mentioned as the proper size for sliipping 

 purposes, wliicii was concurred in by the 

 meeting. Tlie subject ot canning was then 

 discussed. E. E. Shatluclc said he had suf- 

 fered loss from imperfect cases, that during 

 transit they would, from rough handling, 

 require re-nailing, and nails were often 

 driven into the cans, causing leakage. N. 

 Levering said the cases should be strapped 

 with iron. J. E. Pleasants recommended 

 raw-hide. A. J. Davidson said, in soldering 

 cans he made a small orifice with an awl or 

 some pointed instrument which was solder- 

 ed after soldering the main entrance. 



On motion of N. Levering, a committee 

 was appointed to ascertain the respective 

 cost of packages (cans and barrels), and re- 

 port at the next meeting. The President 

 appointed the following committee: J. E. 

 Pleasants, N. Levering, E. E. Shattuck. 



C. J. Fox, President of San Diego Bee- 

 keepers' Association, came in and was called 

 upon for a statement relative to the honey 

 interests in his county. He said that the 

 loss of bees in San Diego county the past 

 season was less than one-half; that bees 

 were doing remarkably well, storing honey 

 and swarming unusually; that the bee- 

 keepers would make extracted honey, and 

 not comb, as heretofore; and that they had 

 tried, to a limited extent, shipping honey in 

 barrels last season with quite satisfactory 

 results; that where it was shipped by water 

 the barrels should be wood-hooped, as the 

 action of the salt water on the iron hoops 

 would rust them off. 



For the American Bee Journal. 



Smokers and Sections. 



Mr. Editok :— Once I found fault with 

 the rough frailty of my friend L. C. Root's 

 smoker, also with Novice's 1 lb. sections. — 

 But I got " churned " a little for it. Well, 

 pretty soon. Novice himself must have 

 found fault with the sections, for just as I 

 predicted, he went at it and made them a 

 little better. Probably as )?ood as he can. — 

 I will send you a sample section, soon, such 

 as I make with a jack knife, or get some 

 way. Now about 



SMOKERS. 



Somebody has caused friend L. C. Root to 

 improve his smoker also. I have just 

 been using one, and I find it much more 

 solid than the old one, but so heavy as to 

 completely tire out my hand. I have been 

 comparing it with one of Bingham's small- 

 est size, and som,e tvay the little B. smoker 

 has nearly twice the draft, and is so light 

 and easy to handle, and yet so firm and 

 strong. Much has been said about these 

 sm.okers, so much that I have been testing 

 different ones for the past few weeks ; and, 

 candidly, and disinterestedly, I think it is 

 as you said. The L. C. Root smoker is an 

 improvement on the Quinby, just so far as 

 it copies Bingham's ; and the copy is so 

 complete and the change so " Binghamized," 

 that, were the shade of the lamented 

 Quinby to visit this mundane sphere, he 

 would say : No, that is not a Quinby non 

 patented smoker, it is a Bingham patented, 



and a palpable infringement, which I never 

 would have encouraged. The addition of 

 heavy cast iron fastenings adds to its 

 weight, but not to its strength. As smokers 

 are liable to fall oftentimes, the lighter 

 they are, the less susceptable to injury. 



I think Mr. Bingham is away ahead yet, 

 and may justly claim to be the original 

 inventor of a practical bellows smoker, so 

 completely has he revolutionized it. Mr. 

 Quinby took great pains to make the con- 

 nection tube between the barrel and the 

 bellows air-tight; but, since Bingham dis- 

 covered and patented the principle that the 

 open air was the best " tube " to blow 

 through, I notice that the Quinby not 

 only has a very loose fit between the tube 

 and bellows, but actually has holes to let in 

 some of Bingham's fresh air. 



Well, to conclude, I will say that I thank 

 friend Bingham for the light, firm, durable 

 and forcible impliment he has given us. — 

 The FIRST practicable bellows smoker, as 

 the old heavy German smoker was too cum- 

 bersome, while the Quinby was too frail 

 and imperfect in its action to be of much 

 service after the first week's use. Above 

 all else, let us give "honor to whom honor 

 is due." 



Bees about here are swarming, robbing 

 and starving, all at the same time. Preco- 

 cious seasons, and bees are like precocious 

 children ; at 8 months, they can vvalk ; at 1 

 year, talk ; at 4 years, declaim ; at 10 years, 

 they know more than their parents ; at 15, 

 tliey can run horses, gamble and chew 

 tabacco, drink poor whisky, &c. ; and at 

 mature manhood, just about chew gum, 

 with a string tied to it, and then come home 

 to board with " nwi." Many of my colonies 

 of bees have gone to boarding with my 2 qt. 

 feeders. Is this to be the summer of our 

 discontent ? It looks so. 



James Heddon. 



Dowagiac, Mich., May 18, 1878. 



For the American Bee Journal. 



Chips from Sweet Home. 



We received from A. I. Root 2 dipj)ing 

 plates, with 5 in. comb foundation machine. 

 Gave them a thorough trial for many days, 

 but the wax would stick more or less, 

 although we thoroughly starched, &c. Two 

 women suggested a board ; we tried a small 

 piece. Well, it slipped off nice, so we 

 made 2 plates of pine, planed thin and 

 smooth ; and, to say the least, they are 

 " peelers," i. c, the wax sheets slipped off 

 almost too readily. The boards should be 

 made thin and smooth, of straight grain, 

 with handle on top, similar to other plates. 

 To keep from warping, when not in use, 

 hang in a well or cistern, or lay in a barrel 

 of water. I think, by regulating the thick- 

 ness of the board, the thickness of the sheets 

 can be evened. Two dips with boards will 

 make as thick sheets as 3 with tins, and 

 cool quicker, i. e., we have to hold over 

 boiler less time to quit dripping. One dip 

 with boards is often sufficient thickness. — 

 Some wood may be better than others. — 

 Try, and report. D. D. Palmeb. 



Eliza, Mercer Co., 111. 



