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COMB FOUNDATIONS! Italian Bees and Queens.

Pure Bees Wax.

Cut to any size desired.

PACKED IN NEAT WOODEN BOXES-PAPER BETWEEN EVERY TWO SHEETS. AT $1.00 PER POUND FOR THE WHITE, OR 75 CENTS PER POUND FOR THE YELLOW.

IF WANTED BY MAIL, ADD 25 CTS. PER POUND FOR PACKING BOXES AND POSTAGE.

If taken in our regular packing boxes,sheets 12x18 inches, 10 per cent. off from above prices on 10 lbs. or over.

Wax will be worked up to order, and cut into sheets of any size desired, for 40 cents per fb. We will pay 33 cents per b, cash for bright yellow wax, or sell it for 36.

One pound of wax makes from 4 to 8 square feet of surface, The thinnest will be used by the bees, but is not made into comb as quickly as the heavier, which has a greater depth of cell.

Sheets just right for L. frames, both white and yellow, kept constantly in stock ready for shipment; also square sheets for section boxes. About 6 of the former or 30 of the latter (enough for one Universal case) weigh 1 fb. At above prices we can pay no freight or express charges either way.

The only wholesale rates we can give is 10 per cent. off from above rates on orders for 50 fbs. or over, or 20 per cent. on 100 lbs. or over. septf A. I. ROOT, Medina, Ohio.

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FREE TO ALL!

My Price List of Grape Vines, Raspberry, Blackberry. Strawberry, and Gooseberry plants, Evergreens, Ornamental Shrubs, Currants, Bulbs, &c. I have exlusive control of the "Southern Thornless "-the best and hardiest red raspberry in the world. My stock of vines, plants, &c., is very large and well grown. Prices very low. I can also furnish several kinds of forest tree seeds, fresh from the trees in the fall, very cheap. Please adTHOMAS J. WARD, sep76у3

FEEDER. dress

The BEST in use.
Sample by mail 75 cents.

Circular free.

Address

C.C.VAN DEUSEN, Sprout Brook, N.Ý.

St. Mary's, Vigo Co., Ind.

To Bee-Keepers!

The undersigned has made arrangements with A. H. Hart, of this place, for the intro

Bees and Queens duction to the attention of bee-keepers of his

FOR SALE!

I am ready to supply BEES and QUEENS equal to any in the market, on the most reasonable terms. Those wanting such will do well to communicate with me at once. Address JOHN ROOKER,

sep2m

50

Strawtown, Hamilton Co., Ind.

SWARMS

-OF

PURE ITALIAN BEES

in good condition-price $7.00 PER SWARM. FRANK SEARLES, Hadley, Will Co., Ill. sepimp

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AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL,

DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO BEE CULTURE.

VOL. XII.

CHICAGO, OCTOBER, 1876.

Our Exchanges.

Boil it down! Boil it down! Give us the new and useful pointsThe good-and that's enough! Boil it down!

GLEANINGS.

CARE OF EMPTY COMBS.-James Bolin says:

"I had several hundred frames of empty comb last spring, and as much of it was bought of neighbors who lost their bees last winter, and had left the hives containing it standing on the summer stands until I bought it, which in some instances, was after the weather became quite warm, it was full of the eggs of the moth-miller, and worms soon made their appearance. For some time I was at a loss as to how I could best arrange so many combs to fumigate them. I finally went to work and ripped out strips of inch lumber 2 inches wide for the inside pieces and 1 in. wide for the outside ones. I rabbeted in. square out of two corners of the 2 in. strips and one corner of the 1% in. strips. I then nailed the strips in parallel lines, with the rabbeted sides up, securely to the ceiling overhead at such distances apart that the top bar of my frames would just pass between the parts left after the rabbeting was done. The frames hang on these strips the same as they do in the hives, are out of the way when not wanted either summer or winter, are easily put up or taken down by simply moving one end a short distance either way, and best of all, are in the most comfortable place when I close the ventilators, windows and doors, place a kettle half full of live coals in the room, and throw a pound of brimstone in it. In the above way by a half day's work I provided storage room for over 1,000 combs and it is out of the way and always ready for use when wanted."

STARTING WORK IN BOXES. - Novice says: Take a section, bees and all, from some stock that is working briskly, and put it in the centre of the one that will not work. We have successfully used this plan, excepting that we have always shaken off the bees. It may be worth while to try what difference it would make to take bees and all.

ITALIANS ON Red Clover.-Novice says his Italians have been working on red clover whilst the blacks were idle. Much capital was made of this point when Italians were first introduced, but there has been very little said about it lately, some

No. 10.

having claimed that the Italians were no better in this respect than the blacks. We have our doubts whether the matter amounts to much practically but should be glad to hear from those who have had good opportunities for investigation.

