AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



the main highway ; and along one side of 

 the driveway up to the house is a row of 

 fine young basswood trees, nearly all of 

 which were just covered with buds. These 

 the Doctor had set out himself, as he did all 

 the fruit and other trees growing on his 

 place of 37)^ acres. 



Arrived finally at the Doctor's home, we 

 were met at the door by his good wife and 

 Miss Wilson, who, as is well known, is Dr. 

 Miller's efiicient helper in all his apiary 

 work. The Doctor's son, Charles, perhaps 

 25 years of age, was also at home. 



After partaking of a bountiful dinner- 

 such as only people living in the country 

 are permitted to enjoy — and then visiting 

 a little, about 4 p.m. the Doctor, Miss Wil- 

 son and " ye editor " went into the home 

 apiary. This apiary contains about 70 col- 

 onies of bees some five rods from the house, 

 while the two out-apiaries, several miles 

 away, have about 120 colonies. 



Before leaving the house, Miss Wilson 

 got the bee-hats with the veils as described 

 in her article in the Bee Journal of two 

 weeks ago. The method of holding the 

 veil down so that no bees may get under it, 

 is Miss Wilson's own idea (not patented, 

 we believe !). From her article we did not 

 get a real clear understanding of her man- 

 ner of pinning down the veil, but after 

 having had it on, we can say that it is 

 simply perfect, leaving nothing further to 

 be desired in the line of comfort and pre- 

 vention of bees getting under the veil. 



Perhaps we can add a little to Miss Wil- 

 son's description of her bee-veil, that may 

 help some of our readers. 



Around the wide brim of a straw hat sew 

 a piece of black bobinet, having it extend 

 below the hat about two feet. Then hem in 

 around the bottom of the bobinet about 

 two feet of rubber cord. Slip this lower 

 end of the veil over the head, bringing the 

 rubber cord around the neck, and place the 

 hat on the head. Then with a safety pin 

 through the hem at the left of the front, 

 draw it directly down to or near the waist, 

 and pin it. This stretches the rubber cord 

 rather tightly across the breast, so that no 

 bees can possibly get under it while you 

 are working with them; and if you wish to 

 get to your face for any purpose, just raise 

 the rubber cord with one hand, and with 

 the other you can remove your spectacles, 

 if necessary, or, if desired, you can lick off 



any honey that may be on your fingers. 

 We tried this latter, and it is a simple and 

 easy thing to do— and the new honey was 

 good. 



After the veils were properly adjusted, 

 as described, the Doctor lighted a "New 

 Crane " bee-smoker, which has a powerful 

 blast, and works splendidly. Dr. Miller 

 burns fine planer-shavings, which make a 

 good volume of smoke, and the fire does 

 not easily go out. 



A number of hives were opened, in all of 

 which the beep were storing nectar rapidly, 

 as was shown by its dropping out when a 

 comb was lifted from the hive and slightly 

 tipped sidewise. 



We saw a pure Punic queen— oh, the 

 " Black Beauty!" — and one of Bro. Doolit- 

 tle's finest queens that was in the New 

 York exhibit at the World's Fair last year. 

 This queen, Bro. D. says, is worth $50 as a 

 breeder. She's a regular '' Queen Victory," 

 as our colored brother would say. 



Dr. Miller prefers the leather-colored 

 Italian bees, hence nearly all of his colonies 

 are of that variety. 



We might speak of some experiments 

 that the Doctor is conducting, but likely 

 when the proper time comes, he will de- 

 scribe them himself, and so we'll refrain 

 from giving anything in that direction. 

 But perhaps it would be well to hint right 

 here, that before sending any new hives or 

 other fixtures to the Doctor for trial, just 

 write and ask him whether he cares to ex- 

 periment with them. You know his is not 

 a regular apicultural experiment station, 

 and we imagine that ofttimes he's too busy 

 to try many new things. 



On Sunday we all attended three services, 

 hearing a clear-cut Presbyterian sermon in 

 the forenoon by the Rev. Davies, followed 

 by the Sunday-school; and then at 3 p.m., 

 a helpful Bible reading in the Methodist 

 church by the noted Dr. John Williamson. 

 We endeavored to " Remember the Sabbath 

 day to keep it holy," as will be seen. 



Dr. Miller has lived in Marengo for over 

 30 years, and so nearly everybody in the 

 city of nearly 2,000 people knows him, and 

 loves him, too. Verily, he is as popular at 

 home as abroad, and apparently all who 

 know him best count themselves fortunate 

 to be numbered among his friends. We do. 

 One of Dr. Miller's greatest hobbies is 

 • roses. Yes, roses ! and such beautiful va- 



