100 



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Factory tor Canning^ Honey.— 



One at least is in existence. It is conducted 

 by Mr. A. Cliristie, of Smitliland, Iowa. 

 Tlie Exponait of Dec. 15, 1887, describes it 

 thus : 



Mr. Christrie owns five apiaries witli from 

 500 to 600 colonies of bees. Ail llie lioney 

 from these apiaries are brouglit to liis 

 Smitliland canning house to be put up for 

 the marlset. This is a more extensive job 

 than one would think, and the process is 

 more complicated. 



The honey, when extracted from the 

 comb, is barrelled up and talien to the store- 

 house, where it is kept until the time for 

 canning begins, which is generally about 

 the first of December. 



The building where the canning is done, 

 is a substantial brick structure 32x30 feet, 

 and two stories high, with an ell for an en- 

 gine room. The arrangements are such 

 that when the lioney is brought hi, it can be 

 unloaded from the wagons on a level with 

 the upper story, and the barrels rolled in. 

 Then the barrels are placed on end, the 

 heads taken out, and the honey is emptied 

 into a tank holding about 100 gallons. This 

 tank is made of boiler iron, and lieated to a 

 moderate degree by steam. From this tank 

 the honey passes through a pipe which is 

 regulated by a stop-cock, into a reservoir 

 having a capacity ot three barrels. From 

 this reservoir it passes through another 

 pipe into a steam chest. This pipe is made 

 of block-tin, and is made in a spiral form, 

 so that the honey may be kept in motion, 

 for it it remained in one place too long it 

 would be over-heated, and a little too much 

 heating spoils it. In the chest it is heated 

 to the required temperature, and drawn off 

 into cans, the heat preventing granulation. 



The capacity of this apparatus is two bar- 

 rels per hour. In addition to this there is 

 a steam eiiest in which cans are placed, and 

 the steam being let on, the honey melts and 

 runs into the same tank in which the bar- 

 relled honey was placed. This makes the 

 whole capacity of the factory three barrels 

 per hour. The honey is drawn off in cans, 

 varying from one to sixty pounds each, but 

 the largest demand is, for the one-pound 

 cans. 



An engine of six-horse power drives the 

 machinery and furnishes the steam for 

 heating purposes. Mr. Christie travels dur- 

 ing the greater part ot the year selling to 

 dealers in various partsfof the. country. 



Xlie I^ect»ii-e of Prof. N. W. McLain, 

 which we mentionedCsometime ago, is to be 

 delivered before the "Academy of Sciences" 

 at Stevens' Art Hall, 24 Adams-st. Chicago, 

 on Monday, Feb. 27, 1S88, at 8 p.m. The sub- 

 ject will be the " Construction and function 

 of bees ;" which will be illustrated by large 

 charts. Prof. Higley will preside. Seats 

 will be free, and all will be welcome. 



Xlie " Cliapnian Honey-Plant" 



has been placed by the Department of Ag- 

 riculture upon the " free list." All persons 

 desiring the seed can procure it fkee, by 

 writing to Hon. Norman J. Coleman, Com- 

 missioner of Agriculture, Washington, D. 

 0. ; or if they desire a larger quantity than 

 is furnished by the Department for experi- 

 mental purposes, undoubtedly they can get 

 it by requesting their representative in Con- 

 gress to send it to them. 



Pleasant ■*Vords come Ifrora our 

 brother publishers, in noting the advent of 

 the Bee Jouhnal for 1888. To all we say, 

 " Thanks ;" and we hope that'the pleasant 

 relations between the editors of the many 

 bee-periodicals will long continue, and their 

 exertions for the prosperity of the pursuit 

 be fully rewarded. We give those so far 

 received a place here : 



The first numbers of our esteemed co- 

 temporary, the Ameeican Bee Journai. 

 for 1888, have come out in a new dress. It 

 is printed almost wholly from new type, 

 and the matter has been somewhat re- 

 aiTanged. Altogether, it is a decided im- 

 provement. As in times past, QJe(nilngs 

 extends the right hand of fellowship, and 

 wishes the publisher every success. In this 

 connection we note with pleasure the 

 brotherly feeling existing among all our 

 bee-periodicals at the present time, and 

 likewise the absence of little petty jeal- 

 ousies which, we are sorry to say, used to 

 crop out once in awhUe.—Oleanings. 



No. 1 of Vol. XXIV, of the American 

 Bee Jouenal is on our desk, and we must 

 confess that Editor Newman has made his 

 paper 1,00k very nice in its new dress and 

 new type. The head-lines of all articles 

 are in large, clear, full-faced type. The 

 contents and general make-up are perfec- 

 tion. Bro. Newman is a man of progress, 

 and never takes a back step.— .American 

 Apiculturist. 



The Ameeican Bee Journal comes to 

 us in an entirely new dress of type, which 

 makes a decided improvement in its ap- 

 pearance. In its articles, the American 

 Bee JouKNAL keeps abreast of the times, 

 is a credit to its publishers, and worthy of 

 patronage. We wish it every prosperity.— 

 Canadian Bee JouiimI. 



