THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL
OLDEST BEE PAPER
IN AMERICA
ESTABLISHED
IN 1861.
THOMAS G. NEWMAN.
Editor and Proprietor.
CHICAGO, ILL., MAR. 23, 1881.
Frank Benton in the Far East.
Mr. Jones sends us the annexed extract from a letter of Mr. Benton’s, and the following appreciative compliment to the Bee Journal, for which he will accept our thanks:
Herewith I send you extract from a private letter just received from Frank Benton, dated Pointe de Galle, Ceylon, Asia, Jan. 30, 1881. The American Bee Journal has a warm corner in my heart. Right glad am I that you have taken time by the forelock, and issued a weekly. I would not have you go back to a monthly for $25 a year, and you deserve the congratulations of every bee-keeper; that prosperity may crown your efforts is my wish.
D. A. Jones.
Friend Jones:—* * * I shall start back with nothing but full colonies. I have seen two native races of bees here, and the comb of a third; one race is stingless, but worthless; the tiniest little fellows, three-sixteenths of an inch long. Another race is Apis indica. The third race I do not believe is valuable, since it is a very small bee—smaller than Apis indica. Apis dorsata is a wonderful bee, whether it can be domesticated or not. It builds in the open air, on branches, often making combs 6 feet long; and I have good authority for saying that 30 natives have each taken a load of honey from one tree. It was not until I reached Colombo that I could find out anything about Apis dorsata. I call it Apis dorsata, but do not know positively as that is its name, for no one can tell here, and I have not yet seen the bee, as it was too late when I learned where to find it, to go to that part of the Island and reach this French steamer. Everybody says, though, a large bee, from which large quantities of honey are obtained, exists in the interior of the Island. The natives all know it by the name Bombera. I start for Singapore by the French steamer “Yangste,” on January 31st.
Frank Benton.
Circulars and Price Lists.
—We have received the following Circulars, Price Lists and Catalogues for 1881:
L. H. Pammel & Bros., LaCrosse, Wis.—Italian Queens and Bees—4 pages.
Champion Bee Hive Co., Newcomerstown, O.—Apiarian Supplies—12 pages.
Thomas J. Ward, St. Mary’s Ind.—Fruit Trees and Poultry—16 pages.
T. Greiner, Naples, N. Y.—Vegetable and Flower Seeds—24 pages.
D. D. Palmer, New Boston, Ill.—Sweet Home Raspberry—4 pages.
Henry Alley, Wenham, Mass.—Queens and Apiarian Supplies—4 pages.
Wm. W. Cary & Son, Colerain, Mass.—Queens, Bees and Apiarian Supplies—8 pages.
G. W. Thompson, Stelton, N. J.—Bees, Hives and Apiarian Supplies—4 pages.
S. D. McLean & Son, Culleoka, Tenn.—Italian Bees and Queens—1 page.
A. LaMontague, Montreal, Can.—Italian Queens, Hives and Bee-Keepers’ Supplies—3 pages.
Jas. J. H. Gregory, Marblehead, Mass.—Vegetable, Flower and Grain Seeds—60 pages.
T. M. Metcalf & Son, St. Paul, Minn.—Field, Garden and Flower Seeds—28 pages.
Nanz & Neuner, Louisville, Ky.—Plants, Seeds. Bulbs, etc.—80 pages.
Landreth’s Rural Register and Almanac for 1881, Philadelphia, Pa.—Garden Seeds—70 pages.
Cole & Brother, Pella, Iowa.—Garden and Flower Seeds—44 pages.
J. T. Lovett, Little Silver, N. J.—Choice Small Fruit—40 pages.
Joseph Harris, Rochester. N. Y.—Field, Garden and Flower Seeds—14 pages.
James M. Thornburn & Co., 15 John Street, N. Y.—Seeds for Garden and Farm—96 pages.
L. B. Case’s Botanical Index, Richmond, Ind.—A Quarterly Botanical Magazine—40 pages.
☞ The Emperor of Russia, while returning from a review on Sunday, March 12, was killed by a bomb thrown by a Nihilist. He was taken to the Palace and died in a few hours. The assassins have been arrested. His son succeeds him as Alexander III.
An Excellent Suggestion.
Prof. Cook has forwarded us for publication the annexed open letter, addressed to Dr. N. P. Allen, President of the North American Bee-Keepers’ Society. The reasons adduced in support of the suggestion are well founded, and must strike all minds favorably. September and October are usually among the busiest months of the year to bee-keepers and farmers, who have their later crops to garner, their honey to take off and prepare for market, their fruit to gather and assort, and their live stock to be made comfortable for winter; while the date proposed by the Professor occurs just at that period when everybody can spare the time best, when traveling is the most enjoyable, and is quite late enough to enable an approximate estimate of what the harvest will be. It is competent for the Executive Committee (of which President Allen is chairman) to fix upon such time as will best subserve the interests of the Society. We trust they will give the matter an early and careful consideration. Following is the letter:
To Dr. N. P. Allen:
Dear Sir: As the proposition which I am about to offer is of general interest to the bee-keepers of our country, I beg leave to present it through the American Bee Journal:
The American Association for the Advancement of Science convenes at Cincinnati, Ohio, on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 1881. This Association had at its last meeting, in Boston, August, 1880, more than 1,000 members present. Owing to its influence, and the large annual attendance, the local committee at the place where the meetings are to be held are able to procure greatly reduced rates on railroads leading to the place.
Now, I would suggest that the North American Bee-Keepers’ Association, which is to be held so near Cincinnati, convene at Lexington on Wednesday and Thursday, August 24th and 25th.
1st. This would accommodate such persons as myself, who wish to attend both meetings, and could not afford time or means were they widely separated by time.
2d. A committee consisting of yourself, Mr. Muth, of Cincinnati, and Mr. Wm. Williamson, of Lexington (I would do what I could to aid), could act in conjunction with the local committee of the A. A. A. of S., and I believe could get the commutation railroad rates to extend to the National Bee-Keepers’ Association.
3d. August is a quiet time with bee-keepers, and so far as I can see, nothing would be lost in making the date of our meeting earlier than the usual time.
4th. The fact of accommodating such as wish to attend both meetings, and the reduced railroad rates, could we secure them, would greatly increase the attendance at the Bee-Keepers’ Association, and would richly compensate for some loss, if such there would be.
I only make this suggestion, hoping that you and others interested will give it such consideration as its merits deserve.
A. J. Cook,
Vice Pres’t of Nat. Association and
President of Michigan Association.
☞ At the Utica Convention, last month, Mr. L. C. Root was appointed a committee to endeavor to have the bill for the prevention of the adulteration of sugar, syrups, etc., then before the Legislature of New York, so amended as to include honey. We learn, with much pleasure, that Mr. Root has succeeded in having it include honey, and Mr. R. is quite sanguine that the bill so amended will become a law of the Empire State. If passed, we hope that the bee-keepers of New York will see to it that it will not be allowed to become a “dead letter” in the statute books of that State.
