are large, hard and woody, remain in full vigor for a great number of years, thus producing annually an enormous quanfity of fine honey and forage. It is particularly recommended for feeding milch cows, sheep, etc.

Vetches or tares (Vicia Saliva). This species of the pea is grown extensively in Canada and England, where it is highly prized for green fodder, soiling, pastur age or as hay; being relished by all kinds of domestic stock. Its flowers are beautifully variegated, and are a favorite resort for the busy little bees. Sow broadcast in the spring, using about one bushel of seed for an acre of ground, or it may be sown in drills the same as field peas.

Borage (Borago Officinalis, Ger. Surkenkraut) though it may not be fully entitled to be cultivated as a field crop alone, yet it certainly deserves a place in every garden. In Europe, it is considered a valua ble vegetable, and is to be found in almost every garden. The value of borage is thus spoken of in the English Mechanic: "The large leaves and tender stalks dipped in butter and fried make an excellent and savory dish. The brilliant blue flowers are very pretty as a garnish for salads.**The young leaves boiled are a good substitute for spinach; or if dressed with hot butter and grated cheese an excellent and new vegetable. The plant contains a certain amount of saltpetre, as may be proved by burning a dried leaf. For this reason it is used with great benefit, for the relief of sore throat. The root is rich in gum, and if boiled yields a mucilagenous emulsion excellent for irritations of the throat and chest. Very violent attacks of toothache, where the nerve has taken cold, are often cured by holding a portion of the leaves, previously boiled in milk and applied warm in the mouth against the affected tooth. Lastly, bees are extremely fond of borage and it appears to repay them well for their attention."

Mignonette, Parsons' new white (Reseda Odorata Eximia). Too much cannot well be said of the value of this beautiful plant to those who are raising but a few stocks of bees. Kidder speaks thus of the value of mignonette in his "Secrets of Bee-keeping," page 59: "If cultivated to that extent that it might or ought to be, would certainly furnish a rich pasturage for bees; it bloons from June until the autumnal frost. A small patch of this will perfume the air for quite a distance; and were it cultivated by acres, for bee pasturage alone, we should be favored with a fragrant atmosphere that would vie with the spicy breezes of Ceylon, and a honey that would outdo the famed honey of Hymettus for aromatic flavor."

It blossoms in the latter part of June and continues in bloom until cold weather (heavy frosts do not injure it), and indeed

we are informed by our Southern friends that with them it continues in full bloom

during the winter. There are many other new varieties, but we think they are inferior for field culture, as is also the common dwarf sort (Reseda Odorata). The seeds, which are very small, should be sown in the spring; sowing thinly and covering lightly, in drills at least three feet apart.

Alyssum or rock madwort (steinkraut) is of but little value, except as early bee pasturage. The dandelion furnishes a rich pasturage for bees very early in the spring; scatter the seed in your pastures; it will do no harm, as all kinds of domes tic stock will eat it, and in a year or two you will have a rich feast for your bees.

Yellow and white Bokhara clover (Melilotus lencantha and M. albus altisonus) are most excellent honey-producing plants, but they are a great nuisance to growing crops, and should not be allowed to spread too much where they are not desired. However, they are well adapted for sowing on barren hills, steep hillsides and broken ground generally, where it is not desirable for cultivating grain.

Catnip (Nepeta Cataria) and motherwort (Leonurus Cardicia). Bee-keepers should not cut down nor destroy these plants, but increase their number, as being the very best honey-producing plants that can be grown. It will pay well, where land is not too high, to grow acres of these plants. They are both biennials, but if sowed early and well cultivated, they will bloom quite freely the first summer. The honey which they produce always commands the highest price in either country or city. The seed can be sown in a seed bed, and the plants transplanted during the first summer into drills, or they may be sowed broadcast or in drills where they are to remain; but the rank weeds must be kept down. It is a good plan to scatter the seed in stone piles along fences and other waste places about the farm; it is not a bad weed.

Monarda punctata is valuable for bees, but it is difficult to grow it except on sandy or gravelly land.

Partridge pea and Rocky Mountain bee-plant, we have not tested sufficiently to recommend.

