JAN 24 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
do is to lift out the frames and thus learn, to a 
certainty, just how much honey there is in 
the hive. Here we have one point in favor 
of the frame hive. As we work ou, we soon 
find a colony with little or no honey, which 
would starve in a week if not fed, so we get 
out our feeder and feed them. If it keeps 
warm so the bees can get to the feeder, or to a 
comb of honey we place them in the chamber 
of the hive, all goes well. If it turns cold our 
bees starve. In a case like this with the 
frame hive, all we have to do is to give the 
starving colony a frame of sealed honey from 
our honey room, or fill a comb with sirup, and 
hang it in the center of the cluster of bees, 
when we know' we are all right. Hence, we 
have point No. 2. Then on our examination 
we find a colony as above, while the next one 
has much more honey thau is needed. With 
the frame hive we can exchange an empty 
comb for a full one, and thus both colonies 
are benefited, w r hile we are saved the trouble 
of feeding at all, which makes point No. 3. 
A little later in the season, we wish to know' 
that each hive has a prolific queen, so that 
workers may be produced in time for the 
honey harvest, aud if they have not such a 
queen, we wish to procure oue for them by rais¬ 
ing it or otherwise. Here we are almost entirely 
baffled with the box hive, while we know to 
a certainty about the queeu beiug a good or 
poor one if we use a frame hive, and if poor 
the matter can be easily remedied; so we have 
point No. 4, 
At this time we wish to get all the surplus 
drone comb out of the hive, if this has not 
already been done; for if the bees are allow¬ 
ed to build their combs as they please—which 
must be the case with box hives—they will 
build more or less drone comb, which will 
soon be tilled with drones, which when hatch¬ 
ed will consume large quantities of honey, 
which would otherwise be stored as surplus. 
This keeping drone comb oat of the hive is no 
small item, for 1 have knowu so much drone 
comb to be built by a swarm having an old 
and failiug queen, that the next season the 
drones produced from that comb, consumed 
nearly all the honey as fast as the few workers 
reared could gather it. With the box hive 
we could do little or nothing in getting rid of 
this drone comb, while with the frame hive it 
can be easily taken out aud worker comb fit¬ 
ted in its place. Thus we have point No, 5. 
Then I believe that a colony of bees can be 
increased much faster by spreading the brood, 
thus getting the bees ready more quickly for 
an early honey harvest than they would be if 
left to themselves, or by any other means I 
know of, and the spreading of the brood is an 
utter impossibility with the box hive. Here 
we have poiut No. 6. Again, as we approach 
the honey harvest, we find that some of our 
colonies are extra-strong, while others are 
weak. This we wish to remedy by taking 
bees and brood from the stronger and giving 
them to the weaker. Of course, bees can b« 
drummed out of the box hive and given to 
others but how much easier it is to take a 
frame of brood and bees from a frame hive, 
and set it into another hive, then to trausfer 
the bees by any plan we could use were we to 
adopt box hives. This makes point No. 7. 
Next we come to swarming all of which we 
wish to prevent, except the first, or prime 
swarm. To hive after swarms in separate 
hives,means the entire loss of all surplus honey 
from the parent colony, if it is done In this 
locality. To prevent these after swarms I 
wait till eight days after the first swarm has 
issued, when, as a rule, the first young queen 
has hatched, when I open the hive aud cut off 
all remaining queen cells, which prevents all 
after swarming. With box hives it is impos¬ 
sible to cut out all the queen cells, so I have 
advantage No. 8. 
Then we wish to know that our young queen 
gets to laying all right, for a queeuless col¬ 
ony is good lor little so far as producing comb 
honey. If the queen gets lost while being fer¬ 
tilized or from any other cause, we cannot 
find it out with a box hive till so late that our 
chauee for making surplus honey is destroy ed, 
while with a frame hive we can discover this 
loss soon after it has occurred, ana get a 
queen to take the place of the lost oue. Thus 
we have advantage No. 0. Again, to receive 
the best results in comb honey we desire to 
contract the size of the brood chamber at 
about the time the bees get to work in the 
boxes, and this cannot be done when box 
hives are used. The past two seasons I used 
in several cases but six frames (10^x10%) to 
the hive, aud received results in comb honey 
never obtained by me before. So here is 
advantage No. 10. When we come to work 
for extracted honey absolutely notniug could 
be done with box hives, and as this honey is 
coming more and more into favor each year, 
the movable frame hive will soon be a thing 
of necessity. 
