Waco, Texas., March 1, 1881.
=Anxious for Spring.=—The Monthly was good, but a more
frequent visitor, in the shape of the Weekly, is better.
It brings fresh news, ready for use. I spent an hour in my
cellar, last evening, examining my bees. I was heart-sick at
the condition in which I found them. I had about 40 colonies
in the fall; at least one-half of them are dead. I have an
excellent cellar, especially for my bees, and have not lost
a colony before for 5 or 6 years. I began to think that
losing bees in winter was an unnecessary thing, but I see
that I was mistaken, for my bees did not lack for care in any
particular. The death of mine is from dysentery. The small
amount of honey collected in this vicinity last year was a
very poor quality, as is seen from the fact that it has not
candied during the winter. I extracted about 300lbs, and put
it away in glass jars, and it looks like so much New Orleans
molasses. My friend, Mr. Bischoff, had about 40 colonies in
the fall; all are now dead but 6. They were left on their
summer stands. Mr. B. is lonesome and wants my bees put in
his apiary next summer to keep him company, but it remains
yet to be seen if I will have any left to keep up a humming
in my own apiary. I met Mr. Gardener, of this city, the other
day, and he reports all of his 16 colonies dead. Several
other bee-men have told me that but few, if any, of their
bees are alive. Winter still holds on with an iron grasp. Our
bees so much need a cleansing flight. I am anxiously waiting
for some warm days.