standard of Excellence. 



In response to our plea for deciding 

 upon a standard of excellence for Ital- 

 ian bees, we present the following : 

 Elizabethtown , Indiana. 



Friend Newman :— Your idea of 

 wanting bee-keepers to agree upon a 

 standard of excellence of the Italian 

 bees suits me. I hope you will keep 

 this thing before the bee-keepers, as I 

 think we should be able to settle this 

 matter during next winter. The 

 trouble is, some prefer dark and some 

 light-colored bees. I have tlie light- 

 colored bees. I think they are just as 

 good for work as the dark ones. My 

 customers say that my bees are prolific 

 and very industrious. I will, at some 

 future time, give you my opinion as to 

 what pure Itedicm bees are ; or, at least, 

 what we should all breed for, as to 

 color, markings, &c. I have been 

 offered $1 each, for queens that I pro- 

 nounced hybrids, but I prefer to kill 

 them. Tliink there are too many of 

 this kind. Jos. M. Brooks. 



True, friend Brooks, there are too 

 many hybrids sold for Italians now. — 

 But why didn't you give your opinion 

 of what they should be, instead of 

 promising it sometime — that is "too 

 thin." "Now is the time and this is 

 the place." Speak. 



Polo, Mich., June 16, 1878. 



Mr. Editor.— As you make a call 

 for a standard of excellence in Italian 

 bees, I will tell you what I think it 

 ought to be : The queen should have 

 a bright yellow abdomen with a black 

 point. The workers should have three 

 bright yellow bands behind the waist, 

 with a very narrow dark edge. The 

 drones should have 3 very broad, bright 

 yellow bands on the back, below the 

 thorax, the sides of abdomen a bright 

 yelloiv, and should be all uniform. If I 

 was on a committee to establish a 

 standard of excellence, I should define 

 them more minutely in some other 

 points. S. K. Marsh. 



Well done, friend Marsh, you started 

 well— but why say if you were on a 

 committee you would define them more 

 minutely in some particulars. You are 

 already on a committee ; so define 

 thoroughly — exhaust the subject. — 

 Next. 



A man who has sold lots of bees to 

 his neighbors for Italians, called on us 

 a few days ago, and wanted to see ours. 



After examining our 2Jurc Italian bees, 

 he said he never saw such before. His 

 were not marked at all like them. — 

 Query : — What kind of bees was he sell- 

 ing for pure Italians ? Will any one 

 say that there is no need of agreeing 

 upon a STANDARD by which all may 

 be tried, and thus save imposition ? — 

 If there be such a one, let him now 

 speak out. 



The Chicago Atomizer. 



At the request of several who want a 

 perfect means of sprayiug combs, bees, 

 &c., for the cure of foul brood, as well 

 as for changing the scent of bees when 

 introducing queens, dividing, making 

 nuclei, &c., we have procured a nice 



little thing, called the Chicago Atom- 

 izer, which we can sell at the low price 

 of $1. If sent by mail it will cost 30 

 cents extra for postage. The above en- 

 graving shows its shape and the manner 

 of using it. See page 241 for a descrip- 

 tion of its use in the cure of foul brood, 

 though we would suggest a trial of the 

 following formula, and its repetition 

 on the sixth day, to prevent a return of 

 the epidemic : 



Salicyric Acid 128 grains. 



Soda Borax 128 '; 



Bromo Ciiloralum W " 



Pure Rain- Water 10 ounces. 



Glass, with Care.— Friend Chas. 

 Simon, of Swan, Ind., has sent us a 

 surplus honey box, made entirely of 

 glass— 6 pieces in all, i. e., 2 pieces of 

 each of the following sizes : 4x4f ; 

 11x4 ; and 2x4f . It has four very small 

 pieces of wood, simply to strengthen 

 the joints. It looks well— would show 

 off the honey to perfection, but we 

 should think the great draw back 

 would be the extreme care needed in 

 shipping. It certainly makes the neat- 

 est appearance of any box we ever saw. 



