Part 4

=The Outlook Encouraging.=--The loss in wintering has been very heavy in this county during the past cold winter. In one apiary near me, in Langstroth hives, only 5 are now alive out of 100 last Oct. My home apiary of 175 colonies last Oct., mostly in closed-end Quinby-frame hives, wintered on summer stands packed with fine straw and chaff, now numbers only 115. The loss has been much the heaviest in open end frames, especially so in metal corner frames. Out of 78 in such frame hives only 2 colonies are left. Last year was the poorest season I have had in 12 years; I had but one natural swarm during the season. White clover was a failure; there is but little basswood near here. By feeding I kept my bees in good condition for the fall harvest; smart weed furnished a very little; Spanish needle (the best honey plant in this section) was a total failure; this is the 2d year in 12 that it has failed. I had one apiary near the Illinois river which contained 120 colonies last spring, in Quinby hives. The early part of the season was poor, but I had during the season 21 natural swarms and over 3000 lbs. of section honey for sale, with a surplus of 3000 lbs. in brood frames; more than enough to winter them, which I brought to my home apiary. The above harvest was wholly from smart weed, which was grown on overflow land near the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. The loss in this apiary will not exceed 10 from all causes. All are strong and booming. The soft maples are now in bloom; every fair day the bees are carrying in pollen and a very little honey; the elm will soon be in bloom furnishing an abundance of pollen for rapid queen rearing. With favorable weather I expect a spring harvest from the willow privet bush and red haw; the honey from these is very light colored and of excellent quality. Your hopeful outlook for the coming season is very cheering. The Weekly is both a pleasure and a necessity with me.

A. T. WILLIAMS.

St. Charles, Mo., March 24, 1881.

=Severe Winter, but Bees All Right.=--This has been the most severe winter experienced by the oldest inhabitant in Ky. I have 14 colonies well packed in chaff, on their summer stands; 3 in the star chaff hive, 9 in the simplicity with tight bottom and portico, and 2 in the simplicity hive. Banked each of them on 3 sides with snow; 12 faced south, 2 north, with no winter passages; used the enameled cloth contrary to friend Muth’s advice. I packed on each side of those in single-wall hives with loose chaff, also on the top. I had from 3 to 7 frames in each hive. All wintered equally well, and to-day the queens are doing their duty nobly, shut in on from 2 to 3 frames, and crowded with bees. I think the chaff hive unnecessary for this climate, but it is necessary to pack them well with an absorbent in order to bring them safely through our generally changeable winters. Success to the Weekly; it is growing in interest from week to week, and its coming is anxiously longed for.

C. H. DEAN.

Mortonsville, Ky., March 18, 1881.

=Winter Bee House.=--My bees have wintered splendidly in my winter bee house.

L. CARSON.

Frederick, O., March 24, 1881.

=Bees Wintered Well.=--Bees on the summer stands without protection have wintered poorly in this vicinity. I have fifty colonies in Quinby hives, packed in oat chaff and cut straw, that have all wintered well so far. Most of the bees in this vicinity are in box hives, and nearly ½ of them are dead as far as heard from.

E. DEUEL.

Portlandville, N. Y., March 24, 1881.

=Bees in fair Condition.=--My bees are in a fair condition, on the summer stands. I put into winter quarters 66 colonies; lost 3 and bought 14, making 75 in fair condition. Owing to old age and poor health I intend to sell my bees, although I regret it very much. Last year was a very poor one for honey. I obtained about 600 lbs. of comb honey, which I sold for 15 cts. a lb., and I had one swarm. I like the Weekly BEE JOURNAL very much. I had one colony of bees swarm out on the 15th of this month; they flew around about half an hour and then went back into the hive again. I examined them on the 17th and found the colony strong, with combs all dry and nice, and about 25 lbs. of honey, some pollen, with eggs and brood in all stages. They are now satisfied.

J. J. QUINN.

Corydon, Ky., March 25, 1881.

=The Survival of the Fittest.=--Another blizzard struck us yesterday; the weather is not so cold, but the high winds and heavy fall of snow make it more disagreeable than any day of the cold zero weather. Bees will get another set-back by their brood chilling. Those that come out in good condition this spring can be considered tough citizens, and no mistake.

JOS. M. BROOKS.

Columbus, Ind., March 30, 1881.

=Half of the Bees Dead.=--There is a loss of more than one-half of the bees in this county. I am well pleased with the Weekly BEE JOURNAL.

W. A. HERRON.

Indianola, Iowa, March 28, 1881.

