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.