ISO 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[April, 
fire or six combs, at least. To ascertain this point in 
the box-hive, turn it bottom up, -without jarring, some 
clear, cool morning, anil let the sun shine directly into 
the hive. If the stock is an old one, there is another 
point to be ascertained at this time ; see whether it con¬ 
tains foul brood—a disease to be described another time. 
It will show itself now by some of the breeding-cells, 
outside the cluster being sealed, and containing dead 
larvae. Never take such a stock, even as a gift. If it*is 
a movable-comb hive, it may be examined on a warm 
day. I forgot to say that it is well to be pro¬ 
tected with a veil over the face, and gathered 
around the throat, and use a little smoke to keep 
the bees quiet; lift out the combs, and examine 
one by one ; the bees will be a little more scattered on 
the combs than when cooler. One point more can be 
ascertained with movable combs ; that is, if a queen is 
present; all thrifty hives should now have brood in all 
stages, from the egg to the mature bee; the brood would 
indicate her presence without the trouble of finding her. 
If black bees, it might take some time. A half-dozen 
pounds of sealed honey—which must be guessed at— 
will be sufficient., if the spring is favorable ; the age of 
the combs, if anywhere under twelve years, should be no 
objection; if clean, and not much moldy, they will do. 
Bees may be moved this month with less danger of 
breaking combs than when heavier. The box-liive must 
be turned bottom up, and covered with wire-cloth; 
heavy factory-muslin will do for a short time, but they 
will bite through in two or three days, sometimes ; they 
should bo carried on springs. When changed to a new 
locality at this season, the distance should not be less 
than a mile. Let the apiary be protected from the pre¬ 
vailing winds, and the liivcs face east, south-east, or 
south, when possible, and conveniently near the dwell¬ 
ing, as it is well to look at them every day; especially 
until familiar with their movements. By observing 
closely when all is healthy, anything wrong is more 
readily detected. Better look at them fifty times for 
nothing, than fail to see a mischief just commenced. 
Bees can be moved in summer when kept out of the sun, 
and well, ventilated , when the distance is two miles or 
more. New swarms before flying out after being hived 
can be moved any distance from two feet to many miles. 
Try and become better acquainted with the pets every 
day; study their habits and disposition in health and 
disease, and means of pacifying them, until it is easy to 
go into their very midst without a supreme dread of 
stings. If they are in the box-hive, it will be necessary 
to transfer to the movable frames,'without any dread of 
stings to interfere. Get everything in readiness now; 
think what is needed, and have it at hand, just as if it 
were any mechanical operation which is perfectly famil¬ 
iar. We will try and describe the operation and hive 
next month. 
The Late Professor John Torrey. 
The Agriculturist goes to a large number of 
people who love our native plants; these are 
familiar with the name of Torrey, and know 
how much he has done in describing and nam¬ 
ing the plants of the whole country. Our paper 
is also read by the majority of medical men, not 
only in this country but wherever American 
physicians have found a home. These need not 
be told who Doctor Torrey was nor how large 
a share he had in the education of the most 
eminent medical men of the present day. Both 
these classes, those who have known him only 
by his works, and those who have been instruct¬ 
ed by him, will be glad to see the portrait 
which we place upon our first page. 
Doctor Torrey was long regarded as the 
“Father of American Botany,” and justly so, 
as his labors in his favorite pursuit extended 
over a period of more than fifty years. We 
have not space to enumerate his various works. 
Perhaps the best known are his “ Flora of Ihe 
State of New York,” in two large volumes, and 
the “ Flora of North America,” in which last 
Prof. Gray was a co-laborer. His more important 
and original work is to be found in the Smith¬ 
sonian Contributions, and in the various Gov¬ 
ernment Railroad and tither explorations. 
Botanically, Dr. Torrey is commemorated by 
a genus of fine evergreens related to Ihe Yew. 
The original species of Torreya was discovered 
in Florida, but others have since been found in 
California, Japan, and South America, and 
botanists of widely separated countries will, as 
long as their science endures, be reminded of 
one of its most devoted followers. The twigs 
of the Florida species of Torreya are appropri¬ 
ately used as a border to the portrait. 
Although he accomplished such a vast amount 
of botanical work, this was done purely for the 
love of the science, and outside of what were his 
regular occupations. During his career he was 
Professor of Chemistry at West Point, Professor 
of Chemistry and Botany at the N. Y. College 
of Physicians and Surgeons, Professor of Chem¬ 
istry at Princeton, and Chief Assayer at the 
United States Assay Office. His eminence as a 
chemist led to his selection for the last-named 
post, which he filled at the time of his death. 
He was often called into confidential consulta¬ 
tion by the U. S. Government, especially at the 
time when our national currency was first is- 
sued, and much of our security against counter¬ 
feits is due to his ingenious suggestions. 
