1873.] 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



139 



the boxes were carried to the honey room. This 

 was all done within forty-five minutes. We had 

 no occasion to pack the honey for market : we 

 can sell all we can raise in our neighboring 

 large towns. 



What is singular in this operation, is that 

 the three boxes weighed just 100 pounds col- 

 lectively. 



The question may be asked, can box honey 

 always be thus quickly removed ? 



We answer, yes, and in less time. Why we 

 haven't half tried. I am satisfied that I have 

 often with smoke alone removed every bee 

 (from a thirty or forty pound box) in ten or 

 fifteen minutes. Just imagine a box large enough 

 to cover the whole of your hive, and only about 

 six inches deep without top or bottom so that 

 you can see right through between every range 

 of comb ; what will prevent you from getting 

 out every bee almost as quick as you can say 

 Jack Robinson ? 



Mr. Editor, I just feel right here like throw- 

 ing out another challenge thus : — That I can 

 make more clear cash from fifty hives of bees, 

 (the honey resources being equal) with box 

 honey than any one can make with the same 

 amount of bees with the extractor, and with 

 your permission, Mr Editor, I will write several 

 articles under the heading 



BOX HONEY vs. EXTRACTED, 



for I do think Novice sends box honey too far 

 below zero, and is a little prejudiced against 

 box honey. 



Whai I have done and written I have not 

 done to beat Novice, of course not, but with 

 pure motives, fy e ::,ood of all. There is no 

 patent right landing anywhere. 



R. B. Oldt. 



New Berlin, Pa., Sep. 1, 1873. 



[For the American Bee Journal.] 



To Clean Old Oombs. 



Mr. Editor : We often have our old clothes 

 cleaned, from the fact that we so seldom get any 

 new ones. So we have been trying it on honey 

 combs and are so well pleased with it, that we 

 give it for whatever it may be worth. 



Operation : If the combs have any honey in 

 them, extract it, then lay them flat in a tub, 

 barrel, box, or anything that will hold water; fill 

 the tub with combs, lay on a board, and a stone, 

 to keep them from floating. Now fill the tub 

 with water, and two quarts of slaked lime. Let 

 them soak 24 hours, and then take out one at 

 a time, laying them down flat on a board, and 

 with a fine broom brush lightly, but thoroughly, 

 and well tach side of the comb. Next put 

 them into the extractor, and throw out the 

 water. Dip two or three times into clean 

 water, to riiise them ; throw out with extractor 



(achtime; next stand them up singly in the 

 shade to dry ; two or three days will not be 

 too lone: t6 dry them; next cut out all drone 

 comb, or other bad spots, and patch them up 

 neatly with worker comb, and they are ready 

 for the bees; and you will be more than pleased 

 with the result. It there are any worms in the 

 combs, the water kills them. All the combs 

 we have in use, havj all nearly been through 

 this process. Even old aal very black ones, 

 look more like combs a year old. 



J. Butler. 

 Jackson^ Mich., August 8, 1873. 



[Translated from the Bie i 



An Imprisoned Queen. 



zeitung.] 



Last spring I called the school boys into m? 

 apiary, to show them how two stocks may j> i 

 ^ united, and when they have movable combs, 

 how they can be readily examined. When 

 opening a medium strong stock, I discovered, 

 in the rear, a cluster of angry bees ; naturally I 

 desired what that procedure meant, and at once 

 freed the imprisoned queen. She was already 

 somewhat lamed, but was soon able to manage 

 oerself, and visited with pleasure her comrades 

 that were resting on my hand, and after a 

 while was accepted by the bees in quite a 

 friendly manner. This stock had not been 

 opened, and yet the bees had disowned their 

 queen, and had condemned her to death. This 

 accident shows that queens are in danger, 

 even though the hive remains unopened ; and 

 may be murdered when she is thoughtless 

 enough to go out of the brood-chamber, where 

 the bees have lost their scent, and thus are 

 more ready to take her for a stranger. 



A. Semlitsch. 



[For the American Bee Journal.] 



Information Wanted. 



Ed. American Bee Journal, : — Can any of 

 your numerous readers inform me of a good 

 locality for an apiary not too far from Chicago, 

 and having basswood and white clover. 



I desire to start an apiary and will consider 

 it a great favor to receive the information de- 

 sired. R. J. COI.BURN. 

 Englewood, III. 



Tke first number of Vick's Floral Guide, for 

 1874, James Vick, Rochester, New York, is at 

 hand with the usual fine flower-plates and com- 

 plete catalogue of seeds, &c. The work, is- 

 sued quarterly, is cheap at twenty-five cents a 

 year. 



