The Farm

Mr. W. Z. Hutchinson of Genesee county, contributes the following to the Country Gentleman : Mr J. H. Robertson, of Pewamo, who probably owna as many bees as any man in the state, says that he could rear better queens in the f all, toan at the height of the honey harvest. He gives no reason, unless it be because there were "more bees at home to attend to the business." Mr. Kobertson had reared many queens, and spoke f rom experience. Mr. Robertson found it necessary to examine the nursery several times during the night, in order to cage any queens that might hatch, otherwise they would bite into cells and destroy unhatched queens. Mr. Hutchinson examined every cell about nine o'clock in the evening, by holding it up before a light, and each cell that appeared nearly ready to hatch was cut out and placed in a cage by itself. On the subject of artificial pasturage Mr. M. H. Hunt, who lives near troit, said that he raises alsike dover, and had induced hia neighbors to raise it by furnishing them seed at wboleaale rates. Af ter a farmer had given it a trial, be always continued to raise it. Mr. Robertson had not only found alsike clover to be an excellent honey producing plant, but it inakes splendid hay, and is unsurpassed as pasture f or stock. Mr. Kobertson's bees liad access to üve hundred acres of alsike clover. Mr. Hunt haï an interest in an apiary near D. M. Ferry's seed farm and he found that the bees gathered enormous quantities of boney irom the onion blossoms. This honey is light in color, and nearly a3 good as white clover honey. Mr. Robertson had tried sweel clover, and, not finding it valuable, had plowed it up, and summer fallowed the field, which completely eradicated the clover. But he had lately been so many favorable reporta in regarl to it, that he thought he should give it another trial. He thought that the season and locality might have had an influence upon the honey producing properties of this clover. Mr. Hunt very mueh favors chaff hives, while Mr. Robertson considers them too expen3ive, and prefers to winter his bees in a cellar. Mr. R prefers to have his bees reruain quiet without breediug, as late as possible in the spring ; others think that early breeding resulta in strong colonies early in the season, and that such colonies give the bestresults.