Volume 3 — LETTER BOX.
Reading edition
Des Moines, Ia.
Dear Sir:
Am in receipt of Vols. 1 & 2 of the “American Apiculturist” handsomely bound in cloth with an enormous golden bee on the front cover. Happy bee! to thus repose upon a production that has sprung up under the skies of Quinby, Carey, Parsons, Elwood, Alley, Hetherington, Doolittle, L. C. Root, and a host of northeastern beekeepers who have honored the calling.
The attractiveness of the book and its practical teaching should find for it a ready sale.
J. M. Shuck.
Willamina, Yarnhill Co., Ore. April 22, 1885.
S. M. Locke, Sir:
I have just received your first and second volumes bound together in cloth, and must say that it exceeds my greatest expectations. Every beekeeper should have it.
Frank S. Harding,
Pres. of the Willamette Valley B. A.
Oxford, Butler Co., Ohio.
Dear Sir:
Vols. 1 & 2 of the “Apiculturist” received, and after carefully examining its contents, I have no hesitancy in pronouncing it fully up to any bee journal published. Its contributors are first-class, and show by their articles that they are men of ability. I highly approve of your treatment and condemnation of fraud in every shape. I am pleased to meet with the familiar face of our old friend Mr. Langstroth in Vol. 2. He lives within 200 yards of me, and is one of the dearest old men I ever knew. A person has only to know him to appreciate his worth.
D. A. McCord.
Battle Ground, Ind., April 13, 1885.
Dear Sir:
The “Am. Apiculturist” came safe to hand, and having examined its contents, or rather the headings of the major part of the book, I pronounce it ne plus ultra. It should be in the hands of every respectable beekeeper of our broad land, it being complete and full of most useful knowledge. With many thanks I am, sir, very truly yours in fraternal bonds of apiculture.
P. S. I truly wish you success, in all that is good and honorable, and shall try to furnish an occasional article for the Am. Apiculturist. Please find this my second contribution to same. If acceptable you are at liberty to publish. Trusting the “Apiculturist” may live long and prosper, I am as ever,
J. M. Hicks.
Brantford, June 4, 1885.
Friend Locke:
I see by the last number of the “Apiculturist” much new and valuable information from England and Germany. Last fall I learned through a German journal that the poison of the honey bee was utilized in curing honey.
A thought suggested itself to me which I hoped ere now I should have been in a position to practically test, but circumstances have been unfavorable and perhaps you know of some one who would take an interest in the matter.
I intended taking a strong colony and feeding them, say 3 lbs. of syrup per day and allow the bees to seal this and extract with great care. Then feed the same colony 25 lbs. in a day of twenty-four hours (and it can be done) and after it has been sealed extract as before, during hot weather, and again later in the season, giving four distinct experiments, and then test the various syrups for difference, if any, of quantity of poison contained in stores. If a marked difference occurred after repeated experimenting the matter might be worthy of consideration and thus one reason why stores put in late are not as good as those given earlier.
I must say a man must be too much of an enthusiast if he considers, as many appear to, that any one condition, if fulfilled, will insure perfect success in wintering. Doubtless much is to be learned in wintering, and theories advanced will often be another step towards success. If we only acted thoroughly up to our present knowledge and were more careful, the percentage of loss would doubtless be wonderfully reduced.
Your brother beekeeper, R. F. Holterman.
We are pleased with Mr Holterman’s suggestions, and, if possible, will make some tests, as this matter is of more vital importance to beekeepers than they are aware. We shall refer to this again in the near future.
Mr. Holterman has touched the right key; we must have more careful experimenting with a view to solving some of the mysteries that now surround apiculture, and we trust that others of our readers and beekeeping friends will offer like suggestions and also assist us in making the tests. It will pay you well to do so, and we can by this means help each other very much.—Ed.]