MOOBE’S  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
llatvous  of  |)usl)anl)r^. 
THE  LEGITIMATE  MISSION  OF  THE 
ORANGE. 
Onk  of  the  IjGBt  oxhiLitH  of  tlie  true  misHion  of  '  , 
ho  Graugo  which  vro  have  seen  in  some  tune,  j 
appeared  in  tlie  Soutliern  Plantation  for  May,  , 
evidently  written  by  Boino  good  I’atron,  who  , 
takoM  a  broad  and  coinprcheiiBive  view  of  the 
Hubject,  Ho  say» : 
Inasinnch  an  I  ace  sotno  of  oiu"  good  Patrotin, 
inclined  to  wander,  or  an  I  think  over-reach  the 
domandH  of  our  Order,  I  fool  diaiwsed  to  enter 
iny  feeble  ))rotOHt.  Wliile  1  fully  apjjreciate  onr 
BuceoBS  as  an  organisation,  and  participate  in 
their  pride  of  tlie  rcBuIlB,  I  regard  onr  great  aim 
not  yef  attained,  the  war  not  ended.  Succeafl  is 
«;)t  to  iiiHphc  conlideneo  and  often  causes  us  to 
undoj'valuo  the  Hti  ongth  of  our  eneiuios. 
There  is  a  general  desire  in  the  minds  of  our 
PfitJ'ona  to  constantly  increase  our  numbers  and 
I  participate  in  Ibis  desire,  provided  ahvays,  this 
i  jerease  is  from  the  ranks  of  liio  fanners,  for 
whoso  interest  i)rimarily,  the  Grange  movement 
was  llrst  made.  I  cannot  concolvo  the  prohabilty 
of  a  ])racticing  lawyer,  politician,  hanker,  money 
lender,  note  shaver  and  men  of  such  him  occu¬ 
pations  making  good  Patrons  of  Husbaiidi’y,  hut 
tlie  Grange  can  make  bettor  men  in  those  various 
piu'suits.  The  Grange  has  no  fight  t<.>  make  with 
any  of  theindusti'ies  of  ow  country.  Our  object 
is  ^st  to  place  the  farmer  in  a  prospiu-ous,  inde¬ 
pendent  iioHition,  conlroling  the  juoduct  of  his 
labor,  tlion  wo  will  prosout  a  sound  rernunerativc 
set  of  patterns  to  all  the  other  iadu.Htiios  of  our 
land,  and  in  order  to  do  BO,  we  must  not  divide 
onr  time,  energies  and  intt^UeCt  or  diverrufy  our 
pursuits  too  iimeh.  Wo  may  divide  our  fields, 
diversify  oiu'  eroiis  as  we  should  do,  but  Jet  ns 
conoontrato  the  most  of  our  energies  and  intel- 
loets  n))on  our  farms.  Many  of  our  members 
want  to  ho  idcntifie.l  with  life  iuBiu-auee;  the 
only  Insnrancol  defliro  is,  to  umnre  the  deireud- 
ent  families  of  poor  dccoasod  Grangers  from 
want,  I  will  Hubinlt  to  a  tax  unminlly,  as  a  charity 
fund  to  aid  the  bereaved  families  of  deceasiM  j 
Patrons  of  my  Orange,  but  am  opisjsed  to 
Gningo  Life  Insurances,  such  as  wo  sec  around 
us  in  tho  laud.  Gibers  arc  lor  banking,  I  am  of 
opinion  that  banking  on  borrowed  capital  as  we 
Avonld  be  forced  to  do,  would  certainly  and 
speedily  bankrupt  tbo  bankers  or  tbo  patrons  ol 
the  bank. 