Thus I have giveu 11 good reasons why I 
consider the fiarne hives ahead of box hives, 
and I predict that ere 10 years more have 
elapsed, box hives will be numbered with 
the things of the past, notwithstanding statis¬ 
tics show that there are yet in use in the 
United States nearly" as many box, as frame 
hives. Many more reasons could be given, 
but the above are quite sufficient. 
Borodino. N. Y. 
CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
Peter Henderson & Co , 35 and 37 Cort- 
landt Sc., New York. A large, comprehensive 
and beautiful catalogue of 130 page with a 
neatly-designed, colored cover and three 
colored plates. The first of these shows three 
ears of corn, viz.: the Golden Dew drop (yel 
low flint), Hendersou’s Sugar, aud Queen of 
the Prairie (yellow' dent) The first is said to 
be eight-rowed. The plants grow about six 
feet high aud bear two and three ears. The 
Sugar Corn is said to ripen 10 days before 
Stowell’s Evergreen and to be of the finest 
flavor. Queen of the Prairie has been sold, 
under various names for several years. It 
was sent to the Rural by the originator six 
years ago, to be tested. It is probably the 
earliest strain of yellow dent in cultivation. 
The second colored plate is one of cabbages, 
peas and cauliflower. A wood-cut shows a 
new oat called Henderson’s New Clydesdale 
Oats, which weigh 51 pounds to the bushel. 
The history is not given. We shall try them 
in a small way. The third colored plate is one 
of “Six Finest Chrysanthemums.” These 
hardy, herbaceous plants are now enjoying a 
well merited season of high popularity. The 
entire catalogue is one that may be profitably 
studied for days, and one that should be in 
the hands of every reader of theR. N.-Y. 
W. Atlee Burpee & Co., Philadelphia, Pa. 
—This is an euterprising catalogue certainly, 
and that’s what we like. It embodies 120 
pages, with many illustrations. The novelty 
list is particularly rich in new things, several 
of which we shall try. Among them may be 
mentioned Lazy Wife’s Bean, Empire State 
Potato, the Brazil Sugar Squa?h, Orange 
Cream Melon (a perfectly round melon with¬ 
out seams), Golden Blanching Celery, Won¬ 
der of Italy Tomato, Long China Cucumber, 
(said to grow from IS to 22 inches in length), 
Red China Squash, the color of a tomato. 
Among field crops, several extraordinary 
kinds of corn are offered. Mr. Burpee makes 
a mistake in offering Teosinte “/or this lati¬ 
tude.” It is worthless. He also makes a 
mistake in not offering the Rural Thorough¬ 
bred, or Ensilage Corn. He also makes a 
mistake in offering the Rural Cuampion Oats, 
They are of little value. A large amount is 
offered iu premiums for the best crops raised 
from Burpee’s seeds. It is, in its entirety, one 
of those catalogues which all of our readers 
will be pleased to examine. 
Hiram Sibley & Co , Rochester, N. Y. 
An illustrated catalogue of 130 pages, of 
seeds, potatoes, bulbs, ornamental plants, 
gladioli, lilies, implements, etc. It offers the 
Diehl-Mediterrauean Wheat of the Kural’s 
Seed Distribution of 1883-4. It also offers 
a new wheat named Saskatchewan for which 
very great merits are claimed; also the Rural 
New Yorker Pea of last year’s Free Distribu¬ 
tion. The firm has tested this pea carefully, 
and praise it iu the highest terms, 
“How to Propagate and Grow Fruit.” 
By Charles A. Green, box 502, Rochester. 
N. Y. 
This is a book of 70 pages with 50 illustra¬ 
tions, written by a mau that knows what he 
is talking about. An experienced nursery¬ 
man, a careful observer, an excellent, forci¬ 
ble writer. It is just the book many of our 
friends will need. The price is 50 cents, post¬ 
paid. 
The Foos M’f'g Co "s Catalogue ok Grind¬ 
ing Mills, etc , Springfield, Ohio. 
This nice little catalogue, just received, re 
minds us of the very common, yet wasteful 
practice of feeding corn or other graiu whole 
or unground. We have had much experience 
iu stock feeding, a part of our system of farm¬ 
ing being the conversion of a large amount 
of graiu and forage into meat or butter and 
manure, and we have found great difficulty 
in makiug a profit by feeding whole graiu. 
The bulk of grain is fed during that portion 
of the year when men and teams are at lei¬ 
sure, and the time needed to grind the gram 
i, usually no more than necessary to haul it 
to and from the mill. Thus the amount 
taken in tolls is saved by owning a farm mill. 
