534 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL.. 



with Dr. N. P. Allen, of Smith's Grove, Ky., some twelve years ago. I had about 

 forgotten the subject until I read Mr. McArthur's article on page 305. I wrote 

 Mr. MArthur a letter in regard to his shipping his bees to the South instead of 

 killing them, and then buying in the spring. I made the suggestion to him about 

 as follows : 



That on or about the first of September to prepare his bees thus: Extract all 

 honey except some 10 pounds per colony ; fill the hives with the best strong combs, 

 with a small amount of brood — not more than one frame full per colony (in several 

 frames), and about one quart of young bees and a queen. To ship them South, to 

 Florida, and come with them and care for them, and get a crop of orange honey in 

 March. Breed his bees up full in April, and ship them home by May 1st, or at such 

 time as suited. Or arrange with some practical, experienced bee-keeper here who 

 could receive them, care for them, get a crop of orange honey, and have what in- 

 crease was made by swarming ; all that swarmed having young laying queens re- 

 turn to him, others with such queens as were sent, if living. 



I feel sure If the railroad charges were not exorbitant, it could be made profit- 

 able to both parties, if all were conducted in good faith and honorably. I know that 

 they could be returned full of bees and brood, ready for harvest in store for them. 



In shipping them from the North to winter here, it might be better to leave 

 more honey in the hives than I suggested (10 pounds) some seasons, as our fall 

 honey along the St. John's River is not very certain. They would not get much 

 until the maple and willow came in, which is about Jan. 1st. Some years it is a 

 little earlier. Orange commences blooming usually about Feb. 20th, and lasts until 

 about April 1st, so that bees on Christmas, having plenty of honey and two quarts 

 of bees, can be made full of bees and brood, and ready for the orange crop the last 

 of February, although more bees and brood to start with would be better. 



I commenced the first of last March to build a new apiary. I had 20 fair to 

 good colonies to start with. I made 112 new cypress hives for 10 short or cross- 

 wise Langstroth frames, which I prefer. I have now 110 good colonies on 10 

 frames each, got 170 gallons of honey, 200 pounds of comb honey, and my bees 

 are gathering honey from golden-rod and motherwort. I will move my bees to the 

 orange groves this winter for orange-blossom honey. 



I hope some bee-keepers in the North will make a trial of moving their bees to 

 the South to winter, and gather a crop of orange honey, then move them North for 

 the clover and basswood honey. 



I would be pleased to correspond with bee-keepers who might think of embark- 

 ing in this kind of migratory bee-keeping. 



Astor Park, Lake Co., Fla., Oct. 1. 



I^II^DHN OR. BASSl^OOD HOIVEY DEFEXDEO. 



IJY C. THEILMANN. 



On page 212 is an article written by Chas. F. Muth, on "The Best Honeys of 

 the World," wherein he gives the preference to the different kinds, namely : White 

 clover, mangrove and California sage. All other honeys go to manufacturers, prin- 

 cipally, almost exclusively. 



Mr. Muth has advanced similar ideas heretofore, and it is time to put in a pro- 

 test against such misleading ideas, at least as far as linden or basswood compared 

 with sage honey is concerned, for table use. It would surely be better judgment in 

 putting Northern linden honey at the head of the list, and sage honey for manufac- 

 turers. There is no whiter honey than Northern linden. There is no honey that is 



