AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
[December, 
of bees in box hives, and in the old way securing little 
or no profit. This is the class I desire more particularly 
to influence. One of the earliest lessons I received was, 
that whatever it paid to do at all, it paid to do well. If 
it pays at all to keep bees in the manner alluded to, it 
certainly must pay much better to keep them after an 
improved method. 
It is not true that all can keep bees successfully, but 
only such should undertake it as are by nature adapted 
to it, and will give it the same thorough continued appli¬ 
cation that is required to make any branch of business 
profitable. If one desires to understand how to com¬ 
mence rightly, and to become familiar with what is re¬ 
quired to conduct bee-keeping satisfactorily, secure some 
practical work on the subject which does not represent 
either class of extremists just mentioned; begin moder¬ 
ately, and grow into the business as experience increases. 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 
Uniting Bees.— “I could get bees from those who 
brimstone them, by merely paying for extra trouble, but 
cannot ascertain whether it would be advisable to unite 
such bees with one’s own, or how it should be done.”—I 
would advise securing all such bees rather than see them 
destroyed. There is an advantage in having stocks very 
populous during winter. They may be safely united by 
smoking all thoroughly. 
Size of Opening.— ‘‘Will you please state in the 
American Agriculturist the proper sized opening to a 
hive, to be used in connection with a swarm catcher, one 
that will allow free ingress and egress to the worker 
bees, and at the same time prevent the possible escape 
of a laying queen?”—An entrance V 32 an inch will 
accomplish this, but it is seldom or never desirable, to use 
so small an entrance. The workers are too much hindered 
by it. Swarms may be prevented from leaving in the 
owner’s absence, by clipping off one wing of the queen, 
and removing all queen cells once in eight days. It is 
far better to control the desire to swarm, which may 
usually be done by making moderate artificial increase. 
Comb Foundation.—” What kind of comb foundation 
shall we use in boxes?”—I find that the lightest grades 
of foundation now made, are not best for boxes. Me¬ 
dium weight is preferable. 
Seeding to Grass with Buckwheat.— “S. 
A. S.,” New Haven Co., Conn., writes: “In the Novem¬ 
ber No. of the American Agriculturist, under ‘ Grass 
Seed Sowing,’ it is stated that grass will not probably do 
well with buckwheat if this makes a good stand. I have 
tried it, and with good success ; the land was old, run 
out meadow, that is, cold, heavy, wettish land, than 
could not be plowed until the last of May and first of 
June. The last of June I harrowed it thoroughly, and 
Bowed very evenly one-half bushel of buckwheat to the 
acre, and four hundred pounds of ground bone to the 
acre, and harrowed, or rather double harrowed both in. 
With this was sowed one-fourth bushel of timothy seed 
to the acre, bushed in, and finished it by rolling. lean 
not imagine how, on that wet land I could have had a 
better stand of grass than I did, unless with turnips, as 
suggested, which method I think stands ahead of all 
others I ever tried. Heretofore I have sown the same lot 
to buckwheat, using one and one-fourth bushel of seed 
to the acre, and harvesting from 60 to 80 bushels from 
the lot. The reason I sowed the buckwheat so thin was 
simply to shade the grass from the burning July and Au¬ 
gust sun. I had no expectation of a crop of buckwheat 
to harvest. If I ever sow another lot of buckwheat, I 
shall not sow over one-half bushel to the acre. I would 
as soon seed to grass on land plowed only once from 
turf with buckwheat, as anything for June sowing. The 
land should be plowed one mouth before sowing, and 
thoroughly worked down with the harrow before seeding 
it. After the buckwheat comes off, top-dress the land 
with some fine manure or fertilizers.” 
Will Hungarian Grass Founder a 
Horse ?—“O. A.,” Califon, N. J. We have stated it 
very often, but it does not seem to be remembered, that 
Hungarian grass, if cut early, may be fed like other hay. 
If allowed to stand until the bristles around the seeds 
get hard, it will then be unsafe to feed it to horses. 
The value and the safety both depend upon the condi¬ 
tion of the grass at the time of of cutting. 
