The American Apiculturist

Home , Rip Van Winkle

THE

•> American ApiculturisTt

A JOURNAL

Devoted to Scientific and Practical

BEEKEEPING

VOLUME III.

FUBLISHED MONTHLY,

Bv S. M. LOCKE & Co., EDITORS and Proprietors.

WENHAM, MASS. 1885. iQlOSY CONTENTS OF VOL. III.

A Guide to the best Methods of Beekeeping (By R. F. Holterman, trans-

. . 226, lator). By J. L. Christ lo, 28, 56, 87, 127, 278 Advanced Bee Culture. By L. C. Root 196

Afterswarms, Are they profitable ? By G. W. Demaree . . 51

A Record of Queens and Colonies. By G. A. Deadman . . 150

Bee Culture in the South. By G. W. Demaree . .171, 199, 241

Beekeeping as a Pursuit. By Arthur Todd . . . . 121

Beekeeping for Women. By Sallie E. Sherman . . . 246 Black Bees more disposed to rob, and liable to be robbed than Itahans. By L. L. Langstroth 197

Book Notices and Reviews ...... 41, 140 Building up. By C. M. Goodspeed 146

Canadian Department .... 67,102,140,231,257 Convention Notes 20,41,257,285 282 Correspondence . 16, 32, 63, 98, 136, 162, 184, 205, 233, 255,

Does Beekeeping pay ? By G. W. Demaree .... 147

Dry Faeces. By S. Cornell . . . . • . . 174

Editorial . . . 13,30,58,90,134,152,179,201,228,251,281 Exchanges 37> 60, 96, 139, 213, 256

Experimental Bee Farm Notes . . . 134, 157, 182, 230, 254

Feeding Bees and Feeders. By P. R. Russell . . . 244,277

Foreign Notes. By Arthur Todd . . . 169,193,218,272

Foul Brood. By L. Stachelhausen 5

Hints for Beginners. By J. E. Pond, jr. 274

Honey and its Adulterations. By Prof. H. W. Wiley . . 265 How to form Nuclei. By Henry Alley 127

Howes Reversible Frame support. By C. J. F. Howes . . 124

Hybrid Honey Sages of California. By W. A. Pryal (/////J-^m/^-^/.) . 49

• Improprieties in Journalism. By S. Cornell . . .221 Instructions to Beginners 130,159,175,250 Interesting jSfotes 105

(iii) CONTENTS OF VOL. III.

Is Beekeeping profitable ? By T. F. Arundell . . . .130

Invertible Hives. By J, M. Shuck 249

Letter Box 24, 120, 143, 192, 216, 239, 264 Locality to be considered in the Management of Bees. By Rev. D. D. Marsh 242

Moses Quinby and his Life-work. By P. H. Elwood ... i

Muscular Strength of Insects (a translation) . By Arthur Todd . 25

New Observations on the Natural History of Bees (reproduced by A. Todd). By Francis Huber 86, 133, 156, 181, 204, 229, 253

North and South in Bee Culture. By Abbott L. Swinson . . 225

Notes and Queries 19, 39, 68, 102, 141, i6§, 188, 209, 234, 258, 283

Notes from the Bienenzeitung. By J. M. Hicks . . . ' 149

Observations upon Drones. By L. L. Langstroth . . . 217

On the Origin of the Cells of the Hive Bee. By Arthur Todd . 52

Questions and Answers 21, 44, 71, 119, 168, 190, 214, 237, 250, 288

Receptaculum seminis of Bees. By F. R. Cheshire • • • 73

Report of Northeastern Beekeepers' Association . . . 69, 106

Something new from Germany. By L. Stachelhausen ... 83

The Bees of India. By A. Bunker 145 The Best Frame. By G. L. Tinker 247 The Big Drum. By T. O. Peet 172 The New vs. the Old. By T. O. Peet .... 200, 222 The Utility of Feeders. By Henry Alley 223

Which is the most profitable Race of Bees? By D. F. Lashier . 125

Whose Hat (Question Department) is it? By P. H. Elwood • . 85 Why not keep Bees ? By W. G. Phelps 27

Why the bees die. By Prof. A. J. Cook 244 Wintering Bees. By L. C. Root 9, 25, 56, 86

The American Apicultiirist.

% lountal ticbot^b to Sncutrfic anb practical gcrlucprnc[. ENTEEED AT THE POST-OFFICE, SALEM, AS SECOXD-CLASS MATTER.*

Puljlished Monthly. S. M. LoCKE, Publisher & Trop'r.

VOL. III. SALEM, MASS., JANUARY, 1885. No. I.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES. his first swarm of bees with money $1.00 per year, payable in advance. Sent earned by working in a saw-mill. oii trial three montlis for 35 cts., six months for BO cts. Here with nothing to aid him but

Advertising Rates:—Whole page, $12.00. a common school education, his Oiie-lialfpagc, $7.00. One-fourth page, $1.00. wondrous love of nature and his One-eighth page, $2.00. Card, $IM. remarkable observational powers, Tliose wishing special rates will please correspond with the Editor. he commenced the study of the honey bee. the first All communications sltould be addressed For few years to S. M. Locke, Salem, Mass. he had no bee books to aid him or to lead him astray in his investiga- ME. QUINBY, AND HIS tions, and later nothing but seven- LIFE- WORK. ty-eight pages by John M. Weeks and Bevan's work. He married in 1832 at which time himself and By P. H. Elwood. wife, for not complying with the requirements of their church in

A SCORE of 3^eavs ought to elapse marrying, were "disowned" b}^ between a man's death and any at- the Hicksite society of Friends of tempt at his biography or estimate which they were both birthright of his life-worlc. After the lapse members. In 1853 he came to of half that time it is plainly too Montgomery Co., where he resided, early to write of Mr. Quinby, for until his death in May, 1875. He his most intimate friends are just commenced writing his "Mysteries beginning to appreciate his merits of Beekeeping" in 1851 and pub- as a beekeeper, his rank as an in- lished it in 1853. ventor, and his worth as a man ; Taking into consideration his while his detractors and usurpers surroundings with so few helps at are just beginning to learn that "it his command, this must be consid- is hard to kick against the pricks" ered one of the most remarkable of public opinion and have just be- books ever published in this coun- gun to sink into a well-earned ob- try. On comparing it witli the scurity'. Moses Quinby was born edition of 1865 it is surprising to in North Castle, Westchester Co., find how little had to be rejected. N. Y., April 15, 1810. At the To show how far he was in advance age of fifteen he removed to Greene of his contemporaries, I may be Co., and three years after bought permitted to refer to this work

1 (1) THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. written nearh' a third of a century moderate weather it will pass off, ago. I find that at that date he but in the cold it is condensed — hud been, acquainted with foul the particles lodge on the combs brood for about twenty years, and and accumulate. This water in tliat from his own experience he the hives is a source of mischief. had discovered a method of curing The combs are quite certain to the same. This "starvation cure" mold. The water mold or damp- has probably not been improved ness on the honey renders it thin upon by any of the more modern and unhealthy for the bees causing methods of curing it. His des- dysentery, or the accumulation of cription of the disease is perfect faeces that they are unable to re- and his ideas about its origin and tain. There is not sufficient ani- spread are proven by recent inves- mal heat generated to exhale the tigations to be correct. That he aqueous portion of their food. The should have aimed at these con- bees in these circumstances must clusions so many years ago with retain the water with the excre- a hitherto unknown disease of so mentitious part which soon dis- virulent a type and in box-hives, tends their bodies to the utmost, shows him to have been a born in- rendering them unable to endure vestigator. it long. In a moderately warm

It is universally admitted that day more bees will issue from a the most difficult part of beekeep- hive in this condition than from

ing is successful wintering ; dys- others ; it appears that a part of entery being the usual cause of them are unable to discharge their death. We will quote what he burden —their weight prevents says on this subject in his first their flying — they get down and book. Remember this was writ- are lost. When cold weather is ten before the most of us kept long continued they cannot wait bees and even before many of us for warm days to leave but con- were born. " Physiologists tell tinue to come out at any time, and us that innumerable pores in the not one such can then return. cuticle of the human body are con- With the indications attendant tinuall}' throwing off waste or worn- upon such losses, m}'^ own ol^serva- out matter, that every exhalation tions have made me somewhat famil- of air carries with it a portion of iar and I suppose that inattention water from the system in warm with many must be the reason that weather unperceived, but con- it is not discovered in cold weather densed into particles large, enough at the time that it takes place." to be seen in a cold atmosphere. Notice how perfect a description Now if analogy be allowed here, he gives of this disease. If there we will say that the bee throws oflf is anywhere else in the English waste matter and water in the language as good a statement of same way. Its food being liquid the usual cause of dysentery, I nearly all will be exhaled — in have failed to find it. If there THE AMERICAN APICUL TURIS T. 3 is any better science in any of German is more than a score of the self-styled scientific works on years behind our foremost Ameri- bee-culture I have overlooked it. can. Mr. Quinby has been called And as a correct theory leads to a the father of practical bee cul- successful practice, we are not ture in this countrj^ but now we surprised to learn that for many must include the whole world in years before his death his average the title. loss in wintering was less than Great honor is justly awarded two per cent, and this with the Mr. Langstroth for the invention most disastrous loss about him. of so perfect a movable comb hive. His summer management was Hanging comb hives of various equally successful, and at an early patterns had been invented but it date he probably marketed more remained for a Langstroth to com- honey in glass boxes than all other bine their various merits into one producers combined. And as he practical hive and introduce it a- was among the very first to use the mong the beekeepers of this coun- glass honey box, so he was first try. Mr. Quinby is entitled to also in the use of the one-comb equal or even greater credit for the section, having these last in use invention of his new hives, for several years before the^^ were greater changes were necessary in

given . to the public. He also order to make the Huber hive proved the superiority of wood over practical. Mr. Quinby quickly ob- tin as a separator before the pub- served that bees uid not winter as lic had heard of either. In 1858 well in the Langstroth hives as in he wrote, " There is not the least box hives on account of the spaces dotcbt in my mind that ivhoever at the end of the frames and he set realizes the greatest profit from his about to remedy it by making a bees ivill have to retain the movable closed-end frame. Dzierzon says combs in some form." The italics on this subject, "These passages are his own. And yet we have ed- are unnatural, and they carry oflf itors and writers who speak of the necessary heat and moisture Mr. Quinby as though he was a from the brood-nest and winter box-hive man. The above quota- quarters of the bees, so that colonies tion was written before ever a bee- generally winter rather badly." journal was published in the English Abbott, late editor of the British language. Bee Journal says—"There is noth- Dzierzon has been rightly called ing more unnatural in hive arrange- the father of practical beekeep- ment than the absurd practice of ing in Europe and I have been late- making or leaving spaces round the ly much interested in reading his frame ends." It is not necessary work on Rational Beekeeping first for me to draw any comparison be- published in 1878. On comparing tween this hive and any other as a it with an 1859 edition of Mr. practical working hive for the bee- Quinby's book I find that the great keeper, but will content myself with THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. stating that Capt. Hetherington, we will call it by his name. Mr. probabl)' the largest producer of Thomas, editor of the Beekeepers' comb hone}^ in the world, uses the Instructor, a paper too good to live, New Quinby hive in his extensive speaking of buncombe claims of originality, Mr. apiaries ; and that Chas. Dadant, says that "had not the largest producer of extracted Q. made the first smoker we proba- honej in the West, uses the same. bly should never have heard of any I call particular attention to the made b}' Mr. B." Any future at- last named because it has been said tempt to rob Mr. Quinby of the that the hanging frame is far superi- well deserved honor of this inven- or for the extractor — a statement tion will meet with a well deserved that after another year's experience rebuke from the beekeepers of this I most emphatically deny. Let countr}'. A quotation ahead}'- those who consider the hanging made in his first book, "Its (the frame hive the onl}^ fit domicile for bees) food being liquid nearl^^ all the honey bee recall this list of will be exlialed,"shows how near he names, — Quinbj^, Dzierzon, Ab- came at that early date to his later bott, Hetherington, Dadant, and discovery that bees in common with then acquaint themselves with the some other insects may avoid dry merits of this new hive before con- faeces. Any observing beekeeper,

demning it. The invention of the after his bees are well wintered, can honey extractor was followed b}- see this on setting them out in the Quinby's invention and intro- spring. We know that some of duction of his upright bellows our entomologists have not spent smoker. Without the last, we time enough to learn the truth of could hardly use the first, Mr. Quinby's discover^', but some

and if we had to do with- of them perhaps might to their own out either, the most of us would advantage as well as ours, spend choose the Quinby smoker. The more time in original investigation upright bellows in combination and less in writing "scientific pleas- with a parallel fire-box, etc., is un- antries" and in recommending the doubtedly Mr. Quinby's invention, poisoning of our bees for punctur- and we should call all such Quinby ing grapes, when, as Mr. Quinby, smokers whether made bj' A, B, or who owned a vineyard, told them C. No smoker before had this com- many years ago that the bees were bination and no good smoker since not the guilty parties, a fact that

is without it. Indeed so closely the}' have not been able to disprove. are all first-class smokers copies of Not one of this class can tell us the first smoker made by Quinby, anything reliable about the winter that were they all shown to a dis- temperature of the bee hive and if interested person he would quickly they are as proficient and exact in pronounce them Quinby smokers their teachings on other insects, it differing but slightly in construc- certainly is time they set about tion. He gave us a smoker and enlarging the horizonof their know- THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. ledge. Had an entomologist made neither moth nor rust doth corrupt the discoveries of Quinby in the and where thieves do not break natural history of the bee it would through nor steal." have conferred immortal honor up- Thus to summarize our estimate on himself. of Mr. Quinby's life-work we place What shall we say of Mr. Quinby him as a practical beekeeper ahead as a man, a man who spent liis of Dzierzon : as an inventor ahead

whole life for the benefit of others? of Langstroth : as a discoverer in When we read that a few men own the natural history of the honey nearly the whole of a country we bee,, ahead of the present generation know that many are poor that a of entomologists : and as a public few may be rich. And after one benefactor ahead of those who sim- of these monej'' kings or merchant ply act as gatherers and redistribu- princes has gathered to himself tors of wealth already in existence. many times his share of the world's Starkville, N. T.,Dec. 23, 1884. wealth, if he may choose to redis- tribute it in charity, some perhaps in educating the orphans he has helped make poor, we call him a FOUL BROOD. public benefactor, a philanthropist. How much more a public bene- By L. Stachelhausen. factor is he who turns a part of the waste of this world into wealth for Distinguished apiarists have of

the benefit of his fellows ! This was late so fully treated this subject, Mr. Quinby's life-work, and if he that it appears almost useless to caused two pounds of honey to be say any more concerning it : es- gathered where but one was gather- pecially has A. J. Cook, before the ed before how many million dollars late convention of the Northeastern has he given to his fellow man? Beekeepers' Association^ given a Who will compute it, for it amounts complete description of the theory to more than the gift of a Cooper, and nature of this disease. Still a Peabody, or a Girard. With it more recently, Mr. C. F. Muth has he leaves to the beekeepers of described a simple method of cure. America the rich legacy of a truly Notwithstanding this, I have decid-

noble life : an example of that con- ed to contribute my part towards tentment with the comforts and a the solution of this problem. few of the luxuries of life which Before proceeding further I will brings so much more enjoyment touch upon some points in Prof. than a tiresome scramble for wealth. Cook's statement. A contentment that gives leisure 1. " There is good reason to be- for the improvement of the mind, lieve that the minute spores do not that gives opportunity to extend lOui- readers will find that Vol. 2 of the the helping hands to others, and "Apiculturist" contains the only complete re- time for laying up treasures "where ports of this conveutiou. Ed. THE AMEBICAN APICULTURIST.

adhere to the bees." This is not tried the fasting cure but it proved so. Schonfeld, in Germany, in insufficient. 1877, and perhaps, prior to that, I would mention here that there washed with distilled water some have been cases in which the real bees taken from a foul-broody col- malignant foul brood has disap- ony, and found that this water con- peared spontaneously. In warm tained mouldy pieces of the rotten climates, this seems to be almost brood. Further, the intestines of invariably the case. such bees, from the chylous stomach It has lately been discovered in to the rectum, were filled with moul- Germany, by thorough investiga- dy substance and bacteria. In the tion that bee poison is a powerful rectum were found only developed antiseptic, and that the bees also bacteria and no spores. Thence, use this property to preserve honey.

it follows that a fasting method It is therefore very likely that alone cannot lead to the cure of this acid, under favorable circum-

foul brood, but necessarily must be stances is sufficient to destroy the connected with inner and outer dis- foul-brood bacteria. If we have to infection, if a certain cure is to be consent to this, and also that the obtained. Yes, if a simple fasting probability cannot be denied that cure would lead to the desired result, under especially favorable circum- thebacterian theory, now generally stances the fasting cure can be car- acknowledged as correct, would ried through with success, so also

thereby be contradicted. it is shown in the theory of the The brood food produced by such foul brood, as given by Prof. Cook bees will not, in the beginning, by in such an excellent manner, that

reason of the fasting cure, contain this cure alone is a very uncertain bacteria or spores, and therefore one. On account of the danger,

the foul brood will not for some which is connected with it, it should

; time come to light but, as soon as therefore yiever be used ; more es- the spores, which retain vitality for pecially, as I shall presently relate, years, find again in the larva ground that we now know of a more simple for their unfolding, the disease will and speedier method of cure. break out again and most always 2. Prof. Cook states that the with more violence than before. spores of the foul brood fungus are Von Berlepsch, certainly a thor- especially to be found in the honey ough bee-master, in the summers of a foul brood hive. But these of 1865 and 1867 treated four such spores keep the vitality also in the colonies in this manner and, as is chjdous stomach of the bees and to be expected, and he himself as- Schonfeld has proved that the food sures us, even with the utmost which is given to the young larva precaution, all four colonies be- contains, in a foul broody hive, a

came again infected with foul large quantity of such spores ; that, brood. consequently, this transplants the Von Dzierzon, also, in 1848, seeds of the disease into the young :

THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. larvas. This is also of importance therefore have caused me an un- as bearing upon this theory, as bees necessary and very considerable that have been disinfected outward- damage. I will only briefly refer ly will produce food containing to the difficulty of carrying out spores, and therefore through out- such a law. ward cure alone, the disease cannot To-day, we are able to save not be eradicated. only the queen and the bees of a 3. Besides the two methods foul broody colony, but also their given by Messrs. Jones and Muth honey, comb and the still living or (the older manner of treatment) vital larv£e. Of course, the latter

Prof. Cook advises also, as the sur- is attended with difficulty, and it is est way, burning or burying of the to be advised to renounce, in many affected colonies. Indeed, at the cases, the preservation of brood and meeting in Michigan, the law was combs. After examining several passed that even the beekeepers methods, therefore, we have at last should be compelled to take the to ask the question, How is foul destruction in hand. But as I shall brood to be eradicated in the sim- soon proceed to show we have now plest manner? a speedy, sure and cheap method so (a) E. Hilpert, in German^', that such a destructive proceeding has, in his time, described two dif- can by no means be allowed. ferent methods of curing with sa- Of still more importance is the licine acidification, by which, circumstance that every beekeeper without doubt, one would be able can with little trouble take care to preserve alive all that is still that his colonies are freed from the vital. But these methods are more disease, even though there are foul or less intricate, and a slight mis- broody colonies in the neighbor- take makes success doubtful inas- hood. I would by no means claim much as it preserves the disease a that the individual beekeeper should long while, and may likely be trans- not be compelled by law to exter- ferred to healthy colonies. At all minate the disease, but if he cannot events, Mr. Muth's method is to be or will not himself undertake the preferred, by which however the cure, he should not be obliged to comb and brood are supposed to be destroy the entire colonies, but the lost. A more recent method, which cure should be executed or con- always meets with success whenever trolled by experts. used is as follows. Instead of sa- In the spring of 1882 I discov- licine acidification, common carbo- ered in my apiary several colonies lic acid, which is inexpensive and which were very foul broody. I easily obtained, is used as a cure. used salicine acidification in differ- It is certainly poisonous and has ent ways and in the summer the a very strong odor, but if used in disease had disappeared, and has exact accordance with the direc- not shown itself since. Such a law tions, it is harmless to the bees. as that to which I referred would It is used outwardly as follows THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

Put a tablespoonful of carbolic acid fore advisable to inject this water in a quart of water. Now if tlie with a little syringe. If the comb foul brood is discovered at its pri- contains honey, it can be thrown mary stage, that is, if only a few out and mixed with salicine or colonies show the well known and carbolic acid in the above stated often-described sigijs of the disease, quantity, and again be used as

all that is needed is to wash the food. bottom board of the hive with a This new method of treating wet brush with this mixture, and, foul brood, is taken from "Grav- as the carbolic acid evaporates, enhorst's Praktischer Imker." the bees and combs are disinfected. All frames and utensils should But at the same time, an inward be washed repeatedly with carbolic

application must be resorted to by acid water ; also the bottom boards feeding the colonies for several of the hives containing healthy evenings with liquid food, which is colonies and the bees given repeat-

prepared as follows : To every edly disinfected food, because the quart of sugar syrup or honey food, spores of the disease are so easily add one or two drops of carbolic transferred through robber bees.

