224 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Mar. L) 



down right side up with care. One pair of 

 eyes twinkled and the other p lir snapped and 

 I stopped. 



This honey came from Arizona ; and if I had 

 to wait for it to run out of an inch bunghole 

 in a barrel, lam afraid my patience would be 

 worn out. But, say ; the honey is good. But 

 let me tell you that sweet clover mixed with 

 alfalfa gives it a sort of hoar-hound flavor, 

 and at the same time darkens the color slight- 

 ly. For this, day after day I am inclined to 

 think I should prefer the alfalfa alone ; but for 

 occasional use, alfalfa and sweet clover mixed 

 are very pleasant. 



THE I^ANGSTROTH MONUMENT. 



IT will be remembered that, some time ago, 

 the editors of the various bee-journals en- 

 deavored to raise a fund to erect a monument 

 to Langstroth ; but in spite of our combined 

 efforts that fund did not go much higher than 

 $100. Soon after, the General Manager of the 

 LTnited States Bee-keepers' Union, now the 

 National Bee-keepers' Association, feeling 

 as we all did that the fund was very small, 

 again took the matter up, with the result that 

 he has raised the amount to something like 

 $275 ; and this, it is believed, will erect a very 

 satisfactory shaft. 



Sjme time ago I took it upon myself to ask 

 our bee-keeper poet — the same man who has 

 succeeded in raising the fund to a fair sum, to 

 suggest an inscription that would be suitable 

 to be placed on the monument. In response 

 to that request, Mr. Secor drew off the follow- 

 ing : 



INSCRIBED TO THE MEMORY OF 



REV. L. Iv. LANGSTROTH, 



"FATHER OF AMERICAN BEE-KEEPING," 



by his affectionate beneficiaries in the Art: who, in 

 rtmemhrance of the services rendered by his persist- 

 ent and painstaking observation and experiments 

 with the Honey-bee, his improvements in the Hive, 

 and the charming literary abilitj' shown in the first 

 scientific and popular book on the subject of Bee- 

 keeping in the United States, gratefully erect this 

 monument. 



Rest thou in peace. Thy work is done. 



Thou hast wrought well. Thy fame is sure. 

 The crown of love which thou hast won 



For useful deeds shall long endure. 



I have read this over a number of times, 

 and it seems to me it is very appropriate, and 

 very carefully worded. If any one can offer 

 any suggestions, I am sure they will be ap- 

 I)reciated by Mr. Secor, and by the friends of 

 Mr. Langstroth who have contributed toward 

 this monument. 



I presume the order for the monument will 

 be given very soon now ; and when the same 

 is completed. Gleanings would respectfully 

 request a photo that it may present it to its 

 readers. 



both the upper and lower houses. Men of all 

 trades and professions, in the interest of pure 

 food and drugs, are represented in the con- 

 gress. 



The National Bee-keepers' Association is 

 represented by Rev. E. T. Abbott, of St. Jo- 

 seph, Mo. At the previous congress he made 

 a distinct impression, as is evidenced by the 

 fact that he was recognized and placed on im- 

 portant committees. 



But it will not be wise to assume that the 

 pure-food bill will finally become a law, as 

 there will be a strong pressure brought to bear 

 against it from the glucose-mixers, and by the 

 food and drug adulterators all over the coun- 

 try. Every bee-keeper, at least, should write 

 his vSenators and Representative, urging their 

 support of the bill that will soon come before 

 them. In matters of legislation of this kind, 

 it is never wise to assume that the " other fel- 

 low " will do the writing. We have a repre- 

 sentative government, and our representatives 

 in both the upper and lower houses desire, 

 more than any thing else, to know the wishes 

 of their constituents. 



THE PURE-FOOD CONGRESS. 

 The National Pure Food and Drug Congress 

 is now in session in Washington, D. C. There 

 was every indication that there would be a 

 large representation from all over the LTnited 

 States, and there are now strong hopes that 

 the Brosius pure-food bill will finally become 

 a law, for it seems to be regarded favorably in 



GRADING BY PICTURES. 



When I attended the convention of the New 

 York State Association of Bee-keepers' Socie- 

 ties at Geneva, President W. F. Marks, at one 

 of the recesses, handed me a photo showing 

 the grading that the Ontario County bee-keep- 

 ers had adopted. At the time of doing so he 

 explained that the photos that Mr. Niver had 

 prepared at the direction of the State organi- 

 zation were not entirely satisfactory, because 

 there was so little difference between " fancy" 

 and "No. 1" grades. Indeed, some thought 

 his No. 1 was even better than his fancy. As 

 long as there was a chance for difference of 

 opinion it seemed to Mr. Marks and his friends 

 t!iat another photo should be prepared show- 

 ing the poorest specimens allowed in each 

 grade. 



Niver's grading is shown on page 393 of our 

 May 1st issue, 1899, and the grading-card giv- 

 en to me by Mr. Marks is herewith reproduced. 



It must be borne distinctly in mind that 

 each specimen in the grade above shown is the 

 poorest allowed for that grade. In other 

 words, a section that would grade "fancy" 

 may have a line of unsealed cells next to the 

 wood ; but it must be of standard weight, of 

 uniform cappings, and without discoloration 

 or travel-stain ; but a section may have every 

 cell sealed, and in appearance be a better and 

 a prettier one than the one shown in the en- 

 graving for fancy, but, according to the rule, 

 must be put with the fancy. While it might 

 seem that there ought to be a grade for ' ' extra 

 fancy " to take in sections having every cell 

 sealed, yet there are so few of such sections 

 generally that it does not seem best to have a 

 higher grade. 



As to the next lower grade, when we come 

 across a section that is better than No. I, but 

 not quite equal to fancy, then that should be 

 put in the No. 1 grade ; and the same rule 

 would hold true of sections under considera- 

 tion for No. 2. 



I suppose nine readers out of ten will say 



