model of industry has of preserving life through the long period of inactivity from October to May-almost two thirds of the year-may result in total loss of stock. Indeed, there seems to be a period of bitter experience, with nearly all new beginners, with improved bee-hives, like the boy who first begins to handle sharp edged tools. But what efficient workman will do without good tools? Just so with the intelligent bee-keeper. When once inducted into the "mysteries," with an understanding of those principles which are based upon the constitution of the bee, then the valuable points of a hive are easily seen, and the tendency to rob the stock of necessary stores will prevail far less. Then the facts are no longer mysterious, and a hive will be valued, not from its complications and troublesome contrivances to force the bee from its natural habits of life, but will be valued for its simplicity and durability, combined with its adaptation to the real wants of the bee, and the most convenient control and handling, for the different operations connected with non-swarming, increasing, transferring, strengthening, and renovating.

With these remarks, I will leave this subject for the present, by asking you to publish the following, from the Country Gentleman, giving some of the objectionable features of

bee-hives.

J. C. P.

"Slide and hinge doors, shutters, and the like, that are constantly liable to swell, shrink, crack, warp, and get out of order, are very objectionable in a bee-hive.

Dividing hives, unless accompanied by

movable frames, are a nuisance. If the movable frame is used, they are entirely unnecessary.

Sliding and movable bottom-boards will, sooner or later, furnish hiding-places for the moth-worm, and are unnecessary with movable flames.

Hives that are taller in front than at the rear, or vice versa, are ungainly and unmanageable in many of the operations necessary to be performed with bees.

Expensive contrivances to render hives "self cleaning" are superfluous, as a slight inclination of the bee-stand will enable the bees to keep the bott m-board clean.

Hives containing less than 2,000 cubic inches in the main, or breeding chamber, are

too small for the average of seasons in lat. 43° north.

ventilation, is not fit to winter bees in, in A hive that does not provide good top this cold climate. One that does not provide good ventilation in the summer wastes the time of the bees, by causing them to lie idle outside of the hive.

ing and toilsome labor of climbing long disHigh hives, subjecting bees to the annoytances through the ranges of clustering bees, to get to the surplus boxes, will give their owners very little cap honey. Any hive that does not furnish easy and free access boxes should be rejected.

to cap

Surplus boxes should be over the breeding chamber, and not at the sides, as in many hives. Heated air rises, and that from the breeding chamber should 'ascend freely to the cap boxes, to enable bees to keep up the requisite temperature for comb building.

Any hives that furnish cracks, crevices, or obscure places of any kind, for millers and worms are an abomination.

Costly and complicated contrivances are not wanted. It is desirable that a hive and at the same time answer the ends of beeshould be as simple and cheap as possible, culture. Profit is the object. No man wishes to sink all his bees will gain, in the purchase of costly patent contrivances.

If a hive is not a complete and perfect protection to the family that occupies it, from storms and other vicissitudes of the weather, without the intervention of a beehouse, give it the cold shoulder. It should set in any part of your grounds. Bee-houses be complete within itself, so that it can be are a relic of the past.

One

A hive that does not give good facilities for feeding bees ehould be rejected. with an entrance not easily adjustable is not desirable..

ful watching and superintendence, is a myth. The movable frame hive is the only one that can be made perfectly useful.

An infallible non-swarmer, without care

Transferring Bees.

MR. EDITOR:-I noticed in the June number of the FARMER a description, by J. C. Plumb, of his mode of transferring bees. Now, I think his plan is all right, and is the only true way to do it, except in one particular. I think I have a way of fastening the comb into the frames, that is worth two of his. First, fit the comb to the frames, as near as may be; then, with a gimlet, or bit, which is better, because more speedy, bore

through the sides of the frame, choosing such places, as much as possible, where there is no brood; then drive some pins, made of pine, through the holes, into the comb. In this way, you destroy little or no brood, which you must necessarily do by the use of the strips, across and over the comb, as Mr. Plumb recommends.

WEST POINT. WIS., June 22, 1864.

D. HOWARD.

While the trees are small, kitchen crops may be grown in the mid spaces; there cannot, in fact, be a better place for cauliflowers and lettuces. At the autumn pruning all the young shoots are cut into two inches, so that the plantation looks unsightly until the trees begin to grow again."

Bark Lice.

THE following suggestions and results of

A. G. HANFORD, CORRESPONDING EDITOR.

To Grow Large Currants.

A correspondent of the London Floral World and Garden Guide says: "On going through Covent Garden Market, last summer, I was much struck with some very large currants-black, red, and white. They were exposed for sale in su all, round baskets, in the cental avenue, and the price, I think, was one shilling per basket. They were intended for dessert. It would be a very great gratification to me to be able to produce currants as large as those, and I do not see why I should not be able to accomplish it, if you will give me a little assist. ance. Pray let me into the secret of the mode of culture I mut pursue to obtain black currants, red currants, and white currante, as large as those which I have mentioned." To which the editor replies: "There are two grand points in the production of those magnificent bunches of currants which make visitors to Covent Garden dissatisfied with what they have at home In the first place, the varieties are peculiar, and it is their nature to produce large bunches of large berr es; in the second place, the growers spare no pains to bring them to perfection, and secure all the high qualities characteristic of the varieties grown. To grow these currants, make the plantation in an open, sunny position, on a stiff, well manured loam; plant the trees five feet apart each way, and annually, in au tumn, trench in a dressing of half rotten dung between the rows, and in such a way as not to damage the roots of the trees.

