394 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Dec. 14, 



relation to it? Answer: "As this 

 (grape or corn sugar) is, without ques- 

 tion, unsafe for wintering, and as a 

 great prejudice exists in the minds of 

 many of our bee friends in regard to 

 it, I have for the present ceased to of- 

 fer it for sale." 



So then, at last, we have drawn out 

 the truth. Mr. Root lias changed his 

 position on this matter, and has ad- 

 vised against the use of grape sugar. 

 How much better it would have been 

 for Mr. Boot to have acknowledged it, 

 than to have tried to assume that he 

 stands where he has " always stood in 

 the matter." By saying, " It looks to 

 me just as if friend Newman had come 

 over to my position," he apparently 

 intended to cover up the real truth. 



Since the above was put in type we 

 have met Mr. Root at the Michigan 

 State Convention, at Battle Creek, 

 which occurred last week. J. H. Kel- 

 logg, M. D., Managing Physician at 

 the Sanitarium, lectured on the adul- 

 teration of honey before the Conven- 

 tion. Mr. Root was in the audience, 

 and we took occasion to publicly ask 

 Dr. Kellogg to explain the difference 

 between the articles known to com- 

 merce as glucose and grape sugar. He 

 replied that there was no difference, 

 except that the liquid was called glu- 

 cose and the solid was named grape 

 sugar, to distinguish them commer- 

 cially. Both were manufactured from 

 the same material and alike, with the 

 single exception of the addition of 

 other chemicals to solidify that desig- 

 nated as grape sugar. And in this 

 opinion Dr. Kellogg is sustained by 

 all the chemical experts of this country 

 and Europe almost without exception. 

 After listening to Dr. Kellogg, and 

 hearing his emphatic endorsement by 

 the Convention, we expect Mr. Root 

 will acknowledge his error in advoca- 

 ting the use of glucose for any purpose, 

 and forever abandon its sale. 



^ We have received from Prof. 

 Adolphson, in Zurich, Switzerland. 

 the first number of a new semi- 

 monthly bee periodical, entitled iKits- 

 trirte BUnenzeitung. If the publisher 

 makes good his promises, and to judge 

 by the appearance of this first number 

 he will, we can predict success in the 

 full sense of the word. It compares 

 very favorably with older publications 

 of the same character, but, much like 

 the more progressive Americans, takes 

 a more advanced and practical view 

 of apiculture, on account of which it 

 will be ahead of older papers in many 

 respects. We think, therefore, it de- 

 serves the most liberal support from 

 the German-reading apiarist ; the 

 subscription being only $1.00 per year, 

 exclusive of postage, would be money 

 well spent. We wish it success. 



Michigan State Convention. — The 



Michigan State Bee-Keepers' Conven- 

 tion at Battle Creek, last week, was 

 largely attended, and will compare 

 very favorably with any bee conven- 

 tion held in America for the past ten 

 years. Many of the most prominent 

 apiarists of the State were present, 

 and the discussions were marked by 

 rare intelligence and enthusiasm. 

 Mr. James Heddon, of Dowagiac, 

 Mich., was chosen President for the 

 ensuing year, and T. F. Bingham, of 

 Otsego, Mich., was re-elected Secre- 

 tary. We will publish a report of the 

 proceedings next week. 



Apiary Record Book. 



It devotes 2 pages to each colony, 

 embracing between twenty and thirty 

 headings, neatly ruled and printed, 

 with space at bottom for remarks, and 

 so arranged that a single glance will 

 give a complete history of the colony. 

 Each book will also contain printed 

 rules for the apiary, and twelve pages 

 ruled and printed for an apiary cash 

 account. As each book is intended 

 for a several years 1 record, it is gotten 

 up on first class paper, and strongly 

 bound in full leather covers. There 

 will be three sizes, sent postpaid, at 

 the following prices : 



For 50 colonies (120 pages) SI 00 



" MX) colonies 220 pages) 1 50 



•' 200 colonies (420 pages) 2 00 



Send in your orders at once, and the 

 books will be forwarded as soon as 

 completed. . 



Sad Bereavement.— Dr. Howard's 

 many friends will read the following 

 letter with sorrow, and join us in ten- 

 dering him sympathy for his late be- 

 reavement : 



I have just passed through a trying 

 ordeal, and my plans for the future 

 are somewhat unsettled. I have the 

 misfortune to have lost my wife ; she 

 died on the 10th inst., of typhoid fe- 

 ver, after 21 days of suffering, I have 

 3 little children to care for. I hope to 

 be enabled to doniy duty toward them. 

