THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



191 



Consolidation. 



AVc think we shall give pleasure to a 

 large majority of the bee-keepers of Amer- 

 ica when we announce that the National 

 Bee JouiiNAi. is with this mouth's issue 

 united wiUi the " old reliable" Amekican 

 Bee Jouunal. The time has passed when 

 the friends of either Journal,, have any 

 points at issue, or any personal feeling in 

 the way of a union, ou the common ground 

 of a deep interest in bee-keeping, and an 

 ardent desire to see a .Iouknal devoted to 

 their interests so sustained as to be worthy 

 their support and an object of national 

 pride. 



There may have been in the past a divi- 

 sion of interests and a difference of opinion 

 upon patent hives which engendered strife 

 and seemed to make it necessary to support 

 two journals. Those things belong to the 

 past, and we know that the time has come 

 to bury the hatchet and all agree to make 

 our one Jouhnal what it ought to be — a 

 medium where bee-keepers of experience 

 can exchange opinions upon both prac- 

 tice and theory, and also where begin- 

 ners may find reliable counsel, and timely 

 hints upon all doubtful points in their new 

 employment. 



By the union of these journals we are 

 enabled to secure the services of all the 

 best writers in the World upon the topics 

 of which it specially treats. We shall also 

 be enabled to improve it in all respects, 

 and we are sure that wu shall publish a 

 journal which every bee-keeper will feel a 

 pride in supporting. 



There is always an increase of strength 

 aJ in a union of interests upon proper grounds, 

 and this consolidation is one so manifestly 

 wise, that we are sure to receive such an 

 endorsement as will make us strong in our 

 aim to issue the best periodical ever sent 

 forth, devoted to any special interest- 



We have decided to publish the consoli- 

 dated Bee Joui{na_l not only in Chicago, 

 but also in Cedar Rapids, because Iowa is 

 now the centre of the bee-keeping interests 

 of this country. West of us, the business 

 is being rapidly developed. Our subscrib- 

 ers are numerous in California, Colorado, 

 Nevada, Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri, 

 while enterprising bee-keepers are found 



both north and south of us. It is evident 

 that in these new fields the best pasturage 

 for bees ou the continent is found. The 

 State of Iowa has furnished for years some 

 of the most progressive bee-keepers in the 

 country, who arc prepared to be safe ad- 

 visers for beginners at the West. 



While we are dependent upon our sub- 

 scribers for the material aid which is to 

 enable us to carry out our plans for their 

 good, we ask it not as a favor to us, for we 

 shall send out a journal which no bee-keep- 

 er can afford to do without at any price. 



Seasonabl3 Hints. 



If bee pasturage fails at any time by 

 reason of dry weather, it is usually in the 

 early part of tliis month or latter part of 

 July. Ilivcs that have been gaining in 

 weight, may now be losing daily, and 

 except in the morning and evening, when 

 bees are out for water and pollen, they 

 hang idly about tlie hives. Rains in most 

 localities have started buckwheat and fall 

 flowers into growth, and if properly 

 managed, bees will soon begin to gather 

 fall stores abundantly. What they need 

 now, is room near the centre of the hives 

 Avherc the queen can deposit her eggs, so 

 that young bees can be reared to supply 

 the places of those tiiat will be used up in 

 gathering the fall honey. 



If the combs have not been emptied 

 with the extractor, do it now ; not to take 

 away all supplies, but to make empty 

 space for two purposes : 1st, to give the 

 queen room. 2nd, to stimulate the bees to 

 exertion. There is nothing like a "vacu- 

 um " to do this. 



Even when there is abundant honey in a 

 hive, it sometimes pays to feed sugar syrup 

 or diluted honey, to colonies in which we 

 find the queen has stopped laying, or she 

 has ceased to cherish her eggs. We have 

 known them to begin again, as if it were 

 spring in 24 hours after tliey had been 

 fed in this way. To use the extractor and 

 return the combs with some honey " loose" 

 upon them will answer the same purpose. 



A good supply of water is also essential 

 now. Springs and brooks from which 

 they have had their supply may now be 

 dried up. Your neighbors will complain 



