1881. 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



35 



SZUCTWS$f!lOM 



Tenement Hives for Wintering.— My 

 bees are in good condition so far. I 

 have 85 colonies in the cellar; they art' 

 all very quiet. I have 25 colonies packed 

 in chaff that are wintering very nicely 

 I have 3 in chart' tenement hives, that I 

 think are doing the best. I have win- 

 tered for two seasons in the latter, and 

 like them very much. They seem to be 

 proof against spring dwindling and 

 swarming out. Is there such a patent 

 hive as "Torrey's"? lie says he had it 

 patented 10 years ago. I thought that 

 there were but a few patent bee-hives 

 now. All hail the Weekly Bee Journal. 



Athens. Maine. WM. II. Gueen. 



[Probably Mr. Torry has a patent on 

 his bee-hive ; no. indeed, their name 

 is "legion." They are almost innu- 

 merable—and the patented features are 

 usually the most useless or objection- 

 able.— Ed.] 



Winter in Texas.— We have had the 

 most winter — most cold— that I have 

 ever seen in Texas, and it hurts worse 

 here than in your country — the sudden 

 changes — here, one day bees will be Hy- 

 ing nicely, sun shining brightly. Elm 

 buds begin to smell and the people be- 

 gin to think of putting their ground in 

 order for another crop when suddenly, 

 in 20 minutes, it will be freezing cold. 

 The- thermometer only a few days ago 

 ran from 60° to 30- f. inside of SO min- 

 utes, a cold northwest wind, called 

 "Northerners" or "Northers." We 

 have had more sudden changes this 

 winter and last fall than ever known to 

 the oldest inhabitants or for the last 35 

 years. I wish the new departure, giv- 

 ing us a weekly American Bee Jour- 

 nal, all the success that its editor could 

 anticipate. We hail it with joy. 



Wm. R. Howard 



Kingston, Texas. 



Satisfied.— I am certainly under many 

 obligations to Prof. Cook for the good 

 report he gave in the Bee Journal of 

 the queen I sent him. I have not 

 another word to say about it. 



D. A. Pike. 



Smithsburg, Md., Jan. 24, 1881. 



Bees Uneasy.— My bees are getting 

 uneasy and begin to show signs of dys- 

 entery, and unless there comes a warm 

 spell soon, many will be lost. They 

 come'out at all times of the day and fly 

 off, never to return. Why they do so, 

 I am unable to find out. The hives are 

 dry and clean, well packed in chaff as 

 Prof. Cook directs in his Manual. They 

 have plenty of honey and pollen and 

 the reason may be thtit there is too 

 much pollen. I have 6 tenement chaff- 

 hives, with 4 colonies in each, and 11 of 

 Root's single chaff-hives, also, a lot of 

 Simplicity and Langstroth hives packed 

 by Cook's method. Thus far the tene- 

 ment hives keep bees in the best order. 

 The combs run parallel to the entrance. 

 B. F. Pratt. 



Dixon, 111., Dec. 28, 1880. 



Alsike Clover. — I think the article on 

 alsike clover, in the first number of the 

 Weekly Bee Journal, will be a great 

 help to get the fanners about here to 

 sow it, forredclov'er kills out here in an 

 open winter. I think the alsike will do 

 better. A neighbor has a few acres and 

 he says he was not troubled with it 

 heaving out in frosty weather ; he says 

 it makes the best of hay. I have long 

 been anxious to try it. but have no place 

 where I can give it a fair trial, and 

 so far, have not been able to get any one 

 else to try it. I go into winter quarters 

 with 89 colonies, mostly black bees, in 

 good condition for winter, in chaff- 

 packed hives. Our season here for 1880 

 has been the poorest for 5 years. I ob- 

 tained about 4,500 lbs. of comb honey 

 from 80 colonies in the spring, and in- 

 creased to what I now have, besides I 

 have done some work for next year; so 

 I have no reason to complain. 



_ G. W. Stanley. 



Wyoming, N. Y. 