Like an old friend in new clothes comes 

 the American Bee Journal for Jan. 4, 

 1888. Its appearance has been much altered 

 and improved. We hope to see those bio- 

 graphical sketches continued tlirough the 

 year.— 27ie Bee-Hive. 



Xliis is I^eap Ifear. February has 

 29 days, and begins and ends on Wednes- 

 day. Washington's birth-day comes on 

 Wednesday. Memorial Day falls on Wednes- 

 day. The Fourth of July is Wednesday. 

 Lent begins to-day— Wednesday, and every 

 Wednesday in the year the American Bee 

 Journal will be published, no matter 

 whether it is hot or cold, wet or dry, cloudy 

 or bright sunshine ! Wednesday is surely 

 the "lucky day" of this year of three- 

 eights (888). If it possesses any " enchant- 

 ment," it "augurs" well for the bees that 

 pass in and out comfortably through a three- 

 eighths inch (888) auger hole. Hurrah for 

 three-eights (888) and Wednesday I 



XIic Stark Co., O., Convention. 



I>etter Postage.- It has been pro- 

 posed in Congress to reduce letter postage 

 to one cent. The Post-office Committee of 

 the House has reported back adversely the 

 proposition. We do not want cheaper pos- 

 tage, but more efficient service, especially 

 in the country. Fourth-class postage miglit 

 be reduced (on parcels of merchandise), but 

 we can hardly liope for that, as it would 

 affect the higli-tariff of the express com- 

 panies. It you have any influence with 

 your Congressman, it will pay the reader to 

 use it to secure a rate of one cent for 3 

 ounces as postage for fourth-class matter. 



The Stark County Bee-Keepers' Society 

 met in Grange Hall "at Canton, O., on Feb. 

 4, 1888. The President, Jacob Oswalt, of 

 Maximo, being absent, W. S. Kline, of 

 Bolivar, was cliairman pro tern. Owing to 

 the very slippery condition of the roads and 

 streets, there was a small attendance, but 

 notwithstanding this fact a very pleasant 

 and profitable time was had. A committee, 

 consisting of Henry Beatty, of Massillon, 

 J. H. Smith and L. J. W^ise, of Canton, -.vera 

 appointed to wait on the Directors ot the 

 Stark County Agricultural Society, to ask 

 for a revision of the bee and honey pre- 

 mium list. After the questions from the 

 query-box were answered, tlie society ad- 

 journed to meet on Wednesday, April U, 

 1888. Mark Thomson, Sec. 



Prospects.— It is yet very hard to 

 prognosticate, but the indications point to 

 a good honey-season. Mr. C. H. Dibbern, 

 in the Plowman for February, says : 



At this time the prospects for a good 

 honey season are excellent. Snow has cov- 

 ered the ground all over the northern States 

 since early in December. It is true that, 

 owing to the drouth, clover is not abund- 

 ant, but what there is will likely be good. 

 Judging from present indications, all other 

 plants will be good also, so that the bee- 

 keeper may reasonably look for a good 

 honey harvest in 1S88. 



So far, bees that were well supplied with 

 honey, or sugar syrup, ted early enough, are 

 in good condition, whether wintered in cel- 

 lars or out-of-doors. Bees, however, are 

 not yet "out of the woods," by a good deal. 

 At the present time, January, the weather 

 is quite severe, and many a colony, not 

 properly provided or cared for, will "go to 

 the wall " before the gentle spring comes 

 again, with its sunshine and flowers. 



Wcw Catalogues for 1888 are on our 

 desk, from the following persons: 



Oliver Foster, Mount Vernon, Iowa — 13 

 pages— Bees, Honey and Supplies. 



J. M. Jenkins, Wetumpka, Ala.— 36 pages 

 — Bees, Honey and Supplies. 



J. C. Vaughn, 88 State St.* Chicago, Ills.— 

 80 pages— Garden, Flower and Vegetable 

 Seeds. 



BIrs. Stennett, a lady bee-keeper ot 

 Blanchard, Out., was thrown from a sleigh 

 and killed, on Sunday, Jan. 22, 1888, by a 

 runaway horse. Mr. S. was also thrown 

 out of the cutter, but escaped without much 

 injury. She was an estimable lady, and 

 was beloved by all who knew her. 



"Xlie Be«'-Keepers' Advance 



and Poultrymen's Journal " is now the title 

 of Bro. Mason's paper, published at Me- 

 chanic Falls, Maine. It commenced its 

 second year with the poultry addition. 



Xlie Canadian Honey Producer 



completes its first volume with the February 

 number, which is filled with the report ot 

 the Ontario Convention. 



Postage in Canada on fifth class 

 (parcel post) was reduced on the 1st inst. to 

 1 cent per ounce. The registration fee is 5c. 



