- tracted. Now, with a force of 60 colo- nies the average has been lowered to but 12 pounds. Schmidt also claims to be justified in saying that field bees seldom fly to pastures over a mile dis- tant. If it is a fact that average loca- tions are fully stocked with but 30 swarms, then that fact explains why the majority of bee-keepers in Germany keep so few colonies. WHERE THE GERMANS LEAD US. An illustration in Deutsche Imker of the late exhibition of bees, bee-hives, honey, and apiarian implements made at Sluttgart, shows that German bee- keepers respond to calls of this kind better than Americans do here. Par- ticularly the exhibition of bees and hives must have been very elaborate, showing hundreds of them very artis- tically arranged. The reason that such exhibitions can be made in Germany, where bee-keeping is not nearly as re- numerative as in America, is undoubt- edly because the German governments give substantial aid to these undertak- ings. A FATAL STING. Franz Derndl, of Perg, died from the effects of one bee-sting. It was his ill- luck while eating honey to swallow a live bee, which stung him in his throat. This caused swelling of the aff'ected parts and death occurred within a half hour. Leipz. Bztg. IT WAS AN OLD ONE. Among the apiarian implements ex- hibited at Danzig was an old log -gum from Austria. Its height was some six feet and the diameter about two feet. It was found in the forests of Hage- nort in the year 1740, and contained then a swarm of bees. In 1775 it was cut off from the stump and moved to the bee yards of Lovenz Konsecki where it remained in use as a habita- tion of bees till 1904, where it was pur- chased by Siech in Saaben.— Deutsche Imker. MAY BE so. F. Tobisch, the compiler of the Sam- mel-Korb, in Deutsche Imker, does not believe in protecting his bees with win- ter cases or any kind of packing. Hive walls one inch thick, he says, are pro- tection enough. He wants a large hive, with plenty of honey above the bees, and the entrance so arranged 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 15 that it cannot become clogged. Tobisch has only the one fear, viz : That his bees may starve. Of every 100 colonies that die during the winter, 90 starve, he claims. FRANCE. COMBS 45 YEARS OLD. A box hive belonging to Mr. J. Tou- chet is 45 years old. It is the first one he bought when he began bee-keeping. The hive is so nearly worn out that a few years ago Mr. Touchet had to rein- force it with a coat of cement. Mr. Touchet makes the remark that the bees are as large as any other notwith- standing the age of the combs. During these 45 years the colony has not swarm- ed more than five or six times; the last swarm came out ten years ago. He adds that he has but very few swarms in his apiary. He uses what is called in Europe "mixed" hives, that is, a box hive for brood nest with a super of movable combs. The cause of so little swarming is due to the fact that the supers are used altogether with built combs. I may add that the "mixed" hives are very much used in Europe and well liked. —L'Apriculteur. If I relate the above it is because the point has not been raised here, I have read several reports in the bee papers on that and similar legal questions. In all it was stated that the owner of the land has the right to forbid anybody and everybody from entering his prop- erty, but no decision went any farther than that. The point that a bee-keeper has as much right to take possession of his swarm wherever he finds it just as well as if it was his horse or his cow, has never, as far as I know, been raised in this country. And, should the occa- sion arise, it would be well for our Na- tional Association to see about it. ECLIPSE AND BEES. During the last eclipse of the sun, an apiculturist of Pau, in the southern portion of France, noticed that the ob- scurity came so quickly that the bees which were out could not find the en- trances of their hives in time. The covers, the ground around and in* the apiary and other objects were covered with bees that had succeeded in coming in that far, but failed to get in. They remained perfectly quiet until the eclipse was over. — L'Apiculteur. RUNAWAY SWARMS. The question has often been raised as to the right of a bee-keper to enter the premises of somebody else to take pos- session of some swarm of his which has chosen to settle there. The French courts have decided that the right to follow and take possession of his swarm imply the right to go on or in the prop- erty to get it. Furthermore, if the owner of the property refuses to per- mit the entrance, which he has a right f to do, he must be willing to pay the bee-keeper the value of his swarm. It is understood that the bee-keeper is liable for any damage he may do to the tree on which the swarm has alighted or in any other way.— L'Apri- culteur, WINTERING. According Dr. Mirbeck, the bees of a colony produce by their respiration about 50 grams of vapor every day. This must be disposed of in some way or other; if not, the dampness of the hive would be disastrous. A suflicient ven- tilation will do the work. For that purpose the entrances should be of suf- ficient size. If not there should be above the frame a cushion of hay or other absorbant— Revue Electique. L. B. Smith tells Rural readers that The Apiarist is the fourth bee journal that has been started in Texas. Mr. Smith's knowledge of the history of Texas bee journalism is, evidently, in- complete. 16 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER January THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER PUBLISHED MONTHLY THE W. T. FALCONER MFG. CO. Proprietors Publishing Office Fort Pierce. Fla. Home Office Falconer. N. Y Harry E. Hill Editor Arthur C. Miller. . .Associate Editor TERMS AND PRICE OF SUBSCRIPTION: Fifty cents a year; three years. $1.00. To new sub- scribers only, on trial, one year, 35 cents. Pay- ment always in advance. ADVERTISING RATES : A limited number of strictly legitimate and ac- ceptable advertisements will be inserted at the following rates: Regular advertisements (agate measure) 15 cents per line. Reading notices (set in nonpariel) 20 cents per line. Special location, 25 per cent extra. Cuts inserted without extra charge DISCOUNTS — On continuous insertions we allow the following: Three months (3 times) 10 per cent. Six months (6 times), 20 per cent. Twelve months (12 times), 30 per cent. HOW TO ADDRESS. The home office of The American Bee- Keeper is at Falconer. N. Y., and all matters relating to sub- scriptions, discontinuances, changes of address, advertising or other business should invariably be addressed to the Falconer, N. Y. office. Matters relating to the editorial department^ manuscripts, photographs, or correspondence in any way referring to articles that have been or are to be published, should be addressed to The American Bee-Keeper, Fort Pierce, Florida. DISCONTINUANCES. The American Bee-Keeper will be sent continu- ously until it is ordered stopped and arrearages, if any are paid. Those who wish the paper dis- continued at the expiration of the time for which they have paid, have only to request that it be done, and no copies will be sent thereafter. Our Fifteenth Birthday. With this number The American Bee-Keeper enters upon its sixteenth year of continuous publication. The thousands of commendatory letters re- ceived from honey producers and the constant increase in circulation inspire its editors to renewed efforts and a greater determination to pursue their labors with unswerving fidelity to the craft, regardless of the interests of al- lied industries. We look hopefully forward to, and wish every reader of The American Bee-Keeher a bountiful honey harvest for 1906. Every bee-keeper is invited to make use of our columns in any way tending to interest, instruct or other- wise assist his fellow draftsmen in the common effort to place the apiarian in- dustry upon a more substantial and pro- fitable basis, both as a domestic hobby and as a commercial enterpi'ise. A mutual exchange of ideas results in a general dissemination of knowledge that will ultimately place bee-keeping in its deserved position of prominence. We are truly grateful for the kind interest of our patrons who have assisted in extending the circulation of The Bee- Keeper, and thereby have enabled us to materially improve the standard of the journal from time to time. In thus assuring them of our gratitude and well- wishes, we thank them again, in antici- pation of their continued favors through- out the present year. The American Bee Journal is slowly falling into line, and becoming somewhat "like other folks, " these days. Some time ago it abandoned its distorted method of spelling, and now it conde- scends to publish the address of each contributor, just as all other bee jour- nals do and have done, for the conven- ience and information of their subscrib- ers. We congratulate the Journal upon its happy awakening. Pratt's golden bees secured first prize at the Liege, Belgium, show, season of 1905. This is the fourth grand prize carried off at the European exhibitions by the stock of this enterprising Penn- sylvania breeder. For those who have the stock, and cater to the foi^eign trade these great shows afford an excellent 4 means of advertising. ' Some "bee-keepers, " it appears, keep bees for comfort. Comfort is quite generally conceded to be an agreeable commodity; but not so generally be- lieved to be very remunerative. 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 17 The Truth About Caucasian Bees. Under foregoing beautiful title, D. Everett Lyon, Ph. D., writes in Glean- ings for Nov. 15th as follows: ^ "In the American Bee-Keeper for October I notice that the new Caucas- ian bees ai'e referred to as 'the most worthless of bees that have ever been offered to the American public," and less a false impression be given con- cerning this noble race I desire to enter a most emphatic protest. "Without hard feeling I am inclined to believe pretty strongly that the gen- tleman who gave the above character- ization of Caucasians is entirely igno- rant of an acquaintance with them, or else he never possessed the pure Cau- casians. "Will the writer of the above quoted paragraph tell us whether he has act- ually handled and studied the habits of Caucasians, or is he taking the opinion of someone else? My experience with them is just the opposite, and I know that they are not a worthless race of bees, but, on the contrary, a valuable acquisition to pi'esent valuable races. "Mr. Frank Benton, the government apiarist at Washington, in a letter to the writer states that they are the gen- tlest of all races, and good honey gath- erers, holding their own with the Ital- ian in this respect, and can be manipu- lated without smoke, veil or gloves. "This season I gave them a thorough trial as to gentleness— pulled hive lid off, jarred the frames, and, even when they were being I'obbed during late fall, due to carelessness in leaving some honey exposed— even under these con- ditions I shook them from their combs in front of their hives to test their tem- pers, and I have yet to record their first sting. "Now, why will a magazine like the American Bee-keeper come out and try to -give such a I'ace a black eye? "I suppose it is because they are a new race (I mean, of course, the bees,) that they are thus attacked, and I am told that when the Italians were first discovered or brought out in this coun- try they were denied the qualities we now know they possess. "Perhaps the friend who writes against Caucasians imagined he had Caucasian bees when, perchance, they might have been a cross, or the queen had not been purely mated before he got her. "I personally am inclined to believe that he did not have any real Caucas- ians at all. I know they are far from being aworthless race. "Mr. E. L, Pratt, of Swarthmore, Pa., has some 38 colonies of pure Cau- casian bees, and he has not found them worthless; and his experience and word have great weight with me, for I con- sider him one of the brainiest bee-keep- ers in this or any other country, and without an equal in practical knowledge of the habits of the honey-bee. "Give the Caucasians a chance, and before anyone condemns them let him be sure that he has had pure Caucas- ians and not a hybrid. ' ' The caption under which Dr. Lyon writes would lead his readers to antici- pate something more than a mere reit- eration of the stale and threadbare claim of gentleness. This, however, is the only claim of merit which he cites as a result of his own experience, and since this one point, which is of minor importance, has probably never been disputed, Dr. Lyon's attempted ar- raignment of the editor of the Ameri- can Bee-Keeper appears very flat indeed. Dr. Lyon seems to fear that we are taking someone else's opinion as a ba- sis for our belief. In a nutshell he thinks we are talking of something in regard to which we know absolutely nothing. Then he proceeds to bolster up his "noble race" by citing another's written testimony, instead of telling us just what the noble race has accom- plished under his own personal manipu- lation. Are you "taking the opinion of someone else, doctor?" All that has 18 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER appeared in the editorial columns of The American Bee-Keeper in regard to this subject has been written from act- ual experience with imported stock, but that experience was too limited to justify a condemnation of the race. It was, however, quite sufficient to sug- gest very forcibly the possibility of their worthlessness, hence we deemed it our duty to advise caution, and, until Dr. Lyon can present something more substantial in their favor than gentle- ness and a report at second-hand, that they are good honey gatherers, we are still inclined to repeat the advice, as well as to regard with disapproval the action of the government in spreading Caucasians broadcast over the conti- nent. Dr. Lyon devotes much space to an expression of his personal ideas of the editor of the Bee-Keeper, which, by the way, it may be noted, are not par- ticularly flattering, since he would lead his readers to believe that we had writ- ten without knowledge of the subject. Under the glorious stars and stripes it is the Doctor's benign privelege to muse to his heart's content, and to form opinions galore, and we would not de- prive him of the privelege if we could. Meantime, we are thinking too— won- dering if Dr. Lyon ever produced a car- load of honey, or if his apiarian exper- ience has fitted him to pass competent judgement upon any race of bees, from the viewpoint of one whose livlihood comes by the production of honey. As Dr. Lyon regards the Caucasians as a "new race," we commend to him a reading of the letter from Mr. J. B. Hall in this number of The Bee- Keeper; and we take occasion to in- form the Doctor that it was in Mr, Hall's apiary, and with the bees re- ferred to that the editor of The Bee- Keeper received his introduction to the Caucasian race. Dr. Lyon will have to put forth a de- cidedly more "emphatic protest" than the foregoing if he would have The Bee-Keeper share his of this "noble race.". January exalted opinion Another New One. It's a dull season in Texas when that state cannot record the advent and de- mise of one or two bee journals. The latest is The Apiarist, oi Waco, publish- ed by Phillips & Huff. It contains 24 pages and the subscription price is $1.00 a year. Like nearly all of its predecessors, The Apiarist claims for itself the des- tinction of being "the only bee journal in the South." The American Bee- Keeper sincerely crusts that The Apiarist may find its journalistic trail strewn with more nectar-secreting flowers and less cactus thorns than have been encountered by the many other "only" ones who have found an eternal resting place in the "Lone Star State." "Glucose and Its Uses, " is the caption under which Mary Hinman Abel very ex- haustively discusses our greatest com- petitor, in the January Delineator. The magnitude of the glucose industry in the United States, according to this writer, rather puts the present honey produc- tion in the shade. She says that in the glucose factories of the United States thirty-five million bushels of corn are used, and cites the manufactures as au- thority for the statement that about one- half million barrels of glucose are con- sumed annually as table syrup. Little is the wouder that the "Honey Pro- ducers' League" felt the need of prompt and vigorous action. The possibility of publishing a really good monthly bee journal at less than a dollar a year has been questioned by some of our worthy contemporaries. The reader is invited to look this number over very carefnlly and to compare it critically with those that cost a dollar. Bear in mind that we will send the American Bee-Keeper three full years for only one dollar, in advance. 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 19 We have repeatedly stated that our experience with the Caucasians has been too limited to justify either condemning or declaring in favor of the race. Any person who, with one or two seasons trial with one or two colonies of any new race, will pronounce judgement upon that race, is obviously a tyro or sadly deficient in some natural qualifi- cations that are essential to apiarian success. It would appear to be the part of wisdom to determine very thoroughly the qualities inherent therein before seeding the land broadcast with the blood of a black, unknown race of bees. Test all things, and "hold fast that which is good"" The Apiarist, the new Texas bee journal, invites secretaries of bee-keep- esr' associations to send in minutes and programs for publication ; and says that is what the Apiarist is published for. It should affiliate with The Canadian Bee Journal. It would be a good thing for the Na- tional Association if they would make every publisher, editor, manufacturer or dealer in supplies or their employes or agents ineligible to any office in the as- sociation. It would be equally good for the rest of the craft. The Christmas number of Gleanings contained 100 pages, including a hand- somely executed cover in colors. Even though rather more than one-half of its space is taken up by advertisements, they are interesting, and this particular number is doubtless the most elaborate bee journal that has ever been issued in America. The Bee-Keeper arises to ask what constitutes the true "nobility" ofbee- dom? If it is the quality of reluctance, as to the stinging habit, let us yield the honor to "la abe ja de tierra," for they cannot sting. A Bee-Keeper's Woes. The New York Tribune is responsible for the following story : A German bee- keeper undertook to carry some of his choicest bees to a bee show. He took a train in Hanover with his bees in a basket at his feet. The bees escaped from the basket and crawled up his trouser legs. His actions soon aroused suspicions in the hearts of two women who occupied the same compartment with him. They pulled the bell cord and stopped the train. When the bee fancier explained the situation he was placed in an empty compartment to have it out with the bees all by himself. Here he removed his trousers and be- gan shaking them out of the window to free them of the swarm. Unfortunate- ly they caught a telegraph pole and were swept away, bees, money and all. At the next station the irate station master brought forth the reluctant bee fancier in a rug, and he pawned his watch to acquire decent raiment to walk back along the line in search of his bees and his trousers. Officers elected to serve the National Bee-Keepers' Association during 1906 are as follows: President, C. P. Da- dant; vice-president, Geo. E. Hilton; secretary, W. Z. Hutchinson; general manager, N. E. France. F. Wilcox and C. A. Hatch received the largest vote for directors. The Review wisely advises "a little caution" upon the part of those who think of introducing Caucasian bees. The Chicago convention is said by those in attendance to have been a "stem-winder." The Honey Producers' League is re- ported to have "gone dead." The good die young." Honey producers as a rule keep bees for the honey they produce. 20 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER January The American Bee-Keeper Circulates. Our numerous friends and patrons, who have rendered such noble service in behalf of The American Bee- Keeper, will doubtless be pleased to learn that we begin Vol. XVI this month with a most gratifying list of subscribers— a list that includes more or less of the bee-keepers of every It's all in the Queen. A contributor to our esteemed con- temporary, L'Apicultcur, of France, reports that with one exception all his hives face the east. The one exception faces south, and is somewhat shaded by a tree. The position of the hives he considers noteworthy for the reason that the hive having its entrance to the state in the Union, every province of southward always yields a greater quan- the Dominion of Canada, the various republics of Central and South Amer- ica and the West India Islands. Be- yond the seas The Bee-Keeper goes regularly to bee-keepers in Germany, Austria, Holland, New Zealand, Eng- land, Belgium, France, Ireland, Scot- land, Switzerland, Japan, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Australia, Hawaii, Tas- mania and various parts of Africa. Gratified as we are by this progress, we are not yet content, and hopefully anticipate the addition of several thous- and subscribers during 1906. The kind assistance of every present patron of The Bee-Keeper is respect- fully solicited, in order that we may the sooner evolve our ideals in the pro- duction of a Twentieth Century bee- journal. tity of surplus honey than any of the others. It is not improbable that the shade may have a beneficial eff'ect; but there is little doubt that if this apiarist will turn the entrance of this particular colony to the north, east or west, its superiority will still be evident. If he were to stand the thing on its head, yet it would outstrip its competitors in the honey-gathering contest. If he will ex- change queens with some one of the in- ferior producers, however, he will doubt- less find that . the favorable recoi'd will have followed the queen. Blood tells. Thinks Caucasians Promising. Mr. John W. Pharr, Barclair, Texas, writes that he is fovorably impressed with a Caucasian queen received early in September last, though he realizes that his experience with this race is yet The sages are all deep-tubed C. W. Dayton, Chatsworth, Cahf., writes: "Say, did you know that these California mountains is the best place in the world for queen-rearing? I only rear for my own use.. Bees fly up and down so much that it gives them great lung power. Then, also, the high alti- tude makes the air very rarified, which calls for still more lung and wing power. almost, if too limited to warrant the formation of not quite equal to red clover— and the any settled opinion. He says this queen poor years show which are the excellent is prolific, her bees good workers, and that he has noticed that at times when other colonies were dormant the Cau- casians were active. This all goes to prove that with Caucasians as with other races, some strains are better otherp. We shall be pleased to from all who have tested the Caucas- ians. It is the truth we want; and more experience with this race will be neces- sary to determine the actual truth. One swallow isn't a whole summer. colonies." We have just consulted our Queen-Breeders' Directory and are sur- prised to note that California has no representation therein. It is rather re- markable that some enterprising breeder than has not taken advantage of such propi- hear tious (?) conditons in the California mountains and benefitted by the publicity to be derived for $3. 00 a year in the American Bee-Keeper Directory, and thus become immensely wealthy before this time. 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPEIt 25 I CINCINNATI NEWS NOTES. Mrs. Geo. Hutton, of Carthage, Ohio, is very intensely interested in chickens, the raising of mushroom?, and has now taken up bee keeping. vV^e know she will be successful and enjoy this hobby. Mr. Wm. J. Gilliland, former secre- tary of the Hamilton County Bee-Keep- ers' Association, was re-elected mayor of Silverton, Ohio. Mr. Gilliland is a native of the Emerald Isle, and is every inch a bee-keeper. Mr. Alois Lampert, of Norwood, a beautiful suburb of Cincinnati, has had a case of the bee fever. I am begin- ning to think the disease is contagious. We must be sure to give his case our attention the first thing next spring. Mr. A. B. Bader is a jolly good fel- low. His wife has bees in her bonnet, and he declares she will not let him rest unless he promises to buy a colony or two of bees next spring. Alright, "Butch," we will attend to the bees for your good wife next spring. Mr. John B. Peaslee, former superin- tendent of our public schools, last spring purchased two twc-^rame nuclei, placed them in hives on the top of his residence. Early in the fall, from one hive, he extracted some forty pounds of fine honey. Maybe he can't talk bees; you ought to hear him. Mr. Chas. F. Droste, of Price Hill, this city, former state senator, found a swarm of bees last summer in a hallow tree on his place, and now has a bad case of the fever, of which he positive- ly can not be cured. However, the fever will be allayed next summer after he has bought about fifteen colonies. Miss E. Herzog, residing in one of our pretty suburbs, and every inch a prac- tical bee-keeper, sold last season $75.00 worth of honey from five hives. At our county fair last summer, this young lady made an exhibit of both comb and ex- tracted honey, and carried the first prizes. Had her bees only made more honey, in all probability she could have sold $200 worth of honey, for she tells us people stop at her home in carriages and others telephone her for honey, and she is kept busy telling them she will have more honey next season. Mr. Wm. Cunningham, of Fort Thom- as, Ky., that famous spot some eight miles from our city, likes bees, but they don't Hke him. He claims that his wife has more courage than he. Last summer the writer visited at his home and worked with his bees. Mr. William stepped away back to the fence; well, he went as far as he could without hurting my feelings. His good wife was brave and sat down on the door step leading to her kitchen, but unfortunately happened to sit down on a bee. Say, Mrs. Cunningham, I won't say the rest, but it would have done you all good to have seen Mr. William laugh. Fred W. Muth. HONEY AND BEESWAX MARKET. Buffalo, Dec. G. — The supply of honey is only fair and more needed . The demand is good for fancy. We quote our market today as follows: Comb, fancy. 12-14, No. 2, 8-lOc. Extracted, 6-8c lb. in 5 gallon cans. BJeeswax 28-32c Really fancy one-lb comb is wanted, but lower grades move slow and have to be cut accordingly. Batterson & Co . Chicago, Dec. 6. — The trade in best grades of white comb honey has been fair, yet retailers take only small quantities at a time. This honey brings 14-15c, other gi'ades are difficult to place at 1 to 3c less per lb. Extracted selling at 7-7'/2C for white, and amber 6!i>-7c, dark 5Vl-6 Beeswax when clean and of good color, 30c per lb. R. A. Burnetts Co. Boston, Dec. 9. — We quote you our market as follows; Fancy white, 16c; A 1, 14-15; No. 1, 14c; No. 2. 12-13c. Extracted 6-8c, according to qual- ity, with a fair demand The very large quanti- ties of honey carried over from last season is un- doubtedly affecting the sale and prices. Blake, Scott & Lee Co. Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 7. — The supply of honey is good. The demand is fair. We quote our mar- ket today as follows: Comb, $3.25 per case. Ex- tracted, 6c and 6MiC. C. C. Clemons & Co. Cincinnatti, Nov. 24. — The demand for comb honey is relaxing to some extent, owing to the ma- jority of the trade being well supplied. All fears of a comb honey famine have been allayed. We quote fancy white comb honey at 14c to 16c per lb. Extracted honey is in fair demand. Quote amber, 5'/i to 6Vi'C, according to the package and quality . Fancy white and white clover extracted at 6Va to 8M>c. We are paying 28V2C per lb deliv- ered here for choice yellow beeswax (Notice:— We wish to call the attention of the producer to the above honey quotations, who mistakably ex- pect to receive these pi-ices for his product. The above are our selling prices for honey ) The Fred W. Muth Company, 51 Walnut street. New York, Dec. 6 — Comb honey — The demand continues to be fair for all grades. Prices practi- cally remain the same. We quote fancy white at 14 to 15c; No 1, 13c; No. 2, 12c; buckwheat 10c per lb. Extracted honey is in good demand, especially California, with large supplies. We quote white, 6I2 to 7c; light amber, 5c; buckwheat, extracted, S'i to 6c per lb. Beeswax, firm and steady at 29 to 30c per lb. Hildreth & Segelken. ONE-HALP INCH SPACE ONE YEAR ON THIS PAGE, $3.00 W J. DAVIS, 1st, YOUNGSVILLE. PA. ' ' • breeder of choice Italian Bees and Queens Quality, not quantity, is my motto. T)EWEY'S HARDY HONEY GATHERERS.— •*-^ Reared under swarming- impulse through- out the_ year. Large, strong, healthy. Send for card, "Can I Control Swarming?" Original. Untested, 75c.. 6 for $3.00; tested. $1.50. 6 for $5.00. Choice, $2.50. High grade breeders. $2.00 to $10.00. E. H. DEWEY, GT. BARRINGTON, MASS. QUEENS HERE.— We are still asking you to give us your trade. We sell Italians, Goldde"s and Carniolans at 75c for untested and $1.00 for tested. Prices on quantities and nuclei upon application. JOHN W. PHARR, BERCLAIR, TEXAS. Jan. 6 QWARTHMORE APIARIES. SWARTHMORE. ^ PA. — Our bees and queens are the brightest Italians procurable. Sarisfaction guaranteed. We are breeding the Caucasians absolutely pure from direct imported stock. W W. CARY & SON, LYONSVILLE, MASS. — Breeders of choice Italian bees and queens. Imported Leather and Root's Red Clover strains. Catalogue and price list FREE. ]V/rOORE'S LONG-TONGUED STRAIN of ■'■'-'■ Italians become more and more popular each year. Those who have tested them know why. Descriptive circular free to all. Write J. P. MOORE, L BOX 1, MORGAN, KY. XJONEY QUEENS AND BEES FOR SALE — -'■-'- I extracted 300 pounds per colony in 1903. THOS. WORTHINCTON. Leota, Miss. Aug 5 pUNIC BEES.— All other races are discarded, ■*• after trial of these wonderful bees. Par- ticulars post free. JOHN HEWITT & CO., Sheffield, England. Jan 6 nPHEA. I ROOT CO., Medina, O. "^ of Italian bees and queens. -Breeders TIHE FRED W.MUTH CO ,51 Walnut St , Cin- ■*■ cinnatti, Ohio. Standard Bred Red Clover Three-banded Queens, Golden Italians and Carni" olans. Safe arrival guarantee. Sedd for circu- lars. QUEENS from Jamaica any day in the year. Untested, 66c; tested, $1.00; select tested, $1.50. Our queens are reared f rpm the very finest strains. Geo. W. Phillips, Sav-La-Mar P. O. Jamaica, W I. 5-5 T\ J. BLOCHER, PEARL CITY, ILL— Breeder ■^' of Fine Italian Bees and Queens Our stock speaks for itself. Safe arrival of all stock guar- anteed. Free information. Jan6 T AWRENCE C MILLER has sold out his •^ "Providence Queen" business to ull & Wil- liams, Providence, R.I. See large ad elsewhere. JOHN M DAVIS, SPRING HILL, TENN — ^ Has greatly enlarged and improved his queen- rearing facilities Two unrelated Carniolans and a dark leather Italian lately imported My own strains of three-band and golden: "Moore's" long- tongue; Doolittle's golden; all selects. Carniolans mated to Italian drones when desired. No disease. Circular free WE are now booking orders for Providence Queens for spring delivery. Cull & Williams, Provi- dence, R. I. n H W WEBER, CINCINOATL OHIO— (cor- ^' ner Central and Freeman Aves.) — Golden Yellow, Red Clover and Carniolan queens, bred from select mothers in separate apiaries. "LTOOPER BROS.' Italian Queens reared in the J-i- West Indies are the most prolific and give the best results available any time of the year. Write at once for information to Kingston, Jamaica, B. W. I.. Box 162 nov-6 mgmtmm HONiY DEALERS- tmamm0 Under this heading will be inserted, for reliable dealers, two lines one year for $1.25. Additional Words, 12c a word. No annnuncenient can be ac- cepted for less than one year at these prices. OHIO. C. H. W WEBER, Freeman and Central Aves., Cincinnati, Ohio. If for sale, mail sample and state price expected, delivered in Cincinnati. If in want, write for prices, and state quality and quantity desired. 5-5 WE are always in the market for extracted honey, as we sell unlimited quantities. Send us a sam- ple and your best price delivered here. The Fred W. Muth Co., 51 Walnut St., Cincinnati, O. 5-5 COLORADO. THE COLORADO HONEY PRODUCERS' AS- SOCIATION, 1140 Market St., Denver. Colo. Cent-a-Word Column* AGENTS WANTED— To sell advertising novel- ties, good commission allowed. Send for cata- logue and terms. American Manufacturing Concern, Falconer, N. Y. THE BUSY MAN'S METHOD OF REARING GOOD QUEENS— This leaflet describes the method used in rearing the Hardy Honey Gath- erers (read elsewhere), and if carefully followed will produce queens of great merit. No loss of brood, no cell-cups, and but little time required. Large queens under swarming impulse. Noth- ing artificial "about it. Every queen breeder needs it. Price 25 cents. E. H. DEWEY, Gt. Barrington, Mass. INCREASE is a handsome little book telling how to form new colonies without breaking working stocks. A simple, sure, satisfactory plan, 25c. Baby Nuclei tells how to mate many queens from sections with a mere handful of bees; 42 pages, 20 pictures, 50c. Cell Getting tells how to save labor in rearing queens, 50 cents. Que in rear- ing outfits. Gfolden all-over and Caucasian Queens. Circulars free. E. L. PRATT, Swarth- more, Pa. Bee-Keepers We carry a full line of FAL- CONER'S BEEKEEPERS' SUP- PLIES, and that means THE BEST, and sell them at factory prices, f. o. b. Savannah, Ga. Oi'der from us and save freight charges. Catalogue free for the asking. Harden & Rourk, Savannah, Ca. A CARLOAD OF PAPER w u >i ») « f « (:! s u y y to |) jt' i h t the 1906 LEWIS CATALOG now out. Send for one at once. Agents Wanted For Lewis Goods by the Carload For Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Con- necticut, Rhode Island, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mis- sissippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Southern Ohio. Liberal territory given. For further particulars address Home Office. G. B. Lewis Co. Manufacturers of Bee-Keepers Supplies Watertown, Wis., U. S. A. Homes in Old Virginia. It is gradually brought to light that the Civil war has made great changes, freed the slaves, ;ind in consequence has made the large land owners poor and finally freed the land from the original owners who would not sell until they were compelled to do so. There are some of the finest lands in the market at very low prices, lands that produce all kinds of crops, grasses, fruits, and berries; fine for stock. You find green truck patches*, such as cabbage, turnips, lettuce, kale, spinach, etc., growing all the win- ter. The climate is the best all th» year around to be found, not too cold nor too warm. Good water. Healthy. Railroads running in every direction. If you desire to know all about Virginia send 10c. for three months subscription of the VIRGINIA FARMER to Farmer Co., Emporia, Va. 3 and 5-Banded ITALIAN and CARNIOLAN QUEENS Say, friends, you who have support- ed us during the past season, we desire to express our thanks for your patronage in the past, and re- spectfully solicit a continuance of your valued favors through the sea- son of 1906. Our queens now stand upon their merits and former record. We are preparing for next season, and seek- mg the patronage of large apiarists and dealers. We do not claim that our queens are superior to all oth- ers, but that they are as good as the best. We will furnish from one to a thousand at the following pri- ces: Tested, of either race, $1; one untested, 75c; 5 for $3.25; 10 for $6; 15 for $8.25; 25 for $12.50; 50 for $23.50; 100 for $45. For descriptive circulars address, John W. Pharr, Prop., New Century Queen Rearing Co., Ber- clair, Goliad Co., Texas. Read This and Do it Gluick. The Modem Farmer All One Green's Fruit Grower Year $1.40 Agricultural Epitomist Without The Mayflower and Ten Gleanings Beautiful Flowering Bulbs 80 cents Gleanings in Bee Culture American Bee-Keeper. Without Gleanings and American Bee- Keeper 50c. Good only a short time. Address. The Modern Farmer, Box 15 - - St. Joseph, Mo. The clean farm paper. WANTED Every person who keeps pigeons, Bel- gian hares, cavies, dogs, cats or a pet of any kind to send for a free sample of the PET STOCK PAPER, Address Bex 20, York, Pa. Big Magazine ?: )ne year FREE to I u i c k ly introduce _ _ -t. Many prefer it to Harper's, Munsey's, Ladies' Home Journal or McClure's Send 10 cents to help pay postage AMERICAN STORIES, Dept. H. D., Grand Bapids, Mich. Several New Agencies for Bee Supplies in Texas 1906 For particulars address W. H. Putnam, RIVER FALLS, WIS. To Subscribers of The American Bee-Keeper and Others? Until Further Notice We will send the Country Journal to any address in the U. S. A. one year for 10 cents, providing you mention the American Bee-Keeper. The Country Journal treats on Farm, Orchard and Garden, Poultry and Fash- ion. It's the best paper printed for the price. Address The Country Journal, 2tf Allentown, Pa. We will send The American Bee- Keeper three full years for $1.00. Our Special Premium Offer. We have been successful in closing a contract with the Selden Pen Mfg. Co., of New York, whereby for a limited time we can supply a guaranteed $2.00 Gold Fountain Pen, "The Celtric Model 1" and the American Bee-Keeper one year for only 90c to every subscriber, old or new. The pen will be forwarded immediately upon receipt of the money. It is made of the best quality of hard rubber in four parts, and fitted with a guaranteed irridium pointed 14-k GOLD PEN. The "foun- tain" is throughout of the simplest construction and can not get out of order, overflow, or fail to supply ink to the nib. "A Fountain Pen is a Necessity of the 20th Century." It dispenses with the inconvenient inkstand and is always ready for use. "THE CELTRIC MODEL 1" bears the manufacturer's guarantee that the pen is solid GOLD, 14-k fine. If it does not prove satisfactory in every way we will exchange it for another, or return the fifty cents ad- ditional upon return of the pen. This is an unusual opportunity to secure, at a very low price, an ar — tide of superior quality that is coming to be essential to the comfort and ' convenience of every one. Remember this offer is for a short time only. The American Bee-Keeper, Falconer, N. Y. Chance Of a Life Time. 100 WANTED TO RAISE BELGIANS Send for particulars and sample copy of the only Belgian Hare Journal Published in America. Judge R. J. FINLEY, 227 Lamb St., Macon, Mo. Special Notice to Bee-keepers. BOSTON Money in Bees for You Catalog Price on Root's Supplies Catalog for the Asking F. H. Farnier,-yp ^^^^^ FUght. 