keepers have sent for my circular, and 

 99 out of every 100 say, " I saw your 

 advertisement m the American Bee 

 Journal." The Bee Journal must 

 have alarge circulation — and why should 

 it not? I notice that one man thinks 

 we need a new journal, and expresses a 

 strong desire to kill out the old Ameri- 

 can Bee Journal. 1 wonder where 

 they will find their Newman to run it ; 

 they must have him if they expect to 

 meet with success. 

 Wenham, Mass. 



For the American Bee Journal. 



Queens Duplicating Themselves. 



a. f. moon. 



The March No. of the American Bee 

 Journal, under the above heading, 

 contained an acceptance of my proposi- 

 tion, from Mr. D. A. Pike, which was 

 made in September number of Bee 

 Journal, of 1879. I was pleased to 

 see a breeder come to the front with 

 these " princesses," and hope that he 

 will, as he says, " bear off the palm." 



From the following postal card re- 

 ceived from him it would seem that he 

 is laboring under some misapprehension 

 with regard to this proposition. If 

 there is anything he does not fully un- 

 derstand, he has plenty of time to inquire 

 or correct, as the case may be : 



Smithburg, Md., Jan. 6, 1880. 

 In the September number of the Ameri- 

 can Bee Journal appeared an article 

 from you, relating to the matter of duplicat- 

 ing queens ; I do not like to see such a mat- 

 ter rest so, to be left forever ; I am of the 

 opinion that such queens are in existence, 

 and that I even now have them in my apiary, 

 having tested them to my personal satis- 

 faction. The plan of testing does not ap- 

 pear plain in every particular, perhaps you 

 can give some light on the subject. Are 

 the men who are to rear the queens situated 

 so as to have no difficulty with black bees ? 

 How many are to constitute this committee? 

 If perfect satisfaction can be obtained, you 

 may find an acceptance to your challenge. 

 D. A. Pike. 



From the above, it would seem that 

 Mr. Pike is laboring under some mis- 

 take. First, the plan of testing is very 

 simple, all he has to do is to send the 

 "princess," (one that he has tested to 

 his personal satisfaction), to Prof. 

 Cook, or any man, or set of men, and 

 they will put her to the simple test of 

 rearing 12 queens from her; the 12 

 to be reared at one time . I do not think 

 it will make any difference what time 

 of the moon they are to be reared, 

 whether in the new, full, or the last- 

 quarter, only that the 12 in number are 



to be the exact "duplicates of their 

 mother in color !" 



Their being reared near black bees will 

 never affect a purely mated queen, and 

 especially one of such remarkable 

 purity, and more especially one that has 

 received a careful test by friend Pike, 

 for such an occasion as this. As to 

 the number of committee it will make 

 no difference with me, if they be men 

 capable of judging between black and 

 white. 



All I have to say, is send on the 

 " princess," one that you know to be 

 true (be sure you get the right one), 

 and Prof. Cook will test her, and report 

 the result, whether they are duplicates 

 of the mother, or not, or have colors of 

 different hues. 



Rome, Ga., March 17, 1880. 



For the American Bee Journal. 



Hives made of Wood, Plaster and Sand. 



C. W. SAPPENFIELD. 



On the subject of wintering bees, 

 much has been said, and many have 

 given their views and modes of winter- 

 ing. There are points that almost all 

 agree upon, viz: plenty of food, even 

 temperature, occasional flights, and 

 keep them dry. The first point may 

 be remedied by feeding, either in the 

 winter or in the fall, depending on 

 latitude as to fall feeding. If the 

 colony has 20 or 30 lbs. of honey it is 

 safe, on that point. 



Even temperature is the point on 

 which so many disagree — as to how the 

 proper temperature shall be attained. 



For 30 years I have been " experi- 

 menting." I have tried cellar winter- 

 ing, with only moderate success, losing 

 many by " spring dwindling." I have 

 wintered in a warm house, with nearly 

 the same results. I have wintered on 

 summer stands, packed in chaff, straw, 

 leaves, and sawdust, and in all of the 

 latter modes, have had trouble with 

 mice, rats, and moisture; losing more 

 or less. I have tried the " American," 

 " Cottage," " Continental," " Hicks," 

 "Kidder," "Mitchell," " Langs troth," 

 and many other styles of hives, with 

 about the same results, as to wintering, 

 but a great difference as to surplus 

 honey. 



I have for three winters, used the 

 " Farmers' Bee Hive," which has so far 

 proven to be the best for cellar, warm 

 house, straw, chaff, leaves and sawdust 

 packing, all combined. It far excels 

 any and all of them. I have the first 

 colony yet to lose by wintering in them. 

 I have in every instance left them on 