X  desire  our  fanners  to  be  so  situated  as  to  be 
their  own  hnuhrnt,  investing  their  money  as  tho 
comfort  of  thoh  family  or  tho  rctinirements  of 
their  farm,  may  demaud.  Others  are  advocating 
Grange  sloroB.  1  think  there  are  loo  many  iner 
chants  already,  andl  am  of  tho  opinion  that  dry¬ 
goods  are  as  cheap  as  wo  should  demand,  and 
from  wliat  I  see,  there  is  not  much  money  made 
on  moat  at  this  time ;  this  cannot  l)0  viKited 
upon  our  grocers.  We  must  go  to  the  West  to 
liroperly  analyze  the  oause.  So  it  seems  that  a 
good  cause  exists  why  the  Grange  should  not 
]iull  out  of  the  course  blazed  out  for  us  in  onr 
ritual ;  the  piaramount  object  sliould  be  lo  vital¬ 
ize  and  energize  the  great  motive  power  of  all 
tho  industries  of  the  country,  agriculture.  We 
should  strive  hi  produce  at  least  iirulitable  e.s.- 
peiiso,  and  procure  all  WO  can  for  onr  produej, 
tiouH. 
We  should  recollect  the  cheapening  of  goods  is 
a  small  advance  towards  tho  proBpority  of  a 
country  and  I  doulit  its  being  any  evidence  <.if 
jirospority,  at  all  events  nnloss  you  employ  in 
some  way  the  jioor  of  our  eonutry,  they  will  not 
be  able  to  buy.  even  at  reduced  prices.  Let  us 
look  beyond  our  own  borne  and  firesides  and  in¬ 
vest  our  money  so  as  to  make  our  pnidncUons 
more  valuable  and  enable  tlie  liouc.st  jioor  and 
desiituto  women  and  children  of  our  counti-y',  to 
he  what  they  should  he,  respectable  produem-s, 
iustead  of  the  idle  consumers  they  now  are,  Tho 
boys  roving  through  the  ooimtry  uucouti-ollod, 
nnaalvisod  and  ahuo.st  uimiiiidl'ul  of  the  Holy 
Sabbath,  willing  subjeels  of  the  most  pernicious, 
the  vilest  habits  taught  tlicm  by  llieir  older  and 
6  ill  more  degraded  companions,  while  tlio  ghls 
almost  from  necessity,  being  homeless  and  poni- 
less  and  unaided,  and  often  tlio  subjects  of  liabits 
even  more  damning  in  their  results,  while  tlio 
wretched  mother,  sorely  prosHcd  by  biinger, 
whose  heart  has  been  petrified  by  tho  ceaseless 
and  useless  crios  of  her  iimoceiit  infant  for 
bread,  until  she  becomes  the  willhig  recipient  of 
the  occuTBod  frnit  of  vagrancy  and  prostitution. 
Ai-e  we  not  called  upon  to  stay  this  mighty  tide, 
which  is  so  rapidly  tending  to  national  imbeciUty 
and  personal  degradation  ? 
Lot  us  build  factories  and  thereby  increase  tlio 
demand  for  our  productions  as  well  as  double 
their  value.  Wo  can  tlieu  employ  those  desti¬ 
tute  womou  and  ohildrcn  ns  operatives,  inspire 
them  witli  pride  and  emulation  and  make  them, 
as  we  can,  useful  and  profitable  pi  jduoers,  no 
longer  hanging  like  an  incubus  upon  us  for  their 
support  and  their  habits  and  intiucnce,  like  the 
pestilential  sirocco,  poisioning  all  around  them. 
How  often  have  om'  bOBOinB  been  made  to  heave  j 
and  our  hearts  to  thrill  with  pleasure  from  the 
eloquence  of  men  born  in  obscurity  and  taking 
their  first  leasoiiB  in  the  workshops  or  tlio  field. 
Labor  is  honorable  aud  labor  is  bnt  to  carry  out 
tbo  injunction  to  man  by  bis  Creator  and  that 
too,  before  the  bliting  mildew  of  sin  biwl  fallen 
upon  him.  Siioce-ssful  agrioulturc,  is  a  convino- 
ing  jiroof  of  tlie  HniiorriKion  of  a  just  and  wise 
God,  it  is  the  Improvement  of  the  talent  entruHt- 
od  to  our  keeping.  Agricnltnre  not  only  develops 
the  wisdom  and  goodness  of  God,  thobeantics  of 
Creation,  bnt  it  should  inspire  us  with  gratitude 
to  our  Creator,  aud  charity  for  our  fellow  beings. 
Lot  UB  not  bo  competitors  in  tbo  various  indust¬ 
ries  of  onr  country,  bnt  let  us  foster,  let  us  hus- 
tain  them  in  tboir  legitimate  pm'suits.  Let  us 
not  create,  but  destroy  all  unjust  monopolies. 
