A Smart Scribbler for the press gets off the following in a late issue of the Boston Transcript: ̧

Oh, please don't hold up the bee as a pattern. What of it, if he does improve each shining hour? A shining hour doesn't call for improvement. You never heard of a bee improving a dull hour, did you? When the little humbug does, send us word, and then we may join the admirers of the bee.

The writer of this item is so sharp that it is wonder he did not cut himself!

He should have improved the opportunity to improve his time by "turning to profitable account" the noble example of industry presented by "the little busy bee." That certainly would have been "improving a dull hour." Let him look at that pattern-and not call the bee a "little humbug" again, until he can appreciate the world-wide reputation of the bee, for habits of industry.

That Foolish Scare in London, mentioned on page 39, of last week's BEE JOURNAL, about American apples, is having its effect. Last Saturday the following was found among the telegraphic dispatches from New York to the daily papers throughout the country:

POISONED APPLES.-A report that.has done the foreign apple trade of America great injury within the past few weeks is the alarm started by the Horticultural Times to the effect that American apples are poisonous, owing to the limbs of the trees being syringed with poisonous solutions to destroy the numerous enemies of the apple. It asserts that, the poisons used upon the apple trees are absorbed into the fruit, and even in some cases a thin coating of it is left on the skin.

Whether there is any truth in this statement, or whether it is "trick of trade" used to the detriment of the apple trade of the United States has not yet been determined.

Of course it is only 66 a trick of trade." The Department of Agriculture officially investigated the matter, as stated on page 581, and decided that it would take over a ton of fruit sprayed 8 times

with the Bordeaux mixture to furnish a single poisonous dose.

Then, again, the spraying is done just as the fruit forms, and kills the larvæ of the curculio and codling moth before they eat into the apples! Then the rains come and wash off both the dead insects and the poison long before the apples are ripe, so that none remains to affect the consumer, even in the slightest degree.

But the injury is done, and the foreign apple trade will suffer for a time-just as the honey trade has suffered by the frequent repetition of the villainous "Wiley lie" during the past dozen years.

Honey-Dew is said to have killed some bees this winter where it was their only dependence for Winter food, but the following letter shows that "no bad results" have followed from its use:

My bees are wintering nicely. I was somewhat uneasy about them on account of their stores being honey-dew. They have frequent flights, and I can see no bad results from the food. The white clover is nice and green, and promises an early Spring. We have not seen a snow flake here this Winter, but, of course, Winter is not over yet. Am I right when I understand that any person paying $10 can become a life member of the North American BeeKeepers' Association? I have been told that, and I want to know if it is so.. C. K. READING. Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 2, 1892.

Yes. Send $10 to Ernest R. Root, Medina, O., and he will record you as a life member of the North American BeeKeepers' Association.

Winter Problem in bee-keeping; by G. R. Pierce, of Iowa, who has had 25 years' experience in bee-keeping, and for the past 5 years has devoted all his time and energies to the pursuit. Price, 50 cents. For sale at this office.

Get a Binder, and always have your BEE JOURNALS ready for reference. We will mail you one for 50 cents.

The Dying Year in Australia.

E. PEDLEY.

Not in the Winter of life he dies,

Chilled, and snowy, and old ;

In the glory of Summer the Old Year dies, When the midnight chime is tolled.

Not in the sky is a hint of death-
A sky of infinite blue-

Nor is there a sigh in the breezy breath
That is playing the leaflets through.

The cattle and birds to the shade retreat,
In drowsy, still delight;

And flowers have scented the noonday heat;
Yet the Old Year dies to-night.

And the air is filled with a sound of BEES,
The humming of Summer flies ;

And there's joy in the sound of the rustling trees;

Yet to-night the Old Year dies.

Not in the Winter of life he dies, But in his Summer's prime ; His labors end, he stricken dies, And swells the ranks of Time.

Queries and Replies.

Dead-Air Spaces in Hives.

QUERY 801.-Are dead-air spaces in hives an advantage ?-Iowa.

Yes.-G. M. DOOLITTLE.

I am not sure.-C. C. MILLER.

My observation says, Yes.-M. MAHIN.

I never tried them.-MRS. L. HARRISON.

I really do not know.-J. M. HAM

BAUGH.

Yes; if in the proper place.-H. D. CUTTING.

Yes, in my opinion they are.-J. E. POND.

