64 



GLEA^maS IK BEE CULTURE. 



Feb. 



tures, and they came all right and were satisfactory, 

 and the freight charges were quite low; and, as luck 

 would have it, my order went In when the rush 

 went, and the consequence was, that I had to hive 

 some of my bees in my old box hive without any 

 brood frames. 



ONE AND A HALF STORY HIVES. 



I like the one and a half story Simpliolty with the 

 28 one-pound section-crate very much; but I should 

 like it better if the cover, or the upper story, was 

 high enough to take on two sets of those crates, and 

 then, when the bees have got far enoiigh along, 

 raise one crate and put one under. H. M. Guild. 



Chester, Windsor Co., Vt., Dec. 17, 1880. 



A story and a half hive, with two tiers on, 

 would be virtually our regular two-story hive, 

 friend G.; and if you will look into the mat- 

 ter, you will see that it would make a much 

 more complicated and convenient rigging, to 

 make the cover still taller, and get your boxes 

 properly held in ])lace,than to make another 

 story, just like the lower one, in the usual 

 way. 



ADVERTISING IN THE READING COLUMNS. 



What in the name of common sense has come over 

 some of the bee papers? I refer principally to the 

 unbusiness like "free space" given through the 

 reading columns of certain bee papers, which are 

 nothing more than covert advertisements. For in- 

 stance, something like this: — 



"I received 3 blank queens early this spring, from 

 Mr. Blank Blank, and although the colonies c on- 

 taining these queens were no stronger, and had no 

 better chance than Italians that were alongside of 

 them. They gathered more honey, and were easier to 

 handle than the Italians. Blank Blank. 



"Blank Blank, Oct. 13, 1880." 



Now, I would ask any one (except the two Mr. 

 Blanks) if such is fair dealing with advertisers and 

 subscribers? If so, I have not another word to say. 

 I have noticed that other journals, representing 

 other industries, do not wrong iheir patrons in this 

 way, and am free to confess that I can't understand 

 why bee papers can'i do business on business prin- 

 ciples. Gleanings, I lay no charge of this kind to 

 you, and yet I should fear to scrutinize your back 

 pages too far upon such a search, for fear I might 

 find some. 



Right here, I firmly believe, I should throw the 

 pen aside; but a "wee small voice" says, "Tell 

 brother Root for this time, ' don't advise us to have 

 charity.' " Charity is one thing, and business is an- 

 other; and let us place each under its proper head- 

 ing. R. C. Taylor. 



Wilmington, N. C, Nov. 10, 1880. 



But for all your caution, I fear I shall ask 

 a little charity, friend T.; not only for the 

 journals, but for their contributors. Where 

 a letter is written, plainly with the inten- 

 tion of advertising, I shall refuse it, even 

 though I am offered more than our regular 

 rates for every line of it. In fact, advertis- 

 ing dodges shall not go into the reading col- 

 umns at any price ; but where a bee-keeper, 

 in making his report, naturally speaks of 

 the supplies he has purchased of different 

 ones of our number, I have no objection to 

 his doing so. How else shall we know who 

 does business in a careful and conscientious 

 mannerV I know the editor may be accused 

 of partiality in so doing ; but if he is con- 

 scientiously working for the good of his 



readers, the best he knows how, he should 

 not be troubled, even if some fault is found. 

 I have all along been in the habit of freely 

 advertising articles of great merit, where I 

 thought the owner was conscientious and 

 unselfish. I advertised friend Given's press 

 that way, and I also took the liberty of crit- 

 icising it afterward. Do you not wish me to 

 do just this way? 



UPS AND B0WN8 OF AN A B C SCHOLAR. 



I have kept bees more than thirty years, but in the 

 old box hive, and on the old-fogy style, until the 

 spring of 1875, when I began with the Langstroth 

 hive and two stands of bees; increased from 2 to 6 

 stands, but got no honey this year. May, 1876, start- 

 ed out with six stands; increased, mostlj' by divid- 

 ing, to 15 stands; took 600 lbs. of honey, mostly ex- 

 tracted. May, 1877, began business with 15 colonies; 

 took 1460 lbs. extracted, and 40 lbs. comb or box 

 honey; increased my stock from 15 to 35 stands; 

 lost 5 stands in wintering; came through to May, 

 18T8, with 30 live stands; took this season 2300 lbs. 

 extracted, and 50 lbs. box honey; increased my 

 stock from 30 stands to 15, mostly by dividing, but 

 had only a few swarms. Packed them for winter on 

 their summer stands in the best condition I ever 

 had bees— at least, that was my conviction. But, 

 alas! May, 1879, found me with but 15 stands alive, 

 and 4 of them nearly gone, and more honey left in 

 the hives with the dead bees than I knew what to do 

 with. I extracted 400 lbs. of honey, made by divid- 

 ing 6 new stands; lost, in wintering, 7 stands. May, 

 1880, 1 had but 14 left alive. Got no honey this year, 

 but increased my stock to 28 stands. Just before 

 the weather turned cold, I packed them snugly in 

 the cellar in a dark room by themselves, to stay un- 

 til some time next April, dead or alive. 



J. C. Phillips. 



Westchester, Butler Co., O., Jan. 1, 1881. 



CALIFORNIA NOTES, KTC. 



We have had a long, steady rain, which has start- 

 ed the sages and early honey-plants; and if the 

 weather continues warm and damp, bees will be 

 making tbeir own living in 6 or 8 weeks, and early 

 swarms will be coming out by the first of March. 

 The indications are now good for the best honey 

 season we have had for several years; and you 

 need not be surprised at reports of 300 and 300 lbs. of 

 honey to the hive. Bee-men are happj', and hire- 

 making will soon be the order of the day. 

 which is the best smoker? 



Now, Mr. Root, I want a smoker— one that will 

 burn anything, from dry rotten wood to stovewood; 

 make lots of smoke; blow the smoke well in any 

 position; not get out of order every five minutes, 

 nor go out as soon as laid down. Now, what kind 

 would you advise me to get? 



I have had roses in bloom all the year, and the 

 bushes are now sending out buds in profusion. 

 Corn, potatoes, and early garden stuff are coming 

 up. Now beat that if you can in Medina. 



Carpenteria, Cal., Dec. 19, 1880. E. CaDWell. 



Really friend C, I wish you had not asked 

 me that question about smokers; for I 

 would much rather you would, after looking 

 over the prices of different makes, order the 

 one you think you would like best. What 

 shall I tell him, boys? Somebody having no 

 smoker for sale, please answer. 