182 Friend St., Boston, Mass. AGENTS YOU CAN Do It Medallions "Peuro or Pearl" New Me- dallions. Quick sellers. Big Money. Write at once. Special territory given. Largest Medallion Comp'y in the world. Agents' supplies. Novelties up-to-date. Write now. Universal IVIanufac> tuKing Co., Pittsburg, Pa. The Miller Wax Extractor Is a Succes s e^ «^ e^ «^ «^ «^ «^ The highest re- sults. The low- est Price, $8, f. o. b. Provi- dence. «^ «^ e^ e^ «4 «^ «^ Cull & Williams = Providence, R. I. — Rhode Island Agents for Falcon> er's U n e X c e lie d Supplies T^ree Months for Only 20 Cents To a New Subscriber THE Amerian Bee Journal Established in 1861 It is the only Weekly Bee Paper in America, Those who write for it are among the most ex- tensive and successful bee-keepers in the world Many of them produce honey by the ton, and make money at the business, hence their ex- perience is valuable. AmonK the Departments represented in the Bee Journal are these: Editorial Notes and Comments, Miscellaneous News Items, Con- tributed Special Articles, Opinions of Some Experts, Proceedings of Conventions, Our Bee-Keeping Sisters, Mr. Hasty's After- thoughts, Dr. Miller's Answers to Questions, Honey and beeswax Market Quotations. Every Bee-Keeper, whether having one col- ony or 100, should read the old American Bee Journal every week. Only $1.00 a Year; or 20 cents for a trial trip of three months (13 copies). toa new subscriber. Sample copy free. Ask for it. George W» York & Co* 334 Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois Big Song Book "Polly, I Love But You," words and music ; ' 'Piking the Pike, ' ' ' 'Just Be- cause I'm from Missouri," "Hiawa- tha, ' ' ' 'Navajo, ' ' ' 'Bedelia, ' ' ' ' Josie, ' ' "Only a Factory Girl," "FUrting at the Seashore," "The Little Brown Man of Japan," "Come Down, Miss Malinda, " "Ma Ragtime Ebony Belle," and 44 other popular songs, all in one book, and sent postpaid for only 10 cents. We will also send a coupon good for 10 cents to everyone mentioning in what paper they saw this ad. This is a. Special Offer to Intro- duce our Goods, so send at once H.L. Leader C? Grand Rapids Michigan Music Lovers! Big Magazine One Year 10 Cents Send us 10 cents in silver, to- gether with the names of ten persons who get mail at your postofRce who are interested in IVl LJ S I C , and we will send you our handsome magazine one year. We receive hundreds of new subscriptions daily from per- sons who think our magazine a bigger bargain than Harper's, Munsey's, Ladies'Home Journal, or McClure's. This a special of- fer for a short time only. Our subscription price may advance to $1.00 per year soon. Address D e p t . H~. B . Bergres Publishing- Co. Grand RaPids, c h i g a n SENSATIONAL CLEARANCE SALE Of Slightly Damaged Sets ^I^T the close of a very busy season we find on hand 68 sets of "The Masterpieces and History of Literature," in which a few volumes are slightly marred — not enough to impair their real value, but sufficiently to prevent their shipment as perfect stock at the regular price, $35.00 a set. Rather than go to the expense of rebinding these few sets, we prefer to close them out at about the actual cost of the sheets and on little eixsy month- ly payments. The Masterpieces and History of Literature This is the best and most satisfactory work of its kind ever published. It contains complete selections from all the leading authors, a history of literature, short biographical sketches of authors, critical essays on the literature of each period, etc., etc. The work is edited by Jiilian Hawthorne, assisted by many of the foremost writers and critics of the day. It is complete in 10 massive volumes, which contain 5,000 pages and over 1,000 illustrations, including portraits of famous authors. The binding is in half leather, semi-de-luxe style. The Gist of Everything Worth Reading This is the one indispensable library for the home. It takes the place of thousands of separate books, giving the best and most important works of all authors in the most con- venient and attractive form. Complete novels and chapters of fiction, humorous sketches, poetry, philosophy, history, travel, scie-'ce, oratory, letters, essays, translations from foreign literatures, brief description of the world's great books, biographies of authors, etc., etc. — all are included. It is a whole library in itself, summing up mankind's best and noblest thought — the chaff separated from the wheat. No one can afford to be without it. FREE— for 5 Days We will send you the complete work, 10 beautiful volumes, for your leisurely examination, if the attached coupon is mailed to us jiromptly. Note our liberal offer. You run no risk whatever. The regular price of the set is $35.i 11315— When you have read this notice take up your pen and tell us to send you Gleanings ten weeks, and enclose ten cents, in coin or stamps. Don't put it off. You will never be able to spend ten cents to a better advantage. THE A. I. ROOT CO MEDINA, OHIO B ranch e s 144 E. Erie Street Chicago 10 Vine Street Philadelphia 44 Vesey Street New York I m. }:j.^.^^^ I THE MILLEE Wax Extractor Has revolutionized wax- handling methods. Get acquainted with the MILLER before buying a wax extractor. WANTED. The Amencan Bee - Keeper wants an agent in every city, town and village of every En- glish - speaking country in the world. To our representatives everywhere we pay cash for available matter for publication, and liberal cash commissions on all subscribers secured. American Bee-Keeper, Falconer, N. Y. I Are You Interested? The New South today holds forth greater inducements to the home- seeker and investor than any other portion of America. Florida, leads all other Southern states in the matter of inviting propositions to those who seek a genial, healthful climate and profit- able business opportunities. St. Lucie is the banner county of Florida, when it comes to home- making and money-making facili- ties, and its healthfulness is unsur- passed anywhere on earth. The St. Lucie County Tribune is the— well, modesty forbids our re- peating the public verdict in regard to The Tribune. It is published weekly at Fort Pierce, the county seat, at $1 a year. Three months' trial subscription, 25c. Sample copy for the asking. If you are in- terested in Florida, a postal card inquiry will bring it. Write today. THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY TRIBUNE Fort Pierce, Florida SEEDS ■VTe mail thia -^ ^ flue collection Q!^ r rS E^ kL Kinds ot: Old Fashioned Flower SEEQS Inirorted from Oernihr.y: Pluiiiosa. C'losia, Ca: i- panula, CalaiuUilia, By- ronojisls, Aial>i=. Lily of ttieVaUey,Alyssr.ni,.Jol''s Tears, Ciiieraiia, CoUmi- bine, Four o'Clook. Hibis- cus, Gilla, Snecl WilliaT!!, AneiDoiiP, S'jlaiiiim, sie- via, Biid of Parailii^a, Seiinni, Silean.Bliie Bells of Sootlaiul, Siiiilax.TiKer rink, Browallia, Stocks, Margaret, Cyaniis, Co.v- slip. Coreopsis, Clematis, Cypress Vine, Mourning Cloak, Zinnia, Verbina, Violet. All the above sent you if you will send 10 cents in silver or stamps to pay the cost of postage and pack- ing. GLENDALE NURSERY, Dept. Everett, Mass. I MiAlP S A Vest Pocket Map of Your State New issue. These maps show all the Counties, in seven colors, all railroads, postoffices— and many towns not given in the postal guide— rivers, lakes and mountains, with index and population of counties, cities and towns. Census- it gives all official returns. We will send you postpaid any state map you wish for 2 5 CENTS (silver.) JOHN W. HANN Watt net a, Nebraska I BEE HIVES SECTIONS BIG DISCOUNT FOR Before February l 6 per cent ^ . ». «^ ^ . ^. . ^^__^^ Before March 1 4 per cent EARLY CASH ORDERS Before April 1 2 per cent EVERYTHING that is used by Bee-Keepers can be procured of us as cheaply as anywhere^ and we know OUR GOODS ARE SUPERIOR, both in material and workmanship to those of any competi- tor. ONE TRIAL WILL CON- VINCE YOU. That^s all we ask. You will never buy of anyone else. Our new illustrated catalog and price list is now ready. Send for one on a postal card* The W. T. Falconer Manfg. Oo. JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK The Miller Wax Extractor Is a Succes s e^ =^ «^ «^ '•^ «^ e^ The highest re- sults. The low- est Price, $8, f. a b. Provi- dence. <^ <^ =^ s^ «^ «^ «^ Cull & Williams '— Providence, R. I. — -- Rhode Island Agents for Falcon- er's U n e X c e lie d Supplies T' tee Months tor Only 20 Cents To a New Subscriber THE American Bee Journal Established in 1861 It is the only Weekly Bee Paper in America, Those who write for it are among' the most ex- tensive and successful bee-keepers in the world Many of them produce honey by the ton, and make money at the business, hence their ex- perience is valuable. Among the Departmentit represented in the Bee Journal are these: Editorial Notes and Comments, Miscellaneous News Items, Con- tributed Special Articles, Opinions of Some Experts, Proceedings of Conventions, Our Bee-Keepinjr .Sisters, Mr. Hasty's After- thoughts, Dr. Miller's Answers to Questions. Honey and beeswax Market Quotations. Every Bee-Keeper, whether having one col- ony or 100, should read the old American Bee Journal every week. Only $1 .00 a Year; or 20 cents for a trial trip of three months (1,S copies), to a new subscriber. Sample copy free. Ask for it. George W« York & Co, 334 Dearborn St ret, Chicago, Illinois Big Song Book "Polly, I Love But You," words and music ; ' 'Piking the Pike, ' ' ' 'Just Be- cause I'm from Missouri," "Hiawa- tha, ' ' ' 'Navajo, ' ' "Bedelia, ' ' ' 'Josie, ' ' "Only a Factory Girl," "Flirting at the Seashore, " "The Little Brown Manof Japan, " "Come Down, Miss Malinda, " "Ma Ragtime Ebony Belle, ' ' and 44 other popular songs, all in one book, and sent postpaid for only 10 cents. We will also send a coupon good for 10 cents to everyone mentioning in what paper they saw this ad. This is a Special Offer to Intro- duce our Goods, so send at once H.D. Leader C? Grand Rapids : : : : Michigan Music Lovers! Big IMag^azine On a Year 10 ents Send us 10 cents in silver, to- gether with the names of ten persons who get mail at your postoffice who are interested in IVI LJ S I C , and we will send you our handsome magazine one year. We receive hundreds of new subscriptions daily from per- sons who think our magazine a bigger bargain than Harper's, Munsey's, Ladies'Home Journal, or McClure's. This a special of- fer for a short time only. Our subscription price may advance to $1.00 per year soon. ■ ■ ■ ■ Address, Dept. H. D. Bergfes Publishing: Co. Grand Rapids, Michigan AUSTRALIANS Note the Address P ENDER BROS. N. . . West Maitland S. W., Australia The largest manufacturers of Bee- keepers' Supplies in the Southern Hemisphere, and publishers of the Australasian Beekeeper, the leading bee journal south of the equator. Sample copy and 64- page catalogue FREE. 6-tf Pineapples Orangres Grapefruit 207„ Profit! Make a Specialty for Non-Rcsi melting in a large kettle or tank the capacity of the press is increased many fold, and the steam within the press assists in maintaining the proper temperature; and in this, is perhaps su- if the right kind of a "bee marm" would know of this, I am sure he would be in danger of being kidnapped. Cincinnati, Dec. 2, 1905. WAX EXTRACTING METHODS. By E. F. Atwater. MR. A. C. MILLER'S article on "Ex- tracting Beeswax, " with a cut and description of his new machine, surely holds out a large promise which I hope will be fulfilled. The two questions which arise in my perior to the Hatch-Gemmill pres . Several years ago I made a modified Hatch-Gemmill press, and I think that perhaps it might be improved by ar- ranging it so that the mass under pres- sure would also be under boiling water; and it does not get all the wax. Very little wax is left in the slum-gum. We press our wax outdoors at times, when the bees will not bother. We have a tank on a concrete arch or foun- dation. This tank is about 26 inches square, and in this we melt the comb. m THi^ AMKRiCAN iJiihi-KEEPER February A barrel is filled with water and kept boiling hot by steam from an old boiler. We open the press, put in the burlap sheet, throw in a bucket full of boiling water to heat the press, draw off the water, fill the press from the tank, fold over the corners of the burlap, apply follower, and add the pressure. You can't hurry it. When you have pressed out all the wax that will come, release the screw, remove follower, loosen up the slum- gum, throw in a bucket full of boiling water and press again. This has never been mentioned in print, so far as I know. Boihng water leaving the mass of slum-gum tends, under pressure, to carry most of the wax with it. The slum-gum, as it comes from the press, is so nearly free from wax that when dry it is hardly any more cohesive than so much dry sawdust. My tank will not hold enough combs to test the full capacity of the press, but I have sev- eral times pressed out fifty pounds of wax in two hours, alone, but this is above the average. I am anxious to hear reports from those who test the Miller machine, in regard to its wax output per hour from old comb, and in regard to its thorough- ness of extraction. The simplicity of the process, other things being equal, is greatly in favor of the new machine. THE "LONG IDEAL HIVE. A Reply to Mr. Braun's Questions. The foregoing by Mr. Atwater, calls for a little further explanation of the new machine. It has a greater capacity than the presses on the market and it does get all the wax. I make these statements on the result of the work of the ma- chine in the hands of disinterested per- sons. It can be used in connection with a supplementary system, such as used by Mr. Atwater, and it differs from the press in that it can be hur- ried. For large producers of wax a special machine with automatic feed and steam connections might be more convenient, but of course would cost much more. Arthur C. Miller. By Dr. O. M. Blanton. THE TWENTY-FRAME, one-story hive as worked by me is free spac- ing and of the tree Langstroth pattern, arranged one and one-half inches from center to center of top bar. They hang almost always perpendicular and any little variation can be easily regulated. They are easily moved apart so as to lift rapidly the frames from the hive. The ends of the frames are directly to the entrance. The entrance is fifteen by one-half inches with blocks to move in front of them to any distance required for ven- tilation of capacity of colony. The bottom bar is one-half inch from the floor and if the lumber is not sea- soned ought to be three-quarters of an inch to allow for shrinkage. I use a sheet of sail cloth over the top bars, which is soon propolized; boards or quilts are my abomination. With sheet you can rapidly strip it off and remove your surplus honey. If holes are eaten through the sheet it shows that the bees are craving ventilation, and you must be governed by their needs. The top of the hive should at least be four inches above the sheet to give coolness and ventilation. In winter, the holes in the sheet can be easily stopped by pieces of sheet. I often remove one frame where the surplus honey is located and spread them- so that the surplus honey will be thicker and give more^ honey for the ex- tractor. Ease and rapidity of manipulation with thick combs is the desideratum of the bee-keeper working for extracted honey. Time is gold when the honey flow comes with a rush, often filling the hive in five or six days. The cry of the bees then is "give me room." If in extremely large colonies and hot iyoy TMH AMERiCAM liJ^fi-REilPEk U weather, the bees continue to hang out; yellowish gray color with wings' of a I fold back the corners of the sheet so rusty color, and the other known as the air can pass out, and close when needed. You can use division boards and work as many frames as you see proper. Greenville, Miss., Dec. 24, 1905. PROF. BENTON ABROAD. By F. Fenouillet. (Translated from the French by Adrian Getaz.) THE EMINENT American apicultur- ist, Mr. Frank Benton, is now travel- ing through Europe. I had the honor and pleasure of spending two days with him (the 7th and 8th of July) at the home of M. Mont-Jovet at Albertville, in the department of Savoie. Mr. Benton is known among the api- culturists of the whole world, by his writings, his investigations, and experi- ments of all kinds on the management Apis zonata. Both are of large size, about twice that of our common bees, and, therefore, having correspondingly long tongues, which permit them to gather nectar on flowers too deep for other bees. Another object in view is to introduce the Caucasian bee in the rocky Moun- tains, especially the territory of Wyom- ing, the chmate of that part of the United States being similar to that of the Cau- casus region. A third undertaking will be the cross- ing of the Cyprian and Caucasian races. It is hoped that among the hybi'ids, some will be found having the qualities of both without their faults, and that from such hybrids a superior strain of bees may be developed. Besides the bees themselves, Mr. Benton is to study and import the best nectar-producing jjlants that he may find. Mr. Benton left Washington on the He has already visited sev- and direction of the apiary. His chief invention is that of the queen shipping 2d of June. cage which bears his name, and with eral leading apiculturists in , England, which queens can be sent anywhere France and Switzerland. From here he across land and sea. He is now super- intendent of the department of agricul- ture at Washington. He has established there a^ considerable apiary, to which queens of all races and from everywhere have been sent, some from Mr. Mont- Jovet among them. Mr. Benton has traveled considerably. He has been in Greece, Palestine and Egypt, the East Indies, the Island of Ceylon, Austria, Italy, Germany, France, and through the whole United States. He lived during seven years at Munich (Bavaria) , where he was raising Carni- will go through Italy, then Austria and Greece, and thence through tlie Cau- casus, Afghanistan, Hindostan^, Nepaul, the Sunda Islands, chiefly Java and Borneo, Japan, the Phillipines, Sand- wich and finally return to the United States, and from San Francisco across the continent to Washington. His son, Mr. Ralph Benton, professor at the Agricultural College of the State of Montana (United States), has been appointed to help him, and will join him either at Milan or in Carniola. We learned that the United States Govern- olian and Cyprian queens and shipping ment spends every year .$50,000 for the them to Canada and the United States, advancement of apicultural interests. At the present time Mr. Benton is sent Mr. Benton is 53 years old, of medium abroad by the United States government height, his moustache already gray, his to study the difl'erent species and vari- face showing a good-hearted, open- eties of bees, especially two kinds found minded, honest man. He is strong and in the East Indies, Ceylon, Java and in good health, an untiring walker, Japan; one known as Apis dorsata, of a never minding the hot sun. He speaks §B fm AMERICAN BEE-i^EE^ES nearly all the European languages; the the first page on the left. French perfectly well. We visited the two queen He is very agreeable company and kept us well interested, telling us many of his traveling adventures and scrapes. i^ebmai^ We visited the two queen breeding apiaries ot Mr. Mont Jovet. There are about 500 colonies in both. Mr. Benton wanted to see everything, study every- PROF. FRANK ETENTON. He had with him a Japanese translation of one of his writings; the letters are very complicated, placed in vertical columns; the text begins at the last past page on the right side and ends at thing and make notes on everything. He bought a few queens and sent them to Washington, On the 9th of July he took the train toward Italy. —L'Apicul- teur. THE AMERICAN BEE-KBiEPER JEFFERSON AND ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY (N.Y.) CONVENTION. The Jefferson and St. Lawrence coun- ty bee-keepers held their annual con- vention in city hall, Watertown, N. Y., Dec. 13th and 14th. President D. R. Hardy gave the address of welcome, which was very much enjoyed by all. After the business part of the meet- ing, A. A. French gave a very interest- ing address on "Who Shall Keep Bees?" It was both interesting and instructive, and we hope to send same for publica- tion in the near future. (Mr. French's address will appear in The Bee-Keeper at an early date. —Ed.) The next on the program was an address on, "Which is the Best Bee for Comb Honey, " by D. R. Hardy, and he said "any old bee that would bring in the honey." He has tried Italians from several different breeders, and last season he bought 20 Carniolan queens mated with Italian di'ones, and they have proved very suc- cessful with him. They seemed to gather honey when other bees were not getting any, and went into winter quar- ters well supplied with honey. No country could produce finer honey than New York, Canada and the northern countries. If we are working for comb honey, we must have a bee that will produce nice honey and a quantity of it. He was not certain how the Carniolan bees wei-e coming out. Expects to test them another season and if they do as well as this season will be thoroughly satisfied. F. H. Loucks gave his idea of honey for exhibition purposes. Said first point was to have comb filled to wood and capped, and, second, have honey in comb of good quality. He does not ap- prove of bleaching honey. Size and shape of section does not count, but section should be nice and white, hav- ing no saw marks, etc. First comes flavor in exti*acted honey, then thick- ness, third, color, with the package as fourth consideration. E. Elethoi'p was called upon to reply and said he also thought looks come first in comb honey. G. B. Howe spoke on "What Steps Bee-Keepers Have Taken that is Detri- mental to Their Interests." and he said that covered a multitude of sins. He thought the first was putting poor honey on the market. Poor grading is very detrimental, and also the pound sections. We should not call a box of honey a pound, but should sell it for what it is. T. H. Barber tells us what he con- siders the best process to render old combs into wax. He has two tanks, one inside of the other, to melt the combs, and when thoroughly melted uses an old cider press and squeezes the wax through about three thicknesses of burlap. He then remelts the wax and, when melted, dips into dishes for caking. The question of whether a bee-keeper shall buy his supplies or manufacture them himself was very ably handled by Racine Thompson. He favors buying supplies. Says the cost of supphes would be moi-e to manufacture than to buy for a small apiary. It was discussed at some length, some of the members being of the opinion that supplies can be manufactured at less cost, especially everything except sections. Upon in- quiry it was found that those favoring the manufacture of supplies were loca- ted where they could purchase lumber cheaper than the most of us. C. A. Hallegas explained the manage- ment of bees in producing comb honey. Said the main thing was to have strong swarms and then practice the tiering up plan. Leave all honey on until the end of the season. Prevent swarming all possible and lastly, after honey is taken from hive, keep in a warm room. Mrs. A. A. French said she could not say what part a bee-keeper's wife should take in management of apiary, but would tell us the part she took. What she said was to the point and showed that she was speaking from ex- perience. She cares for their home ^m AMERICAN BEiii-kEEPM February yard during the swarming season, and, ^s Mr. French says, is better than any man he could hire in the yard. The question box was used, and many points brought out that would otherwise have been lost. Dr. E. F. Phillips gave a very in- teresting lecture in the evening which was very much enjoyed. He is a very bright man and well suited for the po- sition he holds. Geo. B. Howe. SUGAR FEEDING. A Reply to Mr. Chantry's Article January Bee-Keeper. By J. E. Hand. MR. CHANTRY'S ARTICLE on sugar feeding in the Januaiy Bee- Keeper is rather interesting and de- serves more than passing notice. The first time I read it I was at a loss to account for the great loss of bees. As he says, he was obliged to add three swarms at different times during his experiment to keep up the foi'ce of bees. I then read it again carefully and found he had caged the queen. Then I did laugh. Why, bless your heart, Thomas, didn't you know that you should never cage a queen in feed- ing back? If your queen had been at liberty and had been a good one she would not only have kept up the full force of workers, but probably would have given you a natural swarm, which would have added $2.00 more to your already large profit. However, aside from the blunder you made in caging the queen, you have made a pretty fair showing on the profit side of sugar feeding. Let us see: 94 pounds of honey, at 15c, $14.10; 20 pounds in bi-ood chamber, at 7c, $1.40; 125 pounds of sugar, at 5c, $6.25; 62^ pounds of extracted honey, at "^c, $4.38. At present prices you made a clear profit of $4.87 on an investment of $10.63, and if you had not caged that queen you could have added $2.00 more for a swarm, making a clear profit of $6.87 on a $10.63 investment. Whew! I had no idea that sugar feeding was so profitable, and all this profit aside from the greatly improved condition of such fed colonies for wintering, as well as for next season's honey crop. Now, while I firmly believe that such articles as has been running in The Bee-Keeper of late, will do more to injure the reputation of pure honey than all the newspaper canards that have ever been printed, yet I believe in either telling the truth or keeping still. It is useless for any one to say that sugar honey cannot be produced except at a loss. I have seen thousands of pounds of pure sugar honey that was produced at a profit. And it was a strictly first class article, and I want to say right here that such honey is of the very best quality and can never in- jure the honey market. On the con- trary, it will create a demand for honey wherever it is seen and used. All this talk about the danger of sugar syrup fed to the bees in the fall for winter use, getting into the next season's surplus and contaminating the honey, is the foolishest kind of twaddle. Any novice ought to know that such stores would be consumed long before next season's honey flow. If a little should get into the honey it would only be an improvement to the honey, and should not be considered as a calamity. I would not think of taking the risk of buying extracted honey to feed my bees for winter. My bees are wintered on stores of sugar syrup, and I know from past experience that they will winter perfectly. Birmingham, Ohio, Jan. 9, 1906. Mr. Joseph Braun, who writes of Santo Domingo in this number, says that the temperature there ranges from 80 to 90 throughout the year. We wonder if that would "bake" Editor Abbott, or whether he would suffer in- tensely with the cold. 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 38 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER PUBLISHED MONTHLY THE W. T. FALCONER MFG. CO. Proprietors Publishing Office Fort Pierce, Fla. Home Office Falconer, N. Y . Harry E. Hill Editor Arthur C. Miller. . .Associate Editor TERMS AND PRICE OF SUBSCRPITION: Fifty cents a year; three years. $1.00. To new sub- scribers only, on trial, one year, 35 cents. Pay- ment always in advance. ADVERTISING RATES : A limited number of strictl.v legitimate and ac- ceptable advertisements will be inserted at the following rates: Regular advertisements (agate measure) 15 cents per line. Reading notices (set in nonpariel) 20 cents per line. Special location, 25 percent e.xtra. Cuts inserted without extra charge DISCOUNTS — On continuous insertions we allow the following: Three months (3 times) 10 per cent. Six months (6 times), 20 per cent. Twelve months (12 times), 30 per cent. HOW TO ADDRESS. The home office of The American Bee-Keeper is at Falconer, N. Y.. and all matters relating to sub- scriptions, discontinuances, changes of address, advertising or other bu.siness should invariably be addresseil to the Falconer, N. Y. office. Matters relating to the editorial department — manuscripts, photographs, or correspondence in any way referring to articles that have been or are to be published, should be addressed to The American Bee-Keeper, Fort Pierce, Florida. DISCONTINUANCES. The American Bee-Keeper will be sent continu- ously until it is ordered stopped and arrearages, if any are paid. Those who wish the paper dis- continued at the expiration of the time for which they have paid, have only to request that it be done, and no copies will be sent thereafter. According to custom house reports, there was shipped from Dominican ports during the first three months of 1905, 14,760 gallons of honey, and 107,- 825 pounds of beeswax. Editor Abbott, of the Modem Farmer and Busy Bee, thinks the editor of the American Bee-Keeper has been baked so long in Florida that he regards this state as the only one in which a man can live. Then he says, "By the way, the most we ever suffered from cold in our lives was in Florida." Consistent, isn't he ? "Advanced Bee Culture." We acknowledge the receipt, through the kindness of the author, Mr. W. Z. Hutchinson, editor of the Bee-Keepers' Review, Flint, Mich., of a copy of the newly revised edition of "Advanced Bee Cultui'e. " This new work contains over two hundred pages, written in the easy, plain and concise style characteristic of Mr. Hutchinson, and deals exclusively with the practical phases of advanced apiculture. It contains numerous beauti- ful reproductions from photographs, and is exquisitely printed on heavy pa- per. The harmony in both color and design, as displayed in the binding of "Advanced Bee Culture," reflects the skill of the modern book-maker and does credit to his art. It is, we think, the most handsomely clad volume that has come to grace the apiarian library of our day. The price is $1.20, postpaid. Very "Small Potatoes." With the beginning of the sixteenth volume of The Bee-Keeper, last month, it was found necessary to make a new contract with a now printing house, for our work. Co-incident with this change occui'red the serious illness of the fore- man of the new establishment. This, in connection with the transportation of all material, etc., from one city to an- other, resulted in a number of typo- graphical inaccuracies, which, however, came out on time. Editor Yoi'k, of the "old reliable" American Bee Journal, takes occasion to compile a list of the errors and pub- lishes them, in order that his readers may fully appreciate the weaknesses of The Bee-Keeper. Since Mr. York's action was hardly pi'ompted by any Christlike spirit, and being a radical deviation from the ethics of modern journalism, we are forced to the belief that he has rather a hard time to find "stuffing" for his weakly "old relia- ble." 39 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER February Canadians on the Caucasian Question. By way of introduction, in publishing the editorial from The Bee-Keeper for December, pages 255-256, the Canadian Bee Journal says: Nothing for along time has so apfitated the minds and divided the opinions of the United States bee-keepers as the intro- duction of this race of bees by the de- partment of agriculture at Washington. Gleanings is rather favorable to the new- comer, while Editor Hill, of the Ameri- can Bee-Keeper, waxes hot in his de- nunciation of them. Editor Craig then supplements the edi- torial reproduced, as above mentioned, by this very wise comment and admo- nition: The sarcasm is striking; Mr. Hill's ref- erence to his experience with the Cau- casians probably dates back to his tuition with our Mr. J. B. Hall, of Woodstock, who spoke in no uncei'tain tones of his dislike to the breed at the recent On- tario Bee-Keepers' convention. In our opinion it will be best for Canadian bee- keepers to steer clear of these bees un- til they gain a better reputation. We have received the following letter from Mr. R. F. Holtermann along the same line: Editor Canadian Bee Journal, Brant- ford, Ont.: Dear Sir, —Unwisely, I think, and so do many others, the department of agri- culture at Washington, D. C, is arrang- ing without a thorough test to distribute the Caucasian bee. Mr. J. B. Hall con- demns them strongly and says that after 23 years' effort to stamp them out, their objectionable traits at times crop up in the apiary. Would it not be well for Canadian bee-keepers to suppress their curiosity and let the United States dis- tribute them. We can wait a season and may keep ourselves from introduc- ing at different points through the country what may be as objectionable as the English sparrow. Again the American Bee-Keeper re- joices to find itself suri'ounded and sup- ported by the actual producers whose interests it seeks to defend without fear or prejudice. The Canadian bee-keep- ers are prudent in the position they have assumed; and we trust that apiarists of the United States will demand more knowledge in regard to Dr. Lyon's "no- ble race" before they accept and scat- ter Caucasian blood abroad. The Amercian Bee-Keeper Indorsed. The following formal indorsement of the policy of the American Bee- Keeper by the New York State Asso- ciation of Bee-Keepers' Societies, one of the largest and most influential apiarian organizations of the United States, is an expression of commenda- tion most gratifying, and one that in- dicates the trend of the times; betoken- ing the advent of a new era in the field of American apiculture. The editor extends assurances of his appreciation of the honor thus conferred, and of the sincere purpose of, not only himself but also that of his esteemed associate. Mr. A. C. Miller, to adhere strictly and solely to the interests of the producing fraternity in the manage- ment of the American Bee-Keeper in the future. The self-explanatory indorsement fol- lows : Romulus, N. Y., Jan, 13, 1906. Mr. H. E. Hill, Fort Pierce, Fla. Dear Sir:— I send you the following resolution which was adopted at the New York State Association of Bee- Keepers' Societies, held at Geneva, N. Y., Dec. 18 and 19, 1905: Resolved: That a vote of thanks be tendered to Harry E. Hill, editor of the American Bee-Keeper, by this, the New York State Association of Bee-Keepers' Societies, in convention assembled, for his plain and fearless characterization of those interests that would impose and prey upon the honey- producer, and for his unselfish efftrts in behalf of the true honey-producers of this country, be it further; Resolved, that this resolution be placed upon the minutes of this meeting and that the secretary forward a copy of the same to Mr. Hill as a further evidence of our approval of his course, and of the esteem of this Association. C. B. Howard, Secretary. Gleanings for Nov. 1 discovers that fruits are competitors of honey. The Bee-Keeper told its readers that way back in last May. 