1873.] 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



21 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



Chicago, July, 1873. 



Volume Nine. 



We would remind the readers and friends of 

 The American Bee .Touknal that this number 

 commences a new volume, and that it is now a 

 favorable time to pay up old scores, renew sub- 

 scrijitions, and canvass for an increased circula- 

 tion. It is not a pleasant thing for an independent 

 mind to ask help of any sort, and especially help 

 of the pecuniary sort ; but we feel that inasmuch 

 as this journal is carried on in the interest of the 

 bee-keepers of North America, we have a claim 

 on their co-operation, and as our prosperity is 

 virtually theirs, they will, in aiding us, be in 

 reality benefiting themselves. The great fatality 

 among bees during the past winter has led many 

 to give up keeping bees, and taking bee jour- 

 nals, it is therefore the more important that all 

 who have faith in apiculture as a great industrial 

 interest, or even take pleasure in it as a scientific 

 recreation, should do all in their jjower to help 

 forward a jjeriodical which has done, and is 

 doing, more than any other on this continent 

 for the development of this useful and enter- 

 taining pursuit. We cannot be too thankful to 

 many who have been and are exerting themselves 

 to the utmost in extending the circulation of 

 this journal. To each one of our readers we 



beg to say, " Go thou, and do likewise." 



- — — — -♦-♦ 



A Correction. 



In Jas. D. Meador's communication " From 

 Missouri," in our last number, after the tenth 

 line, page 273. The passage ought to read, 

 " The first award is for the best display of 

 honey by any association, $150." 



The Emperor of Austria, in recognition of 

 the eminent services of Dr. John Dzierzon, of 

 Carlsmarkt, Prussia, rendered in advancing bee- 

 culture, has decorated him with the Cross of the 

 Knightly Order of Francis-Joseph. 



We have received from Messrs. George P. 

 Howell & Co., advertising agents, New York, a 

 copy of their American Newspaper Directory, 

 for 1373. It is well printed and well arranged, 



and will be of great value to newspapers and 

 advertisers. 



We have received two beautiful chromos from 

 Orange Judd & Co., Publishers, New York. Aa 

 exquisite chromo, '• The Strawberry Girl," for 

 every subscriber to Hearth and Rome, for 1873. 

 A beautiful chromo, "Mischief Brewing," pre- 

 sented to every subscriber of the American 

 Agriculturist, for 1873. 



1-* 



Queens and the Mail Carriers. 



Gen. Butler has attended to the communica- 

 tion addressed to him by Mr. Alley, in reference 

 to sending queens by mail, and with how little 

 result will be seen by the following extract 

 taken from the Washington Chrojiicle, of June 

 16th. "Ben. Butler has recently interviewed 

 the Postmaster General respecting the right of 

 a constituent of his sending small boxes contain- 

 ing humble (?) bees through the mail. The 

 Postmaster General reminded Mr. Butler that 

 those who handle the mails complain of such 

 packages, that the bees invariably become re- 

 leased from their stronghold, and cause the 

 postman annoyance and trouble by being stung 

 by the bees. " Well," says the Hon, B. B., "I 

 can't imagine why so much consternation and 

 complaint should arise from sending a few bees 

 through the mails; those mail carriers make 

 more fuss over a coujjle of bees than congress- 

 men do in drawing their back pay." 



Samson's Lion. 



Our friend R. M. Argo, of Lowell, Ky., has 

 written us a brief dissertation on the above 

 subject, with a view of correcting the erroneous 

 ideas many readers of the Bible have, as to a 

 swarm of bees being found in the carcass of 

 a dead lion. Some, he says, take the lan- 

 guage in its literal meaning, and believe that 

 there were really bees and honey in the dead 

 carcass before the flesh had been destroyed by 

 dogs and birds of prey, which were numerous 

 in that country. Mr. Argo states his own views 

 as follows : " These bees, according to Kitto'a 

 Bible History, must have been identical with 

 the Egyptian of the present day; and, as they 

 were very numerous in Canaan at that time, and 

 hollow wood was scarce, they were apt to take 

 up their abode in any hollow cavity they could 



