G., I want another machine, all complete for L. frames, and I will pay for it in cash as soon as received, or before, if you choose. If we can not make it work, I will pay you to come out here and show us how, as I did friend Faris; but please do not ever say again I object to certain wares because they are going to conflict with something I may have had for sale. Have you not all known me long enough to know that I am not thus selfish? I take greater liberties in recommending things on these pages, because I somehow feel that you know me, the greater part of you,-and give credit for good intentions, if I am sometimes sadly at fault in judgment.

A REPORT FROM A BEGINNER'S FIRST THREE SEASONS.

A

S we have delayed our report for 1880 so long, we will try to make amends by giving you a condensed report of our business for the last three seasons, which comprises all of our experience as a bee-keeper.

We bought our first swarm in Oct., 1877, and wintered safely, without protection, on their summer stand. In May, 1878, we found a bee-tree, the inhabitants of which we safely transferred to a Langstroth hive. During the season we increased to 9 stocks, and took 50 lbs. of box honey and 150 lbs. extracted. Although the winter of 1878-'9 was very severe, every stock answered to roll-call on May 1st, 1879-thanks to chaff division-boards and chaff packing in outside boxes, as described in Cook's Manual. Taking an inventory Dec. 1st, 1878, we found we had 34 colonies and 900 lbs. surplus, one-half of which was in sections, and one-half extracted. Thirty colonies were in Root Chaff hives, and four we e well packed in Cook's "overcoats."

TWO COLONIES IN ONE CHAFF HIVE. Three of those in chaff hives were double, with a thin division board between them, and an entrance at each end of the hive, as described by friend Nellis. They all wintered safely, and on the first of May last we had bees in 35 hives.

The past season has been the poorest for surplus honey within the memory of the oldest bee-keeper here, many apiaries giving no income whatever. All we have to show from our 35 colonies in the spring, is an increase of 20 colonies, 500 lbs. extracted honey, 200 lbs. section honey, and 700 lbs. gross in combs, reserved for stimulative feeding next spring. The bees are all in Root chaff hives, twelve of which have an entrance at each end, with thin division board in the middle, each containing two small colonies with young queens. What do you think of this idea of a double hive to winter nuclei? Those I tried last winter did nicely; and I think, from observation, that if each nucleus is strong enough to cover three frames, they are just as safe with a thin division board between them as if they were united late in the fall, and one queen destroyed; and in the spring we have the extra queen for profit, worth at least half as much as the swarm. SAGGING OF ALL KINDS OF FDN., DUNHAM INCLUDED. We have used fdn. in the brood-chamber largely, both Root and Dunham, and see but very little difference, if any, in the value of the two kinds. Neither kind will sag or warp if properly fastened and given to the bees during fruit-bloom; but if given to a strong colony during warm weather, and a

heavy flow of honey, both prove very unreliable. We had sheets of Dunham fdn., 4% ft. to the lb., sag over an inch; and many of them broke down during the basswood yield this season, and they were in chaff hives too. Next season we shall try your method of wiring, and endeavor to have all not wired drawn out during fruit-bloom.

MAKING SIMPLICITY HIVES, ETC.

For our new swarms, artificial swarming, nuclei, queen-rearing, etc., we use the "Nellis-VanDusen

Simplicity" hive, and think it has several points of superiority over your Simplicity. We make all of our own hives, and fancy they are just as good as those furnished by the supply dealers, and they come a "heap cheaper. In making our first chaff hives we followed directions in A B C to a dot, and when we had about twenty hives completed, we found that, instead of 4 or % space between the frames in upper and lower story, we had fully /1⁄2 inch, and the same between frames and bottomboard. Every time we handle those frames and find the space between upper and lower story filled with comb, as it is sure to be, we feel a good deal like scolding somebody. If we figure rightly, the width of end-boards should be 9 inches, and side-boards 91⁄2 inches, instead of 9% for former, and 9% for latter, as it reads in our A B C. Don't want to "take anybody's head off" about it, but suggest you make the correction, if not already done.

JOURNALS COSTING MORE OF THE PUBLISHERS THAN OF SUBSCRIPTION AGENTS.