IS HE A SWINDLER?-Lyman Legg says he received an order from Chas. Freed, of the American Honey House, Philadelphia, for 50 lbs. box honey as sample, which he sent, and has not been able to get pay or reply to any of his several letters. Moralalways inquire as to the responsibility of an unknown party before sending consignments to them.

REV. L. L. LANGSTROTH.-It gives us very great pleasure to note that this able veteran, to whom we all owe so much, is again so recoverd in health that he is able to take up bee-culture where he left off about a year ago.

BRTIISH BEE JOURNAL.

Gloomy reports and prospects were the rule during the early part of the season, but the opening sentence of the September number of the B. B. J. is:-" With this month will close a finer honey season than has ever been recorded in the annals of apiculture."

CAUSE OF SWARMING.-The editor, for whose opinions we have great respect, ventures a guess on this topic, which is at least worth considering. He says:

The cause of swarming is a problem which has puzzled the minds of investigators during many ages, and at the present day is a matter of speculation; but we have little doubt that the first suggestion of it to the bees arises from their hive or nest becoming over-heated. Excessive heat in a hive may be brought about by its being too much exposed to the sun's rays, by the over-crowding of the bees, by a sudden glut of honey, causing great excitement in the hive, or by the general heat of the weather; but we avow our conviction that heat is the exciting cause of preparation, and a continuance of it, with a fair amount of honey coming in while the days are lengthening, will surely cause a healthy colony to

swarm.

We do not see the exact bearing of the last named condition; most of our own swarming come after the days cease lengthen.

Worker Brood in Drone Cells.

"I send you a piece of drone comb with worker brood in, for you to see that there are some curious freaks in the egg-laying of the queen." R. R. MURPHY.

This was a very clear case. Cells four to the inch, flat caps, out of which hatched nice young workers.

The case is very interesting, but is probably, as stated, only a "freak" from which no practical results can be directly developed. We are glad, however, to learn such freaks.

The Centennial Meeting and Show.

As the time is fast approaching, and as many enquiries are made, we will again give notice that the special show of honey and wax at the great International Exhibition of Philadelphia, will commence Oct. 23d and close Nov. 1st, 1876. Entry blanks can be procured of Capt. Burnet Landreth, Chief of Bureau of Agriculture, or of the undersigned.

In addition to the inducements offered by the Centennial Commission, the NorthEastern Bee-Keepers' Association offers $35 for the best and most meritorious display of comb and extracted honey and wax-conditions as follows: The honey and wax must be of fine quality and put up in elegant packages, such as are most likely to find ready sale at high prices. Other things being equal, the larger the display, the greater the merit.

The appointment of judges on this prize is retained by the Centennial Commission, the award being subject to the foregoing regulations.

The Association offers $25 for the best and most practical essay on "How to keep bees and successfully during winter spring." These essays should not treat upon the physiology of the bee, except so far as is necessary to explain instincts and management, This is suggested with a view to making them brief. With beekeepers the ultimate idea of success is the attainment of pecuniary reward, and in deciding upon the merits of the essays, the judges will keep this idea prominent. Arrangements are being perfected to have a committee of three from different parts of the United States, to decide upon the best essay.

We certainly hope a lively interest will be taken in the matter of display so that American bee-keepers shall get the credit due them for the rapid progress they have made.

Upon this occasion the attendance of beekeepers should be the largest ever seen in this country. The varied and magnificent display at the Exhibition; the show of apiarian apparatus and special show of honey; together with the satisfaction obtained from a fraternal shaking of hands and mutual interchange of ideas, of those long acquainted through printed mediums, should be ample inducement to make a long trip to this meeting.

The president of the National Society writes that he thinks the change in time advisable. In accordance with the arrange

ments and this opinion, we announce that THE NATIONAL BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIA’N will meet at Philadelphia, Pa.,

ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25th, 1876. Bee-keepers will please report themselves at the department devoted to the display of honey, at 10 o'clock, A. M. After temporary organization, the Association will adjourn to some convenient, suitable place, for the use of which arrangements will be made.

We hope the special inducements offered for this meeting will be appreciated by beekeepers generally, and we anticipate a large gathering-one suited to display the importance of our industry in this centennial year of American independence.

J. H. NELLIS,

Sec'y Centennial Committee of the

N. E. Bee-Keepers' Association. Canajoharrie, N. Y., Sept. 25, 1876.

The publisher of this JOURNAL expects to be present, and hopes that the show of honey will be good and the convention large and interesting. Many prominent bee-keepers have promised to attend and the meeting will, no doubt, be a success.

Board can be obtained in Philadelphia from $1.00 per day. The Boarding House Association, 721 Arch St., will, if requested, procure rooms and board at reasonable rates, and invites correspondence those intending to visit the Centennial.