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 40 Artificial Swarming. The so-called Alexander method of curing black brood and foul brood is in reality the Simmins plan, first given by Mr. Samuel Simmins in his book "A Model Bee Farm," in the edition of 1887, pages 57 and 53, and at greater length in the 1903 edition, pages 120, 121 and 122. For our readers who are not familiar with the plan we will say its efficiency lies in depriving the colony of a laying queen for approximately three weeks, and as a consequence there is no brood and no soil for the disease- producing plants to grow in. It gives the bees a chance to clean house and get the upper hand of the trouble. We congratulate ourselves and our readers on securing Mr. Allen Latham to write for The Bee-Keeper during the ensuing year. Mr. Latham is a close observer, original in his method of study and he has made many inter- esting discoveries. Current articles by him deserve particular notice. His observations on the cocoon of the queen and worker differ materially from Cheshire's, and Mr. Latham is positive as to the accuracy of his work. Special effort will be made to have the scientific matter of direct benefit to the practical bee-keeper. It has arrived, the specific "It" be- ing Hutchinson's new edition of Ad vanced Bee Culture, and if you have not got it, get it quick, be you beginner or veteran. From cover to cover the book is filled with interesting bee lore and it is beautifully illustrated with illustra- tions which illustrate as well as embellish. In every detail of paper, type, presswork, binding, etc., it is well done and bespeaks the good taste of the author. American bee-keepers have in this volume a book to be proud of. It cannot be "reviewd" or "condensed" it must be seen, handled and read, and if when you have finished you do not feel that the author has conferred a special favor on you, something is the matter with you. Any of our readers who have early volumes of the American Bee-Keep- er, old bee books, or bee magazines, or leaflets, price lists, news clippings, etc., relating to bee matters will confer a favor upon The Bee-Keeper by com- municating with Mr. Burton N. Gates, 10 Charlotte street Worcester, Mass. Mr. Gates is compiling a history of bee literature, which, from what he has told us, we believe will be both inter- esting and instructive. Mr. G. W. Adams who appeared for the first time in our columns last month is a thorough bee-keeper of many years experience. It was the good fortune of the associate editor to be Mr. Adams* guest one day last summer and we suc- ceeded in persuading him to tell our readers of some of the good things he makes and uses. Along about 120 days from this time bees will be wanting a place to put their loads. Better think of it now and lay plans, Forehandedness pay cash. In connection with the article on arti- ficial comb which appeared in January number, it will be fitting to quote the following from the Bee-Keepers' Mag- azine of 1873, where the editor answer- ing a question about artificial comb says: "We have a fine sample made in Kentucky, we have forgotten by whom." Bee diseases are said to be losing their virulence in some parts of New York state. Such things die out better than vicious laws, so have an eye to all proposed measures for creating inspect- ors. Let the keeper of but a few colonies leave the testing of new races to per- sons who can afford to experiment. It will be time enough for the former to buy when the latter pronounces them good. 41 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER February A Successful Association. At the December meeting of the Worcester County (Mass.) Bee-Keep- ers Society the secretary, Mr. C. R. Russell, read an interesting and com- prehensive paper on wax extracting. Unique features of the meeting were the practical demonstration of wax ex- tracting by presses and by the new system, and the testing of sundry sam- ples of commercial wax for purity. Mr. Russell showed himself thourghly fa- miliar with the subject. The enthu- siasm and'^Qsh evinced by the members of this society are refreshing. One of their achievements has been the educa- tion of the local press until it success- fully and accurately reports the pro- ceedings of the society, and so popular is the subject of apiculture that some of the dailies gave nearly three columns to the meeting above referred to. Go thou and do likewise. Distinguished apiarists who have honored The Bee-keeper office with a call this month are Mr. D. H. Coggshall, of Groton, N. Y., and Mr. W. A. Selser, of Philadelphia. Messrs. Coggshall and Selser have both recently possessed themselves of winter homes in South Florida, and are now quartered with their families at Stuart, on the East Coast, where they are near neighbors of Mr. 0. O. Poppleton. Should there be a notable lack of edi- torial stuff in this number of The Bee- Keeper, it is because we have been blessed with an abundance of better material. Please remember when you read all the interesting and instructive letters from various parts of the world, that we will send The Bee-Keeper three years for one dollar. Mention it to your bee-keeping acquaintances, please. "All folks that grow up right off, like a mushi'oom in the night, are apt to think no small beer of themselves." A Queen Breeders' Catalogue. Washington, D. C, Jan. 8, 1906. Inquiries frequently come to this of- fice for the names of queen breeders of various races and strains of bees, and in order that reliable information may be given, I am preparing, in co-opera- tion with the American Breeders' As- sociation, a catalogue of queen breeders. There is a catalogue of considerable size in this office, but in order that no queen breeder of any importance be omitted, I would respectfully request all breeders having one hundred or more queens for sale annually to the general public, who see this notice, to send me the following information as accurately as possible: Races bred, annual output of each race and number of mating yards. For my personal in- formation I should be glad to learn the method of queen rearing used, the num- ber of breeding queens of each race used and the number of colonies in each yard from which drones are al- lowed to fly. Hereafter all persons requesting in- formation concerning dealers in any strain will be given the names of the four dealers nearest to the address of the inquirer. This will, I believe, be a fair way of giving the information without favoring any breeder, and will repay the breeders for their trouble in answering these questions. Respectfully yours, E. F. Phillips, Acting in Charge of Apiculture. The associate editor recently did a lit- tle visiting among New York and Mas- sachusetts bee-keepers. If the I'ecep- tion accorded him and the hearty en- dorsement given the American Bee- Keeper and its policy are criterions, then the efforts we are making are well appreciated. COLLINGDALE apiary— J.R. Rambo, breeder of Caucasian and Golden Italian queens. Italians bred from stock received from Swarthmore. Cau- casians bred from imported queen. Queens reared and mated in separate yards, 6 miles apart Satis- faction and safe arrival guaranteed. Agent for The W.T falconer Mfg. Go's, bee supplies. Coll- ingdale, Delaware County, Penn . HONEY AND BEESWAX MARKET. BuflFalo, Dec. 6.— Tlie supply of honey is only fair and more needed The demand is good for fancy. We quote our market today as follows: Comb, fancy, 12-14, No. 2. 8-lOc. Extracted. 6-8c lb. in 5 gallon cans. Beeswax 28-32c Really fancy one-lb. comb is wanted, but lower grades move slow and have to be cut accordingly. Batterson & Co. Chicago, Dec. 6.— The trade in best grades of white comb honey has been fair, yet retailers take only small quantities at a time. This honey brings 14-15c, other grades are difficult to place at 1 to 3c less per lb. E.xtracted selling at 7-7' jc for white, and amber 6'l.-7c, dark 5^/-j-6 Beeswax when clean and of good color, 30c per lb. R. A. Burnett & Co Boston, Jan. 11 — There is good demand for strictly new honey, with light ' supplies Fancy, 16c; A No. 1, 15c; No. 1, 14' --15c; No. 2 practically out of the market Large stock of old honey on hand, going very slowly Prices nominal, Blake, Scott & Lee CO. Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 7.— The supply of honey is good. The demand is fair. We quote our mar- ket today as follows: Comb, $3.25 per case. Ex- tracted, 6c and e^ic. C. C. Clemons & Co. Cincinnati, Dec. 30. — There is no demand for honey at the present time on account of the hol- idays. However, prospects for the coming year are bright, and we are looking forward to a re- vival of trade about January 15th. The price of comb honey remains firm; we quote fancy white at 15 to 16'l>c. Extracted: Amber in barrels at e to 6'-2C, according to the quality. Fancy white extracted in 60 pound cans at 7'/2 to 8c. Amber in 5ans, 6 to 7c. (The above are our selling prices of honey.) We are paying 30c per pound, delivered here, for choice, bright, yellow beeswax. The Fred W. Muth Co. 51 Walnut street . 40 BULBS, 25 Cents. For ill or out of doors growing Gloxinia, Begonia, Iria, Scilla, Tuberoses, Jonquils, BatTodils. Oxulia, treesia. Tulips, Hyacinths, Ciocua, Japan I.ily, Snowdrops, Narcissus, AUiuni, Cliionodoxa, Pacoiiia. For S.-tc, Stamps or coin, we will send tliis nianniflcenl eolleetioa of bulbs, and also as a premium a tine ETD CT E? collection of flower seeds, 250 varieties, r W\ ^ ^m Orffer to-day, ami be sine tii.'^t them intimef or planting, WOODLAWN NURSERY, MALDEN, MASS. cn BULBS WU 25 Cents. 5 Cents. Will grow in the hoiHe or out of doiiis. Hyaiinths, Tuliiis, Gladiolus, Crocus, Fuchsias, Oxalis, Tulieruses, BcK'Tuia, Joiaiuils, Dalioilils, Clunese Lily. Uewey I.ily, (Jloxiriia, Lilies or the Valley— all postpaid, 25(' instamps or coin. Asapreriiiuui withthese Bulbs we will send FRKE a big collect ion of tlower seeds— over 200 kiiuls. HILLSIDE NURSERY, SOMERVILLE, MASS. New York, Dec . 6— Cotiib honey— The demand continues to be fair for all grades. Prices practi- cally remain the same. We quote fancy white at [ 14 to 15c; No 1, 13c; No. 2, 12c; buckwheat 10c per lb. Extracted honey is in good demand, especially California, with large supplies. We quote white, 6V.> to 7c; light amber, 5c; buckwheat, extracted, 5''2 to 6c per lb. Beeswax, firm and steady at 29 [ to 30c per lb. Hildreth & .Segelken. i BEGINNERS Should have a copy of The Amateur Bee-Keeper A 70 page i.ook by Prof .T.W. Rouse; written especially for amateurs. Second edition just out. First edition of 1.000 sold in less than two years. Editor York .says: "It is the finest lit- tle book published at the present time." Price 24 cts., by mail. 28 cts. This little book and The Progressive Bee-Keeper A live progressive, 28 page monthly jour- nal, one year for 65 cents. Apply to any first class dealer, or address LEAHY MFG. CO. Special Notice to Bee-keepers. BOSTON I Money in Bees foi- You Catalog Price on Root's Supplies Catalog for the Asking F. H. Fanner, Up ^'^^^ Flight. 182 Friend St., Boston, Mass. AGENTS Higreinsville, Missouri. YOU CAN Do It. Medallions "Peuro or Pearl" New Me- dallions. Quick sellers. Big Money. Write at once. Special territory given. Largest Medallion Comp'yinthe world. Agents' supplies. Novelties up-to-date. Write now. Universal iVIanufac- turing; Co., Pittsburg, Pa. iiWBiig»»,iiiiiiiiitiiiii iiiiii III 5 MILLION gjl Martha Washington Collection 40 B? 10c. Aster, Balsam, anpy. Sweet Pea, I'inli, Salvia, Plilox IMyosotis. Cosmos, Verbena, Petunia, Nasturtium, Cypress Vine, Ileliotlirope, Mignonette, with tlie l(>llo\ving Bulbs FREE : One Dewey lily (as aliove). 1 Brgonla, 1 Freeeias, 1 Tuberoie, X Qladlolus. All of the above sent, postpaid, for lO eenls in coin or Btanips. ( )rcler early. Avoid the rush. MYSTIC VALLEY SEED CO., Medford, Mass. T^«e Dixie Home Mn^j^nzinc 10 cents a year. Lai-Rest. Krigrhtest and Finestl Illustrated Masazine in the World for 10 cents a year, to Introduce it Only. It is bne^ht and up-to-date. Tells all about Southern Home Life. It is full of fine engravings of grand scenery, buildings and famous people. Send at once; 10c a year, postpaid anywhere in the U. S., Canada and Mexico; 3 years, 50c; or clubs of 6 names, 50e, 12 for $1. Send us a club. Money back if not de- lighted. Stamps taken. Cut this out. Send today. THE DIXIE HOME 1005,' Birmingham, Alabama ^iiai*•^ ^K\v^ wot \\ikve o«\« >ji>u»ie\j? Homes in Old Virginia. It is gradually brought to light that the Civil war has made great changes, freed the slaves, ^nd in consequence has made the large land owners poor and finally freed the land from the original owners who would not sell until they were compelled to do so. There are some of the finest lands in the market at very low prices, lands that produce all kinds of crops, grasses, fruits, and berries; fine for stock. You find green truck patches, such as cabbage, turnips, lettuce, kale, spinach, etc., growing all the win- ter. The climate is the best all th» year around to be found, not too cold nor too warm. Good water. Healthy. Railroads running in every direction. If you desire to know all about Virginia send 10c. for three months subscription of the VIRGINIA FARMER to Farmer Co., Emporiaj Va. When writing mention The American Bee-Keeper. ♦f*60*t* Beautiful Flowers FREE 0 n A *o P'^y ^^^ ^^^^ o* rackinB and postape. You /nn, will receive this Grand Collection of Beau- — ***"'■'■■' Flowers, and our Kew Seed List, the only liberal otter ever made, and a Coupon Check ttiat will give you one of the finest Farm Papers published, by sending for this grand olTer: 25 Packages Seed 1 pkt. Snowliall Aster. 1 plit.AppleUlos.Balsam 1 pkt. Mixed Portulaea. 1 pkt. Mixed Sweet Pea. 1 pkt. Sweet Mignonette 1 pkt. Sweet Alyssum. 1 pkt. Sweet William. 1 pkt. Mixed Poppy. 1 pkt. Mixed Candytuft. I'pkt. Mixed Larkspur. 1 pkt. Mixed Pansy. 1 put. Mixed Nasturtium 1 pkt. Morning Glory. 1 pkt. Mixed Calliopsia. 1 pkt. Mixed Calendula. I pkt. Mixed Nigelia. 1 pkt. Mixed Phlox. 1 pkt. Sunflower. 1 pkt. Sweet Rocket. 1 pkt. Carnation Pink. 1 pkt. Mixed Four o'Clk. 1 pkt. Mixed Mangold. 1 pkt. Mixed Petunia. 1 pkt. Mixed Zinnia. 1 pkt. Mixed Verbenia. 85 Uulha, a Beautiful Collection, sent with this order, inclndii\g Hvaeinths, Tulips, Crocus, Tube- roses, Gladiolus, Caladiuni, Oxalis, if you will seud at once 25 cents in silver or stamps. Address E. C. HOLM ES.Somervitle, Mass. Of a Life Time. 100 WANTED TO RAISE BELGIANS Send for particulars and sample copy of the only Belgian Hare Journal Published in America. Judge R. J. FINLEY, 227 Lamb St., Macon, Mo. To Subscribers of The American Bee-Keeper and Others! Until Further Notice We will send the Country Journal 35 BULBS Tuberoses, Gladi- olus, Dahlias, Ox- alis, I'is, llya- cijiths, Freesia, Spotted Calla, Allium, Narcis- sus, Joaqui Is, Daf- fodils, Bleeding He art, Baby Breath, Aratum, Spriaxias , Goldeu GloWj Summer Hyacinths. Send 10 one-cent itampi, and get 85 choice bulbs. If you send now, will send one BPOIIEO OALLA LILT. age aeeda WINTER HILL NURSERY, Somemlle, Mass large pack- CDCC ir. IF, ir BINGHAIV1 HAS MADE ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS IN Bee Smokers and Honey Knives made in the last twenty years, undoubtedly he has made THE BEST ON EARTH Smoke Engine, 4-inch stove, none too large, sent postpaid $1.50 2i2-inch $ .90 S'j-inch 1.10 2-inch 70 3-inch 1 00 Little Wonder, 2-in .65 Knife 80c T. F. BINGHAM Farwell, Mich. to any address in the U. S. A. one year for 10 cents, providing you mention the American Bee-Keeper. The Country Journal treats on Farm, Orchard and Garden, Poultry and Fash- ion. It's the best paper printed for the pi'ice. Address The Country Journal, 2tf AUentown, Pa. I $%^ll Honey, Bees IJZ^JI Land and mill Lumber TH08. WORTHINGTON Leota, Miss. ♦♦♦♦»♦»»♦♦♦♦»»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦»# High-Grade Flower Seeds. 1 Packages | ^c. FOR ao'isi^'io^ KINDS. Bat. Button, lO-Weeks Stock, Kschselioltzia, Sweet Alyssiiin. Sweet WiUaiu, KINDS. 10 Pop»y, 6 Candytuft, 6 Aster, Zeniiia, 8 Balaam, Lurlispur, KINDS. 18 Portulaca, 20 10 Marigold, l£ 16 Pansy, It 12 .Sweet Peas. 12 Pinks, K 6 Petunia, IC iiastuitium, 10 CalUopais, t Sweet Mignonette. All of tlie above sent to any arhiress, post paid, for lOo. silver or sii two-cent stamps. As a premium and to introduce our seeds into every household, we will also 8end a ntllectioii |-|^ "f #^r" ^ "1 tf^f^fe Cosmopolitan, one year 1 .OO ■-•*-'*-■ ■ ■ ^-'^ ^ M mK^XJ Fill out this coupon— cut it off— mail it today— and secure the greatest bargain that will ever be offered to the reading public. Do it today, sure. Cut this Coupon off, and Send it Today American Bee-Keeper: I accept your offer of American Bee-Keeper and Cosmopolitan, both for one year, for only $1 00. Name Town . Street State . I A a E N T S W A N T K ]3 in every town for our WAS H I N G MAC H I N ES You can double your money every time you sell one, and they sell easily. We have sold over 160,000'in the last 14 years. They are cheaper than ever. Catalogue free. THE EMl'IKE WASHER CO.. JAMESTOWX.X.V, SUNS Is g-aininjr admiration as a popular literary famiiy iVl AG AZ I INJ E . It entertains its' i-eaders with good, short stories, sketches and poems by the most famous authors of the day, and is a magazine of superior merit. It is a welcome visitor in every home. PRICE, 25 CENTS A YEAR We wish to have our magazine in your vi- cinity and as a special offer for new readers we will send you SUNSHINE FOR ONE YEAR FOR 10 CTS. Think of it. less than one cent a copy. Can't you act as our ag-ent ? ADD. MAYES PUB. CO. LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY Profit by Studying Our HOME NURSING SERIES NEW BOOK$< FOB THE HOME Howe — ' 'The Expectant Mother, ' ' 12mo., net $ .50 Kilmer— "Practical Care of the Baby," 12mo., extra cloth 1.00 Capp— "The Daughter," ex. cloth 1.00 Guernsey— "Plain Talks on Avoided Subjects" 1.00 F. A. DAVIS CO., Pahs. MAIL OKDKK DEPT. 1914-16 CHEKKY ST., PHILADELPHIA. PA. ■ National Bee-Keepers' Assoc'n. • • The largest bee-keepers' society in the J I world. Organized to protect and promote ■ ■ the interests of its members. I I Membership Fee, $1 a Year. I • N. E. FRANCE, Platteville, Wis. % ■ General Manager and Treasurer. ■ . »v /\ /I inion froo whether an invention is prob.nhiy patentable. Comniuni'^a- tlons strictly conCaeiitial. Handbook on Patenta sent tree. Olile.'.t agenev for securing patents. Patents taken throiisrh Munn & Co. receive special notice, without charge, in the Scientific Jftnerican. A handsomely illustrated weekly. Largest cir- culation of any scientific journal. Terms, $d a year ; four months, $1. Sold tyall newsdealers. MUNNiCo.^«'«-^'^-v. New York Branch Office. 825 F St., Washington, O. C. ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A HOME? No farmer should think of buying land before seeing- a copy of The Farm and Real Estate Journal. It contains the largest list of lands for sale of any paper published in Iowa. It reaches 30,000 readers each issue, and is one of the best advertising- mediums to reach the farmers and the homeseekers that you can ad- vertise in. For 75c we will mail you the Journal for 1 year, or for 10c in silver or stamps we will send the Journal 2 months on trial. Address Farm and Real Estate jgURNAL TRAER, Tama County, IOWA The Nebraska Farm Journal ! ^ monthly journal devoted to agricul- tural interests. Largest circulation of any agricultural paper in the west. It circulates in Missouri, Kansas, Nebras- ka, Iowa and Colorado. C. A. DOUGLAS. Lincoln. Neb. ii^iMtmmii^mtmmm$^fkmimk0k I Our Hives and Sections The Root Automatic Extractors Our Bees and Queens Our Catalog: Gleaning^s in Bee Cultui e For 1 Our hives and equipment, both for workmanship and -clear- ness of stock, cannot be excelled and we doubt if they have ever been equalled. The Root brand is always popular with the customer and always the best that money can produce. Our sections and frames for 1906 are even better than ever. They are inspected and re-inspected again and each inspector is required to put in each box of sections that he passes upon his own inspector's card, so that if complaint is made this card will come back on him. As he is anxious to hold his position and if possible get an increase in pay, it is clearly to his interest as well as thac of the customer to let none but perfect goods pass. In the matter of improvements it is generally conceded that we are the leaders. We are constantly testing out every new device in our own yards and when it has stood the test we place it before the public. Our extractors for 1906 in point of improvements and qual- ity of workmanship leaves nothing to be desired. The four, six and eight frame machines have the finest automatic revers- ing mechanism that has ever been put into a machine. Even the two frame models can have the reversing mechanism put on at a slight additional cost; but we do not ordinarily advise buying the two frame automatic. Steel construction has been substituted for cast iron whenever practicable. We are running at Medina and vicinity five queen rearing j^ards, at other points three more. We are prepared to furnish our celebrated Red Clover stock, a stock that won a splendid reputation for gathering honey from any source. We are pre- pared to furnish bees in nuclei and full colonies. A great improvement. Entirely rewritten and revised. New ai'ts. New cover. Everything is classified and indexed. No more price tables to confuse. All prices are right under the article illustrated or described. A copy will be sent promptly on request. Our magnificent Christmas number is acknowledged by all as being the finest bee paper ever printed. Beginning the new year we are making many great imi^rovem.ents. For 1906 Gleanings will excel its 1905 record. A trial subscription of six months for only 2.5c., or one year for $1.00. I A. L ROOT C2. MEDINA, OHIO 144 E. Erie Street Chicago B ranches : 10 Vine Street Philadelphia 44 Vesey Street New York f I THE MILLER Wax Extractor Has revolutionized wax- handling methods. Get acquainted with the MILLER before buying a wax extractor. WANTED. The American Bee - Keeper wants an agent in every city, town and village of every En- glish - speaking country in the ^vorld. To our representatives everywhere we pay cash for available matter for publication, and liberal cash commissions on all subscribers secured. American Bee-Keeper, Falconer, N. Y. Are You Interested ? The New South today holds forth greater inducements to the home- seeker and investor than any other portion of America. Florida leads all other Southern states in the matter of inviting propositions to those who seek a genial, healthful climate and profit- able business opportunities. St. Lucie is the banner county of Florida, when it comes to home- making and money-making facili- ties, and its healthfulness is unsur- passed anywhere on earth. The St. Lucie County Tribune is the— well, modesty forbids our re- peating the public verdict in regard to The Tribune. It is published weekly at Fort Pierce, the county seat, at $1 a year. Three months' trial subscription, 25c. Sample copy for the asking. If you are in- terested in Florida, a postal card inquiry will bring it. Write today. TME ST. LUCIE C O IJ fS T Y TRIBUNE Fort Rierce, Florida Homes in Old Virginia. It is gradually brought to light that the Civil war has made great changes, freed the slaves, ind in consequence has made the large land owners poor and finally freed the land from the original owner> who would not sell until they were compelled to do so. There are some of the finest lands in the ^narket at very low prices, lands that product all kinds of crops, grasses, fruits, and berries; fine for ^tock. You find green truck patches, such as cabbage, turnips, lettuce, kale, spinach, etc., growing all the wia- ter. The climate is the best all the* year around to be found, not too cold nor too warm. Good water. Healthy. Railroads running in every direction. If you x3esire to know all about Virginia send 10c. for three months subscription of the VIRGINIA FARMER to Farmer Co., Emporia, Va. I MAP S A Vest Pocket Map of Your State New issue. These maps show all the Counties, in seven colors, all railroads, postoffices— and many towns not given in the postal guide— rivers, lakes and mountains, with index and population of counties, cities and towns.- Census- it gives all official returns. We will, send you postpaid any state map you wish for 2o CENTS (silver;) JOHN W. HANN Wauneta, Nebraska When answering advertieements please men- tion that you saw it in the Anterican Bee- Keeper. I BEE HIVES SECTIONS BIQ DISCOUNT FOR Before February l 6 per cent _ - ^. „ _. before March 1 4 per cent EARLY CASH ORDERS Before April 1 2 per cent EVERYTHING that is used by Bee-Keepers can be procured of us as cheaply as anywhere^ and we know OUR GOODS ARE SUPERIOR, both in material and workmanship to those of any competi- tor. ONE TRIAL WILL CON- VINCE YOU. That^s all we ask. You will never buy of anyone else. Our new illustrated catalog and price list is now ready. Send for one on a postal card. The W. T . Falconer Manfg. Oo. JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK The Miller Wax Extractor Is a Succes s «^ c^ «^ «^ "^ =^ «^ The highest re- sults. The low- est Price, $8, f. 0. b. Provi- dence. e^ «^ «^ «3g e^ c^ c^ Cull & Williams = Providence, R. I. Rhode Island Ag^ents for Falcon- er's U n e X c e lie d Supplies Tt-ree Months for Only 20 Cents To a New Subscriber THE Amerian Bee Journal Established in 1861 It is the only Weekly Bee Paper in Amorica. Those who write for it are amonjj the most ex- tensive and successful bee-keepers in the world Many of them produce honey by the ton. and make money at the business, hence their ex- perience is valuable. Among the Departments represented in the Bee Journal are these: Editorial Notes and Comments. Miscellaneous News Items, Con- tributed Special Articles, Opinions of Some Experts, Proceedin.s:s of Conventions. Our Bee-Keeping- .Sisters. Mr. Hasty's After- thoughts. Dr. Miller's Answers to Questions. Honey and beeswax Market Quotations. Every Bee-Kceper, whether having: one col- ony or 100, should read the old American Bee Journal every week. Only $1.00 a Year; or 20 cents for a trial trip of three monthsdS copies). to a new subscriber. Sample copy free. Ask for it. George W, York & Co* 334 Dearborn St ret, Chicago, Illinois Big Song Book 'Tolly, I Love But You," words and music ; ' 'Piking the Pike, ' ' ' 'Just Be- cause I'm from Missouri," "Hiawa- tha, ' ' ' 'Navajo, ' ' "Bedelia, ' ' ' ' Josie, ' ' "Only a Factory Girl," "Flirting at the Seashore, " "The Little Brown Man of Japan," "Come Down, Miss Malinda, " "Ma Ragtime Ebony Belle," and 44 other popular songs, all in one book, and sent postpaid for only 10 cents. We will also send a coupon good for 10 cents to everyone mentioning in what paper they saw this ad. This is a Special OfFer to Intro- duce our Goods, so send at once H.D. Leader C? Grand Rapids : Michigan Music Lovers! Big; Ma.gazin Ons Yaa r 10 nts Send us 10 cents in silver, to- gether with the names of ten persons who get mail at your postoffice who are interested in IVIUSIC,and we will send you our handsome magazine one year. We receive hundreds of new subscriptions daily from per- sons who think our magazine a bigger bargain than Harper's, Munsey's, Ladies 'Home Journal, or McClure's. This a special of- fer for a short time only. Our subscription may advance to per year soon. ■ ■ ■ ■ Address, Dept, price $1.00 H . Berges Publishing^ Co. Grand Ra.pids, Michissin 1tf1l^ AU ST RAL lANS Note the Address P ENDER BROS. West Maitland N. S. W., Australia The largest manufacturers of Bee- keepers' Supplies in the Southern Hemisphere, and publishers of the Australasian Beekeeper, the leading bee journal south of the equator. Sample copy and 64- page catalogue F'REE. 6-tf Pineapples Oranges Grapefruit 207o Profit! Make a Specialty for Non-Resident Owners and Intending Settlers in Lovely Lake Region of So. Florida 20 per cent, annual return on investment. Pure air, pure water, no mosquitos. High pine and oak land, bordered hy fresh water lakes, suited to all citrus fruits and pineapples. Good title. Time payments. Address for descriptive matter. W. E. PABOR, Manaser Pabor Lake Pineries, Avon Park, Fla. *atent Wired Comb Foundation"\ — Has no sag in Brood Frames — Thin Flat Bottomed Foundation — Has no Fishl)0(ie in Surjilus Honey Being the cleanest, is usualy worked the qtiickest of any foundation made. The talk about wiring frames seems absurd. We furnish a Wired Foundation that is BET- TER, CHEAPER and not half the trouble to use that it is to wire brood frames. Circulars and samples free. J. VANI DEUSEN & SONS Sole Manufacturers Montgomery Co. Sprout Brook, N. Y. ?^ Real Estate Wanted ■ I To supply the wants of ('ash BnyeiB every- where. Their nanips and addresses are given in full each month in our clean, in- terestins; family magaznie. Sample copy .25, which will be deducted from yearly subscription price of f 1. if you choose to sub- scribe. The first issue may find you a buyer and save you a middleman's commission. I U. S. Real Estate Journal 131 W. Brighton Ave., Stracose, N. T. ^ Special Notice to Bee-keepers. BOSTON Money in Bees for You Catalog Price on Root's Supplies Catalog for the Asking F. H. Farmer,^p j^^ flight. 182 Friend St., Boston, Mass. CAVEATS, TRADE MARKS, COPYRIGHTS AND DESIGNS. I SpTid your bnsiness direct to Washington, saves time, costs less, better service. My office close to TT. S. Patent Office. FREE prelimln- ' arv examinations made. Atty a fee cot due until patent > loWurcd. FHRSONAI, ATTENTION GIVEN -19 YEARS ; ACTUAL EXPERIENCE. Book "How to obtain Patents," , gent free. Patents jirncured through E. O. Siggers I reretve sp^rtal notlre, without charge. In tte INVENTIVE AGE [lUustrated monthly— Eleventh year— terms, $1. a year. "** 918 FSt.. N. W jWASHINGTON, D. C. :E.G.SIGGERS PHOTOGRAPHS SCENIC PRODUCTIONS and novel designs are our special- ties. Many Northern publishers are using our half-tone copy. Most extensive publishers of Flor- ida views on the Florida Coast. Florida Photographic Concern Fort Pierce, mmmmmKmmimm Florida METAL MOTHERS Complete fire-proof hatthiDK and brooding- plant for $7.50. :; utf<. oil hatches 50 ejfK-'' and raises chicks. Catalog-ue free. CYCLE HATCH- ER CO., Box 280, Salem, New York, imtm Ine\a/ bee! 'j SUPPLIES j SEND in your orders NOW for the Finest Bee Sup- plies in the country— manufactured by the W. T. Falconer Mfg. Co. WE HANDLE all styles of dovetailed hives, but call your particular attention to the MUTH SPECIAL DOVETAILED HIVE, with its Warp-proof Cover and Bottom Board. CASH DISCOUNTS for Early Orders : January, 7 per cent; February, 6 per cent; March, 4 per cent. i FRED V/. MUTH CO. 51 NA/ALIMUT SXFJIEIET, C I IM Ci M IVJ ATI, OHIO f Our Special Premium Offer. We have been successful in closing a contract with the Selden Pen Mfg. Co., of New York, whereby for a limited time we can supply a guaranteed $2.00 Gold Fountain Pen, f "The Celtric Model 1" * and the American Bee-Keeper one year for only 90c to every subscriber, old or new. The pen will be forwarded immediately upon receipt of the " money. It is made of the best quality of hard rubber in four parts, and fitted with a guaranteed iri'idium pointed 14-k GOLD PEN. The "foun- tain" is throughout of the simplest construction and can not get out of order, overflow, or fail to supply ink to the nib. "A Fountain Pen is a Necessity of the 20th Century." It dispenses with the inconvenient inkstand and is always ready for use. "THE CELTRIC MODEL 1" bears the manufacturer's guarantee that the pen is solid GOLD. 14-k fine. If it does not prove satisfactory in every way we will exchange it for another, or return the fifty cents ad- ditional upon return of the pen. _ This, is an unu.sual opportunity to secure, at a very low price, an ar- ^ ticle of superior quality that is coming to be essential to the comfort and * convenience of every one. Remember this offer is for a short time only. The American Bee-Keeper, Falconer, N. Y. I Entered at the Postoffice, Fort Pierce, Fla., as second-class mail matter. Vol. XVI MARCH. 1906. No. 3 BRAIN POWER OF BLL5. Lvidence of a Latent Instinct That Gives Rise to Some Interesting Questions. ALLEN LATHAM. WHETHER we call the action which emanates from the central ner- vous system of the bee, reason or in- stinct, matters little, and it is never likely to have an undisputed title so long as the definition of the term in- stinct is inexact. What chifley concerns us is the complexity of that action, and what chiefly interests us is the extent to which it trespasses upon our own divinely given mentality. It is unwise to take too decided a stand upon either side of the question. Do bees reason ? Few of us would care to go as far, for instance, as did Father Langstroth, or as does Maurice Maeterlinck of the present time. When sentimentality sits in the seat of science a comedy is pretty sure to be enacted; and with all due respect for the memory of Langstroth and with all due sympathy with the feeling of Maeterlinck I can see only false deductions in some of their statements regarding the wonder- ful reasoning powers of the bee. Yet to make the rabid statement that bees never do, in any sense, make use of a reasoning faculty, may sometime be shown to be entirely unwarranted. In most cases one can apply this test to the actions of bees: Will other bees invariably, when put under like condi- tions, perform the same acts ? If the answer is always yes, we are forced to the conclusion that the bee's reason and man's reason are essentially unlike, since we know that two men do not act the same under like conditions. It is easy, too, to understand the in- stinctive action of the honeybee when every act performed is only one of a series and is essentially the part of the life-work of every bee, or at least is perfectly normal to every bee. It is when some unusual act takes place, one which may not have occured among the ancestors of certain bee^ for a score of generations, that our amazement be- comes supreme; and it is then that, almost filled with awe, we ask: Is this 43 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER March A few day's later, however, the chip was doubled in size, and there were two or three bees busy about it The bees were in reality building a wall across that entrance, building of wax and pro- an act is extremely common, and that polls, mostly of propolis (bee-glue). I have been carelessly ignorant of it, In the course of a week the wall was reason ? For it is well nigh beyond had not bored a good clean hole. our belief that an instinct can lie latent over a score or more of generations. In offering the incident which I am about to describe, I am inclined to pre- fix an apology. It may be that such No. 1- THE WALL BEGUN. since I kept bees twenty years before I saw the first instance. A year later I saw the act repeated, and I can get bees to repeat it by bringing about the right conditions. A few bees wei'e placed in a box five by five by nine inches, with a hole a little over one inch in diameter at one end. The weather was somewhat cool and the conditions unfavorable for the No. 4. —THE WALL TORN DOWN. completed, and all the opening except a space large enongh for two bees to pass in was closed. The wall was not smooth and flat but more like paper which has been wet and dried rough. It was of uneven thickness, as could be seen by holding it to the light. The wall persisted till well along into sum- mer, though at times it was partly re- moved only to be rebuilt soon. When No. 3.— THE WALL COMPLETED. development of an extremely weak colony. There were less than a pint of bees all told, and they had but one small comb at the extreme rear of the box. Not many days after leaving the bees thus I noticed on the inside edge of the opening a chip-like projection; and I remember thinking at the time that I No. 2. — THE WALL HALF DONE. the colony had gained well in numbers and the weather had become warm, the wall was permanently torn down. There seems to be no doubt that this wall was built to shut out currents of cold air, and as an act of rare occur- rence it demands more than a passing notice. 