176 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[May, 
Tlie Currant Fruit Worm.— " G. S.,” Oak¬ 
ville, Out. The insect figured in Marcii last is no doubt 
the same as the one you have found so destructive to 
‘■the wild gooseberries in the backwoods of Canada.” 
There are many cases in which insects heretofore known 
only on wild plants have become, by the advance of set¬ 
tlements, introduced to cultivated plants, and there, meet¬ 
ing with an abundant supply of food, have increased with 
such rapidity as to bring them into notice. Should your 
insect that so generally injures the fruit of the wild 
gooseberry, prove to be different from the one figured,we 
shall be glad to know it and to receive specimens. 
A Good Garden Reel.— It very rarely happens 
that we state a want but some reader kindly supplies it. 
When in the “ Notes About Work,” in the Kitchen and 
Market Garden, we mentioned the general frailty and 
worthlessness of the garden reels offered for sale, we felt 
sure that it would bring out 
some suggestions for making 
a better one. Very promptly 
there comes I?. Foster, Cuya¬ 
hoga Co., Ohio, whose experi¬ 
ence with boughten reels has 
been like our own, with a 
drawing of a reel made by him¬ 
self, which is here engraved. 
The reel is of wood, with 
tin iron spindle. To make 
the wooden or spool portion. 
the central shaft is worked with a shave, or, better turned 
in a lathe from a piece of wood 9 inches long; the end 
pieces, 6 inches in diameter, are of inch board, and firm¬ 
ly fastened to each end of the shaft. The central iron is 
two feet long and of % iron ; this, as shown at one side, 
has a head at the top, and 11 inches from this end has a 
thread cut and furnished with a nut; a hole of the proper 
size is bored through the reel to receive this iron, and 
the nut is put on to hold it in place. The lower end of 
this iron is pointed, to enter the ground easily, and a 
sharp-pointed pin, with an eye, is provided for the other 
end of the line. Mr. F. says that a reel.of this size will 
hold 300 feet of ordinary garden line, and having a broad 
surface to push upon, is easily pressed into hard ground. 
When sufficient line has been run out, it is stopped by 
taking a few turns around the iron rod. 
Premiums at Fairs. -In a large number of 
cases it is not the money value of the premium that grati¬ 
fies the recipient; it is the fact that a premium was given 
at all. Now thatFair schedules are being—or should be— 
considered, and published, we would suggest to those 
having the matter in charge, that a number of societies 
offer as premiums a year’s subscription to the American 
Agriculturist , and also Agricultural and Rural Books , and 
that those which have done this in a small way at first, 
have found it so satisfactory that they have added to the 
number of premiums of this kind and that this custom is 
increasing. Such premiums do vastly more to promote 
the objects of the society than mere money prizes. Aside 
from the fact that one can not fail to be greatly benefited 
by the teachings of the American Agriculturist, its regu¬ 
lar coming once a month, is a frequent reminder of the 
Society and its Fair, and thus the interest of the recipient’ 
of the prize in the fair at which it was given, is kept alive 
the whole year. The case is similar with well chosen 
books, which will be frequently consulted. If the officers 
who have yet to arrange their premium lists will think of 
this matter, they will see that they can in no other way 
make the money at their disposal go so far, and at the 
same time do so much good, as to award a large share of 
it in the manner here suggested. In arranging the pre¬ 
miums it should not be forgotten that the household as 
well as the farm proper is to be thought of. There is 
hardly a house keeper who would not prefer to have the 
dollar or two awarded for the best bread or other house¬ 
hold achievement, in the form of one of Miss Corson’s 
works on cookery, or in some other similarly useful 
work on household matters. The Publishers are ready to 
make special terms for the American Agriculturiti or 
for books to be used for premiums. 
Wliltnian’s Fountain Pump.— As a portable 
apparatus for throwing water by hand the Fountain 
Pump combines many excellencies. It is remarkably 
compact, neat, and ingenious in construction, and so 
simple that it can hardly get out of order. It is worked 
with great ease, and for the size, throws a large quantity 
of water or other liquid For all horticultural purposes, 
not only for watering, but for applying various washes 
and insect poisons to plants and trees, whether in-doors 
or out, it has become a standard article, as we find it in 
the catalogues of the leading dealers of the councry. As 
a fire extinguisher, ready for use in an emergency, and 
enabling one to place water where it is needed, it has 
proved its efficiency on several occasions. An acquaint¬ 
ance of several years with the Fountain Pump—for¬ 
tunately for every other use than the last mentioned— 
allows us to speak of it in terms of commendation. 
Barracks for Hay.- “R. W.*W.,” Nashville, 
Tenn. Barracks for hay or grain may be built very 
cheaply. A plan was given in the American Agricultur¬ 
ist for July, 1S78. A cheaper method is to use four poles 
set in the ground, make a roof of lighter poles, and cov¬ 
er it with thatch. This might cost only $5, or even less. 
Basket Items continued on page 199. 
Bee Notes for May. 
BY L. C. ROOT, MOHAWK, N. Y. 
In the preparation of these “Notes,” I endeavor to 
make them very simple and practical. It is, however, 
difficult for those who have had long experience in 
any particular pursuit, to realize that its details are not 
as familiar to all others, as to them¬ 
selves ; and I may sometimes omit 
some minor points,or fail to be minute 
enough in my directions to meet the 
wants of all. Hence, I shall be glad to 
reply to any questions on omitted 
points that may be addressed to me. 