The objections more than balance the advantages.-C. H. DIBBERN.

I think their disadvantage outweighs any advantage.-A. J. COOK.

Yes, an advantage, but a greater disadvantage.-R. L. TAYLOR.

They may be, but I never thought so hard enough to try. Too expensive.EUGENE SECOR,

Years ago I used to think they were; now I have my doubts about their utility.-J. P. H. BROWN.

They are of no advantage to the bees, but are quite essential in the manipulation of hives and frames.-G. L. TINKER.

No, nothing perceptible. I have tried hundreds beside of solid walls. Do not waste money and time on them.-JAMES HEDDON.

I believe they are. I have had one season's experience with chaff hives, and like them much. Every one so protected did better than those not protected.-A. B. MASON.

Not in my locality. They are а "dead" failure with me. I have tried them, and have seen them tried. In the Winter of 1886, Dr. Keene, who lived just one mile from me, had 100 colonies in dead-air space hives; he lost all but 18 of them. My bees wintered without any loss. They were in singlewalled hives, and the winter sunny days warmed the bees so that they could get at their stores.-G. W. DEMAREE.

Hollow walls, with no packing, have their advocates; and it is asked if these dead-air spaces are not equally as good non-conductors of heat as those filled with chaff. They are not. In the first place, the air is not "dead"-it is conssantly moving. The air next to the inside wall becomes warm and rises; that next the outer wall cools and settles; thus there is a constant circulation that robs the inner wall of its heat.-W. Z. HUTCHINSON.

This is a disputed point, and one which experience alone can decide.THE EDITOR.

=

The Convention Hand - Book is very convenient at Bee-Conventions. It contains a simple Manual of Parliamentary Law and Rules of Order for Local BeeConventions; Constitution and By-Laws for a Local Society; Programme for a Convention, with Subjects for Discussion. In addition to this, there are about 50 blank pages, to make notes upon, or to write out questions, as they may come to mind. They are nicely bound in cloth, and are of the right size for the pocket. We will present a copy for one new subscription to the BEE JOURNAL (with $1.00 to pay for the same), or 2 subscribers to the HOME JOURNAL may be sent instead of one for the BEE JOURNAL,

Topics of Interest.

the foot, 14 and 1%, seem to be the favorites. Of course a manufacturer would prefer sections to be but 14 inches wide, or 7 to the foot. We do not see why this section should be intro

W. Z. HUTCHINSON.

[Continued from page 50.]

Next came an essay by Dr. C. C. Miller, who was kept at home by La Grippe. His essay was read by E. R. Root, as follows, on

Can We Settle on Two Sizes of Sections as Standard?

I don't know. If it can be made to appear that it would be for the general good, I have faith enough to believe that some concessions would be made for the sake of unanimity.

But what good would it do? Can I get any more honey by using a section of the same size as others? Hardly. Can I find more ready sale by having a standard size? The consumer hardly cares whether the section he buys is 44x44 or 5x3%. He may, however, want a smaller section than some other customer wants, and that is just so much of an argument in favor of having a variety of sizes. But I think it may be easier to sell at wholesale if my sections are of a standard size, and the wholesale purchaser knows, without seeing them, just what my sections are as to size. So that I do not see that it makes any special difference, considering merely the matter of sale.

Looking at it from another point of view, can we buy our supplies any cheaper if we settle upon a standard size? I hardly need to answer the question. Try getting an odd size of any article made. You may be bluntly told: "We do not make that size," or, "We can make it for you, but will have to charge you more than for a regular size."

I have taken the liberty to write to three manufacturers of sections, and I think I can do no better than to here submit their replies.

WATERTOWN, Wis., Nov. 30, 1891. DR. C. C. MILLER, Marengo, Ills.

DEAR SIR:-In reply to your favor of Nov. 26, we think there should be but one size of section, viz.: 44x44. As to width of the section, it is difficult to say. Nearly all of our foreign orders are for 2-inch sections, and domestic orders vary very much; however, 7 to

commodate the inside measurement of a different hive. But, if sections could be brought to a standard width of 1% or 1%, and size 44x44, we think it would be much better for consumers, for manufacturers, and also for dealers in honey.

You ask what we would recommend if three sizes only were used. We would say 7 to the foot, 1% and 2 inch, all to be 44x44.