'liural 
CONCRETE  WALLS.  “ 
_ _ _ — ^ — .  t<] 
Can  yon  give  me  a  descrqition  how  to  make  c 
oonerete  wafis  for  a  cellar  ?  Should  it  be  made 
in  one  solid  wall  or  in  blocks,  as  deHcribed  in  the  ^ 
ItiruAi.  a  fcwyeiirs  ago?  Please  give  the doscrip- 
tion  of  tbo  ingredients  in  full,  and  oblige  an  old  ^ 
Mub.scri^'r.— J.  it.  Steviiexsos.  P 
A  NUMHEU  of  years  ago,  Mr.  I).  Hedmosi)  of  j 
Georgia  gave  a  very  full  di-scriiition  of  the  way  ^ 
be  built  his  concrete  hoiiMi.  and  as  the  building  I 
is  still  standing  aud  in  good  order  we  can  scarce- 
ly  do  lietter  in  reply  to  yonr  (picBtion  than  cojiy  ® 
the  du'oetions  ho  gave  at  tho  time.  ^ 
1.  JAH'ation,  fie.— Solout,  if  iKissihle,  a  dry  sitn-  * 
ation,  and  get  all  heavy  materials,  hucIi  as  rock,  ^ 
sand,  lime,  gravel,  ete.,  on  tho  spot  as  early  in  ^ 
tho  Reason  as  possible,  say  by  tho  first  or  middle  ' 
of  May,  in  order  that  yon  may  avail  j-uurself  of  ‘ 
the  long,  warm  days  of  Kumnier  for  successfully 
carrying  on  your  ojieratioiiB.  ‘ 
2.  MaUrials — ^The  piroper  materials  are  lime,  * 
sand,  coarse  and  fine  gravel,  laige  and  small  rock,  ‘ 
aud  water.  Tho  lime  may  be  from  any  good,  ^ 
pure  limestone  that  will  slack  readily,  and  “  sot 
or  harden  thoroughly  when  <lry :  the  sand  should  ’ 
be  sharji,  and  as  free  from  clay,  loam  and  otlier 
earthy  matter  as  possible ;  and  the  gravel  and 
rock  may  bo  of  any  sizi,  from  that  of  a  hoy's  * 
mai  hlo  np  to  eighteen  itiehe.s  or  two  feet  square, 
according  to  the  thieluiess  of  yonr  walls.  ^ 
3.  Fonmfnbon.— Having  fixed  on  yonr  jilan,  ■ 
lay  oil  tho  fonmlatioii,  and  dig  a  tiench  two  feet 
deep,  tho  area  or  full  size  of  yonr  cellai-  wall.  , 
With  a  heavy  piece  of  hard  wood,  sipiai’od  or 
rounded  at  the  lowci-  end,  jjouinl  or  ram  down  , 
the  cai  tli  m  the  bottom  of  this  trench,  going  , 
over  it  repeatedly,  until  it  is  solid  and  comjiaet. 
A  layer  of  liydi-aulic  cenieiit  mortar,  two  inches 
thick,  Bjiiead  evenly  over  tiio  bottom  of  the 
trenebcB  thus  cumpacted,  gives  yon  a  sohd 
foundation  to  start  on,  as  soon  as  it  “sets”  or 
beemuos  liaixl.  It  yon  intend  carrying  np  inside 
division  walls  of  concrete,  tbo  foiiialation  for 
these  sliould  be  laid  In  the  same  way.  Good 
hydraulic  cement  will  t.ako  at  least  three  parts  of 
sharp  sand ;  bnt  it  must  bo  used  as  soon  as  mix¬ 
ed,  or  it  will  “  set”  and  become  useless. 
