THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



215 



THE AMEEIOAN BEE JOURNAL. 



WASHINGTON, APRIL, 1870. 



ES^ "We are requested to state that a new post- 

 office having been established near his residence, Mr. 

 Gallup's address now is "E. Gallup, Orchard, Mit- 

 chell Co., Iowa " — of which his correspondents will 

 please take notice. 



The remarks of our correspondent, Novice, give 

 us a fitting opportunity to say again, distinctly, that 

 the Amekican Bee Journal is not published in the 

 interest of any patented hive, but exclusively in the 

 interest of bee-culture pure and simple. This position 

 it will continue to iinnntain. While every invention or 

 device pertaining to bee-culture, i^atented or un- 

 patented, is entitled to be noticed, in our pages, it 

 must be understood that its merits or demerits are 

 matters open for discussion, without fear or favor, 

 lu these discussions, however, the subject must ever 

 be kept strictly in view, and all mere personalities 

 avoided. 



For feeding bees actually or prospectively in want, 

 use ordinary pure honey or sugar syrup, and feed 

 regularly every evening till they are properly sup- 

 plied or they can supply themselves from natural 

 sources. But for stimulative feeding, merely to en- 

 courage brooding, use honey or sugar syrup very much 

 diluted, giving it in small doses only every other 

 evening. They will thus obtain the water needed for 

 the brood, and have less occasion and less disposition 

 to leave their hives in quest of it, at times when the 

 weather is unfavorable for such excursions. 



Beginners in bee-keeping should not, when going 

 into the business, build costly bee-houses, provide 

 high-priced untested patent hives, purchase a large 

 number of colonies, or buy "three-banded," Italian 

 queens at a time when as yet they can hardly tell a 

 drone from a worker. Begin moderately and hasten 

 slowly. The needful experience in practical bee-cul- 

 ture is much more easily and far more efficiently 

 acquired, by careful attention to a few choice stocks, 

 than by a hurried supervision of a large number, 

 even with the aid of manuals and text books. Plain, 

 simple movable frame hives too, will be found better 

 suited for the requisite manipulations, than fanciful 

 and complicated contrivances devised by persons 

 really ignorant themselves of the habits and wants of 

 bees. And colonies placed in an open sitixation, with 

 their hives readily accessible from all sides and 

 somewhat sheltered or shaded by trees or vines, will 

 be much more conveniently managed than when 

 placed in ordinary shuds or out door bee-houses. 



Study first to know what is required for success, and 

 then extend your operations when you are sure that 

 you can have the business "well in hand." 



In Prussia, assuming 100 to represent the average 

 annual product of honey, the yield last year, in first 

 class districts was 12OI2 ; in second class districts, 

 100% ; and in third class G3. 



In first class districts, the season opened May 15, 

 and closed September IC ; and in second class dis- 

 tricts opened June 8, and closed August 4. Many^ 

 strong colonies increased six pounds in weight on 

 some of the best days. The increase of colonies by 

 swarming was about 100 per cent. Virgin swarms 

 were common. Fall pasturage was rather scarce. 

 Buckwheat and heather yielded honey in only a few 

 districts. 



In East Prussia, standard or magazine hives are 

 most generally in use, though some Dzierzon hives 

 have been introduced. In West Prussia, straw hives 

 are still most common, improved hives being found 

 in few apiaries. In Lithuania straw hives largely 

 predominate; and in Marsowa (part of Prussian Po- 

 land) log hives or "gums" are almost exclusively 

 used. 



The "foulbrood question" received rather singular 

 treatment at the late German Bee-keepers' Convention. 

 It had been announced as among the prominent topics 

 for discussion, the debate to be opened by Mr. Lam- 

 brecht, as customary in si;ch cases, and in accordance 

 with the proceedings of the previous Conventions. 

 But when Mr. L. commenced speaking he was in- 

 terrupted and literally " coughed down " by a seem- 

 ingly preconcerted opposition, and the subject was 

 then gently shelved with some cursory remarks from 

 various parties. At this distance, it strikes us that 

 Mr. Lambreeht was not fairly treated. We say this 

 without regard to the theory he advocates. According 

 to the published programme he had a right to expect 

 a hearing, and should have been allowed at least as 

 much time as is ordinarily conceded to speakers on 

 other topics, unless his remarks were entirely irrele- 

 vant, and then it would have been the province of the 

 President to interpose. Nor does it mend matters to 

 say that Mr. L. is prompted by mercenary motives, 

 when the Convention just a year before awarded to 

 Mr. Kohler a large pecuniary gratuity for disclosing 

 that which was not strictly speaking new, or his own 

 discovery. If Mr. L. has really devised a mode of 

 curing malignant foulbrood, without destroying bees, 

 combs or hive, it is one of infinitely more value and 

 importance in bee-culture, than the Kohler process 

 can ever be; and the Convention might very properly 

 have devoted an entire day to a candid investigation 

 of it. It was not at all necessary for Mr. Lambreeht 

 to disclose his remedy. All that was proper was to 

 request him to submit it to the most rigid test, and 



