6 



"NOVICE'S ULEANINrtS IN 1JEE CULTURE. 



tram, clean tallow and passed over those 

 parts of the hive that he wished kept free 

 from propolis, would, so far as his exper- 

 ience went, answer the purpose completely. 

 We are almost ashamed to say we have not 

 stiver) it a trial, but in this dilemma make 

 the suggestion. We would contrive some 

 way to avoid having projecting strips on 

 the hive if possible. Some machine could 

 be made to cut a place for the fingers in 

 the end boards of the hive, without cutting 

 through. Thanks Mr. Palmer for just criti- 

 cisms. 



Mr. J. P. Row, Petersburg, Mich., wishes 

 to know if our "top bars do not sag when 

 the frames are full of honey." None to 

 speak of, even when supporting heavy glass 

 vases filled with honey besides. The thin 

 comb guide, when glued in place by the 

 bees, gives great strength with little weight. 



Prof. A. J. Cook, of Agricultural Col- 

 ledge, Mich., reports $80.00 profits from a 

 single hive this season. "Never say die," 

 ^as 'Barnaby's Raven' had it,) friend Cook, 

 if the Bee Cholera did use your bees 

 shabbily. 



* — • 



PERIODICALS OF OUR COUN- 

 TRY DEVOTED TO BEE 

 CULTURE 



-E think most of our readers will agree 

 that the Am. Bee Journal, published 

 ed at Washington, richly deserves to stand at 

 the head of the list. It is now in its eighth 

 Volume, and having steadily kept the good 

 of the people in view, it could hardly be 

 other than of the greatest value to the 

 Apiarian. We would most strongly urge 

 beginners, to get the complete back numbers 

 and have them bound for reference. There 

 is scarcely a disputed point in the whole- 

 science, that has not been considered at 

 length, and pros and cons given from 

 practical experience of the leading bee 

 keepers of the world. Terms $2.00 per 

 year. 



The Bee Keeper s Journal made its ap- 

 pearance in 1869, and has given us much 

 that is valuable. It has a neat and attrac- 

 tive appearance, and makes a pretty family 

 paper, were it not necessarily cramped and 

 made in many respects unreliable, from the 

 fact of its being owned and published in 

 the interest of a patent hive. As a free 

 discussion of different forms and shapes of 

 hives might not always favor the one that 

 must not be criticised, every thing relating 

 to hives is ommited or changed so as to re- 

 fer only to the hive in question. As the 

 paper has been largely advertised and lias 

 a great circulation, it is to be earnestly 

 hoped that this objectionable feature may 

 soon be removed. Issued monthly, at No. 

 II. Murray St., N. Y. Terms, $1.50 per 

 year. 



The Illustrated Bee Journal, afterwards 

 changed to the National, published 

 monthly sometimes, and sometimes oftener, 

 we believe was never considered of much 



value. The proprietor owned two patent 

 hives, and it finally fell into the hands of 

 the editor of the Bee Keeper s Journal, be- 

 fore mentioned, who may have owned it 

 all the time, we don't know. The Journal. 

 at one time made each subscriber offers of 

 queens for premiums, that have never been 

 sent, and, although possessing some valua- 

 ble features and some articles of merit, 

 we cannot conscientiously recommend it. 

 Published at Indianapolis. Terms, $2.00 

 per year. 



Moon's Journal, started recently, we 

 would designate the North American Bee 

 Journal, were it not for the fact that we so 

 much dislike copying the name of an old 

 established Journal so nearly. Are there 

 not names enough in the world to furnish 

 a greater variety and prevent confusion. 



We have many times asked a visitor if he 

 or she took the American Bee Journal'! 

 "Oh, yes, certainly," and then after a while 

 finding they seemed to know nothing of the 

 existence of more than one path in bee 

 culture ; we asked again, where is your 

 Journal printed ? "In New York, 

 of course." And they had subscribed 

 for the American Bee Journal, not 

 knowing that there was another on 

 the face of the earth. Pretty soon we shall 

 have to designate them as the "Indian- 

 apolis," "New York," and "Washington" 

 Journals. Please, Mr. Moon, call it some- 

 thing else. Candor compels us to say that 

 the greatest fault we can find with this 

 Journal is, that it seems to lack both sub- 

 stance and system. Indianapolis. Terms, 

 $2.00 per year. 



We feel that we should here mention the 

 American Bee Gazette, started almost 

 simultaneously - with the American Bee Jour- 

 nal, and afterwards umted with it. A little 

 paper started and carried forward on the 

 right principles ; and we cannot help, even 

 now, thankiug Mr. E. VanSlyke, for the 

 first ideas given us then of the melextrae- 

 tor. 



Annals of Bee Culture has been is- 

 sued for the past few years, and contains 

 much that is valuable, but candor compels 

 us to say again, at the risk too, of having it 

 said that we are incapable of seeing any 

 thing of value any where, except in the 

 Old American Bee Journal, that the great 

 progess made in apiculture each year, haa 

 not been presented iu such shape as to be 

 of must value to the masses. 



"Last and least,' "Novice's Gleanings 

 has the audacitity to peep into existence, 

 and opens up by pitching into everybody 

 right and left. Beware! beware! Novice. 

 'Tis easy' enough to find fault with others, 

 but how do you know you can do even half 

 as well as the least of them? Well, perhaps 

 we shall not, but we are now in the crucible, 

 and if the fiery ordeal leaves nothing re- 

 maining of us of any value, we will try 

 and bow our head in submission and stop 

 when we have fullfilled our promise of 

 giving "four numbers," the very best that 

 "ever we can.' 