4.  Fravip  and  Jktring.— Out  common  3x4 
scantling  two  feet  longer  than  yon  wish  your 
highest  story  to  bo  :  set  iqi  double  row,  with  the 
lower  end  resting  firmly  upon  the  edge  of  the 
hardened  cement  in  the  bottom  of  the  treneb : 
range  them  true  and  “plumb”  them,  letting 
stand  tJueo  or  four  inebes  fartlier  ajiart  than  yon 
desire  your  wall  to  bo  in  thickness ;  then  nail 
cleats  aeroRR,  above  and  below,  to  keep  them  in 
place,  adding  also  “  stays”  or  “braces."  thlven 
Blanfmgly  into  tho  ground  aud  nailed  to  the 
BcaJitling  at  the  upper  end.  Yonr  skelctoii  or 
frarae-woiit  of  ecauthiig  being  all  set  up  aud 
“  stayed  ”  linn  aud  “  plumb,”  proceed  to  anauge 
yom-  “  boxing  ”  for  holding  tlio  concrete,  and 
keeping  the  walks  in  shajie.  This  i.B  done  by  cut¬ 
ting  sound  inch  or  iiich-und-a-half  plank  of  ten 
inches  or  a  foot  wide,  so  as  to  fit  inside  of  the 
two  rows  of  seaiitUiig  and  form  two  sides  of  a 
box.  Movable  pieces  tho  tliieknesH  of  the  wall 
are  di’oppcd  in  between,  at  intervals,  to  keep  the 
box  of  the  proper  width  and  wedges  driven  in 
between  the  Imxiiig  and  scantling,  on  the  out¬ 
side,  prevent  spreading  by  the  pressm-e  of  the 
oonerete.  Wooden  “  clamps,”  to  slip  down  here 
and  there,  over  the  upper  edges  of  the  hoxiug, 
will  also  ho  found  very  serviceable. 
5.  Mixing  Concrete,  iMying  up,  etc. — It  will  bo 
well  to  have  at  least  four  large  mortar  beds,  one 
ou  each  side  of  the  house,  made  of  strong  plank, 
in  the  usual  way.  Those  should  ho  sivrrounded 
I  by  casks  of  water  (oil  caskH  cut  in  two  aie  ex¬ 
cellent),  pile.s  of  rock,  sand,  gravel,  etc. — ^the  lime, 
of  coxu'se,  to  be  kept  under  cover,  aud  used  as 
wanted.  Slaok  up  your  lime  till  it  forms  a  thin, 
smooth  creamy  mass  ;  add  1  or  5  parts  of  sharp, 
sand,  stirring  and  mixing  constantly,  and  using 
water  enough  to  bring  the  whole,  when  thorough-  i 
ly  mingled,  to  the  consistency  of  a  thick  batter. 
Into  this  batter  mix  oo^se  aud  fine  gravel  (that 
has  previously  been  screened)  until  the  mass  is 
thick  enough  to  be  lifted  on  a  common  sliovel.  | 
(The  proper  and  thorough  mixing  of  the  Hand 
with  the  lime,  and  tho  gravel  with  tho  mortar 
aftenvard,  are  vei-y  importatit.  and  should  only  be 
intrusted  to  yonr  most  careful  hands.]  Having 
one  or  two  “  beds”  full  of  this  mixture,  you  aro 
ready  to  begin  yoim  wall.  Wheel  tho  mortar  to 
the  foundation  in  common  railroad  w  heolharrows, 
letting  tho  common  hands  Bho^el  it  into  Hie 
bottom  of  tbo  trenclieB,  while  tbe  Ruperintendent 
or  ■'*  boss  ”  workman  aprt-ads  it  evenly  with  his 
trowel.  When  tlie  bottom  layer  of  mortar,  three 
inches  thick,  is  laid  in,  wheel  large  and  small  I 
rock  (previously  sprinkled  with  water)  to  the  wall 
aud  press  it  into  tho  soft  mortar  at  every  avail¬ 
able  point,,  Jeaviiig  a  small  space  between  each 
piece  of  rock,  and  working  the  soft  tnortar 
against  tbe  plank  boxing,  to  preserve  a  smooth 
surface  on  the  wall.  When  you  can  press  no 
more  rock  into  the  mortar,  pour  another  layer  of 
tho  latter  over  and  through  the  rock,  then  add  a 
layer  of  rock,  as  before,  and  so  on,  until  your 
boxing  all  around  is  full.  Y'ou  have  now  ten 
inches  or  a  foot  of  wall,  all  around  built;  and  if 
the  htne  is  good  and  woatlier  dry,  it  will  bo  hard 
!  enough  in  twonty-fom- hours  to  raiHO  your  boxcR 
another  tier.  This  is  readily  done  by  knoeldiig  I 
out  the  wedges  between  tho  plank  aud  the  scant¬ 
ling,  raising  np  the  plank  aud  sustaining  it  in 
liluee  by  “  cleats  ”  nailed  ou  the  scantling.  In 
I  raising  Uio  boxing,  begin  at  the  point  where  yon 
comnioiiced  laying  up  the  day  previous,  aw  that 
ptirtion  of  tho  wall  will,  of  course,  ho  the  hard¬ 
est.  It  is  not  nocoHKary  to  raise  all  tho  boxing 
at  once,  or  go  outu  ely  around  the  wall  in  a  day. 
