duced beautiful three-banded bees, I would call her a purely-mated queen, and mail her at once. My customer would be disappointed when he found out, in trying to rear pure queens for sale from the queen I had sent him, that she had mated with a black drone! No, sir; I believe that "black blood " mixed up with the yellow will tell every time. Such has been my experience, and I have been so taught by the bee books and papers. I would like to hear from Mr. Doolittle, or some other noted queen-breeder, on this subject.

Italian drones are more active than the blacks. I believe that with equal numbers of the Italians and blacks in the same yard, the Italians will predominate; that there will be a larger percentage more of the young queens mated with Italians than with the blacks, there being no advantage on either side by the bees in the surrounding country.

I have in my yard a fine Italian queen that produces bees with three nice yellow bands; from the bands out is a beautiful gray. The drones of this queen are very smart and active, flying when no other drones are flying. This smart trait is in all the daughters of that queen, and a large percentage of my young queens are mated with the drones from three of these queens. I can tell by the steel-gray color on the rear ends of the bees from the yellow bands out. The bees of these queens show the same activeness, and are about the best I have in my yard.

I am very much interested in this queen question. If a queen mated with a black drone will produce all beautiful three or more yellow banded bees, I want to know it. I also want to know how to test a queen, if Mr. Wheeler's theory be true. I do not write this to get up a controversy, but I want light, and I hope that the old veterans will be kind enough to "turn on the light." Woodside, N. C.

If You Want to know how Queens are fertilized in upper stories, while an old Queen is laying below-how to safely introduce Queens at any time when bees can fly-all about different bees, shipping Queens, forming nuclei, multiplying or uniting colonies, etc.-send us $1.00 for "Doolittle's Queen-Rearing ;" 170 pages; bound in cloth, and as interesting as a story.

CONVENTION DIRECTORY.

1892.

Time and place of meeting.

Apr. 6, 7.-Texas State, at Greenville, Tex.
A. H. Jones, Sec., Golden, Tex.

Apr. 7.-Utah, at Salt Lake City, Utah.
John C. Swaner, Sec., Salt Lake City, Utah.
Apr. 7, 8.-Missouri State, at Warrensburg, Mo.
W. S. Dorn Blaser, Sec., Higginsville, Mo.
Apr. 21.-Colorado State, at Golden, Colo.

H. Knight, Sec., Littleton, Colo. May 5.-Susquehanna Co., at Brooklyn, Pa. H. M. Seeley, Sec., Harford, Pa.

May 28.-Haldimand, at Nelles' Corners, Ont. E. C. Campbell, Sec. Cayuga, Ont.

In order to have this table complete, Secretaries are requested to forward full particulars of the time and the place of each future meeting.-THE EDITOR.

North American Bee-Keepers' Association PRESIDENT-Eugene Secor.. Forest City, Iowa. SECRETARY-W. Z. Hutchinson....Flint, Mich.

National Bee-Keepers' Union. PRESIDENT-James Heddon..Dowagiac, Mich. SEC'Y AND MANAGER-T. G. Newman, Chicago.

Bee and Honey Gossip.

Do not write anything for publication on the same sheet of paper with business matters, unless it can be torn apart without interfering with either part of the letter.

First Swarm this Season.

I am one ahead, and will bet that we caught the first swarm of bees of the season. It came about in this way: We have been stimulating our bees by placing hay along the front of the hives, then pouring syrup on the hay, and the bees helped themselves on fine days. February 3 was a very fine day, and a starving swarm came and clustered on one of our hives. It is a fair swarm of hybrids, and the queen is active and healthy. This would appear that they knew whether they would be cared for. MATTIE ROBY.

Chanute, Kans., March 5, 1892.

Open Winter and Typhoid Fever.

We have had an open Winter with the exception of a few weeks in January, when it was quite cold. We had two weeks of sleighing. Bees have had

flights quite often. This month, so far, has been mild. I wintered my bees on the summer stands in single-walled hives. I leave the section-case on, and put a chaff cushion on that, which fills the case. I raise the back of the hive so the water will run out. My loss, so far, is one colony, by starvation, out of 37. The last few days have been like Spring, and bees have been on the wing from morning until night. To-day they brought in pollen. The most of them are in good condition. I came from Orono, Mich., last April, and brought my bees with me. We came here to farm and keep bees. boys came with me, one was old, and the other 20 years. But, alas! our two dear boys are lying in the silent tomb. We are living in sorrow and despair. They were our two youngest boys, and there is now no one to comfort us in our old age. One died Oct. 15, and the other Dec. 9. We hope to meet them in that better world. They died with typhoid fever. We shall go back to our old home in Michigan in the Spring. Last year was a poor season in this locality; but very little surplus honey was secured. L. REED.