acid, stirring it well. These appli- {b) Without doubt, under some

cations (both inner and outer) are circumstances, it can be done dif- repeated weekly, until not a sign of ferently, and yet a complete cure

foul brood is to be found. If, how- be brought about, if one only con- ever, a colony is very badly affected, siders that the bacteria and their use the first-mentioned application, spores everywhere must be killed in the meantime caging the queen, by a corresponding disinfectant. until all the brood is hatched out. You can put all the bees in any Then remove the bees to a disinfect- empty hive which has been washed ed hive and liberate the queen. If out with carbolic acid water and

several colonies are foul-broody, give them a new disinfected home ; all the combs can be given to one at the same time feeding them re- colony, and only the queen belong- peatedly with sugar and water con- ing to that colony need be impris- taining salicylic or carbolic acid,

oned, and the other colonies should but the whole hive is to be washed be given either empty combs or down at any rate with the addition comb foundation. When the heal- of carbolic acid. thy brood has hatched from these Also put salicylic acid to the combs, the latter should be brought honey that was taken out. But al- into the bee house and thoroughly so in this case the bottom boards disinfected. This is done by re- of the other healthy hives should moving the hive caps and placing be washed from time to time in the the combs in a mixture of carbolic manner previously mentioned, with acid and water. In doing this, it carbolic acid water and these re-

is necessary that the mixture ceive disinfected food.

should fill every comb. It is there- (c) From the above, the pre- THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. vention of the disease is self-evi- ward help can be masters of the in these cases, dent ; it consists in that you, as disease. But even often as a cleaning of the bottom it appears to me that a washing of boards is necessary, viz., in the the bottom boards, often repeated, spring, proceed with the above stat- with carbolic acid water is to be reed washing, and add to the food as commended. well as to the drinking water, a I do not dispute the possibility, very small quantity of carbolic or however, that the disease, in such salicylic "acid. There is then al- favorable cases, can be cured with- ways a means of disinfection to be out the means of disinfection. I

found in the hive as is essential to have already experienced such prevent the spread of the disease. cases myself but I would not place Just now, as I am about to con- any dependence upon it, but try clude this article, I find in No. 10 washing with carbolic acid. of the " Apiculturist" the communi- The same is to be said concern- cation of Chas. F. Muth, upon ing Jones' starvation cure. It may "Foul Brood." He says,"salicylic prove all right, if it is followed by acid destroys all spores of foul a good honey-flow or by a strong

brood with which it comes in con- liberal feeding. But the proceed- tact, but does not penetrate the ing offers too little security, re- mummy which resembles ground quires more time and reduces the coffee when scraped out of the colony more than by the method cells." To judge from this method, which I have described. when the combs are wholly im- To be^ sure, he who fights from mersed in carbolic acid Avater, these incomprehen,sible reasons against mummies which contain the spores every application of medicaments of the foul brood in great quantity to mankind and animals cannot will soften, and these are destroyed employ any different agents for the

if the comb remains long enough foul brood than fire and sulphur ; in the liquid. but I doubt very much if h6 and At the end of the article, friend the bees are any better off by that Muth describes a new method of than by the use of a small quantity cure, without using salicylic acid. of medicine which would have It seems as if through this the pre- saved the life of the whole colony. sent bacterian theory were contra- Selma, Texas, Nov. 19, 1884. dicted. But that is not so, for during a plentiful honey harvest

the bee poison [acid ?] which is a good disinfectant, is separated in WINTERING BEES. greater quantity than at other times, but the same time the brood BY L. C. ROOT.

is considerably limited. This therefore furnishes the most favorable I placed my bees in winter quar- case where the bees without out- ters, Nov. 19, in the order named ; , ;

10 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. in my article upon tliis subject in quarters. Since that date the your December issue. mercury has ranged from 20° to 34° The first day of December I above zero. In room A^ the mer- 45° weiglied stocks as follows : In room cury has stood from to 52.° In

A-> one stock composed of three room B, from 42 to 58. swarms united, No, 1, 52 lbs.; The bees were quite uneasy when one single stock, No. 2, b2^ lbs. warmest. It will be seen that the In room £, one composed of temperature will vary most in room five swarms united, No. 3, 76^ lbs. B. We shall observe the results one single stock, No. 4, 95 lbs. of this.

This stock is in a two story eight- I shall refer to tlie stocks I have frame, Quinby form of Langstroth weighed by number hereafter, in hive. I left it very heavy to com- the order above arranged. pare the effect with those that con- Mohaivk, N. T. tained a less amount of honey. I found one effect was to continue breeding later in the season than such as had the usual amount A GUIDE TO of honey. This fact I have noticed THE BEST METHODS OF during several years past. BEEKEEPING. One stock in cone-shaped straw hive. No. 5, weighed 41] lbs. By J. L. Christ. The four stocks out-of-doors R. t. Holterman, Translator weigh as follows : one composed (Contimied from p. 271, Vol. 11.) of three swarms united and packed THE LOCATION OF AN APIARY. with chaff. No. 6, 127 lbs. One single stock packed with In commencing beekeeping, the location of the apiary is of primary sawdust, No. 7, 134 lbs. ; single stock packed in cliaff, No, 8, 133 importance, as regards the abundance or scarcity of pasturage for lbs. ; double stock packed with the bees, because the sawdust, No. 9, 121 lbs. ; one honey-dews are scarce during seasons. stock in attic. No. 10, 53 lbs. ; one many stock with empty hive below con- Those localities where there is an taining no sealed honey. No. 11, abundance of heather and buck- weighed 49 lbs. After weighing I wheaf^ are favorably known ; also gave this stock a comb which I liad where there are many meadows filled with six lbs. of sugar syrup. Un buckwheat or heather localities, a good This is the stock referred to in pa- colony of bees can in fourteen days (if the weather at the time of bloom is favorable) per No. 1, which is to be kept in a carry in one hundred pounds of honey. It is warm place, and fed from time to however, of importance in such localities, wliich generally have few other honey plants, time during the winter. that the weather should be favorable during The season so far has been very the heatlierand buckwheat bloom, wliich gen- only lasts a few weeks; if this season mild. Bees flew freely a few days erally should be unfavorable and the bloom is lost, before they w^ere placed in winter the outlook is gloomy. THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 11

where woods, chestnuts, basswood, distance by hours ; one-fourth of etc., are at hand ; where many- an hour's journey being about a acres of fall or spring wheat, rape, mile. R. F. H.] Yet they cannot carry in a third each day field beans, etc., are grown ; or any more than of the many honey plants grow, of and hardly that ; then, too, they which a list is given below. At have to encounter many dangers, the same time, the bees must not such as rain, wind and destruc- have to gather their honey more tive birds. But it is still more dan- than half an hour's journey from gerous if the bees have to cross wide the hive, as at a great distance too streams in quest of food as they are much time is lost. The nearer the frequently lost, particularly when to returning winds flowers are the apiary, the better ; with a load, by at the same time it is known that which are more frequent and strong-

the bees have scented and even vis- er upon water ; but if the bees are ited flowers an hour's journey' from not obliged to fly across it, a stream the hive.- [The Germans calculate in the near vicinity is not detrimen-

tal, especiall}', if it flow in a north-

^That they frequently fly more tlian an erly direction. Such an apiary is hour's journey to obtain honey I have had re- located at Offenbach near to peated instances of knowing. When, at certain seasons, the better flowers have ceased Mainstrom, which does particu- blooming-, many bees come in witli yellow larly^ well and which the owner golden lumps on their legs, and their heads and backs are also covered with a yellow sub- intends to increase to one thou- stance which comes from the Genista, a yellow sand colonies. flower like the snapdragon ; its seed is a red- In the forest itself, the bees are dish-yellow and is only found in a wood which is a good liour from here. How advantageous well placed, if any one has oppor- is ittohave near, or at least not too far away, tunity to put them there. Tlie the plants of wiiich tlie bee is to gather tlie honey ! For not only can it make more frequent bees not only find abundant pas- journeys, but it can also take a greater load. turage and close at hand, but they Of this I took careful note, and it impressed upon me the wisdom and forethouglit of tlie are also protected from wind and bee (I must so express myself). I perceived can fly out and carry in, where oth- close to a hive a strong goldwurzel in full bloom, which tlie bees, particularly the wild ers in level country must remain in bees, visited quite fi-equently. The highest the hive. They are more aiiy, sprig witli blossoms reached the alighting board of tlie skep. A bee from this skep was en- more quiet and in a more healthy lo- gaged on tlie flowers in procuring a load for cality than if close to houses ; but her legs. She commenced operations on the most distant sprig and worked towards her they are nearer their enemies par- home and ended so that she only required to ticularly hornets and wasps, and fly a hand's width to reach the porch of her in the swarming season, when city and there deposit her load. Whether she was so wise as purposely to commence farther they cluster, are more diflScult and get nearer home as her burden increased, to reach ; while the advantages I would.notliketo say and state positively ; but she gathered such a large quantity of pollen as are greater near houses, yet there never before saw on a honey bee, and which I are more swallows, sparrows and she could not have carried fifty paces without being exhausted. Therefore, the closer the other destructive birds about which pasturage to the apiary, the larger loads can capture more bees than in the the bees carry, and the more frequent will be their visits to the flowers. forest. 12 THE A3IEBIGAN APICULTURIST.

WHAT SHOULD BE IN THE LOCALITY warm location. This is a matter AND WHAT SHOULD NOT. whicli has much to do with the success of the apiary. This warm lo- In the vicinity of the apiary calit}', however, does not depend there should be small brooks ; par- upon the sun always shining upon ticularly are manure heaps and the skeps during summer, that it pools useful to the bees, from which faces the south, etc. This may all they procure the salt-petre in solu- be, and still the location be a win- tion, which they also obtain from tery and damp one, which is very freshly-upturned soil, from walls, injurious to the bees. The place and oftener from unclean sources may be situated low and continue but which is almost a necessity. colder in the spring because the Much more unpleasant and des- warm air has not access, or because tructive is the smoke which comes

of buildings, fences, trees, etc. ; from a bakery, brewer}?-, smelting consequently the ground remains house or chimney and which can cold and chills the atmosphere for reach them. Bad odors, jiarticu- some distance above it. This is larly from dead and decaying bod- why the snow remains longer in ies, must not be permitted in the such localities than in neighboring vicinity of the apiary. Near mills more elevated and open positions. the bees must be so placed that no A colony may be in a cold posi- dust can reach them, which woidd tion through being placed on a cause the honey to ferment and bleak hill or where there is a con- spoil. stant draught, or so as to increase THE POSITION OF THE COLONY. the draught if it comes from the The colony itself must be placed northeast or east northeast. Thick so as to be protected from wind, large stone walls, immediately be- especially the north wind, becanse hind the bees, give out much cold of cold, and if possible from the air in the spring, cause dampness, west evening wind to keep the rain etc. from beating against the hive. Such cold locations are very det- This may be done through shelter rimental to the success of an api- from brick houses, or where the ary, and if in addition to this they lay of the place will prevent these are damp they are positively in- winds, through fences of board or jurious. A friend in the neigh- stone. One, however, must see borhood some years ago complained that a narrow path is left between to me that his bees would not the wall and the hives, so as to per- thrive. They would neither give mit handling the bees from the him swarms or honey and most ab- rear which if not imperative is at sconded. I examined his location least very desirable. which was very nicely and well ar-

Before all other things, it is how- ranged but cold. After changing

ever, necessary in starting an api- it only thirty paces the bees have

ary, to see that it has a dry and done exceedingly well. The warmer THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 13 the location, the earlier will the in as simple and practical a man- bees swarm and the better will they ner as possible to our readers. thrive in every respect. It is not enough that financial

{To he contiiuied.) success is crowning our efforts, but if after all that we have said Bodheim, Germany, July 25,1783. and done, we have lightened no burdens, given no counsel or advice that has benefited our brother beekeepers we have accomplished but EDITORIAL. little. Once more and almost regret- As this number of our journal fnlly we realize that we must for- will reach a large number who have ever bid adieu to the old year, not been acquainted with the ob- which, while it has brought to us ject of our mission, ourreaders will so many cares, trials and burdens, doubtless bear with us patiently if has also been fraught with so many we repeat some statements that endearing and hallowed associa- we have made before. tions, and has developed and rip- It is a mistaken idea and one ened so many new and valuable with which we totally disagree that, experiences and friendships. because on account of lack of or- To-day, as we realize that a cur- ganization and unsystematic man- tain has gently fallen between us agement, our honey market has and the past, leaving us standing been glutted, that apiculture has on the threshold of a new year, the reached its ultimatum, and hence untried and unknown future, we no new fields open before us for are more deeply impressed than investigation or development. On ever Mith the importance of the the contrary, we are free to state, mission upon which we have en- fearless of contradiction, that when tered and the weight}' responsibil- the great greed for individual gain it}' which rests ui*)on us as one to and aggrandizement gives way to whom thousands of hard-toiling the loftier aims of equal rights and producers look for counsel and ad- the desire to impart the greatest vice. Thus, it is only after mature good to the largest number, apicul- deliberation, aided b}' advanced ture will become a remunerative experience and a better knowl- vocation and one in which we can edge of the varied needs of those invest capital with full assurance in whose interests our journal is of abundant success, opinions of published, that we reach forward others to the contrary notwith- into the beyond, grasp the grand standing. Apiculture is properly possibilities that may come to api- and legitimately a branch of agriculture through a careful, thorough culture, and until this fact is rec- and systematic solving of all the ognized and every agricultural great problems which come to us college in our country follows the for consideration, and present them example of the Michigan State Ag- 14 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

ric'iiltural college, appointing as which these ends might be accom-

one of its teachers a professor of plished ; and while there are those scientific and practical beekeeping who will take issue with us on this and establishing in connection with point, yet we are free to assert

it an experimental apiary for the that many of those who have con-

benefit of its students, we shall not trolled and conducted our bee-lit- have completed our work or have erature are largely responsible for fulfilled our mission. the fact that beekeeping in Amer-

While in the future as in the ica to-day is in such a disorgan- past, the bulk of surplus honey will ized and unsatisfactory condition, be produced by the specialist, who and are further responsible for a in order to succeed shotdd become large portion of the grevious mis- thoroughly conversant with all the takes that have come to apicul- varied requirements of scientific ture.

apiculture, yet, in order that it We do not take this position un- may fulfil its mission properly and advisedly, and were it not that the well, simple methods must be records of the leading bee-journals

taught to the farmer, horticulturist bear us out in this, it would be and others, whereby they may simply ridiculous and fool-hardy keep bees, thereby supplying their for us to make such statements, own tables with nature's pure un- nor do we stand alone in this, for adulterated sweets, and thus in- we only reiterate the statements of creasing their income by saving the more thoughtful and most from $25 to $100 yearly, which pi-ominent apiarists in America. to the average farmer is no There is one association, how- small item, not to mention the a

-i^need has been recognized by such been done to ignore or injure it.

teachers as Moses Quinby, L. L. These ai'e but a few of the many Langstroth, Samuel Wagner and vexing subjects with which we many others, but has been almost have to contend, and which can all buried out of sight bj' those, who be practically and effectually

in order to further their own in- solved if less attention is paid to terests at the sacrifice of the inter- monopoly speculation in the supplj' ests of others have monopolized, business and more thought given in fact, almost every means by to the advancement of scientific THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 15

and practical apiculture, develop- an editor as that scholarly and tal- ing new markets for hone}^ etc. ented pioneer of America bee jour- After a thorough experience in nalism continued at the head of the every branch of the bee and siqiply journal that he founded until to- business, we became fully confident day, tliere would not have existed that, until we had an independent this need of reform. journal and one which was entirely It doubtless is not pleasant to free from the supply business, and some to hear tlieir records as pub- published in the broadest sense of lic teachers rehearsed and criti- the word in the interests of bee- cised, but we are not responsible if keepers, every attempt to correct such records will not bear the pure the evils that threatened beekeep- light of impartial investigation.

ing would prove abortive ; and it Our object is to continue the was only after weighing the matter publication of the Apiculturist, carefully that we decided to enter giving our readers each month the the field and endeavor to give to richest thoughts and ripest exper- the beekeepers of America such a iences in as simple and practical a journal. manner as possible, advocate the We also remembered that while proper and thorough systematiza- heretofore others had tried to action of our associations as one complish this, but through lack of great means for advancing and support and overpowering circum- protecting the interests of beekeep- stance had failed, and also that ers ; encourage the researches in every effort would be made to crush scientific and practical apiculture, out any attempt that we might whereby we sliall be able to place make, yet trusting in One who al- our honey in the martsof the world ways favors and protects right and not alone as a luxury, but also as justice, and relying upon the intel- an indispensable commodity, and ligent and thoughtful apiarists who open up new and better uses and

would rally to our support, we markets for the same ; devising ef- have embarked in this enterprise. fectual methods for obtaining accur- How thoroughly we have laid the ate statistics regarding beekeeping, foundation for continued and and protect the rights and pi-ivi- effective work, we leave to the leges of the individual beekeepers testimony of the hundreds of prom- against injury and wrong, extend- inent and successful apiarists from ing freely to our readers the rights every quarter of the globe, and the and privileges which accrue from actions of the two leading beekeep- an independent expression of ers' associations, all of whom have thought through the public press ; pronounced the Apicultuuist one and indeed to devote our time and of the best journals published in attention wholly and solely to the the interests of beekeepers. Now advancement of the cause of api- we do not say this boastingly, for culture in its every branch and de- we are fully aware that had such partment. 16 THE AMERICAN A PICUL TUB1ST.

In order that we ma}- do this and we have sent them this num- the beekeepers, in whose interests ber trusting that they will reply at

we are working, must support and once ; otherwise, we must discon- sustain us. Wlien the most promi- tinue their subscription with this nent apiarists liave freely and number. In closing, we wish j'ou publicly endorsed our position and one and all a Happy New Year not only contributed freely of their and abundant prosperity. funds but also have given to our readers some of the richest and most valuable thoughts and instructions ever given to the bee- CORRESPONDENCE. keeper, the masses of beekeepers SHIPMENT OF QUEENS TO NEW who are to reap the benefits which ZEALAND. result from such efforts cannot be Dear Sir : so blind to their own interests as I mentioned in my last the ex- to withhold from us the needed pected arrival of a shipment of support. If each beekeeper who Italian queens from your part of the world to the order of two of our receives a copy of our journal this colonial apiarists. I see b^'^ the will contribute his dollar month press that the}' duly arrived, hy the each year (a paltry sura when last mail steamer from San Fran- compared with what he receives in cisco, but unfortunately a large percentage of were return) the work will be accom- them dead. They were sent b}^ two of the lead- plished and we shall be able to ing beekeepers of your country, Mr. present if possible a far better H. Alley of Wenham, Mass., and journal and also complete many Mr. James Heddon, Dowagiac, plans which we are unable to do Mich. Mr. L. J. Bagnall, of Tliamcs, had eight from Heddon at present. and six from Alley, and Dr. Dalziel Just think carefully before you of Pukekolie eight from Alle}'. say that you cannot afford to sul)- They were sent by these gentlemen scribe for another paper, because to Mr. T. G. Newman of Chicago, you can never afford to sacrifice who kindly undertook to forward them to San Francisco, where on your own interests to save one arrival they were taken charge of dollar. by the purser of the Pacific Mail We have placed our bound vol- Co S. S. Zealandia. They left umes and the journal for 1885, at Chicago on the 18th of Sept. last, the low figures we did in order that arriving in Auckland on the 18th of Oct. and at Thames and Puke- all of our readers might secure kolie on the 20th. They would journal our from the beginning, thus be from 33 to 35 days on the and if after carefully reading the way. On examining his, Mr. Bag- Vols. 1 and 2, you do not find that nall found that of the eight sent they contain many times the value by Mr.Heddon five were dead, while two of the others wei'e rather weak, of the money paid for them we will and have since died. One still lives it back. There area i'ew take who and is I believe doing well. Mr. have not sent in their renewals, Alley's lot turned out somewhat THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. 17 better, four of the six being alive, think it will deter themifrom trying though two of them were so far again. gone, that they succumbed the next While I am on the subject of day. The remaining two are lay- queen importation I will give the ing and do not seem any the worse result of a shipment sent from Italy for their long imprisonment, at to the order of Mr. I. Hopkins, least so Mr. Bagnall informs me. manager of the Matamata apiary. Dr. Dalziel was equally unfortu- These were shipped on the 2nd of nate, receiving only three alive August and did not reach Ma- out of the eight sent him by Mr. tamata until the 26th of Sept. being Alley. I have not heard whether in confinement some 55 days. Out he has managed to keep these three of twelve sent six arrived alive alive, as one at least was rather but one was so weak that it died weak when taken from the box. two days after. These were sent Mr. Heddon's were packed in a in larger boxes than those which snug box with eight compartments, came from America, and were fur- each compartment being furnislied nished with more bees, more honey with a small section of hone^'. The and water. It may be that the box was covered with wire gauze want of water was the chief cause for ventilation. Each queen was of the death of so many of the accompanied by a goodly number bees sent by Messrs. Alley and of workers, but on arrival these Heddon. The water is supplied were nearly all dead. Only in two in small tin bottles placed neck divisions were there any living and downward in a shallow pan and so in these not more than a dozen al- arranged that atmospheric pressure together. They had consumed all prevents the water running out the honey in most of the divisions. faster than it is taken by the bees, This may account for some of the out of the pan. I have given these loss, though in one compartment matters some prominence as I feel in which all the bees and the queen sure that with attention to a few also were dead, there was a lot of matters of detail, success will yet honey left. be attained in the transport of Mr. Alley's were in small boxes queens from America to New Zea- about 9" X 6" X 2^", with a 2 in. land or vice versa. hole covered with wire for ventila- The weather continues moderate- tion. The six boxes were made ly favorable to the bees and swarm- into one parcel. Each box was ing is becoming general. A furnished with a small frame of Beekeepers' Assoc, has been formed sealed honey. In Dr. Dalziel's lot at Coromandel in the Auckland there were only three or four work- province, Mr. J. D. Colebrook be- ers living, and Mr. B. had not a ing appointed Secretary. Mr. F. solitary worker left with Alley's Cheshire's paper read before the queens, but there was no scarcity of British Beekeepers' Assoc, on "iJa- food in any of Mr. Alley's boxes. cillus alvei" or foul brood, has at- In Mr. Bagnall's lot two of the tracted much attention in those frames were adrift, through the top districts where this disease exists. bar breaking away from the ends The local journal has given it in full of the frame. These boxes were and the "Cheshire cure" is now in a bad state through the shak- being tried by several. It is to be ing about of the frames. hoped that it will prove as effectual Naturally enough, the Dr. and a cure as Mr. Cheshire claims it is. Mr. B. are somewhat disappointed N. Z. CORKESPONDENT. with the result, though I do not JVov. 5, 1884. 18 THE AMERICAN APIGULTUIUST.

criptive of his favorite. By all a new manual. means Mr. Editor, let us have the book. Who seconds the motion ? Ed. Am. Apiculturist. Apis Canadensis. The various manuals of beekeeping are, in my judgment, lacking Kingston^ Canada^ Dec. 5, 1884. in one ver}' essential particular, t.e., thej^ do not give accurate des- the one criptions of an^- hive but NEW YOKK AND FLOUIDA. their prejudice seems to favor.

