igo3 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 109 



that some people are all wrong, with lips firmly in or against the aperture, 

 no facts to back up assertions, we shall draw into the lungs and exhale through 

 either supply the missing facts or tend- the nose all the air possible, by re- 

 ar our apology publicly. We presume peated draughts, which necessarily be- 

 Mr. /Alley's grievance comes in on come shorter as the air is pumped out 

 page 36 of The Bee-Keeper, for Feb- of a tight recep.tacle. By this means 

 ruary. We confess, the . comment much more power, with less efifort, is 

 might have bee'n made much more exerted; and in case of a leak, in test- 

 pointed, but we preferred to be mild, ing cans, the inrushing air from out- 

 It would seem, however, that any care- side, while the breath is momentarily 

 ful reader might have understood that held to listen, will reinflate the partly 

 Mr. Alley took it upon himself to collapsed tin, thereby keeping up a 

 make a statement through the medium constant crackle and ring as the sides 

 af the public press, concerning the readjust themselves to the original po- 

 editor of The Bee-Keeper, which is un- sition. In testing barrels, when a leak 

 true. If he himself will present "facts" occurs, and while ,the bung is yet stop- 

 instead of "assertions," reflecting upon ped by the human pump, the hissing 

 the capabilities of those whom he ap- of rushing air may be audible or if 

 parently seeks to ridicule, they will the leak be very small, the suction at 

 be thankfully received, and a public bung will be gradually reduced, and 

 confession of our error, with apolo- readily recognized by the pumper, 

 gies to him, will be promptly made. These we believe to be facts, but we 

 At present we have no -apology to of- appreciate the fact that if Mr. Alley 

 fer. Mr. Alley himself opened the should demand tha,t we prove it, in- 

 discussion by an affirmation which we stead of making mere assertions, it 

 challenge him to "back up" with might be inconvenient for us to call 

 "facts" as he demands of us. These upon all bee-keepers with a barrel and 

 columns are open to him for the pre- can to demonstrate our claim. We 

 sentation of these "facts." Our read- therefore ask our readers who may 

 ers will please keep an eye out for have occasion to test such packages to 

 them. They will be published as soon simply give ,the plan a trial and ex- 

 as received, although it must neces- onerate us from our obligation to back 

 sarily be a humiliating ordeal for the up our assertions with facts, 

 editor. 



We are not jealous of anyone. We West Indian competition is a factor 

 do not believe a drop of blood tainted which materially concerned the pro- 

 with jealousy ever coursed in the veins moters of the Canadian Honey Ex- 

 of the writer or any of his ancestors, change at the last meeting of the On- 

 We consider oursalf fortunate in a tario people, the fact being there de- 

 disposition which finds genuine pleas- veloped that considerable of the tropi- 

 ure in contempla,ting the success of cal product was already upon the Ca- 

 even a competitor, which Mr. Alley is nadian markets, and that it was selling 

 not. That we should harbor "spite" at a lower price than the home goods, 

 towards our fellows, our co-workers — Since these little islands of ,the tropics 

 those upon whose patronage our bus- produce no bread at all, and are decid- 

 iness depends for success, appears un- edly "shy" on butter, both of which 

 reasonable. One thing we do, though, Canada produces extensively for ex- 

 is to hold fraternal interests far above port, the Canadians should enter into 

 individual ambitions, and we love to negotiations with the islands for a 

 meet in discussion a truthful opnon- wholesale exchange of commodities, 

 ent. With i,ts efficient management the new 

 ■ ' exchange ought to be able to place and 



"To test honey barrels before wax- profitably control all imports of foreign 



ing, a bicycle pump is recommended in honey into the Dominion. 



Gleanings in Bee Culture, instead of 



blowing into the barrel with the 



breath."— American Bee Journal. The Australian Bee Bulletin says: 



Blowing the breath into a barrel or can "The English market for Australian 



to test it for leaks, is very unreliable, honey so far has only been touched 



A decidedly better way is to place the with losses." 