Basswood or linden (Tilia Americana) and tulip, whitewood or poplar (Lirioden dron Tulipifera) are worthy alone for culti vation, either for their timber or as an ornamental shade tree. They are rapid aud thrifty growers, easily transplanted, and will live for hundreds of years, and are the most valuable monument that a man can build for future generations. Were our public roads, parks, dwellings, etc., planted with these trees, what a boon it would be to all engaged in this interesting pursuit. A good way to introduce them in a neighborhood is to furnish

your neighbors the desired quantity on condition that if they grow them successfully they have them free; but if they ne glect them and let them die, they to pay you cost price. The seeds are to be sown in drills, and cultivated one year, then transplanted, setting from 8 to 14 feet apart each way. The seed will also grow if strewn among timber, along fences, etc. The Wild China is also a good honeyyielding tree, nearly or quite equal to the above; but we do not think it will stand our severe winters.

We will answer questions concerning plants in the best way we can, if correspondents will remember to enclose the necessary postage.

We are aware that some of the above remarks are at variance with the opinion of some of our brother bee-keepers, but they will please remember that the atmosphere and climate at times change even our most reliable honey-producing plants and trees. C. F. LANE.

Koshkonong, Wis.

For the American Bee Journal. What is the Cause of it?

Mr. NEWMAN: After traveling for two years and visiting many experienced and professional bee-keepers, and listened to their reports in reference to their success, I have come to the conclusion that there is much yet to be learned before beekeeping will be made a success. A majority give an unfavorable report, saying, "My bees are not doing as well as they did some four years past."

That being true there must be something wroug. The question arises: What has been the cause of such a general failure? Have the bees lost their instinct? Have they been indolent and lazy? Haye they lost their desire to propagate their young and to lay up stores for future use? Has nature failed to supply the blossoms with nectar? Certainly not! There may be a difference in the seasons, but not so great as to make a failure, if properly cared for. It cannot be supposed that such a change has been brought about. The many different hives that have been made; the new theories that have been introduced, and the management they have received, do not give much credit in favor of improvement. The convenience of the hive and the manner they are attended has much to do with their success. The lack of knowledge, the management and the many humbugs put on the people here caused them to become disgusted and discouraged.

Many hives, got up by inexperienced bee-keepers, are no more fit for bees than for a hog trough, and all you can say about them is that they are different from some other hive. I have examined a great variety; some have real merit, while

many others are entirely worthless, except for hens to nest in, or for store boxes. The majority of hives are so constructed that it is impossible to discover any superior advantages.

A bee-hive should be constructed so as to cover all the wants and necessities of the honey-bee, and also be convenient to handle; fully adapted to their nature and habits. Such a hive cannot be got up without a thorough knowledge of everything that appertains to the honey-bee. There are so many things to be brought entirely under the control of the keepers, that it requires much thought and long experience to be able to consolidate and construct into one hive or bec-house the convenience and advantages necessary to make bee-keeping scientific and practicable. A scientific bee-hive alone will not insure success. But knowledge, with good judgment and common sense, and the right management, will do so in due time. When these qualifications are all combined, then we may look for improvement in bee culture. It is not a haphazard business. No business requires more perfect management than bee-keeping. Lucky bee-keeping will soon pass away, and those who keep bees will discard all such bigoted notions (still in existence), that if a colony lose their queen you must hang a "fippenny bit" or a dead queen in the top of the hive to cause them to choose another; that when you sell bees you must not take money, but a sheep; that when a member of the family die, you must go, and rap on the hive, and say to them, some one is dead, or they will die out; that you must clean out the hive on the 22d day of February to prevent the moth from entering; to move them on the 16th day of March one inch to have good luck; that you must not sell your bees, but a neighbor may come and steal them; that you must tap on the outside and whistle, to call them in when they swarm; that you must ring bells and rap on tin pans to prevent them from going away.