Tims Mr. A.B. C. does not seem to Dear Sir : On the twentieth of think any hive but his "Simplicity" November I packed sixty colonies

worth mentioning ; Mr. L. C. Root of selected Italians for Sanford, thinks the "New Qainby"the7iepZt{S Fla., the remotest southern point ultra; Prof. Cook describes minute- where we have steamers daily from ly his modified "Gallup" and gives Jacksonville, a distance of two hun- cuts of a couple of others, but as no dred miles north, and owing to descriptions are given, one is at a poor management did not succeed loss to decide whether the hive that in getting them here until sixteen is most popular in Canada is in- days after shipment. Have them tended for a bee hive, a dog kennel, pleasantly situated, without any or a small barn ; Mr. Newman loss, in a fine orange grove, three starts a chapter on "What hive to and one-half miles southwest of use" but apparentl}^ cannot adjust Sanford and they are in a prosper- his spectacles to see any farther ous condition. Have brood in all all than the Laugstroth ; Mr. Kretch- stages in some, and have started mcr describes his hive only, Mr. brood-rearing nicel}' so far. Bees

Reed the Mitchell ; Mr. Alley can swarm in this vicinity in March probably be excused for not des- and April under ordinary circum- cribing any but his "double-walled stances, but think by stimulating and queen-rearing hives" as his can divide the last of February or book is intended principally to the first of March. Our principal teach his method of queen-rearing. honey-producing plants in this vi- I might go on mentioning other cinity are palmettoes, magnolia, manuals, but so far as I have read and orange, and several swamp they are nearly alike in this partic- varieties of which I cannot give ular, and unless the beginner is the name at this date. Bees are possessed of all of them he may not bringing in much of any honey choose a hive not at all adapted to but are carrying pollen freely. No his wants. There are a great many one in this vicinity pays beekeeping very valuable hives in use in Amer- much attention, but all say the bees ica, each one containing some fea- do well. Don't think there are anj'^ ture peculiar to itself and it seems Italians in Orange county and if to me if a book were written des- mine continue to display tlie same cribing minutely those in use that energy tliey have since I arrived no arc found to give excellent results, flower will bloom unvisited b}' them with a few lines detailing special as they are the first I hear as I a- management, such a work would wake and the last to give it up at certainly have a largo sale. Each night. The mercury rose to-day manufacturer or supply agent to ninety-six, and ranges from would, no doubt (for the better eighty to ninety'. Weather very advertisement of his wares), confine at present. tribute the necessary cuts des- C. G. Ferris. THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

One year ago Mr. Ferris of Herkimer honey producers. We \expect xtb Co., N. Y., made atrip to Florida talv- be present and should be fileased to ing with iiim one colony of bees. The meet there many of our brothcf bee- object of the visit was to investigate keepers. the advantages of that state for bees during the "cold season at the north. We had intended to have The results of his observations were, — as will be seen by the above, that he journal out on time this month has taken sixty colonies of Italian bees but the death of the foreman i^i our and gone to Florida for the present office, together with other circum- winter. stances unforeseen and uncontroll- Throuah the kindness of Mr. L. C. able, this impossible, Root of^Mohawk, N. Y., Mr. Ferris rendered but who was in Mr. Root's employ for sev- we think that the value of this num- eral years (and has furthermore had ber will more than make up for the ten years' practical experience with delay. There are as yet a few who bees, which with him is an exclusive have not renewed their subscrip- business), has kindly agreed to furnish the "Apiculturist" with monthly re- tions, and we have sent them this ports (under the above heading) of number trusting they will find it his experiment. Ed.] for their interest to renew at once. We are aware that times are hard, but you cannot afford to give up the "Apiculturist" to save one dollar. We must, however, drop with this number all subscriptions that . NOTES AND QUERIES. have expired.

— AVe are pleased to inform our — The matter of a new work on readers that just before going to apiculture, as referred to by " Apis press we received a very pleasant canadensis" opens up a broad field communication from Mr. W. A. of inquiry, and we would refer our Pryral of North Temescal, Cal., readers to the questions and ans- who was the founder of the "Cali- wers, and especially to those given fornia Apiculturist," and who is by Mr. L. C. Root, as valuable in now conducting the beekeeping de- that they touch upon this matter. partment in the Rural Pacific While we favor invention and Press, stating that he will furnish improvement yet we are heartily each month for our journal commuur sick of the almost endless and vex- ications from California under the ing variety of hives and fixtures, heading " California Notes and many of them worthless except as Gleanings." These notes will be advertisements to one's own busi- of great interest to our readers. ness. We are in favor of improvement in bee literature but — We would call the attention would not lose sight of the fact of our readers to the fact that the that we cannot afford to sacrifice Northeastern Beekeepers' Associa- practical and valuable instruction tion will hold its convention in the in beekeeping for the sake of illus- at Y., City Hall vSyracuse, N. Jan. trating too great a variety of fix- 21-23, 1885. tures. If both can be practically We would urge all who can do combined all will be well.

so to attend ; the meetings will be both interesting and instructive —Will all those who wish Vols. and it is well to remember that the 1 and 2 reply soon? AVe hope' majority of those who will take soon to dispose of the lirst edition part in the discussions are among of 1000 copies so as to issue an- the most prominent a^nd successful other. It is as cheap, and yet as 20 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. valuable, an amount of bee litera- — We have just received from ture as one ever purchased for the Mr. Holterman, but too late for sum for which we offer it, and we publication, the reports of the H.al- cannot hold it at this reduced rate dimand association. long.

— Will our Canadian friends and tlie Secretaries of Canadian associations kindly assist Mr. Hol- terman in the work that he has un- CONVENTION NOTES. dertaken by sending to him sucli reports and other items as will journ- make his department in our — The Cortland Union Beekeepers' al interesting and valuable. Association will hold their next meeting in Cortland, N. Y., Jan. 27, 18.sr). Frank Benedict of Perry — Mr. M. G. DoRBY, Sec'y. Centre, N. Y., at the late convention at Rochester, was unfortunate enough to lose a small account book containing the names of par- INTERNATIONAL BEE-KEKPERS' CONVEN- ties who had paid for photographs TION. taken there. If any of our read- It is proposed to hold an Internation- ers were fortunate enough to find al Beekeepers' Congress on the Ex- position Grounds during the 24th, 2oth, it, they will oblige Mr. Benedict and 26th of February, 1885. very much by returning it to him. An interesting programme of subjects will be presented and discussed of great — We have just received from importance to every beekeeper in Mr. Wm. W. Cary, jr., the sad in- America. The disposition of our honey pro- telligence that his father, who was duct with a view to secure better prices the oldest bee- probably one of will be fully considered. keepers living in America (hav- At the same time there will be an exing been engaged in the business hibit of bees and apiarian supplies. Fuller particulars will be given here- for fift^^-two years), has fallen after. asleep. At the time selected, the Exposition In his decease, we have led to will be at its best, and excursion rates his rest one of the pioneers of Am- low. The beekeepers of our country erican apiculture, and one with should lay aside business for a week or two, and made every exertion L. L. Langstroth associated to at- whom tend this Convention. his early in conducting many of Come prepared with facts and statis- experiments. His loss will be tics, and ideas arranged, to take part deeply felt by the dear ones left to in its deliberations. P. Allen, mourn, and we extend to them Dr. N. Smith's Grove, Ky. W. Williamson, Lexington, Ky. heartfelt during our sympathy Dr.O.M.BLANTON, Greenville, Miss. these hours of trial. P. L. ViALLON, Bayou Goula, La. His son, Mr. Wm. W. Cary, Jr., Judge W. H. Andrews, McKinney, Tex. who for a long time has been a mem- W. S. Hart, New Smyrna, Florida. ber of the firm of Wm. W. Cary & S. C. BoYLSTON, Charleston, S. C. Son, will continue to conduct the Dr. J. P. H. Brown, Augusta, Ga. business, and he has only to fol- II. C. Austin, Austin's Springs, low in the footsteps of his father in Teun. K. C. Taylor, Wilmington, N. C. order to retain the regard of the bee- J. W. Porter, Charlottesville, Va. with abundant keepers and meet S. Valentine, Ilagerstown, Md. success. Mr. J. P. H. Brown, of Augusta, Ga., THE AMERICAN' APlCULTURISt. 21

extends to us a very cordial invitation ANSWERS BY J. E. POND, JR. to be present at the convention at New Orleans, and it is with deep re- 1. I have for a long time been of gi'et that we replied that it would be the opinion that a standard frame impossible. Our brother beekeepers would prove decidedly advantageous ; however, have our best wishes. Noth- in fact I can hardly conceive of any ing pleases us more than to see the disadvantage that can arise from the growing- interest in association work. adoption of such frame. I can however We are looking forward for grand pos- see no way in or l)y which a unity of sibilities in this regard in the near fu- ideas can be brought about, to focus up- ture. on any one form of frame that can be We but here repeat the call and urge devised. all who can possibly do so to take a A standard frame should and must trip to New Orleans and help to make be a compromise; such compromise the convention a grand success. Ed.] must retain the good points and drop the poor ones. So long as there is so great feeling upon the subject, and apparent belief that upon this or that particular form of frame depends the success of the upholder thereof, just so long shall we be obliged to take things as they now are, and make the most we QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. can of them. 2. The duty of every honest man is to set his face hard against any and all QUESTIONS BY THE EDITOR. adulteration. Policy should have no place in the matter. Exposure should 1. It is a fact that the country is follow every known attempt, and every flooded with so great a variety of hives man should be shown that disgrace and sections that the beginner is puz- would attend any attempt on his part zled to know which to choose. to adulterate even in the least degree Now do you consider this state of any of our products. aflairs beueticial to the best interests 3. By working up his home market of Apiculture, and why is itso? Also thoroughly ; the great trouble has been do you think that it is possible to de- that every one is anxious to work ofl' vise a simple hive and one that can be, his goods too speedily. easily constructed that is worthy of It may be a little trouble so to do, general adoption by the beekeepers but there is no question but that large both of the North and ? South quantities of honey might be sold with- 2. What do you consider, in the in a stone's throw of one's own dwell- light of your own experience, the duty ing if pains only were taken to develop of the beekeepers regarding any and the trade. Instead then of rushing off all kinds of adulteration? at once to some commission house let 3. How can the small beekeeper, the producer inform his neighbors and who owns only a few colonies, secure the near public that he can supply them his honey in the simplest manner pos- with a choice article of pure honey, sible and dispose of his surplus so as and it must needs be a very thinly set- not to conflict with the general honey tled locality that will not make a mar- market to its injury. ket for the yield of quite a large apiary. 4 Some of the best beekeepers of the 4. The only arguments that world are opposed to conventions and I have yet seen are based on selfishness. such publications as tend to increase No position in my mind is well taken, the number of beekeepers and encour- that does not tend to broaden and age the production of honey. Is their deepen one's mind, and give him position well taken? wiser and better views in regard to the world at 5. How can we best call the atten- large. Conventions and special bee tion of the public generally to the value literature willhave sucheflect; no one of as food and medicine, thereby honey can for a moment doubt this. The creating a greater demand for the laws of supply and demand, produc- most natural and desirable sweet known tion and consumption, are the only to the world? means by which the production of hon- 6. What is the most important ques- ey as well as other productions can be tion of the day in relation to our pur- controlled, and the sooner the would- suit? be specialist in this direction finds this ;

22 THE AMERICAN AFICULTURIST.

out, the sooner will he grow contented The whims of beekeepers are a great- to take things as they come, especially er barrier in the way of adopting a when lie can do nothing that will make standard hive than all the difficulties in them diflerent. the way of its construction. This lilve 5. By agitation. Comparatively few business has nearly ruined the bee in- to-day know the great value of honey terest. The meaner the hive, the both as a food and medicine. Were its more blowing is resorted to, to induce value as a medicine thoroughly known the ignorant to buy it. it would displace in thousands of famil- 2. In view of the fact that the adul- ies, the domestic remedies, or quack terators of the present time are under- compounds now depended upon by mining the health and the morals of the them as cure-alls. people, we should have no doubt as to If every beekeeper in the country what our duty is. We should expose would write a series of articles for his the thieving business at all times, and local weekly newspapers upon the val- on all suitable occasions. Much has ue of honey, etc., it would soon create already been done in this direction. A a demand to supply which would re- few years ago, glucose honey was sold quire a much larger quantity than is openly in the .stores here, and people now produced. talked about recipes to make honey. G, The marketing our honey. The Glucose sugar and glucose syrup law of supply and demand regulates were as connnon as our daily bread.

itself as a rule ; still a demand can be Well, the few first articles I wrote in created, at any time by a little eflbrt. our local papers, exposing the fraud, Honey is now looked upon as a luxury brought out some opposition and some Its value as a remedial agent in many attempt at ridicule, but I battei'ed diseases is unknown. All that is re- away at the sneaking business till it quired on the part of the public is to slunk its dirty self away out of sight. know its value and an immense demand The great masses of the people have will be found to arise for it. There is no sympathy for the sly craftsmen, no reason why judicious advertising hence, all that is necessary is to edu- should not cause a demand for a pro- cate them. I have about as much pa- duct of the value of honey, when it will tience with the conceited wise man, set the world crazy over some humbug who proposes to kill the adulterators quackpoison. by " letting them alone," as I would If the beekeepers of every section have with the farmer who proposed to would associate themselves together kill the weeds in his cornfields by "let- with a community of purpose and in- ting them alone." terest, they would soon become a pow- ;>. Anything that is Avorth doing at all er that would be felt ; so long as they should be done well. There is no undertake to work apart, they will be reason why the small honey producer like the bundle of twigs, weak wlien .should not put his honey, which he de- as_^a steel cable when sires for the market, in as good shape separated ; strong united in harmony. as the larger producers do. If he does this he is not in the way. Foxboro, Mass. 4. I think they set their colter too deep. Conventions in our state have the mai-ket. ANSWERS BY G. AV. DEMAREE. helped honey I used to sell a little honey at a big price, and 1. I think the great variety in that was all that I could do. My bees hives, sections, etc., a misfortune to be- would not pay me now in that way, as ginners. I call to mind this minute we must sell honey by the tons. We beekeepers who are doing poor work accept "demands" for large lots of in their apiaries from year to year honey at lower prices, rather than lit- simply because they adopted an infe- tle or no demand at high prices. The rior hive and implements at a time greatest enemy the honey producer has when they did not know any better. is., those publications which are pub- The facts show that the standard lished in the interests of the proprie- Langstroth hive is in use by success- tors whose business it is to collect ful beekeepers in every state in the money from other people to pay their union, and perhaps the same may be advertising bills, and to allure a lot of said of some other hives. This indi- blockheads into the "bee business" in cates that it is possible to construct a order that they may sell them a lot of hive that will answer every purpose supplies. The only remedy is to "take in every section of the north and the off the feed" and let such fellows run south. their own shebangs. :

THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 23

5. Build up your home market. be in town five hours after it is extract- More can be done by letting the people ed) and disposed of for any price, and see and taste your honey tlian in any for any trick, or trade, thus breaking other Avay. the home market. One of my neighbors G. The best method of counteract- in July called to ask if I woukrfiU an ing the evil inlUiences of monopoly and order that he had taken, expecting to rings. have lots of honey to supply. He found Christianshurg, Ky. that he would have to feed his bees, and buy honey for the family use. This same man retailed honey 5 cts. per ANSWEUS BY J. B. HALL. pound less than even sold by me. I 1. Most of the various hives now in cannot give them advice as they will do use liave been got up by parties that are as they please, living in a free country. not practical apiarists, and could not 4. I am of the opinion tliat the best make a living by producing honey, so beekeepers are not opposed to conven- have constructed various fancy models, tions and publications but tliey are in- based upon theory only, and promise difl'erent to them, and take no part, be- them A 1 extra, it being only necessary cause to them they are one-sided^ they to own about a dozen of such, and put gain nothing for the time and money ex- bees into them, and all will go well, and pended, also that they wish the produc- the owner will be able to reap large, tion of honey to be increased but are yes, very large, yields of honey, and disgusted at the way the novice acts that without so much as getting a sting. when he has honey to sell. I cannot understand the reason that 5. Cannot say. the beginner should not expect to be G. The stamping out of foul brood, puzzled. If he enter any of the profes- so called. Condemn and contradict sions or trades of life, he does not ex- the following statements pect to be perfect at the start, but on The gush about large yields of honey the contrary, to expend time, labor and with little capital and labor. money, to accomplish his desires. That it is very pleasant and profitable If by apiculture it is meant (if it is for weak ladies and gentlemen to keep possible) to teach every person the suc- bees. cessful method of keeping bees profit- That there is" no hard work in the ably, my answer would be no ! but if by apiary. apiculture it is meant those already en- That it is all profit as bees work for gaged in and those intending entering nothing and board themselves. the profession for a living, my answer That the pure Italian bees are the would be emphaticalltj yes, and the why best. so, that a practical man in a good loca- That clipping the wings of the queen tion for honey, can make a success with hurt her or the colony in any way. any kindor shape of hive with movable That properly reared (artificially) comb frames, and soon find what his queens without the swarming fever or special field demands, and will act ac- impulse are not as good and in no case cordingly. better than those raised at swarming. There is nothing impossible in the Woodstock, Ontario. improvement in hives, but uniformity in hives for the far south and northern extremes, and all the intermediates, I think not desirable, any more then uni- ANSWEKS BY L. C. TwOOT. formity in dwellings, stables, vehicles, clothing, etc. 1. I consider this great variation in 2. To put his name and address on the forms of hives very objectionable. every package of honey, no matter to There are many reasons why a stand- whom sold, and here in Ontario, enforce ard hive and section would prove of the good law we have against adultera- great advantage. Bees could be pur- tion offood. The first otfence for mak- chased more advantageously. If one ing or selling is $100 fine and the third desired to sell his bees, hives or sec- ofl*euce imprisonment I think. tions, his chances of doing so to advan- 3. This is a sticker to me as I ex- tage would be much greater. Surplus pect to all specialists. The small men, combs, empty, or filled with honey, as you call them, will not take honey in would often be a desirable purchase, in good shape, and if they by chance get a fact the general confusion incident to few hundred pounds more than the fam- this great variety of hives would be re- ily will be likely to use, it is rushed on moved. This diversity has arisen the market in July (I have known it to largely from the selfishness of individ- 24 THE AMERICAN APTCULTURIST.

