ing of no value to the argument — suffice 

 it to say, that it was an advertiser in 

 the different bee publications last year, 

 and one that sold many queens, both 

 tested and untested. 



The whole race of Italian bees is to- 

 day under condemnation, because of this 

 criminal traffic in untested queens. 

 We find no fault with the price, but 

 must condemn the system of selling for 

 breeding purposes any other than tested, 

 well-developed queens, produced from 

 the very best colonies of the Italian 

 race. Whether such can he raised and 

 sold for ten cents, ten dimes, or ten dol- 

 lars, we care not ; but such only should 

 be sold, at any price. 



Comb Foundation. — We have sam- 

 ples, of comb-foundation made on a 

 Wilcox & Olm's $60.00 machine. Also 

 some made on Mr. Bourgemeyer's 

 machines ; and, really, they are very nice 

 — not quite so perfect as that made by 

 the $100.00 machine manufactured by 

 Novice, but good enough for any one. 



Several have asked how the wire is 

 inserted in the new kind of foundation, 

 so we will here say that the wires run 

 from the top-bar downwards, as seen by 

 the engraving. 



Frame of Foundation, showing Wires. 



For triangular top bars the founda- 

 tion may be fastened in the manner 

 represented by the engraving. Cuts in 

 the foundation about 2 inches apart, and 

 |- an inch deep may be made in the top ; 

 bend the little pieces, so that top bar 

 may slip between the pieces so bent, 

 pressing the pieces down very hard on 

 alternate sides of the top bar with a 

 knife, chisel, or any hard substance, dip- 

 ping it in water or honey, to keep it 

 from sticking. 



The frame of comb-foundation does 

 not correctly represent the new founda- 

 tion so we present another engraving 

 showing the exact size and shape of the 

 cells — the white lines showing the side 

 walls, and the six-sided black spots ex- 

 hibit the flat-bottomed base of the cells. 



*********** 



********** 



a********* 



&jm>*j>a**A*j 

 ********** 



********** 



vSSSSSSSw 



Foundation with flat-bottomed cells— exact size. 



White or bleached comb-foundation is 

 not agreeable to the bees, and should, 

 therefore, never be used. We have 

 several samples of the white, intended 

 for surplus honey ; but let us repeat, 

 never use any of it, nor any of the yel 

 low, in surplus honey. If it is desired 

 to use starters of foundation, let it be 

 but about 2- an inch. It is safest never 

 to use any ; but if it must be used, the 

 less the better. 



Last summer, D. A. Pike, of Smiths 

 burg, Maryland, sent us some nicely- 

 marked drones, which we thought we 

 then noticed in the Journal, but find- 

 ing that we did not, we will now say that 

 they are yet on exhibition in our Muse- 

 um. They have been admired by hun- 

 dreds of our visitors, and are certainly 

 very fine and well marked. Mr. Pike 

 is experimenting in order to develop a 

 strain of Italians that will excel, as 

 are many others. This is just what is 

 needed, to breed up, not down — im- 

 prove the race, not to degenerate it, by 

 selling half-developed, untested queens ! 

 Success will no doubt crown the efforts 

 of breeders who are trying to breed a 

 strain, having all the excellent qualities 

 of the best of the Italian and other 

 races of bees. 