Foul Brood. — I have lost 100 colonies 

 during the past 2 years by that terrible 

 scourge— foul-brood. I have about a 

 dozen colonies left in my cellar In good 



condition, and think I have mastered 

 the disease now. If I can till up my 

 apiary in the spring. 1 intend to regain 

 what I have lost. Wm. Dyeu. 



Hastings. Minn. 



Much Loss Expected. — Bees that were 

 not sheltered during our recent cold 

 weather will perish; and colonies will 

 be scarce here next spring. I have 25 

 colonies in the celler, covered with wool 

 cushions, and 2 buried in the ground. 

 Allseem quiet. I wish you much suc- 

 cess with the Weekly Bee Journal. 



Waterloo, Wis. E. Bump. 



Northern Michigan for Bees.— There 

 are many peculiarities about this part 

 of Michigan, and it was thought until 

 quite recently that bee-culture could 

 never be a success in our country ; but 

 one enthusiastic bee-keeper, with the 

 aid of your most valuable Journal, 

 has established the success. The gen- 

 tleman to whom I refer is Mr. G. O. 

 Grist, of Northport, who has a fine 

 apiary in a flourishing condition. I 

 have about 30 colonies, which are of his 

 stock, and are wintering well. Our 

 honey crop last season was light, owing 

 to dry weather. The wild asters, gold- 

 en-rods and white clover, are our best 

 honey plants, although we have many 

 others. I wisli you success with the 

 Weekly Bee Journal. 



Omena, Mich. J. P. Greene. 



Likes Chaff-packing Best.— I have in 

 winter-quarters 53 colonies ; 46 in chaff 

 on summer stands and 7 in cellar. My 

 experience so far is in favor of chaff 

 packing, especially in an open winter. 

 The season has been poor in this vicinity 

 both for increase and honey. I have 

 the black, Italian and hybrid bees, but 

 desire another season to stock my apiary 

 with either Italians or Cyprians. I 

 desire your candid opinion which would 

 be best. I cannot do without the Bee 

 Journal. C. S. Ingals. 



Morenici, Mich. 



[The Cyprians as yet are not suffi- 

 ciently tested to give an opinion. The 

 Italians when bred to their best quali- 

 ties are good— and may or may not be 

 eclipsed by the Cyprians.— Ed.] 



Poor Results.— Last season I com- 

 menced with l(i weak colonies which 

 dwindled down to almost nothing, so 

 that it took all the spring to build them 

 up to fair colonies. I increased to 29 

 and obtained about 750 lbs. of honey. 

 The season was too dry the uights, were 

 too cold, and there seemed to be no nec- 

 tar in the bloom. Success to the Weekly 

 Bee Journal.- Hiram Richey. 



Sing Sing, N. Y. 



Italian vs. Black Bees.— A weekly 

 journal is what we all need and espe- 

 cially those of us who are young in the 

 business. I have been handling bees 

 three years; I have not done a large 

 business but have made it pay. I have 

 now 11 colonies all snugly packed with 

 buckwheat chaff, taking their winter 

 nap. Five colonies are Italians, which 

 outstrip the natives in obtaining honey, 

 until buckwheat bloom, of which we 

 generally have abundance; then our 

 black fellows bring in the most honey, 

 Notwithstanding this I much prefer 

 the yellow or Italians, for reasons I 

 shall not now give. 



Last season was not a good one here 

 for honey, 521bs. was the largest amount 

 I obtained from any one colony. This 

 was comb honey. I have sold nearly 

 all my crop here at 18 to 20 cents per 

 4Jx4i section. I wish the Weekly 

 much success. J. W. Carter. 



Four Months' Confinement.— Bees in 



this section have not had a single flight 

 since the last days of October, now 

 nearly 3 months and they are liable in 

 this climate here to be kept in-doors 

 for 2 months longer. Hope the result 

 will not be disastrous, but am a little 

 afraid. O. O. Poppleton. 



Williamstown, Iowa. Jan. 25. 1881. 



Not very Encouraging. — I have beena 



constant reader of the AMERICAN BEE 

 JOURNAL for several years past and do 

 not think I could well do without it. 