When we last wrote you, we intimated that if you practiced the doctrine you preached in "Our Homes," you should furnish your own publications as cheap as anybody else. For this you put us in the Growlery; and, while there, friend Sayles has a whack at us, and accuses us of advancing a doctrine that "savors of Communism." Now, if bringing the producer and consumer, publisher and subscriber, nearer together, thus crowding out unnecessary middlemen, is Communism, then we plead guilty to the charge. The fact that others advertise to furnish GLEANINGS to single subscribers cheaper than the publisher, seems to us proof positive that either your retail price is too high or your wholesale price is too low. When you say that "GLEANINGS is a standard article" you "hit the nail squarely on the head," and you might have truthfully included the ABC. We have read all of the modern works on bee culture, and are a subscriber to all of the bee journals. Friend Sayles thinks if we had spent a little "time and mental effort" in obtaining 10 subscribers at the State Grange at the full price, and thereby pocketed $4.00, we would view the matter in a very different light. In answer to this, we would simply say, we have taken many subscriptions for the standard publications, including some for GLEANINGS, and have always considered ourselves well paid when we reserved 10 per cent for ourselves; and should we ever take 40 per cent profit on a standard article, especially from our brother-patrons, we should consider ourselves unworthy of the name Granger.

And now, friend Root, begging pardon for the length and broadcast shooting of this "report," and promising never to "do so" any more, hoping you will not consider anything I have said as a "growl," but only a little friendly criticism, I will conclude by wishing you all (middlemen too) a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. GEORGE W. JONES.

West Bend, Wash. Co., Wis., Dec. 9, 1880.

Many thanks, friend J.. for your report and kind admonitions.-The Simplicity hive is so made that the shrinkage of the lumber can in no way affect any of the dimensions, except the vertical depth of the hive. Now, as all lumber will shrink, more or less, no matter how well seasoned and painted, we have allowed this for shrinkage. After you have used your hives one season, you will find they will settle down-at the very least, the you complain of. Then you will have the standard, that has been so long decided to be about right. If I am not mistaken you will find some of the hives having only about inch; and if we have any more shrinkage than this, you will be pinching the bees; but even then, you will find some stocks that will build solid honey in this inch space. The Italians, I believe, are more addicted to such tricks. If you will grease the top and bottom bars of your frames with tallow, however, you can effectually stop it.-I did not mean any harm, friend J., even if I did put you in the Growlery; for I thought you were just about right. I too should feel guilty if I took from my friends 40 per cent for a standard dollar article; and it is by selling goods at a profit of 10 per cent, instead of 40, or even 25, that I have builded up such a trade on the counter-store goods. You know I enlarged GLEANINGS, and changed the discount from 40 to only 25 per cent after your letter last year. Well, unless I change my mind, the discount next year (please all take notice a year in advance), will be only 10 per cent, unless the papers are all sent to one address; and then it will be the same as now. This is done solely to correct the inconsistencies you have mentioned.

A STATEMENT THAT WASN'T TRUE.

STINGLESS BEES.

the way of a bee-sting, of which I gave an account in the A. B. J. for Sept., 1874. The sting was not inflicted "while drinking," nor was it inflicted on the "back part," or any other part of my tongue, but on the extreme point of the upper lip, just where the mustache divides. Among others who kindly responded to my account of the accident, was W. S. Hawley, who furnished me a liquid remedy for stings, which is certainly a very good thing. I never heard nor read of a bee-keeper, who accidentally got

a bee in his mouth while drinking, and died from the

effects of being stung; but I have known a great many cases of bee-keepers and others who got a far worse creature than a bee in their mouths while drinking, even that which "biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder," and died from the effects of having been bitten or stung. The saddest feature of these cases was, that they took the venomous thing into their mouths, not accidentally, but willfully; not in the prosecution of an honorable calling such as bee-keeping, but in the foolish pursuit of dangerous pleasure.

