604 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



September, 1922 



Alpeua may explain the matter. Wheu I 

 first caught sight of this quarry I asked why 

 it did uot fill up with rain water, for there 

 seemed to be no chance for an outlet. I was 

 told tliat the loose rock or shale is so por- 

 ous that it will not hold water. As fast as 

 the rain comes down it goes out somewhere 

 down through the bottom. 



Now, what I have told you above sug- 

 gests to me that electricity may possibly 

 open up, or help to open up, a way to avoid 

 strikes and disagreements between capital 

 and labor. Perhaps the farmer may be en- 

 abled to do his work, or at least some of it, 

 without the jangling and quarreling and 

 selfishness that are just now, while I write, 

 threatening to block the way of peace and 

 aood will both on land and sea. 



Special Notices by A. I. Root 



"Merrybanks and His Neighbor." 

 The letter below explains itself: 

 "Dear Friend in Christ: 



"Some years ago we purchased from you a lit- 

 tle book entitled, "Merrybanks and His Neigh- 

 bor ' ' Our copy has been worn out by constant 

 use and lending it to neighbors' boys. I would 

 like to know if vou still have the book on sale, 

 and the present-day price of it. Enclosed find 

 stamped envelop for reply. , ^, • i- 



"Wishing you continued years of Christian joy 

 in God's Name, I am 



"Yours sincerely, 



"J. M. Willoughby. 

 "363 S. Main St., Elmira, N. Y." 

 I find we have quite a number of these books 

 in stock, and I do not think they have been ad- 

 vertised or offered for sale for several years — per- 

 haps through some oversight. It is a little book 

 of 210 pages in regard to bee culture, poultry, gar- 

 dening, etc., bv your old friend, A. I. Root. The 

 old-time price of the book was 25 cents and 3 

 cents additional for postage. While they last, any 

 of our readers mav have one for 15 cents pre- 

 paid; and I hope that, when you get one, you 

 will lend it to the boys in your neighborhood m 

 the way our good friend who writes the above let- 

 ter has been doing. It may be the means of sow- 

 ing good seed that will bear fruit of still more 

 importance than bees, chickens, gardens, or any- 



thiiig else. 



Nitrate of Lime for Sweet Clover. 

 By the way, during the winter a firm in New 

 York City advertised a free package of Norwe- 

 gian nitrate of lime. They said the nitrogen was 

 taken from the air over in Norway, and the elec- 

 tricity used for the purpose was produced by 

 means of windmills and waterfalls. A generous 

 sample by mail was sent free of charge, and it 

 seemed to hit the Hubam clover just right. A tea- 

 cupful of it was worked in the soil with some 

 Hubam that was about a foot high. It turned it 

 to a rich dark green and sent it away up above 

 the rest A big wind, however, blew it down flat: 

 1)ut. not at all discouraged, the tips turned and 

 started up again, and soon got up a foot or over 

 above the other. I afterward purchased a barrel 

 of about 200 pounds for $5.00, and this I sprinkled 

 over my Dotato afrouiul wh<>re I had planted Velvet 

 beans. " Our good friend Henry Ford is planning 

 to get nitrogen from the great waterfalls at Mus- 

 cle Shoals. Alabama. The Norwegian nitrate of 

 lime acts very much like the nitrate of soda al- 

 ready on the market; but my impression at pres- 

 ent is that it is a little more effective, and per- 

 haps a little cheaper. 



Poultry and the "Chicken Business." 

 My good friends, T hardly need tell you that I 

 have been more or less in touch with chickens for. 

 I might say, 80 years; and ,iust now in the pres- 



ent year of 1922 we have a new poultry book by 

 Prof. Richardson, of the College of Agriculture 

 New Hampshire. The book has 152 pages, and 

 discusses in an up-to-date manner almost everything 

 concerning the poultry business. Now, to do the 

 above, and confine itself to 152 pages of good- 

 sized type, of course each department must be 

 pretty well boiled down, and this is what I like 

 about the work. As an illustration, the matter 

 of electric lighting in order to get the eggs 

 when they bring a big price is gone over briefly, 

 and I quite agree with the editor in saying that 

 where chickens are kept by the hundreds and 

 thousands the owner had better have one of the 

 up-to-date little electric light plants. This would 

 not only furnish the light but pump the water, 

 grind feed and do a lot of things. I do not know 

 but an electric windmill might come in play 

 nicely. 



In regard to that bugbear, wiiite diarrhea with 

 day-old chicks, the author suggests that preven- 

 tion is better than cure, and everything else seems 

 to be managed in an up-to-date way. The matter 

 of culling to get out the "drones" is also very 

 nicely- handled. Price $1.50. Address Harper & 

 Brothers, New York. 



"Kind Words." 

 My dear Mr. Root: ^ 



I can call you a dear old friend; but, only be- ^ 

 cause I never saw you personally, having known p 

 you only through correspondence for over 40 

 years, I content myself simply with the greeting, 

 "My dear Mr. Root." 



My Gleanings lapsed last fall, after a subscrip- 

 tion for 40 years, and I failed to renew until 

 last April. Now in the present number (for June 

 I mean) I have my first knowledge of Mrs. Root's 

 decease. 



Although it seems to come at a late date. T 

 trust you will feel that my sympathies are none 

 the less sincere, and, indeed, most heartfelt. Many 

 references have you made to her in your articles 

 in Gleanings, and these, added to our knowledge 

 of the kind of sons and daughters you mutually 

 raised in the God-fearing way, make it certain to 

 all of us familiar with her characteristics through 

 your writings in the Home department of Glean- 

 ings that she was a splendidly good, consecrated 

 woman who must have helped to inspire much that 

 you have often tenderly endeavored to put into 

 words, to do people good. 



My wife was touched by your references to 

 her in this July Gleanings; and, turning to me. 

 said : 



"Poor Mr. Root! I feel very sorry for him. 

 for he must, after all the experiences of that 

 long life together, feel lonely, though T think not 

 sad, for he thinks and speaks as a Christian 

 should about temporal partings and eternal re- 

 unions. His article is beautiful, and I hope you 

 can say as much for me if I am taken first." 

 And I told her I could. 



Dear Mr. Root, you have some things to be 

 grateful for. First, that the good and caring God 

 iias spared you both to a good old age together in 

 a happy and useful life. Second, she was spared 

 long and painful illness, and you a long anxiety 

 and ministry because of protracted suffering on 

 her part. Third, she having been a devoted 

 Christian, you are now absolutely certain of her 

 salvation, and happiness among the heavenly 

 hosts, and she certainly awaits your coming into 

 the great num.ber in glory. Fourth, you now have 

 one more of your very own. the veriest one to 

 you on earth, to represent you and yours in that 

 heavenly land. There is verity in all these. Be 

 comforted in the surety that so many bear you 

 company in the solace of them. And try to think 

 how many friends you both have had, and how so 

 many of them yet living are sympathizing with 

 you and bearing you and yours on their hearts. 



That you may have many wonderful comforts 

 that the rest of us naturally can not share, and 

 be kept in mysterious but sure daily peace, with a 

 firm hold ujion all eternal verities, and still live 

 in faithful loyalty to your beloved, and to her 

 and your God and Savior, is my prayer. 



Yours most sincerelv. T. Chalmers Potter 



146 E. Ashland St., Doylestown, Pa., July 13, 1922. 



