Some of our readers being beginners, are often perplexed to know just
what methods of the many different ones advocated by our contributors
will be the best for their individual needs. Now, there are many methods
of manipulating bees and hives, any one of which followed out will bring
success. Take “Wintering” for instance. Some of the most successful
bee-keepers winter out-doors. Others in-doors. Some with chaff hives;
hives with air spaces or with outside winter cases. Some winter in
cellars, and others in special depositories or in bee houses. Each
method has its strong supporters.
About the only thing to be considered in adopting either method is the
climatic location. For instance, bees in the Southern states will not
winter well in cellars, nor are chaff hives necessary, while in the
Northern states, outside cases packed, dead air spaces, chaff hives or
in-door wintering is a necessity.
A great many letters of complaint have been received from persons to
whom we have been sending the BEE-KEEPER, because we asked them to pay
for it. Many of them say they never subscribed and do not think they
should be compelled to pay. We do not send this magazine to anyone
unless ordered to do so, excepting to the former subscribers of the
_Advance Bee-Hive_ and _Bee World_, whose subscription lists we have
purchased, and we have continued after their original subscriptions have
expired, excepting when ordered to stop doing so by the subscribers
themselves. We have frequently mentioned the necessity of ordering us to
stop if the magazine was not wanted, and have sent postal card notices
to to those whose subscriptions have expired six months back or more.
Now, we do not wish any one to take this magazine against their wishes,
nor pay for it either, but we do wish you would notify us on a postal
card or otherwise, if you want it stopped when your subscription
expires.
* * * * *
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-labelling 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.
* * * * *
We have been making an extensive inquiry as to the styles of hives in
most general use throughout the country, especially in the Eastern and
Middle states, and we wish our friends would send in their views in
regard to the advantages of the Simplicity or Langstroth style of hives
over the old style box hives. Send it to us either as a regular
contribution or correspondence for publication.
* * * * *
We notice in _Gleanings_, _The Review_, _Progressive Bee-Keeper_ and
other journals the “ad.” of the “Chicago Bee-Keeper’s Supply Company,”
in which they state their office as being 68-70 South Canal Street.,
Chicago. Parties interested have endeavored to find such a concern at
this street number but they have failed to do so. A man by the name of
Kline, claiming to be the secretary of the company, offered this
magazine a very liberal “ad.” some months ago, but as our information
regarding the concern was not satisfactory we declined to accept the
“ad.” All bee-keepers will do well to deal only with old established
manufacturers and dealers.
* * * * *
Hereafter we will put the name of the state in which they are written at
the end of all articles, so that our readers will know that a method or
system advanced by a bee-keeper in Georgia, for instance, will not be of
much use to any one in this state, especially if it relates to handling
bees.
* * * * *
C. H. Dibbern is not satisfied with his bee escape invented the latter
part of last season, and claims now that he has another almost perfected
which will beat anything yet. A great man on bee escapes is our friend
Dibbern. By the way, M. E. Hastings has recently invented an escape
something on the principle of the Porter, which appears to be about
perfect. We will endeavor to give an illustration and description of it
next month.
* * * * *
Edward R. Newcomb, formerly of Pleasant Valley, N. Y., has moved to
Chicago and has given up his supply business; also the manufacture of
the Stanley Automatic Extractor.
* * * * *
Everyone whose subscription has expired, or is about to expire, will do
well to take advantage of our seed offer given in another column; a
$1.50 box of seeds, &c., for only 25 cents.
* * * * *
The ever-increasing migration to the Tropics from American ports will
probably receive a fresh stimulus from the article on the Highlands of
Jamaica, which Lady Blake, the wife of the Governor of Jamaica,
contributes to the March number of the _North American Review_.
* * * * *
“THE FLOWERS OF CHILI.”
This week’s issue of _Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper_ being the
colored number, contains a beautiful page of portraits of the handsome
women of Chili, a sleighing scene in Chicago, character sketches from
the tenth annual dinner of the famous Clover Club of Philadelphia,
illustration of the Young Women’s Christian Association and Margaret
Louisa Home of New York City, and of the “Captain Prat,” the formidable
Chilian ironclad. The Children’s Department contains a beautiful story
entitled “Majorie’s Valentine,” and the Graphological Department is full
of interest, while the fashion letter and editorial pages, together with
the beautiful colored front page, make this number the handsomest that
the Arkell Weekly Company has ever published. Price only 10 cents; 12
numbers $1.00, with flower premiums catalogued at $1.25 by Messrs. Peter
Henderson & Co., $1.25.
* * * * *
The complete novel in _Lippincott’s Magazine_ for March, “A Soldier’s
Secret,” is by Captain Charles King, who alone among living Americans
has the secret of the military tale. What he does not know about army
life in the West is not worth knowing, and what he knows he can impart
with unsurpassed and unfailing charm. The post, the bivouac, the
battlefield,--whatever goes on at these he makes to live again before
us; for he has been a part of it all, and his heart is with the cavalry
still. His last story has a very recent theme; the Sioux war of
1890,--and will be found equal to any of his previous work.
* * * * *