1872 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
89 
Iin|>s’oved Sugar-Beet.—In answer to 
inquiries concerning the sugar-beet mentioned last month 
oa page 58, we would say that we have learned that the 
whole disposable stock of seed has been purchased by 
B. K. Bliss & Son, of this city, who will no doubt make 
the fact known in their advertisements. 
Cleris Tor TJiree-ISorse Eveuer.— 
E. Fisher, Carroll Co., Ill., writes us that parties are 
claiming a patent-right on a clevis for a three-horse 
evener, figured in American Agriculturist , Aug., 1SG9, p. 
293. Unless these parties can show that they hold a patent 
issued previously to above date, their claim is illegal. 
No payments should be made unless they can show this. 
Farmers Look Out. —There is a very 
taking humbug after you just now. We have just re¬ 
ceived a pamphlet, setting forth the merits of “Sac- 
eliaruin officinarum, or Saccharine Sugar-Cane,” 
which attempts to make farmers believe that they can 
raise the true sugar-cane as far north as Wisconsin. This 
pamphlet cautions people against being humbugged, ap¬ 
peals to the clergy, amt is up to the latest dodges of the 
most refined humbuggery. If people do not believe what 
is said, they will “ forward samples of the sugar to any 
post-office in the United States, by mail, on receipt of 
twenty-five cents in currency, which analysis will prove 
is no srdinaryoradulteratedsugar.” That is, indeed, con¬ 
vincing proof, but not so good as the Dutchman’s, who 
said, “ Hans, if you don’t pelieve thfat is goot whisky, 
schust schmell of the cork.” Seriously: The price of 
this remarkable seed is $3 a package, with all sorts of , 
club and other inducements to purchase by wholesale. ! 
We hope that no reader of the Agriculturist is so stupid 
as not to know that the true Sugar-cane ( Saccharum ojfici- 
narum ) is so much of a tropical plant, that it barely main¬ 
tains itself in Louisiana, and that they can no more hope j 
to grow it in the open air in the Northern States, than 
they can Pineapples or Bananas. Good things and new 
things don’t come sneaking along in such a dubious way 
as this. Let this Sugar-Cane alone ! 
Bliss <& Son Want to Know.—The 
well-known seed firm of B. K. Bliss & Son wish to know 
where their money goes to or where it comes from—we 
don’t know which. At any rate, they say in their ad¬ 
vertisement, li We will send a packet of choice flower 
seeds, gratis, to persons ordering catalogues, if they will 
state the name of the paper in which they saw this ad¬ 
vertisement.” Ilere is a chance for women as well as 
men, to vote. No repeating, no ballot-box stuffing, but 
let us have a square YOte. Read advertisement and order 
your catalogues. 
©yelaoiise Cherry. — Notwithstanding 
that the gentleman who described this cherry in Feb¬ 
ruary stated he was only an amateur and had no trees for 
sale, we have applications by the dozen, asking for his 
Tull address. This we must decline to give, as we can 
only say what he has already said, that he has no trees to 
dispose of. If any of the Kentucky nurserymen have 
propagated the Dyehouse Cherry, they will do well to ad¬ 
vertise the fact, as inquiries are numerous. 
IFosir Moaitlis sliil BScisiaim, during 
which any and all persons who wish them, can secure, 
without money, one or more of the splendid assortment 
of useful and desirable articles described on page 119. 
Multitudes of people, now planning the work of the year, 
need and will appreciate the hints and suggestions 
of such a journal as this_ Hearth and Home is rapidly 
•advancing in value and in the public favor, and some very 
valuable things are in preparation for its pages during the 
summer.One only needs to take copies of these jour¬ 
nals and show them to his or her friends and neighbors, 
and explain their merits, to soon have subscribers enough 
to secure a valuable premium article, that will be quite as 
good as the money it would cost. See pages 8-1 and 119. 
Sjsviaag- 'Woi'ls: is Coming on, and 
hints and suggestions are wanted. See “ Four Months,” 
above. 
S5ari*y’s Fruit Garden.—The new edi¬ 
tion of this work, which was long ago announced, but 
which, by unavoidable causes, has been delayed, is now 
on the press. The Fruit Garden has long filled a place 
w'kich has been occupied by no other work. It is full 
enough upon all the processes of propagation to suit the 
nurseryman, and this part of the subject, as well as those 
of pruning, training, and cultivation, are exactly suited to 
the needs of the amateur. A carefully considered selec¬ 
tion of fruits of all kinds makes the work a most useful 
one to those who plant in a large or a small way. While 
the same general plan of the work has been preserved, 
the new edition has been in some parts re-written, and in 
others so largely added to, that it is essentially a new 
work. To those familiar with horticultural literature we 
need only announce a new and thoroughly revised edition 
of Barry’s Fruit Garden. To the novice, we can say 
that he can have no better guide than this work, which 
embodies the ripe experience of the veteran nurseryman 
and pomologist, P. Barry. The illustrations, which are 
all re-engraved and much augmented, are numerous and 
instructive, Price $2, post-paid. 
©rg-ans aaid Melodeons.— Several par¬ 
ties have within a few months supplied their churches 
with small organs by canvassing for our papers, and 
secured the premium by a few hours’ labor. We have 
given G. A. Prince & Co.’s instruments for many years, 
and have never had a complaint from any r:ho have 
received them. 
’Flic of .¥osej>li 15. ILyiaaan. 
