THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



803 



PoiNoniiig- I lie Mees.— Of all the 

 diabolical plots and conspiracies liatchcd 

 by the enemies of tlie honey-bees, the 

 most dispicable is that of feeding them on 

 honey " loaded to kill " with poison. 



A copy of tlie "MesseriKer," a little 

 local sheet published at Atlantic, Iowa, 

 was sent to us, which contained an article 

 advising this method of treatment for in- 

 offensive bees. The writer says : 



THOMAS a. ITSWUAN, Editor. 



Yoinill, Dec. 21,1887. No. 51. 



Merry Clirlstmait now is here, 



Brljihtest time of all the year ; 

 Gentle words and greetings gay. 



From friend to friend on Cbristraas day. 



Twine tlie laurel and tb© bay. 



With the hoUy-berrlesgay ; 

 Declc the walls with i^arlands bright, 



On merry, merry Christmas night. 



— Vick' 8 Monthly. 



CliriMlnins will have come by the 

 time this number of the American Bek 

 JouRN.\L reaches its readers. No holiday 

 is more welcome than this. It is ushered 

 in with pleasant gifts of friendship, ."Sid 

 ends in the pronunciation of blessings on 

 all. Its observance for so many hundreds 

 of years has given it a character which 

 appeals to all to promote the joy and 

 happiness of kindred and friends. Christ- 

 mas-trees, and Christmas ereetings are the 

 order of the day. Let no selfish thought 

 be connected with this grand day ; let it 

 be universally briglit and beautiful, that 

 all hearts may rejoice and be glad I A 

 Merby Chkist.ma.? for All. 



A Mortem Bee-Fami and its 



Economic Management. Showing how 

 bees may be cultivated as a means of live- 

 lihood : as a health-giving puisuit ; and as 

 a source of recreation to the busy man. 

 Profits made 'certain by growing crops 

 yielding the most honey, having also other 

 uses ; and by judgment in breeding a good 

 working strain of bees. By S. Simmins, 

 Rottlngdean, Brighton, England. 



This is the title of a new book just 

 published of about 200 pages. It is printed 

 on excellent paper, and is nicely bound in 

 cloth. Price Si. 00. It covers the whole 

 field of apiculture, and is written in a 

 terse and interesting manner. It can be 

 obtained at this office. 



This part of Fowa is rapidly coming to 

 the front as a grape-raising country, and 

 it behooves those interested in tlie matter 

 to consider and decide upon some means 

 by which the grapes may be protected 

 from the ravages of bees. 



The grape-raising industry has been 

 almost entirely killed in Ohio by this 

 nuisance. Last summer the papers gave 

 accounts of the complete devastation of 

 entire districts in Illinois, and now we 

 hear complaints on every hand of the 

 destruction wrought by the pests, in this 

 State and county. 



The writer hereof, has had the entire 

 products for two years of fifty vines taken 

 by the bees, which,as soon as a grape ripens, 

 pierce the skin, suck out a little of the 

 juice, and leave the grape to rot. Now, 

 inasmuch as the granes are worth a great 

 deal more than the bees, some means must 

 be devised for putting a stop to the pres- 

 ent state of affairs. 



I have thought of many plans— only one 

 of which seems feasible, and that is, to 

 place near the vines just before the grapes 

 are ripe, dishes containing honey well 

 dosed with some active poison, something 

 that will kill tliem before they can reach 

 their hives. <;an any one suggest a better 

 plan ? In some States laws are enacted 

 prohibiting the keeping of bees in grape 

 districts, but as we have no such laws 

 here, we must devise means for our own 

 protection. 



In the second paragraph this ignorant 

 "ranter" asserts that "the grape-raising 

 industry h.as been almost entirely killed 

 out in Ohio, by this nuisance." All of 

 which we deny. It is a malicious false- 

 hood, and the author of it was either 

 ludicrously ignorant, or he is a willfully 

 malicious slanderer ! 



