attractive package on tlie counter. I had 

 some caps made with narrower rims (some 

 % and some 3^ incii) than sample, but I think 

 sample size sliows best. 



I am making sections this season 2 inches 

 wide, and the uprights only 3-16 thick. 



You inquired as to how I used separators. 

 I did not use them last year ; sold our honey 

 cased up in about an equal number of one 

 and two-comb boxes. 



In referring to caps I should have said, 

 they are made to accommodate any number 

 of sections, making as large or small a box 

 as one may desire. 



We are using separators in all the cases 

 this season. We use both side and top cases. 

 Side cases are 15x12x4 inches, inside meas- 

 ure, holding 12 sections 5x6 inches, top cases 

 15x10^x6, holding 15 sections. 



Above is a sketch of separators, also side 

 case of sections with separator in place. I 

 use tin 12x12 inches, cutting those used on 

 side cases 12x4 inches, and those for top cases 

 5^x4. A represents separator for side case, 

 with end (g) turned over )4 inch at right an- 

 gle with balance of strip at top. Slots are 

 cut in tops of cases (E), and separator (A) 

 slipped down between sections, strip (d) 

 holding in place at bottom, and resting on 

 on flange (g) at top. There is also a slot (c) 

 cut so as to allow a passage for bees at bot- 

 tom of top, and top of bottom tier of sec- 

 tions. These side cases are set down on 

 bottom of hive between division board and 

 side wall of hive. In top case I use 15, one 

 to each section, they hanging by flange at 

 top, same as those in side cases. 



I send you a box filled last season, charges 

 prepaid. Yours, truly, J. E. Moobe. 



Byron, N. Y., June 18, 1878. 



[Thanks, friend Moore, for the boxes.— 

 They are very nice, and the idea is excel- 

 lent. Easy packing, safe transportation, 

 and attractive packages are the points to 

 recommend any plan of marketing, and 

 yours have all these points of excellence. — 

 The "caps," friend Moore speaks of, are 

 made just like paper-box covers, and pass 

 over the box and glass just in the same way, 

 both at top and bottom. Any size of 

 sections may be treated in the same way. 

 -Ed.] 



For tlie American Bee .Tournal. 



Wiring Comb Foundation. 



I see the cry from all quarters is : " Sag, 

 sag, sag." I, like many others, discarded it 



a year ago, till some improvement was 

 made to remedy this. 



Last winter, as I was having ray " winter 

 dream," for all bee-keepers know what 

 " winter dreams " are ; we dream all winter 

 long, about what big things we intend to do 

 the next summer. Well, this is one thing I 

 dreamed, and have been practicing it this 

 summer with great success. Before nailing 

 up the frames, I punch about 4 or 5 holes in 

 the end bars. Tlien after they are nailed, 

 run No. 26 wire across the frames 4 or 5 

 times, then place the foundation in the sun 

 about one minute ; then lay it in the frame, 

 run a gum rubber over it, if you have one ; 

 if not, press it down on the wires with your 

 fingers. This presses the wire into the 

 foundation, and it remains there like a 

 charm. Take a small brush and fasten to 

 the top bar, as has often been described.— 

 Place these combs in the centre of strong 

 hives ; and use them in new swarms. — 

 Shade or no shade, but " never a bit will 

 they sag." And after they are built, if 

 " Mary Ann " should happen to drop one, 

 there would be no reason for '* getting up on 

 your ear," for they would not break. 



D. S. Given. 



Hoopeston, 111., June 21. 1878. 



For tlie American Bee Journal. 



Cyprians. 



Judging from correspondence received, 

 there is nuich interest awakening in regard 

 to the introduction of this new variety. We 

 are often asked to state the difference be- 

 tween them and the Italians— how their hy- 

 brids behave and work; whether they are 

 superior to the Italians in gathering honey; 

 their ability to winter without spring dwin- 

 dling, docility, etc., etc. 



A portion of these inquiries we are able to 

 answer; concerning others we are in the 

 midst of experiments and do not care to 

 draw upon our imagination, or venture an 

 opinion until we can do so with some degree 

 of certainty. 



The points claimed for the Cyprians are 

 that they equal the Italians in all desirable 

 qualities, and surpass them in prolificness 

 and ability to winter with less loss. 



In appearance the workers closely resem- 

 ble the Italians, but are lighter and hand- 

 somer. The upper and posterior portion of 

 the thorax has a broad yellow margin, 

 which readily distinguishes them. The 

 queens we have thus far received or raised 

 do not have the upper side of the abdomen 

 as light as the average Italian queens. 



These bees have been described as being 

 longer and slimmer than the Italians, we 

 however do not find this to be a noticeable 

 feature. The comparative length of the 

 tongue will be determined by Prof. Cook, 

 who has kindly offered to make a careful 

 microscopical examination. 



In docility they equal or excel theltalians. 

 The comb having the queen thereon may be 

 taken from the hive, and tiie queen will 

 tranquilly continue her laying, the workers 

 adhering to the comb with great tenacity. 



The queens are exceedingly prolific and 

 fill the comb very evenly with eggs, seldom 

 skipping cells. We found sealed and hatch- 



