Not Discouraged.—Should I be persuaded to give up the business of keeping bees for profit, I do not know what I could find that would pay better. I have 25 colonies in good condition and every one in this town wants honey, and I shall try to supply it to them.
Charles Follett.
Osage, Iowa.
Lost but 4 out of 273.—My bees are wintering well; I have lost but 4 out of 273 colonies, wintered on the summer stands, packed with sawdust and planer shavings. It has paid me to advertise in the Weekly Bee Journal. I have all the work I can do.
A. E. Manum.
Bristol, Vt., March 9, 1881.
Dead Bees in the Cells.—I took 6 combs out of 2 hives in which the bees died, that had plenty of honey in the 2 outside frames. In every cell of the 3 middle frames is a dead bee. I tried to pick them out with a pin, but gave it up for a bad job. Is there a way to clean them? Can I use the combs again next spring? Please let me know in next Journal.
John W. Sturwold.
Haymond, Ind., March 11, 1881.
[You will find our method given in answer to Mr. Phillips, page 86 of this number. The combs can be used again this spring.—Ed.]
Progressing.—My bees are getting along well. I have lost 3 weak colonies that were left unprotected; but it was my own fault. A hive peddler was in this section this winter selling hives without frames. I showed him my hives, similar to the Langstroth, and he took the measure of it, and said I was “well fixed” for bee-keeping. He never said a word about selling his hive to me. I do not know how many he sold.
John Boerstler.
Gilead, Ill., Feb. 26, 1881.