1871.] 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



229 



Each day added to the number of malcontents, 

 and the final resvilt began to look quite problem- 

 atical, -when the morning of the 25th of Feb- 

 ruary broke upon us with a south wind, and a 

 thaw in progress. The necessary preparations 

 were made, and as the mercury approached 60'\ 

 we removed our bees and placed them on their 

 summer stands, with the entrances to the hives 

 open. Many bees took advantage of their 

 liberty, and of course a few were lost. 



On a partial examination I found one hive 

 contained many dead bees : another contained a 

 few ; the remaining fourteen appeared all right. 

 The next day was unsuitable, but the second day 

 after was mild and pleasant, and the little pets 

 had a glorious time — music, music, all around ! 



I am not able to tell what the knowing ones 

 will think of all this ; but, for myself, I will say 

 that as evening closed upon the scene, and the 

 busy little fellows were hushed in rest, I felt that 

 another crisis had been safely passed, and my 

 apiary was worth many dollars more from the 

 operation. 



Soon after this we returned the hives to their 

 old quarters, where they remained quiet, while 

 the winter king made a vigorous effort to retain 

 his icy sceptre and his snowy crown. 



D. P. Lane. 



Koslikonong, Wis., Feb. 27, 1871. 



[For the American Bee Journal.] 



Patent Hive Pedlers. 



If there is any one thing more than another, 

 in which the inexperienced ai'e humbugged, it is 

 in patent bee hives ; and the humbug pedlers of 

 these always give the practical bee-keei^er and 

 his neighboihood a wide berth. They usually 

 choose some neighborhood where the old gum is 

 almost the only hive in use. Consequently, the 

 bee-keepers there are ignorant of what they do 

 want ; and usually, the operator is either him- 

 self ignorant of bee-keeping, or is a knave of the 

 worst stripe (though we have seen some uniting 

 both qualities). He has a model hive, finished 

 in the finest style, with brass handles, brass 

 hinges, and trimmings to match ; and perhaps it 

 is veneered and varnished in addition. The 

 model is usually, in fact, a splendid ornament to 

 look at ; and (without any bees in it) works like 

 a charm. "And then those movable frames," 

 says the hive pedler ; " you see, every bee-keeper 

 wants them ; no practical bee-keeper does with- 

 out them. Why, man alive, you can treble the 

 amount of profit at once, over and above the old 

 gum. And then, see how easily you can take 

 out honey at any time ! All you have to do is to 

 take out one of those frames of honey, and place 

 it on the table for company, set an empty frame 

 in its place, and the bees will immediately re-fiU 

 it. And in one of those hives, the bees will 

 make honey, even in winter. Aye, and if you 

 get the right kind of hive, the comb will even 

 grow mushroom fashion, which you can readily 

 see is a great advantage. Old fogy bee-keepers 

 don't believe in this ; but, then, they are much 

 behind the times. Our hive demonstrates this 

 to a dot." 



"Well, Mr. P.," says the gaping greenhorn, 

 " you do put forth some new ideas. I think I 

 must have one of them patent sleeps or gums. 

 They are such nice things. How much do you 

 ax for one?" 



Pedler, — "Well, sir, you see we have been to 

 a great expense in getting our j^atent, besides 

 the loss of time in inventing the hive ; and it is 

 going to cost us considerable to introduce it to 

 the public. But seeing it is you, and we want 

 to get the hive introduced in your neighborhood, 

 and we are aware that you are quite a prominent 

 bee-keeper in these parts " [Soft soap.] 



" Oh, yes ; we can hive a swarm of bees equal 

 to any man you ever saw. Do you see that tree 

 there? Well, we have been up to the top of it, 

 and brought down a limb with the bees settled 

 on it, and put them in the hive, and didn't get 

 stung a bit. What do you think of that ?" 



' ' Well, sir ; you are a bee-keeper, and no mis- 

 take, [Soft soap again.] But, as we said be- 

 fore, you are a prominent bee-keei)er, and Ave 

 will sell you the right, and a pattern hive, and 

 transfer a swarm of bees into it, for fifteen dol- 

 lars." 



" Whew ! I reckon, stranger ; you're pretty 

 steep, ain't you ? What was that you said about 

 putting bees into it ? My stars, the pesky crit- 

 ters will sting you to death, I reckon." 



" Oh no sir; we will fix them so they won't 

 sting, and give you the secret for nothing, seeing 

 it's you. Then you can transfer all your bees 

 into those splendid hives, as soon as you can get 

 enough made — combs, bees, and all ; although 

 the comb is not worth much, seeing it will grow 

 in my hive." 



" Well, stranger, I think I will take one of the 

 patent gums ; but don't let on to my old woman, 

 'cause she'd be as mad as a March hare, if she 

 finds out how much the pesky thing cost." 



The deed is made out, and all things are satis- 

 factory. The swarm of bees is installed in the 

 new hive, (in a bungling manner, as usual,) and 

 Mr. Humbug departs chuckling, ready to cheat 

 the next i^freenhorn he comes across, out of 

 twelve or fifteen dollars. 



In a few days after, along comes the owner of 

 Langstroth territory, or his agent. He calls on 

 our friend, the gi'eenhorn, and the conversation 

 soon turns on the bee or hive question. 



" Look here, sti'anger," says greenhorn, "I've 

 got the nicest gum here you ever did see, I 

 bought it a few days ago from Mr. H, Maybe 

 you've come across him somewhere in your 

 travels. Mighty nice man, I reckon." 



" Why, that, sir, is a Langstroth hive, with 

 useless additions and clap-trap fixings." 



" A what, did you say?" 



*' A Langstroth hive ! Did he give you a deed 

 to the right, <&c. ? Let me see it." (The deed 

 is brouglat out. ) " Here, you see, this deed gives 

 you the right to use Mr. H.'s improvement to the 

 movable comb hive (and nine out of ten of those 

 so-called improvements are retrograde improve- 

 ments), but he has not deeded to you the right 

 to the movable frames, at all. Now, sir, you 

 must pay me ten dollars for the right, or I shall 

 prosecute you for infringing on Mr. Langstroth's 

 ritrhts." 