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 44 Yes, it is perfectly true that bees habitually stop cracks and small holes which they ai'e no^, using as exits. In such case they are only doing what may be seen to occur in every normal colony where, especially in late summer, bees are extremely eager to stop every crack with propolis, which they push into the crack lavishly plastering it rather promiscuously. How different that wall across the entrance; built in late spring, and built sparingly of propolis; there was no filling of a hole, but only a thin wall ex- tended across the hole! It rouses most interesting reflections. Did bees once live in the open, and build nests after the manner of the paper-nests of the hornets ? Did they perchance build pitcliy umbrellas above their combs ? Did they, if living in cliffs, wall off their homes ? At any rate, why that latent instinct which upon occasion rouses to meet the needs of the hour ? Rowley, Mass. ODOR AMONG BEES. A. C. Miller. -THERE RECENTLY appeared in * these columns a quotation from the British Bee Journal touching on a translation of an article by Mons. L. Forrestier on "Odor Among Bees." Because bees possess an acute sense of smell and because certain foreign odors are repulsive to them it is assumed that they distinguish strangers from the in- mates of their own home entirely by the stranger's odor. M. Forrestier undertook a few experiments to prove what he already believed, namely, the foregoing theory. In the course of these expei'iments he "washed his hands several times to remove all hu- man odor", fallacious reasoning. Then he smeared his hands with juices from crushed drones of one colony and pre- sented his hands to the same and other colonies. In some instances the sisters of the drones were peaceable and in others not, and so of alien stocks. The succesful cases he attributed to the presence of home odor, and when it failed with the "home" colony he laid it to a supposed loss of said home odor due to high wind. Then he immersed bees in alcohol and presented them at home only to have them thrown out. Bees similarly treated but "allowed to rest by themselves un- til they had reproduced their personal odor" were safely received. He en- tirely overlooked the effect of the alcohol on the poor victim, forgot its pain producing and irritating action. No wonder that a bee so treated was ready for a "scrap" as soon as she was able to stand. These experiments, like the others, were worthless so far as proving any- thing about odor. If the would-be investigator will take some propolis and dissolve enough of it in a little alcohol to make a solution the color of weak tea and will then wash his hands and wrists over with this he may go from hive to hive with impunity. If he will leave one or more fingers unwashed with this varnish he will, if the bees are at all cross, be likely to get stings on the unprotected fingers. In this case we see that it is human odor to which they object, and that the propolis from one hive protects from the attacks of the bees of all. It is not the recognition of home odor that protects but the absence of human odor, the propolis varnishing over and seal- ing the pores of the skin. Drop a bit of the "paper" from a hornet's nest into the hive and note the signs of fear and anger. It is an inanimate and inert object and yet it creates consternation. These things plainly show the bees' acute sense of smell, and that odors alien to bees to greater or lesser extent excite the bees, nothing more or less. We know that if we acutely agitate all the members of a colony of bees by smoking or shaking or dequeening, etc., 45 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER March they readily receive aliens, be they queens, drones or workers. We can- not rationally a!ssert that the sense of smell is suspended in such cases. Some other cause than odor governs the atti- tude of the bees of a colony toward a stranger. We are not working with reasoning beings but merely with little automata that respond freely to exter- nal influences. If the mere odor of a stranger at one time excited other bees to resent its presence it should at an- other time if the "odor theoi*y" is ten- able, but we find it does not so operate. We do find, however, that if the stranger goes calmly about its business it is unmolested, but if its advent has been such as to disturb it, to excite fear, or to arouse a combative spirit trouble generally ensues and expei'i- ments strongly indicate that the stranger is the aggressor. We may admit that odor acquaints the stranger of the fact that it is in a strange place, and yet we do not have in consequence to admit that its odor governs its re- ception; on the contrary, evidence is abundant that despite strange odors bees peaceably intermingle. Mons. L. Forrestier's experiments are very interesting, but they only prove that under abnormal conditions bees act irregularly. THE EVIL OF SUGAR FEEDING. Dr. W. R. Claussen. 1 NOTE WHAT Mr. Thos. Chantry has * to say in the January number of American Bee-Keeper in regard to sugar feeding and it is evident that either I have made my statements am- biguous or Mr. Chantry has hastily read what I wrote. I do not contend that sugar feeding, in order to produce honey, can be carried on at a profit, for I have never tried it, but I do claim, and I know from experience, that where brood nests are packed with sugar syrup in the fall it may be, and often is, carried into the supers and I also claim that such stuff is not honey, and I know it has not the dietetic value of sweets gathered from the flowers, and whether sold as comb or extracted honey, is an imposition on the buyer, who, when he buys honey expects as he has reason to, to get the pure article. I am not at all anxious to earn the $100 offered by Mr. Chantry, as my honey has acquired a good name and the fact that sugar is not fed in my apiary is known to all my customers. Now, whether sugar can be fed at a profit or not I no not, as I said before, know, nor do I care, but if Mr. Chantry will turn to Root's A B C he will find that Mr. Root agrees with me, that sugar syrup fed to the bees and stored in the combs is still sugar syrup. Again he will see Mr. Langstroth is of the same opinion and says, "Sugar syrup fed to the bees can be readily distin- guished, after they have sealed it up as before," Then let him turn to Prof. Cook, who wrote some veiy valuable articles, and he will find he says, "In all feeding, unless extracted honey is used, we cannot exercise too great care, that such feed is not carried to surplus boxes. Only let our customers once taste sugar in their comb honey and not only is our own reputation gone, but the whole fraternity is injured." Now, here is the very authority, and two others besides, that he quotes. All three agree we ought to make sure that no sugar syrup finds its way into our surplus and that is why I say let sugar alone and avoid even the appearance of evil. To be sure, if my bees were literally starving and no honey was to be had I would feed syrup rather than lose my bees, but such a state of affairs has never existed where I have been and I hope it never will. Maybe, as some of the fratex'nity are fond of say- ing, it is due to "locality." Waupaca, Wis., Jan. 8, 1906. We are growing nicely, thank you. 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER THE RAI5LR5 OF HONLY. 46 Addresses and Discussions About Bee-Keeping as Given at Insti- tute in Session Here.— Many Points Brought Out. THE FOLLOWING newspaper clip- ping, which refers to the conven- tion of the New Yoi'k State Association of Bee-Keepers' Societies, held at Geneva, N. Y., Dec. 18-19, 1905, to- gether with the accompanying picture, was sent to us by Mr. F. Grciner: The election of officers, the transac- tion of miscellaneous business and a suited in the choosing of the same men who have officiated for the year, who ai'e as follows: President, W. F. Marks, Clifton Springs; vice president, Charles Steward, Sammonsville, N. Y.; secre- tary and treasurer, C. B. Howard, Romulus. An advisory board will be appointed later. The miscellaneous business consisted BEE-KEEPERS AT THE consideration of how best to protect the honey producers from the exor- bitant prices at present charged by manufacturers of the supplies needed by the bee-keeper occupied almost the entire time of the bee-men at the morning session of the institute which is being held today in the A. O. U. W. hall. The election of officers which was the first thing on the program re- GENEVA CONVENTION. principally of a discussion as to whether the institutes of bee-keepers, which are similar to the farmers' institutes, shguld be continued or not, and as to whether the association should become affiliated with the New York State So- ciety for Agricultural Research. The discussion of the first matter ended in the delegates deciding that the bee- keepers should keep in as close touch 47 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER March as possible with the latest develop- ments and that by all means the insti- tutes should be continued. President Marks advised the members to co-oper- ate with the officers and make known the subjects they wish discussed at these institutes, and also the speakers whom they wished to hear. The second matter was also decided in the affirm- ative, the delegates voting to become affiliated with the Agricultural Research society and to send a delegate to the annual meeting of that body. These matters were followed by an address upon "Supply Manufacturer vs. The Honey Producer," by H. L. Chase, president of the Ontario County Bee- Keepers' Society. The address of Mr. Chase favored some action on the part of the honey producers looking toward relief from the present conditions. All of the manufactures of supplies have practically formed a combine and as a result the producers are obliged to pay what are considered exorbitant prices for the supplies needed, Mr. Case ad- vocated the formation of a stock com- pany or co-operation with an indepen- dent dealer so that the producers could obtain these supplies at the right prices. AFTERNOON SESSION. The principal items of interest at the institute and annual meeting of the New York State Association of Bee- Keepers' Societies brought out during the sessions held yesterday afternoon were regard to the best methods to be adopted by the honey producers to pro- tect themselves from the high prices charged by the manufactures of sup- plies, and a discussion of the prop- erties and value of the Caucasian bee. This is the now famous bee which the newspapers of the country have ex- ploited during the past couple of years as the stingless honey bee. COMPLAINT AGAINST COMBINE. The first discussion was brought out in the president's message given by W. F. Marks of Clifton Springs. Mr. Marks declares that a few years ago the several manufacturers of supplies for the bee men were small concerns with limited capital but that now they are all combined and the capital of the combine runs over a million. These concerns have grown rich through the sale of these supplies and made it im- possible for the producer to buy except at the prices set by the combine. He declared that the producers had stood the condition long enough and that some remedy should be sought. In ad- dition Mr. Marks advocated the with- drawing of the New York State As- sociation from the National Bee-Keep- ers' Association, stating that the as- sociation was working more for other interests than for those of the honey producers and that it had come to a time when the producers must either fight for control of the national asso- ciation or else withdraw and form an- other association which would work en- tirely for the interests of the pro- ducers. The message also criticized in a way the majority of the papers dealing with bee-keeping, the speaker declaring that the majority of these papers were run for private ends and not for the good of the man who produces honey. The message also touched on the fact that what the producer needed was more modern methods for selling and dis- posing of the goods. In the discussion which followed several of the speakers advocated the formation of a stock company for the manufacture of the supplies needed by the bee-keepers. One speaker declared that last summer he had written to over a dozen supply firms asking them for prices on the goods needed and that a comparison of the catalogues showed the prices to be exactly alike and from the appearances of the books it was evident that they had all been printed from the same press and that the same cuts were used in all of them. It was declared, how- ever, that there were independent man- 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 48 ufacturers and that some of these were selling shipping cases for ten cents a piece, whereas the combine wanted seventeen cents. The discussion ended by a motion being put to the effect that the association elect a business man- ager who would look after the matter of supplies and inform the members where the goods desired could be bought the cheapest. The motion was seconded but President Marks ruled that under the constitution the matter could not be taken up at the time, and it was ac- cordingly let go over. A WASHINGTON OFFICIAL The president's message and the dis- cussion was followed by an address on the "Honey Bee," given by Dr. E. F. Phillips, of the United States Depart- ment of Agriculture at Washington. Dr. Phillips talked principally on the Caucasian bee, a new variety, which the government is at present testing and distributing to the bee-keepers throughout the country. This bee is a very gentle one, and when it was first imported from some point between the Black and Caspian seas, the newspapers took the matter up and announced it as the stingless bee. The result is that a vast number of people have made de- mands upon the department for queens of this variety. Dr. Phillips declared, however, that the impression that had been circulated was entirely erroneous and that while the bee was a very gen- tle one, it was by no means stingless, as numerous people had discovered. The bees, although gentle, would pro- tect their colonies. It has not as yet been determined just what their honey producing qualities are. Of those sent out different reports had been received, some favorable, and some placing the new variety in the same class as the older ones, but none of them entirely unfavorable. Dr. Phillips would not give an opinion yet as to the value of these bees as honey producers. In re- gard to the practice of the government sending these bees out to any one ask- ing for them, he stated that it need not cause the bee-keepers any unnecessary alarm, as the same condition existed twenty-five years ago at a time when it was reported before that a stingless bee had been discovered. The address was followed by a discussion upon the subject, which was taken part in by nearly all those present. The afternoon session closed with a short address upon "How Can This As- sociation Best Serve the Honey Pro- ducers?" by T. I. Dugdale, secretary of the Fulton and Montgomery Bee- Keepers' society. West Galway, N. Y., a question box on the several subjects discussed during the afternoon and the appointment of committees. EVENING SESSION The evening session of the Bee-Keep- ers' institute yesterday was taken up with two interesting addresses, one upon "Bees and Flowers," by Professor U. P. Hedrick, horticulturist of the New York State experiment station, and the other upon "Breeding and Improving Bees," by Dr. E. F. Phillips, of the United States Department of Agricul- ture. In his address Professor Hedrick showed the relation of bees and flowers, both from the standpoint of the bee- man and fruitman and showed that bees were almost a necessity in every or- chard from the fact that they distrib- uted the pollen needed. In addition he declared that the greater number of of the new varieties of fruit was the result of cross pollenation by bees. The only argument advanced agamst the bee in orchards was to the effect that they help carry the pear blight, but this was not considered of any great moment for the reason that there would undoubtedly be a pear blight just the same were there no bees. The whole paper tended to show that bees were of a great deal more benefit to the fruit man than they were a damage, and that in certain lines it would almost be impossible to get along without them. Following the paper a bee man pres" 49 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER March ent spoiled the record somewhat by telHng of the narrow escape he had from a lawsuit by reason of the fact that his bees had stolen all the wax from his neighbor's grafts. Several of the other men present had had the same difficulty, but they advised that a little pepper or carbolic acid mixed with the wax when it was put on would soon stop the bees working in it. BREEDING OF BEES The address of Dr. Phillips, which followed, was mainly an argument for the improvement of the honey bee by breeding. He stated that the subject of breeding in order to obtain the proper kind of a bee for certain local- ities and also the best honey producers would soon have to be taken up by bee- keepers the same as it has been by cat- tle breeders and breeders of other ani- mals. Bees in this country, as far as honey producing qualitif^s are concerned, have not, as a rule, improved and this is believed to be due to the fact that very little attention has been paid to breeding. It is now announced that the breeding of bees to produce certain qualities will soon be taken up the same as breeding of other stock. MORE ABOUT FEEDING SUGAR. Harry L. Smith. f HAVE just read Mr. Chantry's article * on this sbject, in the January Bee- Keeper, so, as I had overlooked the articles refered to in the November number, I looked that up and read them. Now I wish to give rny experience: I have kept bees for several years and have practiced feeding with sugar syrup to fit them for winter, and also to strengthen them in the spring so as to have them ready to make the most of the honey flow when it came and I have never found the slightest trace of sugar in the comb honey supers. I say comb honey supers, as I have never extracted any honey and conse- quently have never used extracting supers. The comb honey thus produced was retailed in our villages near by and was pronounced the very best. And this honey was made on "arti- ficial" foundation, as starters, too. It seems to me that Mr. Miller as well as Dr. Claussen are frightened by a shadow, so far as the danger of in- juring our markets through the presence of syrup in our honey. My experience contradicts that of Mr. Miller, in that my bees never move honey from the brood chamber to store in the supers; so that would only leave the chance of direct storage in the supers, and if the bees would handle the syrup in this manner I doubt if anyone could produce honey from sugar except at a loss, at the present market rates. If Mr. Miller will get his acquaintance to reconsider his determination to avoid publicity in his experiments, and will "turn on more light" he will convince more of his readers, and if such base tricks are resorted to by bee-keepers he certainly owes it to the "good com- mon people" to give the matter a thor- ough airing and let the consumer see the vile deceit that is practiced on him. East Dixfield, Me., Jan. 20, 1906. "There's nothing I hate so much as cant of all kinds; it's a sure sign of a tricky disposition. If you see a feller cant in rehgion, clap your hand in your pocket and lay right hold of your purse, or he'll steal it as sure as you're alive; and if a man cant in politics he'll sell you if he gets a chance." "Have you a boy? Well, make a farmer of him, and you will have the satisfaction of seeing him an honest, independent and respectable member of society; more honest than traders, more independent than professional men, and more respectable than either." "A long face is apt to cover a long conscience— that's a fact." 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER APICULTURE IN IDAHO. 50 Honey of Superior Quality, Thougin Bringing Immediate and Profitable Financial Re- turns is but the "by-product." The Growth and Prosperity, Almost the Very Lifs of Idaho's Great Fruit Industry, and Acres of Blooming Alfalfa Depends to a Very Large Extent Upon the Little Busy Bee. THE KEEPING of bees and the pro- duction of honey in the Snake River Valley is destined to become a pleasant and profitable rural industry of no small magnitude. On our ever increasing acreage of fruit bloom, dandelion, white, red, alsike and alfalfa clovers, the bees make men-y pillage, and in the hands of intelligent owners, the beautiful white comb or liquid honey is produced in large quan- tities, and finds a ready market at sat- isfactory prices. While the eastern bee keeper must pack his bees in chaff or sawdust, or carry them into the cellar to insure safe wintering, we of this more favored cli- mate need only see that our bees have sufficient honey to last until spring, leaving them on their summer stands without protection, and in April we may confidently expect to see nearly every colony in splendid condition. No better proof that this is indeed the natural home of the honey bee need be presented than the fact that in few localities does one see so many bees as here. Almost every farmyard contains its quota of bee-hives, from which the rancher and his family secure the purest and best sweet in the world, direct from nature's own laboratories, the nectaries of the myriad flowers. Nor are our bees the common brown bees of the eastern states. Instead, the bee hives of this valley are peopled with the best old Italian blood, the golden bees of which Virgil wrote so long ago; "This better breed— their bodies shine like drops of sparkling gold. ' ' As Longfellow wrote in Hiawatha, so we find it here, in regard to the clear- ing and settlement of our new lands: "Wheresoe'er they move, before them Swarms the stinging fly, the Akmo, Swarms the bee, the honey-maker; Wheresoe'er they tread, beneath them Springs a flower unknown among us. Springs the White Man's Foot in blos- som." Few people realize the indispensable work of the bees in pollenizing flowers. Without the bees to perform this impor- tant work, many varieties of fruit are wholly or partiaUy sterile, while the bee is an absolute requisite in the grow- ing of some seed crops, notably some of the clovers. The surplus honey that the bees may store is really only an incidental to en- courage us in their propagation, while their great work is the pollenization of the blossoms. Our valley produces two or more carloads of honey per year, and, with the opening of the new lands un- der the government reclamation project the product will be increased many fold. Our honey brings top prices in Portland, Seattle, Butte and Spokane, in competi- tion with the finest product of Utah and California. One of the latest novelties in the line of fancy food products, is pure honey put up in paraffine paper bags of various sizes. This honey has been variously styled alfalfa butter, crystallized honey, can- died honey, or granulated honey. The bee-keepers store their honey in large galvanized steel tanks, holding upwards of two tons each. Hex'e the beautiful liquid honey of crystalline clearness clarifies perfectly, and with the coming 51 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER March of the cool fall weather, the natural process of granulation begins (all pure honey will granulate sooner or later, and this granulation is an indication of purity.) The honey first becomes cloudy, then granular, and at this stage it is drawn off through a large faucet into the paper bags. The bags are placed in boxes, and in a short time the honey is almost as hard as a block of marble and fully as white. Many prefer the honey in this form; after peeling off the bag the honey may be sliced like butter, or, by heating, it is easily restored to its original liquid condition, just as it came from the comb. When the consumer buys honey in glass or tin, he is paying for an expen- sive and useless jar, bottle or tin can, but when buying honey in paper bags, he gets his money's worth of honey, as the cost of the bag itself is merely nominal. The Boise Valley contains one apiary of about four hundred colonies, another of three hundred, and many of fifty to one hundred and fifty colonies; one firm having seven hundred colonies located in eight yards, in the Meridian, Star and Roswell districts. There are three firms engaged in the manufacture and sale of bee-keepers' supplies of all kinds, and one queen- breeder, who rears the finest selected Italian, Carniolan and Caucasian queen bees for sale. We are fortunate in having a satisfactory pure-food law to protect our products, and also an effic- ient law for the inspection of our bees and the gathering of statistics in regard to the industry. While we have not been able to rea- lize the dream of the poet, who saw "A golden hive on a golden bank, Where golden bees by a chemical prank. Gather gold instead of honey," yet for those who will attend to the de- tails of bee management, the returns will compare favorably with any rural industry, for the relative amounts of capital and labor invested. The first bees to live and prosper here were shipped to Boise nearly forty years ago. They were fine Italians from the apiary of E. Kretchmer, of Coburg, Iowa, and were destined to found the Boise apiaries of the late Mr. Morse, an old-time pioneer, and of Mr. McClellan, who lives at the south end of Twelfth street, where two of those old hives that came across the plains so long ago may still be seen, and in them the lineal descendants of those first bees to forage on the wild flowers then so plentiful on the low-lands near Boise. Honey then sold for fifty cents per pound, and a swarm of bees hanging on a limb sold readily for $10. From this small beginning has sprung the thousands of colonies which are now scattered over this and neighboring val- leys. We /have an efficient bee-keepers' as- sociation which ships in supplies from the east in corload lots, furnishing nearly everything needed to the mem- bers at jobbing prices and also finding a market and shipping honey in carload lots. This association was probably the first to agitate in favor of legislation to pro- tect the bee-keeping industry, and to the efforts of its members is due no little credit for the excellent protection which we now enjoy. In this connection it may be well to state a fact which is not generally un- derstood, namely, comb honey has never been manufactured, and cannot be man- ufactured, save by the bees themselves in the natural way. To counteract the evil effect of the false and sensational assertions in re- gard to artificial comb honey, a repu- table firm, with a paid-in capital of $50,- 000, has for years offered $1,000 for a single pound of artificial comb honey. In addition to the above, the National Bee-Keepers' Association, with over 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 52 2,500 members, has out an offer similar to the above, with no takers. The United States Department of Agriculture is my authority for the statement that there is no artificial comb honey. — E. F. Atwater in Mid- winter Number Boise Capital News, Feb. 6, 1906. WHO SHOULD KEEP BEES ? A. A. French. «C VERYBODY," was once the cur- *-^ rent answer to this question. Among the attractive features of api- culture is the pleasure it affords. There is a fascination about the apiary which is indescribable. I doubt if there is any other class of manual laborers who en- gage in their business and dwell upon it with the same fondness as does the bee- keeper. Indeed to meet a scientific bee- keeper is to meet an enthusiast. The profits, too, of apiculture urges its adop- tion as a pursuit. Thirty years ago it was the general idea, a bee hive out of doors would be considered as much a part of a well reg- ulated domestic establishment as a sew- ing machine in doors. But people have got bravely over that, and many other crude notions that prevailed, even among bee-keepers themselves. The time has now fully come for insisting upon it that only those should keep bees who are pro- perly qualified to do so. The same law of division of labor which forbids every man being his own shoe- maker, or blacksmith, prohibits every man from being his own honey producer. Among the numerous topics in the realm of apiculture, this deserves a prominent place. After one has made a visit to a well regulated apiary, and an enthusiastic apiarist, he goes away inoculated to keep bees. Enth_usiasm is contagious, and it is no wonder that people who know nothing of bee keep- ing catch the infection and go away de- termined, hit or miss, to start an apiary. It is more often a miss than a hit, and thus we become undesignedly the means of reducing our fellow beings into dis- appointment. As a preventive of this, or, at any rate, as a check, there should be some words spoken in plain English, in reply to the question, "Who should keep bees?" All will agree that it is not desirable for people to undertake what is sure to end in failure. Those who start at bee- keeping and make a botch of it are very apt to decry the whole thing as a hum- bug, a delusion and a snare. No doubt the interests of bee-keeping as a whole, have suffered from the maledictions of sore-heads who, if they had been wise, would have never touched a bee-hive' except to throw it aside. I confess I feel myself somewhat at a loss in giving a categorical answer to the question I have taken as a text. It reminds me of the discussions there used to be, and are still, as to what con- stitutes a call to the ministry? Never- theless there is such a thing as a call to the ministry, and there is also such a thing as a call to bee-keeping. Many have hit their heads against a pulpit in the mistaken idea that they have been called to be preachers. And just as many have blundered into bee-keeping, under the delusion that they had a call in that direction. Something would be gained if we could impress people with the conviction that it is not wise to follow mere impulses. There would be less danger of blunder- ing if they would seriously ponder the inquiry, "Am I cut out for a bee- keeper?" In a general way it may be safely said, that in order to succeed in this business, or profession, there must be an aptitude for it. What that is, it may be difficult to state in detail, but I am fast coming to think that the true bee-keeper, hke the true poet, is born, not made. No man succeeds very much in any line of things which does not stir him with lively intere=t. But this alone is not enough. The true bee-keeper must 53 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER March have keen preceptions and be at once of an observant and reflective turn of mind. He must be a modern Job for patience, and a modern Bruce for perseverance. No matter what his natural aptitudes may be, he will make serious mistakes at first, and needs to learn that as Na- poleon was woot to say, "He is not the best general who makes no mistakes, but he who repaires them as quickly and as thoroughly as possible." He must not be irascible for in that quality the bees are more than a match for the most irascible mortals. He must have perfect self-control, for if a man cannot control himself, he may rest as- sured that he cannot control the deni- zens of the V>ee-hive. He must be san- guine and hopeful, for he will see many dark days. He must have a mind for details, and regard nothing as trifles that has to do with the welfare of a colony or an apiary. "Unconsidered trifles" have often led to important dis- coveries. In addition to the natural aptitude which has been imperfectly sketched an education in bee-keeping must be ob- tained. It matters little how this is done, pi'ovided it be thorough. Let no one rush into bee-keeping imperfectly equipped with knowledge on the subject. It is positively ridiculous to see how some people act in regard to this matter. They seem to suppose that they have only to get a few colonies of bees and they are completely set up in the busi- ness. It is no doubt possible for a tyro in bee-keeping to become self educated in a sense. With the invaluable bee books and excellent journals that are available, the theorycan be easily mas- tered. Then comes the practical part; to manage bees with an eye to profit from honey productions, is an attainment far beyond mere theory, however correct. I do not think this can be gained in any other way so quickly or so well as for the beginner to apprentice himself to some good practical bee-keeper, and happy is he who has the ojjportunity of so doing. —Delivered before the Jeffer- son County Bee-Keepers' Convention, Watertown, N. Y., Dec. 13, 1905. THL IMPROVEMLNT OF 5TOCK. An ELnglish Apiarian Authority and Author Discusses Some Phases of the Subject from the Standpoint of Science. SAM'L SIMMINS. LDITOR American Bee-Keeper: Do most bee-keepers stop to con- sider how much depends upon the class of queens they use in attempting to se- cure good honey yields? I believe the greater number certainly are aware of the vast importance of the queen in the honey-getting business; and yet, after all, most producers find it a difficult matter to place a perfect queen at the head of every colony in a large apiary. The average breeder of his own queens may happen to secure an extra good one by purchase or otherwise, and forthwith he rears a lot of daughters from her, while all the time, without thought, he is getting these queens mated to drones from his other, or a neighbor's inferior stock. When he secures that high grade queen why does he not breed drones from her by the thousands, or by the tens of thousands from her daughters, rigidly excluding all other drones? Then with another high grade queen of a diff'erent strain for rearing young queens to follow, there is the probabil- ity that in the course of two or three years low avei-ages will disappear. The process would be continued by breeding 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 54 drones alternately, each other year from the daughters of these selected high grade queens, thus securing a fixed type of constant honey-getters. There is no reason why further high grade queens should not be tacked on to the fixed strain, using every following year drones from the daughters of the fresh queen brought into the apiary. This is the only way in which I have been enabled to secure a really valua- ble strain of Italians; the race as first imported being of very little practical utility. The widely varying results found in many apiaries is almost en- tirely due to the neglect of the drone breeding process. Without a most rigid selection on the male line no fixed type can be secured. WHY ITALIANS DEGENERATE. It has frequently been observed that Italians left to themselves, as to breed- ing, very soon degenerate to little more than blacks. Especially is this true in England and most other European countries, where there are many dark colonies around. The great featui'es in securing this transition are the undoubted fact that the native drone is stronger on the wing than the male from imported or most other yellow queens, and also that the yellow drone requires particularly fair weather to induce him to fly freely. Hence, vv^here black drones abound, breeders of Italian queens are digusted to find ninety-nine per cent, of the young queens turn out mismated. The same rule holds good in the case of Carniolans and natives. In my own case I have been able to revei'se these conditions by swamping my locality with high grade drones reared by selection through a series of years, something on the lines indi- cated above, so that my yellow drones are stronger on the wing than any local common males and always outstrip them in the race. THE MATING OF QUEENS When one knows he has a fine queen just mated, it is with some reluctance that he decides to dissect her. I have thus destroyed many, and upon exam- ination, within thirty minutes of a queen's return from a successful union with the drone I find the sperm sac only slightly occupied by spermatozoon show- ing that an hour or more elapses before the whole is congregated in that won- derful receptable; the membi-ane left by the male being the sole protection while it is being slowly absorbed. A queen will occasionally mate more than once, as I have had them do under my own observation. She may be out too long after mating and get the living organisms chilled, or the workers may too hastily remove the protecting sheath left by the drone within the passage toward the sperm sac. In this connection we may note one of the most marvelous acts in nature; and, as I have had considerable expe- rience in making considerable experi- ments in the artificial impregnation of queens, the conclusions I have arrived at may be of some value. In the natural act there must first be a mad flight of the insects in mid air, with from three to fifty drones in rapid pursuit of the queen, whose body is then extended to twice its usual size, while the receptive passage is distended in the same proportion. Then with the foremost drone nothing less than an ex- plosive union takes place. Those pe- culiar horns, projecting from the drone on either side of the principal organ at the moment of the explosion first press wide open the outer or common opening of the queen's abdomen, while the central containing branch enters the vulva, not direct, nor in a straight line, but by the sheer force of an un- bending motion, throwing the sperma- tozoa together with a large proportion of moisture, well forward into the oviduct, from whence it reaches the sac by gradual muscular contraction exercised at the will of the queen. Every precaution appears to have 55 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER March been taken by nature that the contain- ing organs, detached from the ruptured drone, should remain until the act is accomplished, as the shrivelled re- mains of it may often be noticed late keepers will drop these like hot— no, cold bricks? The late Mr. Alfred Neighbour, of London, imported these some thirty years since, while other English dealers have occasionally given I think we cannot do better than hold in the evening of the same day the them a trial, only to drop them as being union takes place, as doubtlesss most of no practical utility, queen rearers have experienced. But how do the drone and queen be- on to the Italians, constantly improv- come detached? Well, if any reader ing these general favorites by the se- will not hurry to remove a worker lection of both drones and queen-moth- which has stung him, say on the hand, ers. If history repeats itself as hith- he will see the little creature imme- diately begin to spin round like a top, and so far from the bee being unable to remove its sting, it then does so com- pletely. It is not always that it loses its sting, as so many have erroneously supposed. The queen cannot get rid of the drone organs until they have shrivelled, but A i^HAT she does exactly as the worker, sepa- 'V rating herself from her dying mate by spinning