ual beekeepers and supply dealers, labels and striking placards are also through their desire to use or sell some- valuable. thing different from others. Doubtless Properly printed slips well-worded each was devised in the belief that it explaining the value of this pure and was an improvement. We shall never natural sweet should be furnished with establish a desirable standard in bee- each package. If such slips could be keeping fixtures so long as the majority very generally distributed they would of supplies are manufactured and sold be valuable educators. We should see by dealers who have their own text to it that no department at our fairs book which illustrates and describes make a better display than our own. their owu style of hives and sections, In short it simply means hard work. and who publish their own bee journals If we are equal^to the emergency, suc- to educate the public and recommend cess is ours. their own goods. There must be less 6. Were I to answer this question selfishness, and more of a broad and in the broadest and most unselfish way generous spirit, before the greatest I should say that the most important good conies to the greatest number. question would be, How can we save The outlook is brightening, and I think the millions of pounds of honey which the tendency of the future will be iu are annually going to waste, and create the direction of a reduction and simpli- a demand for the same at reasonable fication of the forms of hives, until the prices? hive indicated in the question will be- In Switzerland honey is as common an come a possibility. article of food as is butter in America. 2. I think that adulteration in con- If we can educate the American pub- nection with our pursuit is practised lic up to this standard the problem is very little if at all by beekeepers. The solved. greatest need is, that we talk and write 3Iohaivk, N. Y. less about it. 3. This is an important question and one to which I have given much thought. I am inclined at present to advise such to use a hive that will con- LETTEB BOX. tain about 14 frames, lOX 15, and allow their surplus to be stored in frames at Mohaiok, N. Y. the outside of the brood nest. This Dear Sir: honey can be cut from the frames and I have been examining your club and sold directly to the consumer. premium list given in the Dec. number 4. The history of the past during all and it seems to me that many of your ages proves the position of such per- readers will avail themselves of your sons incorrectly taken, when viewed very liberal ofiers. from a broad and helpful standpoint. Your offer of all of the back numbers To argue otherwise would be to hold in (Vols. 1 and 2) consisting of twenty ungrateful remembrance the names of copies bound in one volume in cloth so many noble, self-sacrificing men who for five new subscribers is one that have worked with such untiring zeal should induce many to strive for the that we of to-day may enjoy the fruits prize. I shall be surprised if your very of their labors. Would space admit I generous offers are not largely taken should be glad to mention the names of advantage of. L. C. Koot. some of our honored dead and refer to their unselfishness. 5. My first suggestion would be Poxighkeepsie, N. Y., Dec. 11, 1884. that in our conventions and bee literature we call attention more frequently It is with pleasure that I renew my to pure honey and less to the reverse. subscription to the "Apiculturist" for We have done far too much advertising it has been of great value to me during which has unnecessarily done us great the past year ; and I could not do with- it. I shall harm. I would urge losing no oppor- out try to send you at least tunity of displaying the most hois'Ey, one new name. S. E. Wiley. where it would attract the attention of the greatest number possible. We Clockville, N. Y., Dec. 5, 1884. should endeavor to prepare our packages iu neat and attractive form. Please find inclosed $5.00 for my Above all it must be produced in subscription for the "Apiculturist" for such a way that it will not be sticky 1885 to help it along on its onward and disagreeable to handle ; showy march. W. V. Boswokth. ;

The American Apiculturist

^ Ifournal htboiti) to Strcnttfic mxb ^ractrtal §edufptng. EXTEKED AT THE POST-OFFICE, SALEM, AS SECOXD-CLASS MATTER.

Published Monthly. S. M. Locke, Publisher & Trop'r

VOL. III. SALEM, MASS., FEBRUARY, 1885. No. 2.

SUBSCRIPTION KATES. smallest insects being capable of

$1.00 per year-, payable in adyance. Sent putting forth the greatest eflTort on trial three months for 35 cts., six months He has established the fact that for 60 cts. a beetle is infinitely stronger than a Advertising Rates :—Whole page, $12.00. One-half page, $7.00. One-fourth page, $4.00. horse, that it is even twenty-one One-eighth page, $2.00. Card, $1.50. times stronger ; that a bee is thirtj'- Those wishing special rates will please times more vigorous. In fact that correspond with the Editor. a horse can only exert a force All communications should be addressed to S. M. Locke, Salem, Mass. equal to the sixty-seventh of its weight, and a beetle draws easily MUSCULAR STRENGTH OF a load equal to fourteen times its weight, whilst a bee fastened INSECTS. to a little carriage, can easily put in movement a weight twenty times By Arthur Todd.i that of itself. The muscular system among In other words a beetle can easi- the insects yields in no point so ly draw or pull fourteen of its com- important a power as that of the panions and a bee twenty.

Vertebrata ; we may even atHrm Pldlaclelphia^ Pa. that it is capable of developing a force infinitely more considerable. To make this fact more understood, Mr. Felix Plateau has under- WINTERING BEES. taken a series of experiments of a Br L. C. Root. most positive character. He has caused little carriages filled with During the month of December heavy weights to be dragged along the weather here has been very by heavy beetles thus transformed changeable. The month as a whole into miniature oxen. Insects with has been much milder than is good flying powers he has changed usual. into imitation birds of prey by load- At one time during the week being them, and he has established the fore Christmas it was very cold, grand fact that the muscular power the mercury falling as low as 35° is in a ratio contrary to size, the below zero.

lA translation. The highest point indicated dur-

(25) 26 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. ing the month was 48° above zero. to the weight Jan. 1 makes all Mercury in room A fell as low as weigh 96 lbs. 40° during the coldest weather. 1 Many will remember that the was absent from home, and room season of 1869 was one of the B was not tested. During the poorest if not the poorest season warmest weather mercury in room known b}' any beekeeper. A was as high as 55° and in room From experience gained during B 62°. that season I decided never to feed The first day of January I bees to any extent at the close of

weighed stocks as follows : No. such a poor season when the bees

I, 35 1bs.,No.2,511bs.,No. 3, 67 were all old, from brooding being

lbs., No 4, 92^ lbs., No. 5, 39 lbs.. discontinued so early. This year I

No. 6, 117 lbs., No. 10, 50 lbs., No. found bees in about the same con- II, 52 lbs. dition as regards brood and as a It will be noticed that the results result I doubled many of my stocks. during the first month do not seem I do not anticipate any marked to prove very favorable to doubling success in wintering under the cir- several stocks together. It is very cumstances. When I give the re- evident that No. l,No. 3, and No. sults in loss of bees from Nov. 19

6, have not been "hibernating." to Jan. 11 many will predict for me No. 1 has consumed 17 lbs., No. entire failure.

3, 91 lbs., and No. 6, 10 lbs., while From room A, I took about one No. 2 consumed but 1^ lbs. No. bushel of dead bees, and from room 1 was set on top of No. 2 and it B about three pecks.

is possible that honey might have Colony No. 6 has worked out been carried from No. 1 to No. 2. quite a large quantity of bees. It A more certain test of the amount is impossible to estimate the quan- of honey consumed by the stocks tity accurately. I notice by an doubled together and a single one oversight, I omitted to weigh any

is given in No. 3 which consumed of the stocks in 12 Quinby frames. 9^ lbs. and No. 4 which consumed I regret this as I desire to call only 2i lbs. No. 11 weighed 49 particular attention to the winter- lbs. Dec. 1, and at that time was ing of these stocks. Many will fed 6 lbs., making 55 lbs. It will be consider this far too many frames seen that this stock has consumed for successful wintering, and it but 3 lbs. of liquid honey. After certainly would prove so with any weighing it Jan. 1, I gave it 4 lbs. other than the closed end Quinby of liquid honey making it weigh frame. I make this experiment 56 lbs. No. 1 had consumed so hoping to prove that one may be much that I filled 8 hanging frames successful in wintering with this with liquid honey and placed them frame even with this number of in a hive and set it upon the top of combs. the stock. The hive, combs and Miss Lucy A. Wilkins, of Michi- honey weigh 61 lbs. This added gan, asks if I am making observation THE AMEBICAN APICULTURIST. 27 as to the time the bees commence for opportunities "to turn an honest breeding, in my experiments in penn3^" There is no doubt but wintering. There is no doubt but that the energies of such, if turned that this question is important in in the direction indicated, might connection with successful winter- be put to profitable use and excel- ing. From the fact that one of the lent results accomplished. Though necessary requirements for success- bee culture is now ranked among ful wintering is that bees be left the special avocations of many, comparatively quiet and undis- throughout this broad land, yet turbed, it will be seen that it is a this fact need not deter any from very diflScult matter to ascertain engaging in it even as a supplemen- without harming the bees. tary means of livelihood. Preemi-

Every time the bees were dis- nently does it commend itself, turbed it would tend to induce brood coupled with truck raising, fruit rearing. When I notice two stocks growing, poultry breeding, and standing in the same room each of kindred pursuits and may add, in which was prepared for winter as fact has added, to the support of nearly alike as was possible, one many a family in America. As an of which remains quiet, and the auxiliary source of revenue, cer- other uneasy, I feel inclined to ex- tainly no rural home should despise amine both and ascertain their it. Keeping bees, when the pro- condition as to brood, etc. If there portionate attention is paid them are those who have stocks of na- that is devoted to other branches tive bees to which they introduced of rural industry pays^ and pays Italian queens late in the season, well. To this fact hundreds en- they may be able to give us some gaged therein can testify. A light upon this subject by giving popular idea, and one that has led their success in wintering and the to many a failure with bees, is that facts as to how many Italian bees bees can be purchased, surplus have been reared during the winter, boxes clapped on (or worse yet a and which have wintered best, those "cap") and the bees left to work which have most or fewest of Ital- wonders. Thus managed with no ians. attention, save to "rob" them in Mohaiok. N. Y. the fall, it is little to be wondered at that "beekeeping don't pay." They cannot be let thus "severely alone" and made a profitable source WHYNOT KEEP BEES? of income or pleasure. Pleasure did we say? Is it possible, some By W. G. Phelps. reader asks, that those irascible "critters" can become a source of is a question arising in This the pleasure to one? Ah ! my friends, minds of some, who in tight times you do not know them. Not least like the present are casting about among the pleasures of country THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

life is the joy experienced in caring tral 111.) says," The production of for the apiary. To watch and con- honey has not been, and cannot be, trol the work incidental to a live overdone. Extracted honey can

beekeeper's occupation is not only be produced at 6 cts. per lb. (half healthful but pleasurable. With its usual price) and pay its produ-

the first natural dread overcome in cer. The consumption increases handling bees (a dread easily con- as fast as the production, and honey quered) no one, who in the least will alioays be the highest priced of enjoys investigating the wonders all sweets." of nature, can fail of enjoying the With man}' such testimonies in study of what some term ''Beeolo- favor of the increased production gy." Of course it would be impos- of so healthful a sweet as pure hon- sible to go into details in so short ey, let no one be afraid to venture. an article. The principles of the There is room for all. pursuit are well laid down in works like Langstroth's "Hive and the Honey Bee," Quinby's "Mysteries of Beekeeping," the "A B C of A GUIDE TO Beekeeping," Cook's Manual," THE BEST METHODS OF etc. These well read, the manipu- BEEKEEPING. lation of bees practised in the proper season, and a start has really By J. L. Christ. Progress and success been made. R. F. Holterman, Translator. in the occupation depend largely (Continued from p. 13, Vol. III.) upon the individual's skill and in- Regaeding the space in front of telligent management. A loose or the hive for flight although it is well spasmodic attention to your "pets" to have as great a distance as pos- will result in poor returns and per- sible, or at least twenty to thirty haps put yours in the catalogue of paces free for flight to and from "blasted hopes." While a pe?-- the hive, yet if tlie locality will petual "fussing with bees" is not not admit of a perfectly free access commended, prompt, intelligent, it will do no great injury if the and systematic management at bees do have to fly over high walls special seasons must certainly be and buildings to procure their nour-

observed if we are to look for satis- ishment ; they frequently do this factory results. Like all other of their own free will and without farm commodities the price of hon- being compelled. My bees are sur- ey rules low, but the demand for rounded b}' buildings and fly over it is constantly increasing. Those the church without any disadvant- largely engaged in bee culture are age. The only thing is that they compelled to admit that there is are at a greater elevation more easi- little danger of over-production. ly caught by swallows or overtaken On this point the Messrs. Dadant by a sudden thunder-storm and are (extensive honey producers of cen- lost. :

THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 29

as the swarms like to attach them- bell does not affect them in the selves to them, and they are pro- least, though their sense of hearing cured with difficulty and danger. is not at all deficient as they can Low trees, shrubs, and grape vines, in the hive make each other under- etc., simplify procuring swarms and stand through the different kinds of make the surroundings pleasant. humming. The concussion of the I would particularly advise atmosphere has little effect on them, lovers of bees to plant quince trees but so far as their dwelling, or the in front of their hives. I have fre- ground upon which it stands, is quently remarked that swarms like concerned, they are extremely sen- to attach themselves to these and sitive to this and the tread of a prefer these to other fruit trees. man alongside of a hive is felt by The natural cause may be this, that them ; therefore colonies are not these trees are dense with branches vrell placed if near a paved street and foliage, consequently give the over which many wagons pass clustering bees shelter and protec- especiall}^ in winter, and another tion from the hot sun, which they disadvantage is the dust in the sum- look for and sometimes find neces- mer when blowing towards the hive. sary to procure. Then, too, perhaps Therefore all places should be avoid- many bees belonging to the hive ed for an apiary where one must may be accustomed to fly to the expect strong concussions, viz. quince tree as during its bloom where the platform touches a shed, the}^ find much nectar in its flowers ; where through threshing of grain it blooms almost every year and in the winter the bees would be generally yields much honey, disturbed and irritated and caused making the road to the tree a well to eat more. The same thing hap- known one. The bees easil}^ follow pens if the platform touches a smith's it, and the first ones show the queen shop where the blows and jars can and remainder of the swarm the be communicated to the platform. way to it and thus cause their clus- At the same time if the platform is tering there. These trees (the isolated it is sufficient that the quince) are otherwise the best and sound itself has no impression on most serviceable before a colony in the bees. the garden as partly they do not High trees about the bees are grow high and the swarms are more well if they do not hinder the easily secured and partly because morning sun, but the noon sun is they can be pruned and cut to any weakening and at that time the bees shape so as not to injure the growth require shade, and they have the of vegetables under them by much advantage that the swallows do not shade. The fruit, too, in the fall, fly so much under them ; but if one can be of economic and medicinal does not increase colonies by divid- use, and is excellent for food being and lets them swarm, high trees sides being a refreshing and invig- are sometimes very inconvenient, orating drink. The juice is healing 30 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

for a sore throat, and the quince busily at work, but it will sometimes sliced and baked, mixed with otlier liappen in a 3'oung colon}' wliicli has baked fruit is very palatable. The the combs veiy tender and some- quince kernels are an excellent times not fastened securely that the mitigation for pains when arising combs and honey will break down from burns, and how excellent they and the bees become suffocated. If are applied to sore breasts. the combs should break down one Next, a good beekeeper will keep should at once put wet bags about the ground clean, free from high the hive and place the hive upon an- grass and bushes, and either put un- other stand. Particularly are young der and about the hive cement so one swarms often driven from their can clean well, or put down boards hives the second or third day by or sand of a coarse quality. This the sun when they have combs a order and cleanliness about the hand's width in breadth with honey hive have this particular use during and brood in them, and their owners say the bees had another locality the swarming time ; one can find the queen more readily if she, in in view. All this can be prevented coming out through absence of by a covered and well arranged wings, or of deficiency, drops in bee-stand and where the roof in front projects so far that the hive front of it, which causes many is fully shaded by half of the pro- swarms to return to their hive ; and jection is at its high- if the queen were not found, it when the sun would be two or three weeks before est. The morning sun is valuable another queen could be reared and for the bees especially in summer, during which time so many bees especially the weak colonies also are idle and the new swarm comes the noon sun in spring, the robbers so much later. appear to be the worst before colonies upon which the sun shines THE SITUATION OF THE APIARY AS much. REGARDS SUN. To be co7itinued.'] The localit}' will perhaps have to decide the position of the apiarj^ as regards sun, but the entrance and back of the hive should not EDITORIAL. face the evening sun nor towards Apiculture in America is now the southwest much less facing the passing through a most trying or- north, but their entrance should be deal and one from which it will to the southeast or, best, between come forth in better condition, and the morning and noon sun. Where founded on a more solid basis, than they have to be placed facing the ever before even in more favored noon sun it is well to be shaded from times. the heat, for the bees are not only A glutted honey market and de- hindered by the heat from their la- preciation in the prices of honey bors, while those in the shade are are powerful factors that are awak- THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 31 ening the more thoughtful among the specialist, who devotes his time the beemasters to a sense of their and attention largely to this indus-

duty and the necessity for immedi- try as a means of support .; the ate action and concentrated effort. other those who keep but a few Far too much time has been de- colonies whereby they may furnish voted to the discussion of pet theo- their own tables with pure unadul- ries and individual hobbies which terated sweets and indeed the best even were the}' solved to the en- sweets prepared by the Creator as tire satisfaction of their origina- an article of food, or take it up as tors would do but little towards a recreation or study. advancing the best interests of the How to establish satisfactory' re- practical honey producers. lations between these two classes

What we most need is, better and the consumers should at pres- and more sj^stematic and thorougli ent engage more of our attention methods of introducing our honey than any other subject. This can to the masses whereby they may only be accomplished by the plan become familiar with its value and which for more than two years we uses, and when once such methods have kept prominent before our are established and put into prac- readers. While individual effort tice, the difficulty is solved and the with abundant means will work questions of overstocking and a wonders we must have the united glutted honey market will be no effort of the entire beekeeping fra- longer "bugbears" or barriers to ternity. This, and this alone, will the aspiring apiarist. produce the desired results. We have but little sympathy The beekeepers of New York with the idea so often expressed state are awake to this fact and by some, that we should discourage when, during their last convention the broad and benevolent spirit of they made the Northeastern Bee- love for our neighbor so prominent keepers' Association a state asso- in the lives and teachings of Moses ciation, elected a vice-president for Quinby and L. L. Langstroth. each county urging upon the We are free to state that the dif- beekeepers the importance of form- ficult}'- arises not from teaching api- ing an association in their respec- culture to our brother man, but in tive counties, and appointed dele- neglecting to teach him the proper gates who should represent the in- course to pursue. terests of New York State at the When we debar others from the North American convention to be same privileges that we love to en- held in Detroit next winter, they jo}' ourselves, we at once create a struck the key note of success. dangerous monopoly and monopo- This must become universal and lies are the curse of every country when this example is followed by and nation. every state and section of our coun- There are and always will be two try, and competent and practical classes of beekeepers. The one, beemasters, who will represent the 32 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. combined interests of the producers only means through or by which we and consumers, are sent eacli year can solve all the great questions to our North American convention that are A'^exing us at present. Let we can hope for unselfish and sat- the beekeepers in every state and isfactory results. section awake to the importance of In order to establish a stable de- this matter at once. mand for honey, the masses mtfsi be educated as to its value and uses. To do this there must be a beekeepers xhibit connected with every CORRESPONDENCE. agricultural fair in the country consisting of displays and sales of NOTES FROM NORWAY. honey, wax, and in fact all that pertains to beekeeping together Mr. Editor : with exhibitions of the practical I am in receipt of your kind let- as well as the management of bees in the pro- ter of Nov. 24, numbers for 1884 of your excel- duction of honey, so that the lent journal. familiar with people may become With regard to your journal it the methods by which comb and is, according to my conception, extracted honey are produced. the best bee-journal I know. I receive 2 American, 1 English, 1 This may seem a hard task ; and French, 1 German, 1 Danish and 1 indeed some of our teachers will Swedish bee-journal, but none of suggest innumerable difficulties, these can be compared to yours. but those who take abroad, liberal As to sending you communica- view of these matters will agree tions about apiculture in Norway, I will do that Avith pleasure, though I with us in saying that when we are believe that it will hardly be of anj' willing to attend conventions for value for your journal, which has the worthy and commendable pur- so many eminent apiarists as pose of enacting such measures as correspondents. will bring the most good to the As I am somewhat inexi)erienced, I can only send you communications largest number, and forever banish about the Norwegian beekeepers' sectional strife and selfish aims, it efforts to imitate the first apicultur- a will be an easy matter to adopt ists of the world—the Americans. course by which these matters may Apiculture here has only been bee- be satisfactorily solved. Indeed carried on with skeps ; some keepers have however tried a kind we think, and experience has taught of frame-hive, called the Einnes, of beekeepers us, that the masses which however has been found less are ready for advanced ideas and suitable and too small. There that the reason that we have made have been used also some twin-hives though frequent- no more progress in this regard has but this hive-form ly tried, has not shown itself ad- been because we have lacked vvion vantageous. The heath beekeeping and cooperative effort. may therefore be considered as the

