THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Jan. 2, 



PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY 



GEORGE W. YORK & COMPANY, 



Editors and Proprietors, 



36 Fifth Avenue, - CHICAGO, ILL. 



$1.00 a Year— Sample Copy Sent Free. 

 [Entered at the Post-Offlce at ChicaKO as Second-Class Mail-Matter.] 



Vol. niVI, CEICA&O, ILL, JAN, 2, 1896, No, 1, 



A Happy Ne-w Year to you all ! 



The New Headings in this number of the Bee 



Journal we trust will please every reader. What could be 

 more appropriate than to begin this brand new year with 

 spick-and-span new "head-lights" on the "Old Reliable?" 



The Bee-Keepers' Congress' proceedings we 

 had hoped to begin in this number of the Bee Journal, but 

 they did not reach us in time. We expect next week to have 

 the pleasure of beginning the account of what we understand 

 was a very profitable convention held at Atlanta, Ga., last 

 month. 



"While the Past Year has not been one of great 

 prosperity for bee-keepers, yet no sadness should thereby be 

 permitted to take possession of our hearts on this the thresh- 

 hold of a New Year. At this season all should be happy, with 

 courageous and better-matured plans for the future. Even if 

 the past year has not brought to us the full fruition of our 

 sincerest hopes, we must look forward with a stronger de- 

 termination to overcome all obstacles, if possible, and press 

 on as becomes men and women who toil not for Time only, 

 but for an Eternity that shall be the more blessed because of 

 the previously perfected characters we shall take there. 

 Let us — 



'• On the future cast no longing, 



Wait not for a brighter day; 

 We, the builders of the Present, 



Make our Future what we may." 



Bee Journal and the Supply Business.— 



There are a few people who seem to be worried somewhat 

 about the American Bee Journal being connected with the 

 bee-supply business, since the Root branch is now located so 

 near its editorial sanctum. The following, which appeared in 

 Gleanings for Dec. 15, puts the case fairly well : 



Various comment has been offered in some of the bee- 

 journals as to whether the American Bee Journal is har- 

 nessed to the supply business, or under the wing of Gleanings, 

 now that its editor, Mr. York, has been engaged to manage 

 the Chicago oflSce of The A. I. Root Co. So far as the Ameri- 

 can Bee Journal is concerned, it is just as independent as be- 

 fore. It has no connection, pecuniarily or otherwise, with 

 Gleanings or its publishers. As Mr. York was an old wheel- 



horse in the supply business under Thomas G. Newman & 

 Son, and as the successor of that firm had sold out its business 

 to us, Mr. York, by virtue of his experience and general ac- 

 quaintance with the territory, was engaged to manage the 

 Chicago branch oflBce ; and wareroom rent, insurance, cart- 

 age, freight, and stationery, etc., are paid by us. But sup- 

 pose the publisher of the American Bee Journal did open up a 

 supply oiBce, the same owned and controlled by himself — 

 would that necessarily weaken the influence of his paper? If 

 he were selfish, and inclined to " boom his supplies " irrespec- 

 tive of their merits, through his journal, he would hurt it ; 

 but he is not disposed to do anything of that kind. 



No, sir; the American Bee Journal is just as independent 

 as it was before the Root branch was opened up here, and we 

 defy any one to point to a single instance wherein the Bee 

 Journal is the worse for having another firm's supply business 

 in the same building ! But why didn't those same folks object 

 when the former publishers of this journal were actually buy- 

 ing and selling supplies ? The^i they might have had a rea- 

 sonable excuse, but now it is a waste of space to discuss the 

 matter so far as the present American Bee Journal is con- 

 cerned. 



Again, we wish to say, that there isn't the slightest con- 

 nection between Root's bee-supply branch here in Chicago and 

 the American Bee Journal. They pay for their advertising 

 space in this journal just as do others, and their goods will 

 not be pushed in its columns auy more than are others — ex- 

 cept as more advertising space is paid for. And that is open 

 to all honorable dealers. 



Vou are Hard to Please, we shall think, if this 

 number of the old American Bee Journal doesn't come pretty 

 nearly to suiting you. But we hope it will serve only as an 

 indication of what it will be this year. If everything goes 

 well, the 36th volume will be the brighest and most valuable 

 of all. We will do our "level best" to keep it up to the 

 " pace" set by this particular number. You can all help us 

 a good deal in succeeding, if you will do your part. A sympa- 

 thetic audience always contributes greatly to the success of 

 the orator who may be delivering the address. There are 

 many who speak through the American Bee Journal. Let us 



all help each other. 



^-•-*- 



Mr. Tucker's Apiary, as shown on the first page 

 of this number, is thus described very briefly by himself : 



Wallingford, Conn., Dec. 2, 1895. 



Mr. Editor :— "I don't know " that I can say much about 

 my apiary, as the picture shows well for itself. However, I 

 will say that it all faces the south, and in the winter I board 

 up the north side and the ends, and line the outside with 

 single-ply tar felt. The two long boards seen in front are 

 double, hung by hinges so I can let the outside one down in 

 case of a driving storm, rain or snow. In the winter I wrap 

 the hives in old carpets, old sacking, or anything that will do 

 to keep them warm. I raise the rear end of each hive three 

 inches. At this time I have 28 colonies, mostly in dovetailed 

 hives. 



The shop (a portion of which shows) is 12x20 feet, with 

 shed roof. 



I take lots of comfort around this little spot. I work in 

 a factory where silver-plated ware is made, and keep bees for 

 pleasure, as it is not much of a honey-district right around 

 here. J. B. Tucker. 

 ■*-—*■ 



A Xumber of Complaints have been received 

 at this office recently, against C. R. Horrie & Co., a commis- 

 sion firm at 224 South Water St., Chicago. Also, we are get- 

 ting enquiries as to their reliability, honesty, etc. In view of 

 the foregoing, we deem it but just to all concerned, that 

 we make a few plain statements. 



As nearly all the Bee Journal subscribers know, several 

 months ago there appeared in this paper a small advertise- 

 ment of the above firm, soliciting shipments of honey. Before 

 accepting that advertisement we investigated them as thor- 

 oughly as we then thought was necessary, and apparently all 



