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Jonesboro, 111., Feb. 3, 1880. 

 In the Bee Journal, for January I 

 noticed an article on honey-dew written 

 by Prof. A. J. Cook. About the 7th 

 of last May, I noticed the glands he 

 speaks of, on my peach trees. My at- 

 tention was called to them by the great 

 number of bees which frequented my 

 orchard. The glands were situated 

 upon the stem of the leaves, and were 

 sometimes very large and all of them 

 kidney shaped. The bees worked on 

 tins secretion till the end of May, when 

 the poplar (tulip) tree bloomed. In 

 August I noticed the same thing on the 

 willows, but the bees did not work on 

 them ; only the yellow jackets, wasps, 

 hornets, &e. The dew from the willow 

 was of a very bitter sweet taste, that 

 from the peach was very white and 

 sweet. I intend to pay more attention 

 to it next summer and will send Prof. 

 Cook specimens of the leaves. 



W. J. WlLLARD. 



[Such observations as the above will 

 advance our art. Let us all be on the 

 look out for these secreting plants. 

 The glands are easily seen, as they are 

 considerable elevations on the stem or 

 blade of the leaf, and cannot escape 

 close observation. The obvious tell- 

 tales are the bees or other sweet-loving 

 insects, which are attracted by the 

 secreted nectar. The question is defi- 

 nitely settled that there is real honey- 

 dew or special secretion from other 

 parts of plants than the flowers. Let 

 us see from what plants.— A. J. Cook.] 



Crown City, O., Feb. 3, 1880. 

 On peeping out of the window this 

 morning, over my apiary, to my sur- 

 prise I discovered 6 inches of snow, 

 making every thing look gloomy, after 

 my bees had been, during January, 

 bringing in pollen. Luckily 60 colonies 

 were housed, since the last of Decem- 

 ber. Eleven were on the summer 

 stands in 10 frame American and 10 in 

 Langstroth hives, packed with white 

 pine saw-dust, on the top and sides, all 

 with plenty of honey, except in-doors. 

 I have read different modes of trans- 

 ferring. Now here is my plan : after 

 the comb is taken from the old box, 

 place the frame on the table and cut the 

 pieces to fit ; then turn the frame upon 

 the broad side (speaking of American 

 frame), and with strong spool thread 

 wrap around and around, as often as 

 need be. and carefully place them in the 

 hive, and by the next day, the bees will 

 cut the thread and carry it from the 



hive, thereby saving much trouble in 

 taking clamps, and many other things 

 used, from the hive. I have tried pegs, 

 and hair wire, but give me the thread 

 (200 yards for 5 cents). Our honey crop 

 failed last summer, so I turned my 

 attention to stocking my apiary with 

 young queens. Chas. S. Newsom. 



P. S.— Bees are getting pollen to-day 

 (Feb. 10), while the north hill-sides are- 

 covered with snow, and have been for ;■*. 

 week. C. S. N. 



Rockton, 111., Feb. 8, 1880. 



I see by Gleanings for February that 

 Novice takes credit for the queen cage 

 Prof. Cook took to Washington. I also 

 see in the Bee Journal that J. L. 

 Harris is the inventor. Is he connected 

 with Gleanings? Bees are doing finely 

 in Northern Illinois. They had a num- 

 ber of good (lights in January, which 

 we think will keep them from spring 

 dwindling. The honey crop was light 

 last season, and there is no surplus 

 honey left here. D. L. Whitney. 



[The ruling of the Postal Department 

 on the subject of sending queens in the 

 mails may be found on page 121. The 

 cage we sent by Prof. Cook to Washing- 

 ton, was the one'made byMr. J. L. Harris. 

 He is not in any way connected with 

 Gleanings. Novice also sent one, but 

 Prof. Cook says, speaking of the Harris 

 cage, " I think yours the best." He 

 adds, the Novice cage " is stronger but 

 weighs more." We have not seen the 

 Novice cage and cannot therefore speak 

 of it, from personal knowledge. The 

 point of special importance is never to> 

 use honey in these cages, for feeding 

 the bees, and to be sure to use the 

 cage having the double- wire-screen 

 cap. The Harris cage is now made 

 much stronger than before.— Ed.] • 



Park Hill, Ont.. Feb. 9, 1880. 

 My bees are on the summer stands, 

 packed in shavings from a planing 

 mill. January was very mild, and the 

 bees had a good fly. I think they will 

 winter well now. * D. P. Campbell. 



Fiskburg. Ky., Jan. 24, 1880. 

 I began the winter with 21 colonies, 

 they are wintering well, so far. I have 

 only lost one queen, as far as I have 

 examined. I am wintering on the 

 summer stands. We have had a very 

 mild winter up to date ; very wet and 

 warm. Success to the American Bee. 

 Journal. J.F.Ellis. 