After a life of seclusion for several years, owing to ill health, I am now in active work again, and, among other multifarious duties, intend to act my part in trying to promote bee-keeping. I have not lost my interest in the science and art of apiculture;

and, although I handle bees under difficulties, being,

not like some favored mortals, bee-loved, but, for some unknown cause, bee-hated, I shall not let them alone while my eyesight is good enough to see through a bee-veil.

The indications point to a great revival and expansion of bee-keeping throughout the Dominion of Canada. Now that the secret of successful wintering has been discovered, the chief obstacle to the prosecution of the business is removed. Yet I do not fear that it will be overdone by too many going into it, for it is only a small minority of the human race who possess the qualities necessary to success in this line. The exploits of D. A. Jones are doing much to draw attention to the possibilities connected with bee-keeping in this country, which, in regard

appears the following:

But Rev. Mr. Clark, late editor of the American Bee Journal, the man who later accidentally got a bee in his mouth while drinking, and died from the effects of having been stung on the back part of his tongue, and, in short, others who have lost their lives in one way and another in handling bees, will not be apt to ask to be placed in the "don't care if they do get stung" army of bee-men.

While I was meditating sadly enough upon the suddenness of his death, and wondering that we had heard nothing of it before through different channels, I was most agreeably surprised to get a letter from friend Clark, and he didn't say he was dead ther. I copied and sent him the above, and here is his reply:

Friend Root:

Thanks for the above extract from Hawley's circular. I embrace the opportunity afforded by its receipt, to reply through GLEANINGS, and assure my apicultural friends in the United States, most of whom, I presume, read your journal, that I have not yet departed this life, and hope to be able to do a little more good in the world before I am called to leave it. I had a severe and painful experience in

any on the face of the globe.

Listonel, Ont., Dec. 18, 1880.

WM. F. CLARKE.

Friend Hawley, unless you "rise and explain," we shall have to think badly of you, for aught I see.

A GLAD NEW YEAR TO GLEANINGS.

AN ACROSTIC.

A glad New Year to GLEANINGS!
God bless its patrons, one and all;
Long may the savor of its teachings
Abide in truth, with great and small,
Delivering them from Satan's thrall.
No matter though its lessons
Embody what to some seems new;
Waked not our Lord quaint musings, and
[brought strange truths to mortal view!
Yes: he arraigned fixed customs,
Except where truth and right bore sway,
And then, with one great offering,
Redeemed from death its helpless prey.
Then let the ransomed everywhere,
On grateful hearts his image bear.
Glad should we be, with sacred gladness,
Like Moses coming from the mount;
Expressing, even in our visage,

A happiness no words can count.
Nor need we shrink from pain and trial;
If Jesus Christ marks out the way,
No foe can harm us, and no shadow
Give darkness to our heavenly day,
So, now, God speed our upward way.
Cottam, Ont., Can., Dec., 1880.

MRS H. A. AWREY.

FOUL BROOD.

ROAKING like a bird of evil omen came friend Detwiler-"Foul brood, foul brood; perhaps you've got it on the yard now and don't know it." We looked into several of the least prosperous colonies, but found nothing wrong. I had never seen a cell of four brood, never wanted to, and somehow never expected to. As the sum and substance of what I have read about the plague, I had a very incorrect idea about what to look for. I suspect that hundreds of the boys have just as poor an idea of what they should be on guard against as I had, and perhaps a few words on the subject will be timely. I expected the disease to be heralded by a dreadful smell, of the knock-you-down order. Doubtless it does smell bad enough in extreme cases; but in its mild beginning you smell nothing, unless you poke your nose almost into it, and then the odor is almost precisely that of common glue. I expected a mass of dead brood, spreading abroad like the rot in a mellow apple. In point of fact, the commencement may be in less than half a dozen cells, and no two of them near each other. I expected a disease which the bees themselves would be powerless to resist. From what I have seen, I think the bees sometimes hold the disease at bay for many months. I even suspect that they sometimes eradicate it altogether without outside help.

Having been posted by friend Det. as to what I should look for, it was not long before I found some of it. And while I meditated what was the best way to destroy them, bees, brood, honey, frames, hive, chaff, and all, I found more of it, and then still more. Five colonies certainly affected, and as many more on the doubtful list, all sprinkled through an apiary of 104 colonies! I'm in for it now. Don't you wish you were in my shoes? Meantime the season closes, brood-rearing stops, and the whole matter is adjourned over to next year.

