Constantine, Jan. 15, 1878. 



" 1. What are we to do, that have invest- 

 ed in patent hives? Hovs' can we dispose of 

 our colonies of bees. I suppose we can sell 

 hives and bees, but has tile purchaser a 

 right to use them ? I refer to Mitchell's 

 adjustable hive. He claims a patent March 

 9, 1875, for 17 years. I think it an excellent 

 hive, but do not want to increase in a hive 

 that I cannot dispose of. The patent seems 

 to be the division boards, by wliich the 

 space can be diminished or "increased at 

 pleasure. I see Mr. Doolittle is using some- 

 thing similar, and others, claiming that it 

 was not patented. I wish to be on the safe 

 side — therefore the inquiry. 



2. Why could not a plain home-made 

 sheet of wax be used for foundation combs? 

 If the bees have the material, will they not 

 construct them as well as when they furnish 

 the material themselves? I mean to try it 

 in the spring. A New Subsckibek. 



[ 1. Mr. Mitchell says he waives all right 

 in such a case of purchase. His patent is 

 not on a division board — but the use of it 

 ■with "lugs" and rubber strips. Any one 

 can use a division board ; the " lugs" and 

 rubber strips are non-essentials, and are 

 useless in any other hive. The hive proper 

 and frames are not patentable, and it is not 

 likely that the purchaser would be dis- 

 turbed. If you like that hive, there is no 

 reason why you should not use it— but we 

 think the Langstroth would please you 

 better, and would be more desirable in the 

 sale of colonies. 



2. Bees will supply the wax, or will gen- 

 erally use such as may be supplied, whetlier 

 the base of cells be impressed or not.— Ed.] 



Lansing, Mich., April 15, 1878. 

 " I have unpacked my bees, and found all 

 alive and in a very healthy condition ; 

 there being brood in every card, except the 

 two end ones. Drones are hatciiing very 

 rapidly. My bees were wintered out of 

 doors. Inside boxes so as to fit over the 

 hives, allowing a foot between the boxes 

 and hives ; from the entrance I had a pass- 

 age-way, so tliat bees could go out at any 

 time. The sv^ace between the hive and box 

 was filled with straw ; this iiad a roof, so as 

 to keep out water and snow. I think this 

 the safest way to winter on summer stands. 

 It is the same as Prof. Cook recommends in 

 his new book." Fisk Bangs. 



Nahua, Iowa., April 13, 1878. 

 "Bees wintered well ; I wintered in the 

 cellar and did not lose a colony. The pros- 

 pect is fine for a good season. I bought my 

 queens last year of J. Oatman & Co., and 

 tliey were very prolific— keeping their hives 

 full of bees and brood. I have kept bees for 

 9 years, but the Oatman stock bear off the 

 palm for being quiet, peaceable and good to 

 handle. I shall re-queen .50 colonies this 

 season, and want no other kind. I shall 

 raise all my queens from the Oatman 



tOCkS." E. J. SCOFIELD. 



GLEANED BY 



W. J. Andrews, - Columbia, Tenn. 



Kind Friends:— With this number we withdraw 

 from the management of this department. Our love 

 for the busy little insect and their managers Is 

 as strong as ever. We love to handle bees, and con- 

 verse with those who handle them. To us, it has 

 always been a pleasure to receive and answer letters 

 pertaining to their management. We never engaged 

 in the business with a view of any gain, but solely 

 for a pastime and the pleasure it afforded us. To 

 handle bees successfully, especially for profit, 

 requires strict attention ; as much so as any other 

 business. My business has assumed a shape that it 

 will require the whole of my time— undivided with 

 any other occupation. I have, therefore, arranged 

 with a friend to take charge of all my hives, and I 

 withdraw from the business in toto. 



With many thanks for numerous acts of kindness 

 and wishes of good feeling I have met with at your 

 hands, and with kind wishes to all, I am 



Yours truly, Wm. J. Andrews. 



For the American Bee Journal. 



Honey Dew. 



Some contend that it is evaporated 

 from flowers, and falls on the leaves of 

 trees, as other dew ; others are of the 

 opinion that it is wholly the product of 

 aphides ; and others, still, think it is 

 the product of exudation through the 

 pores of the leaves of certain trees.— 

 That it is caused by evaporation from 

 flowers is at variance with reason, since 

 saccharine matter never exists in a vol- 

 atile state, and cannot be taken up in 

 the air by the process of evaporation. — 

 This is fully demonstrated in the art of 

 sugar and syrup making. Then we 

 must look for its cause either as the 

 product of excretion from aphides or 

 exudation from the leaves of trees, or 

 from both causes. We assume that it 

 is from both, but mainly as the product 

 of exudation. 



That from exudation, which is always 

 during dry, warm weather, is doubt- 

 less caused by an effort of natureto 

 perform her proper functions, which 

 have been partially suspended by ex- 

 terior causes. 



This is forcibly exemplified in the 

 foliage of certain trees, such as peach 

 and plum, which have been injured by 

 late frosts, the result of which is an 

 exudation of saccharine matter much 

 sought for by the bees. It is an effort 

 similar to that brought into action by 

 pomologists to force fruit trees into 

 bearing, &c. 



But while we are satisfied that honey 

 dew, with us, is mainly the product of 