Many of these hobgoblin yarns are still in vogue and must be discarded; knowledge must take the place of ignorance, and every farmer should inform himself as much in reference to bee-keeping as agriculture or stock-raising. A few colonies of bees will always pay good profits on any farm. They, like other creatures, need care and attention; were created for man's benefit, and are deserving protec tion. They are a self-supporting community, and yield more profit than any creature kept on the farm. They not only feed and support themselves, but with good management will assist to furnish the poor man's table, and help to clothe his children and build him a comfortable home. They require good management and a house adapted to their necessities. They are creatures of habit, and every

thing connected with their surroundings should be in accordance with their nature and instinct; they should be protected from the heat in the summer and cold in the winter; an even temperature should be kept as much as possible, that they may be at all times in a prosperous condition.

Bees should never be divided or allowed to swarm, so as to reduce the animal heat or weaken materially their working_capacity during the honey harvest. The hive should be so constructed that the new colonies will be composed of young bees, too young to go to the field to labor, and if placed in proper condition with necessary material, will rear themselves a young queen, that will be matured and prepared to deposit eggs as soon as they are needed in the new colony. Dividing and swarming, as now conducted, is the cause of more loss than the cold winters. Making two poor swarms out of one good one is not judicious management. In your next number I will explain how I manage my bees. EDGAR.

For the American Bee Journal.
House Apiary.

The article entitled "The Apiary House Question," on page 12, last month's JOURNAL-if it means anything-is intended to convey the impression that "Novice" is in no way indebted to me for any knowledge he has of the House Apiary inethod of bee culture. Those who have read the AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL and "Gleanings" the past six months-particularly what has been said by "Novice" in Gleanings," could not have failed to receive the impression that he wishes it to be understood that the system owes its origin and development thus far to himself.

Indeed, I am credibly informed that one of our most prominent bee-keepers, a man who has an utter disgust for any. thing mean, having a knowledge of the facts in the case, advised "Novice" as a friend to abandon his unwarranted pretensions, and give honor to whom honor is due. Previous to the appearance of my article in the AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL of May last-written in haste from Toledo, Ohio, and published by you without my solicitation-the House Apiary question had not been generally discussed, and very little was known regarding it. In 1866, having then kept bees for many years and having learned, by experience, the precarious nature of the business as usually carried on, I was led to seek for "some better way," and after giving the matter a good deal of careful thought, I drew my first plan of a House Apiarywhich was octagon. After changing and modifying my plans many times, and after innumerable experiments, I submitted the matter to Doctor Kirtland, of

Cleveland, Ohio, whom I knew to be a thoroughly practical and scientific beekeeper. The Dr. was rather favorably impressed with the system and advised me to get it patented. But wishing to test it still further and make any necessary modification in the plans, I filed a caveat in the Patent Office in order to secure the matter. This was in 1869 and I did not procure letters patent till January, 1875. Then wishing to have the sys tem thoroughly tested by disinterested persons, before offering it for sale, I made arrangements to erect "trial Apiaries" in different parts of the country; particularly desiring to have it tested by the Agricul tural Colleges of the various States.

In carrying out this plan, I built one last April in Wooster, Ohio, and that place being near Medina, the residence of "Novice," I wrote him enclosing a description of my apiary and invited him to come over and examine it, and if favorably impressed, make some arrangement to give it a practical test. "Novice" being the publisher of a bee paper and withal, a champion humbug extinguisher, I very naturally concluded that he would give the thing a pretty severe test, and that the interests of beekeepers would be quite safe in his hands. His answer, which is copied below, shows very clearly I think, that up to that time at least, he had no well-defined notions of a House Apiary.

COPY OF MR. ROOT'S LETTER.

"MEDINA, Oн1о, April 30, 1875. I have read and re-read paper sent, and would be very glad indeed, to think it even possible that bees could be kept in such a house as you allude to. I have been experimenting considerably in that same directin and am driven to one of two conclusions, viz.: that you have not tested the plan fully or that you are willfully misrepresenting, and that my time and money would be lost in making the trip. However, I am open to conviction. If you can come and see me or pay the expense of such a trip, I will carefully examine the matter. You know best what you can afford. A. I. Root."

