June 7, 1900. 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



361 



does any one think we would use these columns to boom 

 such organization ? Hardly ; unless the space were paid 

 for like any other legitimate business or enterprise that 

 wishes to do business with our subscribers for profit would 

 be required to do. 



We bear not the slightest ill-will toward the National 

 Queen-Breeders' Union, or its members ; and would say that 

 so far as we know they have a perfect right to organize for 

 their mutual advantage; but when they charge that be- 

 cause the bee-papers do not turn in and help along their 

 pet scheme such papers are "antagonistic ;" and that some 

 bee-keepers are giving " kicks " when they ought to give 

 encouragement — well, we don't know anything about the 

 latter, but, speaking for one paper, we can say that we have 

 never antagonized the Queen-Breeders' Union — have never 

 closed our advertising columns to any of itsotScers or mem- 

 bers, provided they were willing and able to pay the price 

 we charge for advertising space ; and, further, we are ready 

 at all times to help on any good cause that has for its ob- 

 ject the general advancement of the welfare of bee-keepers. 



We must, however, be allowed to decide as to what shall, 

 and what shall not, go into these columns. We are not run- 

 ning the American Bee Journal for ihe good of a few, but 

 for the benefit of all who pay for it, and read it from week 

 to week. 



An Improvement in the Ferris Wax= Extractor is 



noted in the Bee-Keepers' Review. A screw and follower has 

 been added, which can be applied while the slumgum is still 

 under steam heat. "It would seem," says Editor Hutchin- 

 son, " as tho this left nothing further to be desired in the 

 line of wax-extractors." The only wonder is that an im- 

 provement in use so long a time in Europe should not 

 sooner have been introduced into this country. 



Trials of a Bee=Suppiy Dealer. — We have no doubt 

 that a very interesting as well as a large and amusing vol- 

 ume might be written on this subject, could only one-half 

 of the experiences of bee-supply dealers be gotten together. 

 It was our good fortune, or misfortune, to have been ini- 

 tiated into the variegated bee-supplj'-dealing field when in 

 the employ of the former owners of the American Bee Jour- 

 nal. We then became familiar with a few of the unreason- 

 able people who somehow have drifted into bee-keeping, 

 and we still frequently hear of some of the trials that they 

 cause the overworkt supply-dealer to whom they send their 

 little orders. 



And isn't it strange that usually the chap who wants 

 only a total of 75 cents worth of sections, foundation, ship- 

 ping-cases, etc., is almost sure to have more "kicks" to 

 offer than the man that orders $75 worth at a time ? 



A supply-dealer once received an order for a few pounds 

 of brood foundation which was to be of sheets 16 and seven- 

 eighths inches long. It so happened that foundation 16 and 

 i2;f-eighths inches long was unintenionally sent, and per- 

 haps it was just the slightest shade darker in color than the 

 former order received by the customer. 



Well (would you believe it ?), that bee-keeper actually 

 complained, saying he could not use the foundation that 

 was just one-eighth inch shorter that he ordered, without 

 cutting strips to fill up that one-eighth space in the frames ! 

 He also found fault with the color of the foundation, claim- 

 ing that it was of second quality, etc., when it was of the 

 very best manufacture in this country, of pure beeswax, 

 and of excellent color for brood foundation. Suppose it 

 wasn't as clear as some other — it would answer every pur- 

 pose for brood foundation, for in a year or two it would be 

 no darker than would be any kind of foundation used in the 

 brood-chamber. 



When the customer was written to, and kindly informed 



that there was not sutilicent difference to make any real dif- 

 ference, either in the length of the sheets or the color of the 

 foundation, he replied that he wisht it understood that he 

 proposed to run his own business, and intimated that no 

 bee-supply dealer need attempt to interfere, either. He 

 really expected the dealer to go to the expense of at least a 

 dollar to exchange the few pounds of foundation, so that 

 the sheets might be one-eighth inch longer, and the color — 

 perhaps no lighter. The dealer offered to bear half of the 

 expense, but that didn't suit Mr. Bee-Keeper. 



There should be reason exercised in all things, and we 

 believe that nearly all bee-supply dealers are glad to meet a 

 customer half way, or do what is right in all cases. But 

 some people seem determined to be dissatisfied, no matter 

 how great an effort is put forth to plea.se them. And, ten 

 chances to one, in two or three years such will be entirely 

 out of the bee-business, where they should have remained 

 in the first place. 



Another experience : A dealer recieved an order 

 amounting to less than $1.50 — the whole thing making just 

 a small package — one that would probably be lost or smasht 

 if sent by freight, so it was sent by express. It called for 

 less than 20 brood-frames, besides some other goods. 

 When received the customer opened the parcel, and imme- 

 diately wrote that it was short perhaps a half dozen frames, 

 and intimated that they were purposely omitted ; that if 

 the error was not immediately corrected, he would warn 

 others to extend their patronage elsewhere, etc. He also 

 complained because the order was sent by express instead 

 of freight. 



Other illustrations might be given, but we will not take 

 up space to tell of them. Let the ones mentioned suffice to 

 teach this lesson : If you must enter a complaint, do it in 

 a courteous way, and give the dealer a chance to correct 

 any errors, before denouncing and threatening him. If you 

 don't, he will likely put you down as a confirmed crank, and 

 prefer to spend his time, and efforts to please, upon some 

 more worthy specimen of humanity. 



Again, don't " go for " the dealer unless there is some- 

 thing really worth mentioning. If you havn't confidence 

 in a dealer's honesty, his goods, and his desire to give satis" 

 faction, don't patronize him. He will be more than pleased 

 to have you send elsewhere, especially if you are anything 

 like the two cases we have mentioned. Life is too short, 

 and the busy season with the bee-supply dealer is too trying 

 any way, to spend much time with unnecessary complaints. 



Of course, we believe in fair play, and full justice to all, 

 but we also believe that all concerned would be happier, 

 live longer, and succeed better, if a little reason and con- 

 sideration were exercised by those would get the best ser- 

 vice from their bee-supply dealer. 



York's Honey Calendar for 1900 is a 16-page pamph- 

 let especially gotten up to create a demand for honey among 

 should-be consumers. The forepart was written by Dr. 

 C. C. Miller, and is devoted to general information concern- 

 ing honey. The latter part consists of recipes for use in 

 cooking and as a medicine. It will be found to be a very 

 effective helper in working up a home market for honey. 

 We furnish them, postpaid, at these prices : A sample 

 free ; 25 copies for 30 cents ; 50 for 50 cents ; 100 for 90 

 cents ; 250 for $2.00 ; 500 for $3.50. For 25 cents extra we 

 will print your name and address on the front page, when 

 ordering 100 or more copies at these prices. 



Dr. niller's Honey=Queens are offered as premiums, 

 on another page, for sending us new subscribers to the 

 American Bee Journal. The offer is limited to our present 

 regular subscribers, and the queens are to be mailed in ro- 

 tation, beginning about June 1st, so first come first served. 

 Look up a new subscriber, send in his name with SI. 00, and 

 we will enter your order for a Dr. Miller Honey-Queen. 



