200 MANUAL 01' THE APIARY. 



At first sight this seems an improved copy of Mr. Quinby's 

 smoker, and so I first thought, though I only saw it in Mr. 

 Bingham's hand at a Convention. I have since used it, 

 examined it in every part, and have to say that it is not a 

 Quinby smoker. The bellows, the valve, the cut-ofi', and even 

 the form, are all peculiar. The special point to be commended, 

 and, I suppose, the only one patentable, is the cut-ofi' between 

 the bellows and fire-tube, so that the fire seldom goes out, 

 while even hard-wood, as suggested by the inventor, forms an 

 excellent and ever-ready fuel. The valve for the entrance of 

 air to the bellows, permits rapid work, the spring is of the 

 best clock-spring material, the leather perfect, not split sheep- 

 skin, while the whole construction of the bellows, and the 

 plan of the fire-screen and cut-oif draft, show much thpugbt 

 and ingenuity. I am thus full in this description, that I may 

 not only benefit my readers, all of whom will want a smoker, 

 but also out of gratitude to Mr. Bingham, who has conferred 

 such a favor on American apiarists. There are three sizes, 

 which may be bought for $1.00, $1.5d and $1.75, respectively, 

 including postage. 



Mr. Bingham, to protect himself, and preserve the quality 

 of his invention, has procured a patent. This, provided he 

 lias only patented his own invention, is certainly his right, 

 wliioh I think honesty requires us all to respect. Like Mr. 

 Langstroth, he has given us a valuable instrument ; let us see 

 that he is not defrauded out of the justly earned reward for 

 his invention. 



Brother apiarists, let us cease this unjust clamor against 

 patents and patentees. If a man procures a patent on a 

 worthless thing, let him alone, and where is the damage ? If 

 a man procures a patent on a valuable and desirable invention, 

 then buy it, or pay for the right to make it, and thus keep the 

 Eighth and Tenth Commandments (Exodus, 20th chap., 8th 

 and 1 0th verses). Let us never buy an article unless we 

 know it is valuable and desirable for us, no matter how 

 stoutly importuned ; but for honesty's sake, and that we may 

 encourage more inventions, let us respect a man's patent as 

 we would any other property. If we are in doubt as to the 

 correctness of some person's claim, let us not be forced to 

 pay a bonus, but first write to some candid editor or other 

 authority, and if we find a man has a right to the article, then 



