practice. But, where then are the con- 

 sumers coming from ? 



Pure glucose, and glucose (com- 

 mercially) may be two different articles 

 (not unlike pure milk and swill milk) 

 which remains to be seen — even if a 

 small per cent of deleterious substances 

 by long time consumption may prove 

 injurious to the system or like the 

 apparently pure mountain streams of 

 Switzerland, when no dubiousness 

 exists as to their purity, those who long 

 use it, and are accustomed from infancy 

 with its slaking waters— it is well 

 known that to them it occasions the 

 disease commonly known as the rickets 

 producing malformations in large heads 

 and humped backs. We would 

 that the same might be said of 

 those who handle glucose for purposes 

 of adulteration that they might k ' get 

 a head put on them," or a hump on 

 their backs. 



We had better remain obscure, and 

 poor, in innocence and virtue, than 

 have notoriety gained through fraud 

 and corrupt practices. 



Callicoon, N. Y. 



For the American Bee Journal. 



The Transportation of Bees. 



BY L. C. BOOT. 



In your January number A. E. 

 Wenzel asks an explanation of a state- 

 ment made in an essay read by me, at 

 our last National Convention. 1 there 

 stated that " in purchasing bees, if they 

 are transported long distances, they 

 will be benefited by the shipment." 



Mr. Wenzel asks " why so'?" 



During the past 10 years I have pur- 

 chased bees quite largely, nearly every 

 spring, transporting them various dis- 

 tances, from 1 or 2, to 150 miles. Hav- 

 ing the purchasing and shipping under 

 my own immediate supervision, I have 

 been able to observe conditions and 

 results very closely. 



I formerly thought it most desirable to 

 procure bees as near home as practi- 

 cable, and move them in the evening or 

 early morning, with as little disturb- 

 ance as possible. It, however, became 

 necessary to procure them from distant 

 sections, and when such colonies were 

 placed in our apiaries, the degree of 

 activity with which they labored, as 

 compared with those which had not 

 been moved, but were equally strong, 

 was at once noticeable, and very 

 decidedly in favor of the former. Ex- 

 aminations from time to time indicated 

 their superior progress. 



Now, as to the question, " Why this 

 benefit V" 



Had I been able in my " Hints to 

 Beginners " to have given directions for 

 moving bees, I should have urged the 

 necessity of supplying water during 

 transportation. In observing their con- 

 dition after moving them, I find that 

 waterso taken has been used fordiluting 

 honey, and that the queen is thereby 

 stimulated to deposit a larger number 

 of eggs, the same as when taken from 

 the cellar in spring, only to a more 

 marked degree. When moved at the 

 proper season, this item will be found 

 quite important. 



In shipping bees by rail, it has usually 

 been my practice to ride in the car with 

 them, and I have observed particularly 

 the efforts of the bees to get rid of 

 whatever was obnoxious to them. The 

 agitation caused by the motion of the 

 car would start the moth-worms from 

 their galleries and hiding places, and 

 the bees would be seen trying to eject 

 them and portions of their galleries and 

 cocoons from the hives. There are 

 also numerous minute pests of the 

 hive that it is reasonable to suppose 

 may be dislodged during such excite- 

 ment and disturbance. 



Those who have noticed the advan- 

 tage to a colony gained by transferring, 

 will, I think, readily see the benefits 

 above named. I mentioned this idea 

 in the essay referred to, more especially 

 from the fact that most beginners think 

 as I did, that the value of bees must be 

 necessaily somewhat impaired by long 

 journeys. 



My point is, that instead of this ap- 

 parent objection being a hindrance to 

 the pursuit of bee-keeping, careful in- 

 vestigation will prove that they may not 

 only be moved long distances with 

 safety, but with positive advantage, if 

 proper care is exercised in other 

 respects. 



Mohawk, N. Y. 



For the American Bee Journal. 



Hive Register. 



BY J. V. CALDWELL. 



Some kind of a register is needed, 

 instead of using book and pencil, &c, 

 to write on. 1 have made one which 

 I think practical, not however claiming 

 perfection, but, as I think, it is a step in 

 the right direction. A brief description 

 will perhaps be of use. It is all ar- 

 ranged on a card about 6 inches square. 

 A circle with the days of the month on 

 the inside, will record the following 

 operations and the date on which they 

 occur: Swarmed, divided, queenless, 

 young queen, laying, cell, eggs, black, 

 hybrid, Italian, box honey ,extracted,&c. 