"Early last spring, it may not be forgotten, we claimed to have made a little discovery: that the bark lice had been, in large part, if not completely, destoyed by the extreme cold or sleet and cold of January last, of which we wrote and published an account. At that time we called the attention of the public to this matter, thinking that possibly the destruction of this insect might be confined to the vicinity of Lancaster, or that we might be mistaken as to the extent of the destruction. Several examinations since with the microscope but confirm what we have already written upon the subject, only better: that from the limbs of apple trees about town which we have examined-trees that have been for years as full as they could bear-we have not been able to find a single surviving louse. The other day, Capt. Clark and ourself examined his orchard, for years infested, and we could not find a living louse, an egg of one, or other evidence of their existence, except the empty, deserted cels of the once existing race. Nor upon upon the limbs could we discover the existence (usual at this time of year,) of a new litter of lice.

We again call the attention of people throughout the country to this matter, as it may be that the destruction is entirely or partly local, or that some action has taken place here, and not elsewhere. And it may be, too, that the destruction was otherwise caused than by the extrenie cold. The destruction of this tribe of insects, if general, must prove of inestimable value to the fruit." -Grant County Herald.

ing an acre, I would build a fence, and divide the acre every two or three rods with similar fences, on which to grow grapes. These fences are the places on which to grow fine grapes. Meantime, I would plant shrubs, of some suitable kind, around the outside, for permanent protection I would have the dividing fences run east and west. B. FISH.I think these fences would shade the balance of the ground badly - too much to be profitable.

J. J. THOMAS.-In New Jersey, recently, I saw belts of evergreens twenty feet high, and within a certain distance of these belts -the distance being the range of their protection-the crop of grain, grass and fruits was fifty per cent. greater than beyond that range. I think the Norway spruce is the best tree, perhaps, for protection. I believe that twenty years hence it will be wondered that fruit growers of the present day did not know mo e about protection.

MOODY.-We can get Norway spruce, plenty of them six feet high, and they are easily transplanted. I should prefer them to the board fence. I think we have got to protect if we may hope to grow peaches. The protected orchards bear. Early in the history of the country, when there was protection, we grew peaches. I agree with Mr. Thomas, that twenty years hence people will wonder that we knew so little about protection.

H. E. HOOKRR. I suppose we can obtain good results, practically, by planting screens. But just how far it is best to go-how much protection is desirable and profitable I have not determined to my own satisfaction. Fa lures sometimes occur with complete protec

tion

THE PRESIDENT.-It is demonstrated that protection is needed. We need it in spring, when vegetation is just starting. The shelter which a town affords insures crops of fruit in our town yards when the farmer's crop fails utterly. Evergreens are a better protection than deciduous trees.

FROST. I wish to ask if the interior of an orchard produces better than the outside rows-if the protection the outer rows afford insures a crop on the inner trees.

HOOKER.-In the case of peaches, we know it to be a fact that the trees on the sides of the orchard opposite to that from which the prevailing winds strike it, produce better.

JAMES VICK.-In the West, on the prairics, I was often told that the outside rows of orchards, exposed to the winds, were of little value except as affording protection to the balance of the orchard-especially those on the south sides, which were exposed to the prevailing winds. There is no doubt that deciduous trees are a winter protection. All who have traveled beside or through a forest of deciduous trees in winter know. them to be so.

MOODY The south and east sides of my orchard bear most fruit. Indeed, the north and west sides bear because the varieties planted there are hardy, and bear anywhere.

LANGWORTHY.-The north and west sides of my peach orchards do not bear fruit. Protection is necessary; and there is no doubt that the orchard is a protection to itself.

This subject of protection to orchards and fruit gardens is not understood and appreciated in Wisconsin as it should and will be before the best results in fruit growing are attained. A. G. H.

Don't be Humbugged with Dwarf Apple

Trees.

A good deal of inquiry has been made of us lately as to the utility of cultivating dwarf apple trees. We tried a few trees in 1855, and the result, with other observations, has convinced us that the dwarf apple is a consummate humbug. Mr Samuel Edwards, of Illinois, gives a bit of his experience, which

may

be of some service to those who may be inclined to try the dwarf apple. He says: "I have had them for a long time, and would not take one hundred of the best dwarf apple trees I ever saw as a gift, and plant them in an orchard for growing fruit to sell. In a small city lot, having room only for a little bush, they are often desirable, but are short lived at best."

To what Mr. Edwards says, Mr Dunlap, of the Illinois Farmer, adds:

"We put the above on record to confirm what we have often said in regard to the dwarf apple trees on the prairie. The tree peddlers are flooding the country with thou