=Wintered Without Loss.=--I believe I am the only one in this county that has not lost more or less bees this winter. My bees were all transferred from box hives last fall, their stores taken away, and they were fed on syrup. They have wintered without any loss of bees. I have bought of Mr. Muth, of Cincinnati, some extracted basswood honey, and shall dilute it with sugar syrup and feed this spring. My bees all have more or less brood now.

W. T. CLARY.

Clarysville, Ky., March 29, 1881.

=Wintered Safely.=--Bees are dying very rapidly in this section of country. I have 18 colonies; 2 are weak, but I have lost none so far. I bought a Cyprian queen from a firm in the East. She wintered all right, but her workers are hybrid Italians. I lost one last fall by foul brood. I am much pleased with the Weekly BEE JOURNAL.

WM. H. GARIHAN.

Northumberland, Pa., March 28, 1881.

=Chaff Did Not Save the Bees.=--The bees in this vicinity are mostly dead. Chaff did not save them from the effects of the past severe winter.

L. HUBBARD.

Waldron, Mich., March 25, 1881.

=Wintered in Chaff.=--Three-fourths of the bees in this neighborhood are dead. I packed mine with chaff on the summer stands, and they came out nice and strong. I am a beginner, and derive much benefit from the BEE JOURNAL, which is a welcome visitor.

EVAN B. HADLEY.

Deming, Ind., March 29, 1881.

=Eleven Swarms from One Colony.=--I commenced the last spring with 13 Italian and 4 black colonies, and in the fall I had 70; lost 6 in wintering by being queenless. I have sold 4, and now have 60 doing well. I had 11 swarms from one colony and its increase, besides 50 lbs. of honey. The BEE JOURNAL is _the_ bee paper, and I wish it success.

E. CARR.

Leesville, Texas, March 14, 1881.

=A Visit Every Week, Very Pleasant.=--My bees have been at work on the soft maple for the past week. I commenced the winter with 31 colonies; I now have 21; many of them are very strong; some died with plenty of honey in their hives. Last season was a poor one, giving no surplus. I think there will be a heavy loss of bees here. I thought I would not like the Weekly BEE JOURNAL as well as the monthly, but I would not exchange it now for any monthly, because I can hear from my bee-keeping friends every week. I wish it great success.

N. DAVIS.

Emporia, Kan., March 28, 1881.

=Buds are Swelling; Spring is Coming.=--By the JOURNAL I notice that the winter has been a disastrous one to bees. It must be hard to report a loss of ½ or ¾; and some of the reports even say--“all dead.” I am afraid that some of the bee-keepers in this section can say ditto to these reports. The loss around here is greater than there is any need of, on account of the carelessness of farmers in preparing their bees for winter; some of them leave them out on the summer stands without any protection whatever, and of course the result is plain. I have wintered mine in the cellar for the past 2 seasons without any loss, except one that starved this winter; and I am to blame for that in not knowing their condition when I put them in the cellar. I think that now all fear of loss is past, for my bees are doing as well as could be desired. They are breeding considerably, and are all bright and healthy. The snow is going off slowly, at last, and we may look for spring soon. The maple trees are full of swelling buds--it is too early to say anything about fruit bloom; I don’t know whether it is killed or not. White clover looks well where the snow is off, and it promises well for the coming season.

HARRY G. BURNET.

Blairstown, Iowa, March 26, 1881.

=Bees About All Dead.=--I put my bees into winter quarters in the Mitchell hive, packed with clover chaff at each end of the hive about 6 inches thick, and over the top with cushions with the same, about 4 inches thick, all on the summer stands. My loss is now about 2 per cent. The snow is now from 12 to 15 inches deep; this does not look very encouraging; the bees in this part of the country are about all dead. I like the JOURNAL much better as a Weekly than before?; it gives us _fresh_ news.

S. M. OLDHAM.

Reynoldsburg, O., March 30, 1881.

=Double-Walled Hives.=--A large proportion of bees have died in this vicinity this winter. I have lost 6 colonies out of 16. I am using Hill’s double-walled winter bee hive. I lost none wintered in these hives, but every one in Langstroth hives died. I wintered on summer stands and one hive had as much protection as another. I feel sure I should have saved all if I had used the double-walled hive; those that died had honey enough in the hive to have wintered them through, if they could have got at it. My bees are carrying pollen every day they can be out.

J. R. WILCOX.

Utica, Ind., March 29, 1881.

