122 



TEE AMEBICAN APICULTTJUIST. 



LETTER BOX. 



LETTKRS FROM OUR READERS WHO 

 APPRECIATE A GOOD BEE JOURNAL. 



Worcester, Pa. 

 I must say I have received more 

 practical informatiou from the "Api" 

 than from any thing I have read. Got 

 several bee journals and have three 

 manuals. If the cloth bound (two 

 first vols.) volume had an index like 

 the one in volume three, I would rec- 

 commend it to beginners in preference 

 to any manual. 



Very truly, 



Geo. Spitler. 



Gonzales, Cal. 

 The tone of the American Apicultu- 

 rist is dignified, its management able, 

 its articles and editorials are alike 

 pithy and sound ; and take it, number 

 after number, there is a large per cent 

 of its articles the general reader would 

 preserve. A Norton. 



Amjirior, Ont. 



P. H. MORANT & Co. 



We find your journal to give a 

 great deal of valuable information on 

 bee culture. We would not do with- 

 out it. James Edwards & Son. 



Oak Bower, Ga. 

 T have been reading the sample copy 

 of the Am. "Api." you kindly sent me 

 and like it splendidly. I enclose 50 cts. 

 for sis months. Thos. Phillips. 



Atlanthus, Mo. 

 I have been a subscriber to the Am. 

 Apiculturist since it was issued and to 

 say that I esteem and appreciate tlie 

 same is not telling half. I have been 

 taking all the bee journals published 

 in the English language and like the 

 "Api." best of all, and for the follow- 

 ing reason. I have found and cut from 

 its columns and pasted in my reference 

 book more than double the number of 

 articles for future reference than any 

 other journal has afforded me. 



Jno. p. Needles. 



BEES on shallow COMBS IN WINTER. 



Bees are wintering finely in cellar 

 and out with me. It would please and 

 astonish you to see them cluster below 

 five inch combs in spaces designed for 

 them so to cluster. They seem to pre- 

 fer to hang in a large clump below 

 ?heir honey to being separated by 

 cold combs. Respectfully, 



T. F. Bingham. 



HOW TO HIVE A SWARM OF BEES. 



East Middlehoro, Vt. 

 Having read in the back numbers of 

 the " American Apiculturist" of the 

 difi'erent ways of hiving swarms, 

 I thought I would give my mode. I 

 have a few hives in readiness, placed 

 where I want to have them stand. 

 When the sAvarm comes out and clus- 

 ters, I take a common ten quart pan 

 and a thin board or shingle about seven 

 inches wide and sixteen inches long, 

 lay it over one edge of the pan and 

 clinch one side of the pan with the 

 thumb on the board to keep it in place. 

 Hold it up under the cluster; if on a 

 limb give it a gentle shake; they will 

 clustei- under the board in the pan; 

 then shake again and again till the 

 bees that are flying all centre for the 

 pan; then fan them; move a little and 

 keep still a few minutes and they will 

 all settle on'lhe pan ; then you can carry 

 tliem where you have a mind, and 

 pour them down in front of the hive 

 when they will run up into it without 

 difficulty ; but keep them going in by 

 stirring them up often, with a stick. 

 If the swarm is large, go twice or 

 more, but keep them going into the • 

 hive. If they light in a diflScult place 

 to get at, such as on the body of a tree 

 or down among weeds on the ground, 

 take a long handle milk dipper and 

 gather them up easily, and put them in 

 the pan, a dipper full at a time, and 

 smoke them a little and they will all 

 come. R. A. Dunham. 



Biverside, N. J. 

 Gents: 



Enclosed please find 50 cts. in 

 stamps for which please send me the 

 American Apiculturist for six months. 

 I find lean not do without the Api- 

 culturist under any circumstances, 

 much less without my bees. 



Very respectfully, 



J. H. Weidman. 



Battle Ground, Ind. 

 I had a splendid honey season last 

 year. The yield averaging over 300 

 pounds to the colony, spring count, 

 and made 700 percent of stock besides, 

 all having plenty of honey to go nicely 

 through the winter. J. M. Hicks. 



Chillicothe, Ohio. 

 Editor American Apiculturist : 

 In renewing my subscription for 

 1886, I beg to return thanks for the 

 great pleasure and information I have 

 received through the three volumes I 

 now have of your valuable paper. 