—The friends of Mr. Joseph B. Lyman were startled by 
the announcement of his death, which took place, after a 1 
brief illness, on January 28th. Mr. Lyman was the Agri¬ 
cultural editor of the New-York Tribune and a prominent 
member of the New-York Farmers’ Ciub. He was a 
fluent and ready speaker and writer upon agricultural and 
other topics, and was much esteemed by his many friends. 
Ttie Cfcitiiiii Bear. — Several have asked 
where they could obtain trees of the Quinn Pear. Mr. 
Quinn informs ns that no tyees have been propagated, 
consequently there are none for sale. 
TIic B 5 i els ford Knitsimg - Maclaine, 
which we offer as a premium on page 119, is a good and 
reliable machine. A great variety of work can be done 
with it rapidly and well. Any lady can do good, and ob¬ 
tain a valuable household helper, by canvassing at odd 
times for this paper. 
A Fine Truck Farm, near New York 
City, can be bought at a bargain. For particulars, ad¬ 
dress S. F. Gooding, at 245 Broadway. 
A Fine “ Spring' Biizaar” for ©nr 
Etcaders is presented in our advertising pages this 
month. It will pay well to read through every item, and 
see what is offered, and by whom. Nowhere else can one 
find so many good business announcements together, 
without being annoyed with the sight of medical and 
other swindling advertisements. We believe there is not 
among all these a man who has not the ability and inten¬ 
tion to do what he promises in his card. When writing 
to any of these parties for circulars, on business, order¬ 
ing, etc., please let them know where their business 
cards were seen. We want every business man to kuow 
when he is dealing with our readers. 
--—»-»■ - - — 
Bee Notes for March..— By M. Quinhy, 
Be sure that every stock has a queen, for without one 
almost any swarm will run down at this season, and if 
diseased the calamity will probably be greater from con¬ 
tagion. See that they are strong, and unite weak ones if 
necessary. To feed box-hives at this season, lay sealed 
honey on the open holes at the top of hive, and cover close¬ 
ly. To examine such a hive, turn it over with care, and quiet 
tlie bees with smoke if necessary. Let the sun shine di¬ 
rectly between the combs, and if they are strong, the clus¬ 
ter of bees will be seen to extend nearly through them. 
If the stock is seen to be weak, close the entrance, allow¬ 
ing room for only one bee to pass at a time. 
While the hive is inverted, look at the top of the out¬ 
side combs for sealed honey, and, if that is to be seen, 
they will probably live two weeks, unless plundered. This 
inspection is better done, this month,in a warm room, with 
all the windows darkened, except the one before which 
you are operating. A stock is often saved by a little timely 
care now, and sometimes, when the bees are thought to 
be dead, they may be revived. If, after warming a few of 
them, they exhibit any signs of life, they may be saved. 
In such case, pour a little liquid honey or sugar directly 
among them on the combs. Confine them with a cloth and 
bring near the fire. After a little, they may be returned to 
the stand and fed as before directed. Should any desert, 
as they may do at this season, they will be quite likely to 
join some other stock and be destroyed. 
. If they cluster, return them to their own hive and feed 
regularly. Stocks with movable frames may be fed by 
putting a frame containing honey in place of an empty 
one. Save with care all combs left from weak stocks, if 
in good condition. It takes a large amount of honey for 
the secretion of a little wax, hence never melt up good 
worker combs. Protect them from the moth by freezing, 
or fumigate with sulphur and use them for swarms. 
If not already done, get some rye finely ground, with¬ 
out bolting, witli which to feed the bees, beginning on 
the first warm day. We can not afford to lose any day in 
'which bees can work, even before the flowers yield honey 
or pollen. We want to stimulate breeding now, by every 
means in our power. To induce them to take the ground 
rye, scatter it at first in several places. Put a very little 
honey on or near it, until it is found. It is unnecessary 
to attempt this after the flowers yield pollen. 
Mr. Waite, at the Cleveland Convention, gave us a new 
plan of feeding. Instead of a large floor or platform, as 
before described, he made a shallow box, with a rather 
coarse wire-cloth bottom, and put the feed in this, and 
covered it, raising one side a little, so that the bees could 
work under the bottom. Another box under it may be 
needed to catch the coarser particles as they fall. 
In taking bees from winter quarters, we should avoid 
doing it in unpleasant weather, as well as in that which 
is unusually warm, for the season. Take out a dozen 
hives at a time, and then rest for an hour ; when those 
first removed are comparatively quiet, set out more. If 
each stock can occupy its old stand of last year, there is 
much less danger of their mixing in each other’s hive, 
but if stands are to be changed in the home yard, now is 
the time to do it, as there is very much less loss than 
after the bees have had a fly. They should be looked to 
many times through the day to see that all is right. If 
the place they are in is a new one, the bees sometimes 
leave their own and join a neighboring hive, in so large 
numbers as to reduce, and often ruin, the one they have 
left. Sometimes, when they have no queen, they will 
desert entirely. If the weak condition is discovered by 
the strong ones, the honey will all be carried ofi’ in a few 
hours, and the bees left to starve. These things should 
be detected within the first few hours. It is not to be 
supposed that every indication can be given, but he who 
looks at his bees very frequently will soon learn if any¬ 
thing is wrong, and will feel paid for what some might 
call needless trouble by the knowledge he will gain. 
Thomas’s smoothing habkow.— -{See next Page.) 