 However. I want to suggest a little im- 

 provement that would add much to the 

 convenience of reading and handling, 

 that is to have the edges cut and paste 

 the backs like the Standard and .Far- 

 mers' Review of Chicago. I had one 

 swarm last year from 22 colonies, and 

 20 lbs. of surplus; not very, encourag- 

 ing, but I want to try again. I have my 

 bees in the cellar where it is total dark- 

 ness and I shall leave them there until 

 April ; the entrances are open which 

 keeps them as quiet as so many flies. I 

 have wintered them in this same cellar 

 for years, without loss. I hope that we 

 may have a good season in 1881, and 

 that the Journal will meet with much 

 success in its " new departure." 



J. M. A. Miller. 

 Galva, 111., Dec. 31,1880. 



Not Discouraged. — I did not realize 

 anything from my bees last year and 

 they only have honey enough to keep 

 them this winter. I am not discouraged 

 however, but hope for better thiries 

 another season. My best wishes for the 

 prosperity of the Weekly Bee Journal. 

 1 know it will be good, in any form, as 

 long as we have tlie present editor and 

 proprietor. J. A. Austin. 



Huntsville, Ala. 



Good Enough.— I have made S25.00 

 profit, per colony, this season, rearing 

 " dollar " queens for sale. Perhaps 

 some would like to know how it was 

 done. If any of the breeders wno rear 

 high-priced queens only, have made 

 more than this per colony, this season, 

 let us hear from them. 



W. Z. Hutchinson. 



Rogersville, Mich. 



What ails my Bees 1— Last spring I 

 formed a nucleus, by taking 3 frames 

 out of an old hive with which to start 

 it. They did well, filling all the frames 

 (Langstroth) and are nearly all full at 

 present. But for the last two or three 

 weeks they are dying at a fearful rate. 

 I opened them this morning Jan. 4 (the 

 thermometer at 50° above zero) and I 

 find hundreds of them dead— sticking 

 to the comb. 1 find also near one corner 

 of the hive some combs that are mil- 

 dewed. This is on the combs I had 

 taken from a hive in which the bees had 

 died. Is there any remedy '? If so, 

 please give it. My bees that are not 

 troubled as aforesaid, are flying as 

 though they meant business for thebal- 

 ance of the winter. H. B. May. 



Oregon City, Ore, Jan. 3, 1881. 



[The bees sticking to the combs be- 

 came separated from the cluster, for 

 some cause, and chilled. Had they died 

 from age or disease, they would mostly 

 be on the bottom-board. The mildewed 

 combs better be given one each to your 

 stronger colonies.— Ed.] 



Opinions concerning the Journal. 



I like the change from a Monthly to 

 a Weekly paper, made by you, of the 

 American Bee Journal. Will you allow 

 me to give a suggestion, it is this, run 

 the paper through a sewing machine to 

 bind it, it will not take long, about 500 

 could be run through in an hour. 



J. W. H. 



I have received the Weekly Bee Jour- 

 nal. I think it looks splendid. It is the 

 " boss " bee paper. Success to it and its 

 editor. Edward B. Beebee. 



I would like to add my feeble voice 

 in praise of the Weekly Bee Journal. 

 No bee-keeper that is alive to the busi- 

 ness would do without it. 



Albert E. Foster. 



I am much pleased with the Weekly 



Bee Journal and trust it will prove as 



profitable to its publisher as I am sure 



it will be to the progressive bee-keeper. 



E. T. Flanagan. 



I wish you every success with your 

 Weekly enterprise and hope that you 

 and I will live to see a " daily." 



G. Sturgeon. 



I can never express howmuch 1 value 

 the Bee Journal. I am proud to say 

 that tins is the third year 1 have taken 

 it. Bach number I value most, highly 

 — number me among your subscribers. 



St. John t. Moore. 



I have received the three first num- 

 bers of the Weekly Bee Journal. I like 

 it very much, in fact I do not see how 

 a man can be successful in keeping bees 

 without it. Best of all is we can have 

 it weekly. David Arter. 



Convention Notices. 



(gg" We have accepted an invitation to 

 attend the Ashtabula County, O., Con- 

 vention, which is to be held at Andover, 

 O., on Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. s 

 and 9, 1881 . On the evening of Tues- 

 day, the 8th, we have engaged to deliver 

 a public lecture on " Bees and Honey." 

