THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW, 



15 



of no method known at that time by which 

 we could hold the sheets straight and in the 

 center of the frames while the bees were 

 drawing out the cells. Quite a number of 

 other bee keepers had " no difficulty in get- 

 ting perfect combs " without the use of 

 wires (not then thought of) by simply hang- 

 ing the foundation from the top bars. We 

 couldn't do it, and for same very mysterious 

 reason no one claims nor tries to do it now. 

 It was likely all a question of what we con- 

 sidered " perfect " combs. But finally one 

 of our New York brothers (I think it was) 

 devised the use of wires to hold full sheets 

 in true position while the bees transformed 

 foundation into comb^, and then we were 

 all right — the use of full sheets saving the 

 bees so much expense and hard work would 

 add greatly to our annual profits. But, 

 somehow, it didn't add. We could plainly 

 feel the added expense, but we could not 

 count with any certainty on realizing the 

 added profit. 



From what we knew of the laws of evolu- 

 tion, we hatched up the theory as stated by 

 our editor in his leader in the November 

 Review. Still, for a long time, we could not 

 let go of our former devotion to full sheets, 

 and really, we have never used other than 

 full combs or full sheets of foundation, ex- 

 cept for experiment, up to the present time. 

 The reason is that we have always had one 

 or the other on hand, made several years 

 ago. We now have at least 125 sets of rever- 

 sible frames (eight to the set) filled complete 

 with full sheets of Given comb foundation, 

 made and pressed into the wires right in the 

 frames ; and, right here, in relation to age 

 deteriorating foundation, let me say that I 

 consider these frames of foundation worth 

 just as much as the day they were made, but 

 when I use them it will be in supers for the 

 extractor. Of course I would not use them 

 at all if I had not them on hand, for you 

 know I much prefer another style of frame 

 and super. For super use I consider these 

 frames of foundation practically frames of 

 comb. In forty-eight hours, at a time when 

 honey is coming in very slowly, at that, 

 when the time of the l)ees is of no special 

 value to me, these frames will be transform- 

 ed into perfectly straight, all worker combs. 

 But to return to the use of full sheets of 

 foundation for the brood chamber, upon 

 which to hive swarms, I am now in accord 

 with the theory put forward in your valuable 

 little book, " Production of Comb Honey." 



All who wish to get down to the bottom of 

 this subject, should carefully read that book. 

 I find your experiments unique and conclu-' 

 sive. The subject is a most important one, 

 as it aims directly at our dollar and cent 

 success. During all that time that 1 be- 

 lieved full sheets of foundation to be a wise 

 investment to place in brood chambers, in 

 which to hive swarms, I always did maintain, 

 and do still, that for use as guides, in the 

 brood frames, and sections as well, it is 

 worth |5.00 per lb. We couldn't do without 

 it, that is all. 



Just here I wish to say that when we aban- 

 don its use as a material, and retain it for a 

 guide, the narrower pieces we use the better. 

 The reason is obvious — the narrower the 

 piece the better it will stay in position while 

 the bees are at work upon it. I would rather 

 have a strip in my brood frames three or 

 four cells wide, than two or three inches 

 wide, at the same price. Well I have said 

 enough for one essayist, and will leave some 

 other points to be better said by others. 



I have just read what Dr. C. C. Miller says 

 about the Review reviewing. I am glad he 

 hit you. That is just what I contemplated 

 when I expected to start the Review, Make 

 the paper $1.00 or $5.00, but give us the 

 wheat separated from the chaff of all the 

 bundles and shooks of the entire preceeding 

 month. That is what I call a review. If 

 you will do this you will save me ten dollars 

 worth of labor every year. I could then 

 keep up with the times whether I took any 

 other bee journal or not. Yes, as Dr. Miller 

 says, you are a good reviewer, not only be- 

 cause you have the literary ability as the 

 Doctor intimates, but have proven yourself 

 a money making honey producer. That is 

 the main point, in my estimation, 



DowAGiAC, Mich., Dec. 4, 1890. 



Where the Review Circulates.— How Jour- 

 nals can Lead Their Readers.— 

 Impartial Editors. 



SAMUEL. CUSHMAN. 



IRIEND Hutchinson :— The Review re- 

 ceived and its contents read. I will 

 not say what I think of it ; I fear to do 

 so, thinking there may be a great deal of 

 truth in what you say in your explanations 

 on page 218 about " How a journal will im- 

 prove after you begin corresponding for it." 

 If my article appearing in it has had such 

 an effect upon my appreciation of its con- 



