South West, Ind., April 16, 1879. 

 On Easter Sunday my bees commenced a 

 " little spree." In the morning I had just 3(5 

 colonies ; about 10 o'clock, they commenced 

 swarming and doubling up, and leaving for 

 parts unknown, until 1 had just 9 colonies 

 less than when they commenced. They 

 were all in chaff hives with chaff cushions 

 on sides and top. All had a plenty of honey, 

 and all had brood in all stages. They were 

 packed according to Mr. A. 1. Root's plan. 

 Some of the strongest colonies 1 had, left 

 entirely. What was the cause of all this ? 

 I. R. Good. 



[It is much easier to ask than to answer 

 this question. Desertion lias never yet been 

 accounted for in all cases, but it is usually 

 attributable to some disturbing influence in 

 the hive, or is the effect of a diseased con- 

 dition of things.— Ed.] 



Reno, Ind., April 21, 1879. 

 I regard the American Bee Journal as 

 a model paper — the mechanical make-up is 

 superb, and the articles rich, brilliant and 

 attractive. It is indeed indispensable to 

 bee-keepers. I shall take pleasure in being 

 enrolled as one of the patrons of it, as long 

 as it retains its present high-toned and ele- 

 vating course. It will gain many friends 

 through this section of country. 



C. H. Brown. 



Oneida, 111., April 8, 1879. 

 I had 18 colonies of bees one year ago. I 

 sold one for $7.00 and increased to 32. I sold 

 500 lbs. of comb honey, at 10 to 12>£ cents 

 per pound at home. The honey in sections 

 sold readily. I have about 100 sections 

 partly filled, to put on as soon as bees com- 

 mence to gather honey. I winter my bees 

 in a dark, dry cellar ; have not lost a colony 

 of bees for 2 or 3 years. Fully 25 per cent, 

 of the bees wintered out side, have died. I 

 put narrow % inch comb startes in sections 

 and 2 or 3 inch in brood frames. Do not 

 like as much foundation as some use, 

 besides it is not economy, the cheapest and 

 purest comb is that which the bees produce. 

 Alvah Reynolds. 



Nashville, Tenn., March 27, 1879. 

 I live near Nashville, and have 47 colonies 

 of bees. I have been in the bee business 

 for seven years and have learned a great 

 deal about them. But there are some things 

 that have come under my observation that I 

 do not understand. One of them is this : 

 A neighbor living one-quarter of a mile 

 north-east of me, started in the bee business 

 last year and increased to about 16 colonies. 

 Last fall his bees began to run away. In 

 September a swarm of about 3 pints came 

 to my bee-yard and alighted on one of my 

 hives near the ventilator. My bees killed 

 them all. About two weeks after another 

 swarm came to my yard, alighting on a 

 cedar-tree near the place where the first did. 

 They were taken back home. Some time 

 after, another swarm started toward my yard, 

 but stopped half way and was secured and 

 taken home. Not long after this another 

 started, the owner observing their leaving, 



closed the hive when about half of the bees 

 were out. The half that got out came to 

 my yard and lit on one of my hives, and 

 were killed by my bees. During the warm 

 spell in January, two other swarms came 

 to my yard one in the morning and one in 

 the evening, alighting close together on the 

 fence. They were also taken back. About 

 the third week in March another swarm 

 came to my yard, and clustered on my water- 

 ing trough. We caught the queen and 

 clipped her wing and took the swarm back 

 home. The next day they came back to the 

 very same spot without the queen, of course. 

 My bees that were getting water at the 

 trough killed some of them and 1 don't know 

 what became of the rest. There was not 

 more than a teacupfull. At no time did any 

 of these swarms exceed 3 pints ; and I don't 

 think that it was the same swarm more than 

 twice. I think that I know why they left 

 his hives; but I want to know why they in- 

 variably came directly to my yard. Success 

 to the Journal. Henry W. Roof. 



[In all probability your neighbor's bees 

 were demoralized by disease, and naturally 

 deserted their hives, going in the direction 

 of the hum at your yard ; or it might be 

 that your bees were robbing them, or indeed, 

 both— Ed.J 



Camden Point, Mo., April 6, 1879. 

 My 47 colonies passed this extremely 

 severe winter in splendid condition. I only 

 lost one, which I did not expect would sur- 

 vive the long cold winter, i put 40 in the 

 cellar November 22d, and took them out 

 February 22d. They showed signs ot 

 disease and were uneasy, and supposing the 

 real cold weather was over, I thought it 

 best to put them out. At once the murcury 

 dropped below zero, and for 14 days it 

 remained in that vicinity— but there was no 

 damage perceptable, the hives were actually 

 full of youngsters — and they remained warm 

 and comfortable. If 1 owned a small farm 

 in Platte county, I would give my time and 

 attention to bees for I believe 100 colonies 

 would give a larger profit than the best 

 farmer in the county realized in the last five 

 years. Our advantages for honey produc- 

 ing are unexcelled and getting better every 

 year. The white clover grows spontaneously 

 on every foot of uncultivated ground, while 

 almost every variety of honey flower is 

 here. Tom M. Moore. 



Coal Creek, Iowa, April 6, 1879. 

 I winter generally about 100 colonies, in 

 a cellar, ventilated by an opening in the 

 bottom of each flue. I use the Engle and 

 Langstroth hives, but prefer the latter. I 

 leave the entire entrance open, take off 

 honey board and put on a quilt, not too 

 thick. I prefer pieces of rag carpet to any- 

 thing else. Have never lost a colony, with 

 plenty of honey and ventilation ; if they 

 lack the latter, moisture accumulates and 

 dysentery invariably follows. Last winter 

 I put away 80 colonies, and this spring all 

 had queens and brood but one; all in good 

 condition but five; these, through oversight, 

 lacked ventilation, and I would rather have 

 one strong colony than the whole five. I 