As to advising what would be best for one size, if we consulted our own convenience perhaps we should say 7 to the foot, but we stand ready at all times to make any sizes wanted.

G. B. LEWIS Co.

JAMESTOWN, N. Y., Nov. 28, 1891. DR. C. C. MILLER, Marengo, Ills.

DEAR SIR-We are in receipt of yours of Nov. 26, and will answer your inquiries, in regard to sections, as well as

we can.

We judge that the percentage of oddsized sections; that is, those other than 44x44, ranges from 10 to 15 per cent.

We usually keep in stock 5x5, 5x5, 5%x4, 54x6%, 4x4%1⁄2, 5x51⁄4, and 6x6, of the odd sizes.

It would be a great advantage to manufacturers and dealers, if only one or two sizes were used, as the cost of changing machinery, and the waste in manufacturing one or more thousand of odd-sized sections is in excess of the price we get, over and above that for the regular size.

In case three sizes of sections were only used, we should think the 44x44, 54x64, and the 5x54 would be the best three sizes; if two sizes, the 44X44 and the 5x54, and if only one, of course the 44x44.

It is quite impossible for us to tell you the dimensions of the different sizes of sections that we make. There are a very large number, which would require our going over all of our orders for a year to get at the various sizes.

50,000 sections, and one or two thousands of odd sizes.

We frequently have orders, especially from foreign countries, of several hundred thousands of the 44x44 size, with, perhaps, 5 per cent. of odd sizes, and in such cases we endeavor to make the price in accordance with the actual amount of the difference in timber.

There is no question but what it is desirable to only have one or two sizes of sections used.

As to the possibility of it, we do not think it can be done, as long as there are so many bee-keepers who use odd sizes of sections. They will continue to do so, if they can get any of the manufacturers to make them.

We see no good reason why the manufacturer should not do so, though we think manufacturers have made a mistake in reducing the price so much, on odd sizes.

We may be as much to blame as others, but the reason of our moderate charges, on odd sizes, is owing to competition.

THE W. T. FALCONER MFG. CO.

It may be said we are not to consider the interests of manufacturers, but of bee-keepers. Allow me to say that when you make production easier for them, I am quite sure you make cost less to us. There should be a mutual understanding, and the manufacturer should, as he surely does, study the wants of the bee-keeper, and the beekeeper should study the convenience of the manufacturer. Suppose you say to a manufacturer, "We are quite divided as to our views of the right size of section, and we want you to keep in stock ten different sizes," and I believe we are really doing just that thing now. He will do it, just because we demand it, but he could keep on hand a much larger stock, and could manufacture at less cost if you demand only one or two sizes.

Please set it down as a fixed fact, that when you consult the convenience of the manufacturer, and make his work more profitable, part of that profit is bound to come back into your own pocket.

So I am of the opinion that it would be a good thing for this society to say, "We believe it would be profitable for bee-keepers, so far as possible, to give the preference to the one or two sizes agreed upon by us. Of course that would leave every man free to use the size he likes best, but it would give just so much of an impulse in the right direction.

The question assigned to me by the Secretary does not touch upon the question as to what is the best size for a standard, but I crave your indulgence while I say just a little about that. The 44x44 is already so nearly a standard size that it is very likely to gain that place without any aid from this society, but proper action may hasten it. But, suppose we agree upon that size, what is to be the width ? We have 2 inches, and, then by going down by sixteenths, all sizes to perhaps 12.

The grocers, or at least a good many of them, are anxious that sections shall average less than a pound each, and I think I am not mistaken when I say that some of them want them to weigh less than a pound each, so that they can buy them by actual weight, and then sell them, without weighing, for one pound each. Now, I would like to see a standard adopted that would be so much less than a pound that they could not be sold for a pound each. I do not want to be a party to cheating, and I am afraid I have been. As a general rule, 1 15/16 will run less than a pound each, but 1% would sooner be detected as a thief if it attempted to pass itself off for a pound. So, it would be well not to have our standard more than 1%, and perhaps it should be no less. There are other reasons why 1% is a good size, among which is the reason that such a size can be conveniently used in most of the supers in use, and allow of wedging up. Possibly, 14 would be still better. In favor of these two sizes is the fact that they are already favorites. If this convention agrees upon one or two standard sizes of sections, and does something toward grading comb-honey, it will not have met in vain.