The Foos M’f’g Company have spent much 
time and money in improving and perfecting 
these, and they now have a mill with many 
new and valuable features. Among those 
they claim as superior is the process for the 
gradual reduction of the corn; first, it is 
merely cracked into large pieces; next it is 
carried between plates that are much closer 
together, which again subdivide it. In this 
way r it continues, until at the periphery of the 
mill, it passes between a series of novel shaped 
ribs, where it is rolled and crashed instead of 
being cut, coming out flue and soft, very sim¬ 
ilar to meal ground by a bubr stone. We 
have not space to note all the features of these 
mills as set forth in this catalogue, but urge 
all our readers, wnutiug a mill, to send for 
and carefully read this catalogue. 
F. C. Sturtevant. Hartford, Codu. Circu¬ 
lar of Imperial Egg Food. 
We have been repeatedly asked what we 
think of the Imperial Egg Food manufactured 
as above. We have been using it for some 
time, feeding a part of our fowls. While we 
can see but little difference in those using it 
or not using it, it is but fair to say that all our 
fowls are fed everything that long experience 
has taught us to be productive of the best re¬ 
sults in health and egg production. Those 
using the egg food are pictures of health, aud 
we have no doubt but it is a good food—the 
best, probably, of the prepared foods. 
ior lUomra. 
CONDUCTED BY Mist RAY CLARK. 
ON BOOKS, AND THE READING 
THEREOF. 
BY ANNIE L. JACK. 
To judge from the general appearance of 
the book stalls, it may be said that the chief 
aim of readers nowadays, is only a purpose¬ 
less attempt to cheat an idle hour of its weari¬ 
ness when nothing more congenial can be 
found by way of amusement, 
To be sure there are standard works at very 
moderate prices to be procured, but the sale 
of these is slow compared with what is called 
light literature, among which is much that is 
pure rubbish, with some that is indifferent, and 
a minority that contain sentiments that are 
striking for purity and helpfulness of purpose. 
Said a dealer to me lately who has been over 
30 years in the book business: “Nothing has 
spoiled our trade so much as the Franklin 
Square Library. People get all sorts there, 
and very few aspire to the dignity of a lib¬ 
rary. A papier covered book is bought cheaply 
and can be thrown aside afterwards.” 
Readers uowadays are much like the 
children of the age. They prefer the bonbons 
of literature to the plain but wholesome food, 
aud so the mind becomes weak aud vitiated 
and undurable to enjoy works of sterling worth 
that are not glossed with sweetmeats. The 
supply of an article is generally regulated by 
the demand, and it does uot speak well for the 
reading community to observe the preponder¬ 
ance of worthless literature over that of 
greater value. It is well now und then to 
read a good novel; it is like the sauce to the 
puddiug of a literary feast, but, is it not true 
that the risiug generation are eating all sauce, 
and neglecting the substantial food? If we 
desire to profit by a course of reading it is es¬ 
sential first to make a good selection of books, 
then not to read too much at once, and, if 
possible to make notes of what is read, 
no matter how brief ut first, witu a view to 
encourage the hanitof memorizing. History, 
geography and especially travels by reliable 
explorers, are an education in t hemselves, and 
in science a great deal can be learned by the 
perusal of some good work in any branch pre¬ 
ferred. If in geology one cau learn a great 
deal of the structure aud growth of the crust 
of the earth from Hugh Millers ’‘Testimony of 
the Rocks,” and there are books equally inter¬ 
esting in every department. There is not a 
farmer’s son or daughter in the land who 
would not be benefited by a study of Mr. 
Saunders’ book ou Injurious Insects, and once 
begun there is a great fascinatiou in the study 
that opens new fields for thought, that the 
Franklin Square novel cannot supply. 
A knowledge of thu standard poetry of the 
day has a refining influence on the mind and 
renders oue able to make apt quotations when 
in intelligent society. Scott und Burns, 
Shakespeare aud Mrs Browning, Tennyson 
and Jean ingelow, Longfellow and Whittier, 
aud many other lieautiful singers furnish full 
scope for a selection, aud help to refresh and 
elevate the mind, 
Une of the pleasantest compliments I ever 
received was from a lady friend, as driving 
along a river road one summer evening I 
quoted some appropriate lines of Whittier. 
“I should think, she said, your mind is so full 
of the best writers’ best thoughts, that you have 
no room for what is not good,as the world goes.” 
