Separators must be used large enough 

 to come within one-half inch from the top 

 and bottom of the sections used, or they 

 fail to accomplish the object for which they 

 are used, viz: to get the combs built so 

 straight that they will not interfere with one 

 another when the sections are placed in 

 crates. Many mistakes were made last 

 year, in this particular ; some placing them 

 clear to the top, and others down to the bot- 

 tom, and the combs were extended by the 

 bees beyond the separators, making bad 

 work for packing in crates. The result was 

 leaky packages, a disgusting state of things 

 for the retailer, and a loss to the producer. 

 It will pay to be careful in producing, so 

 that none of these things may happen to 

 disgust those who handle honey. 



A correspondent inquires if we ad- 

 vise the use of the new flat-bottomed and 

 very thin foundation in surplus boxes. We 

 have received samples of it that are thin 

 enough for any thing, and more, beautiful 

 to the eye, even, than it is thin ; but before 

 we advise its use in surplus boxes we shall 

 await full experiments which we shall make 

 this season, as well as those which will be 

 made by many apiarists all over the country. 

 If it is a success, the Bee Journal will 

 with pleasure endorse it; but we cannot 

 afford to tamper, even in the slightest 

 degree, with such an important tiling as the 

 demand for, and consumption of, honey in 

 the comb. For the present the Bee Jour- 

 nal advises caution and experiments only. 



" The Bee-Keepers' Exchange" for 

 January has put in an appearance. It is 

 published at Canajoharie, N. Y., by Mr. J. 

 H. Nellis. It contains many interesting 

 articles, and comprises 24 pages. The print- 

 ing is fairly done, and though late in mak- 

 ing its appearance, it is intended to catch 

 up, as rapidly as circumstances will allow. 



Shall we use the sections that are 

 nailed or those dovetailed ?" is a question 

 propounded to The Bee Journal. We 

 much prefer those nailed ; the nails add to 

 the strength for shipping, while the dove- 

 tailing is a point of weakness, instead of 

 strength. The comb being the only thing 

 to hold the latter in shape, the sections can- 

 not be as strong as those nailed. 



IW' There are no changes in the Honey 

 Markets— prices are low, and prospects are 

 for a continuance. 



Maine.— Prof. C. H. Fernald was ap- 

 pointed Vice President for the State of 

 Maine, at the late National[Convention. He 

 was in Europe at that time, and now informs 

 us that he will not be able to attend to the 

 duties, as will be seen by the following 

 letter : 

 Maine State College, Orono, Mar. 18, 1879. 



Thomas G. Newman, Esq., Dear Sir :— 

 Your card has been received. It will be 

 quite impossible for me to attend to the 

 interests of the Bee-ists of Maine in the 

 capacity mentioned, but if there should be 

 an association formed and a show of honey 

 exhibited, possibly 1 could give an address, 

 if desired by our people. 



I am, very truly yours, 



C. H. Fernald. 



I regret that Prof. Fernald will be unable 

 to attend to the duties devolving on the Vice 

 President for Maine. As it is time for some- 

 thing to be done in getting the preliminary 

 arrangements made for a Honey Show. I 

 have appointed Mr. W. H. Green, of Park- 

 man, Maine, to fill the vacancy, and hope he 

 will succeed in making the necessary 

 arrangements for a creditable Honey Show 

 during the coming season. 



Thomas G. Newman, Pres. 



$W The " Western Honey Bee" is the 

 name of a new periodical issued at Lebanon, 

 Mo., containing 10 pages of reading matter. 

 The articles are somewhat stale, but un- 

 credited ; this is probably an oversight 

 which will be remedied in future numbers. 

 It is published at the Leader office, but the 

 printing is by no means a credit to the art. 

 It is edited by Mr. E. M. Harrison. 



Strange.— Did any one ever hear of glass 

 being decomposed by containing honey? 

 We confess it seems rather a strange thought. 

 Is there not some mistake about it ? Here 

 is what Mr. Edwards of Skaneateles, N. Y., 

 says about it : 



One of my customers for extracted honey 

 told me this week that the fruit can that she 

 put her honey into, was entirely spoiled by 

 the honey decomposing the glass, so much 

 so, that she could put a knife through the 

 glass. The appearance of the glass was not 

 changed. Another of my customers has 

 been trouble in the same way. The honey 

 was pure. We have not noticed anything 

 out of the way with the <-ans containing our 

 own honey. Can you tell what the matter 

 was, and what consumers can place honey 

 in to keep ? Out of 36 colonies placed on 

 winter stands (out doors) I have lost none 

 yet, although some are weak. 



Wm. R. Edwards. 



