1896 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



305 



The condition of our bees, so far as wintering 

 up to the present date, is about as good as 

 it can be. Only two have been lost. We have 

 in the yard at present 1^.5 colonies. 



Perhaps some of our friends who are using 

 the Boardman feeder with Mason jars have 

 found that the jars themselves vary somewhat 

 in size — not enough, however, to make any 

 practical difference. As the tops of the jars 

 are tapering, some jars will go a little deeper 

 into the holes than others. But that will make 

 no piaciical difficulty. 



would scent the whole house up; and, more- 

 over, it would be an exceedinglv disagreeable 

 and filthy job. But. fortunately, the solar wax- 

 extractor comes to our relief. Such combs can 

 be put into this machine outdoors; and if there 

 is any odor at all it is not noticed. The black 

 and dirty wax is not only melted, but bleached 

 to a certain extent. A bee-keeper nowadays 

 who can not afford to have a solar wax-extractor 

 can hardly afford to have a smoker, I was going 

 to say. Why! with the help of old Sol it will 

 save enough the first year, practically, to pay 

 for itself, to say nothing at all of what it will 

 earn in subsequent years, and of its great con- 

 venience, the avoidance of foul odors in the 

 house, and the annoyance to the good wife. 



In this issue we have stai'ted the symposium 

 feature again— the subject of disposing of our 

 honey. It will be noticed that some are in favor 

 of peddling, and some are not, while Mr. C. F. 

 Muth sets forth some of the troubles of the 

 commission men. 1 shall be glad to receive 

 more articles on the general subject of selling 

 honey, to commission men and around home, 

 or peddling or selling at the grocery. 



A coxjPLE of mistakes appear in the setting 

 of No. 1 of the Washington grading, page 267. 

 The first word, "unsoiled," In the fourth line 

 read originally "unsealed." This was correct. 

 The next word just below it, " unsealed," was 

 wrong. I knew it ought to be " unsoiled." But 

 what should I do but go and correct the wrong 

 word, and therefore made both wrong I The 

 grading of No. 1 should be as follows: 



No. 1.— All sections well filled, but combs uneven 

 or crooked, detached at the bottom, or with but few 

 cells unsealed; both wood and comb unsoiled by 

 travel-stain or otherwise. 



We are running extra hours in nearly all of 

 our departments. Even though our prices are 

 a trifle higher than those of some of our com- 

 petitors, the quality of our goods seems to count 

 as an important factor with this year's busi- 

 ness. The new foundation is taking like hot 

 cakes. Had we not made gieat enlargements 

 last fall and summer, nearly doubling our horse- 

 power, and in other ways adding to our capaci- 

 ty, we should not this season have been able to 

 take care of the trade; but as it is, we are just 

 able to keep up nicely and take care of all or- 

 ders promptly. 



THE SOLAK WAXEXTKACTOK INDISPENSABLE. 



The question is often asked how to render up 

 dirty bad smelling combs — those that often 

 contain dead larva'; and as the question is ask- 

 ed so often, perhaps it would be well to give an 

 answer right here. 



To melt them in a wax-boiler on the stove 



THE north AMERICAN AT LINCOLN OR MINNE- 

 APOLIS. 



In our last issue, commenting on the change 

 of location proposed by Bro. York we expressed 

 ourselves as in favor of it, prouicZmg the Ne- 

 braska bee-keepers would not object; but it 

 seems some of them do object. Here is a sam- 

 ple: 



Dear Mr. Root:—! notice from a late issue of the 

 American Bee Journnl that friend York advocates 

 the removal of the next meeting from Lincoln, Neb., 

 to Minneapolis, Minn. We believe that as good 

 rates can be got to Lincoln as to any place on earth, 

 and that the difference in hotel rates at Minneapolis 

 during the G. A. R. reunion will more than over- 

 balance any advantages that may be gotten at 

 Minneapolis. We believe that the next meeting of 

 the North American was located at Lincoln in good 

 faith, and that its removal from Lincoln at this 

 time should not for a moment be thought of, much 

 less advocated. We believe that Lincoln can and 

 will show the visitors to this meeting such a sample 

 of true Nebraska hospitality as has not been wit- 

 nessed, not even in Kentucky, and they will return 

 feeling lliat, at least for the time, Lincoln (and, in 

 fact, the whole State of Nebraska) was theirs. I 

 trust that your influence will be extended toward 

 keeping good faith with Lincoln; and then if they 

 or we fail we shall be the responsible parties. 



Friend, Neb., March 30. E. Whitcomb, 



Pres. Nebraska Bee-keepers' Ass'n. 



While we think it would be desirable to meet 

 with the G. A. R., yet if the Nebraska bee- 

 keepers are not willing we can not advocate 

 the change. In the future it seems to me (i.e., 

 E. R. R.) it would be better to leave lime and 

 place of meeting to the officers. If no promises 

 are made the conventions can oe held whenever 

 and wherever special favoring conditions may 

 suggest. Mr. Emerson T. Abbott also sent in 

 a protest. In writing him I said we had in- 

 dorsed the change of place conditionally upon 

 the agreement of the Nebraska bee-keepers. 

 Mr. Abbott replies: 



Mil Dear Mr. Root :—\ :ymw\W\ you for any point 

 that will give us low rates all around, if the Nebras- 

 ka friends are agreed. Loyalty to them is the only 

 thinu I axk. 



