46 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



But for Italians in a good honey season 

 I know of no better hive to get large 

 amounts of surplus. I got the most sui*- 

 plus from one of these, and I believe the 

 others give more in proportion. I am 

 well pleased with them in summer so far 

 as tried, but not so in winter, yet I would 

 advise novices to wait until 1 try them 

 further. I promise a faithful report, not 

 like the man who would pursuade himself 

 that a thing was so, then report it as a 

 fixed fact, when it was so only in his 

 head. 



Lowell, Ky. R. M. Argo. 



'♦♦■♦• 



For the American Bee Journal. 



A Friend or Enemy? 



The Illinois State Horticultural Society 

 held its annual meeting in this city, from 

 Dec. 8th to 11th inclusive. Prof. C. V. 

 Riley, State Entomologist of Missouri, was 

 present, and delivered a lecture on the 

 grape phylloxera or gall louse, a leaf 

 parasite very troublesome on some varie- 

 ties of grapes, particularly the Clinton. He 

 stated that the phylloxera was less 

 troublesome on sandy than on clay soils. 

 The reverse of that is true in this vicinity 

 at least. During the session of the Socie- 

 ty I took occasion to hand the secretary 

 the following : 



Mr. President : — I would like to know 

 whether this Association considers the 

 honey bee a friend or enemy ? A certain 

 professor of entomology considers it an 

 enemy, and lias reeoiuniendcd iioi.soning it. 

 I consider it a liDrticultural assistant. 

 Would like an expression of opinion by 

 this Society. Eespectfully, 



Mrs, L. Harrison. 



The president read the communication 

 to the Society, and immediately, H. J. 

 Dunlap, of Champaign, moved that the 

 bee be considered a friend, which was 

 promptly seconded. Prof. Riley jumped 

 to his feet and exclaimed "that means 

 me, that's to draw me out," Mr. Presi- 

 dent, I hope that question won't be pass- 

 ed without discussion ; I would like a 

 chance to explain my position, and as the 

 time is all occupied this afternoon I hope 

 the question will be deferred until even- 

 ing. At the request of the president, Mr. 

 Dunlap withdrew his motion for the 

 time ; but at the evening session it was 

 again brought before the house by Mr. 

 Gasten, of Lacou, who said "Mr. Presi- 

 dent, I would like an expression of 

 opinion on the bee question. I consider 

 the bee a friend to horticulturists ; 

 nature's great hybridizer, benificial in the 

 cross fertilization of flowers, and in ren- 

 dering fertile many sterile ones, a true 

 dtililarian, saving many cracked fruits 



that would otherwise be wasted, and the 

 great nation of Russia finding they can 

 get more clover seed with the fertilizing 

 of the blossoms by bees, are importing 

 bumble bees to fertilize the red clover." 



The speaker was loudly applauded ; 

 and Prof. Riley being callei^ for, arose 

 and said, "Mr. President, I think highly 

 of the honey bee, very highly indeed ; I 

 am a friend of the bee, I think it does a 

 great deal of good ; but in some seasons, 

 in times of great drouth, when bee forage 

 is scarce, I think it does damage, indeed 

 I am certain of this. I watched the bee 

 very closely for several years, before I 

 could tell whether it did any diamage or 

 not ; but one season, a very dry one, I 

 saw two acres of Herbemont grapes near- 

 ly ruined by them. I think it is only on 

 exceptional seasons that it does any dam- 

 age. I would not recommend poisoning 

 them, but think persons living on a small 

 plot of ground ought not to keep them, in 

 sufficient numbers, to annoy their neigh- 

 bors at times when bee forage is scarce. 

 On the whole, I consider the bee more of a 

 friend than an enemy." 



The members of the Society, that I 

 conversed with, seemed to think the pro- 

 fessor had "come down," considerably 

 from his first statement on the bee ques- 

 tion ; admitting as he did " that the dam- 

 age bees did (if indeed, they did any) 

 was so slight that it took several years of 

 close observation to discover it." I think 

 the damage is becoming microscopic. 



Peoria, 111. Mrs. L. Harrison. 



For the American Bee Journal. 



Evaporating Honey. 



Friend Ives, in Jan. number, speaks 

 about evaporating honey by heat, in shal- 

 low pans in the oven, and in a kettle 

 brought nearly up to boiling point. "We 

 tried the latter plan and made a grand 

 success of it, for we suceeded in chang- 

 ing No. 1 honey into third-rate sorghum, 

 without the least particle of a honey taste 

 in it. We used it to make vinegar of. 

 We now have in the cellar some large 

 crocks of honey, very thick and clear, 

 without a sign of souring or candying. 

 Some of it was extracted after being cap- 

 ped over, and some the next day after it 

 was gathered. We put it in large jars, 

 cloth over the top, lay a board on it, and 

 have no trouble in getting it evaporated 

 without any more work. Therefore, 

 friend Ives, if you want to keep the 

 flavor of your honey don't boil it. 



In my article in Jan. No., page 13, the 

 name "Ross," should re^d "Roof." 



Oneida, 111. W. M. Kellogg. 