=Losses in Wintering.=--Having seen no report from this vicinity, I have taken some pains to ascertain the extent of the losses of the bee-men of this part of Wayne county, Ind. I have reports (some of them indirectly) from 34. Ten report a total loss; 8, 90 per cent.; 6, 80 per cent.; the others from 33 to 25 per cent. The average loss of colonies will probably be 80 per cent., and those colonies which survive are very much reduced in numbers. Most of them were left unprotected on the summer stands. I find that those that were taken into the cellar before the severe cold of November, came through with small loss, while those taken in after ice had accumulated in the hive, fared the worst of all. I am an advocate of cellar wintering, having never lost a colony until the present winter, and that is through neglect in not taking them in early; I lost 3 this time. I am convinced that dysentery (the one great cause of our loss) could have been much mitigated by keeping an even temperature, which cannot be done out-of-doors, and had we removed their unsealed, poor food and fed them candy instead, our reports would have been different. Two colonies thus treated by me came through in good condition. My bees gathered pollen and honey yesterday from the willow. Maple will be in bloom in a few days.

M. H. WOLFER.

Richmond, Ind., March 28, 1881.

Local Convention Directory.

1881. _Time and Place of Meeting._

April 2--S. W. Iowa, at Corning, Iowa.

5--Central Kentucky, at Winchester, Ky. Wm. Williamson, Sec., Lexington, Ky.

7--Union Association, at Eminence, Ky. E. Drane, Sec. pro tem., Eminence, Ky.

7--N. W. Ohio, at Delta. Ohio.

13--N. W. Missouri, at St. Joseph, Mo. D. G. Parker, Pres., St. Joseph, Mo.

May 4--Tuscarawas and Muskingum Valley, at Cambridge, Guernsey Co., O. J. A. Bucklew, Sec., Clarks, O.

5--Central Michigan, at Lansing, Mich.

10--Cortland Union, at Cortland, N. Y. C. M. Bean, Sec., McGrawville, N. Y.

11--S. W. Wisconsin, at Darlington, Wis. N. E. France, Sec., Platteville, Wis.

12, 13--Texas Bee-Keepers’ Association, at McKinney, Collin Co., Texas. W. R. Howard, Sec., Kingston, Hunt Co., Tex.

Sept. -- --National, at Lexington, Ky. --Kentucky State, at Louisville, Ky.

Oct. 18--Ky. State, in Exposition B’d’g, Louisville, Ky. W. Williamson, Sec., Lexington, Ky.

☞ In order to have this Table complete, Secretaries are requested to forward full particulars of time and place of future meetings.--ED.

CLUBBING LIST.

We supply the Weekly =American Bee Journal= and any of the following periodicals, for 1881, at the prices quoted in the last column of figures. The first column gives the regular price of both:

_Publishers’ Price. Club._

The Weekly Bee Journal (T. G. Newman) $2 00 and Gleanings in Bee-Culture (A. I. Root) 3 00 2 75 Bee-Keepers’ Magazine (A. J. King) 3 00 2 60 Bee-Keepers’ Exchange (J. H. Nellis) 2 75 2 50 The 4 above-named papers 4 75 3 75 Bee-Keepers’ Instructor (W. Thomas) 2 50 2 35 Bee-Keepers’ Guide (A. G. Hill) 2 50 2 35 The 6 above-named papers 5 75 5 00 Prof. Cook’s Manual (bound in cloth) 3 25 3 00 Bee-Culture (T. G. Newman) 2 40 2 25

For Semi-monthly Bee Journal, $1.00 less. For Monthly Bee Journal, $1.50 less.

Honey and Beeswax Market.

BUYERS’ QUOTATIONS.

CHICAGO.

HONEY--The market is plentifully supplied with honey, and sales are slow at weak, easy prices. Quotable at 18@20c. for strictly choice white comb in 1 and 2 lb. boxes; at 14@16c. for fair to good in large packages, and at 10@12c. for common dark-colored and broken lots. Extracted, 8@10c.

BEESWAX.--Choice yellow, 20@23c.; dark, 15@17.

NEW YORK.

HONEY.--Best white comb honey, small neat packages, 14@16c.; fair do., 14@16c.; dark do., 11@12; large boxes sell for about 2c. under above. White extracted, 9@10c.; dark, 7@8c.; southern strained, 80@85c.

BEESWAX.--Prime quality, 20@23c.

CINCINNATI.

HONEY.--The market for extracted clover honey is good, at 8@10c. Comb honey is of slow sale at 16c. for the best.

BEESWAX.--18@22c.

C. F. MUTH.

SAN FRANCISCO.