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In the matter of the charge for admission, a fifty-cent note paid at the gate admits to grounds, and there is no further charge. A visitor can enter one building or all of them as he sees proper.

Let all who can, go to this Centennial meeting-they will never have the chance to attend another.

Barren Co., Ky., Sept. 16, 1876.-"I wish to know how the cheap honey, advertised in "Honey Markets" in A. B. J., would do to give bees to store for winter use? Some of our bees will not store enough to winter on, and we think of buying some for that purpose. I see that King's B. K. Text book speaks of cheap West India honey as being suitable for this purpose. What is it, and what will it cost? I see that some is advertised in St. Louis at 7@9c., and in Chicago as low as 8c. Will that kind of honey do for winter feed or stores?"

S. T. BOTTS, M. D. [Extracted honey would be good feed, but you would hardly be able to purchase in Chicago at Sc., although if you were to throw some on the market you might not get any more. Strained honey and West India honey we should not want to feed. Indeed, we should rather not feed extracted honey without knowing where it came from. Sugar syrup is probably as healthy as any feed, but should be given at once so as to be sealed. It might be well to try placing over the frames dry lumps of crushed or block sugar.-ED.]

Our Premiums for Clubs.

A. G. Hill has sent us one of his Gas Pipe Extractors to be presented to the person sending in the largest club of new subscribers to THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL before January 31, 1877. The Extractor is light and extremely simple. We will pay the express charges, so that it shall be "without charge" to the recipient.

D. A. Pike will present one of his beautiful Albino Queens-whose progeny will be one-half Italians and one-half Albinos-to the getter up of the second largest club of subscribers. The Albino will be sent, postpaid, May 1, 1877.

We will add the following:

For the third largest list, we will send a tested Italian queen in May, 1877.

For the fourth largest list, we will send 500 young tulip trees (4 to 8 inches high) in April or May, 1877.

For the fifth largest list, we will give a copy of THE AMERICAN BEE JOLRNAL for 1877, post-paid.

For the sixth largest list we will send, post-paid, a copy of Vol. I. of THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL, bound.

See our club rates on page 272 of this issue. Names and money can be sent in as received, mentioning that you wish to compete for the prizes, and we will open an account accordingly. Work should be commenced at once.

We have received the catalogue of Geo. Neighbor & Sons, London, which is the most complete thing of the kind we have ever seen. Cuts, descriptions, and prices of the different hives and other articles are given, making the information very complete. We cannot but wonder at the offering of two or three kinds of hives without movable frames.

Mr. Harbison is now at the Centennial with a very handsome case of honey. The case alone cost $250. He has 3,000 stands of bees, and they annually produce about one hundred tons of honey.

Please look over "Our Clubbing List" before subscribing for any paper. It will pay you to avail yourself of the advantages there offered.

We will present 100 tulip trees to any person sending one or more new subscribers for 1877. See Club Rates on page 272. The trees will be from 4 to 8 inches high, and will be sent in November or May, as desired. Those desiring these trees must mention them when sending in subscriptions.

Foundation Machines.

EDITOR AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL: Seeing a request in your August number for reports about King's Comb Foundation Machine, I would say that I have seen and admired some specimens of the work of these machines, and pronounce the work just about perfect. The bases of the cells are exceedingly thin and the "shoulders" high, and all very smooth, well-formed and regular. Nothing better in this line could be desired. J. HASBROUCK.

We have seen specimens of the foundation from King & Slocum, but have no report from any one who has a machine. Does Mr. Hasbrouck know of any bee-keeper who has one, and if so with what success has the machine been used? The practical question for bee-keepers is, whether it will pay for each one to have his own machine so long as the foundation can be bought for some 60 or 70 cents per pound? Has any one bought a machine for his own use, and would he advise others to do so?

By an oversight the last "cut" on page 265 is printed bottom upwards, and in the seventh line of second column, the word remain should be "retain."

Read our list of Premiums for getting up clubs. We have extended the time to January 31, 1877-in order to encourage agents to work for the best premiums.

To all new subscribers for 1877, we will give the remaining numbers of this year free, or work on bee-culture, as they may choose.

When writing for The American Bee Journal it is just as well to write on both sides of the sheet of paper and will save postage, It is usual to ask to have it written only on one side for a daily or weekly, but for a monthly it makes no difference, as we do not "cut up" any article for the printers. We would ask that all items of business, etc., be written on a separate sheet, however, as we file all such for reference.

NEW MUSIC.-" Angels hover o'er our Darling," by Geo. Hastings, price 40 cents, with splendid lithographic title page. The above song has been sung by well known vocalists with great success, and it bids fair to become a very popular song indeed. It is not very difficult. The music is sweet and plaintive, in perfect keeping with the words. It certainly ought to be found upon every piano forte in the land. Address, F. W. Helmick, Music Dealer and Publisher 50 W. 4th-St., Cincinnati. O.

