THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



29 



hi tlK'ii" hives, ami at a lime when the 

 Bees could not gather any. * * * 

 But it is by no means easy to determine 

 %vhen there is an entire absence of pol- 

 len, or its essential equivalent in the 

 hive." 



There may not be a particle of it dis- 

 coverable in the cells, and yet a store 

 of it amply sufficient for the needs of 

 the larvio may be deposited in the 

 stomachs of the workers, or their gen- 

 eral organism. I hope, from the above, 

 Mr. Butler will see that his Bees had 

 some pollen. Argus. 



For the American Bee Journal, 



Good Bee Location— Rape Seed. 



Mr. Editor : — It is Avith a great deal 

 •of hesitation and a troubling of con- 

 science, that I again ask for a corner in 

 the Journal, for I have already had 

 rather more than my share of " space." 

 But there are a few words that I would 

 like to sa}'. 



Mr. Colburn, in the December Num- 

 ber, would like to know where he can 

 find a good place to start an apiary, not 

 too far from Chicago. Now, I don't 

 wish to boast of my localit}^, nor would 

 I like to coax any one here, lest he 

 should afterwards be discontended and 

 then blame me for so doing. Therefore, 

 I would say, that he could lind many 

 such places as he mentions, between 

 here (Berlin) and Milwaukee, — there is 

 plenty of Basswood^ and the countiy 

 is old enough so that white clover 

 ias well set in, wherever it has 

 an opportunity to groAV. In addition 

 to this, Ave have plenty of buckwheat — 

 at least in this A^icinity — and also many 

 cranberry marshes, Avhich Avere referred 

 to as being of A^alue, by the editor, in 

 the November Number of the American 

 Bee Journal. 



Berlin is about 180 miles from Chica- 

 go, and can noAv be reached Avithout 

 change of cars, via Mihvaukee, Avhich is 

 90 miles from Chicago. 



If the gentleman wishes further in- 

 formation I shall be glad to answer his 

 -questions through the mails. The best 

 way, howeA'^er, to ascertain the truth, 

 would be to pay us, or this j)art of the 

 country, a Aisit. 



Mr. Frank W. Chapman gives a re- 

 port from his ra])e seed. I am sorr}'' 

 he is so sensitive as to give up its cul- 

 ture, because his neighbors make fun of 

 him about his " turnip patch." But I 

 don't see any fun in it. Mr. ])adant 

 and my brother, in Illinois, ])lanted 

 turnips expressly for Bees ; and J can't 

 see Avhere the laugh comes in. But 

 some people are, perhaps, more easily 

 amused than your humble servant. He 

 further states that he thinks it Avas too 

 dry. Well, from what I haA'^e learned 

 about the Aveather in Illinois last Sum- 

 mer, I should think it V)as too dry. 

 Mr. Dadant rej)orts nearly an entire 

 failure, 1,000 lbs. only, from 230 stocks, I 

 think, because of the severe drought. 



Rape seed should be planted on good, 

 rich soil — soil Avhere wheat or other 

 grain has been raised, will be good, be- 

 cause grain Avill leave that portion of 

 nutriment in the soil Avhich rape re- 

 quires — and, of course, the weather 

 must be favorable for it, as Avell as for 

 other farm products. Lastly, the time 

 for harvesting must be Avell watched ; 

 as soon as the kernel is filled and turns, 

 cut it ; and as soon as sufficiently dry, 

 haul it in. 



Mr. Editor, the December issue is, in 

 mj^ judgment, of extraordinary interest. 

 Long live the American Bee Journal! 

 for it is the "right boAver" in the pack 

 of different Bee journals that adorn our 

 shelf. J. D. Kruschke. 



Berlin, Wis. 



For the American Bee Journal, 



Chips from Sweet Home. 



Two years ago I lost six hives by dis- 

 ease, and last winter I lost fifty-fiv^e 

 hiA^es, being all I had. They were left 

 on their summer stand. This Winter I 

 put ninty-fiA^e hives in my cellar during 

 the first cold snap, all but seven Avere 

 put in three days after they flew, the 

 seven tAvo days later, Noa'. 28th. I now 

 have four cases of the disease out of the 

 seven. They haA^e been very uneasy 

 CA^er since taken in. My cellar is 20x24, 

 the sides and bottom are cemented, a 

 chimney built on the bottom of the cel- 

 lar, with an opening at the bottom in 

 Avhich there is a continual draft, besides 

 four windoAVSAvhich lopen nightstocool 



