Waterloo, Wis., March 14, 1881.
=Closed out by Fire.=—I had the misfortune to be “closed out” of the
bee-business by fire, on the night of March 4, losing all of my 36
colonies of Italians, one of which contained an imported queen. They
were all in the cellar; I also lost all the implements necessary to
carry on the business, my house and contents. This was “closing out”
rather unexpectedly, but I hope not to remain out very long.