March 1, 1900. 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



137 



The Western Bee-Keeper was the name of a new bee- 

 paper started in the West a year or so ago. We learn that 

 it has recently turned its subscription list (?) over to the 

 Progressive Bee-Keeper. We did not announce its advent, 

 as we failed to see wherein it had sufficient merit. It cer- 

 tainly was no credit to the printer's art, and we failed to 

 see where it could be of much advantage to anybody — not 

 even to its publisher. This latter opinion has now been 

 verified, by its giving up the effort. 



There is generally an amusing feature connected with 

 the starting of new bee-papers. They usually want to ex- 

 liiange advertising space with the old andestablisht papers, 

 instead of paying cash for it as do others. Of course, the 

 Western Bee-Keeper followed that rule, and when the appli- 

 cation was received here, we simply quoted regular adver- 

 tising rates, and that was the last heard from that quarter. 

 They had practically nothing to give in return on an ex- 

 change basis, and certainly could not afford to pay cash for 

 advertising a new paper of so little merit. 



While it really is none of our affair, we can't help feel- 

 ing sorry for the poor, misguided people who think there is 

 money to be made in publishing new bee-papers. In about 

 forty-nine cases out of fifty they have proven to be a delu- 

 sion and a snare. But we presume we shall see new bee- 

 papers in the future as in the past — with about the usual 

 result. 



Reformed Spelling seems to stir up some people to a 

 paroxysm of foaming and frothing that is fairly amusing. 

 A friend sends a clipping from the Daily Telegraph of 

 Philadelphia for Feb. 5, and among the pet names applied 

 to the reform are, "craze — delusion — ridiculous — deformed 

 — absurdity — silly impertinences." The Telegraph says : 

 " Some journals which otherwise are beyond reproach are 

 found to be so injured by it as to have their usefulness'seri- 

 ously impaired." Doubtless the usefulness of the American 

 Bee Journal is so seriously impaired by an occasional word 

 changed in its spelling that its readers will not be able to 

 secure as much honey as they otherwise would ! ! The way 

 to be certain to succeed with bees is to take a paper that 

 puts ugh on tho, and tie on catalog. The flowers will yield 

 nectar then ! 



Mr. O. O. Popplbton, writing us from Dade Co., Fla., 

 Feb. 13, said : 



" This has been a very hard winter on bees in Florida, 

 so far as I can hear. One of my apiaries is doing first- 

 class, one very good, and two very poorly." 



» -in*; # ♦ 



Mr. a. H. Cowan, eldest son of Editor Thos. Wm. 

 Cowan, of the British Bee Journal, was married Jan. 9. Mr. 

 Cowan has a fruit-farm in Placer Co., Calif., where he lives. 

 The American Bee Journal wishes the happy couple a long 

 and blissful life. 



♦ » * ♦ * 



Prof. A. J. Cook, of Los Angeles Co., Calif., under 

 date of Feb. 14, wrote as follows : 



■" The outlook for the .season in Southern California is 

 not at all encouraging to the bee-keeper, or even to the gen- 

 eral farmer. While we have had almost as much rain as we 

 had during the entire season of a year ago, we yet need a 

 great deal more for a successful year. Northern California 

 has had fine rains. The southern part of the Stale is in 

 sore need of many and copious showers which must come 

 within two or three months. Usually there are huge banks 

 of snow on th? tops of the mountains, while now there are 



almost none. We are all hopeful that we shall yet have 

 the rains so much needed to bring the usual success to this 

 end of the State." 



**##,♦ 



Thk Wisconsin Convkntion Photograph, taken by 

 W. Z. Hutchinson, is ready for delivery to all who desire it. 

 It is 8x10 inches in size, mounted on a 10x12 heavy card- 

 board, and will be sent postpaid for 75 cents. It is one of 

 the best and clearest convention pictures we ever saw. If 

 you wish a copy of it, send tho above amount to W. Z. 

 Hutchinson, Flint, Mich. 



* « * ♦ ♦ 



Thb Ei-khart Carriags and Harness Mfg. Co., of 

 Elkhart, Ind., have issued one of the best catalogs for 1900 

 that have come to our desk. It contains 144 pages and 

 cover. Practically every page is illustrated, showing their 

 excellent vehicles and harness. This is their 27th year. 

 Better send your name and address for their catalog, not 

 forgetting to say you saw their advertisement in the 

 American Bee Journal. 



* * * * * 



Dr. E. Gallup, of Orange Co., Calif., we notice by a 

 markt newspaper item received last week, has just lost his 

 wife and infant child. The death of the mother was a pecu- 

 liarly sad one, tho no possible means were neglected to 

 avert the sad ending, three skilled physicians being in at- 

 tendance. Our sympathy, as well as that of bee-keepers 

 everywhere, will go out to Dr. Gallup in his deep sorrow. 



* * * * * 



Mr. John F. Crowdkr, of Fresno Co., Calif., says the 

 Tulare Advance, is perhaps the most extensive bee-keeper 

 in Central California. He has about 3,000 colonies of bees 

 in all. These he has divided into apiaries of about 300 each. 

 His 10 apiaries are located usually about three or four miles 

 apart, and are within a radius of from 10 to IS miles of his 

 home. Mr. Crowder started about six years ago with 25 

 colonies. By careful work and much study he has been able 

 to build up what is perhaps the largest bee-business con- 

 trolled by one man in the United States. He employs quite 

 a number of men in his apiaries, and keeps them up in just 

 the right shape. He produces principally extracted' honey. 



* « * ♦ * 



Hon. EugBnK Secor is the president of the Winnebago 

 Co., Iowa, Farmers' Institute. He has mailed us a copy of 

 the program of their fourth annual meeting, which was held 

 Feb. 13 and 14. On the last page of .that program we find 

 the following, which is well worth your reading and heed- 

 ing, tho it is not exactly on bee-keeping : 



" Agriculture is the oldest employment of man, but it 

 does not follow that there is nothing to be learned in farm- 

 ing. It is not one of the exact sciences, for climate and 

 other ever-varying conditions require varying methods and 

 practices. What is best in one locality may not be in 

 another. The annual rainfall, extremes in heat and cold, 

 distance from market, kind of soil, etc. — all have an influ- 

 ence in determining what our farming practices should be 

 if we would obtain the best results. There are many prob- 

 lems of agriculture not yet solved. If we are satisfied with 

 ourselves, and believe that the practices of our forefathers 

 can not be improved upon — that there are no better ways, 

 no better implements, no better crops than they knew, then 

 there is no reason to read, study or watch what our wide-a- 

 wake neighbors are doing. But if we think there is room 

 for improvement in our county we ought to use every means 

 to that end. The highest farming requires as much brains 

 and study as any other calling. The farmer should not re- 

 gard his work as beneath that of any other station on earth. 

 And he should pursue it so intelligently and skillfully as to 

 command the respect due to him. He should be a student. 

 He should avail himself of every help. The county insti- 

 tute was created by law to increase your interest and effi- 

 ciency in agriculture. Whatever does that should also in- 

 crease your wealth and happiness. Attend the Farmers' 

 Institute. It is planned for your benefit." 



After all, what is good advice for the farmer is pretty 

 good for the bee-keeper also. 



Queenie Jeanette is the title of a pretty song in sheet 

 music size, written by J. C. Wallerimeyer, a musical bee- 

 keeper. The regular price is 40 cents, but to close out the 

 copies we have left, we will mail them at 20 cents each, as 

 long as they last, lietter 9r<}er :'* once, if you W4!lt a QOpy 

 0( this song, 