Signed,

In the course of three weeks I visited Mr. Root, taking a model of the Apiary with me, and explained the whole matter to him, as minutely as possible. But as a House Apiary is one of those things which cannot be fully understood or appreciated without seeing it in opera tion, I renewed my invitation to him to visit the house at Wooster, which he accepted and came over the following week. He seemed quite charmed with the House, calling it a "perfect gem"; said it was far ahead of what he expected, even after he had examined the model and had my description of it, and that the system was an entirely novel one to him.

In Gleanings for last month, page 7, "Novice" says "he is not able to discover anything in Coe's House Apiary that has not been in use." Now, I am heartily sorry that he said so; not that it will injure me in the least, but for his sake.

It may oblige me to be personal. For the present, however, I will only suggest that he takes for his next month's Scripture text: Matt. VII: 12-" Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." He also says, same page: "In the AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL, for Nov., M. J. Stibbs makes quite an error when she states that we received the necessary instructions for building our house apiary of Mr. Coe-her brother. Mr. Coe gave us no instructions, but on the contrary, ridiculed our idea of two-inch auger holes and dispensing with ventilators; our building was made for another purpose years ago, as our readers are aware, and there can be no possible need of buying a patent to build such a one as ours." We give this as a companion piece to "Novice's "letter of April 30, 1875, copied above. They belong together-one serves to explain the other.

It may be necessary to refer to this matter at some future time.

If the "House Apiary" proves to be a blessing to the world, I have my reward. If it re ults in a failure, no one but my. self will lose a farthing by it.

J. S. COE. Montclair, N. J., Jan. 15, 1876.

"Scientific" Talks to Farmers.

Our friend, "SCIENTIFIC," talks to the farmers of New York in the Washing. ton County Post, as follows, on the subject of What Shall we Farmers do Next?"

For several years we have been engaged in a specialty in connection with farming, that we find both pleasant and profitable. In comparison with the more extensive fields of labor, in which the great mass of our agriculturists are employed, we would hold up the art of bee culture and the production of honey as second to none in point of profit, for the capital invested.

We do not expect every one will choose this pursuit, for this species of stock is possessed of many sharp points of character, intensely disagreeable to sensitive persons; but to those who can listen to their quiet music without plunging head first into the nearest brush heap, we would advance a few facts for consideration.

If we invest five dollars for a swarms of bees they should produce at the lowest estimate twenty pounds of box-honey, which is, at the usual rate of twenty-five cents per pound-$5. We have here doubled upon the capital invested, and not counted upon the increase of a young swarm worth another $5. These results can be accomplished with the old-fashioned box hive which our grandfathers

used. But we find that bee keeping, like all other pursuits, has kept pace in improvements with all the other industries of the age. Instead of the old box hive we now have the movable comb bee hive which admits of the examination of every comb in the hive, the queen bee can be removed and replaced by another, or young queens can be reared at pleasurein fact, we have complete control of the interior workings of the hive. We also have the honey-emptying machine with which any comb in the hive can be filled with honey, and be removed, and the honey thrown out without injury to the comb, the comb to be re-filled by the bees. This process can be followed as long as the honey season lasts.

Instead of allowing our new swarms to come off and fly away to the woods, we now make swarms when we get ready, and have our queen nurseries in which our young queens are hatched and given swarms as needed. Our stock has also been improved by the importation of Italian bees from Italy, and our queen breeders send these royal insects in small wire cages to all parts of the country. It will therefore be observed that in starting in this business a small or large amount of capital can be employed. An apiary with all the modern improvements would cost several hundred or thousand dollars, aceording to the number of swarms, and the income accordingly great. We now have frequent instances of whole apiaries of a hundred swarms yielding one hundred pounds of box honey per hive, or two and three hundred pounds to the hive when the honey emptying machine is used.

Should we desire to make our profits from the sale of colonies, the method of making artificial swarms presents a rapid means of increase. Ten or more swarms can be made from one in a single season, but no surplus honey will be obtained.