Mrs. Tupper's Trouble.

The following telegram will answer inquiries concerning Mrs. T's whereabouts:

DAVENPORT, IOWA, Sept. 13.-Mrs. Ellen S. Tupper, who, about a year ago, forged notes to the amount of $13,000 on different parties in Iowa, was brought to this city last night, in charge of an officer, and lodged in jail. She had sold two forged notes to W. F. Ross, of this city, for which she was indicted.

From the Davenport Gazette, of the same date, we clip the following:

Last May the Grand Jury of Scott County found two indictments against Mrs. Tupper -one for forgery, and one for uttering a false note. It was not until the middle of August that Sheriff Leonard ascertained her whereabouts-in Lincoln Co., Dakota. Her home is a farm of 160 acres, with another 160 acres as a "timber claim." The officer arrested her and she is now in the county jail, awaiting trial.

It is a strange, sad case. It doesn't seem possible for her to escape conviction save by the plea of insanity. There are the notes, bearing the indorsement of men of prominence and wealth, who make affidavit that they never endorsed the notes.

CALIFORNIA HONEY.-We received a call from Mr. Chas. J. Fox, of San Diego, California, who visits Chicago on business for the San Diego Bee-Keepers' Association. The honey interest in San Diego County is a large and rapidly growing one; the estimated crop this year being 500,000 pounds of comb, and about an equal amount of extracted and strained honey. Mr. Fox has samples of both, which we consider very fine. The Association which was incorporated about three months ago under the laws of California, is a co-operative one, in the interest of the producers. They propose to repack and grade all the honey shipped, affixing certificates of quality to each case, in the same manner as Government revenue stamps. They have a store-house in San Diego where this is done under personal supervision of the officers of the Association. Arrangements have been made for careful handling on steamers and cars and for through shipment from San Diego to Chicago or other eastern cities, in car-loads, where the honey will be placed in the hands of commission merchants and agents for sale; the object being to sell direct from producer to consumer. The officers of the Association intend to establish a national reputation for San Diego honey, which they believe excells in color, body and flavor any other in the world. There is a very large area of honey-producing territory in Southern California, embracing Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and San Diego Counties, and as it can be produced there for less than the materials for making artificial honey can be bought for, the public may be sure that any honey shipped from that region is perfectly pure, and the San Diego Bee-Keepers' Association propose to guarantee all extracted or comb honey shipped by them. Mr. Fox intends to canvass our market and go to other eastern cities for the same purpose. Such societies as he represents are of great benefit both to producers and consumers, and we heartily wish them success.

Questions and Answers.

BY CH. DADANT.

Does it change the size and color of an Italian queen to mate her with a black drone? GEO. A. VAN HORN.

No!

I have three hives of Italian bees that have sour honey throughout, mostly uncapped, no brood and no eggs, but nice looking queens. What is the cause, and what will be the effect, and is there any remedy? Marion Co., Iowa. A. N. CROSBY.

I cannot tell the cause, I have never seen sour honey in my hives. If the bees are compelled to eat this honey, their death is certain. Remove it carefully and if their provisions are insufficient, replace it with combs of sealed honey. This sour honey can be used to make good vinegar.

I have 45 swarms in Langstroth hives. They commenced robbing this morning and I can do nothing with them. They robbed one another early in the spring. I had several killed clean out. G.

When robbing has just begun, you can stop it by contracting the entrance of the hives, and by shutting up the robbed hives at night, opening the entrance only when the guardian bees are on the alighting board, in the morning. If by such means robbing is not stopped, ascertain if the robbed colonies have a laying queen, and give them brood, young and hatching brood, and young, pure Italian bees.

I have often stopped robbing by giving a few young, pure Italian bees to the robbed colony. If there are no queens nor young brood, and if the stock is feeble, or if it is late in the season, do not try to save it, but break it up, giving its bees to some other colony. Before uniting the bees take care to ascertain that there are no robbing bees left in the hive. To that end, take out after sundown, all the combs, one after another, and shake the bees in front of the hive. The robbers will return to their colony and the robbed bees will remain alone.

If all the means above indicated do not succeed, ascertain which are the robber colonies. These colonies are working while the others sleep. Then exchange places, putting the robbed colony in place of the robbers. In every case it is indispensable to contract the space in the robbed hives till all the combs are covered with bees. Sometimes, when the robbed bees seem accustomed to the robbing, it is necessary to carry the robbed hive in a dark cellar for 2 or 3 days. The hive should be put into the cellar at night, and put back in the morning, using the necessary preventions as stated above. Nine times out of ten the bee-keeper is the cause of robbing by letting his bees tind sweets in time of scarcity.

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