 There being a large number of bee- 

 keepers in that region, we expect the 

 meeting will be very largely attended. 

 All interested will please notice the date 

 — as it has been changed. 



OT The annual meeting of the South- 

 ern Michigan Bee-Keepers' Association 

 will be held in Battle Creek, Mich., on 

 Wednesday, Feb. 9, 1881, at 10 o'clock 

 a. m. B. Salisbury, Sec. 



<®" The Nebraska Bee-Keepers' Asso- 

 ciation will hold their Annual Conven- 

 tion, on the 10th and 11th of February, 

 1881, at Plattsmouth, Cass Co., Neb. 

 Western Iowa bee-keepers are cordially 

 invited to attend. 



Hiram Craig, Pres. 



W The Rock River Valley Bee-Keep- 

 ers' Association will hold their annual 

 meeting at Monroe, Ogle county, 111., on 

 Feb. 8, 1881. The weather was such 

 that our Secretary was not at our last 

 meeting and our Secretary pro tern hav- 

 ing failed to send in his report, I send 

 the above notice. A. Rice, Pies. 



US" The Marshall County, Iowa. Bee- 

 Keepers' Association will meet at the 

 Court House in Marshalltown, Iowa, on 

 Saturday, Feb. 5, 1881, at 1 p.m. Sub- 

 ject for discussion : " Winter care of 

 bees." J. W. Sanders, Sec. 



$§? A Bee-Keepers' meeting will be 

 held at Walnut Hill, Barren Co., Ky. 

 on Saturday, Feb. 12, 1881. All are in- 

 vited. H. C. Davis, Sec. 



13?" The Northeastern Bee-keepers' Association 

 will hold their Eleventh Annual Convention, in the 

 Coin in on Council chamber, at Utica, N. Y,, on the 2d, 

 :ld and 4th days of February, 18S1. The Executive 

 Committee are determined to maintain the high 

 standing the Association has justly gained in the 

 past, and propose to out-do ail former efforts at the 

 couiini: Convention. Esaavs or addresses are ex- 

 pected from Capt. W. F. Williams; Prof. J. Has- 

 brouck ; Mrs. Frances Dunham ; James Heddon ; 

 Chas. Dadant ; H. A. Burch ; Jno. V. Detwiler :C. P. 

 Dadfint : A. G. Thurber ; W. A. House ; A. J. King ; 

 Julius Hoffman and others. 



A gold medal will be awarded for best essays, on 

 the following subjects : "Thedifferentracesof bees 

 and their crosses," "Wintering bees," "Marketing 

 honey." " How can we make the apiary the most 

 profitable?" 



For best essay upon any subject outside of those 

 mentioned, one tested Cyprian queen, donated by L. 

 C. Root. 



Diplomas will be awarded for best display of im- 

 plements ; the best comb foundation for brood- 

 chamber ; for surplus boxes ; best honey extractor ; 

 best bee smoker ; for the most practical bee hive. 



One dollar each, for the best crate of honey in the 

 most marketable shape, and for the best package of 

 extracted honey. 



For the neatest and best honey crate and section 

 boxes (cost, quality and finish to be considered), one 

 tested Italian queen, donated by Geo. W. House. 



All are Invited to send implements for competition 

 or exhibition. Articles sent to the Secretary will be 

 sold or otherwise disposed of as the owner may 

 direct. It is desired that all articles sent be the Bame 

 as kept iu stock, or forwarded to purchasers 



Geo. W. House. Sec. L. C. Root. Pres. 



For the honor of the fraternity in 

 New York, we hope that the friends of 

 truth and justice will be present at the 

 above meeting. The very unjust reso- 

 lutions, passed a year ago, should be 

 rescinded and thus in a measure blot 

 out the disgrace which now attaches to 

 the last North Eastern Convention. 

 Many were indignant at the matter 

 then, and we hope they will make an 

 effort to be there, to assist in " making 

 the crooked things straight." We do 

 not imagine that it will be difficult, for 

 some of those who were interested in 

 passing them, if we mistake not, will 

 Tbov) labor to have them reversed. — Ed.] 