C. C. MILLER.

H. Segelken-We want a section that weighs less than a pound. We would not object to a section that weighs a pound, but it must not weigh more.

S. Corneil-I think our oblong section (higher than wide) is the most handsome. It also appears to contain more honey than a square section.

H. R. Wright-A thin, large section is the one for my market. A bee-keeper should furnish his product in such shape as will suit his customers-the commission men. If the commission men buys and sells by weight, that is all right, and if the retailer sells by the piece, that is his business. Every bee-keeper ought to put up his product in that manner that will bring him the most

money, regardless of what the third or fourth purchaser may do with it. As Mr. Corneil has said, the oblong section is the most pleasant to the eye, and looks like containing more honey. Next came a discussion on the subject of

The Grading of Honey.

W. Z. Hutchinson said that the Northwestern Association of bee-keepers had adopted a set of rules for grading honey, and had requested him to bring these rules to the notice of the North American Society for criticism and discussion. He then read the rules, which are as follows:

FIRST GRADE.-All sections to be well filled;

combs straight, of even thickness, and firmly attached to all four sides; both wood and comb to be unsoiled by travel-stain, or otherwise; all the cells sealed, and the honey of uni

form color.

SECOND GRADE.-All sections well filled, but with combs uneven or crooked, detached at the bottom, or with but few cells unsealed; both wood and comb unsoiled by travel-stain, or otherwise, and the honey of uniform color.

THIRD GRADE.-Sections with wood or comb, or both, travel-stained or otherwise much soiled, and such as are less than three-fourths filled with honey, whether sealed or unsealed; and crates containing two or more colors.

O. L. Hershiser-I notice that in the last grade there is a place for sections that are "much soiled," but where is the place for those that are only slightly

soiled?

C. P. Dadant-That omission was noticed at Chicago, after the rules had been adopted, but it was not thought best to open up the discussion again. W. Z. Hutchinson-We ought to have something better than first grade. The great bulk of honey should go into the first grade, but the requirements of the first grade of the Chicago rules are too exacting for that. different name for that grade. "fancy," or something of that sort, then call the second First, etc.

We ought to have a

Call it

J. E. Crane, E. R. Root and C. P. Dadant all agreed with the views expressed by W. Z. Hutchinson, except that Mr. Crane thought we ought to have a greater number of grades. N. D. West-I think it will be wellwill suit all persons and places. high impossible to get up a grading that

W. E. Clark-We cannot offord to

have very many grades. I think three

grades are enough.

The

E. R. Root-It seems to me that something ought to be said about color. first grade ought to be white.

W. Z. Hutchinson-That point was the one that gave the Chicago folks the most trouble, some taking the view expressed by Bro. Root, while others contended that there was first-class buckwheat honey just as truly as there was white clover or basswood. The same was equally true of golden-rod, heart'sease or any colored honey.

Upon motion of E. R. Root, a committee of seven, including the commission men present, was appointed to formulate a set of rules for grading honey. The members of the committee were: G. M. Doolittle, P. H. Elwood, J. E. Crane, Henry Segelken, H. R. Wright, Mr. McKullough, and Mr. Killmer, of Thurber, Whyland & Co.

Next was brought up the question of What Ought the Government to Do in Apiculture?

O. L. Hershiser-As the placing of a bounty on sugar has lowered it in price, and the price of honey is affected by the price of sugar, the producer of honey ought to have a bounty on honey.

R. McKnight-Our Government grants our bee-keepers' society $500 annually.

On motion of P. H. Elwood, it was voted that the Department of Agriculture be requested to add a department devoted to apiculture, and that this department report to bee-keepers through the North American Bee-Keepers' Association; also that an appropriation be asked for to enable the North American Bee-Keepers' Association to meet the expenses of publishing a report of its proceedings. To look after this matter, the following committee was appointed: P. H. Elwood, O. L. Hershiser, and J. E. Hetherington.

Next came an essay by R. F. Holtermann, entitled:

Some Facts Not Generally Known About Rendering Beeswax. [This was published last week on page 50.-ED.]

E. R. Root-What is meant by a high temperature and long heat?

R. F. Holtermann-I am not scientific. C. P. Dadant-I would not like to keep wax as hot as boiling water for a long time.

E. R. Root-We cannot keep it much over 180 for a long time.

S. Corneil-I saw some of the editors were talking about boiling wax, and I wanted to see if they knew what they