104 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Our National Flower. 



'Tis meet a nation's symbol be 



One of God's fragrant flowers : 

 They catch the sunlight of His smile. 



And drink His crystal showers. 

 They bloom in lowly glade and glen. 



And on the mountain hights, 

 And in their prismed petals hold 



The rainbow's radiant lights. 



The lily tells of sunny France. 



Cornflower of " Fatherland ;" 

 The thistle and tlie heather-bells 



For Scotland's glory stand ; 

 While England claims the royal rose, 



And weai's it on her shield, 

 And shamrocks, green as emerald, 



Fair Erin's meadows yield. 



Then choose we from the wealth of bloom 



That makes our landscape gay, 

 A blossom bright to name us in 



The nation's great bouquet. 

 And seek it not 'mid close-cut rows. 



Of fragrant hot-house flowers. 

 But be its tender tintings known 



In mead and rustic bowers. 



A flower there is that blooms for all. 



For rich man and for poor. 

 Upon the Western prairie wastes. 



And on the Northern moor. 

 Like Gheber true it greets the sun 



Where all the East is red, 

 And o'er the Southern cotton-fields 



It shakes its golden head. 



Then be our symbol rich and rare. 



This flower so blessed of Heaven, 

 And let our sweetest songs and thoughts 



Henceforth to it bo given. 

 The Golden-rod ! the Golden-rod, 



Columbia's regal crest. 

 It lies like sunshine in the land. 



And seems with sunshine blest ! 



—Pacific Rural Press. 



dueries apd Replies. 



Flat Covers or GaMe Roofs for Hlyes. 



Query 802. — Which is the most de- 

 sirable for hives — a flat cover or a gable 

 roof ? — Ohio. 



A flat cover. — James Heddon. 

 I prefer a flat cover. — C. C. Miller. 

 I prefer a gable roof. — M. Mahin. 

 A flat cover, of course. — R. L. Taylor. 

 I prefer the flat cover. — J. M. Ham- 



BAUGH. 



A flat cover, every time. — C. H. Dib- 



BERN. 



A flat cover has always satisfied me. — 

 Mrs. L. Harrison. 



After several 'years' experience with 

 both, 1 prefer the flat cover. — A. J. 

 Cook. 



A flat cover suits me of late years. — 

 Eugene Secob. 



A flat cover is as good as a gable one, 

 if it is sloping.— Dadant & Son. 



I think. Convenience in 

 is one reason. — J. E. 



A flat cover, 

 packing them 

 Pond. 



I use a flat 



cover overlaid with tin, 



which is painted white. — G. M. Doo- 



LITTLE. 



Flat covers lined with roofing-steel 

 are by far the best — if kept painted 

 every two or three years. — G. L. 

 Tinker. 



If you have many hives, use a flat 

 cover. A gable roof has some advan- 

 tages ; but, take it all in all, a flat roof 

 is to be preferred.— H. D. Cutting. 



Flat, if to be covered with tin ; but if 

 no metal covering, I prefer a gable. — J. 

 P. H. Brown. 



I prefer a flat one, and would rather 

 pay for such, than to use a gabled one 

 that cost me nothing. — A. B. Mason. 



I ifke the flat cover the best. I would 

 use a shade-board that "turns water," 

 over any sort of hive cover, and there is 

 no need of a gable roof if the shade- 

 board is used. — G. W. Demaree. 



A flat cover is more desirable for 

 many reasons. If the hive slopes a 

 little to the front, all the advantages of 

 the gable roof is obtained without any 

 of its many disadvantages. — The Edi- 

 tor. 



iJonTenfion I^otices. 



1^" The 12th annual convention of the 

 Northeastern Ohio. Northern Pennsylvania 

 and Western New Vork Bee-Keepers' Associ- 

 ation will be held in Ashtabula. O., on Jan. 27 

 and 28, 3 892, in the parlors of " Hotel James," 

 where reduced rates for board have been se- 

 cured for those attending the convention (.'Jo 

 cts. per meal). A good program will bo pre- 

 pared to be discussed by practical bee-keepers. 

 All interested are invited to attend. Ladies 

 are especially invited. Programs will be sent 

 to all members and to others upon sending a 

 request to the Secretary. 



N. T. Phei.ps, Pres., Kingsvllle. (>. 



Geo. Spitler, Sec, Mosiertown, Pa. 



K^" The Ohio State Ree-Keepers' Associa- 

 tion will hold its ne.xt annual meeting at the 

 West-End Turner Hall, on Freeman Avenue. 

 Cincinnati, O.. from Feb. 10 to 12 inclusive. 

 1892, beginning at 10 ii.m. Wednesday, Fe!:.. 

 10. All local associiitions should endeavor to 

 meet with us oi- send their delegates. Those 

 intending to be present, will please send their 

 names to the Secretary, at their earliest 

 convenience. The President will endeavor to 

 get reduced railroad rates, and also reduced 

 rates at hotels. The programme will soon 1)0 

 issued, and all p.irticulars published. 



C. F. MuTH, Pres., Cincinnati. () 



S. R. Morris, Sec, Bloomingburg. O. 