 I think 1 will be able soon to resume 

 my business. I have now filled all or- 

 ders for supplies up to date, but am 

 behind with my work. My present 

 intention is to continue here. I trust 

 this may be an excuse sufficient to 

 satisfy those who have had orders de- 

 layed, should any one compluin. 



Wm. R. Howard. 



Kingston, Tex., Nov. 28, 1881. 



(g^ Capt. W. J. Andrews, Ex-Pres- 

 ident of the North American Bee- 

 Keepers' Society, has been elected 

 Mayor of Columbia, Tenn. We con- 

 gratulate him upon this mark of es- 

 teem by his townsmen. 



^ In the Bee Journal of Nov. 

 23d, page 371, in the article, "The 

 Knowledge Possessed by Bees," in 

 several places the word " corner " oc- 

 curs, which should read cover. 



A Rare Opportunity.— Until further 

 notice, any subscriber who desires to 

 obtain a good book on apiculture, can 

 have either Cook's Manual, Quinby's 

 New Bee-Keeping, or Novice's ABC, 

 bound in cloth, postpaid, and the 

 Weekly Bee Journal for one year, 

 for S3. 00 ; or with King's Text- Book, 

 in cloth, for S2.75. The Journal and 

 all four books for S5.50. This is a rare 

 chance to get a good library on bee- 

 keeping. A person can sell the books 

 for their published price, S4.75, and 

 get the Weekly Bee Journal for the 

 extra 75 cents and his trouble. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Next Season's Crop of Honey.— The 

 Semi-Tropic California, makes the fol- 

 lowing remarks on this subject: 



The bee outlook, although not as 

 bright as it might be, owing to the 

 light crop of honey produced this year, 

 lias fair promises for the future. Col- 

 onies generally are strong, and next 

 spring will probably find them in good 

 condition for a profitable summer's 

 work. Experience is teaching our 

 bee men how to assist their colonies 

 during an off year, and fewer failures 

 occur in this industry now than for- 

 merly. 



Wintering Bees in Kentucky.— Mr. 



W. Williamson, Lexington, Ky., 

 writes to the Farmers' Home Journal 

 as follows : 



We have just prepared our bees for 

 winter, having been too busy to do so 

 a month ago. We have discarded all 

 double walls, and agree witli Mr. De- 

 maree in this respect, but can hardly 

 go so far as he does when he says they 

 will "in this climate generally winter 

 without care, if they have plenty of 

 stores to subsist upon." This may be 

 safe so far as Mr. Demaree is con- 

 cerned, who feels confident, because 

 he understands fully the condition of 

 every oolony ; lie has examined mi- 

 nutely their strength, stores on hand, 

 age, and whether the colony is queen- 

 less or has a young and vigorous 

 queen. These are all conditions that 

 must be considered in adopting Mr. 

 Demaree's plan. We have prepared 

 ours in the following simple and inex- 

 pensive manner : 



Have put one thickness of cotton 

 about one-half inch thick inside of 

 regular Langstroth frame (which we 

 use exclusively), then cover over 

 tightly both sides of frame with com- 

 mon unbleached cotton ; you have a 

 neat, compact absorbent and comfor- 

 ter combined. We took out of each 

 hive the two outside frames of comb 

 and placed instead the two frames as 

 above prepared, then put on top a 

 quilt — any warm material will answer. 

 We remove all frames out of second 

 story, but leave second story on hive 

 so that during warm spells in winter 

 the quilt can be slightly raised for 

 ventilation. We believe with a good 

 supply of honey on hand and strong 

 colonies, with this protection our bees 

 are safe, but will give results next 

 spring. 



Here the 'Squire lifted his specs 

 higher and assumed a severe judicial 

 expression, as if he were about to ex- 

 pound the law,or construe the statutes. 

 " The khnintators was but man with 

 like passions as ourselves. They were 

 never inspired. The seventeen-year 

 locusses, as you all well know who 

 have sense enough to have seen 'em, 

 isn't fitten to eat, and it's my o-pinion, 

 as bein' against nachur, John never 

 et 'em. The Jews was mighty partic- 

 ular, and they never et pork till the 

 Lord showed Peter what was good. 

