clover, but there is no way of doing it on a large scale except by bringing the "little busy bee" into our service. We know, moreover, that the proportion of honey actually gathered and made available for human use, is very small compared with what might be got, if there were gatherers enough to do it. Further, it is quite certain, that there is no danger of the market being glutted with honey. It has never been abundant enough to cause a decline in the price, except as there has been doubt as to genuineness of quality. The best box honey never goes begging for purchasers, and the same would be true of extracted honey, but for a prejudice growing out of doubt as to its purity. Finally, we know that bee-keeping, though subject to fluctuation is no more so than most other sublunary things. Even the wheat crop sometimes fails, or when it does not fail, the demand slackens, and the price is low. In every line of business there is more or less of uncertainty, risk, and liability to sustain loss. This is no more true of bee-keeping than of other pursuits, and, therefore, it may fairly take rank among the safe and regular occupations of mankind.

So much being settled in regard to the present condition of bee-keeping, let us glance at its future. It is now reduced to a science, which, though in its infancy, has its main principles ascertained and fixed. It is also an art, whose essential manipulations have been reduced to a system. Only those will succeed in it who master the principles of the science, and learn the modus operandi of the art. It is passing out of the hands of unscientific and unskilled people, who are convinced that it is an unprofitable business, and better hands are taking hold of it. Our best bee-keepers make apiculture pay, and some of them are quickly amassing snug little fortunes out of the industry of the bee. As a higher class of beekeepers get possession of the field, and apiculture acquires its true status among the indus

We

tries of the world, many will be attracted to the pursuit, who, instead of rushing into it with ignorance and ardor as their only qualifications will first lay the foundation of success by thoroughly learning their business. look for the springing up of a new generation of advanced bee-keepers-bee-keepers who will be free from prejudice against booklearning about rural matters, and who will believe in movable-comb hives, Italian bees, and honey extractors. The disasters of the last two years, which have fallen most heavily upon the ignorant class of bee-keepers, have had the effect of discouraging these, and leaving only those in the field of apiculture, who have science enough to account for failure, and faith enough to try again, and keep trying until they achieve success.

We believe, too, that the age of empiricism in bee-keeping is passing away. Impostures feed and live on ignorance. Worthless patents and clap-trap appendages, are thrown away so soon as the noviciate of bee-keeping is passed. What apiarian of any experience has not plenty of old lumber in the shape of abandoned hives and rejected "fixings?" We know now that with the movable frame, air-space, and the requisite room, bees will store honey in any sort of receptacle, and that the bee-keeper may suit his own taste and convenience in the matter of hives. Moth-traps, nonswarmers, and the endless little variations about frames and hives which have been made excuses for getting patents, are fast coming to be estimated at their real worthlessness.

An eager demand for trustworthy information and teaching on this subject, will manifest itself on every hand, and we shall soon have a race of studious, pains-taking, successful bee-keepers, whose influence will allure multitudes to this fascinating pursuit, and these in their turn will draw others into the apicultural ranks.

So important and growing an interest must have due representation in the press,

and will find it in such apiarian periodicals as make it their aim to advance apiculture, irrespective of all merely selfish interests. At the head of all these stands the AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL, and therefore all the auguries of success for intelligent bee-keeping are omens of prosperity for it. In this confidence it was removed to this city a year ago, and during a season of depression among bee-keepers, pushed with all the energy circumstances admitted. In this confidence, it is now laid hold of by the AMERICAN PUB

nearly all if possible, but if we have to cut and prune sometimes a little closely, please bear in mind that our space can only be filled, therefore we are sometimes obliged to publish only extracts, instead of whole letters. Another thing we would suggest is, that our correspondents avoid as far as possible, all personalities. These are hardly calculated to produce harmonious feelings in our families, and certainly not essential to the science of Apiculture.

ness.

Knowing, as we do so well, the firm faith our most intelligent bee-keepers have in their business, and the high esteem in which they hold the AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL as the best exponent and organ of their special interests, we count most confidently on their continued co-operation. Their success is ours, and our success is theirs. In this community of interests and fellowship of labour for the general good, they have our best wishes, and we are certain that we have theirs. As we work on dilligently and hopefully, do we not hear merry voices ringing out the cheering refrain:

"There's a good time coming, boys,
Wait a little longer."