round until she is freed. If fertilization in confinement has been a failure, the selection of the vigorous drones, as already observed. erto, this is what we shall do again, and yet again— stick to Italians, Broomham, Heathfield, Sussex, England, Jan. 10, 1906. INTRODUCTION OF NEW RACES. F. Greiner. COULD be learned from reading years ago, as it related to the honey-bee from the Caucasus, did not produce a favorable impression with me. After an elapse of 25 years or more I feel no desire to even give this bee a trial. The first impression is always a possibility to the advanced has been decisive, apiarist. A possible eventuality may The bee that was tested years ago be the artificial impregnation of queens, may have been a worthless strain and judging from experiments I have al- it would be well to further test other strains and control the experiment. Still, I feel no desire to undertake it myself. It is a question whether it is which produce very gentle bees are not good policy to flood the country with worth much for honey producing pur- ready carried out. BREEDERS OF GENTLE WORKERS It appears to be a law that queens poses. At the same time it must be admitted that locality and climate mod- ify many pecuHarities in bees. Car- niolans appear to be exceptions to the law; so also are some darker strains of Italians. Carniolans crossed with Ital- ians I have found to show no improve- ment in honey gathering, while the re- sulting workers afe quite gentle; but cross either with the black bee and they store three or four times the quantity of honey, though better stingers one vdll not desire. CAUCASIANS I wonder how soon American bee- these bees at this time. When the bee has proven that it is equal in honey- gathering qualities to the other good races we have, then, it seems to me, would be the right moment. As for me, I should want a bee that can sting. This peculiarity of our honey-bee has its good points, and I would not want to miss them. If it was noised around that my bees had no stings or did not know how to make use of them, I am afraid my honey at the outyards would not always be safe. However, I fear little of the unduly large amount of gentleness of the Caucasians, for gentleness of our bees is largely a 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 56 rr matter of education, and, if necessary, a lot of bees could be educated (a la Coggshall) to become stingers. The great fear, however, is that the blood of worthless bees may find its way into our yards without our being able to hinder it. So far it has not been claimed, much less shown, that, as to productiveness, the Caucasian bee is superior to other races we now have. The Carniolan bee has proven itself gentle enough for any one and as pro- ducers of fancy comb honey hardly find a match. I have noticed that exhibi- tors who carried away the prizes on comb honey kept Carniolan bees. I at- tribute the neatness, the snowy white- ness of their section-honey to this fact. Those who contemplate making exhibits at state fairs would do well to make a note of this. The Carniolan bee is extremely well fitted for the work. Native black bees would be my next choice. It is true that some indi- vidual colonies of Italians do pretty good work, but, generally speaking, they do not, and some especially bad colonies give us a product decidedly in- ferior as to appearance. Such colonies should be spotted by the bee-keeper and either run for extracted honey or their queens should be replaced by something better. It is my aim to establish a small apiary of black bees is the nearby hills —perhaps rear a few choice queens for Naples, N. Y., Feb. 3, 1906. DR. PHILLIPS CORRECTS ERRORS, United States Department of Agricul- ture, Bureau of Entomology, Apicul- ture, Washington, D.C., Feb. 12, 1906. Dear Mr. Hill: I notice that in the February number of the American Bee-Keeper you have an article entitled, "Prof. Benton Abroad" which is translated from L'Api- culteur. I noticed this article in the original and saw that it had one or two mistakes, and since it has been trans- lated into an American journal it may be well perhaps to correct it since this journey is of some interest to American bee-keepers. The annual appropriation for apicul- ture is far from being $50,000. I judge the mistake was made by the French author in confusing our dollars with the French francs, but our annual ap- propriation is not even 50,000 francs ($10,000). The total allotment for api- culture for the fiscal year ending July 1st, 1906 is $8,000, of which $2,300 is set aside for Mr. Benton's expenses. Of the remainder only $290 remains for the running of the office, apiary and traveling expenses after salaries and rent are paid. When the fact is con- sidered that any honey and wax that is produced does not add to our income, it will be seen that this appropriation in- stead of being as liberal as our French author would have it, is rather small. I may also add that Mr. Ralph Benton was not appointed to accompany his father on this trip. I mention this matter of the appro- priation because American bee-keepers might well wonder what was becoming of such a large amount of money. Yours very truly, E. F. Phillips, Acting in Charge of Apiculture. Even Unto This Day. "I consider it to be courteous and to indicate an ingenious modesty to ac- knowledge the sources whence we have derived assistance, and not to act as most of those have done whom I have examined; for I must inform you that in comparing various authors with each other, I have discovered that some of the most grave and of the latest writers have transcribed word for word, with- out making any acknowledgment." Thus wrote Pliny in A. D. 77. Sounds up to date. The cheery smile oft hides a broken heart. 57 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER ARTIFICIAL HONLY-COMB. March One Writer Who Evidently Thinks it Unwise to Publish the Whole Truth. J. L. JOHNSON. I WAS surprised to see, in the Jan- uary Bee-Keeper, an account by Mr. A. C. Miller of artificial honey comb being made 30 years ago. However, I feel that Mr. Miller is doing a very wrong thing in making statements that he does in that article. He says: "It has been strenuously as- serted that no such thing as artificial comb has or can be made. ' ' I must say, Mr. Miller, that you are mistaken. It has been and still is claimed that artificial comb honey can- not be made, and this is still true, as in filling the cells and sealing it over lies the difficult task. This has not been done and probably never will be done. But I want to call attention to another statement. Mr. Miller says: "Mr. Shaw's invention of artificial comb was ahead of the times and failed to be of profit to him. Today it would be appre- ciated and there is a possibility of its be- ing put on the market the coming sea- son." Such statements by bee-keepers furnish the best food for glucose men to start fresh Hes about artificial comb honey flooding the market. It is of very little use of associations or leagues being organized to popularize honey or put down the lies already being pub- lished in the daily papers concerning artificial comb honey, when the editor of a bee paper will make such state- ments to furnish food for the sensa- tional reporters of the press, who do not hesitate to add a little more to make it interesting. Mr. Miller says, "Today it would be appreciated." I would like to ask by whom it would be appreciated? Does Mr. Miller think that the bee-keepers would rejoice to hear that artificial comb like the section shown on page 6 was being put upon the market? Mr. Miller says on page 175, Septem- ber, 1905, American Bee-Keeper: "Comb foundation in section honey is accountable for much of the distrust of its purity." Has Mr. Miller so changed his mind that he now thinks that fully drawn comb artificially imitated will be hailed with delight? Mr. Miller says he not only has samples of this artificial comb but the implements to make it with. Does he intend to put this evil upon the market? I hope not. I very much admire Mr. Miller's writings on all subjects except feeding sugar and comb foundation. These subjects he, I think, carries to ex- tremes. Of course we all have differ- ent views on these questions. Mr. Mil- ler's accounts of the ancient things of bee-keeping, as well as the possibilities of the future, and his study of bee nature are valuable. However, I think the evil of sugar feeding for surplus is mostly imaginary. Like Thos. Chantry, I say it cannot be done with profit, nor will it be done with profit, and very little if any fed in spring will ever reach the super. The greater harm is to continue such discussions, which only has a tendency to influence the consuming public to imagine that our product is of inferior quality. I, however, think Mr. Chan- try's testimony is valuable and ought to end this argument which is harmful. Mr. Niver tried this matter and got re- sults very similar to Mr. Chantry's, and gave an account of his experience at the Chicago convention three years ago. He fed about thirty pounds of sugar to get three pounds of sealed honey. No one can say that they have made a success of sugar feeding except 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 58 for winter stores or early brood rearing. Williamsfield, 111., Jan. 8, 1906. The following, by Mr. Miller, very clearly presents his personal premises in the matter; and as it bears so direct- ly upon the points questioned by Mr. Johnson, we give it place here. —Ed. Why Misrepresent ? The late League issued a 24 page pamphlet on the so called "Wiley Honey Lie." It reflects far more discredit on the compilers than on the originator of the story. It is ungentlemanly and un- christian. No wonder the plain bee- keepers repudiated an organization which would put forth such a document. In connection with this subject it may be well to say that perfect combs of paraffine wax were made long before Prof. Wiley's remarks, and further we have the statement of a bee-keeper of high character that in the late 70's he bought such combs filled with syrup and neatly sealed. A little less spleen and a little more investigation at the time the professor made his statement would have revealed the Shaw invention, given the bee- keepers a useful article and saved many heart burnings. Truth will hurt no one so let us thoroughly ventilate this "ar- tificial comb-honey" story. First: It must be conceded that per- fect artifical comb can be made. Sec- ond: Filling it with honey or syrup would of course be easy. Third: Cap- ping it has been accomplished. There, you have it. What of it ? Does it hurt your business ? You have been told so but how many of you have personal proof thereof ? For 25 years you have howled at Prof. Wiley's state- ment and what has it accomplished ex- cept to make outsiders call you a lot of hot headed bigots. Suppose you now own up to the fact that there was ground for his story ? Does it follow that your business will go to the dogs ? All your railing has not changed public belief. But say to them "Yes artificial comb honey can be produced but it don't pay. Bees' labor is cheaper than machinery and human labor" and you have struck the part of the American anatomy that always hears, is always alert, the "commercial sense." "It don't pay" will kill the most plausible commercial yarn. Artificial comb of paraffine need never worry any one. It won't stand the heat. Artifical combs of wax in the sections would be worse than the heaviest foun- dation and they would cost too much. They would not pay. But artificial combs for the brood nest or extracting super may prove to be a real boon. The test thereof is yet to come. Arthur C. Miller. Popular Science in Newspapers. Burton N. Gates. iilT IS difficult to undei-stand why * the daily press should have so little regard for the truth — at least when nothing is to be made by the falsehood! Just what is gained by objectless, stupid inaccuracy it is hard to say. An article on some scientific subject, for example, has no news value, and we may presume it is published for the edification of the more intelligent read- ers. Often, however, such articles con- tain so many gross misstatements that far from winning the commendation due alleged newspaper enterprise, they arouse only contempt and ridicule. Woe to the men whose misfortune it is to be interviewed for an article of this nature, unless he has the foresight to make written replies to the questions asked him."- The Editor (Frank M. Chapman) in Jan. -Feb. Bird-Lore. Is this not quite to the point in the present day artificial honey and comb honey situation? Non-technical and un- informed reporters and editors miscon- strue cai'elessly made statements. Seek the primal cause as the above editor has done: "Make only written replies to the questions." Worcester, Mass. 59 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER March THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER PUBLISHED MONTHLY THE W. T. FALCONER MFG. CO. Proprietors Publishing OrriCE Fort Pierce, Fla. Home Office Falconer, N. Y Harry E. Hill Editor Arthur C. Miller . . . Associate Editor TERMS AND PRICE OF SUBSCRIPTION: Fifty cents a year; three years, tl.OO. To new sub- scribers only, on trial, one year, 35 cents. Pay- ment always in advance. ADVERTISING RATES : A limited number of strictly lefritimate and ac- ceptable advertisements will be inserted at the following rates: Regular advertisements (asrate measure) 15 cents per line. Reading notices (set in nonpariel) 20 cents per line. Special location. 25 percent extra. Cuts inserted without extra chargre DI.'^COTTNTS — On continuous insertions we allow the foUowinfr: Three months (3 times) 10 per cent. Six months (6 times). 20 par cent. Twelve months (12 times), 30 per cent. As an alert and beneficial organization among bee-keepers, none, perhaps, can make a better showing than the St. Croix Valley Honey Producers' Associa- tion, the headquarters of which is at Glenwood, Wis. This society provides its members with apiarian supplies and handles the honey crops also, to the greatest possible advantage. A pam- phlet has recently been issued, which presents a financial statement for 1905, with numerous helpful suggestions to the producer and shipper of honey in Wisconsin; also a catalogue of supplies. Under the leadership of its organizer and present manager, Mr. Leo F. Hane- gan, this association promises well for the future. His push, pluck and prog- ress are admirable. HOW TO ADDRESS. The home office of The American Bee-Keeper is at Falconer, N. Y . and all matters relating to sub- scriptions, discontinuances, changes of address, advertising or other business should invariably be addressed to the Falconer, N. Y. office. Matters relating to the editorial department — manuscripts, photographs, or correspondence in any way referring to articles that have been or are to be publlshe/:,c: other grades of amber in barrels at 5H to 6 3-4c according to qual- ity; fancy comb honey. It;' -.c. nnl^o^l;'""'*'^''' ^^'''f'', observe that the above are ou^ selling prices of honey, not what we are pay- We are paying 30c per pound, delivered here, tor choice, bright, yellow beeswax 51 Walnut street. The Fred W. Muth Co. New York Dec. 6-Comb honey-The demand continues to be fair for all grades Prices pra^U- 14 to u!^T ^^^f^t; ^'' ''""'« f^"'^y ^hite at lb Pvt;.i^? I-J'^'^'- ^■°--' ^2'^= buckwheat 10c per ralifT:. nL '^i^?"''*' '^ '" g"od demand, especially 6V^^ to 7n H T.'*' ''"i^'' -""PPlies. We quote white. It l^l ■ ^^,i '"^''*'''- '■"''■ bu'-'kwheat, extracted tl%^. i*" "fK "'• Beeswax, firm and steady at 29 to 30c per lb. Hildreth & Segelken. Bee-Keepers We carry a full line of FAL- CONER'S BFJEKEEPERS' SUP- PLIES, and that means THE BEST, and sell them at factory prices, f. o. b. Savannah, Ga. Order from us and save freight charges. Catalogue free for the asking. Harden & Eourk, Savannah, Ga. 40 BULBS, 25 Cents. c^n" "J^J'* °^ <**'9" e^owin^ Gloxini*. Begonia, Irlg. ^?.y: '^"f^'^roses. Jonquils, Daffodils. Oxalis. Freesla! ic^r\R!'...^y^ m"'"^' /^'■'^'''"i Japan I.lly. Snowdrops, KarcisBUs, Allium, Cluonodoxa, Paconia. For 9iic.! Kanips or coin, yre will send tliis niapnificenl collection or bulbs, and also as a premium a fine e?^ WT ^ collection of flower seeds, 250 varieties, r rl C EL ... ^i?"^*.*'?"'^ *"" ^'"'8 '° P**t them in lime for planting. WOODUAWN NURSERY, MALOEN. mass: BEGINNERS Should have a copy of The Amateur Bee-Keeper A 70 page oook by Prof .TW. Rouse; written especially for amateurs. Second edition just out. First edition of 1,000 .sold in less than two years. Editor York says: "It is the finest lit-_ tie book published at the present time." Price 24 cts., by mail, 28 cts. This little bo<,k and The Proerressive Bee-Keeper A live progressive. 2S page monthly jour- nal, one year for 65 cents. Apply to any first class dealer, or address LEAHY MFG. CO. Higrgrinsville, Missouri. KpULBS WU 25 Cents. Will grow in the house or out of doois. Hyacinths, Tulips, Gladiolus, Crocus, Fuflisias, O-xalis. Tuberoses, Begonia, Jonquils, Daltodilg, Chinese Lily, Dewey Lily, Glo.xinia, Lilies of nr ^nin * .o ,,"'* V«"«'y-all postpaid, 26c, in stamps FRPR ; h^^^R^J"'."""" ^'L"' ""'^s »"'**» «'e will send KKKE a big collection of Ilower seeds— over 200 kinds HILLSIDE NURSERY. SOMERVILLE, MASS ' AvJllJN 1 i Medallions ' Dolt. "Penro , ,,. ^ . , or Pearl" New Me- dallions. Quick sellers. Big Money Write at once. Special territory given Largest Medallion Comp'yinthe world Agents' supplies. Novelties up-to-date" Write now. Universal Manufac- , turing Co., Pittsburg, Pa. 3 and 5-Banded ITALIAN and CARNIOLAN QUEENS Say, friends, you who have support- ed us during the past season, we desire to express our thanks for your patronage in the past, and re- spectfully solicit a continuance of your valued favors through the sea- son of 1906. Our queens now stand upon their merits and former record. We are preparing for next season, and seek- ing the patronage of large apiarists and dealers. We do not claim that our queens are superior to all oth- ers, but that they are as good as the best. We will furnish from one to a thousand at the following pri- ces: Tested, of either race, $1; one untested, 75c; 5 for $3.25; 10 for $6; 15 for $8.25; 25 for $12.50; 50 for $23.50; 100 for $45. For descriptive circulars address, John W. Pharr, Prop., New Century Queen Rearing Co., Ber- clair, Goliad Co., Texas. OUR LEADER. Our price for all 1 year $3.00 with- Modern Farmer $ 25 Woman's Home Companion 1.00 Cosmopolitan 1.00 Pearson's 1.00 Review of Reviews 3.00 Without Review of Reviews, $; out Woman's Home Companion and Re- view of Reviews, $1.50. Gleanings in Bee Culture, The American Boy, or the Great Western Fruit Grower may be substituted for Pearson's if desired. Write for other clubs. We can save you money on almost any paper. The Modern Farmer, Box 15 - - St. Joseph, Mo. WANTED Every person who keeps pigeons, Bel- gian hares, cavies, dogs, cats or a pet of any kind to send for a free sample of the PET STOCK PAPER, Address Box 20, York, Pa. Big Magazine f} )w year FREE to 1 u i c k ly iiitioduce Many prefer it to Harper's, Munsey's, Ladies' Home Journal or ^''civie's Send 10 cents to help pay postage .ARfPIAN STORIES. Dept. H. D . Grand Bspids, Mich. Several New Agencies for Bee Supplies in Texas 1906 For particulars address W. H. Putnam, RIVER FALLS, WIS. ^^fe•^ y0iitl^3i0is^Kt, , ..\\\\i ftS i\vfc wftU \v«.\!viv\\lV[\veT \vuwu \>ce.»\ ^\\vy ucit \\uve out 40utJ(\)t \\,% ivw fc)n,t\Vinv\,'wwe4t»v«ivv. J. ^. iViv^xt>e Dixie Home Magazine 10 cents a year. Largest, Brightest and Finest Illustrated Magazine in the World for 10 cents a year, to Introduce it Only. It is bright and up-to-date. Tells all about Southern Home Life. It is full of fine engravings of grand scenery, buildings and famous people. Send at once; 10c a year, postpaid anywhere in the U. S., Canada and Mexico; 3 years, .50c; or clubs of 6 names, 50c, 12 for $1. Send us a club. Money back if not de- lighted. . Stamps taken. Cut this out. Send today. THE DIXIE HOME 1005, Birmingham, Alabama We will send The American Keeper three full years for $1.00, Bee- ONE-HALr INCH SPACE ONE YEAR ON THIS PAGE, $3.00 THE FRED W . MUTH CO , 51 Walnut St , Cin- cinnatti. Ohio. Standard Bred Red Clover Three-bandeti Queens, Golden Italians and Carni" olans. Safe arrival guarantee. Send for circu- lars . ■TiEWEY'S HARDY HONEY GATHERERS.— ■'-^ Reared under swarming impulse through- out the year. Large, strong, healthy. Send for card, "Can I Control Swarming?" Original. Untested, 75c., 6 for $3.00; tested, $1.50, 6 for $5.00. Choice, $2.50. High grade breeders, $2.00 to $10.00. E. H. DEWEY. GT. BARRINGTON. MASS. QUEENS HERE.— We are still asking you to give us your trade. We sell Italians, Goldens and Carniolans at 75c for untested and $1.00 foi- tested. Prices on quantities and nuclei upon application. JOHN W. PHARR. BERCLAIR. TEXAS. Jan. fi SWARTHMORE APIARIES, SWARTHMORE PA. — Our bees and queens are the brightest Italians procurable. Satisfaction guaranteed. We are breeding the Caucasians absolutely purt from direct imported stock. WW. GARY & SON, LYONSVILLE, MASS. • — Breeders of choice Italian bees and queens. Imported Leather and Root's Red Clover strains. Catalogue and price list FREE. lyrOORE'S LONG-TONGUED STRAIN of ^'^ Italians become more and more popular each year. Those who have tested them know why. Descriptive circular free to all. Write J. P. MOORE, L BOX 1, MORGAN, KY. ■prONEY QUEENS AND BEES FOR SALE.— ■^^ I extracted 300 pounds per colony in 1903. THOS. WORTHINGTON, Leota, Miss. Aug 5 THE A. I. ROOT CO., Medina, O— Breeders of Italian bees and queena. W J. DAVIS, 1st. YOUNGSVILLE, PA. ' ' • breeder of choice Italian Bees and Queens Quality, not quantity, is my motto. QUEENS from Jamaica any day in the year. Untested, 66c; tested, $1.00; select tested, $1.50. Our queens are reared from the very fine.st strains. Geo. W Phillips, Sav-La-Mar P. O. Jamaica, W.I. 5-5 F) J. BLOCHER, PEARL CITY, ILL— Breeder ^' of Fine Italian Bees and Queens. Our stock speaks for itself. Safe arrival of all stock guar- anteed. Free information. Jan6 COLLINGDALE APIARY— J. R. Rambo. breeder of Caucasian and Golden Italian queens. Italians bred from stock received from Swarthmore. Cau- casians bred from imported queen Queens reared and mated in separate yards, 6 miles apart Satis- faction and safe arrival guaranteed. Agent for TheW.T Falconer Mfg. Go's, bee supplies. Coll- ingdale, Delaware County, Penn. TOHN M DAVIS. SPRING HILL, TENN — '■' Has greatly enlarged and improved his queen- rearing facilities. Two unrelated Carniolans and a dark leather Italian lately imported 'My own strains of three-band and golden; "Moore's" long- tongue; Doolittle's golden; all selects. Carniolans mated to Italian drones when desired. No disease. Circular free. WE are now booking orders for Providence Queens for spring delivery. Cull & Williams, Provi- dence, R. I. n H W WEBER. CINCINNATI. OHIO-(cor- ^* ner Central and Freeman Aves.) — Golden Yellow, Red Clover and Carniolan queens, bred from select mothers in separate apiaries TJOOPER BROS.' lUlian Queens reared in the J. J. West Indies are the most prolific and give the best results available any time of the year. Write at once for information to Kingston, Jamaica, B. W. I.. Box 162 nov-6 HONEY DEALERS. ] OHIO. C. H. W WEBER. Freeman and Central Aves., Cincinnati, Ohio. If for sale, mail sample and state price expected, delivered in incinnati. If in want, write for prices, and state quality and quantity desired. 5-5 WE are. alwa.vs in the market for extracted honey. as we sell unlimited quantities. Send us a sam- ple and your best price delivered here. The Fred W. Muth Co.. .5] Walnut St.. Cincinnati. O. 5-5 COLORADO. THE COLORADO HONEY PRODUCERS' AS- SOCIATION. 1140 Market St.. Denver. Colo. Cent-a-Word Column* AGENTS WANTED— To sell advertising novel- ties, good commission allowed. Send for cata- logue and terms. American Manufacturing Concern, Falconer. N. Y. WANTED— To manufacture any kind or size of Hives to suit individual needs, tastes, etc. F. T. HOOPES, E. Downington. Pa., Chester Co. WANTED — Barnes machinery with or without foot-power, in good condition. Address, F. T. HOOPES. East Downington. Pa., Chester Co. FOR SALE — Four two-frame reversible Novice extractors and one 10-inch Pelham foundation mill with dipping tank, all in good condition. Write for terms. Mrs. W. L. KEEFER, Fort PiercerFla. THE BUSY MAN'S METHOD OF REARl^IG GOOD QUEENS— This leaflet describes the method used in rearing the Hardy Honey Gath- erers (read el.sewhere). and if carefully followed will produce queens of great merit. jSlo loss of brood, no cell-cups, and but little time required. Large queens under swarming impulse. Noth- ing artificial about it. Every queen breeder needs it. Price 25 cents. E. H. DEWEY, Gt. Barrington, Mass. INCREASE is a handsome little book telling how to form new colonies without breaking working stocks. A simple, sure, satisfactory plan, 2.5c. Baby Nuclei tells how to mate many queens from sections with a mere handful of bees: 42 pages, 20 pictures, 50c. Cell Getting tells how to save labor in rearing queens. 50 cents. Queen rear- ing outfits. Golden all-over and Caucasian Queens. Circulars free. E. L. PRATT, Swarth- more. Pa. 3 and 5-Band ITALIAN and CARNIOLAN QUEENS Equal to the Best. Untested, 50c each. Tested, 75c each. One and two frame nucleus per frame, 50c. Prompt attention, safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed. C B.BANKSTON, Si* 5^^. GOLDEN TILLOW OALLA LILT, b Bulbl. jg KINDS 10^' FLOWER SEEDS Asters, Balsam, Canna, Calliopsis, Nasturtium, Morning Glory, Tansy, Larkspur, Jobs Tears, Poppy, Golden Glow, Snapdragons, Cosmos, Pink, Zinnia, Verl'pnift. Monkoy Plant, Swept Rocket, Primrose, Ice Plant. Petunia, Castor Oil Beans, Portnlaca, Candytuft, Sweet Peas. 5 CHAMPION BULBS. The Summer Hyacinth, Golden I.ily, Humming Bird, Gladiolus, (iiant Tuberose, Baby Breath Oialis, all this beauti- ful collection of seeds and bulbs only 10<'. in silver or 5 2-c. stamps to pay the cost for packing and postage. Order quick and be sure of this grand offer — only lO rents. CHARLESTOWN NURSERY, - CHARLESTOWN, MASS. THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST LEWIS BEE WARE It Goes Together Right LEWIS BEE WARE always fits. Ev- ery part meets every other part accu- rately. It goes together like a Vvatch. . This means something, does it not? All parts can be assembled in a jiffy. Why? Because they fit. No loss of material, no loss of time, no loss of patience! LEWIS BEE HIVES are made from clear white Wisconsin pine. No knots or other imperfections. Therefore dif- ferent from other makes of hives. Ab- solutely clear, and when we say clear we mean exactly what we sav. LEWIS SECTIONS are made from white^ Wisconsin Basswood, the finest in the world. Lewis sections are the finest in the world. They are the most carefully selected and the most carefully made. INSIST ON LEWIS GOODS. Accept no substitutes. GR T TT'VAT'TQ TH Watcrtown. Wis. ♦ D« LCWIJ \^yj* Send for Catalog. Norris & Anspach, Kenton, Ohio; C. M. Scott & Co., Indianapolis, Ind.; Cleaver & Greene, Troy. Pa., Eastern agents. ' WANTED 50,000 Agents. 50 'IS SEEDS, 50g. How to Make Money Easy. ^H^aTGRAfer SEEDS at 5c. each to your neighbors, and make $2.00 for your trouble, for only a few hours' work. This is a grand chance to make money for a small investment. Some of our agents have cleared $200.00 in cash. Send 60c. and we will send the eeeds at once, delivered to you, postage paid» Order early. Address 80MERVILLE NURSERY, 80MERVILLE, MASS.: 0m0mk0im0t00k0ktmn0m0»ffmt YOU NEVER HEARD THE LIKE Thousands of Subscriptions to Leading AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS PRACTICALLY GIVEN FREE! POULTRY SUCCESS, the leading poultry magazine now published, 48 to 112 pages per issue ; best writers; beautifully illustrated and handsomely printed ; a monthly compendium of best experience and information as to how to make poultry successful ; regular annual sub- scription price 50c. Invaluable to every poultry raiser— has purchased outright thousands of subscriptions to some of America's leading pub- lications, and for a limited time only makes some combination subscription offers never before equaled by any American publisher. Good for 30 days only ! Send us the names of two poultry rais- ers and you will be entitled to accept either of these remarkable offers: No. 1 Combination Poultry Success, new subscriptions only Agrc'lt-l Eptomist Choice of either Farm News Floral Life Hanie Magazine Rural Beekeeper Am. Truck Farmer Choice of either Choice of either Our Papers Our Special Limited Of^'ers Only 75c No. 2 Connbination Poultry Success, new subscriptions only ChicagoHousehold Guest Choice of Home Instructor Magaz. either Bloofled Stock Am. Stock Farm Cookery Magazine The International Choice of either Choice of either We can make you very special offers on many other papers, includ- ing Rural Advocate, Missouri Valley Farmer, This for That, Rocky Mountain News, American Farmer, Farm Life, Rural Mechanics, Northwestern Agriculturist, Modern Farmer, Twentieth Century Review, Mayflower Magazine, National Fruit Grower, Green's Fruit Grower and Vick 's Magazine. Readers of POULTRY SUCCESS find every single issue of the magazine not only replete with interest, but worth many times the full annual subscription price. By making POULTRY SUCCESS the best publication of its kind and giving best value our readers are always pleased. Don't overlook these special offers. This adv. may not appear again. Better act at once, and send in your oi'der today. Stamps accepted. Sample copy free. Address. POULTRY SUCCESS CO., Dept. 16 DES MOINES. IOWA SPRINGFIELD, OHIO mm0m0tmm^i^ftf9mm ; BARNES' Foot Power Machinery ! This cut represents our Combined Machine, which is the best machine made for use in the construction of Hives, Sections, Boxes, etc. Sent on trial. Send for Catalogue and Price List W. F. & J. BARNE CO. 913 Ruby St.,Rockford, III. A BATH wher taken ib au Folding BATH Used in any room. Agents wanted. Catalogue Free. m,THB EMPIRE ^WASHER CO., Jamestown,n.y. FNIPIRE " Portable FREE! A 25-word adv. one time free, and our large 16-page, 64-col. Illustrated Maga- zine one year 25c. This-for-That ex- change column only 1-cent a word. Sam- ple magazine and particulars for stamp. The Monthly Br"nardst. Ncw Orlcans, La. STANDARD AUTHORS ! DIRECT FROM PRESS TO LIBRARY NO MIDDLEMEN'S PROFITS We are able to supply a limited number of the following Standard Sets at remarkably low prices. This is an un- precedented opportunity for you to secure De Luxe Sets at manufacturing cost, which means at less than one-third the regular publishers prices. Place a cross (X) opposite the authors in which you are interested. Mail at once. We will then send you full particulars of these extraordinary book bargains. Cut out Coupon--Mail Today Gentlemen: -Kindly send me full particulars regarding the sets opposite which I have placed a cross (X). This implies no obligation on my part whatsoever. UNITED STATES HISTORY DICKENS ^^^^^ SCOTT SHAKESPEARE FlELDlNG-SMOLLEtT^ PLUTARCH'S LIVES GIBBON'S ROME HAWTHORNE IRVING TjIACKERAY RUSKIN ELIOT BALZAC HUGO_ DUMAS PEPYS' DIARY DEFOE EMERSON Name Street City State John D. Morris & Company 1201 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa^ ^ A PLAN BY WHICH MAGAZINE LOVERS MAY SECURE THE COSMOPOLITAN at the rcgrular rate and The American Bee-Keeper FREE for One Year Read every word of this announce- ment, for it ip the opportunity of years. This year several magazines have in- creased their subscrij^tion price, which shows how much greater tliis offer reall.v is. Only a limited number will be sold at the price, therefore we ad- vise everyone to accept this without delay. When we have received a certain number we shall withdraw the offer. Cosmopolitan having now passed to the ownership of the most successful publishing house in existence, the Hearst organi- zation, will shortly become the most widely read magazine in America. Over 500,000 Copies a Month will shortly be rcjuircd to fill the de- mand, while within the year it will outrank every other magazine in this country. "The best, no matter what it costs." is the motto of its editors, therefore it will be in Cosmopolitan that you will find the writers of world- wide reputation; the matters on which they write will he questions on public tongue; its fiction will be masterpieces of pen-craft; its whole contents will set the standard for magazine perfec- tion We cannot tell today who will be its contributors, for tomorrow's sun may shine upon a new-born Conan Doyle, or the author of another "David Harum," and should such be, you will find it in Cosmopolitan. OUR EXTRAORDINARY OPEER To Either INcw or Old Subscribers As noted above, we have secured a limited number of subscriptions to Cosmopolitan which we offer as a premiuni with American Bee-Keeper for one year as follows: American Bee-Keeper, one year, $ .50 Rr^|-|-> -Fr^»-> . ; For 1906 I Our Hives and Sections The Root Automatic Extractors Our Bees and Queens Our CatalbiT Gleaningrs in Bee Culture Our hives and equipment, both for workmanship and clear- ness of stock, cannot be excelled and we doubt if they have ever been equalled. The Root brand is always popular with the customer and always the best that money can produce. Our sections and fi'ames for 1906 are even better than ever. The/' aire inspected and re-inspected again and each inspector is required to put in each box of sections that he passes upon his own inspector's card, so that if complaint is made this card will come back on him. As he is anxious to hold his position and if possible get an increase in pay, it is clearly to his interest as well as thac of the customer to let none but perfect goods pass. In the matter of improvements it is generally conceded that we are the leaders. We are constantly testing out every new device in our own yards and when it has stood the test we place it before the public. Our extractors for 1906 in point of improvements and qual- ity of workmanship leaves nothing to be desired. The four, six and eight frame machines have the finest automatic revers- ing mechanism that has ever been put into a machine. Even the two frame models can have -the reversing mechanism put on at a slight additional cost; but we do not ordinarily advise buying the two frame automatic. Steel construction has been substituted for cast iron whenever practicable. We are running at Medina and vicinity five queen rearing yards, at other points three more. We are prepared to furnish our celebrated Red Clover stock, a stock that won a splendid reputation for gathering honey from any source. We are pre- pared, to furnish bees in nuclei and full colonies. '- -A great improvement. Entirely rewritten and revised. New arts. New cover. Everything is classified and indexed. No-more price tables to confuse. All prices are right under the article illustrated or described. A copy will be sent promptly on request. Our magnificent Christmas number is acknowledged by all as being the finest bee paper ever printed. Beginning the new year we are making many great improvements. For 1906 Gleanings will excel its 1905 record. A trial subscription of six months for only 25c., or one year for $1.00. THE A. I. ROOT CO. MEDINA, OHIO 144 E. Erie Street Chicago B ranches : 10 Vine Street Philadelphia 44 Vesey Street New ybrk I ^ I Are You Interested ? The New South today holds forth greater inducements to the home- seeker and investor than any other p:)rtion of America. Florida, leads all other Southern states in the matter of inviting propositions to those who seek a genial, healthful climate and profit- able business opportunities. St. Lucie is the banner county of Florida, when it comes to home- making and money-making facili- ties, and its healthfulness is unsur- passed anywhere on earth. The St. Lucie County Tribune is the— well, modesty forbids our re- peating the public verdict in regard to The Tribune. It is published weekly at Fort Pierce, the county seat, at $1 a year. Thi-ee months' trial subscription, 25c. Sample copy for the asking. If you are in- terested in Florida, a postal card inquiry will bring it. Write today. TME ST. LUCIE COUNTY TRIBUNE Fort Pierce, Florida I BEGINNERS I Should have a copy of |/ The Amateur Bee-Keeper I A 70 page tjor.V by Prof. .T,W. Rouse; written especially for amateurs. Second edition just out. First edition of 1,000 sold in less than two I years. Editor York says; "It is the finest lit- tle book published at the present time." Price 24 cts., by mail, 28 cts. This little book and The Progressive Bee-Keeper A live progressive. 