Havana, O., Feb. 24, 1892.

Grading of Honey.

My two 24 years

The grading of honey, as published, is not suitable for me. Some years we have the whitest, clear buckwheat honey-so clear that we could see through a section of it, by holding it up to the light; and some years all our honey is very dark, but last year we had every color or flavor you could think of. SETH NELSON. Keating, Pa., March 6, 1892.

Experience in Wintering Bees.

Last Spring I put out 6 colonies of bees in fair condition, and in the Fall I had 21 colonies-the 6 having increased to 20, and one came here and clustered in the yard. On examination, I came to the conclusion that 18 of them would winter, but having no special place for them they were left on the summer stands until last month, when I found 7 of them were dead. The remaining 11 I placed in the cellar, where they should have been put in the Fall, but the cellar being full, and the weather being mild, they were left out. Those in the cellar seem to be doing well now. There is much complaint here that those that were cellared early were restless and

uneasy. Those that were left out-ofdoors were taking a cleansing flight yesterday and day. before, but they have consumed a large amount of stores, as we have had several very cold snaps300 below at one time. I am pretty thoroughly convinced that the best place to winter bees, as far north as this, is in a good cellar, that is free from vegetables, or anything that has a tendency to make it damp. We have had two very poor seasons. I did not get a pound of surplus honey in sections last season. L. J. CLARKE. Wiscoy, Minn., Feb. 27, 1892.

Preventing After-Swarms.

I see my name mentioned on page 311 by some correspondents who ask whether my method of preventing after-swarms is a humbug. I wish to thank you for your unselfish answer. I presume now that I am expected to offer an explanation. I am no humbug; neither is my method a humbug. I am neither deceived in it, nor do I wish to deceive others. I sent out 300 circulars as a feeler, thinking that if there was a disposition to want it, I would then advertise it in the different bee-periodicals. I do not blame any persons for making inquiries, but they should be careful not to get me or any.one else into disgrace unthinkingly. E. J. CRONKLETON. Dunlap, Iowa, March 7, 1892.

[We still think that the plan we proposed would have been better than to have spent the money for the circulars. That would have inspired confidence, and have been perfectly safe on both sides. But as you thought otherwise, and acted independently, you have no one to blame for the result.-ED.]

Drones in February.

On page 294, Mr. Davis speaks of drones in February. It is a very uncommon thing at this season of the year this far north; although I saw drones in a colony of bees yesterday (Feb. 26); also two perfect queen-cells, and plenty of drone-boood. From the indications, they are preparing to cast a swarm. The colony that has the drones wintered on the summer stands; they belong to a friend, about two miles from my apiary. CHARLES WHITE.

Farmer's Valley, Nebr.

Almost a Failure for Two Years.

I have been on the sick list a good Ideal of the time since last Fall. My honey crop for two years past was almost a failure, averaging about one-tenth of a crop for the two seasons. That is small pay for the labor, still I shall press on and hope for the future. My bees, the past two seasons were, I think, in fine condition for the work, but the honey was not to be had from the flowers. I shall work to make a success

of it this year.

The ILLUSTRATED HOME JOURNAL for March came to-day. My wife is pleased to see her name on the list for premiums. It will come good to her in our close times. J. W. SANDERS.

Le Grand, Iowa, March 7, 1892.

Five-Banded Italians.

Mr. Robbins, on page 284, wishes to make three bands the test for Italian bees at fairs. This test practically leaves out the five-banded Italian bees. Judges of fairs have already ruled out the five-banded ones; claiming there are no such bees ! Either make the test four or five bands, or make a separate class for the five-banded Italian, bees. To recognize the fact that Italian bees may have more than three bands will lend encouragement to those engaged in developing a race of bees for beauty as well as business. J. F. MICHAEL. German, O., March 7, 1892.

Judging Bees at Fairs.

On page 284, Mr. G. F. Robbins has given rules for marking bees, queens, honey, etc., exhibited at Fairs. I have no comment on them except on the rule for marking bees to get a standard. He says that the standard for Italians should be uniformly three yellow bands, plainly visible, and that such should stand before four, five, or promiscuous banded bees, and the leather-colored before the golden or light yellow; the reason being that the prevailing verdict is in favor of the darker colored Italians as a bee for business. A great deal has been said as to which is the pure beesthe three or more banded ones. Messrs. Doolittle, Vandruff, Alley and others claim that the Italians are a hybrid, and they are as good authority as we have. If that is the case, would it be right to say that the three-banded shall be the standard? But I will admit that we should have some standard. It seems to be a fact that if we take a number of

To Indiana Bee-Keepers.