We would urge the importar ' o of only one that has had any progress slaughtering in reform in association work as the here : skeps with :

THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 33 the harvest and some few wintering suitable and advantageous, and I hiA'Cs. have found them suitable as transi- There was in 1883 constructed tion to frame-hives. by rae a hive-form, now generall}'^ This winter I try, for the first known as "Young's hive." It has time, to winter in these and shall 16X1 and 16X2 standard frames, be glad, in the coming spring, to German standard measure, and let you know the result. We al- this form of hive seems here to be ways winter bees on the summer- very suitable. stands. To preserve the bees In the brood-room there are 16X1 against the winter's cold, I use for standard-frames ; beyond the same my small supers double bags of in the super 16X2. Here we only duppel or another thick substance. use extracted honey. I think your readers have for With the introduction of "Young's this time got enough concerning hive," beekeeping seems to have the beekeeping here and I must ask made a very good progress and also you to be indulgent with the lan- therewith that we in June, 1884, guage. formed "The Norwegian beekeep- Should you after this wish any ers' association." This meets with more, I shall be glad to write you general sympathy, and its aim is more about our beekeeping. to promote an apiculture suitable IvAR S. Young. for the circumstances. We had no bee-literature here, only some Christiana, Norioay. antiquated small work. I therefore published, in the beginning of this year, a small guidance foul brood in AUSTRALIA. Praktisk lommebog i tidsmassig biskjotsel" (Practical Guide for Engineer-in- Chief's Office. Beekeepers) which I published, using "The Modern Beekeeping." Mr. S. M. Locke : This book has found a very kind I have received your letter of acceptation here, and will as I Aug.l, and am exceedingly obliged hope promote apiculture here. I to you for the information respect- take the liberty to send you, Mr. ing the cause of "foul brood." Editor, a copy of my book, in which The answers given in the American you will find an explanatory engrav- Apiculturist were of deep interest ing of "Young's hive," which is un- to me. Your wish "that Australia doubtedly a very good wintering may escape the curse of foul brood" hive. cannot be fulfilled, as the disease On the pages 45 and 46 you will is prevalent around Adelaide and also find skeps with"Young's side- threatens to seriously injure the supers" behind and beyond. This beekeeping industry. My hives small side-super is a quite thin bag were attacked at the end of last wherein are 6X1 standard-frames. winter and I attempted to effect a In these side-supers behind, the cure by spraj'ing the combs with a bees enter by means of a solution of salicylic acid. This tunnel in the bottom-board, into had little effect and the disease the super beyond, through a 3 inch spread rapidly through my apiary. hole in the top of the skeps and the I then adopted Mr. Muth's method super bottom-board beyond the of cure, viz., removing the combs same. This hole is provided with and feeding with honey medicated perforated metal. These side-su- with salicylic acid, and am pleased pers have shown themselves very to say that this was most successful. 34 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

In the midst of these operations I You also have an excellent corps received a, copy of the British Bee of contributors who do not have Journal containing Mr. Cheshire's nonsensical hobbies to ride but deal able paper on"foul brood" and its with facts in a practical way. One cure, b}^ the use of phenol. I at other matter of great importance once commenced feeding, as di- that I admire is the gentlemanly rected, two diseased colonies and way that the discussions are con- a decided improvement was soon ducted. Wrangling discussions and apparent. However, I prefer Mr. personalities are unpleasant and Muth's method because the disease out of place in any Journal, is at once stamped out, whereas and the "Apiculturist" has thus far with Mr. Cheshire's plan a cure is been quite free from such, I am not effected for many weelfs. In pleased to sa}-. cold climates the loss of combs We commenced the season after and brood may be a serious thing, filling spring orders with 80 col- but here where brood-rearing is car- onies of Italian bees (we tolerate ried on all through the year it is a no others) and have now 115 colo- small matter. nies in winter quarters in good I am curious to see what the condition. We winter mostly in American writers on bee culture the cellar which we prefer to any

think of Mr. Cheshire's discovery ; other place after an experience of it appears to me to be very valuable. twenty-four j^ears in this climate, Foul brood has been the cause of having tried, during that time, all the destruction of many colonies in the different modes that looked at this country, but at the present all practicable to us. Our crop of time, the disease has assumed an surplus honey amounted to 5,200 epidemic form and is raging in all lbs., 2,200 lbs. of which was comb. directions. A few of our colonies were used Last September I received direct in rearing queens. The season from Italy a package containing was below the average with us. I eight Italian queens. On opening wish you a happy and prosperous the boxes all the queens were found New Year. alive, although one died next day. Yours, They were cleverly packed and had F. A. Snell. received no attention from the time of leaving Bologna until I received them (35 days). regards, believe With kind me, beekeeping in the south. Yours very truly,

Dear Sir : A. E. Bonnet. Not having time to answer so Adelaide, South Australia, many individual inquiries regard- Nov. 15, 1884. ing apiculture in this locality, I thought it best to answer at once to all through the "Apiculturist" (with thy permission). Black bees report from milledgeville, ill. can be obtained in middle Fla. in Dear Sir : cvpressgums also in southern Geor- I have taken your excellent jour- gia at from $2.00 to $4.00. Fal- nal commencing with the first No. coner's or Root's Langstroth hive, and am well pleased with it. I with Simplicity upper, costs $3.25 admire very much your fair way of complete, at this place. They can dealing with all practical questions. be transferred during February. THE AMERICAN APICULTUBIST. 35

Natural swarming varies as in most is then considerable. This waj'', my locations according to the condition friend ! We'll get up and wash our- of 3'our stocks and the amount of selves before the sun, the dew drip- spring honey flow, cold and wet ping from the live oaks covering the apiary. The red and mocking weather, etc. ; sa_y alternate years, this being the off year, next will birds are singing. We will walk probably be one for swarms during out. I will take this stick with a bit March and April. The first honey of wire cloth on the end. What for? flow ceases about April 1, for a- To rake down all cobwebs built over bout, say to May 1 to 10, continu- night, and this brush with which, ing about two or three weeks to after first examining any rubbish June 1, ceasing again to June 15 on the alighting board, we will brush to 20 and continuing until about aw\ay all dirt, or the small oak July 25 to August 10 ceasing again leaves that may have fallen on the until Oct., then a light flow until hives, for all must be clean. Look

Dec. 1. Artificial increase may be sharp after wings ! Wings? Yes, my safely practised during the second dear sir, bees' wings. They show third j^ear that the ants gave them a tilt last and honey flow in any ; hazarded in the first, and extra night and will be back tonight in hazardous in the fourth. Few large full force and finish up the job, when apiaries are without drones any you must be on hand with your month in the year except Dec. and lantern, kerosene and matches, or January. The large red ant is the 5'our stock is annihilated before

"unknown quantity" during the the sun rises ! By the time we have

times noted : I have succeeded then looked at everyone carefully, there's onl}^ by eternal vigilance, and the breakfast call, and often I have having my hives placed on benches waited in the apiar}^ for all to etit standing in water with a film of before I could leave until one of

kerosene on its surface ; then again, the boys or my wife could take my for mating early queens, the mos- place. Then just before retiring quito hawk often gets five out walk around through them without of six, which occurs during last of a light, and listen for the cry of

March and through April ; last of distress, which if present you will Feb. and first of March being bet- surely detect after losing fifteen or

ter than the former for queen-rear- twenty colonies ; and so on day by ing. No surplus to any amount is day through the year and with close taken only from the second and attention and the downright per- third flow, although in some seasons severance and hard work needed and localities it might be taken to keep 100 or more stocks in the from the first and the last flow, but best shape, with a heavy crop of you cannot depend upon it. Rob- surplus to care for, and low prices bing is also another factor to be to cheer 3"ou, then only can j'ou be- taken into account as there is hard- gin to comprehend the life of a ly a day in the year that bees can- successful apiarist. His time for not fly, and woe be to the orphans visiting and attending conventions

where mother is gone ! for then they etc., do not begin to equal yours of will fight neither robbers nor moths the north. You can lock yours up which are always with us, but to in the earth and then crawl in be- him or her that will do as I have, tween the buffalo robes and after success will come at last and it will the cold jingle of bells hie off to consist in close attention to all the the convention and there coolly dis- little details; and their sum, when cuss them, while we in our shirt from one hundred or more stocks, sleeves are busy with smoker and THE AMERICAN APTCULTURIST. veil. Now, friends, you tliat have from both beneath and at the sides written to me for information and so that it can be removed by hand all others desiring it can, I think, without any disturbance of the outer from the above draw 3^our own con- case. The space between the brood- clusions as to Avhat you can do in nest and the hive is packed during the way of managing bees so as to the entire year with buckwheat or build them here in fall and spring India-wheat or dry sawdust or any and carry them north for the clover material that is dry and fine. The crop. Ten years ago I would have object of this packing is to protect thought it would paj?^ to do so, but, the bees from the extremes of both as now I am past forty years, I heat and cold. The packing be- hardly think it will. neath the brood-nest is serviceable during winter in that it inclines A. J. Goodwin, M. D. the bees to seek the bottom of the Neio Smyrna, Florida, Nov., 1884. hive (which is the warmest part of it) instead of at the top. In this case when the bees drop from the the safe vtintering of bees. combs they do not die of exposure but finding a place among the clus- Dear Sir : ter are warmed and revived. It is This is one of the most impor- also an advantage to have bees at tant topics with which we as bee- the bottom of the hive in spring as keepers have to cope and my success their being there protects the brood in this regard has been such that above from the draughts of air. it may benefit your readers to con- In my locality tlie last harvest sider carefully the following. of honey is gathered'from basswood. Tn this communication I shall As soon as my surplus from bass- hope to supply some needed inform- wood is properl}' sealed, I remove ation regarding a properly con- it and put a set of extra combs in structed hive and healthful food for its place. I then feed strictly pure bees as these are inseparaljly con- granulated sugar food (in the pro- nected with success in wintering portions of four pounds of sugar to and no art or skill can remedy the one quart of water) until the combs defect or mistakes in this particu- are filled therewith. In preparing lar. this food I pour the water in a boiling state upon the sugar and stir it until it is dissolved. Having these combs filled at this time in the season serves the double purpose of stimulating bees to rear j'^oung brood for winter use and also to thoroughly ripen the sugar syrup food which is of the utmost importance. On no account should au}^ but The hive that I use is called the an expert attemptlate feeding which New England No. 7 hive and one as a rule is unadvisable and a det- upon which I have been employed riment to the bees. for a number of years and embodies Before the fall harvest of honey many and oft-repeated experiments. is gathered, I remove these combs is The hive constructed in sections ; filled with sugar syrup food to the the cap, two sections and the base. storehouse and also lift out of the The brood-nest is disconnected brood-nest all of tlie frames of hon- from the hive being separated there- ey that are not filled with brood, ^

THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. 37

replacing them in the centre of the they had after their long winter's brood-nest with empty combs or repose. 1 frames filled with foundation. If In this connection I would give the bees gather a large quantity of my method of transferring bees. fall honey the bee-master must use I do not transfer until late in the his judgment in the matter, supply- fall when the hive is the most free ing room for surplus. from brood and when I am prepar- After the colonies have finished ing them for winter. I then drum storing fall honey and the brood is out the bees running them into a all hatched out, I remove the fall hive containing a set of combs filled honey to the storehouse keeping it with sugar syrup food. for another season for the young Now, if there be any brood, I cut swarms to use while rearing their it out and transfer it into frames brood. In place of this fall honey placing it in the centre of the thus removed I give combs filled brood-nest after which I pack and with sugar syrup food. Upon this prepare the bees for winter. There the colonies will feed during the are valuable features in this method. winter. As a final arrangement I First, you are not obliged to stop lay two one inch square sticks cross- during the busy season to attend wise over the frames to enable the to this work. Second, as all bee- bees to pass from one comb to the keepers are aware, if the bees are other, then cover with two thick- transferred in the spring and the nesses of burlap or porous cloth season proves a poor one, while and cover the whole with packing the expert may overcome this and such as has been described to the build up in time for winter, yet depth of four inches except over with the beginner disastrous re- the centre of the brood-nest. Thus sults are almost certain to follow fed and packed on the summer on account of the bees not properly stands no colonies need be lost dur- building up in time for winter. ing winter. While I consider strictly pure In 1882 I went into winter quar- sugar syrup food, properly sealed, ters with sixty colonies. In 1883, the best thing for winter stores I had eighty-four colonies and I (pure clover and bass wood honey did not lose one of them. Nov. ] 5, free from fall honey are good, but 1882, I put into the cellar a num- more expensive), yet I would cau- ber of colonies of bees in old hives tion my brother beekeepers never with movable frames, fed on su- on any account to allow one ounce gar S3'rup food (as by my former of it to be placed in with the surplus description). By some mistake one honey. colony was left in the cellar until I trust that these few hints may June 29, 1883, when my little prove beneficial to your readers. girl informed there were bees in me HiLAs D. Davis. the cellar ; and upon examination I was wonderfully astonished to find the colony in a perfectly healthy condition, lively and no traces of EXCHANGES. dysentery which was remarkable as Apiculture and Agriculture, the colony which was a small one, BY T. J. M. (continued). — That had been confined about 224 days the nutritive qualit}' of the plants and was removed from the cellar in anj^ growing crop is not dimin- when my other bees were nearly ished by the abstraction of honey through with swarming. It was amusing to see what a grand fly 1 Perhaps those bees hibernated ( ?) EdJ THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. from their blossoms would appear the least bitter extract and saline to be evident from the fact already matter — and the most saccharine referred to, that those plants have matter, in proportion to the other actually thrown off the honey from ingredients, in the crop cut at the the sujyerfiuity of their saccharine time of flowering." In the instance juices, as a matter which they which he then gives, as an example, could no longer assimilate. There the crop cut when the seed had rip- would appear, on the other hand, to ened, showed nine per cent, less of be good reason to believe that the sugar, but eighteen per cent, more plants themselves become daily of mucilage and what he terms more nutritive during the period of " truly nutritive matter" than the their giving off hone}^, that is, from crop cut at the time of flowering. the time of flowering to that of rip- From this it would follow, that dur- ening their seeds. This is a point ing the time a plant is in blossom upon which, I believe, all agricul- and throwing oS a superfluity of tural chemists are not quite agreed, saccharine matter in the shape of but the testimony of Sir H. Davy honey, the assimilation of true nu- is very strong in favor of it. In tritive matter in the plant itself is the appendix to his work already progressing most favorably. In quoted, he gives the results of ex- any case it is clear that the honey, periments made conjointly by him- being once exuded, may be taken self and Mr. Sinclair, the gardener away by bees or any otlier insects to the Duke of Bedford, upon near- (as it is evidently intended to be ly 100 different varieties of grasses taken) without any injury to the and clovers. These were grown plant, by which it certainly cannot carefully in small plots of ground be again taken up, but must be as nearly as possible equal in size evaporated if left exposed to the

and quality ; equal weights of the sun's heat. dried produce of each, cut at differ- There is, however, a plea put in ent periods, especially at the time by the agriculturist on behalf of of flowering and at that of ripened his grazing stock, and one which he seeds, were " acted upon by hot generally seems to consider unan- " water till all their soluble parts swerable ; he says, even if it be

were dissolved ; the solution was admitted that the removal of the then evaporated to dryness by a honey from my farm is neither ex- gentle heat in a proper stove, and hausting to the soil nor injurious to the matter obtained carefully the plants of the standing crops, weighed, and the dry extract, sup- still it is so much fattening matter, posed to contain the nutritive mat- which might be consumed by my ter of the plants, was sent for stock, if it had not been pilfered by chemical analysis." Sir H. Davy the bees." Now it may at once be adds his opinion that this " mode admitted that hone}^ consists, to a of determining the nutritive power great extent of fattening matter, of grasses, is sufficiently accurate though it may be allowable to for all the purposes of agricultural doubt whether, in that particular investigation." Further on he reform, it is exactl}^ suitable as food ports, " In comparing the composi- for grazing cattle. Although it is tions of the soluble products af- quite true that the saccharine mat- forded by different crops from the ter assimilated in the body of a plant same grass, I found, in all the tends to the formation of fat in the trials 1 made, the largest quantity animal which eats and digests that of truly nutritive matter in the crop plant, still one may question the cut wiien the seed was ripe, and propriety of feeding the same ani- THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 39

mal on pure honey or sugar. "We generally eaten by stock. Now, may, however, waive that view of the ordinary working range of the the subject, as we shall shortly see bee may be taken at a mile and a that it is only a question of such half from the apiary on all sides, homoeopathically small doses as which gives an area of about 4,500 would not be likely to interfere acres for the supply of the apiary, with the digestion of the most deli- and if the latter consists of 100 cate grazing animal, any more than hives, producing an average of 100 they would considerably increase lbs. of honey, there would be a lit- his weight. Admitting, therefore, tle more than 2 lbs. of honey col-

that every pound of hone}' of which lected off" each acre in the year. the grazing stock are deprived by Or, if we suppose so many as 200 bees, is a loss to the farmer, and hives to be kept at one place, and therefore to be looked upon as a to produce so much as ten tons of set-off, to that extent, against the honey in the season, the quantity benefits conferred by the bees in collected from each acre would be other ways, it will be necessary to 4 to 5 lbs. — The JSfeiv Zealand and consider to what extent it is possi- Australkm Bee Journal. ble that such loss may be occa- (To be continued.) sioned. In the first place it must be recollected that a large proportion — in some cases the great bulk — of the honey gathered by NOTES AND QUERIES, bees is obtained from trees, as, for instance, the linden in Europe, the —The Cure of Diphtheria by use

basswood and maple in America, of Honey : a translation by Arthur and in this country the forest trees, Todd. nearly all of which supply rich for- It is now some time since the age for the bee, and everywhere malady in a certain region in

from fruit trees in orchards ; a large France carried off" many poor chil- quantity is gathered from flowers dren, who had neither doctor nor and flowering shrubs reared in gar- medicine. dens — from clover and other plants Now, as soon as the first symp- grown for ha}' and not for pasture toms appear, recourse is had to — and even in the field there are honey. A good layer of honey is man}' shrubs and flowering plants spread upon a piece of thick wrap- which yield honey, but which are ping paper, and this plaster applied never eaten by cattle. Pastures to the throat. therefore form but a small part of This remedy has had the great- the sources from which honey is est success ; so much so that, in the obtained, and in dealing with this villages where it is difficult to call grazing question we have to confine in a doctor, it may be said no more our enquiries to clovers and other children die of this dread disease. flowering plants grown in open pas- Philadelphia, Pa. tures, and such as constitute the ordinary food of grazing stock. In — At the last meeting of the order to meet the question in the Northwestern beekeepers' associa- most direct manner, however, let tion, a special committee was ap- us assume the extreme case of a pointed for the purpose of securing large apiary being placed in a dis- by legislation, laws for the sup- trict where there is nothing else but pression of foul brood, and for such open pastures, and growing securing statistical reports of ap- only such flowering plants as are iarian products. We would urge 40 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. all our readers who can render our the youngest American Bee Jour- western friends the least possible nal. I refer to the adoption by assistance in this matter to take the A. B. J. of the original and bold with a will, and use such in- very valuable question department fluence as they possess in further- of the "American Apiculturist." ing so worthy an object. T. L. This is for publication. Von Dorn, 820 S. Ave., Omaha, P. H. Elw^ood. Neb., is the secretary of said committee. — Remember that the international Beekeepers' Convention will — Just as we go to press the fol- be held at Orleans Feb. lowing sad and painful intelligence New 24, 25, and 26. very interesting has come to us from Mr. Chas. A and profitable time may be ex- Lake of Baltimore, Md. pected and all those who can pos- Died, in Bait., Md., Jan. 23,1885, sibly attend should so. Elenora, only and beloved daugh- do ter of Chas. and Susan Lake, aged — Ever}^ person who will send 12 years, 2 mos. and 6 days. five new subscriptions at $1 .00 each A few brief words, but what fath- will receive a queen worth ^1.50. er or mother can read them without How many will secure a queen and mingling their tears of true sym- thus extend the circulation of the pathy with the bereaved parents. "Apiculturist." Elenora was beloved by all who knew her and her loss will be deep- — Do not be too hasty in adopt- ly felt not alone at home but among ing new methods and ideas ; test her acquaintances in the Sunday them thoroughly on a small scale School and its associations where before entering into them largely. she was a general favorite. Heavy investments sometimes give We would also add that Mr. large returns but only too often Lake has been prostrated with failure follows unless one makes pneumonia and has been unable to haste slowly. attend to the correspondence that has come to him of late, but he is — Do not delay preparations for improving and as soon as he is able, spring and summer work until the he will reply. Bear with him pa- season is upon you. It does not pay. Order your supplies earlj^, tiently ; his burden is heavy. and remember that if you want — We are pleased to state that good honest work and first-class Mr. Arthur Todd of Germantown, material, you should hnoio with Phila., Pa., is prepared to furnish whom you deal. Cheap prices of- those who need a remedy for foul- ten mean cheap and unsatisfactory brood, with the absolute phenol used goods. in the experiments described by Mr. Frank Cheshire. Please write to — Never ship to a distant market Mr. Todd for further information. any honey that you can find a market for near liome and use every — The following communication endeavor to educate those in your from Mr. P. H. Elwood is so con- immediate neighborhood, as to the clusive as to need no comment from value of honey as a food and med- us. icine. Starkville, N. Y. Jan. 30, 1885. — One of the best preventives Dear Sir : 1 congratulate you on the high of spring dwindling is to keep your compliment paid by the oldest to bees warm and not permit them to THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 41

fly when the weather is unfavorable. devolves upon him as a member of

If you take them from the cellars the beekeeping fraternity ; and early and leave them on the summer when each one recognizing this fact st^ds, they should be protected instead of leaving it for others to as much as possible from sudden do takes hold with a will, there will changes in temperature. be a grand union of effort that will Doctors in beekeeping disagree make itself felt through our land. in regard to the advisability of —We learn that Mr. D. A. stimulative feeding in early spring ; Jones is preparing for a gathering if a proper style but we think that of beekeepers at his home and of feeder is used and the bees are Island apiaries some time next supplied with just what thin syrup summer. Having spent one season food they will consume daily, with Mr. Jones we can assure those good results will follow, but care who attend that they may look for- should the bees are be taken that ward to a pleasant and profitable not induced thereby to breed too visit. rapidly until warm weather has come. This advice may be considered premature but our readers in the BOOK NOTICES AND north will remember that we have REVIEWS. subscribers in every state in the Union. Mr. Ivar S. Young of Christi- ania, Norway, has kindly sent — To be able to ascertain the us a copy of his work condition of your colonies without on apiculture, the Praktisk i disturbing them too much and too lommebog tidsmassig biskjotsel (A Practical Guide for often is a valuable feature in prac-

Beekeepers) . We have, as yet, tical and successful beekeeping and been too busy to review it, but something that we too often neglect the general make-up of the work is to learn. commendable and the illustrations are — Some of the pages of our fine. Journal for 1884 were destroyed We have just received from and had to be reset, hence we have Rev. Wm. Ballantine, Sago, Ohio, been unavoidably Tdelayed in com- his work entitled "A Practical pleting the bound volumes. Treatise on Bee Culture for Pleas- —We have justj received from ure and Profit." This is an inter- Messrs. Chas. Dadant & Son some esting and instructive little manual very fine samples of comb founda- and is fully illustrated. For fur- tion. The heavy for wood comb ther information address the au- has a very thin base with high and thor. heavy side wall and the light (or thin) for use in surplus boxes has a base that is thin enough to suit the most critical and there is not CONVENTION NOTES. in the an over abundance of wax NORTH AMERICAN BEEKEEPERS' CON- side walls. VENTION.

