\MER1CAN BEE JOURNAL. 



751 



when we get such material as Dr. Mason 

 and Bro. Hutchinson in the lead, we 

 may expect things accomplished. To 

 be " shot at," as Dr. Mason has been, 

 and still live, and then a young man 

 walking 15 or 20 miles to see his sweet- 

 heart, like Bro. H. did, well — what 

 would we do without such material in 

 our ranks ? I, for one, say that we all 

 owe Bro. H. a rising vote of thanks for 

 the fine photographs, and giving us a 

 peep at that big convention, especially 

 those of us that could not be there. 

 Then, just think of lying out all night, 

 and catching those pictures before peo- 

 ple were astir ! Again I say, good for 

 Bro. Hutchinson. May he live long to 

 teach, interest, and amuse bee-keepers. 

 Jennie Atchley. 



More About Skunks, Etc. 



Mrs. Atchley : — I will tell you how I 

 catch skunks in my apiary, as I have 

 had a few to catch almost every year 

 for a long time. 



I generally use a box-trap, baiting it 

 with a piece of fresh meat. I carry the 

 trap away and hold it under water until 

 the skunk is dead. Sometimes I save 

 the fur and oil. The skins bring from 

 25 cents to $1.00, or more each. The 

 oil is worth from 50 cents to $1.00 a 

 quart. Last year I got one skin worth 

 75 cents, and one quart of oil from one 

 skin. I sold one pint of the oil for 50 

 cents. It was to use for colds and 

 croupy children. I have sold it for this 

 purpose. Also it is used for asthma, 

 stiff joints, and other uses. 



A short time ago I discovered signs of 

 a skunk, and as my trap was burned 

 with the buildings on Aug. 19th, I bor- 

 rowed four steel traps, and set them 

 close by the hives the skunk had visited 

 (no bait). I found him in one of them 

 in the morning. I dug a small hole 

 with perpendicular sides a little more 

 than two feet deep, to bury him in. 

 Then I held a large board in front of me, 

 and by careful management pulled the 

 stake which held the trap, and attached 

 a long cord to the trap chain. Then I 

 led the skunk out of the apiary to the 

 hole I had dug, and the first thing he 

 knew he was in the bottom of that hole, 

 and with a shovel I soon had him buried, 

 and no scent, and nobody hurt. Later, 

 a neighbor to whom I gave him, dug 

 him up, and saved his jacket. 



They cannot scent if you keep them 

 walking after starting them. Last year, 

 one morning, I had two skunks which I 

 led off in the same way. A chicken's 



head makes good bait, and almost any 

 fresh meat is good. In cold weather, 

 when forage was scarce, and they were 

 hungry, I have caught them with bacon 

 rinds. 



I have been troubled many years with 

 a throat and lung trouble, and our 

 severe winters are very trying for me. 

 For three years past I have been away 

 part of the winter. Last winter I spent 

 a month in a sanitarium in Michigan, 

 and then went to southwestern Missouri, 

 where I staid about two weeks the latter 

 part of March. I was much pleased 

 with the climate; and now I intend to 

 spend a good share of the winter in 

 some of the Southern States. If I can 

 stop with bee-keepers, it will be very 

 pleasant. I expect to pay my way, but 

 am no millionaire, and will not expect 

 to stop at high-priced places. 



I hardly think 1 will get so far away 

 as Texas, but if I do, I should like to 

 know of a good locality and good people 

 to stop with. Perhaps you could advise 

 me. If so, I should be very grateful. 



I spent a good share of my time iu the 

 queen-business, for three years, about 

 25 years ago, and it would be a real 

 pleasure to me to see your establishment. 



I would like to hear of your success in 

 disposing of the skunks, either in the 

 Bee Journal or otherwise. 



Walpole, N. H. J. L. Hubbard. 



Friend Hubbard, I thank you for your 

 skunk remedy, and as these pests have 

 done great damage to Southern bee- 

 keepers, as well as some in the North, 

 we are very glad to know how to get 

 rid of them. But, here — when I catch 

 skunks after your excellent plan, I want 

 you to come and lead off the first one, 

 that I may better know how ; and should 

 you come Texasward, we would be glad 

 to have you stop and see us. You will 

 find a part of us at least about three 

 miles north of Beeville, but, as we are a 

 good, big family, we are usually scat- 

 tered over considerable territory, estab- 

 lishing out-apiaries, etc. The boys are 

 now somewhere from 20 to 40 miles 

 from here, transferring bees. 



I gladly give the remedy for ants, to- 

 gether with the skunk remedy, from our 

 genial brother, " The Migratory Bache- 

 lor of Florida." I also thank the many 

 friends for their remedies for skunks, 

 and hope to return the favor sometime. 

 Jennie Atchley. 



One-Cent Postage Stamps we 



prefer whenever it is necessary to send 

 stamps for fractions of a dollar. By re- 

 membering this, you will greatly oblige us. 



