374 



gleamkgs in bee culture. 



Ma\^ 



ORDERING HEAVY GOODS BY EXPRESS. 



It seems as if there were more orders this season 

 than ever before for exceedingly heavy goods, and 

 g-oods that, from the nature of them, wo think can 

 not be wanted iiumcdiatelj', to go by express. We 

 have supposed one reason for this is the dehiys on 

 goods ordered by freight, in consequence of the 

 Btrilies; but it would be a very great relief to us in- 

 deed if our customers would make some explana- 

 tion in ordering goods to go by express that usually 

 go by freight. Suppose you add to the bottom ot 

 your letter something like the following: "I have 

 ordered the above hives in the Hat to go by express, 

 knowing that the charges on them will be ti-emen- 

 dous. But I would rather pay excessive charges 

 than to stand a chance of not getting them at once." 

 We have for years been in the habit of 'lisobeying 

 orders to the extent of sending goods by freight, 

 oven though ordered by express, when we were 

 quite sure the express charges would amount to 

 more than the value of the goods. But it is always 

 risky business to disobey orders. As a rule, we get 

 thanks for using our own judgment in such mat- 

 ters; but sometimes we get a fearful blowing-up, 

 with a bill of damages besides. In the latter case, 

 the man know what ho wanted, and had special rea- 

 sons for oi'dering his goods by express; but he omit- 

 ted to add just two or three little words, telling us 

 lie was prepared to pay the charges, whatever they 

 were. Sometimes it may pay a man to order his 

 sections and hives by express, even in the month of 

 April, providing lie lives in Florida or Texas, or 

 away south where the bees are swarming; but if a 

 man in York State or Michigan should order sec- 

 tions or hives in the Hat, by express, wc should eith- 

 er say he was not well posted, or else he was out of 

 his head. Now, will you not help us by a little ex- 

 planation, when you have made up your mind to 

 incur the excessive charges on bulky goods by ex- 

 press, rather than wait for them by freight? 



A NEW BOOK BY FKIKNU T. B. TKKRV. 



OUK compositors are now hard at work on this 

 book, entitk'd, "Winter Care of Horses and Cattle; 

 The Most Humane and Profitable Treatment," 

 and the first 16 pages are already in print. We 

 think the book will be received with more favor 

 than any thing else that has yet appeared from the 

 pen of friend Terry. His plea for kindness and 

 good care toward our domestic animals i-anks him 

 side by side with friend Henry Bei-gh; and friend 

 ■ Terry explains to us how it is that humane treat- 

 ment puts money into the pockets of the owners of 

 stock. The price will be, bound in paper, ,'iO cts. ; in 

 cloth, 75 cts. If wanted by mail, add ;> cts. postage 

 for the former, and 8 cts. for the latter. We expect 

 to have it ready about July 4th. 



The number of our subscribers is slowly increas- 

 i ng. At this date we have 'i'>'^2. 



LARGE QUANTITIES OF HONEY FROM 

 THE SWAMP-OAK. 



THE HONEY AS FINE AS BASSWOOD. 



r^\ EES arc doing finely here; and of over 2M eol- 

 t^ onies in this vicinity last fall, there is a loss of 

 ^^ only thi-ee. All were wintered on summer 

 ■^^ stands, principally in chafl' hives. Bees at 

 this date are gathering large quantities of 

 honey from the swamp oak. T noticed this morn- 



ing that they wore very busy on a k.rge oak, and 

 upon closer investigation I found that there was a 

 minute drop of honey, clear as crystal, and very 

 thick, adhering to each leaf-bud. Of course, the 

 oak has not yet leaved out, but the buds are swell- 

 ing, and show a slight green color, and upon each 

 bud was the drop of honey. I took my knife and 

 gathered enough to make quite a large drop, and 

 tasted it, and it had no taste of honey-dcui or aphis 

 secretion, and in thickness and color it equals bass- 

 wood, and certainly I never saw any basswood pro- 

 duce as much honey as the oak I have mentioned. 

 If it is the work of the aphides, they are so very 

 small that they can not be seen with the naked eye, 

 for I looked very clo.'.ely, and had others look, and 

 even climbed the tree, and made a very close exam- 

 ination, but failed to find any thing indicative of 

 aphides. The bees are breeding up very fast as the 

 result, and yet do not use nearly all they gather, 

 and in the combs it shows very clear and thick. 

 Now, does the oak always yield honey, and am I just 

 finding it out, or is it only in rare, instances that it 

 does so? Will the editor. Prof. Cook, or somebody 

 else, express an opinion? We are very thankful, 

 anyhow, as it comes when most needed; and to see 

 the sheets of solid brood in our hiveshasa tendencj' 

 to make a fellow feel happy about his bees, if noth- 

 ing more. M. W. Sheimiei:d. 

 Kochcster, Lorain Co., O., Apr. 22, 1880. 



Friend S., tlie lioiiey you mention from 

 the oak is probably tiie natural secretion. 

 It has been written about for yetu's past, al- 

 though I do not remember that we have liad 

 a report before of honey from oak-trees so 

 near our own locality. Neither do I remem- 

 ber of hearing other reports, mentioning 

 that honey was secreted before the tree was 

 in leaf. Former reports mentioned that 

 honey was secreted from the buds just be- 

 fore they opened to pioduce a blossom. If, 

 as you say, each bnd that would produce a 

 leaf yields honey, the matter is still more 

 curious. 1 am glad to hear so good a report 

 on wintering. Is there sutRcieut honey from 

 the oak to induce comb-buildingV and do 

 you tind it only on the swamp-oakV 



GOOD'S 1TE"W 



REVERSIBLE HIVE 



all complete, well painted, for fS.OO. Sections vei-y 

 low, No. 1, 4iax4>.ixl 'a or P,!, at S4 OJ per 1000. 



9-11 d B. J. MILLER Si CO., Nappanee, Ind. 



YBRID QUEENS at 43c each; 2 for 7.5 cts.; 3 for 

 *I.O0. T. A. Pew, Middletown, Mont. Co., Mo. 



H 



EXCHANGE DEPARTMENT. 



Notic'i's will be inserted under this litail at one-half our 

 usual rates. All ad's iiitemled lor tliis department must not 

 e.te'ed .'■> lines, and you must say you want youi' ad. in this de- 

 pa' tment, or we will not he le^ponsible tor any error. You 

 can have the notice as many lines as* you please; but all over 

 live lines will cost you according to our regular rates. 



WANTED.— To exchange foundation for wax. 

 .')9db B. Chase, Earlville, Madison Co., N. Y. 



WANTED.— To sell cheap for cash, or will ex- 

 change for bees, Root's chaff hives, the D. A. 

 Jones chaff hives, made up or in the flat, wide 

 frames, brood-frames, dovetailed sections, cases, 

 etc. J. M. KiNZiE, 



ild Rochester, Oakland Co., Mich. 