HONEY.--The “Vigilant” takes 600 cases to Liverpool. There is a slightly improved feeling consequent upon a little more inquiry, but prices show no material appreciation. Discouraging reports are received from the southern part of the State, as to the prospects of the coming crop, but other sections give promise of an abundant yield. With a good supply yet on the market, prices are not apt to be buoyant until the anticipated failure is more fully settled. We quote white comb, 12@13c.; dark to good, 9@11c. Extracted, choice to extra white, 5½@6½c.; dark and candied, 5@5½c.

BEESWAX.--22@22½c., as to color.

STEARNS & SMITH, 423 Front Street.

San Francisco, Cal., March 11, 1881.

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=A Smooth Complexion= can be had by every lady who will use Parker’s Ginger Tonic. For promptly regulating the liver and kidneys and purifying the blood there is nothing like it, and this is the reason why it so quickly removes pimples and gives a rosy bloom to the cheek. See notice.

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☞ We have prepared Ribbon Badges for bee-keepers, on which are printed a large bee in gold. Price 10 cents each, or $8.00 per hundred.

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☞ Notices and advertisements intended for the Weekly BEE JOURNAL must reach this office by Friday of the week previous.

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☞ Instead of sending silver money in letters, procure 1, 2 or 3 cent stamps. We can use them, and it is safer to send such than silver.

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☞ The Michigan Bee-Keepers’ Association will convene in Pioneer Rooms of the State Capitol at Lansing, May 5. The following is the programme:

Regular order of business.

Annual address by Pres. W. J. Ashworth.

Address by T. G. Newman, editor of American Bee Journal; subject, Rise, Progress, Present Condition and Future Prospects of American Apiculture.

Essay--Profitable extent of bee-keeping, by James Heddon, Dowagiac.

Essay--Requisites of an Apiary, by H. A. Burch, South Haven.

Essay--Some important facts in bee-keeping, by Prof. A. J. Cook, Michigan Agricultural College.

Discussions and remarks.

Examination of exhibits.

All exhibitors of supplies are requested to send samples to the Secretary, with prices and descriptions attached, and all transportation charges must be prepaid by the exhibitors.

GEO. L. PERRY, _Sec._

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☞ Programme of the Northwestern Bee-Keepers’ Union, to be held at Hastings, Minn., May 17, 1881:

1.--Address of Welcome, by J. N. Searls.

2.--Reports of committees.

3.--Reports from all--number, kind and condition of bees.

4.--A paper by Pres. A. Tidball, on honey-producing plants and flowers.

5.--A paper by Dr. P. Barton, of St. Paul, on honey as food and medicine.

6.--Apiary culture and our fairs, by Hon. William Avery, of St. Croix Falls, Wis.

7.--A paper on sales of honey, by F. B. Dorothy, of Taylor’s Falls, Minn.

8.--A paper on wintering bees, by L. Day, of Farmington.

9.--Progressive bee-culture, by J. G. Teter.

The above subjects will be open for discussion. In addition to the above, the following subjects are suggested:

1.--Essential properties of a good bee hive.

2.--How to prevent and cure foul brood.

3.--How to prevent spring dwindling.

4.--Comb Foundation, with dividing and natural swarming.

Appointment of committees.

Election of officers. Adjournment.

☞ All bee-keepers are cordially invited. Entertainment free.

F. B. DOROTHY, _Sec._

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☞ The Northern Indiana Bee-keepers Association will hold their regular meeting at the Court House, at Valparaiso, Ind., April 7th, 1881, at 2 o’clock p. m., for the election of officers, and for the transaction of any other business that may come before the meeting.

J. B. DECROW, _Sec._

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☞ The North Western Wisconsin Bee-keepers Association will meet at Germania Hall, La Crosse, Wis., on Tuesday, May 10, at 10 a. m. All interested in bee-keeping are requested to be present.

L. H. PAMMEL, JR., _Sec._

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☞ The Semi-Annual meeting of the Champlain Valley Bee-Keepers’ Association will be held at Bristol, Addison Co., Vt., May 19, 1881.

T. BROOKINS, _Sec._

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☞ The next meeting of the N. W. Illinois and S. W. Wisconsin Bee-Keepers’ Association, will be held at H. W. Lee’s, 2 miles n.w. of Pecatonica, Winnebago county, Ills., on the 17th of May, 1881.

J. STEWART, _Sec._

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☞ On account of unfavorable weather the convention at Monroe Centre, Ill., met on Feb. 8, and there being but few present, adjourned to the same place on March 29, 1881.

A. RICE, _Pres._

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☞ The Texas Bee-Keepers’ Association will hold their third annual Convention at Judge W. H. Andrews’ apiary, in McKinney, Collin Co., Texas, on the 12th and 13th days of May, 1881.

