THR WISCONSIN FARMER.



THE BEE-KEEPER.



load o the Beeiv  oatrouy.-Nr. Lowes *.
  [Glad aœ we are to have the important sub-
ject of Bee-Culture thoroughly agitated, we
nevertheless regret that the discussion should
have degenerated into a mere controversy as
to the comparative merits of two rival hives.
The question of hives is, no doubt, an import-
ant one; but then, after all that has been said
by parties interested and disinterested, we
are not yet convinced that the style of the
hive is everything. A person who thoroughly
understands the principles of bee-culture will
find it easy to make honey even in a straw hive
or hollow tree, It is knoeledye of the bee, more
than of the thousand patents which now com-
pete for the public favor. that the bee keeper
needs.
  In the March No. of the FAaxxat we pub-
lished a challenge from " A Bee Keeper of the
Northwest," who has been using the "old box
hive," to any and all friends of the patent



hives, proposing to prove the merits of each
respectively.  But, for some reason, none of



the champions of patents thought best to ac-
cept the challenge.  We believe in the superi-
ority of some of the patents--particularly of
the movable-comb  hives-and   would have
been glad to record the results of their com-
petition with, the -old box.  It would, no
doubt, be difficult to make such a trial perfect-
ly fair and even, in all respects, and yet, in-
asmuch as such vast superiority is claimed for
the patents, it was reasonable that the public
should have looked for an acceptance of the
challenge.
  As to the merits of the two hives in contro-
versy, we declare our inability, without actual
trial of them both under like circuntstances,
to say which is the better. We have no doubt
that both will, in most respects, meet with the
approbation of all reasonable bees, and we
find not the least difficulty in satisfying our-
self that we should not very bitterly protest
against a good liberal box of honey made in
either of them!
  Mr. Stebbins' article in the August number,



under title of "The langetroth Patent," was
unquestionably calculataii to damage the cre-
it of the Lee Patent, and we cannot, therefore,
with justice, decline to publish the response
of Mr. Lee; although we would have preferred
that he should have confined himself to a bare
refutation of the charge of "infringement"
And, inasmuch as we propose to end the con-
troversy in this No., so far as this journal is
concerned, we shall ourself correct two or
three errors in the reply of Mr. Lee, to whieh
Mr. Stebbins would otherwise be incHned to
make rejoinder.
  In the first place, the article on "Scientific
Handling of Bees," to which reference is made
by Mr. Lee, was not " written by the redoubt-
able J. M., himelf," but by our own hand
while in Washington  And here let it be un-
derstood, once for all, that the Editor of the
WISCONSIN FARIXU writes his own editorials,
even to the brief notice of an advertisement
There can be no misapprehension as to this on
the part of those of our readers who know



how exceedingly jealous we are of any single
line or word getting into our columns as edi-



torial that was not either veritably written or
dictated by ourseVf We hate all humbugs in
others, and are not disposed to practice them
either for our own henefitor that of other par-
ties.
  Secondly; Mr. Lee, and every other inventor,
should know that it is not necessary to send to
Washington, at an expense of "g5.00," for a
copy of an inventor's claims, or other inform-
ation of that sort. All this is published from
week to week by Messrs. Munn & Co., of New
York, in that most admirable and invaluable
weekly journal of science and the mechanic
arts, the Scientilic Asmericas-the subscription
price of which is only f92.00 a year.

  Both of our correspondents are well quali-
fied to enlighten the reading beekeeping pub-
lic on the important subject of management,
and we doubt not that, now they have each
had their say on the hive question, they will
be pleased to give us of their large informsa
tion.-ED.]



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