310 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



smoke), at the same time rapping the hive 

 a few times to frighten the bees. Now give 

 them plenty of time to fill themselves with 

 honey — say 10 to 15 minutes. Now blow 

 some tobacco smoke into the hive to quiet 

 them, and remove the frames until you find 

 the old queen. After removing her, brush 

 all the bees either into the bottom of the 

 hive or into a box kept for the purpose— as 

 before described. Now smoke the bees 

 with tobacco until they are thoroughly 

 scented and under the influence of smoke. 

 Be careful not to induce vomiting by using 

 too much smoke. This, like everything 

 else must be learned by practice. The ob- 

 ject of using the smoke is to scent them 

 thoroughly and alike, and so stupify them 

 that they will be insensible to the loss of 

 the queen and will recognize the other as 

 their own. 



After the bees are in a proper condition, 

 uncage the queen, let her loose with the 

 bees, after blowing some smoke upon her; 

 then mix the bees thoroughly, having the 

 queen in the centre of the mass of bees. 

 After allowing her to stay there a few mo- 

 ments, to become thoroughly scented, re- 

 place the bees into the hive, which finishes 

 the operation. This is a perfect, speedy 

 and safe method, and 1 am only too 

 willing to adopt it. This is Bro. Alley's 

 method with a few exceptions. It is very 

 much like the method of A. C. Attwood — 

 given in the July number. I dislike be- 

 smearing the bees with honey. 



I am willing to guarantee 90 per cent, of 

 all queens that I introduce by my method, 

 at any time of the year, or any condition of 

 the honey season, and regardless of how 

 strong the queen may be scented; 



There has been quite a controversy about 

 queens and queen-raising. Let me say one 

 word in Henry Alley's favor. I have been 

 a frequent visitor there and have spent one 

 week at a time studying with him, learning 

 as thorougldy as. possible all about bee- 

 keeping. I have never seen him send an 

 impure queen or one that was not well 

 marked. He seems to take pride in furnish- 

 ing the best queens possible. Also his 

 queens used by me have produced the most 

 beautifiil and most active Italian workers 

 that I have ever seen. I have just intro- 

 duced a young queen from an imported 

 mother lately purchased by him. I have 

 always known liim to be an honest, reliable 

 and upright man, and I feel justified in say- 

 ing that every person dealing with him will 

 be used in a gentlemanly manner. 



In smoking my bees, I use the Alley 

 smoker, consisting of a tin tube about one 

 inch in diameter, with a plug in each end,— 

 one having a small tube K inch in diameter 

 through it, and the other intended to fit the 

 mouth. I use tobacco aJtogether, and like 

 it best, because you can use both hands to 

 work with. 



I have kept bees for 7 years; have but few 

 swarms now. I use the Bay State hive. 

 The honey crop is poor this season. 



Salem, Mass. Silas M. Locke. 



dtg^ Over two thousand tons of beeswax 

 are used annually in England, at a cost of 

 two millions of dollars. The "busy bees" 

 have lots of work before them to supply 

 this demand— as well as the constant and 

 increasing demand in this country. 



For the American Bee Journal. 



The National Convention. 



Mr. J. S. Coe has completed arrangements 

 with the American Institute for the next 

 meeting of the National Society. For full 

 particulars we refer to the following letter 

 from him. We hope bee-keepers will take 

 an interest in this meeting and make it a 

 grand success— one creditable to American 

 bee-keepers in general. Especially would 

 we urge upon our Southern friends to send 

 in samples of their honey. We have a good 

 yield from the honey-dew and poplar, let 

 them be samples of each on hand. We be- 

 lieve that if the fine flavor of our poplar 

 honey was better known, it would be pre- 

 ferred and command the best price in the 

 market, notwithstanding its dark color. 



W. J. Andrews. 

 MoNTCLAiR, N. J., Ang. 9, 1877. 

 Wm. J. AxDKEWs, President: 



Dear Sir:— I beg leave to state that under 

 your instructions I have made the following 

 arrangements for our coming convention to 

 be held in the City of New York on Tues- 

 day, Oct. 16, 1877: 



The managers of the American Institute 

 have granted to the American Bee-Keepers' 

 Association, table space for the exhibition 

 of honey and wax, and floor space for the 

 exhibition of hives and all other apiarian 

 supplies. 



One fee ($7) only will be charged. 



The entry is to be only for exhibition and 

 not for competition. 



Each delegate to the convention will re- 

 ceive three single admissions— usual ex- 

 hibitor's tickets. 



H. K. & F. B. Thurber & Co., agree to re- 

 ceive all apiarian products and supplies to 

 be exhibited by the American Bee-Keepers' 

 Association at the American Institute in 

 New York, and have them all properly ar- 

 ranged for exhibition free of charge. 



It notified by letter or telegraph, of the 

 shipment of honey they agree to have it re- 

 moved by careful hands to the exhibition 

 building, so that it shall not receive dam- 

 age. 



They agree to pay the highest market 

 price for the honey and wax at the close of 

 the exhibition, and account for the same to 

 the party making the shipment. 



I have procured the use of a hall in which 

 to hold our convention, free of charge. 



Arrangements are made at the Brigg's 

 House, near the Grand Central depot, tor 

 the accomodation of our delegates, at great- 

 ly reduced rates— lodging, 50c. per niglit; 

 meals, from 2.5c. to 75c. 



So far, no reduction has been obtained on 

 railroad fares. 



Exhibits should be sent in by the 12th of 

 September, or as soon after as possible. 



All exhibits consigned to Messrs. Thurber 

 & Co. will be transferred from the depots 

 and piers by experienced hands, and 

 placed in position in the Institute building 

 free of ciiarge. And after the fair they will 

 either buy, sell, or ship back. 



Arrangements have been made by the 

 friends of the Association to offer a Gold 

 Medal, to cost not less than $50, to be 