A  foot  or  yard  of  the  wall  can  ho  completed  at 
a  time,  If  advisable  ;  bnt  if  the  eoinplcto  round 
can  be  made,  so  mueb  tho  better.  Planks  to 
cover  iqi  with,  in  case  of  a  sudden  shower,  or 
w'hcn  a  storin  is  apprebendod,  sbould  be  provid¬ 
ed,  and  iiloced  within  reach. 
fi.  General  IklailK,  Floors,  Windmes,  Ikjors, 
,./,;._We  prefer  a  cement  floor  for  tho  basement, 
on  many  accounts;  hut  tliose  who  desire  a  wood¬ 
en  floor  should  leave  aU--holos  in  tho  outer  walla, 
under  tho  lower  IJoor,  six  inches  above  the  sur¬ 
face.  This  may  he  easily  done  by  inserting 
wedge-shaped  biockR  or  pins  through  the  wall,  to 
be  knocked  out  afterward.  When  you  are  ready 
to  lay  the  floors,  level  np  yonr  wall  and  run  one 
oom'so  of  brick  all  around,  Uie  thickness  of 
tho  wall,  for  tho  ends  of  tlie  flooring- joists  to 
rest  on — tilling  in  around  these  ends  with  Con¬ 
crete,  when  tliey  are  fixed  in  then'  px-ojicr  places. 
The  door  and  window  frame.s  sliould  be  made  of 
three-inoh  yellitw pine,  the fiilltliiekno.ss or  width 
of  the  walls,  and  may  he  set  up  and  built  around, 
liliO  those  in  a  brick  house,  as  tlie  wall  progress¬ 
es.  A  piece  of  common  inch  plank,  “'cut in ”  all 
around  them,  to  prevent  tlie  actual  contact  of 
the  damp  mortar,  will  keep  them,  in  a  great 
'  meamire  from  warping.  NN'hero  bafiC-hoards  are 
needed,  blocks  of  scantling  may  bo  built  in  flush 
‘  with  the  iimer  sinface  of  tbo  w  all,  at  the  in’oper 
distance  apaii. 
Itljc  |k))i;iriaii. 
SALICYLIC  ACID  FOR  FOUL  BROOD. 
Foun  brood  in  tbo  apiary  is  one  of  the  diseaRCS 
wliieh  has  given  bee  keepers  mueb  trouble,  and 
many  would  bo  glad  to  know  bow  to  prevent  it 
or  effect  a  enro  after  it  has  made  its  appear¬ 
ance. 
A  Gorman  apiarian  claims  to  have  discovered 
an  effectual  remedy  in  salicylic  acid  and  we  aie 
indebted  te  Jons  P.  Hkuck  of  Los  Angelos, 
Cal.,  for  an  epitome  of  tho  report  of  Mr.  Hil- 
iieht’s  ou  tbe  subject  Avbich  is  given  in  tbe 
Pacific  Rural  I'ress. 
The  author  of  the  report  is  Mr.  Hilbert,  a  well 
know  Gorman  apiarian,  who  has  been  so  snccess- 
ful  in  the  fooding  of  milk  and  eggs  to  bees  to 
stimulate  breeding,  Ab  this  report  gives  a  more 
detailed  description  of  the  manner  of  applying  the 
acid.  I  have  condonsed  it  to  tho  narrowest  liiuitH, 
and  horowith  give  tho  same  for  the  benefit  of 
those  who  wish  to  try  the  remedy.  Proceed  as 
follows Dissolve  the  acid  iu  eight  times  its 
quantity  of  alcohol.  If  more  alcohol  were  used 
it  might  prove  too  strong  for  the  unsealed  brood ; 
if  less,  tlie  acid  would  flake  upon  being  mixed 
with  water. 