—Every beekeeper should re- {ContintKdfromp.'iS^, Vol.11.) member that if we ever have a sta- Wednesday, Oct. 29. ple honey market and fair prices Convention called to order at about for our honey it will be because each 9.30 with President Root in the chair. one has performed the duty that The first business was the enroll- 42 THE AMERICAN APICULTUBIST. ment of members and it was decided to struct them to endeavor to get these accept 50 cents as the membership fee things adjusted on an equitable and for the current year. (The list of reasonable basis. members appeared in last numbei'.) Mr. Pettit in opening the discussion On recommendation of the program upon this subject, urged the importance committee the paper of Thomas G. of taking more trouble to induce gro- Newman, editor of the "American Bee cers and others to keep honey for sale, Journal " on " Marketing Honey " was as much more honey would be sold by read by the Secretary. so doing, and that, in Ontario, honey is Mr. President and Members of the put into boxes and glassed on one side, North American Beekeepers' Society. and tissue paper is put on the bottom to I am requested to send you a short prevent leakage. article on the above subject, but I shall Mr. Dodge thought that we did not not attempt to go over the well-defined ask a sufficiently high price for extract- and oft-repeated rudimentary rules for ed honey as compared with comb the management and preparing honey honey. for the markets of the world. These Mr. W. E. Clark claimed that the items have been fully discussed at pre- beekeepers were more to blame for vious meetings, and I have nothing fur- the condition of the honey market ther to add to the views already than the dealers or consumers, and ex- expressed. But there is one thing that plained that the local market in Oneida it will be well to discuss, and not leave County could have been kept at 20 cts. it there, but to appoint a committee had not a neighbor of his, who had a whose duty it shall be to address the good crop of honey, rushed it on the railroad companies of America and de- market early in the season at 16 cents mand in the name of this society re- per pound and broke the market. He dress in the matter of the classification had rather sell his extracted honey of bees and honey. Hives of bees are at 15 cents than his comb at 20 cents, classed at double first-class rates which if the honey is extracted before being is very unjust, making the charges capped. He advocated holding on to equal to those for sending by express. our honey and advised that holders Then by the mistaken use of the word should not all endeavor to undersell " hive " for colony, empty hives are by each other, thus glutting the market many railroads classed the same as and lowering the prices. those containing bees greatly to the Mr. Betsinger advocated making an detriment of those who buy hives from eflbrt to secure reduced freight rates, manufacturers. They should go as emp- and ui"ged that we take care not to ty boxes at about one-eighth of the overload the local markets. Last year cost now demanded for freight by some he saved one-half of freight in ship- railroads. ping honey. In the matter of shipping honey to Comb honey will always be a lux- market the classification is so high that ury and never come into general use. it amounts to almost a robbery ; and to He would urge the production of ex- seek relief some beekeepers ship extracted honey to take the place of tracted honey as "syrup" at less than butter, etc. half the rates demanded for honey. Mr. Bacon believed that the trouble Tariflfs ought to be revised and liquid in marketing honey is that the people honey should be rated the same as sy- are not properly educated and do not rup. Those beekeepers who have a understand why comb honey should desire to be exactly right and feel deli- bring a better price than extracted. cate about the matter of shipping He never sold his honey less than 18 honey as syrup are therefore compelled cents, but this season another party to pay double the amount which their came in and sold honey for 15 cents, less scrupulous neighbors have to pay while he was selling at 18 cents. for freight to the large marts of the Mr. Dodge agreed with Mr. Clark world. that local markets could be built up to Some grades of syrup sell as high as a certain extent, but where a bee- honey and there is no reason why both keeper has 150 colonies of bees and should not be graded alike when one produces 8,000 to 10,000 pounds of is as easily and cheaply handled as the honey, he must ship it to the large other. cities. Eegretting my inability to be pres- Mr. T. O. Peet claimed that ex- ent allow me to suggest that you ap- tracted honey was not as good as comb point a committee to confer with the honey, unless extracted after it was different railroad companies and in- capped. :

THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 43

Mr. Hall said that the price of honey The meeting then adjourned and as- was beyoDd the control of the large sembled on the front steps of the City dealers. He never sold his honey less Hall, where the group was photo- than 12i cents wholesale, and 15 cents graphed. paying for the retail, the purchaser FOURTH SESSION. package. This year he was obliged to to cut down to 9.i cents at the door in The convention was called order order to compete with a party who at 2 p. M., Mr. L. C. Eoot in the chair; peddled honey for 10 cents, taking pay and at the suggestion of the committee in potatoes, etc. ; but after the party on programmes, reports from the vice sold out he placed it at 10 cents. Par- presidents were read as follows : O. O. ties who will go wild with the honey Poppleton, Iowa, Dr. J. P. H. Brown, should be treated with contempt, as Georgia, and W. S. Hart, Florida. Mr. they can neither be controlled or edu- W. F. Clark then read his paper on cated. "Wintering Bees." He claimed that Mr. Will Ellis said, that the great at present there was no safe and relia- cause of the fall in prices is that the ble method of wintering bees, and that producers instead of the consumers we are bee-learners ; while every other manage to cut prices by competition. branch of beekeeping has made won- Mr. Pierce said that he put up his derful progress during the last twenty honey in as inviting a manner as pos- years, wintering has been at a stand- sible, and tried to hold the prices at a still. We should pay more attention fair standard. to the hibernation of bees as, if bees Mr. Locke then showed ajar having are well provided with shelter and upon it a label " Thurber's best white food and can hibei-nate, they will win- comb honey, from H. K. c& F. B. Thur- ter well. He asserted that if we were ber & Co., New York." The jar had to give bees a domicile impervious at a glass cover which was so grained the top, having side walls, so that the that it was impossible to read through frost will not strike through and con- it, and upon removal of this was found dense vapor inside, give them food and a notice explaining the contents of supply a perpendicular air column be- the jar which was in all probability neath, we shall solve the winter prob- placed there for the purpose of satis- lem. The great desideratum is pure fying the law. He claimed that the air and plenty of it in a receptacle not jar contained adulterated honey, and too large for them to regulate the that the label was an evident misrep- temperature. The bees generate their resentation of the contents of the jar. own heat, and if it is wasted they As Mr. N. E. Dodge of Fredonia, must consume too much food and then N. Y., had handed in the question they become distended with faeces and " How and when shall we market our cannot sink into perfect quiet which is extracted honey?" bearing on the same their normal condition in winter. subject, it was agreed to consider it Mr. Clark described a hive -stand, a in connection therewith. model of which he exhibited. It was It was moved by Mr. Peet and sec- so constructed as to give the bees a onded by Mr. Hall vertical air-shaft under the hive. He Besolved, That this convention rec- requested each beekeeper present to ommend to beekeepers the desirable- give his method a trial with at least ness of taking more pains in placing one colony of bees the coming winter. their honey on the market in the most Quite a spirited discussion followed attractive manner, both extracted and the reading of this paper. Mr. Isham comb honey, and attaching their names asked Mr. Clark if he had ever put his thereto, and that they discountenance theory into practice and admitted that all efforts to bear down the market by he had not, but was going to try it this slovenly beekeepers and dealers who winter. adulterate it. Mr. Ira Barber gave his plan of win- Mr. L. C. Root considered the point tering as given on page 60, Vol. II, made by Mr. Newman regarding rail- " Am. Api." He also stated that he road rates on honey as well taken, and thought that if bees are fed on coffee thought that it would be well to ap- A sugar or one kind of food, they

point a committee as suggested. will keep quiet ; but if they have two After some talk it was decided to or more kinds or a change of food make the vice presidents of the asso- there is a stimulating change produced ciation a committee to consult with in the bees which arouses them to their the railroad authorities regarding detriment. Sugar food is by all means rates. the best. Allow the bees about twenty- 44 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. five pounds of winter stores. Bees do THK NORTH AMEKICAN BEEKEEPERS not hibernate wlien tlie temperature ASSOCIATION. is above 50°. Bees do not breed extensively wlien wintered in a warm The executive committee of •ihis as- temperature. association has decided to hold the next Mr. Hall corroborated Mr. Barber's annual meeting at Detroit, Mich., Dec. statements. His cellar is 12 ft. X 12 8, 9, and 10, 1885. ft. X 6 ft., and holds 115 colonies of If there is any reason why this date bees. The temperature was not less is undesirable it should at once be made than 48° nor more than 62°, and the known, that the commitlce may be gov- bees were quiet at from 48° to 60°. erned accordingly. Last winter he only lost three colonies in that cellar. L. C. Root, Pres. Last winter he had another reposi- W. Z. Hutchinson, Sec. tory under a workshop or dwelling, ventilated through a tube running 150 feet under ground, put in 112 col- northeastern onies and took out 102 colonies. Nine beekeepers' association. of the number starved ; temperature late conven- never under 48° or over 52°. Our experience at the the Northeastern Beekeepers' He had another repository on the tion of Association, held at Syi'acuse, was " Jones' plan," but could not keep it at most pleasant and instructive. It is an even temperature ; sudden changes to that great and impor- of temperature make the bees uneasy. gratifying see tant changes are coming over our old He said that Mr. Doolittle in copying of conducting couventiorjs. Mr. Barber's plan made a failure in system One would hardly judge from the pleas- using a coal oil stove, which poisoned ant faces and cheerful greetings that the bees. Give them a good egress of last season gave poor re- ventilation instead of an ingress. His beekeeping or that the market was bees were put into winter quarters turns honey just as they set on the summer stands, glutted. determined excepting that before he places them Those present seemed to grapple with the difficulties and in the cellar he removes the cushions them and the result will be from the tops of the hives. He allows overcome that hereafter shall be more united the colonies about twenty pounds of we in our efi"orts. winter stores. It has been impossible for us to pre- Mr. C. C "Van Deusen. Bees with reports in time for this num- me hibernate when considerably warm, pare the ber but they will appear next month but I do not know the temperature. would state that if, at any The next topic considered was the and here we time of our readers should fail to place of meeting, and Detroit, Mich., any their journal, or if they wish was chosen by a large majority, and receive copies of any particular then made unanimous by the conven- other sample number to use, remember that we tion, after which followed the election will, as in the past, most willingly fur- of officers as given last month. It was nish if you will drop us a postal voted that a committee be appointed them card to that efl'ect. to fill vacancies in the list of vice presidents, and Messi's. Peet, Vander- vort and C. C. Van Deusen were so appointed. The President, fli'st Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Miss Lucy ANSWEB8 TO QUESTIONS IN A. Wilkins of Farwell, Mich., were DEC. NO. chosen to be the executive committee for the ensuing year. BY A. P. COWAN. A committee of arrangements was As I take much interest in the short then appointed, consisting of Mr. A. acquaintance I have had with the Ques- B. Weed of Detroit, Mich., Prof. A. J. tion and Answer column,! will answer Cook of Lansing, Mich., James Hed- your questions. deu of Dowagiac, Mich., and H. D. Cutting of Clinton, Mich. 1. 93. announced that copies It was then 2. Mostly Italians. of the photograph taken at the door could be had for $2.00 each. 3. Doolittle hive with side and top The meeting then adjourned. storage and Gallup frame. THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 45

4. On summer stand packed in chaflf. all mankind. Here goes a decayed In Oct. I pack the 5 in. space in each turnip at the head of the man who end of the hive, also tlie 8 in. cap, first would have us all put our fingers on putting 3 or 4^ in. square sticks over our lips and say "S—h !" for fear some- frames to afford passage for bees from body might be frightened out of pur- one frame to the other. Usually have chasing. The most practical remedy covered these sticks with cotton batting is to cultivate direct acquaintance be- quilts or other porous substances. tween honest producers and honest This winter am trying enamelled retailers. Be enterprising and obliging cloth closely fitted in as an experiment as well as honest, and nearly every on a number of colonies. In Nov., I apiary will come to have a large retail place a box 4 inches larger than the trade at its own door. hive, all around over each and pack in 3. Let him eat it up. Should he and over with chaff", leaving entrance decline, I still think it would hardly fX14 in. for fiight and air. pay to send him a missionary. Just 5. 20 to 30 lbs. I think about J let liim alone. If our craft cannot sur- clover; the rest gathered during buck- vive the competition of 20 lb. caps and wheat bloom. tin milk pans it must be in a pretty bad way. 6. 3 per cent, latter part of winter and early spring. 4. This question rather mixes me. I hate conventions bad enough, but 7. Plenty of well ripened honey or not for any such reason as here indicat- sugar syrup and so prepared as to keep ed. The Chinese-wall policy of some quiet pollen does not scare me. ; honey kings may be all right, as far as

8. Answered in No. 4. financial tactics go ; but something within me pleads against it. The Journ- 9. No confinement. My bees con- als have been careless and done mis- sume about 25 lbs. as I stimulate quite chief in the past; but they are doing early by the mixing brood system. better now, and should have a rest. If I have taken too much space in 5. Not by overstating its medical giving answers, cut short, if you see fit properties, or by denying that it some- to give them a place at all. I make times causes aches and pains. A little these remarks as I have sent in ray re- handbill giving a fair statement of the port to what is generally termed two of case, and correctly pointing out the the leading Journals, viz., "Gleanings" adulterated state of other forms of and the "A. B. Journal", and have not sweet might serve the turn. Distribute been able to see them again after sealing abundantly ; and give a copy with each rayletteraud Ihave read them both pret- package of honey sold. The delicious ty closely for the past six years. Per- flavor of honey, and its dainty beauty haps it is because I do not use the must do most of the work, by direct Laugstroth hive. appeal to the senses of sight and taste. Cirattan, Kent Co., Mich. Get people to notice honey and taste of it, and they will soon want to buy. Let the price be moderate, and you may ANSWEB8 TO QUESTIONS IN hope that they will become habitual users. JAN. NO. 6. The most important question ANSWERS BY E. E. HASTY. is. What kind of a bee is the coming bee to be? 1. The great variety of hives in We greatly need an impartal testing use is an evil ; but the evil is a necessary one, and arises from the laudable apiary where diflerent races and strains desire for improvement. The attempt could be subjected to an even test in to use the public opinion of beekeep- the hands of a competent, non- interest- ers into a despotic power, and ordain ed, salaried keeper. And without fear a hive that must be used anyhow, can or favor — every year, and for every result in nothing but mischief. Grad- strain of bees — a full report should be ually the undesirable forms will perish made, hiding nothing. until nothing remains but the last new novelties and a few tried and excellent standard hives. ANSWERS BY A. J. COOK.

2. To tell the honest truth on the 1. People difi'er so greatly in taste subject, both to their customers and to and judgment, that we cannot greatly ;;

46 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. lessen the variety of hives, etc., though ANSWERS BY G. W, DEMAREE. there can be no doubt but that a re- 1. I have never been able to see duction to one or at most to two or any reasons, either in theory or in fact, three standai'd sizes and forms would why the depth of a hive for any pur- be an immense gain. pose should be greater than its diame- That it is possible to devise such a ter. hive as indicated there cau be no doubt that we can prevail upon all to adopt it 2. In my judgment, no one has is a question big with doubt. ever yet given a scientific or a sound theoretic reason why bees will not win- 2. To do all in their power by pre- ter as well on frames 9| inches deep cept and example — as 1 think nearly as on deeper ones. I believe that the all now do — to prevent it. Also to se- facts show that bees winter better on cure such legislation as will throttle the shallow frames. this ubiquitous demon. 3. I really believe it does. On the 3. Easily ; by securing his honey in the nicest shape, and demanding the same principle that a room with a low ceiling is more easily warmed than the highest price in the market for it. same with a higher ceiling, a shallow 4. In ray judgment they are all hive is more easily warmed by the bees wrong. The whole history of civiliza- than a deeper one. Besides, a shallow tion and all progress in every art re- brood chamber necessitates a greater fute their position. Even sewing length of frame, and this enables the machines and reapers had to meet just bees to get at their stores by moving such an outcry. Apicultural progress with the openings between the frames is wonderful. It is largely due to what rather than to have to cross over the is denounced. frames to get their feed. 5. By getting it on to every table 4. In this climate nothing is gained and in every household in the land. by removing combs and substituting 6. The question of how we may ob- them witli division boards. A comb tain full and accurate statistics in re- makes a better division board than gard to our business. The good of wood. I have never found my bees our art calls loudly for such knowledge. clustered next to the wood in winter. Like any other great need, we must and will soon obtain it. 5. The old idea that a "bee gum" has no other signification than a mere domicile for bees to live in, still clings QUESTIONS BY A NOVICE. to modern apiarists. The idea ought to be exploded. Movable frames in 1. For successful wintering, why the beehive are implements by means should frames be any deeper than the of which the apiarist manipulates and perpendicular diameter of the cluster controls his bees. Hence they are not occupying them ? put into the hive for the "bees alone" 2. Can anyone give a scientific (not Looking at the matter in this light I theoretical) reason, why bees will not claim no superiority for the frame hive winter as well on frames 9^ inches deep over a well made box, so far as win- as on deeper ones, all other points be- tering bees is concerned. ing the same? 6. Modei-n apiarists have learned 3. Does the depth of a frame have how to feed bees when short of stores any bearing whatever upon the matter in winter, and by reason of this knowl- of wintering ; if so, what and why ? edge, thousands of colonies are saved now, that would have perished under 4. In preparing our bees for winter- the care of our fathei's forty years ago. ing on summer stands do we gain any- Outside of this, little knowledge has thing by removing frames of comb, and been gained so far as the science of putting division boards in their place wintering is concerned. if so, why? In my opinion more bees are coddled the bees alone into con- 5. Taking to death by the theorists and chafl" is a frame hive any safer sideration, stuflers, than would die if left to shift on summer stands, than for wintering for themselves, after the fashion of our if so, why? the old box hive; fathers of forty years ago.