28 page monthly jour- nal, one year for.65 cents. Apply to any first class dealer, or address LEAHY MFG. CO. Higginsvilie, Missouri. B A R X K S ' Foot Power Machinery ! This cut represents our Combined Machine, which is the best machine made for use in the construction of Hives, Sections, Boxes, etc. Sent on trial. Send for Catalog-ue and Price List. W. F. & J. BARNES CO. 913 Ruby St.,Rockford. III. Homes in Old Virginia. It is gradually brought to light that the Civil war has made grea' changes, freed the slaves, iticl it. consequence has made the i air- land owners poor and finally freec the land from the original owner- who would not sell until th(^y wer- compelled to do so. There aiv somn of the finest lands in the iuarket at very low prices, lands that product all kinds of crops, grasst^h, fruitb, and berries; fine for stock You find green truck patches, suth a? cabbage, turnips, lettuce, kale, spinach, etc., growing all the win- ter. The climate is the best all the* year around to be found, not tO(; cold nor too warm. Good water. Healthy. Railroads running _ir every direction. If you desire tu know all about Virginia send 10c. for three months subscription of the VIRGINIA FARMER to Farmer Co., Emporia, Va. MIA P S A Vest Pocket Map of Your State New issue. These maps show all the Counties, in seven colors, all railroads, postoffices— and many towns not given in the postal guide— rivers, lakes and mountains, with index and population of counties, cities and towns. Census— it gives all official returns. We will send you postpaid any state map you wish for 2o CENTS (silver.) JOHN W. HANN Watt net a, Nebraska When answering advertisements please men- tion that you saw it in the American Bee-Keeper. I I HIV ECTI S S Rl(^ DI'^OOUNT FOR Before February 1 6 per cent BIVs MIOV^V^WI^ 1 rvn ggfo,.p M^rch 1 4percent EARLY CASH ORDERS Before April 1 2 per cent EVERYTHING that is used by Bee-Keepers can be procured of us as cheaply as anywhere, and we know OUR GOODS ARE SUPERIOR, both in material and workmanship to those of any competi- tor. ONE TRIAL WILL CON- VINCE YOU. That's all we ask. You will never buy of anyone else. Our new illustrated catalog and price list is now ready. Send for one on a postal card. The W. T. Falconer Manfg. Co. JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK HONESTY Isn't a thing to boast of, but just the same it means a lot to you when you buy things. Honest Goods at Honest Prices is what is making our business big. We carry the very best supplies made for bee-keepers and those are FALCONER'S Bees and queens always on hand and as superior in their way as the supplies in theirs. Cull & Williams = Providence, R. I. Rhode Island Agents for Falcon- er's U n e X c e lie d Supplies BigSongBook "Polly, I Love But You," words and music ; "Piking the Pike, ' ' ' 'Just Be- cause I'm from Missouri," "Hiawa- tha, ' ' ' 'Navajo, ' ' ' 'Bedelia, ' ' ' ' Josie, ' ' "Only a Factory Girl," "Flirting at the Seashore, " "The Little Brown Man of Japan," "Come Down, Miss Malinda, " "Ma Ragtime Ebony Belle," and 44 other popular songs, all in one book, and sent postpaid for only 10 cents. We will also send a c'()uj)on good for 10 cents to everyone mentioning in what paper they saw this ad. This is a Special Q-ffer to Intro- duce our Goods, so send at once H.D. Leader C? Grand Rap£C«"=- : : • ■ ?"ichigan T' ree Months for Only 20 Cents To a New Subscriber THE American Bee Journal Music Lovers! Big Magrazine One Year 10 cents Send us 10 cents in silver, to- gether with the names of ten persons who get mail at your postoffice who are interested in IVlUSIC,and we will send you our handsome magazine one year. We receive hundreds of new subscriptions daily from per- sons who think our magazine a bigger bargain than Harper's, Munsey's, Ladies'Home Journal, or McClure's. This a special of- fer for a short time only. R B B a Our subscription price may advance to $1.00 per year soon. ■ ■ ■ ■ Address, Dept. H. D. Berg^es Publishing: Co. Established in 1861 It is the only Weekly Bee Paper in America.' Those who write for it are among- the most ex- tensive and successful bee-keepers in the world Many of them produce honey by the ton, and make money at the business, hence their ex- perience is valuable. Among the Departments represented in the Bee Journal are these: Editorial Notes and Comments. Miscellaneous News Items, Con- tributed Special Articles. Opinions of Some Experts. Proceedings of Conventions, Our Bee-Keepinjr Sisters, Mr. Hasty's After- thoughts. Dr. Miller's Answers to Questions. Honey and beeswax Market Quotations. Every Bee-Keeper, whether having one col- ony or 100. should read the old American Bee Journal every week. Only $1.00 a Year; or 20 cents for a trial trip of three months(i;j copies), to a new subscriber. Sample copy free. Ask for it. George W. York & Co* 334 Dearborn Stret, Chicaso, Illinois Grand-Rapids, Michig^an AUSTRALIAN Note the Address P ENDER BROS. We?;t Maitland N. S. W., Australia The largest manufacturers of Bee- keepers' Supplies in the Southern Hemisphere, and publishers of the Australasian Beekeeper, the leadmg bee journal south of the equator. Sample copy and 64- page catalogue FREE. 6-tf 5 CAVEATS, TRADE WIARKS, \ COPYRIGHTS AND DESIGNS. € Send your business diroct to Washington, < saves tiruo, cosis loss, better service, % My pfflcp rlosB fo IT. R. r^itent OfBce. FREE prellmln- ' arv ejtaminaUnni martt". Aitv s fee not due nntil pati-nt ' l-.'aecured. PSn50riAL ATTENTION GIVEN-19 YEAE3 ' ACTUAL EXPBRIEMCB. Book "How to ottaio PatentB," [etc., sent free, PatentB procured through E. G. SIggeig (receive special notice, without charge, in tta INVENTIVE AGE , iUuBtrated monthly— Eleventh year— terme, $1. a year QEORQIA and all Southern Bee-Keep- ers call on me for free in- formation regai'ding best methods. Practical ApiCMliure Is my specialty. I carry a stock of Bee-Keepers supplies. Bees and Queens, J. J. Wilder Oordele, Ga. We will send The American Bee- Keeper three full years for .SI. DO. *atent Wired Comb Foundation"^ — Has no suk in Brood Frames — Thin Flat Bottomed Foundation — Has no Ushbone in Surplus Honey Being the cleanest, is usualy worked the quickest of any foundation made. The talk about wiring frames seems absurd. We furnish a Wired Foundation that is BET- TER, CHEAPER and not half the trouble to use that it is to wire brood frames. Circulars and samples free. J. VANI DEUSEIN & SONS Sole Manufacturers Montgomery Co. Sprout Brook, N. Y. ^ ■ I HI ■ ^ W^ Real Estate Wanted " I To supply tlie wants of Cash Bijere every- where. Their names and addresses are given in full each month in our clean, in- teresting family magazine. Sample copy .25, whicli will be deducted from yearly subscription price oi $1. if you choose to sub- scribe. The first issue may find you a buyer and save you a middleman's commission. n U. S. Real Estate Journal ■K 131 W. Brighton Ave., Btbacuse, N, T, ■■■ % ■ I IM I ■ ^ IGTON, D. C. PHOTOGRAPHS SCENIC PRODUCTIONS and novel designs are our special- ties. Many Northern publishers are using our half-tone copy. Most extensive publishers of Flor- ida views on the Florida Coast. Florida Photographic Concern Fort Piprce, Florida "^fcn \\\v\v»vA ^'wer \\ivvc Vjeeu AfvcXriVP^ W \\\vji)C\s sot ^CACTUS CULTUHE ^ fur .'iinateurs, 80 pages pro- fu-rly illust'. and descriiing ,5(10 v.Triclies of rarest Cai ti and Succulents. Jfist pub, price 25 rents. Living Rofk C.Trfu=, 25c. Old Man Cartu? __ (genuine) 50^. E. Mulleri (like cut) 10c. 10 ni c Carti, ,«1 00, postpaid. 40-page catalogtie of .5)0 var' and a nie little sample Cactus, 1.')-, Cinnilnr free. The Callander Cactus Co., Dept.42 , Springfield, Ohio. I NEW ISURRLIEIS SEND in your ordei's NOW for the Finest Bee Supplies in the country — manufactured by the W. T. Falconer Mfg. Co. WE HANDLE all styles of dovetailed hives, but call your particular at- tention to the MUTH SPECIAL DOVETAILED HIVE, with its Warp- proof Cover and Bottom Board. CASH DISCOUNT for early orders: January, 7 per cent; February, 6 per cent; March, 4 per cent. i FREID \A/. MUTH CO. 51 \A/Al_IMU"r STREET, C I IM C I MM ATI, OM lO AGENTS WANTBD =: in every town for our == W^ASHING MACHINKS You can double your money every time you sell one, and they sell easily. We have sold over 160,000 in the last 14 years. They are cheaper than ever. Catalogue free. THE EMPIRE WASH ER CO., JAIVIESTOW^N, N. Y, Our Special Premium Offer. We have been successful in closing a contract with the Selden Pen Mfg. Co., of New York, whereby for a limited time we can supply a guaranteed $2.00 Gold Fountain Pen, "The Celtric Model 1" and the American Bee-Keeper one year for only 90c to every subscriber, old or new. The pen will be forwarded immediately upon receipt of the money. It is made of the best quality of hard I'ubber in four parts, and fitted' with a guaranteed irridium pointed 14-k GOLD PEN. The "foun- tain" is throughout of the simplest construction and can not get out of order, overflow, or fail to supply ink to the nib. "A Fountain Pen is a Necessity of the 20th Century." It dispenses with the inconvenient inkstand and is always ready for use. 'THE CELTRIC MODEL 1" bears the manufacturer's guarantee that the pen is solid GOLD, 14-k fine. If it does not prove satisfactory in every way we will exchange it for another, or return the fifty cents ad- ditional upon return of the pen. This is an unusual opportunity to secure, at a very low price, an ar- ticle of superior quality that is coming to be essential to the comfort and convenience of every one. Remember this offer is for a short time only. The American Bee-Keeper, Falconer, N. Y. Vol. XVI APRIL. 1906. No. 4 PRLSIDLNT'S ML55AGL. Convention New York State Association Bee-Keepers' Societies, Geneva. N. Y., December 1 8- 1 9. 1 905. W. F. MARKS. MEMBERS OF THE New York State Association of Bee-keepers' So- cieties. Ladies and Gentlemen:— It is the custom for the president to open the annual meeting with a short "mes- sage." Personally, I am ashamed to take any of your valuable time for this purpose but I will endeavor to be brief. The prime object of this organization according to its constitution, is "to se- cure a state bee-keepers' organization that is systematic, representative, and vigilant, to devise ways to promote measures that are of general interest to the bee-keepers of the state." If this is not broad enough, the constitu- tion can be amended at any annual meeting so as to embrace other objects that may be thought desirable. It is not necessary that we should endeavor to make more, but better, honey-producers and to advance and protect the interests of those we have, in every legitimate way. This associ- ation differs materially from other or- ganizations of like character, in as much, as the real power of this con- vention is vested in an equal number of delegates from the several auxilary societies, which together form this or- ganization, thus, each local society has an equal voice in its management, making it in facta representative body. We need not enumerate at this time what this organization has already ac- complished, that is a matter of record, but let us press forward, there are live issues to meet and important problems to solve. I will mention some of them, but they are for you to solve. Profiting by experience we as honey- producers should see that in this organ- ization the honey-producers' interests be paramount, now and forever. We must keep the organization from all "en- tangling alliances, " we should beware of those "allied interests" who would blind you by flattery and profession of undying esteem, while they "combine" to advance the cost of their wares, your supi)lies, in order that they may reap an unreasonable profit at your ex- pense. Do any of you believe, for a moment, that it was necessary for 63 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER April our "allied interests" to "combine" in order to secure a reasonable profit? Stop, put on your thinking cap, and for a moment turn back the pages of time. Only a few years ago we find our "al- lied interests" working on a small capi- tal, with hand and foot-power machin- ery. Where do we find them five, ten, fifteen, twenty and twenty-five years later? With immense factories, the most modern machinery, agencies in nearly every covmtry on the globe, a paid up capital of a million dollars or more, we know not just how much, but one company alone with an in- vested capital of three hundred thous- and dollars, does not that look as though there had been profit enough? all made before the "combine," yet they were not satisfied— they tell us to buy of them or go without. Are you going to put up longer with this imposition? Need we ask "upon what meat does this our Caesar feed?" Will you permit the supply manufac- turer and their close ally, the bee-peri- odicals, to be our "masters"? or will you stand together, and meet combi- nation? I number many personal friends among the "allied interests" but I have spoken no less plainly on that account as I believe they are imposing on the honey-producer. Is it not time to call a halt? Recognizing and respecting the rights of others as you do they also must be made to realize that the honey- producers have rights, which must be respected and which you will defend at any sacrifice. Our "allies" by their own free action, raised this issue, they have no one to blame but themselves; "having raised the wind, let then reap the whirlwind." Do what you may you cannot avoid the issue, with honor to yourselves, or to posterity. Sooner or later, it must be met in a vigorous manner, that will leave no doubt of your intentions and ability to cope with it. I pre ient the subject for your con- sideration. All, or nearly all, of our auxiliary so- cieties have made it a practice to join the National Bee-Keepers' Association in a body, as provided in the constitu- tion of said association. There is no question but that such affiliation strengh- ens the National Association, but at the expense of our local societies and ultimately of this Association. There is a question whether the practice should be longer continued. It is hardly nec- essary for me to say that it was partly through my advice that such affiliation was made possible. I had hoped that the National Bee-Keepers' Association could be made what its name implies. I worked earnestly and faithfully to bring this about, but I am convinced by actual experience that there are too many "other interests" represented in that organization to ever make it a true honey-producers' organization, without a disagreeable and continual contest. This must be evident to you who are conversant with the situation. The question, then, is, should the honey-pi"oducers fight for the control of that organization, or should they aban- don it, and in due time organize a Na- tional Honey-Producers' Society, in which from the start "other interests" are "excluded? I have no personal griev- ance with the National Association. My personal and official relations with that organization, and with its board of di- rectors, of which I was a member, were pleasant, but as soon as I became con- vinced that "other interests" were dom- inant and that the honey-producei's' in- terest could not be promoted nor main- tained in that organization, when the several interests clashed, without a per- petual fight, I detei'mined to resign my position in that organization, which I did at the first opportune time. I have gone into this matter further than I in- tended, but I thought an explanation was due the members from this state for my action, which I believe you would certainly approve, did you know all that led up to my conclusions. 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 64 Nothing that I have said, or may say, should be construed as a personal reflec- tion in anyway upon the officers of that organization, with whom I was asso- ciated; I believe that under the pre- vailing conditions, they, like myself, were powerless to change those condi- tions. Right here let me say that the honey producers influenced by the bee periodicals, which are to be classed, Virith one exception, with the "other interests," are largely to blame for the lack of better conditions in said associa- tion. The honey producers must learn to think and act for themselves in such matters. Remember that most of the editors are either interested in supplies or are on office bent, so much so that these infallible gentlemen get together every few months and, unbeknown to the honey producers, "organize" some alleged bee-keepers' or honey produc- ers' "this, that or the other thing," and of course elect themselves officers with almost Divine rights and power. This has been practiced to such an extent that it has really become scandalous, and has cast ridicule upon the industry at lai'ge. But, to return to the subject, I do not mean to say or imply that the national association has not done anything for the bee-keepers. It has done a great deal toward estab- lishing the legal rights of those engaged in the pursuit (this you will observe did not conflict with "other interests"). I believe this year the members were able to purchase pails and cans of inde- pendent manufacturers, at reduced rates, through the efTcts of General Manager FrRr'.-: " • t.it year you will remember the same privilege and rates were withdrawn by the manufactiu-ers at the behest of our self-styled "allies" following uj) their golden rrle. Other matters of vital importance to the honey producers require immediate attention and organized effort. It is on this point that the National A.ssocia- tion is worse than nothing. I say worse than nothing because you are wasting time with it, tied to your "allies" when you should be organized independent of them. Perhaps you cannot do any bet- ter; certainly you cannot do any worse. I have repeatedly called your atten- tion to the need of more modern meth- ods for disposing of your products. 1 have just as fi-equently urged you to give these matters your earnest atten- tion and thought, in hopes you could devise some way to increase the use of and facilitate the sale of your products. This is an old subject, but it is not less important on that account. I beg of you not to lose sight of the fact that you are practically at the home of the consumer— forty million of people, one half of the population of this country are within easy reach — but a few hours distant at most. Look at what other industries are doing and profit by their experience. Let me again bring this subject to your attention and urge ycu to give it your best thought, not only now, but throughout the year. There should be not only motive, but method in our work, whatever we do, in order that we may gain substantial and lasting results. The greatest good to the whole industry should at all times be our motto. No individual honey-pro- ducer or auxiliary society should get the idea that they are not to a large extent dependent upon those who are engaged in the same pursuit. You should look upon such, if there are any, not with contempt, but with pity. You should endeavor to build up, strengthen and improve our organization and make it beneficial to the honey producers in every possible way. You should en- courage independent manufacturers of bee supplies. This you can do by pledg- ing yourselves individually and as a body to purchase such independent sup- plies only? Do it today. You need a periodical, edited and published wholly in the interests of the honey producer, and you should pledge it your support. In this way you will get new capital to invest in these enterprises; or what 65 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER April would answer your purpose just as well you might encourage some that are al- ready established but who are not sat- isfied with existing conditions and are willing to give the honey-producer a square deal, to enter the independent ranks. Why not? Our "allied inter- ests," through correspondence schools and every other conceivable way, are trying to increase the number of honey producers without limit. Give them a dose of their own medicine. If inde- pendent manufacturers or capital does come to your aid, stand by them as long as they stand by you, let come what will. I informed you a year ago that a tem- porary organization, consisting of four- teen of the allied agricultural organiza- tions of this state, including our own, had been formed, known as the New York State Association for the Promo- tion of Agricultural Science and Re- search. At a meeting at Ithaca, Oct. 2-3, at which time, this organization was represented by its president, such organization was made permanent by the adoption of a con'^titution and the election of officers. If this meets with your approval, our industry will take its place with the great agricultural in- dustries of this state. It is said to be into a warm room. I produced 500 pounds of fine comb honey last season, besides some that was not so nicely filled, and some extracted, and in spite of all I can do some of it will leak and run down over the comb, making it look bad. Our main honey flow here is from white clover, and we get vei'y white comb from it. We have had a fine winter for bees here. I think it has been cold enough to keep them in most of the time. It has not been warm enough for them to get any pollen up to this date. My bees have died less this winter than they did last, although they went into winter last fall very weak in num- bers and not much pollen. D. H. Zencker, Upperco, Md,, March 12, 1906. (Doubtless, the chief cause of your ti'ouble may be attributed to variable temperature. Such a condition results in a condensation of moisture upon the surface of the capping, and is known to honey producers as "weeping." Comb honey should always be stored in a warm, dry room. Under such condi- tions it will improve as time passes; while in cold storage or in a tempera- the first organization of its kind in this "ture that is constantly changing it will country, as the objects sought are identical, it is hard to conceive how it can be anything but beneficial to all. In conclusion, I will again urge you to give these matters, in fact all mat- ters that may tend to better the condi- tions and advance the interests of the honey-producers, your best thought and study. These problems must be solved, and solved correctly. The honey-pro- ducers must have a fair, "square deal," and must not rest until they get it, COMB HONEY WEEPING. deteriorate very fast; and when the "weeping" stage is reached it is no longer a merchantable article, and should not be ofl'ered to the public, as the condensed moisture is attracted through the cappings and absorbed by the honey, thus greatly reducing its body and imparing the quality of the goods.— Editor.) DEAR EDITOR: Would like to know the cause of comb honey being so thin. It has been that way all winter, where it is brought Cast your eye over the field, and if you see an opportunity to buy more solid apiarian information for a dollar than The Bee-Keeper is giving with a three-years subscription at that price, buy it quick. It's a bargain. We buy and pay cash for helpful and interesting contributions. 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 66 Born, April 26. 1829 JOHN MARSHALL HOOKLR. (See page 80) Died, January 31, 1906 67 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER April RL5LARCHL5 ON THL POISON OF BLL5. The Physiological Lffects. By C. Phisalix. Translated by Burton N. Gates, Clark University, from "Comptes Render De TAcademie des Sciences." Vol. 1 39. pp. 326. Paris, 1904. UNTIL THE PRESENT day others, who have studied the poison of the bees, considered it as a liquid of relatively simple composition. It is the same as P. Bert and Cloez finds in the poison of the Xylocopa bee (Xylocopa violacea) (European, Translator) an organic base which is precipitated by ammonia and which is reduced by acids. Dr. Langer (in 1898, Translator) with the poision of the domestic bee, (Apis mellifica) arrives at the same conclusion: the active principal in a base soluble in acids and precipitated by ammonia. Such a very simply composed poison, like that of Tules (Tules is genus of the myriapoda, thousand legs, etc. — Note by translator), which is secreted by one kind of gland, appears improbable for bees, when two distinct glands con- cur in the secretion. The more general type is where the venom secreted by a single kind of gland, as in the serpents and batrachains (toads, frogs, etc.), contains several active substances. This is why I think the physiological analysis of the poison of the hymenop- tera would afford, as in the study of the poison of the serpents, some new and interesting material. The bees which served my experi- ments were furnished me by the Bio- logical Laboratory directed by M. Bon- nier, and were forwarded me m excel- lent condition from Fontainbleau by Mons. Dufour. The sparrow is very reactive, physio- logically to bee-poison. If we allow the bird to be stung in the pectoral re- gion by two or thr"ee bees, we see with- in five minutes, symptoms of intoxica- tion. At first there is a general and increasing weakness. The bird staggers on its feet; if it tries to fly, imme- diately falls back exhausted. The pa- ralysis increases and the bird in its at- tempt to fly is no longer able to rise from the ground; its eyes make inco- ordinate movements; it is taken with a general trembling, which increases from time to time. It is a kind of a "dance de Sainte Sui" (Saint Vitas' dance), in which the muscles of the feet, wings, head and eyes are con- stantly stimulated; the respiration be- comes difficult and the bird opens its beak in order to inspire the air which seems to fail it. Nevertheless the ani- mal retains for a time its consciousness and defends itself with bill and claw; towards the end the agitation is inter-, rupted frequently, by periods of somno- lence, the paralysis increases and death comes, after two or three hours from arrested respiration, the heart continu- ing to beat for some minutes after. Autopsy shows that the blood is black and coagulates rapidly. The side of the inoculation shows a yellowish tint, due to the beginnings of mortification. In this method, which consists in making the sting directly by the hymen- optera, the experiment permits obser- vation of symptoms produced by the poison, such as present themselves in nature. It does not, however, allow for complete physiological analysis, be- cause the method does not permit the measurement of the dose, nor variation of experimental conditions. This end we must reach by preparing a solution of the poison as follows: The bees are rendered anesthetic by chloroform. When they have suc- cumbed, we generally see the point of 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 68 the sting project from the end of the abdomen; with a pair pincers we grasp the sting, pull gently and draw out the poison apparatus intact. The reservoir of the acid gland ap- pears distended by a clear liquid. We plunge the apparatus thus isolated into distilled water, where the poison dif- fuses lending the water a milkish tinge. The solution is neutral to litmus. In- oculated into a sparrow, it produces the same result as the sting of the bee. It is at first a local action, which be- comes rapidly apparent if the injection has been made in the foot. The mem- ber, becoming inactive, hangs inertly and drags on the ground; the reflex digital is paralyzed and the bird has great diflficulty in keeping its perch. The convulsive phenomena presently appear and remain for several hours. Finally, but slowly, we observe the somnolence approach; then follow the stupor and the troubled respiration, which are the immediate cause of death. These three phases of the poisoning are produced by distinct poisons. This we are able to demonstrate indirectly by modifying the venom responsible for each phase of the symptoms. When the symptoms of one of these poisons are suppressed then the other symptoms persist. Heated to a temperature of 100° C. for fifteen minutes, the solution of the poison loses its local action. Concern- ing the general phenomena, they still manifest themselves, but a little atten- uated and no longer hasten death. If the heating at 100° C. lasts half an hour, the venom loses its convulsive properties, but retains to some degree its ability to stupefy. Kept in a closed tube for fifteen minutes at 150° C, the poison becomes completely inactive. Allowed to stand and age in contact with the air, the solution loses its con- vulsive properties, but still causes a slight local action (inflamation), somno- lence and troubled respiration. Finally if we filter the solution of poison (through a Berkfie'd bourgie with thin walls), all the stupefying liquid passes through, but still relatively small .in quantity. F>om the preceding experiments it results that the poison of bees, as it is injected by the insect, contains three distinct active principles: First, an in- flaming substance which decomposes at 100 ° C. ; second, a convulsion-producing poison, which does not resist prolonged boiling; third, a stupefying poison, which is not wholly decomposed at 150° C. In the venomous secretions of an in- sect, the existence of two poisons of absolute contrary effects is a new fact of interest to compare with the obser- vations of M Bouchard, demonstrated for the first time in his researches on the poisons of the urine. One question still remains to solve. The vemon as it leaves the sting is a mixture of two liquids secreted by two different glands; it remains to be dis- covered whether the poisons are se- creted by two different glands or whether, as Caslet thought, they re- sulted from a chemical reaction, by the mixing of the two liquids. The experi- ments are proof. We extract the li- quid contained in the acid glands reser- voir; we dry it, and we inoculate a spar- row. The results are demonstrative. The bird succumbs with symptoms de- termined by the stupefying poison; with the other poison the action is very energetic. It is therefore very evident that the stupefying poison and the inflaming substance are secreted by the acid gland. Concerning the convulsive poi- son, it certainly comes from the alka- line gland; but this remains to be proven by direct experiment. February 14, 1906. The American Bee-Keeper is not the only bee journal; but no apiarist can justly claim to be well informed who fails to read it regularly. 69 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER WOOD'S BLL DI5LA5L. April A New Lnemy Develops in New England. TTHE FOLLOWING is from the ad- * dress delivered by Dr. James B. Paige of the Massachusetts Agricultural college, before the Worcester County Bee-keepers Association, Feb. 10, 1906. We understand that a scientific, study of the disease and its treatment will be continued at the college and shall en- deavor to keep our readers posted thereon. Until scientists give the disease a name will it not be well to call it "Wood's Bee Disease," in honor of the discoverer, whose untimely death we chronicle in this number of the American Bee-Keeper?— A. C. M. SYMPTOMS OF A DISEASE FIRST RECOG- NIZED IN THE APIARY OF JAS. F. WOOD, NORTH DANA, MASS. JULY, 1901. The larvae when about half-grown turn from a normal pearly-white color to a greasy-yellow shade. Soon after they die and lose their shape. At about this time the bees remove most of those dead. As the disease develops and the colony weakens many larvae are left in the comb. These later turn black, dry down and adhere as a dry, scale-like mass to the side and bottom of the cell. There is little or no tendency for the dead larvae to become viscid. The slow progress of the disease, the removal of the dead larvae and the ab- sence of any promininent or striking symptoms makes the disease difficult of diagnosis in its early stages, 'even by the practical apiarist who is continually working among his bees. Even in the advanced stages of development its existence would not in hardly an in- stance be detected among farmers' bees owing to the absence of such symptoms as dead larvae in front of the hive or a foul sm.ell that might be detectecl with^ out removing the cover. This seems to have been the case with this outbreak of the disease. It was not known that a trouble ex- isted among bees in this particular sec- tion until attention was called to it by Mr. Wood, and this notwithstanding the fact that it must have been spreading for several years before it was recog- nized, having covered in that time an area twenty-five miles in length by several miles in width, destroying many colonies, many of which were kept in moveable-frame hives and subject to occasional handling. The attack of the disease is so insiduous, its develop- ment so slow that under favorable con- ditions as plentiful honey flow, fine weather, etc , that the swarms may survive the attack sufficientUy so that it may go into winter quarters in an apparantly prosperous condition, but owing to its depletion, absence of young bees, soon succumbs to the attack. This loss has in many instances during the past two or three winters, which have been so severe, been thought to be due to the eft'ect of cold, loss of queens, wax worms, etc. The result of an outbreak of the disease in a yard has been the loss of every colony in it. In some cases a colony or two have survived the attack for one year and successfully gone through one winter, only to die the following spring or sum- mer. As bacterological study of material obtained from dead larvae resulted in the isolation of two organisms differing quite materially in both morphologic and cultural characteristics. Neither resembled the Bacillus alvei of Cheshire, or the Bacillus milli or Bacillus thoracis of Howard. It was not proven that either organism studied bore a causa- tion relative to the disease and was 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 70 thought that their presence was inci- dental. Close obsei'vation showed that the disease was usually spread in the apiary by flying bees from a diseased colony, entering the wrong hive. Its intro- duction into the yard was found to be due to the robbing out of hives that had harbored diseased bees the summer previous and which had been standing open in the yard. This source of in- fection was traced in quite an unmis- takable manner in two difi'erent in- stances. In the treatment of the diseased col- onies a variety of methods were tried, such as spraying with vinegar, Beta nap- thol, feeding antiseptic syrup solutions, disinfection of hives, etc. The best re- sults were obtained by the use of the McEvoy method employed with pi-e- ventative measures, consisting of re- moval of healthy colonies te new stands allowing diseased ones to remain on old stands in yard. Separation of healthy colonies in new position was found advantageous to retard spread of disease provided it appeared in any hives thought to be healthy at the time of separation. The disease is known to have existed among bees in ten or eleven towns in the Connecticut and Swift river valleys during the past five or six years. To prevent its diminuation those keep- ing bees should take particular pains to close hives in which colonies have per- ished during the winter. This should be done in early spring before the weather has become sufficiently warm to induce bees to fly. As soon as possi- ble the wax should be rendered by use of steam or hot water, never with solar extractor. Hives, covers, frames, etc. should be thoroughly disinfected by boiling or with disinfectant solutions. Only by co-operation can the bee- keepers hope to stamp out this great menace to this industry. The "rule or ruin" bump seems well developed in some people. YOUNG QUEENS IMPORTANT. F. Greiner. /^UR FAILURES often impress them- ^^ selves upon our minds more vividly than our successes and so I will mention the ill success I have had the past sea- son with some old queens which I had in my yard when 1905 started in. For several reasons, not necessary to detail here, I had failed to replace these the fall before or even as soon in the spring as queens could conveniently be reared. Some of these went right on and did a good business. One black colony in an outyard came through in rather poor condition, but with a large amount of honey, which was partly removed. I leather expected this colony would build up during the summer and give some surplus during the fall honey-flow; but it did not do so. At the best there were only four combs of brood. Futher the queen could not go. According to former experiences I expected that the bees of that colony would go to work and rear another queen. I was watching for this occur- rence; but that did not happen. The bees did not seem to have "sense" enough to apply the only remedy at their command. My interest was aroused and to give them further oppor- tunities I placed a set of brood combs full of brood on top of their hive, thus giving them a lift. This was in the late summer, near the close of the white honey season. By fall I had a fair colony of bees, numerically, but with a small amount of brood. I took them into the winter, but failed to ob- tain any surplus. I shall now with anxiety watch the development if they survive. Of course it is a money losing game to allow a colony to thus fool away their time, but we may learn a lesson from it. The other colony, I have in mind, was a fine Italian, while the previous one was a "native." The queen was fine and had been clipped, the same as the 71 black. The colony built up in good shape and was among the best when the honey season arrived. I made a brushed or shook swarm of it and dis- posed of the brood combs. Everything seemed to go lovely and ere long I raised the first super giving the second and empty one under the first. I had taken particular notice of the queen when making the brushed swarm and had treated her very carefully; I knew she was all right. Still the supers were not finished up as on other hives simi- larly treated. I became impatient. Finally, at the very close of the season, I made an examination. I found the old queen apparently all right but only scattering brood through the hives and that very largely drone brood. In this case, the same as in the other, the bees THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER WHY MISREPRESENT? April W. J. DavU, l>t. 5EE PAGE fifty-eight, American Bee-Keeper for March. Profes- sor Wiley stated some twenty-five years ago that artificial combs were now made (of paraffine), filled with syrup (glucose) and sealed so perfectly that they could not be distinguished from the work of the honeybee. He has since admitted that it was only a scien- tific pleasantry, like the making of ar- tificial hens' eggs that would hatch; a statement so absurd that no one of sense would believe it for a moment. Prof. Wiley no doubt enjoyed the no- toriety of public cudgeling by the dif- ferent bee journals, until he admitted that it was only a "scientific pleas had shown very poor "judgement' ' lor f?