254 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. ' December 



GREATER CARE NEEDED IN THOSE MAY FOLLOW WHO WILL 

 MAILING QUEENS. 



Unless persons mailing queens take Tlie Rural Bee-Keeper says: "Nc 



more pains with the cages they use "eed. Bro. Hill, to poison the minds 



there is a possibility of the queens of your readers against the Nationa! 



being barred from the mails. Of cages or against the Honey Producers 



shown to us this year some were all I-eague, at a time when some organt 



sticky and dauby at the candy end, nation is needed. The only questior 



otliers had sharp points of wire pro- shonld be 'who will lead?' Let everj 



jecting along the edges and some had one follow." 



sharp edges or corners of the perfor- py^y^ banish your fears, dear Rural 

 ated zinc turned out so they would j^he welfare of the frateraitv is prob- 

 cut the unwai-y postal clerk. The ex- ^blv quite as earnestly "at heart" a1 

 posed candy at the end is a mistake the home of the American Bee-Keeper 

 and a menace, and the little strip as in the sanctum of the Rural. This 

 of pasteboard over it only helps to paper, however, is the organ of nc 

 spread the stickiness when the candy organization nor clique. The inter- 

 becomes soft from absorbed moisture, ests of the industry in general is th( 

 These conditions partly result from specific point that engages the eye ol- 

 the efforts of some persons to econo- the American Bee-Keeper; and while 

 mize in the amount of postage, candy, every effort that bids fair to enhance 

 etc., by using small and sciimpy cages, these interests may confidently relj 

 It is false economy and in the end upon our support, we owe no "allegi 

 may cost the queen dealers dearly, ance, nor attach any special impor- 

 Observe the postal regulations more tance to any independent organization 

 carefully or Uncle Samuel will de- or "inner wheel," simply because an 

 prive you of the privileges of the apiarian cognomen adorns ite 

 mails. "shingle?" Oh, no! 



A LAME DEFENSE. It" Ri'other Putnam deems it prudem 

 Defenders of a weak or defenseless to advise his readers to "every om 

 cause often find their only hope lies follow" all and every bunch thai 

 in trying to divert the people from the constitutes organized beedom, we havt 

 real issue, and this seems to be the only to say that we believe 

 effort of Editor Putnam of the Rural ^^^ unintentionally commits an error, 

 in his comments on recent articles in O"!" advice is: First investigate 

 the Bee-Keeper on matters pertaining thoroughly, and if the proposition 

 to the League He calls the articles Pi'oves meritorious, embrace it with 

 assaults ^ on'' Mr. York, and attempts '^ '^^^^'^ of zeal worthy of its bene- 

 to poison the public mind against the f^f^^nt promise. If, however, the in- 

 league \s a matter of fact the ar- vestigation releases odors suggestive 

 tide he refers to was conti-ibuted by a of decay, decline it. We hardly think 

 member of the association, and said '^ ^^»"ld ^^ ^^™"- ^'^^'^''' ^y the way, 

 to be a statement of facts, putting to mention to a brother producer who, 

 them in juxtaposition that the busy Perchance, may also contemplate af- 

 reader might readily compare and tiliatmg himself with what he con- 

 judge them for himself. Mr. Putnam ^'^I^'"^" ^ -^o^l thing, ' that you had 

 says, "The only question should be C'«"Sl^t a suspicious whiff. It might 

 'Who will lead?' " The honey pro- I'^'o^'*' « kindness to him and a benefit 

 ducers lead, and, according to the to the fraternity of actual producers, 

 evidence presented, a few editors and Other substances than gold some^ 

 supply men butted in and are striving times glitter. Other "bugs" than 

 to do the leading. Possibly Mr. Put- bees are known to hum. All "Honey 

 nam was too busy to read carefully. Pi'oducers' '' societies do not neces- 

 We think it must be that, for hereto- sarily have honey producers as "lead- 

 fore he has appeared to be of and for era." It may be wisdom to "follow" 

 the plain honey producers. them, though, just because they arfe 



"leaders" of a "honey producers' " 



Do bees sting us because they hate this, that or the other; but we don't 



us. or because it amuses them? believe it. 



