THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



45 



4. On summer stand packed in chaflf. 

 In Oct. I pack the 5 in. space in each 

 end of the hive, also tlie 8 in. cap, first 

 putting 3 or 4^ in. square sticks over 

 frames to afford passage for bees from 

 one frame to the other. Usually have 

 covered these sticks with cotton batting 

 quilts or other porous substances. 



This winter am trying enamelled 

 cloth closely fitted in as an experiment 

 on a number of colonies. In Nov., I 

 place a box 4 inches larger than the 

 hive, all around over each and pack in 

 and over with chaff", leaving entrance 

 fX14 in. for fiight and air. 



5. 20 to 30 lbs. I think about J 

 clover; the rest gathered during buck- 

 wheat bloom. 



6. 3 per cent, latter part of winter 

 and early spring. 



7. Plenty of well ripened honey or 

 sugar syrup and so prepared as to keep 

 quiet ; pollen does not scare me. 



8. Answered in No. 4. 



9. No confinement. My bees con- 

 sume about 25 lbs. as I stimulate quite 

 early by the mixing brood system. 



If I have taken too much space in 

 giving answers, cut short, if you see fit 

 to give them a place at all. I make 

 these remarks as I have sent in ray re- 

 port to what is generally termed two of 

 the leading Journals, viz., "Gleanings" 

 and the "A. B. Journal", and have not 

 been able to see them again after sealing 

 rayletteraud Ihave read them both pret- 

 ty closely for the past six years. Per- 

 haps it is because I do not use the 

 Laugstroth hive. 



Cirattan, Kent Co., Mich. 



ANSWEB8 TO QUESTIONS IN 

 JAN. NO. 



ANSWERS BY E. E. HASTY. 



1. The great variety of hives in 

 use is an evil ; but the evil is a neces- 

 sary one, and arises from the laudable 

 desire for improvement. The attempt 

 to use the public opinion of beekeep- 

 ers into a despotic power, and ordain 

 a hive that must be used anyhow, can 

 result in nothing but mischief. Grad- 

 ually the undesirable forms will perish 

 until nothing remains but the last new 

 novelties and a few tried and excellent 

 standard hives. 



2. To tell the honest truth on the 

 subject, both to their customers and to 



all mankind. Here goes a decayed 

 turnip at the head of the man who 

 would have us all put our fingers on 

 our lips and say "S — h !" for fear some- 

 body might be frightened out of pur- 

 chasing. The most practical remedy 

 is to cultivate direct acquaintance be- 

 tween honest producers and honest 

 retailers. Be enterprising and obliging 

 as well as honest, and nearly every 

 apiary will come to have a large retail 

 trade at its own door. 



3. Let him eat it up. Should he 

 decline, I still think it would hardly 

 pay to send him a missionary. Just 

 let liim alone. If our craft cannot sur- 

 vive the competition of 20 lb. caps and 

 tin milk pans it must be in a pretty bad 

 way. 



4. This question rather mixes me. 

 I hate conventions bad enough, but 

 not for any such reason as here indicat- 

 ed. The Chinese-wall policy of some 

 honey kings may be all right, as far as 

 financial tactics go ; but something 

 within me pleads against it. The Journ- 

 als have been careless and done mis- 

 chief in the past; but they are doing 

 better now, and should have a rest. 



5. Not by overstating its medical 

 properties, or by denying that it some- 

 times causes aches and pains. A little 

 handbill giving a fair statement of the 

 case, and correctly pointing out the 

 adulterated state of other forms of 

 sweet might serve the turn. Distribute 

 abundantly ; and give a copy with each 

 package of honey sold. The delicious 

 flavor of honey, and its dainty beauty 

 must do most of the work, by direct 

 appeal to the senses of sight and taste. 

 Get people to notice honey and taste of 

 it, and they will soon want to buy. 

 Let the price be moderate, and you may 

 hope that they will become habitual 

 users. 



6. The most important question 

 is. What kind of a bee is the coming bee 

 to be? 



We greatly need an impartal testing 

 apiary where diflerent races and strains 

 could be subjected to an even test in 

 the hands of a competent, non- interest- 

 ed, salaried keeper. And without fear 

 or favor — every year, and for every 

 strain of bees — a full report should be 

 made, hiding nothing. 



ANSWERS BY A. J. COOK. 



1. People difi'er so greatly in taste 

 and judgment, that we cannot greatly 



