AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



277 



me. I have had only two swarras this 

 season — both from the same colony — one 

 on May 27, and one on May 29. This 

 was caused by taking the queen from an 

 old colony, and introducing her into a 

 queenless one, when the old colony went 

 to rearing queens, as though everything 

 depended upon how many they could 

 rear. A few days later I found eight 

 queen-cells on two frames, and it 

 " wasn't much of a day for queens, 

 either." I now have 18 colonies in fair 

 condition, and storing some surplus 

 honey. 



This has been a very poor season in 

 this section of the country, on account 

 of the drouth, but we are getting some 

 fine rains in the last few days, and hope 

 for a good fall honey crop. 



Where can I get some basswood trees? 

 I would like to try them in Kansas. 



Drone. 



Leonardville, Kans., Aug. 15, 1892. 



[Those who have young basswood 

 trees for sale would doubtless find pur- 

 chasers by advertising in the Bee Jour- 

 nal. — Eds.] 



Worst Season in 13 Years. 



The honey crop is a total failure here 

 in northern Kentucky, as I only got 250 

 pounds from 165 strong colonies, spring 

 count. Everything looked favorable 

 for a big crop of honey. There was 

 plenty of clover, and plenty of prospects, 

 but no honey. It is the worst season in 

 13 years, or since I have been keeping 

 bees. C. T. Biggers. 



Minerva, Ky., Aug. 14, 1892. 



Five-Banded Italian Bees. 



I received two five-banded queens 

 from Texas on May 15, and started 

 them with three frames of brood and 

 bees. They have filled two supers of 

 the Root 8-frame dovetailed hive. One 

 queen is on the third super. I had 

 black bees right by the side of them, 

 that have not 5 pounds. I tell you, 

 " five-bands " are " Daisies." 



C. V. Mann. 



Riverton, Ills., July 15, 1892. 



Meeting of the North American. 



I notice what is said in regard to the 

 meeting of the North American Bee- 

 Keepers' Association. I think ihat 

 September is too early for us Canadians. 



There arc times when we can go from 

 Suspension Bridge to Washington and 

 return for $10. That would suit us. 



I hope every reasonable effort will be 

 made to get a large attendance, but do 

 not let us ever get less money in the 

 treasury than when Mr. C. P. Dadant 

 resigned his position as Secretary. He 

 worked hard, and would take nothing. 

 I did a little, and refused to take what 

 the Association kindly voted me. We 

 wanted to raise the financial standing 

 of the Association, and that should be 

 one aim of every future Secretary. 



I should like to see an able chairman 

 — a resident of Chicago — elected to the 

 Presidency, for the World's Exposition 

 meeting. R. F. Holtermann. 



Brantford, Ont., Aug. 12, 1892. 



Fair Season for Honey. 



The season has been fair, though quite 

 dry since June 1. The hive on scales 

 from June 8 to July 21 gained 165 

 pounds in weight, after which there was 

 a loss of about % pound per day. The 

 best day (July 2) was a gain of 9 pounds, 

 after 1% inches of rain. My 71 colo- 

 nies stored 4,000 pounds of honey, with 

 an increase of 12 colonies. About % of 

 the honey was extracted. 



J. L. Strong. 



Clarinda, Iowa, Aug. 11, 1892. 



Bees Did Real Well on Clover. 



Bees, as a rule, have done but little 

 here. As the spring was so cold and 

 wet many died, and those that lived 

 through were so weak that they gath- 

 ered but little honey when the white 

 clover came in bloom. But my bees 

 have done real well, as my 38 colonies, 

 spring count, have given me, of clover 

 honey, extracted and comb, about 

 2,500 pounds, and I hope to get a fall 

 crop from heart's-ease and yellow 

 Spanish-needle. Bees have swarmed but 

 little this season. John Haskins. 



Douglas, Mo., Aug. 10, 1892. 



Salting Bees — Poor Honey Seasons. 



Last week I met an old friend — tu.e 

 American Bee Journal — the first copy 

 I have seen since it passed under the 

 new management. It contained an arti- 

 cle (page 183) from my own pen, writ- 

 ten for the Bee-Keepers' 1 Ouide, on the 

 subject of salting bees. I could only 

 repeat what I then said. Since then I 

 have allowed my salting trough to go 