Hints to Correspondents. Perhaps there is no way in which the science of bee-keeping can be better advanced than by comparing the experience of practical men. One fact is worth a dozen theories. Therefore we are grateful to our friends for giving their thoughts and the result of their efforts to the JOURNAL. But it must be borne in mind that our space is not equal to our good wishes in this matter, therefore it will be necessary for our friends to condense their thoughts as much as possible. Try and give us the "concentrated extract" of your experience in Bee Culture. We will publish

Bee-Keepers' Society.

Elsewhere in this number will be found a report of the above meeting, held at Louisville, Ky. The editor of this journal fully intended to have been present, alike in the interest of the JOURNAL and in the discharge of his duty as President of the Society. His intention was frustrated by the death of his father-in-law.

The sad event took place too near the time of the meeting to arrange for the attendance of any other representative of the JOURNAL. It is hoped, however, that the report of the proceedings will be found accurate and satisfactory, and that this explanation of his non-attendance will be accepted by all concerned.

To Those Interested in Bee Culture.

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At the sixth annual convention of the Michigan Bee-Keepers' Association, it was decided to hold a special meeting at Kalamazoo, to commence Wednesday, May 6th, 1874. It is especially desired that all members be present, and, in behalf of the Association, we urge every bee-keeper in Michigan to attend. cordial invitation is also extended to all persons interested in the science of bee-culture, whether residing in this or other States. Surely much good may be derived from a comparison of experiences next Spring, and from the able papers that will then be presented. Timely notice will be given of all further arrangements. Address communications or inquiries concerning the subject to FRANK BENTON, Sec'y Mich. Bee-Keepers' Association. Shelby, Oceana Co., Mich.

"Instead of complaining that the rose has thorns, I congratulate myself that the thorn is surmounted by roses."

Sundry Items.

INTRODUCING QUEENS.-Having more experience in introducing queens as recommended by me in October JOURNAL, I would advise not to release late in the season, especially in cool weather.

PACKING HIVES FOR WINTER. I have packed some hives to winter on summer stands, as follows: Of stuff inch wide by quarter inch thick, I cut off lengths so as to make frame, four pieces for a frame, the outside dimensions of which are same as the side walls and top of brood chamber. These skeletons were covered with coffee sacking, and when ready to pack, I removed the wooden sidewalls and top of brood chamber altogether, replacing with those just described, and then filled in all around and on top with straw. I am confident this will avoid all moisture, and be much warmerthe two most essential points to be gained, for successful out door wintering.

Now if any who chance to read these lines, have bees in single walls to winter on summer stands, having done nothing by way of protection, I would say, Try a few hives as follows: Make a frame and cover it with sacking as above described, that will fit snugly inside of cap, fill cap with straw and press the frame down upon it, having put the side to which the sacking is fastened to frame next to the straw. Remove the honeyboard, and replace the cap on hive. Now set the hive one side, and place on the stand a dry goods box, several inches larger all round than the hive, with the open side facing the same way as the front of the hive. Fill in the back side of the box with straw, and set the hive in the box, and fill in both sides with straw. If your bees dont come out in Spring in better condition, on less honey consumed, tell us all about it in the JOURNAL.

This brings us to consider Novice's allusion to us in November JOURNAL, on "Outdoor wintering," in regard to which he has heretofore expressed himself, as follows: "We should give them no protection whatever, unless it be from the wind; but should endeavour to have them receive all the sun possible." One of Novice's correspondents writes, "that in this climate, out door, without protection is very unsafe," to which Novice adds, "We have been obliged to come to the same conclusion in regard to out-door wintering." What conclusion,

Novice? Why, that out-door wintering, without protection, is very unsafe. That is plain enough without "pursuing our reading any farther," as we do not think the statement about the sunshine alters the meaning of the above at all.

In giving our views we have always confined ourself to the subject in hand, viz., "Wintering on Summer Stand," and not as Novice generally does, shift it to "Wintering in Special Depositories."