We do not make these statements in relation to bee-keeping in order to excite expectations of large gains and rich rewards to every one who takes up this fascinating pursuit, for there are many discouragements in this business, and quite as many foes to contend with as in any other occupation; but to persons who desire to study the peculiar habits of one of the most interesting and industrious insects by which man is surrounded, this branch of human industry presents not only a pleasant but profitable field of research. While there are but few who are naturally adapted to make this pursuit their exclusive occupation, there are but few who could not keep a few swarms to supply their table with a healthful luxury, and, perhaps, find it also a profitable adjunct to their other business.

At this time, when we hear so much about women's rights and new fields of

labor for women, here is an occupation admirably adapted to the strength and acute intelligence of the female sex; and there are many in various portions of our land who are making large incomes from this source alone, and we are confident that there are also ladies in Washington county possessing the proper qualities to become adepts in this pursuit.

Many are deterred from keeping bees from the fact that within the past few years our unusually long and severe winters have become the greatest foe to the apiarian. Whole districts where swarms were formerly kept have become almost depopulated, and now but few bee hives are seen in a day's ride through the country. It has been found, however, that this kind of stock requires to be protected from the inclemencies of the winter as well as our cattle and sheep, by keeping them in a dark, frost-proof repository, and at an equal temperature they winter with as little loss as any other class of domestic animals.

Others decline to have anything to do with bees, owing to the sharp points they carry in the end of their tails. The propensity to use this sharp point can be in a measure overcome by the use of a little smoke; but suppose we get stung occasionally it is a sovereign remedy for the rheumatism. Therefore let no one become discouraged on this account.

Before closing, I would say that our agricultural society could do much towards developing this industry. Like many other things, it suffers from neg. lect at their hands, while it is worthy of a more prominent position upon their premium lists. SCIENTIFIC.

For the American Bee Journal,

Maury County (Tenn.) Meeting.

The Maury County (Tenn.) Bee-Keeper's Society, held their regular meeting in the Circuit Court room, Columbia, Tenn., on Saturday, Jan. 1, 1876. There was a full attendance.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and adopted.

Mr. J. J. Jones moved that the Secretary be authorized to receive members at any time-adopted.

Mr. David Staples, being called upon, addressed the Society about as follows:

MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN:-I feel highly complimented on being called upon to address you on this occasion, upon the history and habits of the Honey Bee. But knowing my inability, it is not strange, nor unnatural that I should feel a degree of embarrassment. But as the vast ocean on whose bosom floats the mighty ships of commerce, is made of little drops of water; and this earth on which we tread, is composed of little

One moment, we wander among the crumbling epitome of ancient mythology, where we see that the Honey Bee has been the friend and companion of the white man, ever since the most remote ages in history. (I say white man, for there is a tradition among the Indians of the present day.) Whenever they see the Honey Bee among them, it is an omen that the white man is on the trail. I need not trace the chronicles, and show you how she sought the hollows of the trees, the clefts in the rocks, and the carcass of the dead lion, wherein she could bestow her loads of sacred sweets, in order that she might have not only a sufficiency for herself and young, but also an occasional treat for her friend. Let us pass by the inhumane ordeal, when lo, we behold him in the darkness of night with the brimstone match in his hand, in cold blood and unprovoked murder, and rob the little innocent, who feign would have toiled her life away for his good; had it not been for such base inhumanity.

These we did hope might not directly concern us or our countrymen. But no sooner do we tread on America's soil, no sooner see her Langstroth with his movable comb hive, than we are personally interested in its history, and commence a scientific course in apiculture. Far off on the shores of Geneva, in the year seventeen hundred and ninety-five was seen a Huber (having no doubt solved the riddle, wherein from the strong came forth sweetness.) Observing with what accuracy the little insect followed the ribs in the carcass of the dead lion, he conceived the idea of placing a bar across his hive, that he might secure straight combs, and in whatever direction he pleased.

After having lain dormont for more than a half a century, those ideas were aroused and wafted across the mountainous waves of the Atlantic, and were caught up by a Langstroth about the year eighteen hundred and fifty-one, which was the first permanent step in apiculture in America. This was the land of the log gum, and the brimstone match and perchance one half century ago, the rude gum stood on the very ground, where these walls are now erected. The brimstone match was lighted,