*''^"";"''^ claiming it to be a possi they had made no provisions at all to rear another queen. As to surplus honey, the outcome was anything but satisfactory. There was not one perfectly filled section. The first case given contained about half as much honey by weight as is usually found in a well filled one. Each .section was "pinched down" and not market- able nor in any shape to be used as a "go back," for nearly all cells were sealed. The second case contained no honey whatever; the starters were drawn out some, and a little more new comb added. That was all. Colonies with old queens which are allowed to swarm according to their ble production. But the outsiders be- lieved it. I have had men tell me it was a fact, for they had seen it. It is a hard matter to convince a man that a thing does not exist when he has seen it with his own eyes. I can say that I have never seen such comb honey, and will venture the assertion that A. C. M. never saw such a section. The outsiders that call us bee-keepers a lot of "hot-headed bigots" are peo- ple who possibly never saw the inside of a bee hive nor even a honeybee, un- less it was at a safe distance. This Wiley story has gone the rounds of the city dailies about once a year for the past twenty-five years. The edi- own will, frequently supersede their t**^^' ^^'^"^^ undoubtedly able men and understanding current events even all over this globe, yet know practically queens during the swarming period, but when we take matters into our own hands it will be well for us to also see to It that old queens are replaced before they begin to fail. Naples, N. Y., Feb. 28 1906. nothing of honey or many other prod- ucts of the country that enter into consumption in city life. Yet the writer of "Why Misrepresent?" says it can be done. If it can, please tell us how we may cap sections which are filled with natural combs and nearly full of honey, H. H. Jepson, 182 Friend street, Bos- and some which are partly sealed yet ton. Successor to F. H. Farmer. Bees, are not marketable? Queens and Supplies. For more than twenty years a stand- BEE SUPPLIES IN BOSTON. 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 72 ing offer of $1,000, made by a reliable ily as do geese; they slow when the firm for one section of so-called arti- queen slows and speed when the queen ficial comb honey has not had an appli- speeds. This gives a sort of jerking mo- cant. Why, you "hot-headed bigots," tion to the entire flock as it swiftly that is more than the average bee- circles above. keeper makes from a whole apiary in a When the flock first forms there year, and can't you make just one may not be more than three or four section? Yet the writer referred to drones but others soon join in the chase says it can be made, but it "don't until they number perhaps eighteen or pay," and there you have struck the "American anatomy '^that always hears, "the commercial sense. " But, Brother Miller, there is another sense that is highly prized sometimes by the Amer- ican people; it is called sense. ' ' Youngs ville, Pa. more. All the while the rear drones are grappling the drones in advance and come tumbling down together. These fellows, however, soon join in the chase again. I have seen the drones "common grapple each other thus until only three perhaps remain close to the queen. She may then dodge and thus slip the few left to reappear at another point THE NUPTIAL FLIGHT. in the air with another flock of suitors. The flight is wondrous swift, and one E. L. Pratt. niust be vigilant to keep track of it all. 1H A VE ON several occasions observed If you happen to be in a mating yard the mating of queen bees and in a on a dull day when young queens are few instances have seen the act of ac- due to fly, look up and you will certainly tual copulation and I wish to record the see what what I have outlined above. facts as witnessed during the season of 1905. My observations were made on dull days, when the sun was partially veiled, for on such a day one can look directly into the sky without being daz- zled by the sun. It is my belief that young queens never fly as high as we have been led to believe by past writings on the sub- ject; nor do I beheve that it is natural for them to go very far from the hives. From my observations I judge that a Op one occasion the queen and drone fell at my very feet and I watched the queen kick herself away from the drone. That drone did not die instantly nor did he explode as the text-books have said; he lived, but of course he was injured. He could fly in the grass from blade to blade. Drones are frightfully rough when in flight with a queen. They fly at each other and at the queen as though to tear from limb from limb. The queens mating zone grows smaller and smaller are sometimes injured in this tussle in by the increase of the number of drones the air. Once an injured queen fell in a given location. upon a bush near me. The drones came In my mating yards during the height with her her down on that bush, some of the season there are at least ten staying obout all that afternoon expect- thousand drones, and if half this num- ing the queen to fly off again; she did ber should be on the wing I doubt very not fly and after a while the drones much if any young queen could possibly went home disappointed, get very far before being caught. The most impressive mating scene I I will try to picture the action of the ever witnessed was late in September. drones when young queens, due to mate, are in the air: They form in a fllock (somewhat like geese) when in full pursuit of a queen, but do not fly stead- The day was dull but quite warm. When I stepped into the the yard there were at least three queens in the air, on mating bent. These three queens 73 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER Apiil gathered together in that yard more son he stn^ured a position as superin- drones than I had ever before seen in tendent of a large apiary in New York flight in one spot before. The flocks where he perfected his knowledge of whizzed by my head repeatedly and I the practical workings of the apiary as was kept busy keeping track of it all. Several times I rushed to a knot of drones in the grass with the expecta- tion of finding a mated queen; but lo and behold, only a lot of angry drones tussling and mauling each other. They were soon off, however, and, in the air, were forming into flocks again. This scene lasted fully twenty minutes until I at last saw a queen and drone come down in tumbling motion and I was certain that I had seen all there was to be seen. I rushed up and watched the queen kick herself away. I captured the drone and caged him. he lived over five hours and it is my be- lief that he would have lived much lon- ger if proper food could have been sup- phed. In a future letter I will try to tell fully of the action of the drone parts, if I can manage suitable drawings for purpose of illustration. Swarthmore, Pa., October 15, 1965. DEATH OF JAMES FITTS WOOD. Mr. Wood authority on other insects, demonstrator Mr. James Fitts Wood, aged 44, died at his home in Athol, Mass., Feb. 15, 1905. was an acknowledged the subject of bees and and was a lecturer and in this line at the Mass- achusetts Agricultural college. While yet a boy he became inter- ested in the subject of bee-keeping and to prepar for his life work secured employment with the father of W. W. Gary of Colrain, Mass., who at the time was associated with Mr. Langstroth. Upon his first visit to Mr. Gary's place he walked from his home to Colrain, a distance of more than twenty- five miles. After having served an ap- prenticeship of several years with Mr. Langstroth and the elder Gary and his conducted on a large scale for the pro- duction of honey. Equipped with a thorough knowledge of the Caiy apiary, he started in this line for himself after" completing his work in New York. He was engaged in this line of work for several years up to the time of his death. Being by nature a close student and JAMES FITTS WOOD. careful observer he was very success- ful. He succeded in developing a strain of Italians remarkable for their gentle- ness, good working qualities and beauty. While thus engaged he devised several methods and invented and improved several appliances useful in queen rear- ing, notably the automatic queen re- leasing introducing cage. Until his health became somewhat impared he was an attendent at the bee-keepers' conventions held in the eastern section of the country. Al- though not a prolific writer he oc- 1906 THE'AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 74 casionally contributed articles to the journals giving all in bee-keeping the benefit of the results of his labors. To the end he was a close student of the subject of his hfe's work. He was a careful reader of all the journals and thoroughly conversant with the new discoveries and progress made in the subject of apiculture. Through careful study of books and journals, or by personal acquaintance he was familiar with the names and work of those of his own time and earlier years who had contributed to the stock of knowledge of thiu import- ant industry. It was his nature to al- low full credit for an opinion relative to the vsilue of a particular method, or advantage claimed for a new invention for use in the apiry. This he accepted until its correctness or worthlessness had been demonstrated by practical ex- perimentation in his own hands. James B. Paige, Amherst, Mass. CANADIAN BEE-KEEPER SUED FOR DAMAGES. The plaintiff alleged that the bees which did the damage belonged to the defendant, who had 160 hives of honey bees on a property across the road from the scene of the trouble. The defend- ant denied liability, and he was backed up by bee-keepers in Canada and the United States. It is said the National Bee-Keepers' association of the United States was behind the defence. The jury gave a verdict for Plaintiff Lucas for $400. W. S. McBrayne, this city, was for the plaintiff. George S. Lynch-Staun- ton, K. C, and H. P. Innes, Simcoe, were for the defendant. The case will be appealed. THE LEAGUE NOT GUILTY The following clipping is from a re- cent number of an Ontario newspaper: A great deal of interest was taken in the Lucas-Pettit case, which was tried at the assizes at Simcoe yesterday. The action was brought by Freeman Lucas, a farmer of Nixon, hear Simcoe, against Morley Pettit, a bee-keeper, for $2000 damages for the loss of a span of horses and for injuries to the plaintiff by a swarm of bees. Last summer the plaintiff's horses were stung to death one day while the farmer was engaged in cutting oats. The bees swooped down on the horses in such force that they put the the animals out of business in a few minutes, and killed them in about an hour. Mr. Lucas fled for his life to a mud puddle near by, and it was only by getting right into the mud hole that he escaped meeting the same fate as the horses. Marengo, III., March 7, 1906. Mr. Editor: On page 58 of The American Bee- Keeper occurs the following sentence: "The late League issued a 24 page pamphlet on the so called 'Wiley Honey Lie.' " Please permit me space to pro- nounce that statement utterly untrue. The League issued no pamphlet of any kind. So far as I know, no member of the League knew of the existence of the pamphlet in question until it was in print. Permission was then asked to put upon the said pamphlet the imprint of the Honey Producers' League; but no such permission was granted. If any later issue has upon it the imprint of the League, there is sometimg in the nature of forgery in the case. C. C. Miller. Do not judge a trade journal by its sub- scription price. Judge by its contents. DO YOU WANT QUEENS? The best queens? By return mail? We can fill your order from our fine strain of three-band Italians. Healthy and prolific, but the best of workers. Try them. Tested, $1; untested, 75c, Per dozen, $8. J. W. K. Shaw & Co., Loreauville, La. ?5 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER April THE SUGAR FEEDING GAME. Mr. Chantry Stands Pat With a Good Hand. Thoi. Chantry. FROM OUR experiment described in the January number Mr. J. E. Hand proceeds to make wrong calcula- tions. He objects to my caging the queen. The loss in weight of syrup and honey fed would have been still greater had the queen been free; and who would want a swarm in October to have to feed over winter at an extra expense? And further how would a queen keep up the strength of a colony, starting with no brood and the experiment last- ing four weeks? It would take three weeks for the first bee to hatch. We did not want the bees to spend any of their energy or time or feed in rearing brood, which would be a useless ex- pense afterward. We buy swarms in June and July for one dollar here, and in August and September for fifty cents, and later no one wants them as a gift. One man last fall offered me fourteen colonies if I would take them out of the hives and leave him the hives, honey and wax. I'd rather buy next spring for $4.00 each in good hives, ready for business; and he sulphured them. So there goes your two dollars— if there would be a possibility of getting it. Therefore I do not see yet that 1 made a great blunder in caging my queen. Further, Mr. Hand counts our honey at 15 cents, which is not so. We sold for 12 cents, and lots of Wisconsin honey was delivered for 10| to 11 cents. His sugar price is also wrong. We paid $6.25 per 100 pounds for it. Now figure it as it was : 62 J pounds of honey at 7 cents per pound, $4.37^. 125 pounds of sugar at $6.25 per 100 pounds, $7.81i; four swarms of bees, nothing only time to go 3i miles and get them, three trips; actual cash cost, $12.18. 94 pounds of honey, at 12 cents, $11.28; 20 pounds in brood nest, a dead waste, for that col- ony was no bett^ off next season than any other. Actually, to us here, the experiment cost us 90 cents cash, be- sides a day constructing a suitable feeder, and the daily attentions in mix- ing feed and giving, and the procuring from a distance of the bees after hunt- ing out their queen at the different trips, and the weighing and adjusting supers, crating honey, etc., etc. Now, Mr. Hand, come out and get my $100.00. It is ready for you as per my offer in the January Bee-Keeper. You say you have seen thousands of pounds of sugar honey, but you did not say you produced it. I saw a fellow who said he fed his bees one hundred pounds of sugar made into syrup, and got two hundred pounds of honey, which was probably true; but in fact his beea used the sugar for feed and brood, which made them strong so they stored two hundred pounds of honey when a flow came. The latter half of your article is just my sentiments exactly. Sioux City, la., February 10, 1906. CINCINNATI NEWS Fred W. Muth. Cincinnati, March 3, 1906. Rev. E. A. Wagner, of St. Paul's English Lutheran church, was quite a bee enthusiast when a boy; he took up the work of ministering into his people and has built up a strong congregation. In the past year he has again taken to apiculture and has one hive located in the belfry of the church, two in the yard of the parsonage, only to be re- moved into the belfry early in the spring. He also has an out apiary of three in the suburbs of Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Wagner promises us much in se- curing others to join in the work of the Lord, also to bring others in close touch with the real merits and advantages of keeping God's most wonderful insects 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 76- —the honeybee. We ultimately shall look to Dr. Wagner as a leader, and already he had planned to secure a swarm of bees located in a tree in one of the golf grounds situated in the west end of the city. This information was gleaned through one of the Sunday school boys, who became interested by knowing that his pastor was and would be interested. Mr. Ed Childlaw, of Cleves, Ohio, informs us that on February 12th, the snow was four inches deep and that out of thirty-five hives in his apiary thirty- five were alive and flying. Although bee-keeping with Mr. Childlaw is only a side issue, as it were, he is one of those progressive bee-keepers who knows how to make it pay, and last season cleared $25.».U0 from thirty five colonies. This, we think, is very good, considering the poor season in this part of the country. He reports that the clover never looked better than now, and is sure he will make quite a nice profit the coming season with his bees. Mr. C. E. Woods, who resided in our city until last spring, when he purchased a nice Httle home and a few acres of ground in Latonia, Ky., a pretty little villa some seven miles distant from Cincinnati. Behold, he too has the bee fever, and a bad case at that. Mr. Woods has the making of a bee man, in the fullest sense of the word. We will prescribe for your bee fever, Bro. Woods, in the spring-time when the trees begin to blossom, and cast their shade upon the tender grass beneath. Mr. Samuel Fardo of Butler, Ky., called upon us Christmas Day. He is a successful huckster and bee-keeper, and Idealizes the advantage of raising fine comb honey, since he handles all kinds raised by the farmer bee-keeper, and sells direct to the grocery customers. January 21st was an ideal spring day; never saw the bees fly better in June. Every living soul, that could, was out enjoying the beautiful day. The writer examined twelve colonies and found them in excellent shape, some with quite a nice lot of brood. The following day four bee men called at our store giving us nice orders for bee hives and supplies. My, how anxious the bee men are awaiting the first signs of spring, for they know they will reap a harvest this year. (How do they know ?^Editor.) The Bee-Keeping World Stdtt Contributors: F. GREINER. ADRIAN GETAZ Contributions to this Department are solicited Ironi all quarters of the earth. GERMANY. The German bee-keepers are obliged to chose between a great many dift'er- ent styled bee hives. ShiUing enumer- ates twenty-eight, and says the list is much larger.— niustr. Bztg. According to the experience of Schenkenberger, who has a house apiary in use containing 38 colonies, only two queens out of ten are able to safely re- turn to their hive when out on a mat- ing trip. The entrances of these hives are close, one to another, and this is the reason of S. ' sad experience. The same writer describes his nudeus-hives as a sort of "long-ideal" nine or ten small frames, divisible by inserting two close-fitting division boards, thus forming three se^-arate 77 compartments each having a small round entrance, and facing different parts of the compass. (The gleaner of this has for some time used a similar nucleus hive holding four colonies, the four respective entrances facing in four different directions. This arrangement has given good satisfaction.) — Bralz. Bztg. The German Central -Verein of Bee- Keepers has at present 50,000 members. Three good rules for increasing the consumption of honey are laid down by Schneider in Preuss. Bztg. viz 1, "Of- fer for sale only pure, neat and fault- less honey; 2, Employ business methods 3, Inform the general public through the press of the value of honey as a food. ' ' Gerstung says in Dei Biene that in 1873 only 12 per cent of all the bees in Germany were in frame hives. In 1900 as many as 44 per cent were in frame hives. Stolle reports a case of impure comb- foundation as follows: I bought of a so called reliable firm 12 pounds of comb foundation. It was used in well wired frames. Every sheet tore off and slid down on the wires causing great loss and confusion in the hives. The frames were largely built out with drone comb and were no good. It was the ruination of my bees. — Schlesurg H. Bztg. CLAIMS QUESTIONABLE HONOR. Preudenstein, editor of Neue Bztg. has been advocating the feeding of sugar for a number of years. In the last issue of his paper he says, that he does not claim to be the originator of sugar feeding, not even for a winter food, but claims originality of having discovered, that dysentery can be pre- vented and cured by substituting sugar for honey. He says that during his 19 years of bee-keeping he found that cleansing flights did not cure the desease. A colony which is deseaed THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER will April 'go back" till nature continue to furnishes better food, or the bee-keeper does it. He claims originality for mak- ing the assertion that a swarm of bees may be deprived of all its combs, etc., placed on sheets of foundation and fed on sugar syrup and have them come out in the spring in No. 1 shape. Even without foundation the object may be accomplished and the resnlt will be all worker combs at that; that bees need no pollen for safe wintering. With a good supply of sugar syrup stored in combs with no pollen present bees need no cleansing flights during the winter, he says. And more, he would do everything he could to prevent such flights. [It will be remembered by the older readers that James Heddon made similar assertions many years ago.] It is estimated that a swarm of bees numbering 22500 individual bees can and does carry about or nearly two pounds of honey in their honeysacks. Berlepsch concluded that it repuired 0.0001699042 oz. of honey for each bee each day and according to these figures the same swarm ought to be able to live without other food eight full days, but the fact is that a swarm generally starves in five or six days. — Monats bl Weipple. GOOD FOR GREINER. An advertisement in Deutsche Bzcht refering to the Camiolan bee says: "The largest honey-yields by proper managment are possible only with the Carniolan bee." With the following slight change of wording the gleaner endorses every word. Read thus: "The largest honey-yield with the Carniolan bees is possible only by proper manage- ment!" Guenther still defends the "no-bee- space" between the upper and lower sets of frames. Guenther has had an- experience of 50 years of practical bee- keeping.— Deutshe Imeker. 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 78 ROMANIA. The hive used largely in Romania is similar to the old straw-skep, has the shape of a bell and is made of willow twigs, basket fashion. To give greater warmth and protect against the sun the structure it coated with a mixture of clay. These hives are made very small and it is difficult to obtain any honey from them except by resorting to brim- stone. The bees, prehaps on account of the smallness of their hives are given much to swarming, but the swarms are small, seldom weighing over two pounds. A very few of the more en- lightened people in Romania have of late taken movable-comb hives of Ger- man pattern into use. The main honey season commences about May 15, and lasts a month, usually there is a short flow m August and September. On account of the severity of the winters and the poor management of the bee- keepers bees are said to winter badly, even strong colonies often suffer greatly. —Seipz. Bztg. ITALY. LUIGI VON SARTORI Prehaps no other bee-keeper has dis- tinguished himself in Italy to the ex- tent that Luigi von Sartori has. His name is know not alone in Italy but also in parts of Asia and Africa. He was born in Primicro, Tirol, a province of Austria on the 24th of April, 1834, studied German apicultural litei'ature and adopted the movable comb at an early date. In 1856 he had hundi-eds of movable comb-hives in his yards. The Bienen-Vater of Dec. 1905 an Austrian bee-periodical has not only a fine por- trate of Prof. Sartori but also a picture of his apiary as it appeared in 1856. In 1862 he commenced to write for the press and in 1880 in connection with A. von Rauschenfels he wrote an ex- tensive book on bee-culture which has been highly commented on and which brought him many honors. The book is said to be the best and most exten- sive bee-book written in the Italian language. In 1869 the prof essor received a call to go to Milan where he estab- lished large apiaries from which he sent thousands of Italian queens and swarms of bees to nearly all parts of the world. He constructed a hive which has become very popular in Italy. Many distinguished men, men of no ordinary standing came to him for in- structions in apicultural matters. In ^ 1880 the Russian minister, Boutouchin, engaged him to estabhsh a number of modern apiaries in different parts of Russia. He also went to Egypt for similar purposes. The King of Italy, as well as Emperor of Austria, conferred great honors upon Sartori for his mer- itorious work, the advancement of api- culture. — Condensed from Bienen- Vater. SWITZERLAND AN INTERNATIONAL BEE JOURNAL. A new publication of apicultural matters has just come to the desk of the gleaner of this. It is styled "Eu- ropian Apiculture" and is edited by A. Straeuli. In his introduction the editor says that modern apiculture like other progressive work is not a national but an international affair and that he in- tends to show apiculture of Italy, France, etc, but particularly of North America as the influence of modern American apiculture has long been felt in European lands. It seems Straeuli has been encouraged by many bee- keepers of Europe, especially Germany, to inform the German speaking public of "what is going on in America." This is very flattering to the bee-keepers of the United States and gives us great satisfaction, in view of the fact that the Yankee bee-keeper has been looked down upon by the Germans for many years. American Queen-rearing and Baby-nuclei is the first topic the editor brings in the new publication. 79 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER April THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER PUBLISHED MONTHLY gems (?) in beedom's periodical array, is less brilliant to others than to those who do the polishing and are dazzled by the splendor of their own handiwork. THE W. T. FALCONER MFG. CO. Proprietors Publishing Office Fort Pierce, Fla. Home Office Falconer, N. Y. Harry E. Hill Editor Arthur C. Miller. . .Associate Editor TERMS AND PRICE OF SUBSCRIPTION: Fifty cents a ypar; three years, $1.00. To new sub- scribers only, on trial, one year, 35 cents. Pay- ment always in advance. ADVERTISING RATES : A liniitPfi number of .'^triotly lopitimate and ac- ceptable advertisements will be inserted at the followinp rates: Reprular adverti.scments (agate measure) 1.5 cents per line. PeadinK notices (set in nonpariel) 20 cents per line. fJperinl lo'-qfio". ''s percent extra. Cuts inserted withmit extra cbarKP PIPrO|TNT.S-On continuous in.'^ert ions we allow the following-: Three months (3 times) 10 per cent. Six mntiths (6 tiniest, 20 per cent. Twelve months (12 times), 30 per cent. HOW TO ADDRESS. The home office of The American Bee-Keeper is at Falconer. N. Y , and all matters relating to sub- scriptions, discontinuances, chancres of a of Kvanchev. A feature of the annual agricultural exposition at Bucarest, is the exhibition of bee-hives of most approved pattern. Such is the poverty of the Roumanian peasant, however, that he cannot buy if he would. A "bee-line" is often a very crooked affair, but is always the line of least resistance, says Allen Latham; and Allen is right, QUALITY QUEENS Are the best Italians yet. Send for circular. H. H. Jepson. 182 Friend St., Boston, Mass. 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 82 Different Kinds of Fools. Cincinnati and San Francisco is the home of a monthly journal bearing the benign title, "The National Humane Educator," a marked copy of which has been sent to us by a New York sub- scriber. The paper is edited and man- aged by a bunch of well meaning women, so we shall dwell not upon the ignorance or stupidity of the management, but re- produce the article as an example of some men's foolishness. Some people who constitute the source of the news- papers' supply of raw material are fool- ish; some are fools and still others are so much so that they are not fittingly described without the use of a qualifying adjective. Ike Hubbard, as may be noted, belongs to the latter class. This is the article: CAI,LS BEES IDLE Dedham, Me. ''There are sevei'al popular errors about the ways of bees which need rectifying," said Ike Hub- bard, a honey hunter. "The average bee, instead of being an example of in- dustry, is about the laziest thing that flies. "Even in the busy season in midsum- mer no bee will quit his hive until after the sun is well up and has taken off the heavier part of the dew and as soon as the sun slants toward the hills in the afternoon every bee will come flying home and go to his roost, though dark- ness is four hours away. "Then there are few bees that will hunt for honey from flowers so long as they can find corn syrup or brown sugar to steal. This fact is so well known to apiarists that many bee-keepers buy corn syrup at 50 cents a gallon and pass it along to the bees, which resembles honey, and still sells for honey, but is not the genuine product of the hives. When a man can buy syrup for 50 cents a gallon and then sell it back to the ti'ader as honey at $8 a gallon he can get rich right away, provided he has enough bees. "The* greatest mistake that is made about bees is the belief that they follow straight lines when carrying home their loads of honey. I assure you that the bee line one reads about in books does not exist. "When a laden bee is going home with a big load of honey in its stomach and great wads of pollen on its hind legs it takes the easiest course, regardless of any line. In our hilly Maine country no bee will rise in the air to surmount a hill when it can go around the obstruc- tion. "When a sharp rise lies between my honey box and the bee tree every bee flies away on the arc of a circle, so ?s to avoid exerting itself by rising. In such cases I place my box on either side of the hill and make my triangulation nearer the apex. If one were to go chasing after a bee that was flying around a hill his calculations might lead him to China. "The bee-keepers tell us that white clover honey is the best, but I do not agree with them. Domestic honey, such as gathered from white clover, buckwheat and other cultivated plants, is too sweet. "To my mind wild honey that is stolen from the blossoms of dogwood and bass- wood and wild thyme and mints and net- tles is far better than anything bought in the stores. It has a gamy flavor about it that suggests wild woods and great trees and singing brooks and every- thing that lives out of doors and away from the contaminating taint of man- kind." Do not judge a trade journal by its sub- scription price. Judge by its contents. HONEY AND BEESWAX MARKET. Kansas City, Mo.. Dec. 7.— The supply of honey is good. The demand is fair. We quote our mar- ket today as follows: Comb. $3.25 per case. Ex- tracted, 6c and eV-e. C C. Clemons & Co. Buffalo, Dee. 6. — The supply of honey is only fair and more needed The demand is gcoi for fancy. We quote our market today as follows: Comb, fancy, 12-14, No. 2, 8-lOc. Extracted, 6-8c lb. in 5 gallon cans. Beeswax 28-32c. Really fancy one-lb comb is wanted, but lower grades move slow and have to be cut accordingly. Batterson & Co. Boston, March 14.— The demand for comb honey continues to be gootl, with new stock cleaning up rapidly. Fancy white, 16 to 17c: No. 1, 16c, No more No. 2 on hand. There is still a good sized stock of old goods, but it is almost impossible to move it. Extracted from 6 to 8c. Blake, Scott & Lee Co. Chicago, March 7.— Choice white comb honey is not plentiful and it sells upon arrival at l.'ic per pound. Other grade of comb are not in demand and sell at uncertain prices of 10 to 14c per pound. Choice while extracted, GVj to 7''ac; amber grade.'^, 5V2 to 6Vic. Beeswax, 30c per pound, R. A. Burnett & Co. New York, Dec. 6— Comb honey— The deman« continues to be fair for all grades. Prices practi cally remain the same. We quote fancy white a 14 to 15c; No 1, 13c; No. 2, 12c: buckwheat 10c pei lb Extracted honey is in good demand, especiallx California, with large .supplies. We quote white 6V^. to 7c; light amber. 5c; buckwheat, extracted 5Vi to 6c per lb. Beeswax, linn and steady at 2 to 30c per lb. Hildreth & .Segelken. Cincinnati, March 9.— The demand for coml honey has brightened considerably since we last reported; in all probability, by the close of Apri). the market will be bare of comb honey. This wil be encouraging to the bee-keeper. Nevertheless, to advance prices is out of tlie ciuestion. We therefore, continue to quote fancy white coml honey in 24 section cases at 11 and 15c per pouno The demand for extracted honey does not come up to our expectations. We are selling amber honey at from 5Vt to 6'/ac, according to quality. Fancy white honey in 60 pound cans, at 8c. For choice, bright yellow beeswax we are paying 30c ner pound, delivei-ed here. ^ The Fred W. Muth Co. 51 Walnut street. OUR LEADER. Our price for all 1 year $3.00 Modern Farmer $ 25 Woman's Home Companion 1.00 Cosmopolitan 1.00 Pearson's 1-^^ Review of Reviews 3.00 Without Review of Reviews, $2, with- out Woman's Home Companion and Re- view of Reviews, $1.50. Gleanings ii Bee Culture, The American Boy, or the Great Western Fruit Grower may be substituted for Pearson's if desired. Write for other clubs. We can save you money on almost any paper. The Modern Farmer, Box 15 St. Joseph, Mo, A BATH I II I u r.» wher EMPIRE taken in an " Portable Folding BATH TUU. Used in auy room. AOEN'TS \\ AXTDIi. Catalogue Free. 'washer CO., jAMSSTOWM,n.Y. WANTED. The American Bee - Keeper wants an agent in every city, town and village of every En- glish - speaking country in the world. To our representatives everywhere we pay cash for available matter for publication, and liberal cash commissions on all subscribers secured. American Bee-Keeper, Falconer, N. Y. i $100 Typewriters $25 All standard makes, guaranteed: send for samples and particulars: shipped subject to e.xamination. Rentals $2.00 up; supplies at reduced prices. CONSOLIDATED TYPEWRITER i EXCHANGE New York 242 Broadway- Established USX The Houston Bee Supply Co. KeICHARDT & SCHULTE J06-208 Milam St. Houston, Tex. Our Railroad connections are the Best. We ship without delay. Poultry Dollars Come Easy Jun 6 Our large 52 to 112 page magazine, beautifully illustrated: be.st printed and e»e Dixie Home Ma^Hj^iae 10 cents a year Larg-est, Brightest and Finest Illustrated Magazine in the World for 10 cents a year, to Introduce it Only. It is bright and up-to-date. Tells all about Southern Home Life. It is full of fine engravings of grand scenery, buildings and famous people. Send at once; 10c a year, postpaid anywhere in the U. S., Canada and Mexico; 3 years, 50c; or clubs of 6 names, 50c, 12 for $1. Send us a club. Money back if not de- lighted. Stamps taken. Cut this out. Send today. THE DIXIE HOME 1005, Birmingham, Alabama ONE-HALP INCH SPACE ONE YEAR ON THIS PAGE, $3.00 THE FRED W. MUTH CO . 51 Walnut St . Cin- cinnatti. Ohio. Standard Bred Red Clover Three-lianded Queetis, Golden Italians and Carni" ^ olans. Safe arrival guarantee. Send for circu- lars . W J. DAVIS, 1st. YOUNGSVILLE, PA. '" ' breeder of choice Italian Bees and Queens Quality, not quantity, is my motto. DEWEY'S HARDY HONEY GATHERERS.— Reared under swarming impulse through- out the year. Large, strong, healthy. Send for card, "Can I Control Swarming? " Original. Untested, 75c., 6 for $3.00; tested, $1.50, 6 for $5.00. Choice, $2..50. High grade breeders, $2.00 to $10.00. E, H. DEWEY, GT. BARRINGTON, MASS^ QUEENS HERE.— We are still asking you to give us your trade. We sell Italians, Goldens and Carniolans at 75c for untested and $1.00 for tested. Prices on quantities and nuclei upon application. JOHN W. PHARR, BERCLAIR, TEXAS^ Jan. 6 SWARTHMORE APIARIES, SWARTHMORE. PA.— Our bees and queens are the brightest Italians procurable. Satisfaction guaranteed. We are breeding the Caucasians absolutely pure from direct imported stock. WW. GARY & SON, LYONSVILLE, MASS. • — Breeders of choice Italian bees and queens. Imported Leather and Root's Red Clover strains. Catalogue and price list FREE. MOORE'S LONG-TONGUED STRAIN of Italians become more and more popular each year. Those who have tested them know why. Descriptive circular free to all. Write J. P. MOORE, L BOX 1, MORGAN, KY. HONEY QUEENS AND BEES FOR SALE.