14 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL-. 



coDveuient, just give the dripping combs 

 to good, strong colonies, and the clean 

 combs you take out to the transferred 

 colony, and see how nice it works. 

 There is only one drawback, and that is 

 the dripping combs will excite the bees, 

 and robbing will be the order; but we 

 guard against this by close watching 

 and prompt action, and it is best to give 

 the combs, or make the change, just 

 about nightfall, and all is well, as the 

 dripping combs can remain in the trans- 

 ferred colony until nearly night. But 

 some colonies become discouraged and 

 swarm out if left too long. 



Jennie Atchley. 



Big Honey Yields, Etc. 



I know it is the disposition of bee- 

 keepers usually to be a little slow in re- 

 porting a large yield, as this has often 

 come up in our conventions; but this is 

 w^rong, and hereafter I shall report a 

 colony giving 500 pounds of surplus 

 honey just as soon as one giving 2,5 

 pounds : and if the truth hurts the bee- 

 business, let it suffer. 



However, I think vi^e should report the 

 " downs " as well as " ups " in the busi- 

 ness. Still, I know we feel more free 

 to report a good thing. And now, dear 

 friends, as the end of the honey year has 

 come, send in your reports, large or 

 small, and let us see what you are doing. 



Some people look upon bee-keeping as 

 a lazy job ; but put one of these critics 

 down at it, and he soon turns his tune. 

 I tried one. I tell you now that if you 

 wish bread with your honey, you must 

 hustle. 



Bee-keeping experience is not picked 

 up by the bushel ; it is like the gold-dust, 

 which, picked up by little mites, and 

 run together, makes something valuable 

 and lasting. Jennie Atchley. 



Bees in Texas in December, Etc. 



Bees are at this date (Dec. 15th) 

 working like Trojans, bringing in honey 

 and pollen. I noticed yesterday and to- 

 day that the pollen is white, so I suspect 

 that new bloom is open. I shall investi- 

 gate soon and see, as I shall keep close 

 watch of the plants that furnish pollen 

 and honey, as I will have this to do be- 

 fore I can run my bees to the best ad- 

 vantage. 



There are some box-hives that we get 

 full of a very nice, clear and rich honey, 

 and we are anxious to tind what pro- 



duces it. This is the honey that A. I. 

 Root pronounced very fine. We are ex- 

 pecting several new shrubs to bloom 

 soon, and then we will have work to do. 



I noticed to-day drones flying from 

 some colonies, that they have reared 

 during the last month without any stim- 

 ulation, and some old-time bee-keepers 

 say that the bees have drones all the 

 time hero. I will see about it next year. 



We are very anxious to " learn all the 

 ropes" about this country, then I will 

 be able to tell you more. 



Oh, yes ; I remember another friend 

 asked about game. Yes, there is plenty 

 of deer, turkey, quail, rabbits, squirrels, 

 raccoon, opossum, skunks, wild-cats, 

 wolves, wild hogs, armadillo, and lots 

 more too numerous to mention. When 

 you come down, the boys can show good 

 hunting ground, as Charles has now 

 gone out with a crowd of preachers 

 from North Texas, to show them where 

 to find game. Jennie Atchley. 



The Weather in Texas, Etc. 



At this writing (Dec. 12th) the mer- 

 cury stands at 50-' at sunrise, and runs 

 to 70^"^ at noon. Fruit trees are bloom- 

 ing, oranges ripening, bees gathering 

 honey and pollen, and things have a 

 real spring appearance. 



Some are asking more about Texas 

 and the honey resources, etc., of this 

 part. I am not prepared, as I wish to 

 be, to give my opinion of this as a honey 

 country. You see I am nearly 500 

 miles south of my old home, and I must 

 be here a year before I can say posi- 

 tively about many things, and may be 

 two years or more, as we might have a 

 bad year or two. But circumstantial 

 evidence proves this a fine honey coun- 

 try. Yes, I will toll you more of Texas 

 as I go along, an 3 will try to interest 

 you with truths regarding this country. 

 In the meantime I refer you to the ad- 

 vertisement of the T. J. Skaggs Real 

 Estate Co., on another page. 



Jennie Atchley. 



Xlie I^atlics^ Slomc Journal, of 



Philadelphia, Pa., and the Bee Jouknal— 

 both together for one year for only f 1.65. 

 The first-named journal is the grandest 

 monthly for the home that is published in 

 the world to-day. ^'ew or old subscribers 

 to either journal can take advantage of the 

 low rate of §1.65 for the two papers. This 

 ofler expires on Feb. 1, 1894. Send all or- 

 ders the to office of the Bee Journal. 