The names and post-office addresses of those who have represented our industry at the County and District Fairs, and those who are thinking of making an exhibit at the World's Fair, are wanted by a committee appointed by the Indiana State Bee-Keepers' Association. They are wanted to submit to the authorities who will assign the proper space, give needed information, etc. It is hoped that Indiana bee-keepers will take a lively interest in the work, as we have the resources, and there is no reason why we cannot have as good a showing as other States. Please send names to Walter S. Pouder, 175 East Walnut Street, Indianapolis, Ind.-Dr. E. H. Collins, R. S. Russell, Walter S. Pouder, Committee.

Wavelets of News.

Pure Food Legislation.

The Paddock Pure Food Bill now before the United States Senate, is one in which every bee-keeper should be interested. The bill provides for the prevention, by government inspection, of the mis-branding or mis-labeling of all articles of food and drugs. In other words, if a can containing honey is marked "Pure Honey," it will necessarily be exactly what the name implies, and not an adulteration.-American BeeKeeper.

Africa at the World's Fair.

Remenyi, the well known violin virtuoso, has made application for a space of not less than 400 square feet in which to exhibit his great collection of rare African ethnological specimens.

The selection, which comprises over 1,500 carefully selected specimens, has been formed during the last forty years, and is beyond question the most perfect of its kind. It is especially rich in the ancient regal symbols in use among

the Zulus, including sceptres, royal bracelets, which were used instead of crowns, and other emblems of hammered silver, of carved and polished ivory, and of rhinoceros horn. The royal bracelets are especially interesting. They are hollowed rings made from transverse sections of huge elephant tusks, and, until his death, were never taken off, after once placed on the arm of the king.

There are also several splendid specimens of the exceedingly rare and beautiful royal silk mantles of the sovereigns of Madagascar, three hundred and more years ago. These mantles are curiously adorned with broideries of metal, and of uncut precious stones, and of feather work. Every specimen in the collection is perfect and unique of its kind.

Stray Straws.

Gray beards were in the majority at the Ohio State Bee-Keepers' Convention. I never saw so large a proportion in a gathering of bee-keepers.

The White Mountain Apiarist suggests that "some bee-keeper living in or near Chicago, open a boarding-house for beekeepers during the World's Fair in 1893."

to

Editor Newman looks a good deal as if a train of cars had run over him. But the grippe has not taken all the grit out of him. Just say "adulteration" him, and you will find he is not dead yet. An Almanac is very handy in a family to keep track of the days of the month; but if you subscribe for the "old reliable" AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL, it will keep you straight as to the day of the week. Never misses.

When a man gets up in a convention and begins: "I am only a learner, but I wanted to ask the best way to do" so and so, you may look out for a plan of his own that he will fight for as away ahead of any other, and nine times out of ten it is either old or worthless.-DR. C. C. MILLER, in Gleanings.

Bees on Summer Stands in March.

March is one of the most trying and severe months of the year in this latitude. The alternate sunshine and clouds together with the cold winds, destroy thousands of bees by alluring them out of the hives, and chilling them so they are unable to return.

This is one of the main causes of Spring dwindling, which is so much

feared by Northern bee-men. It is almost impossible to prevent the bees from coming out the hive when the sun is warm, even though the air is cold. There are, however, some fine days in March, and these should be utilized to their full extent.

Feed your bees rye meal by placing it in shallow boxes in a sunny spot near the apiary. They will soon find it and carry in large quantities for food for the young brood. This is especially useful if the hives do not contain much pollen. It also keeps them at work near home when the weather is too cool for them to forage in search of natural stores.

They should also be fed a thin sugar syrup to stimulate them to breed strongly. Feed regularly whenever it is warm enough for the bees to carry it into the hive.

The brood-nest may also be enlarged by inserting an outside comb between two which contain brood. The queen will soon fill it with eggs. This must be done with great caution, as the brood will become chilled if there is more than the bees can care for, which would be worse than to do nothing.

See that the hives are cleaned out, and all dead bees removed. Also contract weak colonies by inserting a division-board, thus making the broodchamber warmer.-L. J. LOWMAN, in the Indiana Farmer.

Honey-Dew for Winter Stores.

No need to ever tell us again that bees will winter just as well on honey-dew as on the best of honey. They won't do it! It is true that bees left on the summer stands will manage to exist on it if there are frequent warm days, when they can fly.

Perhaps in such seasons as the past, it would be just as well to leave them out even unprotected, and run the chances of an open Winter. But having the bees now in the cellar, and knowing their unfavorable condition, what had better be done? We advise to set them out during this month, and will practice what we preach.-C. H. DIBBERN, in the Western Plowman.

The Fourth Annual International Fair will be held at Detroit, Mich., from Aug. 23 to Sept. 2, 1892. For further particulars, address James E. Davis, Sec., 204 and 205 Hammond Building, Detroit, Mich.