Doctor Torrey died on March 10th, in the 
77th year of his age. In giving his portrait we 
are well aware how difficult it is to satisfactori¬ 
ly represent him in this manner. Those who 
knew him will think of him as they have seen 
Iris countenance lighted by benevolence, or 
bright with enthusiasm. The photographer can 
only make a map of the’face; the soul that il¬ 
lumines it is beyond the reach of the art. 
Were we to write all that we feel in regard to 
Doctor Torrey, we should say that which he, 
could he speak, would forbid. In brief, we never 
knew a truer friend nor a finer specimen of a 
Christian gentleman, not the least of whose use¬ 
ful examples was, that he whose heart is right 
need never grow old. At the age of nearly 80, 
Doctor Ton ey’s mind was as fresh and vigorous, 
and his affections were as warm, as they were in 
his younger days. 
The funeral services were held at the church 
of the Rev. Dr. Hastings, in 42d street, on the 
13th of last month. The church was filled by 
the friends of the deceased, and the services 
were most appropriate and impressive. The 
discourse of Dr. Hastings was a most elo- 
quent tribute to the value of the life that had 
departed, and in such perfect keeping with the 
occasion that we hope it may appear in print. 
A Trochar for Cattle-Men. 
In June of last year we gave illustrations of 
a Trochar and Cannula to be used in ringing a 
bull, and on page 13 (January) and page 
97 (March) of the current "olume have de¬ 
scribed the use of 
this apparatus in 
relieving lioven in 
cattle. These ar¬ 
ticles have brought 
out a large de¬ 
mand for trocliars, 
and failing to find 
just the right kind 
among the makers 
of surgical imple¬ 
ments, we have induced an establishment to un¬ 
dertake their manufacture. We give our engrav¬ 
ing of last year with the trochar modified and 
improved as to the point. These articles are 
now in the trade, and may be had of most 
dealers in agricultural implements. Those who 
can not get them from dealers can receive them 
from this office, post-paid, for $1. 
Small Breed of Pigs. —A correspondent of 
the American Agriculturist in Southern Illinois, 
wishes information in regard to the Essex and 
other small breeds of pigs. He will find the 
matter very fully and very fairly discussed in 
“ Harris on the Pig.” All that we have space 
to say at present is that this term “ small breed ” 
has no fixed and definite meaning. The Essex 
are classed as a Small Breed, and yet Mr. Harris 
told us recently that he had just killed a thor¬ 
ough-bred Essex that dressed 575 lbs. 
The truth of the matter is, that a breed of 
pigs can be made “small,” “medium” os 
- large,’’just as a skillful breeder may determine. 
The Essex are usually a small breed. They are 
distinguished for fineness of bone, smallness of 
offal, early maturity, and fattening qualities. 
There is probably less offal in a well-bred and 
well-fed Essex, than in any other breed of pigs. 
They are also remarkably quiet and gentle, and 
are consequently “easy keepers." We can 
safely recommend them for crossing with the 
larger and coarser breeds. 
Soiling Crop for Dry Hot Summers. 
Mr. J. A. Anderson, of Shelby Co., Tenu., 
communicates to “ Ogden Farm ” the following 
on the question of soiling. The complaint hav¬ 
ing been made that the great need in this indus¬ 
try is a good crop for dry hot weather, Mr. 
Anderson is convinced that the southern “ Cow- 
pea” is exactly what is wanted, and that his ex¬ 
perience with it at the South lias been sufficient 
to make it safe for him to recommend it for 
Northern use. The hay made from it he con¬ 
siders better than any other that he knows. 
Most of the varieties of this pea would not fully 
mature in the short summers of the North, but 
the majority of them would become sufficiently- 
developed to make good soiling crops, or for 
hay. The seed is sown at the rate of from two 
to three bushels per acre, and while still in 
bloom, but when the most advanced pods are 
about half-filled, it may be mown with a machine 
and cured with about the same treatment that 
is given to clover. Being cut at that early stage 
of its growth, the rich substances contained In 
the leaves and stem are arrested there, and every 
hay-eating animal relishes it apparently better 
than any other sort of winter fodder. And for 
green soiling, it may be allowed to grow until 
there is danger of frost (the least frost kills it). 
It will then be eaten freely, even though it may 
have become fully matured, though, of course, 
when cut at this ripe stage, the haulm is lesa 
nutritious than when cut in its green condition. 
Mr. Anderson considers these pea-vines 
TROCHAR AND CANNULA. 
doubly ns valuable as green-corn fodder for 
making butter, and states that they will flourish 
in a drouth that will wither and destroy late- 
sown corn. There are thirty or forty varieties 
of this pea, some of which could not. be advan¬ 
tageously grown at the North. Those called 
the “Speckle” and the “ Whip-poor-will,” of 
which the seed can readily be obtained from 