In the report of the Kansas State Beekeepers' Association, we find the following assertions by Mr. Meador: In speaking of the queen he says, "After impregnation all the eggs produce females, and that the male bees were generally produced by eggs from the worker bee, fed for the purpose.

That we have fertile "workers," I suppose every queen breeder has found out to his detriment; but the above assertions in regard to the same are at variance with all our reading or experience. I for one, and methinks a whole brigade of JOURNAL readers join in, would like his "proofs for the faith that is in him."

I removed a queen from a hive in May, from which drones were flying, and as I wanted drones from the queen that succeeded the one removed, I placed drone comb in the middle of the hive, which was filled with eggs, and cells sealed long before any worker progeny of the new queen hatched. So if that drone comb was filled with eggs by a fertile worker, it must have been one bred from the old queen, consequently there could be no variation in drones hatching from that brood, and those in the hive when the old queen was removed. There was, however a great difference in the markings, showing a different strain altogether. `

J. E. MOORE.
Rochester, Pa., Nov. 28, 1873.

"Moon's Bee World," is the name of a new periodical published at Rome, Ga.We wish the new magazine all success and may the South soon become "a land flowing with milk and honey."

Fruit may be preserved with honey by putting the fruit first in the can, then pouring honey over it, and seal air tight; when the honey is poured from the fruit it will have the flavor and appearance of jelly, making a delicious dessert.

For the American Bee Journal.

A New Repository for Bees.

MR. EDITOR: Of the great number who suffered from the loss of bees last Winter I am one. I lost all I had, forty-two stocks, leaving a large amount of honey. And now after sifting the matter down to a fine thing, I have concluded the cause was in a measure carelessness, in not protecting the bees and giving them sufficient ventilation. The Winter set in about Nov. 12th, 1872, and continued until about the last of March, 1873, too cold all that time for bees to be out, except one or two days in February, then but few made their appearance. The consequence was that the frost accumulated in the hive, and then a moderate day would come to melt the frost and make it run down over the combs and thin the honey, which caused dysentery. Nearly all in this section lost all the bees they had; the disease paid no respect to the pattern of hive but entered all alike.

Last Spring I procured two very weak stocks of black bees from a neighbor, the best that I could do here. I also procured a medium stock (five frames) of Italians from W. J. Davis, of Youngsville, Pa; this stock contained a beautiful queen, and as prolific a queen as I ever saw. In order to make a cross I procured a very beautiful queen from Mr. D. A. Pike, of Smithsburg, Md., and introduced her into one of the black stocks, then after a sufficient length of time formed nucleus, raised queens, which mated with Mr. Davis' stock of drones. No drone brood was allowed to hatch in the black stocks for six weeks after the Italian queens were introduced. I have increased to eleven good stocks with abundant stores for a long Winter, and the nicest, most robust and the best workers that I ever saw. The loss of last Winter is a dear lesson to most beekeepers-it has proved so to me at least.

I have built a repository, which I think is complete, as follows: I selected a dry spot which slopes a little to the north, then graded it to the south twelve feet, and ten feet the other way; then set two posts at north end, wide enough apart for a door, then four feet south two other posts, same distance apart, and eight feet farther south two posts, same distance, then pinned perlines on top of the posts, same as a barn, put stays across the top to keep the posts from leaning in toward each other, posts four feet high from

the floor; then set up two-inch plank of sufficient length to meet at the top, same as rafters, with one end on the ground, thus making a roof eight feet wide; then planking up the ends, all but the door four feet high and thirty inches wide, then planked up the remaining four feet perpendicular and out to the first two posts, then horizontal over the top, and then covered the whole over with dirt from twelve to fifteen inches deep, leaving another door at the north end, forming a hall, can open the first door, pass in and shut it, and open the next, this lets no light in nor sudden change of air. Have ventilated at the bottom with two inch pipe and at the top with six inch stove-pipe; put a roof of boards above the dirt, and kept a stove and fire in it about four weeks before putting in the bees. Have only the out-side door shut, it is warm enough up to this date. The bees are perfectly quiet with all the holes open in the honey-board. They were put in on the 13th of November. The weather has not been warm enough to fly since had they been out. M. WILSON. Meredith, Pa., Nov. 28, 1873.