 If the seventeen-year locusses had 

 been in that sheet I told you about 

 they'd a flew away, wouldn't they V 

 It's against reason that John ever et 

 such trash. He was goin' about his 

 master's work and had no time for 

 foolin' with bee trees, and what's 

 more, bees ain't found in the wilder- 

 ness away from settlements. Now, 

 I'm going to tell you boys what he et 

 in my o-pinion. It was honey locusses; 

 you've all et'em, and I've et 'em, when 

 I was a boy — the common honey 

 locusses and nothing else." There 

 was a general assent ; all the boys had 

 eaten " honey-locusses," or fruit of 

 the three-thorned acacia, and the ex- 

 planation saved the reputation of John 

 the Baptist in the matter of taste. 



<^ We have received the illustrated 

 Catalogue of E. Whitman, Sons &Co., 

 141 W. Pratt St., Baltimore, Md., 

 which is a book of 160 pages, full of 

 instructive reading to farmers and 

 horticulturists. This is a work highly 

 creditable to this popular firm, and 

 every farmer should possess a copy. 

 Enclose them 5 cents for postage and 

 get a copy. 



Locusses and Wile Honey. — The fol- 

 lowing is an amusing item, for which 

 the Nashville, Tenn., American is re- 

 sponsible. It says : 



The New York Sun's reference to 

 the Baptist Social Union at Delmoni- 

 co's, and the absence of the locusts 

 and wild honey which formed the food 

 of John the Baptist, recalls a little 

 Sunday-school incident which we will 

 avouch has never been in print, and is 

 pure fact. He was a country 'Squire, 

 an Elder, a most excellent man with 

 all the pretentious ignorance of the 

 Dogberry, or Fielding's 'Squire. The 

 lesson was in John. The boys had 

 formed various theories about the 

 "locusses and wile honey;" but the 

 asking of questions was not encour- 

 aged ; it gave trouble sometimes. The 

 teacher was in the habit of revealing 

 all that ought to be known, which was 

 all he knew, plus a large amount he 

 did not know. " Now, boys," said he. 

 raising his specs, " I expect you all 

 want to know what kind of locusses 

 and wild honey John the Baptist et in 

 the wilderness. The kimintators make 

 out it was the seventeen-year locusses 

 and bee honey!" 



Bees as Educators.— Rev. W. F. 



Clarke, in the Bee-Keepers' Guide, 

 speaking of his recent visit to the cel- 

 ebrated bee-islands of Mr. D. A. Jones, 

 says: 



" Ithas increased my interest in bee- 

 keeping, and my confidence in it as an 

 industry bound to grow to large propor- 

 tions. There is ample scope yet for 

 science and practical skill to improve 

 it. Success in it requires qualities of 

 a high order, and it is a school of pa- 

 tience, perseverance, enterprise and 

 energy. In its advancement it will 

 not only increase national wealth, but 

 national worth. A good bee-keeper 

 cannot be a bad man or woman. Bees 

 are a kind of moral police; they detect 

 character. They are tutors also, and 

 train to excellence. Bright examples 

 of industry, they rebuke the slothful. 

 Not only as honey gatherers, but as 

 educators, they are entitled to take 

 rank as benefactors of the human 

 race." 



Selling Honey. — Mrs. L. Harrison 

 in the Prairie Farmer, remarks as fol- 

 lows on this subject : 



There are many good producers who 

 are poor salesmen, and they are as 

 numerous among bee-keepers as any 

 other class. Honey, to sell well, 

 should not only be produced in good 

 shape, but be graded, and the differ- 

 ent kinds kept seperate. 



If the bee-keeper has managed his 

 apiary intelligently, he knows what 

 he has to sell and what it is worth, 

 and will not dispose of it until he can 

 realize its full value. There is a time 

 to " sell " as well as to produce. We 

 knew of beautiful white honey being 

 sold last July in this city, by a com- 

 mission firm, for 10 cents per pound. 

 It was brought to market in a tub, 

 and bees and flies were troublesome, 

 so it was forced off at this low figure. 

 Had this honey been stored in prize 

 boxes, and kept until now, it would 

 bring 25 cents per pound at retail. 



When honey is sold by the producer, 

 the best way is to store it safely, and 

 then sell by sample. If it is on wheels, 

 buyers know that it can be had soon 

 for a ghost of a price, if they are in- 

 different, as the owner is anxious to 

 go home. 



Extracted honey, Phoenix-like, is 

 rising from its ashes. Glucose nearly 

 killed it, but it is now being sought 

 after, and is in demand where it is 

 known to be pure. Let the public 

 once gain confidence in it, as the bona 

 fide product of the bee, and it will 

 need no further recommendation. A 

 pleased customer will be its best ad- 

 vertisement. 



Peoria, 111. 