For  all  purposes,  except  the  disinfection  of 
the  sealed  cells,  use  but  32  di'ops  of  the  alcoholic 
solution  to  an  ounce  of  water.  Tho  water  should 
he  about  05"  Fah ;  when  loss  than  60'*,  the  acid 
will  flake.  It  should  not  bo  too  warm,  ou  account 
of  tbe  nnsealed  brood.  For  tho  disinfection  of 
tbe  brood,  comb,  frames,  etc.,  tbo  best  instru- 
rnent  is  an  atomizer,  with  which  bo  sure  to 
sprinkle  all  parts.  After  the  hive  .has  been  dis¬ 
infected,  hang  iu  tho  brood  as  fast  as  disinfect¬ 
ed,  to  keep  it  warm  ;  remove  all  surplus  honey 
(after  disinfection)  and  reduce  the  hive  to  its 
smaUost  limits. 
The  sealed  foul  broody  cells  must  be  treated 
differently  from  tbe  rest  of  tbe  brood.  For  them 
Ml’.  H.  uses  a  solution  qf  equal  parts  of  warm 
water  and  the  alcoholic  solution.  Use  a  piece  of  | 
wood,  of  tho  shaiie  and  size  of  a  match  ;  dip 
tliis  in  the  above  solution  and  pierce  the  .sealed 
cells  to  tho  boitom,  removing  if  possible  tbe  de¬ 
caying  matter  and  inmiersing  tho  wood  anew  for 
each  cell.  Every  other  day  feed  aliont  one- 
third  pint  of  honey  to  each  liivo,  to  wliich  add 
from  30  to  50  drops  of  the  alcoholic  solution  ac¬ 
cording  to  the  size  of  the  swarm.  An  uiqilication 
of  the  acid  should  be  made  evei-y  week,  if  not 
oftencr.  I'roni  five  to  six  applications  will  bo 
necessary  for  Uie  complete  cure  of  tho  hive. 
Tlic  coiiMtant  exposure  to  tho  foul  vapors  of  the 
hive  proves  deleterious  to  tho  queen  aud  the 
bees  generally.  And  as  the  nurse  beoH,  that 
cany  off  the  decaying  matter  and  at  tho  same 
time  fee<l  the  brood,  are  likely  to  communicate 
the  poison  affected  thereby,  it  is  well  to  aid  them 
by  tbo  addition  of  young  bees  from  healthy 
hives.  It  Hometimes  happens  that  after  all 
these  directions  have  been  fully  observed,  foul 
brood  will  continue  te  make  its  apiioarance.  In 
such  caRes  it  may  he  safely  inferred  that  the 
ovaries  of  tbo  queen  have  become  infected.  In 
25  hives  tieatcd  by  Hilbert,  three  such  iiueens 
were  found.  'Pliey  can  Ijest  be  tested  iu  small 
hives  with  clean  comb  and  healthy  bees.  Mr.  H. 
BimiH  up  tbo  matter  in  tho  following  words: 
“Tho  absolute  cuj-e  of  foul  brood  may  be  effcck- 
od  by  tbe  proper  application  of  Balicylic  acid,  by 
tbo  addition  of  healthy  inirRO  bees,  aud  finally  by 
a  change  of  (luoeiis,  if  necfiRsai'y.” 
By  the  same  method  Count  Kolowiat,  of 
Hungary,  liaa  cured  65  stands.  One  ounce  of  the 
acid  will  generally  euro  from  five  to  to  seven 
hives. 
- ♦♦♦ - - 
BEEKEEPING  IN  UTAH. 
