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And Peace on Earth and Good Will toward Men. 

 PUBLISHED nVIOIXTTIKCILrZ', -A.T livfllEIDIlsr-A., OHIO, 



BY A. I. ROOT. 



'ol«YIIEi 



Pelia* II 



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PATENT niYES— WHAT FRAME OR IIIVE TO USE— SHALL WE USE AN EXTRACT- 

 OR, OR RAISE COMB IIONEY?— ITALIANS — TnE BEE MOTII— SRACE FOR COMBS. 



"While 1 earnestly try to maintain a broad "charity for all, and malice toward none," and while 

 1 do not wish to take upon myself the responsibility of dictating- a course for others, I feel it a 

 duty to discourage with all my might, both by precept and example, everything in the shape of 

 patented bee hives, or patents on anything pertaining to bee-oulture. On the other hand. I shall 

 try to encourage every one to do all in his power to advance the common good of all. I do not 

 believe the world "selfish and grasping, but have much confidence in the disposition of our 

 people to desire to pay for everything they get, and to reward those who work for them disinter- 

 estedly, when they once get a clear understanding of the matter. If you have made a valuable 

 invention or discovery, give it to the people rejoicing that you have been enabled to contribute 

 your mite to the common good, and in seeing others happy, and sooner or later, you will surely 

 have your reward. Nothing that we manufacture, in the shdfpe of hives or implements, is patented. 



I recommend the Lanjrstroth frame for everybody, and for every purpose whatever, in pref- 

 erence to anything else, and I have pretty thoroughly experimented with all shapes and sizes. 

 There may be other forms that will give just as good results, but I do not believe there are any 

 better. For all general purposes, I advise the Siniplicity hive holding ten of the above frames. 

 The Simplicity (or Improved and Simplified Langstroth hive) is not patented, and never will be. 

 The hive is made of % lumber, and is 20 l i by 16 inches outside measure. The Langstroth frames 

 as our gauges make them, are 11% by $y a outside measure. As the chaff hive is the same thing 

 with an outer shell to hold the chaff that protects the hive from the winter's frosts, as well as 

 summer's sun, no confusion can result from using both in the same apiary. 



Produce just whichever pays best in your own market, and no one can tell so well as you 

 yourself can by trying both ; you can perhaps produce a nice article of extracted for about 15c, 

 as cheaply as comb honey for 20c. You can produce thin, raw, unripened hone y without any 

 trouble for 10c. or less, but it will probably pay you best to give your customers an article as good, 

 in every respect, as that found in the nicest comb honey. 



The comparative advantages of the black, or common bees, and Italians, is a matter that no 

 longer admits of discussion, and I must consider the very few individuals who write in favor of 

 the former as belonging to that class of unfortunates who seem to delight in being contrary. If 

 tons of honey are to be considered a proof, the matter has long ago been amicably settlod in favor 

 of the Italians. 



The bee moth need hardly be mentioned now, unless it is to advise you to drive them opt with 

 Italians, for whenever they come into a neighborhood, the moths get out without any farther 

 trouble or bother. This one feature alone, is enough to justify introducing Italian queens in 

 place of the blacks. 



The usual space'allowed for brood combs is about 1 T-lfi inches, but the matter i» not at all im- 

 portant. They can be worked as closely as 1%, or as far apart as 15£. For surplus honey we 

 would have about 2 inches space from centre to centre of the combs. 



Now my friends, I beg to be allowed to make a request of you. Answering questions by letter, 

 or by postal, is a grievous tax on my health, strength, time and money. Will you not, before ask- 

 ing, look over the above, our circular which we give away, besides paying postage, and our ABC 

 Book for beginners. Nearly ail the questions that are asked, are carefully and de- 

 liberately answered in the above, if you will only take the time to look them up. It takes 

 hard brain labor to answer your questions faithfully, and when they come by the thousand, it 

 takes all my time from the journal, and from those to whom it belongs, having paid me their 

 money. Now please do ncit think me unkind, if your answers are brief, on a postal, and written 

 by one of the clerks. It is the very best I caw do. Your busy friend, Novice. 



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