Annatto.— “ G. T. T.” asks how to spell the name, 
and what the article is that is used for coloring cheese 
and butter. The spelling above given is that usually 
followed in this country, though we sometimes see it 
with a single n or t. In England it is usually written 
Arnotto or Arnatto. The article itself is the pulp which 
surrounds the seeds of a South American shrub (Bixa 
Orellana). The seeds are thrown into water, and when 
fermentation takes place their thin covering of pulp 
separates; when the water is evaporated, the Annatto is 
obtained as a stiff reddish brownish red paste, which 
is packed in baskets for exportation. It is of a dark 
red color, and is used sometimes in domestic dyeing of 
cotton cloth. In South America the roots of the shrub 
are used in broth, and the paste itself is mixed with 
chocolate to bolh color and flavor it. Its chief use is to 
color butter and cheese, and it has for this use one merit 
—it is perfectly harmless. Though the quantity used by 
a single dairy is comparatively small, the aggregate con¬ 
sumed is very large. One of our advertisers, L. E. Ran¬ 
som, is the largest importer of Annatto in New York, 
and there are several other importing houses. 
Pearls in Common Oysters.— It is well known 
that the real pearl is caused by some foreign substance, 
such as a grain of sand, which has found its way within 
the shell of the pearl oyster. The animal being unable to 
get rid of this, covers it with the material with which the 
shell is lined. The interior of the Pearl Oyster and the 
fresh water Mussel ( Unio ), is bright and “pearly,” and 
the pearls found in them have a similar appearance. 
The lining of the common oyster is dead white, like 
white chinaware. That often produces pearls, but they 
are always like the interior of the shell. A correspondent 
in Maryland sent, not long ago, several small pearls from 
the common oyster, with the request that we would sell 
them for him. Such pearls have no value whatever, as 
they are entirely without lustre. All that can be done 
with these oyster pearls is to keep them as curiosities. 
Personal Questions.—" C. C. S.,” Philadelphia, 
asks us to tell him in the December number where he 
“ can get a situation on a farm.” It is necessary to say 
from time to time that we do not answer such questions 
in the “Basket.” Unless an answer to a question will be 
of interest to a number besides the one who asks, it is 
not given here. All purely personal questions, if it is 
possible to reply at all, are answered by mail. 
Vegetable, Farm and Flower Seeds, 
FERTILIZERS & GARDEN REQUISITES, 
| At Retail and Wholesale, sent to any part of the 
United States. 
Catalogues mailed FREE to any address. 
WM. H. CARSON, 
125 Chambers Street, New York. 
LARGEST AND FINEST 
COLLECTION OF 
CLYDESDALE 
DRAFT HORSES 
Ever seen on the American Continent. Also, 
HAMBLETONIANS, 
And other strains of TROTTING HOUSES, Holstein and 
Devon Cattle. Catalogues sent free. Address, 
POWELL BROS.. Springboro, Crawford Co., Pa. 
Send 
SCROLL SAW DESIGNS. 
1 for New Catalogue. L. H. Russell, Stratford, Ct. 
INVENTORS HaSMfe 
CURIOSITIES.; 
0 cents. S. C. THOMPSON, 
Small Box of Sea Shells 
sent to any address for 
Jr., South Haven, Ct. 
Asparagus—New Variety. 
Smalley’s Extra Early Defiance; 2 weeks earlier than 
Colossal, a larger, softer grass; far superior to all other 
varieties. One acre will produce more grass with the same 
treatment than 2 acres of Colossal. It is the best Asparagus 
grown, either for private use or for market. Two-year-old 
plants, $5 per 100,530 per 1,000; seed, $12 per lb. Address, 
A. SMALLEY, Bound Brook, Box 99, N. J. 
The Oldest Bee Paper in America—Established in 18C1- 
AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL, 
Devoted to Scientific Bee-Culture, and the Production ana 
Sale of Pure Honey. $1.50 a year in advance. 
Send for sample. THOMAS G. NEWMAN, 
974 West Madison Street, Chicago, Ill. 
Cards.—5 gold chromo, 5 silver chromo, 
vr ;.T.n .v 5 jj ora j chromo, 5 floral motto, with 
name, 10c; 6 packs, 50c. Royal Card Co., Northford, Conn. 
1 DOZEN ELEGANT CHROMO BUSINESS 
CARDS, artistic designs, assorted, for 5c. Sent post 
free on receipt of price in stamps. Address W. JENNINGS 
DEMOREST, or MMK. DEMO REST, 17 East 14th St., N. Y. 