— I extracted 300 pounds per colony in 1903. THOS. WORTHINGTON, Leota, Mi.ss. Aug 5 THE A. I ROOT CO., Medina, O of Italian bees and queens. -Breeders BREEDING FROM SELECTION MERELY re- jects the poorest. Long harvests, high moun- tains and deep blossoms improves the best. Foi queens bred along this line address for particulars, C. W. DAYTON, Chatsworth, Calif. QUEENS from Jamaica any day in the year. Untested, 66c: tested, $1.00; select tested, $1.50. Our queens are reared from the very finest strains. Geo. W Phillips, Sav-La-Mar P. O. Jamaica, W.I. 5-5 "T) J. BLOCHER, PEARL CITY, ILL— Caucas- -'-^ • ian and Italian Queens reared in separate yards Safe arrival of all stock guaranteed . Cir- culars and price list free. Jan7 COLLINGDALE APIARY— J. R. Rambo. breeder of Caucasian and Golden Italian queens. Italians bred from stock received from Swarthmore. Cau- casians bred from imported queen. Queens reared and mated in separate yards, 6 miles apart Satis- faction and safe arrival guaranteed . Agent for The W . T Falconer Mfg. Go's, bee supplies. Coll- ingdale, Delaware County, Penn . JOHN M DAVIS, SPRING HILL. TENN — ^ Has greatly enlarged and improved his queen- rearing facilities Two unrelated Carniolans and a dark leather Italian lately imported. My own strains of three-band and golden; "Moore's" long- tongue; Doolittle's golden; all selects. Carniolans mated to Italian drones when desired. No disease. Circular free WE are now booking oi-ders for Providence Queens for spring delivery. Cull & V/illiams, Provi- dence, R. I. n H W WEBER. CINCINNATI. OHIO— (oor- ^' ner Central and Freeman Aves.)— Golden Yellow, Re2 nov-6 c HONEY DEALERS. OHIO. C. H. W WEBER, Freeman and Central Aves., Cincinnati, Ohio. If for sale, mail sample and state price expected, delivered in incinnati. If in want, write for prices, and state quality and quantity desired. 5-5 WE are always in the market for extracted honey, as we sell unlimited quantities. Send us a sam- ple and your best price delivered here. The Fred W. Muth Co.. 51 Walnut St., Cincinnati. O. 5-5 COLORADO. THE COLORADO HONEY PRODUCERS' AS- SOCIATION. 1140 Market St.. Denver. Colo. Cent-a-Word Column* AGENTS WANTED— To sell advertising novel- ties, g-ood commission allowed. Send for cata- logue and terms. Anreican Manufacturing Concern, Falconer, N. Y. WANTED— To manufacture any kind or size of Hives to suit individual needs, tastes, etc. F. T. HOOPES, E. Downington, Pa., Chester Co. WANTED — Barnes machinery with or without foot-power, in good condition. Address, F. T. HOOPES, East Downington, Pa., Chester Co. FOR SALE — Four two-frame reversible Novice extractors and one 10-inch Pelham foundation mill with dipping tank, all in good condition. Write for terms. Mrs. W. L. KEEPER, Fort Pierce. Fla. THE BUSY MAN'S METHOD OF REARING GOOD QUEENS— This leaflet describes the method used in rearing the Hardy Honey Gath- erers (read elsewhere), and if carefully followed will produce queens of great merit. No loss of brood, no cell-cups, and but little time required. Large queens under swarming impulse. Noth- ing artificial about it. Every queen breeder needs it. Price 25 cents. E. H. DEWEY, Gt. Barrington, Mass. INCREASE is a handsome little book telling how to form new colonies without breaking working stocks. A simple, sure, satisfactory plan, 25c. Baby Nuclei tells how to mate many queens from sections with a mere handful of bees; 42 pages, 20 pictures, 50c. Cell Getting tells how to save labor in rearing queens, 50 cents. Queen rear- ing outfits. Golden all-over and Caucasian Queens. Circulars free. E. L. PRATT, Swarth- more. Pa. 3 and 5-Band ITALIAN and CARNIOLAN QUEENS Equal to the Best. Untested, 50c each. Tested, 75c each. One and two frame nucleus per frame, 50c. Prompt attention, safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed. C B. BANKSTON, ^^IZl SuX. THE ALAMO BEE SUPPLY CO. •\ A Complete Stock of the Best Goods. Immediate Shipment Guaranteed. J.F. C.KERR Agt. San Antonio, Texas THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST LEWIS BEE WARE It Always Fits, LEWIS BEE WARE always fits. Ev- ery part meets every other part accu- rately. It goes together like a watch. This means something, does it not? All parts can be assembled in a jiffy. Why? Because they fit. No loss of material, no loss of time, no loss of patience! LEWIS BEE HIVES are made from clear white Wisconsin pine. No knots or other imperfections. Therefore dif- ferent from other makes of hives. Ab- solutely clear, and when we say clear we mean exactly what we say. LEWIS SECTIONS are made from white Wisconsin Basswood, the finest in the world. Lewis sections are the finest in the world. They are the most carefully selected and the most carefully made. INSIST ON LEWIS GOODS. Accept no substitutes. Cr R T FWTS CO Watertown, Wis. \J* D. LCVVIO V>U. gg^jj f^,. Catalog. Norris & Anspach, Kenton, Ohio; C. M. Scott & Co., Indianapolis, Ind.; Cleaver & Greene, Troy, Pa„ Eastern agents. Ad vance d Typographical Beauty. During the past year, Advanced Bee Culture has been re-written, enlarged, and beautifully printed in large, clear type, upon heavy enameled paper. It is lavishly illustrated with beauti- ful, half-tone engravings, most of them full page, and it is no exaggeration to say that more perfect, artistic, bee- keeping pictures have never before been published. The book is substantially bound in cloth of a soft grey color, and, from the lower opening in the letter "B" of the title in gold letters on the front cover, depends a green vine of clover, with a bee in ffold sipping nectar from one of the dainty, white blossoms. Dfversifieel Experiences More important, however, is the simplicity and freshness, the inspira- tion and real helpfulness of its contents. It may have an egotistical sound, but I think it is entirely proper to mention the experience of which this book is the result. ^nr 15 years I was a practical bee- keeper, making my living in the apiary producing tons of both comb and ex- tracted honeJ^ rearing and selling thousands of queens, reading all of the bee books and journals, attending nearly all of the conventions and fairs, visiting bee-keepers, etc. Then I began publishing the Review; still attending fairs and conventions; still visiting bee-keepers more than ever — going from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from Canada and Minne- sota to the Southern States. In publishing the Review, and read- ing all the other journals and books, the views and experiences of the best and most progressive bee-keepers have been constantly before my eyes. Ad- vanced Bee Culture is the cream of all this experience. After a thorough and careful consideration of the views of the best men, in the light of my own experience as a bee-keeper, I have de- scribed, in plain, simple, concise lan- guage, what I believe to be the most advanced methods of managing an apiary, for profit, from the opening of the season to the end of the year. It is impossible in the space at com- mand to go into details regarding the subjects treated; but I will very briefly mention about half a dozen, simply as samples. Good Stock Is second only in importance to a good location, and Advanced Bee Culture points out the characteristics of the dif- ferent varieties of bees, their adapt- ability to different locations, and then shows how, having secured the best strain of the most suitable variety, to go on and actually improve this stock. Choice of a Hive Must come early in every bee-keep- ers' life, and Advanced Bee Culture shows why a large hive is desirable for some localities and purposes, and a small one for other locations and uses giving reasons why, thus assisting the reader to chose intelligently. Sections And their adjustment on the hives are often puzzling matters, and Ad- vanced Bee Culture considers the differ- ent styles, and sizes of sections, differ- ent styles of separators, as well as the different kinds of supers, giving reasons for a choice of each. Comb Foundation Is often used at a profit, but not al- ways, and Advanced Bee Culture tells when and how to use it at a profit, and when it is more profitable to allow che bees to build their own combs unaided, and it gives the reasons. Bee Culture Comb Honey And its production interest the prac- tical bee-keeper more than anything else connected with his business; and there is one chapter in Advanced Bee Culture, that comes in after the dis- cussion of locality, varieties of bees, hives, supers, sections, increase, feed- ing, comb foundation, etc., in which this subject is taken up from the begin- ning of the season, and the whole ground gone over briefly, showing the relation of these different features to one another, as they are employed in the production of comb honey. Extracted Honey Production posesses an interest almost equal to that of comb honey produc- tion, and Advanced Bee Culture has a chapter telling how to produce a thick, heavy, well-ripened article with the least expenditure of capital and labor, and '"""' *o s*-' treat the product as to pretiCi . e ii.i iL..,..^....ious aroma. Marketing: Of honey is fully as important as its production. To raise a good crop is one thing; to sell it at a good price is another. To Vjend every energy to the accomplishment of the former, and then neglect the latter, is a mistake. Whether it is advisable to develop the home-market, and, if so, how it shall be done; whether the honey shall be sent to a distant market, and, if so, when, and which one; whether it shall be peddled, and how these, and many other points, are considered in Ad- vanced Bee Culture. Foul Brood Receives most comprehensive treat- ment. With the descriptions, illustra- tions and instructions given; it seems as though one who had never seen foul brood could detect it and rid an apiary of it without serious loss. Winter-Losses Are not always the result of the same causes. They may come from starva- tion; from poor food; from improper preparations; from imperfect protec- tion; from a cold, wet, or, possibly, a poorly ventilated cellar, etc. Success- ful wintering comes from a proper com- bination of the difl'erent conditions. For clear, concise, comprehensive con- clusions upon these all important sub- jects, read the last few chapters of Advanced Bee Culture. Commercial Bee-Keeping. But there is not room to touch upon any more points. While every class of bee-keepers will find much, very much, of interest in the book, it is only fair to state that the spirit of commercialism, pervades it from cover to cover. The leading idea kept in mind is that of keeping bees as a business, and making money out of them, and the bee-keeper who keeps bees with that end in view, simply cannot afford not to read Ad- vanced Bee Culture. The Price Is $1.2U postage paid; or the Review will be sent one year together with a copy of the book, for only $2.00. p. S. — Each new subscriber to the Review for 1906 will receive, free of charsre. any back numbers of 19('5 that may still been hand. At present I can send a complete set cxciptingr the January, February, and April issues, Mart!h is getting pretty low. As lontr as they last, however, any numbers that are left will be sent free. W.Z.HUTCHINSON, FLINT, MICHIGAN. STANDARD AUTHORS ! DIRECT FROM PRESS TO LIBRARY NO MIDDLEMEN'S PROFITS We are able to supply a limited number of the following Standard Sets at remarkably low prices. This is an un- precedented opportunity for you to secure De Luxe Sets at manufacturing cost, which means at less than one-third the regular publishers prices. Place a cross (X) opposite the authors in which 3^ou are interested. Mail at once. We will then send you full particulars of these extraordinary book bargains. Cut out Coupon— Mail Today Gentlemen: -Kindly send me full particulars regarding the sets opposite which I have placed a cross (X). This implies no obligation on my part whatsoever. UNITED STATES HISTORY DICKENS THACKERAY RUSKIN SCOTT SHAKESPEARE ELIOT BALZAC FIELDING-SMOLLETT HUGO - PLUTARCH'S LIVES GIBBON'S ROME DUMAS PEPYS' DIARY HAWTHORNE DEFOE IRVING EMERSON Street State John D. Morris & Company 1201 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. FREE! A 25-word adv. one time free, and our large 16-page, 64-col. Illustrated Maga- zine one year 25c. This-for-That ex- change column only 1-cent a word. Sam- ple magazine and pai'ticulars for stamp. The Monthly Br^ainardst. Ncw Orlcans, La. Profit by Studying Oar HOME yui^siyo series >KW BOOKS FOK THK HO.IIK Howe— "The Expectant Mother, " 12mo., net $ .50 Kilmer— "Practical Care of the Baby," 12mo., extra cloth 1.00 Capp-"The Daughter," ex. cloth 1.00 Guernsey— * 'Plain Talks on Avoided Subjects" 1.00 F, A, DAVIS CO., Pahs. 3IAIL OKDER DEPT. li»U-16 tHEKUY ST.. PHILADELPHIA. PA. Bee-Keepers We carry a full line of FAL- CONER'S BEEKEEPERS' SUP- PLIES, and that means THE BEST, and sell them at factory prices, f. o. b. Savannah, Ga. Order from us and save freight charges. Catalogue free for the asking. Harden & Rourk, Savannah, Ga. V Na.tiona.1 Bee- Keepers' Assoc'n. 9 2 The largest bee-keepei-s' society in the J I world. Organized to protect and promote ■ ■ the interests of its members. I B Membership Fee, $1 a Year, | • N. E. FRANCE. Platteville, Wis. • C General Manager and Treasurer. Anyone sending a sketoh and description may quickly ascertain our o;iiiiion fr-je whether an invention is probably patentable. CommuDic.i- tioiis strictly fonfiriential. Handbook on Patents sent tree. ' New York Branch Office. 625 F St., Washington, D. C. ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A HOME? No farmer should think of buying land before seeing a copy of The Farm and Real Estate Journal. It contains the largest list of lands for sale of any paper published in Iowa. It reaches 30.000 readers each issue, and is one of the best advertising mediums to reach the farmers and the homeseekers that you can ad- vertise in. For 75c we will mail you the Journal for 1 year, or for 10c in silver or stamps we will send the Journal 2 months on trial. Address Farm and Real Estate JOURNAL 1^— ^^MaaiBiMim— ■ TRAER, Tama County, IOWA' AGENTS %ji«fliMMliilM^^gi^ YOU CAN Do It* Medallions "Peuro or Pearl" New Me- dallions. Quick sellers. Big Money. Write at once. Special territory given. Largest Medallion Comp'y in the world. Agents' supplies. Novelties up-to-date. Write now. Universal Manufac- turing Co., Pittsburg, Pa. The (Nebraska Farm Journal ! ^ montWy journal devoted to agricul- tural interests. Largest circulation of any agricultural paper in the west. It circulates in Missouri, Kansas, Nebras- ka, Iowa and Colorado. A. DOUGLAS. Lincoln. Neb. I I mtmnimi^tkif^m^tmmiif'm^t^^ r For 1906 ^ Our Hives and Sections The Root Automatic Extractors Our Bees and Queens Our Catalog Gleaning^s in Bee Culture Our hives and equipment, both for workmanship and clear- ness of stock, cannot be excelled and we doubt if they have ever been equalled. The Root brand is always popular with the ci'Stomer and always the best that money can produce. Our sections and frames for 1906 are even better than ever. They are inspected and re-inspected again and each inspector is required to put in each box of sections that he passes upon his own inspector's card, so that if complaint is made this card will comf back on him. As he is anxious to hold his position and if possible get an increase in pay, it is clearly to his interest as well as thac of the customer to let none but perfect goods pass. In the matter of improvements it is generally conceded that we are the leaders. We are constantly testing out every new device in our own yards and when it has stood the test we place it before the public. Our extractors for 1906 in point of improvements and qual- ity of wox'knanship leaves nothing to be desired. The four, six and eight frame machines have the finest automatic revers- ing mechanism that has ever been put into a machine. Even the two frame models can have the reversing mechanism put on at a slight additional cost; but we do not ordinarily advise buying the two frame automatic. Steel construction has been substituted for cast iron whenever practicable. We are running at Medina and vicinity five queen rearing yards, at other points three more. We are prepared to furnish our celebrated Red Clover stock, a stock that won a splendid reputation for gathering honey from any source. We are pre- pared to furnish bees in nuclei and full colonies. A great improvement. Entirely rewritten and revised. New arts. - New cover. Everything is classified a'^ d indexed. No more price tables to confuse. All prices are riglit under the article illustrated or described. A copy will be sent promptly on request. Our magnificent Christmas number is acknowledged by all as being the finest bee paper ever printed. Beginning the new year we are making many great improvements. For 1906 Gleanings will excel its 1905 record. A trial subscription of six months for only 25c., or one year for $1.00. THE A. I. ROOT CO. MEDINA, OHIO 144 E. Erie Street Chicago B ranches : lOjVine Street Philadelphia 44 Vesey Street New York C i^ I Are You Interested ? The New South today holds forth greater inducements to the home- seeker and investor than any other portion of America. Florida leads all other Southern states in the matter of inviting propositions to those who seek a genial, healthful climate and profit- able business opportunities. St. Lucie is the banner county of Florida, when it comes to home- making and money-making facili- ties; and its healthfulness is unsur- passed anywhere on earth. The St. Lucie County Tribune is the— well, modesty forbids our re- peating the public verdict in regard to The Tribune. It is published weekly at Fort Pierce, the county seat, at $1 a year. Three months' trial subscription, 25c. Sample copy for the asking. If you are in- terested in Florida, a postal card inquiry will bring it. Write today. THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY TRIBUNE Fort Pierce, Florida Homes in Old Virginia. It is gradually brought to light that the Civil war has made greai changes, freed the slaves, j,nd ir. consequence has made the large land owners poor and finally freed the land from the original ovvner> who would not sell until ihey wert compelled to do so. There are somi of the finest lands in the ^narket a; very low prices, lands that product all kinds of crops, grassc^s, fruits, and berries; fine for stock. You find green truck patches, such as cabbage, turnips, lettuce, kale, spinach, etc., growing all the win- ter. The climate is the best all thy year around to be found, not too cold nor too warm. Good water. Healthy. Railroads running in every direction. If you desire to know all about Virginia send 10c. for three months subscription of the VIRGINIA FARMER to Farmer Co., Emporia, Va. I BEGINNERS Should have a copy of The Amateur Bee-Keeper A 70 page tjonW by Prof .T.W. Rouse: written especially for amateurs. Second edition just out . First edition of 1,000 sold in less than two years. Editor York says: "It is the finest lit- tle book published at the present time." Price 24'cts., by mail, 28 cts. This little book and The Progressive Bee- Keeper A live progressive, 28 page monthly jour- nal, one year for 65 cents. Apply to any first class dealer, or address LEAHY MFG. CO. Higgrinsvilie, Missouri, BARN E S • Foot Power Machinery ! This cut represents our Combined Machine, which is the best machine made for use in the construction of Hives, Sections, Boxes, etc. Sent on trial. Send for Catalogue and Price List W. F. & J. BARNES CO. 9 1 3 Ruby St..Rockford, III. MAPS A Vest Pocket Map of Yoar State New issue. These maps show all the Counties, in seven colors, all railroads, postoffices— and many towns not given in the postal guide— rivers, lakes and mountains, with index and population of counties, cities and towns. Census- it gives all official returns. We will send you postpaid any state map you wish for 2 5 CENTS (silver.) JOHN W. HANN Wnanetn, Nebraska When answering advertisements please men- tion that you saw it in the American Bee-Keeper. I BEE HIVES SECTIONS EVERYTHING that is used by Bee-Keepers can be procured of us as cheaply as anywhere^ and we know OUR GOODS ARE SUPERIOR, both in material and workmanship to those of any competi- tor. ONE TRIAL WILL CON- VINCE YOU. That^s all we ask. You will never buy of anyone else. Our new illustrated catalog and price list is now ready. Send for one on a postal card. The W . T . Falconer Manfg. Co. JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK HONESTY Isn't a thing to boast of, but just the same it means a lot to you when you buy things. Honest Goods at Honest Prices is what is making our business big. We carry the very best supplies made for bee-keepers and those are FALCONER'S Bees and queens always on hand and as superior in their way as the supplies in theirs. Cull & Williams = Pfovidencet R. L - Rhode Island Agents for Falcon- er's U n e X c e lie d Supplies Big: Song Book "Polly, I Love But You," words and music ; "Piking the Pike, ' ' ' 'Just Be- cause I'm from Missouri," "Hiawa- tha, ' ' ' 'Navajo, ' ' ' 'Bedelia, ' ' ' ' Josie, ' ' "Only a Factory Girl," "FHrting at the Seashore, " "The Little Bi:own Man of Japan," "Come Down, Miss Malinda, " "Ma Ragtime Ebony Belle," and 44 other popular songs, all in one book, and sent postpaid for only 10 cents. We will also send a coupon good for 10 cents to everyone mentioning in what paper they saw this ad. This is a. Special Offer to Intro- duce our Goods, so send at once H.D. Leader C? Grand Rapids : : : : Michigan Three Months for Only 20 Cents To a New Subscriber THE Amerian Bee Journal Music Lovers! Big Magazine One Year 10 cents Send us 10 cents in silver, to- gether with the names of ten persons who get mail at your postoffice who are interested in IVI LJ S 1 C , and we will send you our handsome magazine one year. We receive hundreds of new subscriptions daily from per- sons who think our magazine a bigger bargain than Harper's, Munsey's, Ladies'Home Journal, or McClure's. This a special of- fer for a short time only. ■ ■ ■ ■ Our subscription price may advance to $1.00 per year soon. ■ ■ ■ ■ Address, Dept. H. D. Berg^es Publishing: Co. Established in 1861 It 18 the only Weekly Bee Paper in America. Those who write for it are among the most ex- tensive and successful bee-keepers in the world Many of them produce honey by the ton. and make money at the business, hence their ex- perience is valuable. Among the Departments represented in the Bee Journal are these: Editorial Notes and Comments, Miscellaneous News Items, Con- tributed Special Articles. Opinions of Some Experts, Proceedings of Conventions, Our Bee- Keeping Sisters, Mr. Hasty 's After- thoughts, Dr. Miller's Answers to Questions, Honey and beeswax Market Quotations. Every Bee-Keeper, whether having one col- ony or 100, should read the old American Bee Journal every week. Only $1.00 a Year; or 20 cents for a trial trip of three months(13 copies), toa new subscriber. Sample copy free. Ask for it. George W« York & Co* 334 Dearborn Stret, Chicago, Illinois Grand Rapids, iVI i c h i g a n AUSTRALIANS Note the Address P ENDER BROS. West IVIa.itland N. S. W., Australia The largest manufacturers of Bee- keepers' Supplies in the Southern Hemisphere, and publishers of the Australasian Beekeeper, the leadmg bee journal south of the equator. Sample copy and 64- page catalogue FREE. 6-tf GEORGIA and all Southern Bee-Keep- ers call on me for free in- formation regarding best methods. Practical Apiculture Is my specialty. I carry a stock of Bee-Keepers supplies. Bees and Queens, J. J. Wilder Cordeie, Ga. We will send The American Bee- Keeper three full years for $1.00. Patent Wired Comb Foundation'\ — Has no sapr in Brood Frames — Thin Flat Bottomed Foundation — Has no Fishbone in Surplus Honey Being the cleanest, is usualy worked the quickest of any foundation made. The talk about wiring frames seems absurd. We furnish a Wired Foundation that is BET- TER, CHEAPER and not half the trouble to use that it is to wiie brood fi-ames. Circulars and samples free. J. VAM DEUSEIN & SOMS Sole Manufacturers Montgomery Co. Sprout Brook, N. Y. _ V J ^ Real Estate Wanted ™ I To supply the wants of Cash B'lyerB every- where. Their names and aiidresses are given in full each month hi our clean, in- terestnig laraily magazine. Sample copy ,25, which will be deducted from yearly Bubscriplion price of f 1. if you choose lo sub- Bcribe. The first issue may find you a buyer and save you a middleman's commission. I «i U. S. Real Estate Journal 131 W. Brighton Ave., Sykagusk, N. Y. I I ^ I I ^ CAVEATS, TRADE MARKS, COPYRI id your busi CHTS AND DESIGNS. Urect to Washington, less, better service. My office close to U. S. Patent Office. FREE pTellmln- ' ary examinations made. Atty'a fee not due nntil patent ' is secured. PERSONAL ATTENTION GIVEN~19 YEARS I ACTUAL EXPERIENCE. Book "How to obtain Patents," ; etc., sent free. Patents procured through E. G. Slggers I receive special notice, without charge. In the INVENTIVE ACE jllluBtrated monthly— Eleventh year— terms, $1. a year. 918 FSt.. in. W , washington, d, c. G.SIGGERS, PHOrOGRAPHS SCENIC PRODUCTIONS and novel designs are our special- ties. Many Northern publishers are using our half-tone copy. Most extensive publishers of Flor- ida views on the Florida Coast. Florida Photographic Concern Fort Pierce, i d a l^fc^ \S\\\ti\vv»Vi' ^ivTmi tn\\\\e Ae,vc\ovfiV V)vj H\>i&c\s jot il\\V^ wot \\ttV6 out VJBUtitVjJ \v.'-. ivx\ CuiWtwt \'i\vc.4\,n\ti\t,- 5'. Y>. iV\\vVttc. A }M. of ci((t)<^i:loa?^ tcom n TtnUb^ Tyro of t\\x) VVd^I Who Losi)^ ;{(b !iot of Tvyonty (^ont^. JOHN R. RAGLE. AS I AM IN a bee-keeping larval state I would like to ask some questions. I am working in the gold mines for $90 a month. In becoming a "beginner" with bees I find that I have spent $96.50, have six colonies "Italian- ized," but really hybridized with costly Eastern queens, a dozen modern hives, a lot of bee papers and three or four bee books: 1 — Where did my money go? Who gets the profit in bee-keeping? Do you thmk I will ever make a good business man? 2— If you had spelled it "catalog" when you went to "spelling bees" would not the bright-eyed girl next to you have "spelt you down?" Wouldn't "cattlelog" or "rattlelog"look as well? 3— Talking about sermons in bee pa- pers, did you ever hear this story? Gen. Scott once asked a bespangled Indian preacher how much pay he received. "Sometimes two-bits, sometimes noth- ing," said the Indian. "Humph!" com- mented the gruff" old general, "D— m poor pay." "Ugh!" returned the poor but simple Lo, "Dampoor preach!" 4— Do you think there is any danger of W. Z. Hutchinson ever writing a novel? 5 — An old farmer to whom I offered two dollars for the first swarm from his box hive of "blacks," replied that his son Peter had sent back to Ohio for some dog-tail hives and intended to save the swarms himself, this year. Now, who in Ohio is putting out this new kind of hive? Can that farmer ever be edu- cated into a bee-keeper? What will you give me for his name, that you may send him your paper? Could he read it? 6— If the thermometer stood at 100 and your bees were demanding atten- tion and you were getting stung at the rate of 90 a minute, which would you rather do, or go a-fishing? 7 — If you were what you have always 84 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER May wanted to be and never will be, viz: an immensely rich man; would you rather have 25,000 people pay you a dollar apiece or would you rather pay 25,000 people a dollar apiece? 8 — The journals, books and "cattle- logs" confuse me greatly, and I would like to know if a-i-r-m 69 metre i box frames wei'e in duplex hives and the end bars closed, so as to admit sim- plicity feeders with plain sections and rail fence separators wired with Hoff- man frames; whether you would unite them with shook swarms on contracted honey boards and according to the Alex- ander method by always setting one hive on top of another and giving them a new one-dollar queen to prevent foul brood, or would you buy an observation hive for $34 and a Swarthmore outfit for some more dollars and then wait for sundown to beat tin pans with a little tobacco smoke on the Sibbald (or is it the big low) plan? 9 — Do "expei'ts" make money keep- ing bees or by dealing in bee supplies and writing for or printing bee journals? Do they make more money than gin- seng men and Belgian hare promoters? Do you think the next twenty years will develop any bee writers beside the same old writers who apparently have been writing in exceedingly bad English and some mixed German, and saying the same old things on the same old topics for the last twenty years? Is it a fact that bee-keepers are a lot of old grannies, holier-than-thou, and too lazy to work except when the bees compel them to do so? Is the whole business chiefly a "sell" for the benefit of those who have things to sell? Will you print these questions? Will you accept a bet of twenty cents that you won't? If I keep on with bees I may write to you again. Stent, Calif. If a farmer had no more faith than some advertisers he would become crazy at seeing good sound corn going into a hog. — Agricultural Advertising. NEWSPAPER NONSENSE. "THE FOLLOWING is a sample of the ' newspaper rot now going the rounds as a result of the recent Caucasian boom instituted by the agricultural de- partment at Washington and boosted along by Gleanings: A HONEY PRODUCER WHICH WILL NOT STING HUMAN BEING. The introduction of the Caucasian bee will take away all fear of being stung. There are gentle things in the Cau- casus, says Winifred Cook, in Farm and Ranch, even if recent dispatches from that quarter of the world would lead one to believe otherwise. Although neighbor to the Syrian or Holy Land bee, which has a record among bees for temper, and the ancestors of which, according to the writer of the Penta- teuch, chased the ancient Hebrews with all the animosity of the Amorites, it is the most amiable of all known bees. While provided with a sting as all bees should be if they are to be worth any- thing as honey producers, it is almost impossible to make it sting the human being. It is being introduced in the United States. It was seen by the leading bee-keep- ers of the country for the first time in September at Jenkinstown, near Phila- delphia, at their annual convention. As soon as the supply is large enough it will be possible for the most timorous to take up apiculture without, fear of being stung. The introduction of the Caucasian bee in this countiy is one of the beneficent works of the department of agriculture. In 1902 Frank Benton, the apiarist in jj charge of the government hives at Washington, D. C, bought a number of mated Caucasian queens and brought them to this country. After the man- ner of queen bees, upon their arrival here they proceeded to lay eggs by the 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 85 thousand. In a short time the govern- ment had a number of queens and thousands upon thousands of gentle honey gatherers. They were studied most carefully. It was found that al- Fabulous prices were paid for queens. Then a score or more of years later came the Cyprian bee, from Cyprus. These bees were hustlers in the matter of gathering honey, one colony having most nothing a human being could do a record of one thousand pounds in one would persuade them to attack him. Their hive could be shaken. One could run them off the comb with the unpi'o- tected hand and they were not disturbed in the least. The only times they showed any irritation were on cool mornings when the hives were severely jarred or where they had been robbed by other bees. With the exception of the testy Cyprian bees, they were found to be equal to any bees in the season. But they were veritable devils. Nothing could subdue them. Occasion- ally they were out hunting for trouble. A story is told of one of these swarms of bees which drove an entire family into the cellar and stung every living animal in the neighborhood, including horses, cows and chickens. These were followed by the large gray bees from Alpine provinces of Carnolia, Austria. These bees were gathering of honey. It is believed they gentle and also good gatherers of honey, will revolutionize the honey business. Last of all has come the Caucasian A number of queens have been distrib- bee, which one can handle practically uted, but the only imported queen bee with no more danger than if they were of the race in the apiary died a short so many flies, time ago, and as it is impossible to se- cure more at present from the Caucasus, where Mr. Benton has gone, owing to the uprising there, no more can be distributed this year. It will take a long time to eradicate from the American mind the fear of a bee. They came over in a tubby vessel of the seventeenth century. For two centuries they held their own and were distrbuted from the Atlantic to the Pa- cific. In comparison with other races Chaff Packing — Swarming Symptoms. L' XTRACTS FROM a letter of F. Kingsley, Hebron, Neb., writing of chaff packing, says: "Mice will creep in while small, work up and nest in the chaff and eat bees, wax and honey; and I have found the largest mice I ever saw imprisoned in these hives." Further on, referring to the effect of preparedness on wintering "One spring in May, after a now known they have nothing to recom- v ^ g ^ mend them. For all this bee was a j^^^^ ^5^^^^, I took a colony from a spiteful creature. It poorly defended ^^j^^ y^^^^ ^^ the prairies where the Its supplies of honey against other bees northwest wind blew freely into it and and was lazy in the matter of gather- ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ could not look in it. The mg honey, anyway. ^^l^^y Yinng not over a foot from the Just as soon as the supply of nectar mouth of the hole. The bees had their began to decrease and a little energy own time and way in preparing for the was required in order to find it, the bee cold." gave up the effort. It did not multiply As an indication of the swarming rapidly, so the hives at the beginning fever he notes a listless condition and a of the harvest were likely to be as different sound from the normal. short handed as a Kansas wheat farm. ■ Therefore, when in 1860 the compara- The next convention of the National tively gentle, prolific and industrious Bee-Keepers' Association will probably Italian bees were imported, the bee- be held at San Antonio, Texas. Dates keeping world became much excited, will soon be announced. 86 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER Is it Theory or Practice? IN THE AMERICAN Bee Journal for 1 January 25 "York Co. Bee:Keeper" is quoted as saying in regard to tarred paper for winter protection : ' 'No siree for an old fashioned Canadian winter. ' ' Wonder if he ever tried it ? He will perhaps pardon our scepticism but it has long been the custom for the "scribes" to condemn what seemed to them to be poor. Also we would re- mind him that the use of tarred paper was not advocated for the far north - trial there only in a limited way, was suggested. For Benefit of Honey Producers. To our many new readers we wish to state that the American Bee-Keeper is published for the benefit of the honey producers. We have no axes to grind and our columns are always open to frank and courteous discussion of all subjects pertaining to apiculture. In the past we have fearlessly assailed ■policies and practices which we believe inimical to the best good of the craft and we shall continue to do so when ever the occasion demands such action. To control the drones of undesirable or unproved queens it is neccessary not only to keep a trap or drone guard on the stocks containing such queens but also on other colonies, for when the undesirable drones gain freedom by the opening of their hive they will go into any colony that they may chance near. Remember this or you may have no end of trouble. The customary size for brood frame- parts all through Germany, Austria and Switzerland is 7-8 inch in width. Very few recommend more than this, or about one inch; metal spaces are uni- versally in use. May CAUCASIAN BEES. A man is judged keeps. by the company he I deeply regret that the govern- ment has undertaken the distri- bution of these bees without further test of their suitability for the general purpose of bee- keeping, and I hope that no one will get any of them unless he is prepared to take the fullest pre- cautions to prevent their mixing with other bees. So far there appears to be much stronger testi- mony against them than for them. In fact, about the only claim made for them seems to be the comparatively unimportant one of gentleness. It may appear at first sight that the proper way to test them is to distribute them and let the public decide as to their merits. But there is an important difference between bees and other things in this respect. If the department of agriculture distributes a worthless variety of radish, for instance, no one is greatly harmed. No one is likely to plant them a second time or to raise seed from them, the bad results of the experiment do not extend beyond the experimenter, and disappear entirely in one or two seasons. But the one who introduces a worthless variety of bees into a bee-keeping neighbor- hood may do his neighbors hun- dreds of dollars worth of damage which they are powerless to pre- vent, and the bad effects of which they may not be able to get rid of for a number of years. The worst feature of the business is that those who are least capable of properly testing them and judging as to their merits are the very ones most likely to under- take it. — J. A. Green, in Glean- ings. 1906 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 87 Mc)l