Auburn, Pa. Feb. 24, 1881.
=Vexatious to Sell Honey.=—I only realized $300 last year
from my bees. I put 50 colonies in winter quarters in the
fall of 1879; lost none, but doubled up on account of
queenlessness, weakness, etc., to 45, all in first class
order. I bought 50 colonies in old-fashioned Langstroth
hives; they were wintered in a good cellar, and were, with a
few exceptions, weak in bees, combs in bad order, short of
stores, and badly managed the preceding season. I united them
down to 27 before I moved them. At the beginning of honey
harvest (basswood bloom) I doubled up to 15, so that when
the honey season opened I had 60 first class colonies, and
obtained 3,500 lbs. of summer honey. I extracted only once. I
increased by natural swarming to 88, and at the close of the
season doubled up to 74. I have lost 1 this winter through
my own fault. I winter out-doors, but would winter indoors
if I had a proper place. I sell nearly all my honey to the
consumers, but confess this is a vexatious way of disposing
of it; it is the most annoying part of the business; in
fact, I feel disgusted when I think of it. People cry fraud,
fraud, when there is no fraud; but when a spurious article is
offered, they swallow it as quietly as desired.