VE El LIMA FARMS! A11 sizes and prices, for Sale, 
imuiiu a rAiuus. write for Catalogue, free. 
H. Ii. STAPLES & CO., Richmond, Va, 
DO 111 OWN PRINTING. 
Presses and outfits from $S to $500. Over 2,000 styles of 
type. Catalogue and reduced price list free. 
H. HOOVER, PHILADELPHIA. PA. 
Best Holiday Gift l 
Friends! here’s comfort. Wife 
says she 
must have a 
couple of 
Common-. 
Sense Rock¬ 
ers. We all 
want this 
one. 
IS'-Spe- 
cial dis¬ 
count to 
clergymen. 
Send 
stamp for _ 
catalogue to 
F. A. SINCLAIR, 
Mottville, N. Y. 
Oldest and Largest Photo-Copying and Portrait 
House in America. Every Agent 111 this business should 
send for our New Price Lists. We have something new 
at very low prices. 10 first-class Artists wanted. 
TEN EYCK & CO., Auburn, N, Y., or 
56 Washington St„ Chicago, Ills. 
SCROLL SAWYER. 
This Three-Shelf Bracket Design, Bize 13x21. 
and over 300 miniature designs for Scroll 
Sawing, sent post-paid on receipt of 10 cts. 
and the names and addresses in full of two 
active scroll-sawyers. Price of pattern 
alone, 15 cts. Or send two stamps for Illus. 
Catalogue of scroll saw goods. I ofler In¬ 
ducements to purchasers made by no other 
house. Liberal discounts to the trade. 
State where you saw advertisement. 
A. H. POMEROY, 
Hartford, Conn. 
CHROMO CARDS, 10 cts.; no two alike, with 
name, post-paid; stamps taken. Best ever sold, or 
"""TED,"' ” ” 
, Nassau, N. Y. 
nmney refunded. 'J. IS. HUS' 
Jg A All Gold, Silver, Shell, Motto, and Floral Chromo 
») IF Cards in beautiful colors with name 10c. Agents 
Sample Book, 25c. Star Printing Co., Northford, Conn. 
Gold Chromo. Motto. Horseshoe, Scrolls, 
etc., Cards, with name, in Case, 10c., or 25 Acquaint¬ 
ance Cards, 10c. E. H. PARDEE, Fairhaven, Conn. 
Chromo, Gold-Border, Motto, etc. Cards with name 
and Morocco Case, 10c. 
H. M. COOK, Meriden, Ct. 
Kt A Finest Chromo, Gilt and Colored, Scroti 
Cards ever sold, only lOc^^Agents’^Samples. lOe. 
G. A. SPI 
20 
Northford, Ct. 
GOLD AND SILVER CIIROMO C ARDS, 
with name, 10 c., postpaid. 
G. I. REED & CO., Nassau, N. Y. 
AlHlttlPB* 1V(PW Kltlfp _MAHER & Oil OSH, Cut 
iillUIUCl MW RI1I1C. lers, Toledo, Ohio, will send 
knife like cut, post-paid, for 75c.; Blades are made for keen, 
clean cutting; handle has no corners.—" Of the 
24 knives received from you all have given satis¬ 
faction.” D. E. Cully, Dalton, O.— " The knife 1 
bought of you is the best I 
ever had." J. F. Lyman, 
Kellogg, Iowa. — “ Your 
goods when usedprovewhat 
you say about them." R. B. 
Rollin, Tawas City,Midi.— 
The above are samples of 
letters received by 11 s every 
day. If our goods were not 
good, we would not be al¬ 
lowed to advertise them 
_ 5 __ here. Will you not help us 
bv your patronage ? Can send you good 1-blade, 25c.; extra strong, 50c.; medium 2-blade, 50c.; extra strong 2-blade, made 
for hard service, (see cut in Oct. NoT), 75c. Our Best 2-blade, oil temper, $1. Ladies’ 1-blade, 25 c.; 2-blade, >Oc. Bruners* 
oil temper, and every blade tested. $ 1 . Budders, 65c. Hunting Knife, $1. Illustrated List Iree. Discount to dealers. 
tW Sample 6-inch, hand-l'orged Butcher Kuil'e, post-paid, 50c. 