There are thousands of people 
who might, if so disposed, secure the 
honey that is wasting at their doors, 
by keeping a colony or two of bees, 
and I would show how this may be 
done with little expense. It is, of 
course, impossible within the limits 
here allowed, to give more than the 
most simple directions. Every person 
who proposes to keep even a single 
swarm of bees, should have a good 
practical work on the subject. Bee- 
This will obviate the danger of the frames being filled 
with drone-comb by the bees. I had hoped to give a full 
description of this new invention of Artificial Comb Foun¬ 
dation, and the manner in which it is prepared, but cir¬ 
cumstances have prevented. I will simply say that, it is 
constructed from the wax made from waste pieces of 
comb. The wax is formed into thin sheets, and passed 
between rollers which give it the exact form of the base 
of worker combs with starters— i. e., the side wallsof the 
cells already started by a slight ridge of wax. Fig. 1 shows 
the machine for making comb foundation, and fig. 2, a 
card of it, fastened in the frame. Its advantages are 
many, the principal one being the ability to secure 
straight and perfect worker combs. 
Instead of using boxes, many will desire to secure 
their surplus honey in a liquid form, using for the pur¬ 
pose the honey extractor, with which the honey may be 
thrown from the combs, alter which these may be re¬ 
turned to the hives for refilling. Directions for extracting 
will be found in the American Agriculturist , for June, 
1870. These comb foundations will be found useful in 
filling extra frames for this purpose. 
STANDS AND ROOFS. 
It is best that the stands for bees should be near the 
ground, and in a place as much sheltered from the wind 
Fig. 1.— MACHINE FOB MAKING FOUNDATION. 
keeping is no longer a question of “ luck.” but is an art 
governed by fixed rules, and must be studied as such, to 
be successful. In February and April, I have endeavored 
to make clear the requisites as regards hives and box¬ 
es, and to give minute directions for preparing them. 
PURCHASING BEES. 
The next point is, to secure the bees with which to 
commence. The present month is unquestionably the 
best time in northern latitudes to purchase bees. It is 
my custom to buy just before apple blossoms appear, and 
move the hives at once; if they are to be transferred 
from box-hives to movable frame hives, this is the time 
to do it. For many reasons it would be better for 
most beginners to procure their bees already in movable 
comb hives, and in proper condition to take advantage of 
the flow of honey which will soon follow. If the buyer 
has had sufficient practice, or has familiarized himself 
with the necessary process, transferring the bees from 
box-hives to those with movable frames may be done 
according to directions given in the American Agncul- 
for May, 1876. 
MOVING BEES. 
If bees are to be moved but a short distance, and in the 
cool part of the day, pieces of sleazy muslin, or any thin 
cloth may be used to confine them. Turn the hive bot¬ 
tom up, and tack 
the cloth over, 
folding it firmly 
at each comer. 
If they-are to 
be moved longer 
distances, wire- 
cloth must be 
used instead. If 
the weather is 
very warm, the 
2.— FRAME OF COMB FOUNDATION. 
wire-cloth should be bulged in such a manner that 
the bees may come above the combs and receive 
more air. Do not think you cannot keep bees, because 
you cannot buy them in your immediate vicinity. I have 
successfully moved hives for 50 miles in an ordinary 
spring wagon, and hundreds of miles by rail in a com¬ 
mon freight car. A year or two ago I shipped a colony 
from my apiary to Santa Fe. New Mexico. The last 400 
miles, or more, it was carried on a freight wagon, and 
yet it arrived in perfect condition. 
COMB FOUNDATION. 
If bees are to he transferred from box hives to mova¬ 
ble frames, and all drone comb rejected (as it should be), 
there will not be worker comb enough to fill all the 
frames. Such deficiencies should he supplied by placing 
Sheets of Worker-comb Foundation in the empty frames, 
as the surroundings will permit. For a stand, I prefer 
two pieces of 4X4 scantling, laid directly upon the 
ground, and the hive set upon them. While this is the 
most desirable situation, bees may be kept, if circum¬ 
stances require, in any attic or out-building by arranging 
a proper entrance to the hive. Or, as is often practised 
in cities or large towns, they may be placed upon the 
roof of a building. Each hive should have a good roof 
to protect it from the weather, unless when set under 
shelter as above mentioned. A good illustration of a 
suitable roof may be found in the Notes for January, 1877. 
The Corn Crop—Fertilizers. 
May is the great planting month in much the 
largest portion of the chief corn-growing regions. 
At the South, the work is mainly over; in the 
Northern border States and British Territories, a 
good deal of planting will be done in June. We 
give considerable space in the present paper to this 
particular crop, which is one of the important agri¬ 
cultural products of our country, and particularly 
to the questions of fertilizers.—On pages 183-4 are 
some notes from recent analyses. A careful study 
and comparison of the figures will supply curious 
and interesting, as well as somewhat instructive, 
suggestions as to the relative feeding values of dif¬ 
ferent varieties of corn. 
Within a few years a greatly increased interest 
has sprung up in some of the older States, and es¬ 
pecially in New England, in regard to the corn 
crop; and the tendency now is to a belief that, 
taking into account freight fr6m the West, the in¬ 
troduction of improved fertilizers, the condition of 
the soil, and the relative values and yields of other 
crops, Eastern farmers can compete with Western 
farmers better in raising corn than in any other 
leading crop. It is argued, that by the judicious 
use of the right fertilizers, the yield per acre is so 
increased at a moderate cost for the fertilizers, that 
in many, if not in most cases, the Eastern farmer 
can now raise, and put in his own bin. a bushel of 
com cheaper than he can buy it from the West, 
after paying freight and other charges. 
CORN FERTIUIZERS—WHAT EXPERIMENTERS SAT. 
Last year we proposed a series of definite experi¬ 
ments with fertilizers, somewhat like those of this 
year. These were tried on com by numerous card- 