In my r case most of the poetry rend in my 
youth remained best in my memory, aud 1 
often regret bitterly, when I see the young 
people eugrossed iu the trashy literature of 
the day, that they are uot filling the storehouse 
of their minds with something that will be 
useful aud beautiful to them in alter years. 
A dear old gentleman of my acquaintance, 
who has crossed the given boundary of four 
score years, has always an apt quotation of 
poetry or prose for every occasion. His eyes 
are dim now and he does notread to any great 
extent, but iu his youth and manhood he read 
what was worth remembering, and remem¬ 
bered it. Memory fails forthims tbatnre hap¬ 
pening only to-day, but the thoughts learned 
and treasured long ago, are a bountiful bene¬ 
diction to those who hear them. I do not 
altogether condemn the habit of borrowing 
books when if they are carefully handled, and 
one has a friend good natured enough to lend 
them. But it iscertninly better to buy if pos¬ 
sible, and to keep for reference anything that is 
good, a book that we have read and pondered 
over, entered iuto the spirit of and fully ap¬ 
preciated, soon becomes as a near an 1 dear 
friend, with the added qualification that it 
never is false to us, never chides or reviles us, 
or takes offence, at our varying moods. If 
we caonotafford many such treusures,let them 
be good and worthy of our regard; let them 
be thoroughly read and kept in memory. If 
it is true, by your fruits ye are known, so can 
any oue judge of the character, and standing 
of a household, their tastes and mental capac¬ 
ity, by the books, whether few or many, with 
which they have surrounded their home. 
WHY THE IMPROVEMENTS WERE 
NOT MADE. 
The spring chickens were thriving finely 
and Mrs. Thorne and her husband were plan¬ 
ning some little improvements they hoped to 
make on the proceeds of the poultry yard and 
the berry patch and the surplus vegetables iu 
their garden. 
“Wbat good luck it is for us that there is 
such a large boarding house for city boarders 
near by. They will take at a good price 
every cucumber and melon and everything 
else we have to spare. I mean to go lightly 
on our store bill this Summer and save all we 
can to put into the bouse improvements in 
October. You must not complain, John, if I 
give you more vegetable®and less pastry than 
common, seeing it is in such a good cause.” 
John promised to be satisfied with whatever 
she set before him, and went whistling off to 
his work, thankful that he was blessed with 
such a prudent wife. 
But alas for “The best laid schemes of mice” 
—and women! A party of city cousins came 
swooping down, with their mother, aud 
seemed to fill to overflowing the little house. 
So pleased were they’ with the shady yard and 
the green grass and the freedom from care 
and the great saving of expense by living off 
other people, that they concluded to make “a 
good, old-fashioned visit.” 
“It will save us enough, Delia,” whispered 
the mother coufideutially, “to buy me a new 
silk dress in the Fall and hire it made." 
“I guess I’ll have some of the profits, ma, 
if I am to stay in this old country place all 
Summer.” 
Every day it was, “Can’t we have cream 
cake for supjier, Aunt Jane? as you have the 
cream,” or “Mayn’t we make an omelet for 
breakfast? you have so many eggs.” “Oh, I 
do love spring chicken so! but it is awful 
dear to buy. How lucky you are to have 
your own.” 
An acre lot of berries would have been 
cleared off by these buugry city folks, who 
had evidently" come to the country to eat, and 
who seldom ceased while anything eatable 
was iu sight. Instead of selling, the family 
bought berries that Summer. But what 
grieved them most was the inevitable store- 
bill which could not be helped, and which it 
took the best part of the Winter to clear off. 
There were do improvements on the house 
that Fall, and John thinks that army worms 
are out-ranked in destructiveness by city 
cousins olive. 
Domestic Cconomi) 
CONDUCTED BY EMII-Y MAPLE. 
DON’T. 
Don’t try to improve your looks with paint 
or powder. 
Don’t go with buttons off your shoes. 
Don’t use slang. 
Dou’t aspire to keeping your house cleaner 
than any of your neighbors’. If you do, prob¬ 
ably a step-mother will bring up your chil¬ 
dren. 
Don’t wear straight bangs. 
Don’t laugh unless you see something to 
laugh at. 
Don't snub children. 
Don’t parade your virtues forever before 
your friends. 
Don't be imposed upon by anyone. 
Don’t sacrifice comfort aud health for ap¬ 
pearance’s sake. 
Don’t wear out brain aud body trying to 
dress your children as well as those of your 