6. Do the expert beekeepers of to- Christianshurg , Ky. day really kiiow any more about wintering, than did those of forty years ago r THE AMEBICAN APICULTURIST. 47

ANSWERS BY A. COOK. much yet to learn — a very great advance. Those of forty years ago 1. Ill cellar vvinteriug, which I strongly inclined to think they knew think mucli the most desirable in our it all. Although much of our experi- cold climate the form of the frame is mental knowledge is in rather a cha- immaterial. In the cold spring, when otic state just now, order and truth set on summer stands, a square frame will come out of it. The insinuation like Gallup form, gives most compact that all is nonsense, tit only to be brood chamber. Then there are few dumped overboard, is a very foolish bees, and must l)e rapid brood rearing. and mischievous one. This requires a warm brood chamber, and I have found it best secured in the square frame. QUESTION BY J. B. HALL. 2, 3. Answered above. I would like to ask through the "Api. 4. Yes, for reasons stated above. culturist" of any that have had any ex- We make brood chambers smaller and perience with Caucasian bees, if they find so the space to be kept warm is les- the queen prolific and the bees as sened. Nothing so prevents spring good honey gatherers as other races dwindling as a small close brood cham- tried by them." ber.

5. Yes, as we can contract brood questions by w. .j. rasin. chamber. Dear Sir: 6. I think very much more. I have had a rather strange experience with one of my colonies, the cause of the trouble being a mystery to ANSWERS BY E. E. HASTY. me, but hope through the medium of your paper and your assistance, 1. The objects of tall frames are to to have get the bees well above the level of the some light tlirown on the subject. The facts of the case are entrance, and so out of the way of di- as follows : rect draughts of air; also to get the 1. About the middle of last Octo- store of honey directly over the bees, ber, I obtained an Italian queen from that can always sure so they have ac- Mr. Alley, and introduced her to a col- cess to food during long cold spells. ony which had been queenless about a Practically, however, the first of these week. There being no brood left by the to very slight seems be of advantage old queen, there had been no cells

al all ; the if any and second appears started; but, to be sure of that, I care- to bring with it a very decided disad- fully examined every comb at time of vantage. introducing the new queen.

2. Reasons can be given on both 2. New queen was apparently ac- but experience is that sides ; my bees cepted as many eggs were found upon Langstroth frames winter best. on next examination, about one week af-

terwards ; the eggs 3. Yes, in too many ways to recount were evenly distributed, one in a cell, in an answer like this. To mention so that I am satisfied they were not one, if there are three or four inches of laid by fertile workers. solid honey above the cluster frost will collect there heavily during severe 3. On January 31, the thermometer every mild spell weather; and this stood at 40° Fahr. in the shade, at frost will melt and run down among noon, and 68° on the slope of the hill the bees. where the sun shines on my apiary; but did not notice any 4. I have doubts. As there is much bees flying from any of my chafl" hives, less honey to keep in order, the bees in one of which this particular do not have to make slop-buckets of colony is (No. 8). Hav- ing looked at their stomachs in so much "mopping them all at that hour, later in the up." The extra combs of honey keep day about 3 o'clock I happened to see, much better in the comb-closet. on the large alighting board in front of No. 8, the queen 5. Probably not. nearly dead, but apparently from the effect of the cold, the 6. Yes. Forty years ago people sun having then ceased to shine there, thought bees became dormant by cold, the general temperature of the air and ceased to eat. The apiarists of being about 40°. to-day generally know that there is 4. Alter taking the queen into the —

48 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. house with a few other chilled bees, of the session. More came in the sec- she, as well as the others, revived so as ond day and with the addition of new to be quite lively, but it then being members a very interesting meeting quite late in the day, I concluded to was had. keep them in the house until the warm- T. L. Van Dorn of Omaha and L. L. est part of the following day, when I Thomas of Plattsmouth were re-elected expected to carefully open the hive and President and Vice President; W. F. let them run down from the top of Wright of Johnson, Neb., Secretary, cluster. and K. E. Leach of York, Treasurer. The report made by President Van 5. Much to regret the queen and Dorn aud Ex-Secretary, M. L. Trester, one worker were dead in the cage next of Lincoln, to the Association as dele- morning, which I now believe to have gates to the Beekeepers' Convention at been the result of becoming daubed Chicago last fall elicited general dis- with honey I had given them (I some cussion. learned one lesson). have Mr. Trester read a very interesting 6. The queen either came out or paper on an experiment made by him

1 year to ascertain at what age was brought out alive by the workers ; he past she certainly was not dead when I found (lees commence to work. Mr. Trester's her, so that she could not have died in paper brought out many facts that were the hive and been brought out dead. new to most of those present and by resolution he was requested to publish 7. question now becomes. Is The his experiment in the papers of the this queen the one I introduced last state. fall, or is she a virgin queen, raised The form of bill to be presented to from the Alley queen which the bees the Legislature now in session for their all superseded? may have after action was drafted expressing the " This question I hope you will con- wishes of the Association for a more sider of enough importance to have thorough organization, and for the pro- settled by dissection by an expert. I tection of the beekeepers of the state. accordingly send the dead queen here- A feeling seemed to exist among the with enclosed. If she was the old members for such an organization to queen it may throw some light on the more fully represent the bee interests subject of colonies being sometimes of the state, aud will without doubt re- found queenless in the spring of the sult in the formation ere long of an year. organization the good effects of which will be felt all over the state, and rank questions are interesting and [These second to none in the "United States" have learned of one important. We in their line of work. quite similar to this, but other case In regard to the "Hunt Honey Fraud" dead. have been the queen was We the executive connnittee was fully sus- a microscopic exam- too busy to make tained by the association in their oppo- queen as yet ; but will ination of the sition to the introduction of adultera- number. Ed. answer in our next ted honey into the state by F. H. Hunt of Central Point, Iowa, which has resulted in the removal of such honey report g^^The following convention from the state. came to hand just as the Journal Honorable M. L. Margraves of Hia- was going to press. watha, Kansas, was found to be present and on motion was elected Honorary SECKETAllY'S OFFICE, members. NEBRASKA BEEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The topics discussed were generally Johnson, Neb., Jan. 28, 1885. led by G. M. Hawley aud M. L. Tres- ter of Lincoln, R. V. Muir of Browns- KD. APICULTURIST, SALEM, MASS. ville, T. L. Whitbeck of Wahoo, J. N. Grant of Beatrice, T. L. Corbett SIR, DEAR and L. L. Thomas of Plattsmouth, and I am authorized to send you a report Mrs. Heuter of Columbus, all old vet- of the meeting of the Nebraska State erans in the manipulation of bees. Beekeepers'Association held at Tecum- By resolution the next annual meet- seh, Neb., Jan. 14, 15 and 16, '85. ing will be held at Lincoln the second Announced by the state papers gen- Wednesday of January, 1886. erally, yet, on account of the extreme W. F. Wright, cold and stormy weather, but few of the members were present the first day Secretary The American Apiculturist

§. lournal ^tbottH ia BtmxMc mxH Uratliral gnkwphtg. ENTERED AT THE POST-OFFICE, SALEM, AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER.

Published Monthly. S. M. Locke, Publisher & Prop'r.

VOL. III. SALEM, MASS., MARCH, il No. 3.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES. color of the leaves it is called the $1.00 per year, payable in advance. Sent "black sage." It is also called on trial three montli8 for 35 cts., six months for 60 cts. "ball" or "button" sage for the

Advertising Rates :—Whole page, $13.00. reason that its flowers "ball" round One-half page, $7.00. One-fourth page, $4.00. the stalk. One-eighth page, $2.00. Card, $1.50. The title "the white sage of Cal- Those wishing special rates will please ifornia" is correspond with the Editor. known the world around and has so impressed itself All communications should be addressed because to S. M. Locke, Salem, Mass. of the famous honey gathered therefrom and which honey takes its HYBRID HONEY SAGES OF name as is apparent from the name CALIFORNIA.

By W. A. Pryal.

A writer in the Kansas Beekeep- er claims that the plant figured and described in several magazines and papers, including some of the bee journals, as the "white sage" is

not the white sage, at all ; that in-

stead it is a hybrid, being a cross between the black sage and the white sage. The former is the chief honey sage of California, comes into bloom long before the white, and furnishes a good share of the honey White Sage. crop before the bees work on the of the plant. Considerable of the

latter kind. Comb made of the honey thus designated is really honey from it is perfectly white not white sage honey but, in a good and the honey is as clear as it is measure, black sage honey. Still, possible for honey to be. the distinction does not matter The leaves of the black variety much to the consumer, both are are of a dark green hue and are excellent and are "California sage rather narrow when compared with honey." the white. On account of the dark The flowers of the white sage

(49) ;

50 THE AMERICAN APICULTUBIST. plant, says the writer above allud- me say that the white sage seed, ed to, stand out separate and alone from which the plant was grown on its stem although there are many which furnished the subject for the of them. The plant itself "is engraving used in VicJc's Magazine magnificent and stately," to quote and in Gleanings in Bee Culture, the same writer again, "and shoots was sent to the writer at his in- up its tall stems every season, stance and request by one of the straight as an arrow from the root most intelligent beekeepers in Ven-

and growing from 5 to'lO ft. high. tura Co. ; that he also obtained Two leaves appear on the stalk seed from another beekeeper of exactly opposite each other." large experience and whose knowl-

Besides these two distinct kinds edge of flowers was no mean one ; there are, we learn from Rev. J. C. that both these persons sent the Nevin, of Los Angeles, in the seed as that of the genuine Cali-

California Apiculturist, that there fornia white honey sage .; that the are one-half dozen species to be drawing was made by an artist found on the coast. who understood his work and cop-

The hybrid kinds are destined to ied true to nature ; that the be much better than the parents. sketch sent the engraver was cor-

Those that are now to be found rect ; that the engraver in transfer-

wild throughout the southern part ring it to wood did deviate a little, of the state are fine specimens of but not enough to change ma- sage growth, and no doubt, by terially the nature of the plant cultivation and artificial crossing that the flower is as near like the with special plants of other varie- natural flower as the engraver's ties which show remarkable and art could well make it. good qualities, some new varieties The writer sent seeds obtained may be originated which may yet from plants grown from seed he far excel any of the wild ones obtained from his Ventura corres- now found' in the sage region. pondent to the gentleman, Mr. A. Exceedingly fine varieties of Norton, already alluded to, and

fruits and flowers have been ob- that gentlemen writes as follows : tained in this manner and there is " I did not see the article you re- not the possibility of a doubt that fer to in the Kansas Beekeeper. I the same results would lead to some am familiar with white sage, both varieties of sage that would not practically and botanically. Have only be a bonanza to the apiarist observed it and all other Audiber- but also a novelt}^ to the florist. tias closely. Have not seen the A short time since I wrote to a plants from ?/o?

Furthermore, white sage belongs I commenced at this place with to a generic section by itself and just one colony of Italian bees, and is too far botanically different from by allowing but one prime swarm any other Audibertia to hybridize. as a general thing, I built up an

Also, if it had or would do so any- apiary of fifty colonies and made where, it would be in the southern them pay a profit on the investment counties where three or four species all the time. I found out when it grow together. But no such hy- was too late to profit by it, that I brid, sport or variety is noticed in should have found it more profitable

' slowly, by suppress- the Geological Survey : Botany,' to go more which is very minute in its way of ing all but first, or prime, swarms. noticing," When my apiary was built up to Now, this reliable information fifty colonies, I began to see the necessity of suppressing inci'ease, upsets a pet notion of the writers ;

that is, crossing the several kinds and I began to test all the plans of honey sages to produce a new given to the public by experienced variety. Still, there is a chance bee masters. of obtaining a sport that may be One season I "cut out queen of merit. cells" till I was positively sick of Until the Beekeeper's corres- the job, and got a lot of inferior pondent can produce better evi- queens as the results. Next, I dence than he has, the cut in Vick's tried the plan of giving the parent Magazine must be accepted as a colony a mature queen cell, after representation of the true white removing the cells which had caused sage. the swarm. This did not prevent No. Temescal, Cal. other cells from being started, hence the after-swarms,as a general rule, would come a little in advance AFTER-SWARMS, ARE of the natural time, that is all. Well, I next commenced to weak- THEY PROFITABLE ? en the swarming colonies by re-

By G. W. Demakee. moving frames of brood from time to time, and substituting therefor Perhaps much depends on lo- frames filled with foundation. This calit}^ honey resources, etc., as to suppressed the swarming fever, whether after-swarms can be made and "suppressed" my honey crop

profitable even when increase is also, and I dropped it. desirable. In a location like my Other methods were tried with

own, "after swarms" have always unsatisfactory results, till along cost me in way of foundation, win- came the "Heddon plan of pre- ter stores, etc., as much as they are venting after-swai-ms." I took to

worth. I think, however, if we are it quite naturally, as a drowning willing to buy increase, we may as man will catch at straws, and

well obtain it in this way. after trying it, I found that in my ;

52 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

location it would give about the application of a little sound phi-

following results : one colony out losophy. Bees never start queen of ten will cast an after-swarm in cells in the presence of a virgin

the usual way, except that the queen over one day old, if they

swarm will be smaller than usual have accepted her. It is this start-

one-fifth of the swarms will"swarm" ing of queen cells that does all the by reason of the relay of bees mischief. from the parent colony. One colony To prevent swarming altogether, out often will "lay out" and "sulk" my new system of dividing the away the best of the honey season, colony in two divisions, employing while nearly all of the parent col- the queenless divisions to produce onies are too nearly exhausted to the surplus honey, and the parent do any good in way of surplus division to produce bees, reuniting honey. them as soon as the swarming sea-

The rest of the swarms will son is mainly past,will answer the "work like a charm," and the work purpose to perfection. But more

we had to do, to perform the divers time is needed to ascertain if the manipulations to carry out the plan is altogether practicable. schedule, was any thing but"charm- Christiansbwy, Ky. ing." Well, the Heddon plan in our location, like the others, was found a "vain hope." By this time my apiary exceeded ON THE ORIGIN OF THE one hundred colonies, and I began CELLS OF THE HIVE BEE. to get desperate, and to have

visions of the brimstone pits. By Arthur Todd. If my judgment is not seriously at fault not one honey producer in The cell of the hive bee has for ten can find sale for his surplus many centuries called forth the bees at a price that will cover wonder of naturalists and indeed the cost of hive foundation and of all observers. winter stores. As long as this Why should, or how should, so state of things exists, some reliable comparatively humble a creature, method to suppress increase will in the construction of its comb, be a great desideratum. select that precise form which of- After trying many experiments, fers the greatest economy of form I believe the cheapest and most and material? satisfactory way ofpreventing after- Granting that the bee possesses swarms is to pinch the cells which no inconsiderable share of intelli- cause the swarming, immediately gence, we can scarcely conceive of after the swarm issues, and turn her having made sufficient progress loose among the bees a virgin queen in the higher mathematics to select from one to four days old. This knowingly the precise angles which plan is not "new," it is only the arc best adapted to the object in :

THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 53 view. Hence, not a few writers, angle 109° 28'. Maraldi had found even to the present day, maintain this as the very angle actually em- that we have here a typical case of ployed by the bees.

' "instinct" in the old acceptation of These investigators show that the word—that is, of blind uncon- each cell represents a six-sided scious, untaught action, producing column bounded at the middle results which man can only reach plate of the comb by a three-sided by dint of highly cultivated reason. pja'amid. The edges meeting at the So many of these so-called in- deepest point of the cell form angles

stincts have lately found a scien- of 109° 28' ; other angles of the tific explanation that naturalists of same magnitude are enclosed by the old school have recognized the the short side of the hexagonal cell of the bee as one of their last column and the two adjacent sides entrenchments. of the rhombs. In the terminal It is therefore very satisfactory points of the long sides of the prism that Herr K. Mullenhoff has found there meet therefore, four edges at a quite simple and satisfactory angles of 70° 32'. solution of the question, which The arrangement of the wax neither admits of any mysterious plates which compose the entire instinct nor, on the other hand, comb may therefore be formulated credits the bee with the knowledge as follows of the differential calculus. 1. On one edge there intersect Taking first a preliminary view each other each time, three films, of the case, we find that Pappus and these form with each other fifteen hundred years ago, noted equal angles of 120°. that bees constructed their cells in 2. At the terminal points of the the form of regular six-sided col- short sides of the prism meet in umns, and proved mathematically each case four edges at angles of the superiority of this shape to 109° 28'. any other. 3. In the terminal points of the In the last century Maraldi, and long sides of the prism four edges after him Reaumur, examined the cut each other at 70° 32'. form of the middle plate of the These properties correspond al-

entire comb, ^.e., the bottoms of most exactly with the laws which the cells, formed each of three Plateau has discovered for his

rhombs. equilibrium figures, namely : at a At the instigation of Reaumur liquid edge there intersect each the mathematician Konig, in 1739, other never more than three films, found hy calculation the most suit- and these form with each other

able, i.e., the most economical, of equal angles,and when liquid edges

all possible forms for the middle intersect each other in the interior

plate, and ascertained that it must of the figure they are always four consist of pyramids formed by three in number, and form with each rhombs having at the apex the other equal angles. 54 THE AMERICAN APTCULTURIST.

Cells of exactly the same ar- resistance : that is, in a newly begun rangement and the same angles as comb a bee on one side is pressed the cells of bees are obtained if downwards by its two competitors numerous soap bubbles of equal so as to come with its head exactly size are suspended in two parallel in the middle between three who frames, and if the two systems of stand opposite. bubbles are approached until they As each bee on the one side touch each other. presses with its head into the space The soap-bubbles flatten them- between the three coming to meet selves, and form hexagonal prisms, her, there is formed, by the press- terminating in Maraldi's pyramids ure to which the soft wax is ex- at the meeting-points of the two posed, the middle plate so much systems. The uppermost row of admired on account of its "highest bubbles(that attached to the frame) purposiveness." would take the form of five-sided The pyramids of Maraldi are pyramids, ?'.e., the exact form of merely Plateau's equilibrium fig- the cells which are attached to the ures extended between the termi- wood work. nations of the sides of the [ visms The conclusion is, therefore,very just commenced. natural that this absolu^-o agree- The "instinct" that the bees ment in the respective forms of the display is very simple ; they press soap-bubbles and of the bees' cells on with their wax upwards and forwards in two perpendicular layers depends on similar physical condi- ; tions in the construction of both. of a skilful treatment of the wax If we observe the bees when there is no trace. building their comb, we find that, The Maraldi pyramids are formed underneath the board to which it purely on physical principles, not is attached, at least a dozen bees by the conscious activity of the are clinging on each side, in such architects. ar manner that the heads of the bees The form of the head of the bee on one side of the comb are exactly has no meaning as far as the shape of opposite to those on the other. As the bottom of the cell is concerned, each bee, holding a ball of wax in since, in consequence of the high its jaws, presses as far as possible tempe?-ature produced by the res- upwards and forwards, the ball is piration of the bees, and the con- converted into a plate by the press- tinual pressure, the wax is plastic ure from both sides. At first this in a high degree. plate is not level, but is bent up In an analogous manner the sides and down corresponding to the of the prism are also produced by pressure of the numerous heads of the pressure wliich tbe cylindrical the bees. As the bees press for- body of each bee undergoes from wards, the heads, as they meet, the six bees arranged around her must always make way for each on the same side of the comb. other in the direction of the least The process is exactly as when THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 55 cylinders of equal thickness are the Melipona are globular, like a formed into six-sided prisms by an freely suspended bubble. equal pressure. If two such cells touch each other It appears that the procedure of they become flattened at the point each single bee is exactly the same of contact. as if she wished to construct a Three such cells, if sufficiently hollow cylinder. In fact if we close together, take such a form give them a thick cake of wax they that their planes of contact inter- bite, ^nd press in it round holes. sect each other at an angle of 120°. When they work with an excess If numerous soap-bubbles of of m.^.terial, as is often the case in equal magnitude are arranged in the cells of drones, each single cell a single plane they approach the is a cylinder with a hemispherical form of wasps' cells. bottom. If, in such cells, which The phenomena of cohesion in resemble test-tubes, the excessive the paper of wasps' nests differ substance is removed, the walls, entirely from those of water and both of the prisms and the pyra- of wax, and produce a dome-shaped mids,gradually take the usual form. cell-bottom and cover. On an examination of a royal If a stratum of soap-bubbles is cell it appears, also, that the in- suspended vertically, and is brought dividual bee understands merely in contact with a second similar how to construct a hollow cylinder stratum, the form of the ordinary with a hemispherical depression at double comb of the hive bee is the end. produced. The fact that the bees frequently The agency in the fonnation of and without any perceptible order these kinds of cells is to be sought gnaw holes into the outer wall of not in a skilful movement of the the thick mass of wax of a royal jaws of the insects but exclusively cell which naturally turns out hem- in physical causes. ispherical as the counter-pressure These are, in the case of wax, on the opposite side is wanting, that the plastic and viscous mater- shows that their artistic skill does ial—just as is the case in soap- not take a high rank. bubbles—gives way until a given When the cells are filled with space is enclosed by a minimum of honey or with full-grown larvae, surface. they are hermetically closed with a Hence planes are formed like lid of wax. The covered cell has those of Plateau's equilibrium fig- then, as appears from numerous ures. The shape of the cells can measurements, the exact form of no more be sought in the bodily the soap-bubbles above mentioned. structure of the bees than in their