Hints to Ladies.

Much has been said and done in relation to "Woman's Rights," but amid all the speeches, conventions and resolutions of the last few years, the most successful women have been those who have quietly gone to work, winning their own way to prosperity.

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All the conventions this side of the den of Eden will not help woman into a position of comparative independence_unless she tries to help herself. Rosa Bonheur did not ask Congress to make her an artist-nature gave her the ability and she wrought out her own problems with patience and earnestness.

Harriet Hosmer sought no aid from conventions and by-laws when she began her life work, and Florence Nightingale did not care to vote before she went into the Crimea. But all women are not artists or sculptors. Their gifts vary as much as those of the other sex, and indeed like many of them, some of us seem to have received none at all, that is no bright particular talent, which, if cultivated, will bring wealth and fame.

To hundreds and thousands of brave hearted women the serious question comes home "What can we do for a living." The endless round of domestic labor brings little or no reward, while the ranks of teachers and seamstresses are filled to overflowing. There are clerkships to be sure, and many of them are ably filled by ladies; but side by side with them, are stalwart men who weary themselves with handling ribbons and laces, while the soil waits for tilling and the harvest for reapers. In many departments of life man gets sadly "out of his sphere" by intruding upon women's legitimate domain. But we cannot straighten the world's machinery, though it sometimes gets badly out of gear, neither can we force the drones into their proper places. It therefore behooves us to find fields of labor where there is room enough and to spare, and perhaps the most tempting of these is the science of Apiculuture.

Woman is particularly fitted for the handling of bees. Her perceptions are quick, her touch is delicate and her instincts are seldom at fault. Many of us can find time amid domestic cares to cultivate a few flowers and we do not feel that the time thus spent is wasted, even though it brings no financial reward. But the care of a few colonies of bees would require no more time than the same number. of flower beds and the pursuit is even more fascinating; there is more pleasure in seeing the little workers build without a compass their geometrical cells than in watching the unfoldings of bud and blossom. The work is lighter and cleaner than Horticulture, besides yielding substantial returns. And however happily a woman may be situated in life there is a pleasure and independence derived from the use of money which she has earned that can be found in no other way. Then if she wishes to make her husband a holiday present, she can do so without feeling that it came from his own pocket. Many a worn out teacher and tired house-wife may find among their bees rest, health and a new interest in life. To women in feeble health bee-keeping offers many advantages. Let them be hers and let her take care of them, and she will feel an interest in the little creatures that can be awakened in no other way. Every pleasant day will find her more than once beside

the hives, and the fresh air and glad sunshine with the aid of light employment will give her a strong hold upon life. It opens a new world in natural history which proves to be one of absorbing interest. It has been demonstrated that some of the most successful Apiarians in the country are ladies.

Says Mrs. E. S. Tupper: "In the summer of 1863 I had but two pure Italian stocks to commence with. One of these stored one hundred and ten pounds of honey besides giving three swarms. The other gave two swarms and stored ninety-six pounds of honey. All of the young swarms filled their hives and some of them stored honey in boxes. In the summer of 1864 I averaged from nine Italian colonies one hundred and eighteen pounds each."

A gentleman writes from Odell, Ill., that "Wife has managed the bees at home this summer. She had twelve swarms to start with, some of them very weak. Sold one hundred and thirty dollars worth of surplus bees and two hundred and fifty pounds of honey, which was doing pretty well, considering the poor season and the first attempt." Yet we will venture the assertion that this lady did not neglect her other duties or enjoy life any the less on account of the time spent in caring for her bees.

Ladies here is health, happiness and financial success for you. Do not say that you do not understand the business, that you cannot learn, that you are afraid of failures, &c. One year's subscription to the AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL will give you a whole volume of advice from the best practical Apiarians in the country. requires but little capital to begin with, hence the risk is very small and success is almost certain. Try the experiment next summer, and let us hear of your success in the fall through the columns of the JOURNAL. MRS. H. V. REED.

Central Iowa Bee-Keepers' Association.

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