1897. 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



377 



bee-keepers that will eSFect aoythiug along the line Indicated 

 in the quoted paraftrapb above. In view of the greatness and 

 importance of the work to be accomplisht, there ought to be 

 a membership of several thousand live bee-keepers secured 

 right away. The objects to be gained are such as all bee- 

 keepers are interested In, and upon which all should unite 

 quickly, and with a determination to do the utmost to win the 

 battle to be waged against the growing evil of honey-adultera- 

 tion. 



Reader, what will i/oi( do about it ? Will you lend your 

 influence and dollar to help in this just cause ? It is ymir own 

 fight — entirely in your interest. 



Cheap Uucappiiig-Can.— Mr. J. H. Martin tells 

 in the Rural Californian about an uncappine-can, as follows : 



Mr. R. A. Hitchings, of Los Angeles, who owns a large 

 apiary in Verdugo canyon, and is a practical bee-man, uses 

 two common galvanlzed-lron wash-tubs. Tub No. 1 is pro- 

 vided with a honey-gat'i in the bottom, then inside within six 

 inches from the top four stops or braces are soddered, so as to 

 support tub No. 2. Many holes are puncht into this tub 

 both in the bottom and five inches up the sides. There is a 

 little space all around between tub No. 1 and tub No. 2, and 

 the cappings have an excellent chance to drain. 



A wooden frame is fitted across the top upon which to un- 

 cap. It is easily taken apart to clean, and can be made at an 

 expense of less than §2.00, or according to the size of the tub 

 used. When not in use the whole of it can be covered with a 

 square of cheese-cloth. Let us be neat in our work, and use 

 the Hitchings wash-tub uncappiug-cans. 



Bee-Hunting in tbe Okeefenokee. — The 



Chicago Record, speaking of Florida, says that one of the 

 most remarkable features of the Okeefenokee region is the 

 abundance of wild bees. One of the branches of the swamp 

 bears the name of Bee-Haven Bay, and it is a common saying 

 that every tenth tree is a bee-tree within an area of 20 or oO 

 miles square. 



During the summer months the lake and ponds get very 

 low, and a large portion of the swamp becomes dry land. 

 Then the harvest of the bee-hunter begins. Two men will go 

 into partnership, and, with a scrub steer hitcht to a two- 

 wheeled cart loaded with tubs and kegs, they will start for 

 the swamp armed with their rifles and axes. After the lapse 

 of a week or ten days they will re-appear at the nearest sta-. 

 tion laden with honey and beeswax and venison hams, which 

 they will dispose of, and, purchasing a fresh supply of bacon, 

 coffee and ammunition, they will return to the hunting 

 ground. For a month or six weeks they will scour the woods 

 until the winter rains set in and drive them back to their log 

 buts on the sand ridges, with a supply of venison and wild- 

 hog meat suiiicient for several months, and with a snug sum 

 of money. 



Tl?e Weekly Budget. 



Mb. W. M. Babnum, editor of Colman's Rural World, 

 and an experienced bee-keeper, writing us June 9, said : 



" I read the American Bee Journal every week with as 

 much avidity as I did 15 years ago — and it's just as good." 



Mr. J. H. Martis, in the June Rural Californian says, in 

 mentioning California honey : 



" The quality of honey this year is excellent, well ripened, 



fine flavor, and white All through the interior we bear 



favorable reports, but with the remark, 'It will be a short 

 yield.'" 



Dr. C. C. Miller, writing us June 8, said : 



"Bees are getting ready to swarm ; white clover is open- 

 ing out in the greatest abundance, but there is very little 



honey in the hives. The weather has been cold, so they 

 could do nothing, and I'm beginning to feel just a little auxlous 

 lest this may be one of those years when clover blooms but 

 doesn't yield." 



Mr. F. Bussler, a bee-keeper in Mexico, writing us May 

 31, said : 



"In the exhibition of Cojoacan I got the first prize and 

 $100cash. I was the only oue, and the first one, that ever 

 exhibited things like that here, I think. I have now quite a 

 little trade In hives aud bees, and get many letters asking for 

 information." 



Mr F. L. Thompson, of Montrose Co., Colo., writing m 

 June 5, said : 



"I am running an apiary of 128 colonies on shares. I 

 had a May 10th swarm, too— the day after I got here. So 

 far, 2G colonies have swarmed, tho alfalfa has not yet 

 bloomed to amount to anything. I am extremely busy, but 

 hope to have something to write about later." 



Mr. J. D Everett, a iOcolony bee-keeper about 10 

 miles west of Chicago, called on us last week. He had about 

 1,.500 pounds of comb honey last year from his apiary. He 

 uses the Heddon hive, aud wouldn't have any other. Mr. 

 Everett has very little time to devote to his bees, running 

 them entirely as a side-issue. Bat he some day wishes to in- 

 crease to 100 colonies. He hives each swarm in oue of the 

 Heddon half-brood-chambers, on full sheets of foundation, 

 and then puts the super on at once. He has no trouble about 

 getting the bees into the sections. 



"The Van Allen & Williams HosEr-ExTRACTOR is, I 

 believe, the only extractor on this market that is really an 

 automatic reversible machine. By simply slowing up the 

 motion and reversing the direction of the crank, the comb 

 baskets are reversed. The old Stanley machine accomplisht 

 the same thing, but in a much less desirable manner than it 

 is done by the Van Allen & Williams. This machine costs but 

 a trifle more than other reversible extractors, and it should be 

 remembered that to get along without a tool that saves labor 

 is the worst kind of extravagance." So says Editor Hutchin- 

 son in the May Review. 



Mr. N. E. France— the Wisconsin State Inspector of 

 Apiaries— has begun his work of foul brood investigation, and 

 in a communication dated June 5, says : 



"I find many Wisconsin bee-keepers who did not know 

 their bees were diseased, and nearly every case is "where they 

 do not take a bee-paper." 



That surely speaks well for the work the bee-papers are 

 doing. We have no doubt other foul brood inspectors find the 

 same condition of things. The wise, up-to-date, and progres- 

 sive and successful bee-keeper will always be found with a 

 good beepaper in the house— and will read it, too. 



Mr. J. T. Calvert, of The A. I. Root Co., writing us 

 June 9. had this to say about the honey crop prospects: 



" Mr. A. I. Root has just returned from a trip to Belmont 

 Co., Ohio, and says he never saw white clover any thicker, but 

 lots of honey is going to waste, as bee-keepers have had so 

 many poor seasons they are discouraged and not prepared for 

 it. Those who take advantage of present conditions will get 

 a good crop, and I anticipate a bigger season next year than 

 this, if this season winds up as favorably as it has opened. 

 The conditions all over the country seem to be very promising, 

 judging from reports and orders that come in." 



Mr. Gcs Dittmer— a successful Wisconsin bee-supply 

 dealer and comb foundation maker, and one of our regular 

 advertisers — wrote us as follows June 7 : 



" I have had such a rush this spring that something had 

 to be done to meet the June trade. I have succeeded in raising 

 about two tons of beeswax, and now keep two machines going. 

 and I think that I can weather it. I sold as much up to May 

 1 as all of last year, and now buy sections by the carload." 



We are glad to see those prosper who advertise in the 

 Bee Journal. It shows that it pays to patronize our advertis- 

 ing columns, if real help is desired in building up a paying 



business. 



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