How came I in this mess? I hardly know. Somewhat late in the season I noticed very many bees working on one precise line, and also coming in quite late and very heavily laden. I suspected at the time that they were robbing a bee-tree. In that same direction lies an extinct apiary. A farmer who kept many bees in the old let-alone way lost the most of them, and sold the rest to keep them from dying on his hands. Perchance those bees died of foul brood, and the swarm in the tree caught it from them, and mine brought home the curse when they robbed the tree. Curiously enough, the two colonies which are my champion robbers are not affected. Either they didn't get the disorder, or they had energy enough to stamp it out. Remembering the appearance of certain unprosperous colonies in times past, I am not without suspicions that a little of the disease, in a very mild form, has been hanging about the apiary these two years.

This matter of the different phases of the disease, and its different grades of virulence, needs light. It may be that there are really two diseases called foul brood; one caused by the fungus Cryptococcus Alveario, and the other by the Somethingelsus Notsobadis. In that case, I'll take the Somethingelsus. In the disease variola (small-pox), there is a morbid growth in the human blood, somewhat as in foul brood there is a morbid growth in the substance of the young bee. Two children may take the germs of variola from the same source, and one will become an encrusted mass of corruption over a large

portion of the surface of his entire body, while the other will need parental authority to keep him from playing outdoors just as usual, each and every day the disease lasts. Between these two extremes there are all intermediate grades. I think, when we get at the truth of the matter, we shall find that the Cryptococcus produces just as wide a range of re

sults.

What is the slightest perceptible touch of the disorder? I think, that a very slight growth of the fungus causes the young bee to give some sign of discomfort, which is recognized by the delicate senses of the bees, and that they respond by taking off the caps of the cells. Don't fly off the handle, gentle reader, and accuse me of charging foul brood in all cases of bareheadedness. I don't charge or believe any such thing. I merely suppose that the bees incline to pull off caps whenever there is uncasiness among the brood from any cause. They have no catnip tea to give them, and what can they do but to uncover and rub their little aching heads? The young bees so affected hatch out in due time (or a little later than due time), the least diseased becoming useful members of the commonwealth, and those more affected becoming useless weaklings. When the disease has reached its third grade of virulence the young bee does not come out of the cell at all, but dies, with his head thrust out and his tongue protruded at full length. I find so many in this condition in the affected colonies that I can hardly be mistaken about this being one phase. I may mistake in supposing that there are any milder phases. A fourth phase is where the bee dies before it is time to emerge from the cell, but after the various integuments of the body have become somewhat hardened. With matter at this stage, the cells can still be cleaned out readily, and the bees are still capable of holding the disease in check. One degree further, and they are nearly helpless. In the fifth stage, death takes place while the young bee is yet soft; and the body speedily changes to a mass of liquid glue, in which the fungus swims. To pull this stuff out of the hive is impossible, and the inability of the bees to keep their hive clean makes what is really but an increased virulence seem an entirely different disorder. Probably some of the more zealous of the workers try to get rid of the filth by sucking it up, as they would any other undesirable liquid, to carry it out and disgorge it. It may readily be imagined that such stuff can not be disgorged so completely but that germs of the fungus will remain in the sac. Every larva subsequently fed by such a bee must be poisoned by receiving some of the fungus with the food. I think much more brood is infected in this way than by the spores that cling to the hairs on the bee's feet and drop off in the cells. But I will wait till I see more before I surmise more. The worst combs I have yet found had less than one-half of the cells dead, and not over one-quarter of the comb affected at all.

CHAFF COVERING FOR WINTER.

A word now on a more agreeable topic. Laziness hath many inventions. Last year, in packing bees for winter, not having time to make the additional cushions I needed, I tore off generous pieces of muslin, laid them over the top of the hive, poured in chaff, tucked it nicely into corners, folded neatly over top, and-liked 'em so well that I'm not for making any more sewed cushions at all. A sewed cushion, when tucked down, is in a state of tension,