J.  E.  Johnson  of  Waaliington  Co.,  Utah  iu 
writing  to  the  Bee  Keepers  Magazine  gives  a 
very  favorable  report  of  boo  keeping  in  tho 
mountains.  Tho  raising  of  Migiiouetto  and 
other  plants  for  bee  paatmage  could  be  in  acticed 
olHOwbere  and  far  more  extensively  than  it  is 
at  preaeiit,  with  profit  to  the  apiarian.  Ho 
Bays : 
The  past  winter  has  been  a  gootl  winter  for 
becB.  or  we  have  been  more  careful  how  we  put 
them  into  winter  quarters,  for  we  have  never 
had  them  come  through  ae  well  before.  I  had  uii 
apiary  of  1.30  colouic.s  in  Kidder  hives  last  fall, 
paid  no  attention  to  them  but  let  them  remain  as 
they  were  on  their  sumnier  seats  out  doors  under 
shades  iiiudo  of  willows,  and  when  the  iihiiond 
hlossoiu.a  began  to  open,  March  1st,  I  had  125 
apparently  strong  hives,  and  those  have  ever 
Hince  Unit  date  been  working  hard  every  pleasant 
clay. 
I  have  planted  in  front  of  my  apiary  about 
.  of  an  acre  Mignonette  w  liich  when  in  bloom  will 
do  much  towards  kcejiing  my  apiary  busy  and 
besides  will  give  tho  honey  a  high  and  pleasant 
fragrance.  'Jlio  sweet  or  melLlot  clover  and 
Mignonette,  will  1  think  make  liner  flavored 
honey  than  that  from  any  other  bloom  I  have 
ever  tried,  and  in  fact  1  sold  my  honey  made 
from  these  plants  last  year  at  a  higher  price 
tlian  any  of  my  neiglibors  who  failed  to  provide 
[fleiity  of  Huch  forage  near  their  bees.  The  pros¬ 
pect  for  fruit  bere  the  pn-seut  Reason  was  never 
as  good,  and  wiicn  fnht  is  nice  we  generally 
J  have  a  good  honey  caop,  for  the  condition.s  that 
[  make  good  I'rnit,  makes  plenty  of  forage  for 
t  bees.  Apricots  aro  now  in  full  bloom  (March 
-  19)  aud  peach  trees  begin  to  open  their  blossoms, 
—and  bees  continue  daily  to  work  skoug,  and 
1  are  canTing  in  both  pollen  aud  honey. 
COMB  FOUNDATIONS. 
Beveual  of  om'  correspondents  have  asked 
“what  is  comb  fmmdation  so  frequently  referred 
to  of  late  by  apiarians  ?"  Tho  following  from 
tlie  American  Bee  Joiurnal  for  May  is  an  explicit 
answ  er  to  tho  above  (piestion. 
Take  a  piece  of  empty  honey  comb  and  cut  off 
all  the  oells,  until  nothing  is  left  hut  the  division 
wall  of  wax  between  the  two  opposite  sets  of 
cells,  aud  you  have  a  comb  fomidation.  Tbe 
latest  production,  bowover,  consists  not  merely 
of  tho  dividing  wall,  but  also  a  sUght  depth  of 
the  ceU-wuUri,  themselves,  on  each  side,  aud 
these  cell-walls,  although  slightin  depth,  may  be 
of  such  Uiickness  as  to  coiitahi  enongh  wax,  so 
that  the  bees  may  work  out  or  prolong  the  cells 
to  their  full  depth  without  any  additional 
material. 
These  comb  foundations  are  given  to  tbe  bees 
in  tbek  blood  chamber,  enough  being  put  in  a 
frame  te  fill  it,  in  wliole  or  hi  part,  perhaps  only 
a  narrow  strip  being  used  for  tbo  bees  te  start 
uiKin.  They  are  also  used  for  smiflus  honey, 
enough  beuig  given  to  fill  the  boxes. ^pr  iiierely 
enough  to  give  the  bees  a.  start.  The  object  is 
to  save  the  time  of  the  hoes  in  secreting  Uio 
wax,  as  also,  the  honey  used  in  its  production. 
Another  object  is  to  seeme  all  straight,  worker 
comb,  aud  hUU  another  to  hasten  the  oommeuce- 
ment  of  work  in  boxes  when  the  bees  are  loth  te 
™Thus  much  by  way  of  answer  to  those  who  are 
askin'J'.  “  ^Yhat  is  comb  foundation  and  what  is 
it  foi'T” 