The paper which has published such a 

 vile defamation would indeed be a 

 "MESSENGER of death" if its advice 

 should be carried out. We do not think 

 that there are many who would listen to 

 such dastardly mean advice ! Suppose 

 these bees should get a small quantity of 

 it, reach their home, and then get it mixed 

 with some honey, would not the instigator 

 of this plot be held liable for any damage 

 done to humanity as a resultof eating this 

 poisoned honey ? 



The "Messenger" should be a little 

 careful of letting such vindictive scrib- 

 blers take possession of its columns. The 

 public will undoubtedly hold it responsi- 

 ble for any calamity that may follow in 

 that line of " bomb-throwing." 



To I»c ■"rank with a young Benedict 

 let us say that Mr. Frank (i. Uopkins, Jr., 

 of St. Joseph, Mo., Is a trifle sly and secre- 

 tive, not to have informed us of the near- 

 ness of ft great event, when we were 

 riding around the city of St. Joseph last 

 fall together. But we will forgive hira 

 this time, now that he has been so fortu- 

 nate as to secure such a charming life- 

 partner as Miss Augusta Keller. 



Among the long list of wedding presents 

 in the " Herald " we notice that of a com- 

 plete outfit of household furniture from 

 his father, Capt. Hopkins. The "Herald" 

 says : 



They will beat "home" to their friends 

 at Woodland farm and apiary, just north 

 of the city limits, on the road to the water 

 works, where the young Benedict will de- 

 vote his attention to scientific bee-culture 

 ami the raising of blooded stock, for 

 which avocations he has a natural fond- 

 ness and much experience. 



" Frank " is one of the most genial and 

 companionable young men we ever met — 

 to us he was indeed " charming," a pro- 

 gressive apiarist, and fancier of live stock, 

 of correct business habits, and possessing 

 bright conversational powers. 



We wish Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins much 

 pleasure and prosperity. May the "apiary" 

 at Woodland produce much "honey"— 

 not only by the bees in the swarming 

 season, but every month in the year by 

 the young couple of cooing-doves. 



Tin is Quite i^ecessa,ry for bee- 

 keepers, but the prospect is that there 

 will be a large advance in prices. Here 

 is what the daily papers say of it : 



The excitement in the New York metal 

 exchange over the recent advance in cop- 

 per and tin is unabated, and developments 

 are awaited with great anxiety by leading 

 operators. The speculative interest is 

 keenest among dealers in copper. The 

 bulls declare that the supply of the metal 

 is daily decreasing in proportion to the 

 demand, and predict a continued rise in 

 its price. There are some fears that the 

 fruit and vegetable canning industry will 

 receive a check next season owing to the 

 diffioultv in obtaining tin-plate for the 

 manufacture of cans. Scarcity of tin has 

 created a " corner " in tliat article. Want 

 of "tin" heretofore has bursted other 

 " corners." 



Those who can do so will exhibit 

 shrewd business qualities by buying at 

 ONCE any extractors, tin pails, and such 

 tin goods as they may soon need — before 

 the rise in prices. 



Wide - Awalfe — InSS.— The new 

 year has already begun with the holiday 

 number just out— a truly great number, 

 larger and richer, more varied, and belter 

 than ever before. 



We know of no Christmas gift so sure 

 of bringing a happy response in a reading 

 family. Send S2.40 to D. Lothrop Com- 

 pany, Boston. 



Queries are again crowded out of this 

 issue, by a pke.ss of other matter. 



Sanipl«^ Copies.— Do not send to 

 us for sample copies of any other papers. 

 Send for such to the publishers of the 

 papers you want. 



Heads and Faces, and How to 



Study Them ; a manual of phrenology 

 and physiognomy, by Prof. Nelson Si/.er, 

 phrenological examiner, and Dr. H. S. 

 Drayton, editor of the "Phrenological 

 Journal." This book of 200 pages is on 

 our desk; it is profusely illustrated, and 

 can be obtained of the publishers. Fowler 

 & Wells Co., 77.5 Broadway, N. Y., for 81 

 in cloth binding, or. 40 cents in paper 

 covers. 