WM. R. HOWARD, _Sec._, Kingston, Hunt Co., Texas.

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=Gray Hairs Are Honorable= but their premature appearance is annoying. Parker’s Hair Balsam is popular for cleanliness and promptly restoring the youthful color.

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☞ Sample copies of the Weekly BEE JOURNAL will be sent _free_ to any names that may be sent in. Any one intending to get up a club can have sample copies sent to the persons they desire to interview, by sending the names to this office.

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☞ It would save us much trouble, if all would be particular to give their P.O. address and name, when writing to this office. We have several letters (some inclosing money) that have no name. Many others having no Post-office, County or State. Also, if you live near one postoffice and get your mail at another, be sure to give the address we have on our list.

HEADQUARTERS IN THE SOUTH, for the Manufacture and Sale of BEE-KEEPERS’ SUPPLIES SIMPLICITY AND LANGSTROTH HIVES AND FRAMES

The New All-in-one-piece Sections!

Having purchased, from A. I. Root, a machine for making these sections, I am ready to supply them in any quantity. Comb Foundation, made of pure yellow wax, and worked on shares; Honey and Wax Extractors, Knives, Bee Smokers, etc.

Italian Queens & Bees!

all bred from imported mothers of my own importation. Dollar Queens, ready April 1st, $1.10, until June 1st; after, $1.

Tested Queens from 1st March to 1st November. Safe arrival guaranteed and all queens sent by mail. I send no queens that I would not have for myself. Full colonies of Italian Bees from $5 to $8.50, according to quantity, etc. Early 4-frame nucleus, with Tested Queen, $5. No black bees in the neighborhood. Send for my Illustrated Catalogue of prices, etc. Address,

PAUL L. VIALLON, Bayou Goula, La.

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The Sweet Home RASPBERRY

Is the largest, most productive, (bearing 125 bushels per acre,) firmest, best shipping Raspberry ever introduced; perfectly hardy, been tested by 36° below zero; sells the best; costs less to pick, because it is firmer; and uniformly larger than any other Black Cap. For Circular address,

9m2t

D. D. PALMER, New Boston, Ill.

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=Friends=, if you are in any way interested in

BEES OR HONEY

We will with pleasure send you a sample copy of our

Monthly Gleanings in Bee-Culture,

with a descriptive price-list of the latest improvements in =Hives=, =Honey Extractors=, =Artificial Comb=, =Section Honey Boxes=, all books and journals, and everything pertaining to Bee Culture. _Nothing Patented._ Simply send your address on a postal card, _written plainly,_ to A. I. ROOT, Medina, O.

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=A NEW PLAN.=--For one dollar we will send full printed directions how to prevent the end of the sheet of wax from adhering to the rolls in making comb foundation. Address,

1m6t

=SMITH & SMITH=, Kenton, Ohio.

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ITALIAN QUEENS.

Tested Queens $1 50 Warranted Queens 1 00 Cyprian Queens, untested 1 00

As most all the Dollar Queens I sold last year were pure, I will warrant them this year.

J. T. WILSON,

Mortonsville, Woodford Co., Ky.

1m6t

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Italian, Cyprian & Holy Land Queens,

Single Queen, Tested =$2 00= “ Untested, laying =1 00= By mail, safe arrival guaranteed. 8-frame colony =$6 00= 3-frame nucleus =3 00= 2-frame nucleus =2 50=

By express, safe arrival guaranteed.

=W. P. HENDERSON,= Murfreesboro, Tenn.

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CYPRIAN QUEENS for 1881.

We are now registering orders for these bees for 1881. Send for our Cyprian Queen Bee Circular.

1mtf

H. ALLEY, Wenham, Mass.

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=EVERETT’S= Honey Extractors and Everett Langstroth Hives a specialty. We challenge competition in price and quality. Our circular and price list of apiarian supplies, Italian Bees and high-class poultry sent free.

=EVERETT BROS.,= Toledo, O.

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15 One-Cent Stamps

Will pay for our exhaustive pamphlet on raising, handling and marketing extracted honey.

COLONIES WITH Imported Cyprian and Italian Queens, Of our own Importation, GUARANTEED PURE AND GENUINE.

Our =Comb Foundation= was awarded the diploma at the North-Eastern Bee-Keepers’ Convention held in February.

Smokers, Knives, Extractors, &c.

Price List, with 3 samples of Comb Foundation, free.

CHAS. DADANT & SON, Hamilton, Hancock Co., Ill.

9smtf

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FLAT-BOTTOM COMB FOUNDATION,

high side-walls, 4 to 16 square feet to the pound. Circular and samples free