THB BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



325 



trolled with anj' degree of certainty is by 

 isolation on an island, and the editor of 

 Gleanings proposes to make some such 

 arrangement another summer. 



THE CAUSE OF "GOBHINESS" IN COMB 



Dr. Miller, in Stray Straws, in Glean- 

 ings for October 15, calls attention to the 

 experiments of Professor Gillette with 

 comb foundation, and says that if the 

 Professor is correct he can not see how 

 we can avoid the conclusion that, with 

 the best of foundation, there is less "gob" 

 in comb honey than when the comb is 

 built naturally. The editor agrees, say- 

 ing that the Professor's experiments 

 agreed almost exactly with those made 

 two years ago by himself and Mr. Weed; 

 and that he (Mr. Root) advanced the 

 same proposition two jears ago. 



My dear brethren, you are all right in 

 one respect; that of the thickness of the 

 septum and cell-walls, but as to the char- 

 acter of the naturally built comb and that 

 built of foundation — ^well, you don't pay 

 much attention to that point. It is not 

 entirely a question of quantity of mate- 

 rial, but quality also has a bearing. Comb, 

 after it is melted, becomes wax. It is no 

 longer flaky and brittle; but becomes 

 tough and leathery. It is this quality 

 that causes the gobbiness fully as much 

 as does the quantity of the material. 



WH.VJ H.\S THE P.\ST SEASON PROFITED 

 vol"? 



Can you tell ? Have you advanced in 

 the science of the art ? Is your apiary 

 properly equipped and is it in the most 

 convenient location ? Will you be able 

 to handle yonr bees next season more 

 rapidly and with less labor? 



Can you raise better queens? Have 

 you a good and satisfactory way of intro- 

 ducing them ? Can you produce better 

 honey ? Can you put it on the market in 

 better condition ? Can vou sell it in ? 



more profitable way ? And this does not 

 mean get a higher price for it, but to get 

 greater -/^/returns. Is your capital suf- 

 ficient for the business you are trying to 

 do? 



Ask yourself these questions; look over 

 your apiary and its equipment and study 

 well how you may advance. 



Asa class, we do not have the tools we 

 need for our trade. We make some cheap 

 substitute do when the best is none too 

 good. Often we are "penny wise and 

 pound foolish." We do not have enough 

 spare hives, extra sets of extracting 

 combs, etc. Should feeding suddenly be 

 necessary how many have suitable and 

 sufficient feeders ? The latter was this 

 autumn brought forcibly to the notice of 

 a certain apiarist of New England. 



If you need new implements do not 

 begrudge the money good ones cost. Do 

 not be afraid that you will help the sup- 

 ply dealer to jget rich rapidly — he has no 

 bonanza. 



Take some of the coming winter even- 

 ings and think long, deep thoughts. 



I did not write the foregoing. It was 

 sent to me by Arthur C. Miller of Provi- 

 dence, R. I., who suggested that if I felt 

 it right to publish it I might do so. I 

 most heartily agree with the suggestions 

 of my friend. I doubt if better advice 

 could be given. 



*^rf^«^ir^^n*^ 



THE DE-A.TH OF MV FATHER, 



Reference is made in another place to 

 the death of my father. Perhaps a few 

 works in regard to him may not be out of 

 place. He was born 82 years ago, in St. 

 Lawrence county, New York. In 1850 he 

 married Miss Eliza B. Dyer, of Orleans 

 county. New York, and soon after migra- 

 ted to Genesee county, Mich, where he met 

 and overcame the dilTiculties and obstacles 

 that surround pioneer life. Here were 

 born four boys and one girl, all of which 

 are living. Twenty-two years ago he 

 moved to Tuscola county, this State, 

 where he has since resided. Of late he 



