not the author of " Blessed Bees " do a 

 good work for humanity by giving a 

 little of this side of the bee question, 

 instead of such exaggerated statements 

 to deceive the over credulous V I have 

 400 basswood trees on my place averag- 

 ing from 6 inches to 2 feet, all large 

 enough to bloom profusely. What 

 number of colonies do you think will 

 find employment profitably, with that 

 supply of basswood? Would 100 colo- 

 nies be over-stocking in your opinion V 

 William Morris. 

 [Such a place ought to be sufficient to 

 supply more than 100 colonies in ordi- 

 nary seasons. — Ed.] 



Dowagiac, Cass Co., Mich., Feb. 10. 



Bees in this section (Southern Michi- 

 gan) are in prime condition. I have 

 lost but one out of nearly 500, all out- 

 doors, mostly packed, one way and an- 

 other. Those not packed seem as strong 

 as any. The lost colony was queenless, 

 and entirely overlooked. I will whistle 

 again when entirely "out of the woods." 

 James Heddon 



Bloomington, 111., Feb. 13, 1880. 



1. Can brandy barrels be used for 

 honey without being waxed, or can they 

 be used at all V 



2. Do you think it advisable to have 

 the prize boxes (where separators are 

 used) wider than two inches V 



3. What is a queen yard ? Is there 

 any contrivance, by means of which a 

 queen that has her wing clipped, is com- 

 pelled to return to the hive with the 

 returning swarm ? H. W. Funk. 



[1. They can, but all hard- wood bar- 

 rels should be waxed. 



2. No. 



3. A place used for queen-rearing is 

 sometimes called a " queen yard." We 

 know of no such " contrivance." — Ed.] 



Columbus, Wis., Feb. 11, 1880. 

 Bees in this locality gathered very 

 little surplus honey during the past 

 season. Many I fear will be short of 

 food, in their winter quarters, unless 

 fed. I commenced last season with 

 colonies and increased to 23 ; and had 5 

 swarms from one hive in 7 days. Is 

 not this rather uncommon? Some 

 think I am mistaken, but I saw them 

 all come out, so I am certain of it. By 

 a streak of luck, I succeeded in rearing 

 - r > queens from the Italian queen I re- 

 ceived from you. I made a nucleus 

 which started 5 queen-cells ; two of 

 them I cut out and introduced to other 

 colonies, after making them queenless 



for 48 hours. I opened the nucleus at 

 the time for the other cells to hatch, 

 and found a fine queen out and piping ; 

 and the other two cells were vacated by 

 two tine queens in less than -5 minutes. 

 I put them under tumblers with a few 

 workers, and went to a couple of colo- 

 nies and killed their queens at.once and 

 sprinkled the bees with peppermint 

 water, as well as the young queens, and 

 they were accepted nicely. Could any 

 green hand have done better ? I win- 

 ter in a dry cellar. There is quite a 

 number of extensive bee-keepers in 

 this county. Erastus Bowen. 



Elk Rapids, Mich., Jan. 12, 1880. 

 My bees are in good condition, on the 

 summer stands " packed " inside as well 

 as outside. They have had several nice 

 " play spells," January having started 

 in quite spring-like. Geo. E. Steele. 



Myersville, Md., Jan. 26, 1880. 

 The Cook's Manual, I purchased of 

 you, a year ago, exceeded my expecta- 

 tions, it was highly interesting and in- 

 structive, giving minute directions for 

 all the manipulations of the apiary. It 

 is just the thing for a beginner, even 

 though he has only one or two colonies. 

 I commenced with black bees 2 years 

 ago. After reading Prof. Cook's des- 

 cription of the 11 points of superiorty 

 which the Italians possess over the 

 blacks I concluded to Italianize. Last 

 June I procured of Mr. D. A. Pike, two 

 beautiful Italian queens and success- 

 fully introduced them the same day. 

 In about 23 days I discovered young 

 bees with three yellow bands. I was so 

 much plensed with the conduct of the 

 queens and their progeny that I im- 

 mediately ordered two more Italian 

 queens and one Albino. On July 16th, 

 I received, and successfully introduced 

 them. They have all produced beauti- 

 ful workers. I have often opened the 

 hives without protection for hands or 

 face, and shown them to visitors and 

 friends who are delighted with their 

 beauty and amiability. I have yet to 

 receive the first thrust as a sign of re- 

 sentment from them. I agree with 

 Prof. Cook, I would ke f ep only Italians 

 or Albinos for their amiability, did that 

 quality stand alone. W. R. Young. 



Poplar Bluff, Mo., Feb. 1, 1880. 

 My bees are doing finely, gathering 

 pollen and breeding fast. This is a tine 

 country for bees. Our bloom is poplar, 

 basswood, gum. grape vines, maple, lo- 

 cust, boneset, iron weed, golden rod 

 and white clover. The clover is a 

 native of this climate ; in the timber we 

 have the blackberry and others too nu- 

 merous to mention. W. N. Craven. 



