Melipones.— Few of our readers pro- 

 bably ever heard of an insect by the 

 above name, but the London Gardener^s 

 Chronicle tells us that the hymenopter- 

 ous insects kno-\vn as Melipones, and 

 found in various parts of the world, re- 

 semble bees very closely, but are with- 

 out any sting. Their honey-producing 

 qualities are very decided. Resembling 

 bees in their general character, they are 

 smaller, with a more densely clothed 

 body and the hind feet proportionally 

 longer. As in the honey bees, there 

 are three varieties of individuals— the 

 males, females, and neiaters. Some of 

 them make their nests in hollow trees, 

 while others suspend them from the 

 branches. Tlie honey of these insects 

 is said to be of superior quality. 



Bt^" The extreme hot weather during last 

 month killed about 200 queens in the cells, 

 just before they were ready to hatch, for 

 friend H. Alley. Others, no doubt, suffered 

 like losses all over the country. 



1^=" The National Convention of Bee- 

 Keepers will be held in ISTew York City 

 on the 2d Tuesday in October. Let all 

 who can make their arrangements to be 

 present. The editor of the Bee Jour- 

 nal intends to be present. Full ar- 

 rangements will be published in next 

 Journal. 



Honey Knives. — A little more than a 

 year ago Bingham offered to bee-keepers 

 the first [and original direct-draft smoker. 

 That has revolutionized smokers ; and, 

 strange to say, no one has been able to im- 

 prove upon it. He now comes to the front 

 brandishing a new and original honey 

 knife, bearing this inscription : " Cast 

 steel, Bingham & Hetherington. Patent ap- 

 plied for." Should these knives prove as 

 original and valuable as the smoker, bee- 

 keepers will recognize their benefactors. 

 These knives come to us under very propi- 

 tious circumstances. The fact that they are 

 made by two of the most ingenius bee- 

 keepers of Michigan is of itself a guarantee. 



Mr. 0. J. Hetherington is an extensive 

 bee-keeper, perhaps the largest in the State, 

 and a brother of Capt. E. J. Hetherington, 

 of Cherry Valley, N. Y. Mr. Bingham you 

 all know as the smoker inventor. See ad- 

 vertisement in another column. 



Jtg^ In many places basswood is a failure 

 this year, we learn as we go to press. In 

 such places the season cannot be first-class. 

 We hope it has not been general. 



There will be a meeting of the 



Kansas State Bee-Keepers' Association in 

 Lawrence, Sept. 4th, at 1 o'clock p. m. AH 

 bee-keepers are invited, and the editor of 

 the JouKNAi. especially. Advantages of 

 reduced fare on railroads to the National 

 Temperance Convention tliat will be held 

 here at that time, will enable Kansas bee- 

 keepers to attend for one cent per mile. 



O. Baddeks, Sec. N. Cameron, Pres. 



[Thanks for kind invitation. A previous 

 engagement will prevent our attendance at 

 that time.— Ed.] 



IW' D. D. Palmer advertises glass for 

 honey boxes in this issue. Those wanting 

 such will do well to correspond with him. 



, 'Any one desiring to purchase a good 



apiary, with all its appurtenances, in a first- 

 class location, can obtain valuable informa- 

 tion concerning it at this office. The owner 

 desires to retire from the business for the 

 present. 



Purity of Queens.— In demanding that 

 we now settle upon a " standard of purity " 

 for Italian Queens, we inadvertantly stirred 

 up a hornet's nest. In a private letter, a 

 correspondent remarks as follows : 



" The queens that are now imported are 

 hybrids. A pure queen has a mark that 

 establishes her purity beyond a doubt. She 

 has three plain and distinct crowns stamped 

 upon her abdomen. That was the kind that 

 Mr. Parsons and others imported in the 

 early day, but they now arrive without 

 crowns and are called by the knowing ones, 

 pure!" 



There is, then, all the more reason In 

 now deciding upon a standard of purity, 

 " crowning " her Italian Majesty with the 

 true emblems of her royal purity ! ! Let 

 the discussion be exhaustive ! 



__ The Wester7iAgricumirist, Qiuncy, 

 111., comes to us this month with a hand- 

 somely engraved new title page, which, 

 with the other improvements added this 

 year, makes it the Champion Journal for 

 uuprovements and progress, being the Old- 

 est and Best Established Monthly in the 

 West, Avell edited and handsomely illus- 

 trated. It is a desirable Journal for every 

 Western Farmer. The price is still $L10. 

 1 1^1 — < 



^^W The Eggleston Truss, which will be 

 found advertised in our columns, presents 

 some features which is well worth the at- 

 tention of all afflicted with Hernia. This 

 truss is meeting with great success and its 

 manufacturer reports large sales. 



