good price for every pound of honey pro- 

 duced. AH that is necessary to brintj this 

 about is for every bee-lceeper in Michigan 

 to appoint himself a committee, to woric up 

 a good lioney marlcet at home, and see that 

 that marliet is always kept well supplied, 

 never seeking the metropolis until this has 

 been done. W. L. Poktick. 



©ur fetter ^o^. 



Madison, Ind., Jan. 16, 1878. 

 "This fall I put up .55 colonies in good 

 condition, and so far, 8 of them have died 

 from no apparent cause, their hives being 

 well filled with honey." 



Abu AH Wright. 



Lynville, Iowa, Jan. 21, 1878. 

 " I put 164 colonies into the cellar to win- 

 ter, but the weather has been so warm that 

 1 had to set them out in December. They 

 are doing finely now." C. F. Dillky. 



Alhambra, III., Jan. 9, 1878. 

 "I could not consent to do without The 

 American Bee Jouknal. It is so valua- 

 ble to me tiiat I long for its arrival. 1 am 

 only a beginner; commenced with 3 colo- 

 nies, and now have 6 in good condition." 

 K. D. Utiger. 



Callaway Co., Mo., Jan. 8, 1878. 

 "I could not well get along without The 

 Bee Journal. I commenced last spring 

 with 8 colonies in box hives; transferred to 

 Langstroth hives; increased to 26; and got 

 200 lbs. ot extracted honey. I traded for 4, 

 and now have oO. 12 of my weakest are 

 packed in straw and fodder all around. In 

 warm weather I take out the packing in 

 front and let them have a liy." 



11. S. Todd. 



Jackson, Mich., Jan. 18, 1878. 

 "If natural combs are used for starters In 

 sections, they should be cut to an even 

 thickness, or they will not tit in a shipping 

 crate. We do it thus: Gut the combs into 

 strips the length of the section, then with a 

 sharp, thin knife cut evenly to about J^ 

 inch wide. We have used considerable of 

 it, and it works to perfection. When we 

 first used comb foundation, our honey was 

 more regular than in the natural comb, but 

 after shearing the latter, we could see no 

 dilference. The combs to cut up should be 

 soft, or they will break or crumble up." 

 Jos. Butler. 



East Saginaw, Mich., Dec. 15. 1877. 

 "I commenced in the spring with 20 colo- 

 nies; increased to 76; sold 16 swarms, 

 leaving 60 colonies in all. Making the 

 account stand thus: 



Received, for honey sold |20n (10 



" " l(i swarms ti" (K) 



Balance of increase, at $5 200 00 



5i4G7 00 



Paid for 10 queens ?10 00 



Stuff for boxes 12 SO 



" glassed, 10 75 



Lumber for frames 5 SO 



" winter packinK 7 00 



American Bee Journal & Gleanings ... 3 00 §19 Si> 



Profits, net ?417 65 



L. C. Whiting. 



Fountaintown, Ind., Jan. 19, 1878. 

 "I prepared my 10 colonies for winter on 

 their summer stands, protected on the 

 north, south and west sides. They have 

 been flying lively, most of the time, thus 

 far. I fear they will consume all their sup- 

 plies, though they were well supplied when 

 put up." George Mutii. 



Henry, HI., Jan. 10, 1878. 

 " I have 76 colonies in winter quarters; 70 

 in a cave, and 6 on their summer stands. — 

 The month of December was very warm. — 

 They got too warm and I was in a'quandary 

 whether to move them out or not; I never 

 watched the thermometer so closely before. 

 My ])lan before was to leave the doors open 

 at night, and close them in the morning, to 

 cool the cave and retain the coolness, but 

 the thermometer stood the same at mid- 

 night as at mid-day, so I ])laced ice in the 

 cave, in large cakes, and run the thermome- 

 ter from 66 down to .50, which made them 

 more quiet. I use the Langstroth hive; 

 this year my bees have paid me "big" for 

 my trouble. I was out on a bee hunt in 

 December; found 2 trees; cut one and got 

 about 100 lbs.; will let the other stand until 

 spring and then transfer." 



Geo. Poindexter. 



Wisconsin. Dec. 31, 1877. 

 " Last spring I had 7 colonies and sold 2 of 

 them for .S12. I hired a man, who knew 

 more about bees than I did, to transfer the 

 other 5 into patent frame hives, of his own 

 invention, paying him.S5for his patent right, 

 and for the hives whicli I used during the 

 summer, amounting, in all to 827. My 5 

 swarms increased to 11, 2 of which I sold 

 for ??12. Now the account stands thus: 



Cr. By saleof 1801bboxhone5'at20cts $.S6 00 



2 swarms bees sold, at $6 12 00 



9 swarms bees on hand at $6 54 00 



?102 00 



Dr. To 5 swarms in the spring, worth $G. $150 00 

 Transferring, patent right and 

 hives $27 00- 57 00 



Balance profit *4o 00 



Also: 



Dr. To time and care S 



Cr. By honey used in the family $ 



This, I think, would run the total product 

 of honey up to about 2.50 lbs. 



Our honey was extra good this year, Jjeing 

 made in the early part of tlie season, from 

 the white clover and basswood. My stocks 

 are all stnuig and in good order this fall, 

 and I still think it pays to keep bees." 



John Kusticus. 



Shippingport. Pa., Dec. 22, 1877. 

 "Iliad 20 colonies last spring, in Harbi- 

 son hives, and got 15 young swarms last 

 summer, and had about 800 lbs. of comb 

 honey. I have had 3 colonies of the bright 

 yellow Italian bees, for 3 years, and have 

 got but one drawer of honey from them yet. 

 1 have one box hive, (IS years old), that 

 have been hybrids 3 or 4 years, that have 

 made 7 drawers of 12 lbs. each, this summer, 

 and swarmed once, the swarm filling 2 

 drawers and the box. We have had 

 weather warm enough for bees to fiy, f<ir 3 

 weeks; the dandelions are in bloom like 

 spring, and the bees working on them.— 

 They have been eating their winter stores. 