The cells of the ^'Melipona" architectural skill. and those of single combs, are also In view of the plastic character quite similar to soap-bubbles. of the material, and the manifold The detached "honey-pots" of impulse to change of form connect- 56 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. ed with life in the hive, the cells A GUIDE TO must soon, if equally arranged, THE BEST METHODS OF take the form of six-sided prisms BEEKEEPING. terminated by Maraldi's pyramids, even if the bees had globular or By J. L. Christ. conical bodies. R. F. Holterman, Translator. Here Mullenhoff is rather inclined to assume that the general (Continued from p. 30, Vol. III.) bodily form of the Melipona, the Whether THE bees are situated bee and the wasp,has been modified THE better high OR LOW. by the arrangement of their cells. The question suggest itself if the

Note In connection with the soap-bubble bees are situated better high or experiment to demonstrate the origin of the low? For manipulation of the cell of the hive bee, as exhibited at Syracuse, hive, placing under, dividing, etc., I send you this paper as it appeared in the "Journal of Science" for 1883 as deserving the it is certainly more convenient attention of your readers.—A. T. when they are situated near the ground, but they should not be less WINTERING BEES. than two feet from the ground. High up, the bees are also, very By L. C. Root.

well placed ; and one may, if he has The month of January has been otherwise no appropriate place, very changeable. The first half of let them fly from the roof of a the month averages much milder house or the upper story, if one than is usual in this latitude. Such wishes to arrange it for that pur- seasons, I find very unfavorable for pose. They must then not be al- successful wintering of bees, par- lowed to swarm ; there must also ticularly in rooms above ground be no jarring work done in the which are subject to greater changes house. of temperature with the variations OP THE COVERED HIVE-STAND AND of atmosphere outside. ITS USE. I have never had bees leave the I am now about to treat of the hives as much during the month of bee-stand itself, which sliould be January as they have this season. particularly taken into considera-

From room A, I took three pecks, well arranged is tion ; a bee-stand and from room B, one half bushel. of great use and profit for the bees The stocks weighed, Feb. 1st as themselves as for their dwellings. follows: No. 1, 79i lbs., No. 2, One can, of course, let these stand 49flbs.,No. 3, 601 lbs.. No. 4, 90 separate, and for that purpose lbs.. No. 5, 37 lbs.. No. 6,106i lbs., oaken or cedar posts, particularly No. 10, 48 lbs., No. 11, 53 lbs. the latter, should be charred at the Temperature in room A varies end which is to be put in the from 40° to 50°. In room B, from ground so they will not rot so soon. 35° to 55°. These posts put in the ground Mohaivk, N. T. should have upon them two boards ;

THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 57 grooved, or one broad board which cluster more towards the then also each colony must have centre of the hive as the tempera- a separate roof, which will keep ture falls, make during the sever- all water from the bees. If care est cold, partly through radiation, is not taken about this, the violent partly by their hum (for the rains cannot be kept off, which not greater the cold the more a strong only flood it, but dampen the colony will hum), such a warmth alighting board, which latter board and moisture that in a glass bee- every colony should have. The hive the upper glass, with which it sun shining upon the damp board is covered, will be full of large warps it and it requires to be re- drops of moisture. The four glass painted oftener, and in vrinter it walls will have the moisture frozen

easily becomes mouldy ; also the over like the windows of a dwell- hives and stands cannot last nearly ing house and this will do the as long as if they were entirely bees no injury. sheltered and always remained dry. Yes, I have even in the middle Irrespective of these, if the bees of winter, in January, with various stand in the open, they will in the honeys and strength of colonies, height of the summer, at noon, be found honey running'^ out of un- hindered in their work ; even if sealed cells and out of the hives they do not work with full zeal at so that I have placed small vessels this time in the field owing to the to gather it. This happened as early strong rays of the sun. One can as September in the year 1777 always notice a difference between when a strong honey dew came, those sheltered and those not at from which the bees carried in this time ; the former work with much but did not seal it over, greater energy. Again, the weaker partly because they could ^not colonies, if on isolated stands in build any more so late in the sea- the winter, have less shelter from son, but partly and mainly because the extreme cold than as if they the cells were not quite filled. were in an enclosed bee-stand. I Their custom is to put in the upper speak only of colonies somewhat cells first and so on downwards weak (as they are not always alike putting a little in each and seal- in strength, the cause for which ing only as they fill which they do we cannot always give the reason at the top first. As this honey but can only surmise) for a col- from the September honey dew ony strong in bees and with a suf- was not sealed it fell out in drops ficient store of honey can stand as large as pease owing to the heat the severest cold of our climate and moisture from the bees. without injury. Although the cold affects the

Honey is well known to be of a honey and strong colony so little, heating nature, for which reason it is important that the weak should it can also not freeze ; and the bees, be protected from extreme cold. 58 THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST.

To carry such, however, into full}', and see that through our houses, chambers or rooms, is not county, state and national beekeep- only troublesome, tedious and dan- ers' associations, together wath gerous but not advisable, but they their own individual efforts, they are best on covered stands made can easily dispose of many times as before described. the honey that they now produce, EodJieim, Germany, July 25,1783. and at far better prices, one of the great problems will be solved. (To be continued.) One great trouble is the lack of individual and collective interest, and cooperation in this work. We are far too liable to leave to onr EDITORIAL. neighbor the work that we should "Coming events cast their shad- do ourselves, and in neady every ows before," and the warm sunshine instance where this is done but with which the month (Feb.) closes little is accomplished. reminds us that soon our little pets It is our candid opinion that, and industrious workers will sally within the next few years, great and

forth into pleasant fields ; and, by beneficial changes will come to bee- their merry hum, remind us that keeping. Stubborn facts have their wants must be attended to. shown us that the overdrawn, and All of the supplies should have too highly colored pictures of the

been ordered ere this ; but if not, profits of beekeeping that have no delay should be made now, if been painted, in order that the bee- you want to take full advantage of keepers might be induced to pur- the honey flows, as they come. chase goods, are being destroyed

While it is true that the past and we of to-day realize that, season was not, as a rule, a profit- while beekeeping as an agricul- able one, the honey market being tural pursuit will yield good glutted, and prices for honey depre- returns for the amount invest- ciated, yet this should not discour- ed (provided the apiarist is a age you to the extent that you thorough bee-master, and willing neglect to take full advantage of to work hard), yet it is entirely the coming season. unjust to the community to urge The beekeepers have learned one those, who arealwajfs looking about lesson that will prove a valuable for some more easy and speedy

one ; that is, not to depend too method of "getting rich," to em- much on commission men. While bark in beekeeping with the ex- many of them do their part faith- pectation of large profits and small fully and well, yet they cannot find outlay. Our endeavors always markets for the honey from the have been, and always will be, to entire country, in the few centres urge the importance of paying to which it is all sliipped. more attention to the proper method When the beekeepers realize this of teachiugapieulture to the masses. THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 59

and our motives have been too often takes funds, and while our sub- misjudged because we claimed that scription list is steadily increasing, we could not depend upon the yet we want our readers to take dealer in supplies, who published hold just as though they realized journals, to give these matters that the work was their own, and

proper attention. help to increase our list. If those of our readers who are In order that you may be remu- acquainted with tbe literature of nerated for this, we have made apiculture, will look back and re- some very liberal offers and if you view its history, they will find, in wish, we will send you some of our far too many instances, that the little "Companions," for distribu- great object has been to dispose of tion among your neighbors. beekeeping supplies, regardless of We feel at liberty to urge you to other and greater interests. help us in our work (by obtaining Can we justly ask those who are subscriptions), because we, in re- dependent upon the sale of those turn, are devoting our whole time supplies, to state facts through and attention to your interests. these journals that would curtail, But we would not neglect to ad- and perhaps injure their supply vise our readers, regarding the

business ? coming season's work. Remember No! and in view of this, it is that the less you handle your bees, plain and conclusive that the good and yet accomplish all that is nec- times, and the relief that comes to essary, the better will be the re- apiculture, must come through a me- sults.

dium that is free to speak frankly While it is advantageous to stim- and openly any truths, that should ulate bees at a proper time, and in

be made public. a proper way, yet it is not advisa- In order that such a medium ble to force them to breed too rap-

exist, each beekeeper must become idl}^, before they can fly without

individually interested in it. It too much loss ; also we are liable cannot stand alone, and must be to have extreme changes in early

supported by the united efforts of spring ; and if there is more brood

the entire beekeeping fraternity. than the bees can care for, it is li- For over two years we have able to be deserted and chilled, shown through the" Apiculturist," which is disastrous. that there could be a journal pub- In all the management of our lished, that would fully represent colonies, we should follow as nearly the welfare of those whose interests as possible the natural laws which are involved. govern the bees, and their habits, The work for which this journal a,nd only diverge from them, when was instituted is only just com- 'absolutely necessary. menced. We have rich treats in Just as soon as convenient, clear store for our readers, and valuable up around your colonies (if they

plans to put in operation ; but this are on the summer stands) and 60 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

see that they do not become damp of any business will insure success, or mouldy. when loss will surely follow, if

When it becomes warm enough these are neglected. We would to examine your bees, every comb urge our readers to come to us that cannot be covered and util- with all their difficulties, in the

ized, should be removed ; and after management of their apiaries. It the brood chamber is arranged is our greatest desire that you properly, the bees should be so may learn to look upon the "Api- snugly packed that they will keep cuLTURisT," as your Journal, and a warm and dry. part of your property—for it is only Where you are obliged to remove when you do this, that we shall be colonies from the cellars, remem- enabled to carry out the many in- ber, that after having a good %, teresting plans that we have formed, they must either be returned to the and intend to carry out. bee-house, or cellar, or else snugly We have been unavoidably de-

packed on the summer stands ; be- layed in completing Vols. 1 and 2, cause if this is not done you will, but shall send them out soon. If as a rule, experience severe spring you could realize how arduous our dwindling. duties have been, and how many Do not disturb the bees that are difficulties and perplexities we in the bee-house, or cellars, so long have had to surmount in order to as they remain quiet, and do not give you the journal that we have, appear uneasy, even though the you would become even more deeply temperature rises some in the cel- interested in its welfare than you lars. have been. Whatever of success The strength of your colonies, comes to us brings great good to when the working season comes you. The only reward that we depends largely on your care, in ask in return is, that you put your their management, at this season shoulder to the wheel, and stand by of the year. When purchasing sup- us in our efforts. plies remember that the best goods bring the best results, and first- class goods, as a rule, come from those who try to sustain a fair price EXCHANGES. for them. Do not suppose for a Holman's New Illustration OF Cell formation, bt John moment, that those who advertise M. Child, A. M.— Mr. D. S. Holman to do the cheapest work will give has devised a new illustration of the best attention to your orders. great simplicity and beauty, where- It is better to unite all weak col- by the method of the formation onies, and keep a smaller number, of cells in vegetable structure may be conveniently shown to having them all strong, than to at- an audience. The apparatus contempt to doctor and nurse up a sists merely of a tank, which is number of weak ones. formed by two pieces of plate- Attention to the smallest details glass, held apart at the bottom THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 61 and sides by a rubber strip and the soap films at such a large in- kept in place by four clamps. In cident angle that they are almost this tank is placed a portion of a entir^y reflected, and so are tinged soap solution, which is raised in with the rich colors resulting from bubbles by a current of air blown the interference of rays that fall into it through a fine glass tube. on thin films. As the bubbles are formed, their We thus have before us a proof tendency to become spheres in vir- of the tenuity of a layer which is tue of the force of cohesion in their between the limits of and

liquid walls is overcome by the TTeVff^of an inch, the latter limit capillary attraction of the sides being reached when the color of of the tank. By consequence the film disappears. the films extend across the tank The same illusti'ation also aflTords perpendicular to the walls, and the us an exemplification of the prin- pressure of one bubble upon another ciple, shown in nature in the causes the formation of polygonal structure of the honeycomb,that the forms, analogous to those that pressure on each other of equal we see in cross sections of wood circles produces an hexagonal struc- fibre. The accompanying figure ture. Where, in consequence of gives an idea of the appearance that the regularity of the current of air, the tank presents when thus filled we have produced bubbles nearly with bubbles, but does not and can- uniform in size, we notice that the not portray the beauty of the pro- polygons formed are six-sided, and jection of it which may be made that those of a difl^erent number of upon a screen. The pencil of rays sides exist where there is a diversi- passing from the condensing lens of ty in the size of the air masses.

a stereopticon is convergent ; and as Friends' Cetitral School, Phila- a consequence many rays fall upon delpliia. : 2 a

62 THE AMERICAN APICULTUEIST.

NEW OBSERVATIONS ON of which should be separated by THE NATURAL HISTORY so small an interval that only a single row of combs could be erect- OF BEES.^ ed between them. From having felt the same in- By Francis Hcbek. convenience I have profited by your counsel in providing hives reduced The translator's preface states to an inch and a half in width, whole of Ruber's memoirs "The wherein swarms have been estab- are here presented somewhat in lished without any difficult}'. Here, an abbreviated form, particularly however, the charge of constructing the portion relative to anatomical a single comb must not be commit- details, the theory 'of respiration ted to the bees ; they are taught by and the architecture of bees. nature to make more than one, All the substance however is and all parallel to each other— preserved and the narrative is ren- law from which thej' never dero- dered as explicit and concise as gate, unless when constrained by the subject admits. some particular arrangement. Edinburgh, 1821. Therefore, if left to themselves in these flat hives which cannot ad- I. PART rait of two combs parallel to the LETTER 1. plane of the sides, they will form ON THE IMPREGNATION OF THE QUEEN several small ones perpendicular BEE. to it ; and in that case all will be equally lost to the observer. Sir : as you desired me to trans- Thus previous dispositions be- mit a written detail of my principal come essential for the direction of experiments on bees, when I gave the combs. I so contrived that, you an account of them at Genthod, while they were built perpendicular I hasten to extract the following to the horizon, the lateral surfaces observations from my Journal, should be three or four lines from Nothing can be more flattering the panes constituting the sides of than the interest you take in my the hive. researches ; therefore permit me to This distance, in allowing suflSc- remind you of your promise to ient latitude for the motions of the suggest new subjects for investiga- bees, prevented them from collect- tion. 1 ing in too large clusters on the Glass hives, constructed after surface of the comb. M. de Reaumur's principles, are of By such precautions, they were a form unfavorable to the observer ; easily established in very thin because their width allowing the hives where they pursued their bees to build two combs parallel, labors with the same assiduity and whatever passes between them, is regularity ; and every cell being concealed from his view. exposed to view, none of their Long experience of this has in- proceedings could be concealed. duced 3^ou to recommend hives It is true, that by compelling much flatter or thinner ; the panes these insects to live in a habitation ' All the letters in the first portion of the where they could construct only a work are addressed to the celebrated naturalist M. Bonnet, whose labors in this department single row of combs, I had, in a of science are well known, and justly appreciated. =Tlie diflfereut measurements are expressed His decease in 179S during the prosecution in lines, of which 12 are in an inch. of the author's experiments explains the reason for dividing the volume into two parts.—T. (To he continued.') :

THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 63

been almost idle as we have had a CORRESPONDENCE. very wet month of it. I have taken three observations daily of the new york and florida. temperature during the month at

Dear Sir : 7 A. M., 1 p. M. and 8 p. m. Aver- There is no one thing in the age temperature at 7 a. m., is 55°, science of apiculture that has de- at 1 p. M., 78°, and at 8 p. m., 54°, manded more attention than that greatest variation during the day, of successfully wintering our bees. 38°. What we should call successful win- It was so damp and cold that I tering is to have them come out in could do nothing with the bees ex- the spring with brood in all stages cept to see that they had honey, in two combs at least and no less and keep them as quiet as possible. in the number of colonies. At this date old bees are nearly Colonies in such condition will all gone (taking up land for or- withstand the sudden changes of anges probably) and the queen is spring with no apparent loss. reluctant in spreading brood over This is our ideal of successful more than the two combs which wintering which, as yet, very few if were occupied in December. any have ever been able to attain. I think that in my former com- Our experience in New York munication I spoke of the surplus State in wintering bees has been pollen that was being stored ; they accompanied with a yearly loss of have used it up during the past from five to fifty per cent, besides month and now gather about what the poor weak things we are obliged they use. It seems surprising to call "colonies" to keep up ap- that so little is known of advanced pearances. One great reason for beekeeping in a country where there this loss is the very short season are so many natural advantages. we have in which to prepare our I transferred a colony from a cy- bees for the coming fall and winter. press log on February first, and The early part of the season is found the comb so full of honey spent in building up our colonies and pollen that the queen could preparatory to the honey harvest, not do justice in keeping up the regardless of our queens and only numbers of the colony. too soon fall comes on finding us That is one great diflaculty here with poor queens in our colonies with bees in log-gums and the tall the result being poor wintering box-hives which are used extensive- and worse springing. ly. The bees crowd the brood nest It is a very natural conclusion with honey so that the queen is of the apiarist that if he could found to occupy small patches of move his bees, before cold vs^eather comb, when if the honey was re- came, to some warm climate and moved they could cast much larger there prepare them for the abun- swarms. dant honey flows that we have in The natives in removing the York, superseding old New by and honey pry off the top ; cut out what poor queens with young and vigor- can be reached handily and fasten ous ones, he could double his num- on the top leaving the bees to build ber of colonies if successful and up again. It is no wonder that get surplus enough honey to pay. the southern bee has the name of Certainly a fascinating theory which being indolent or idle, but it is not remains to be put into practice. the fault of the bees. Our bees here in southern Florida Orange trees, under the more during the month of January have favorable circumstances, are com- —

64 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

ing into bloom. The general bloom instance, let a man purchase a will not appear until the last of schooner say for $20,000. This ves- February or first of March. Our sel will rot down say in ten years. saw palmetto, which promised so Should she net the owner $2000 favorably in January, has come to a per annum over her expenses, then standstill owing to the continued at the end of ten years he would damp spell. Its huge brother, the have his $20,000 back but no prof- cabbage palmetto, blooms later its on the investment and he would and furnishes the most abundant be out a large amount of interest. and the finest honey produced in Bee houses, clamps, hives, frames, the state.. extractors, foundation mills, etc., I hope to be able to give some also depreciate in value and as this information in regard to the value point is not generally touched upon of orange blossoms as a honey- I would beg leave to ask through

producer. I have fed a few colo- the "Apiculturist" : nies in order to see if there is any 1. Charging fair salaries for marked difference in brood rearing work done, for necessary expenses, which at this date is in their favor. and for depreciation in the value

Feb. 1, 1885. C. G. Ferris. of accessories, does beekeeping pay? 2. If yes, then suppose a specialist having a fair field for operations where basswood is fairly plen- is beekeeping profitable.'' tiful, say on some line of railroad where his apiaries could be located Ed, Am. Apictjltdrist : about every four miles and running In most of the works on "Bees" " them say for extracted honey at 10 that I have read, beekeeping is cts. per pound, how many colonies represented as being "a fair busi- would he require to have to ensure ness in which to embark. You him an average salar3' of a first- cannot mention any business that class clerk or say from $1000 to is so convenient and desirable as $1200 per annum over and above an occupation, etc." expenses and depreciation ? The usual history of bees, de- 3. How many assistants would scriptions of queen, drone and he I'equire to have during the honey worker, the author's reversible, sin- yield to operate these colonies suc- gle, duplex and quadruplex hive cessfully ? (from one of which an enormous 4. Given a first-class hive and yield was taken in 18— ) and G. fixtures, how many colonies could M. Doolittle's report for '77 are one man examine and extract innocently dovetailed in. Then the honey from in a day of ten hours question "Who should keep bees?" hard work? is asked and echo answers "Every- 5. With proper assistants how body." In estimates of profits I many colonies run for extracted fail to note any charge for services honey could one apiarist success- of the owner or his assistants or fully oversee ?^ for the depreciation in value of Apistically yours. utensils, etc. In other occupa- Apis Canadensis. tions before any profits are arrived Kingston, Canada, Jan. 24, 1884. at, the salaries of the various offi- cials are charged as is also the estimated amount of depreciation in 1 Will some of tliose who have had experience in these mattei-s please send answers to value of stock, tools, etc. For tliese questions for our next number ?—Ed. ; ;

THE A3IERICAN APICULTURIST. 65

notes from california. warrants the fruit culturists to know that as the population and Ed. Am. Apiculturist : demand increase, the price will never fall below a pajdng basis. Dear Sir,

It is now an established fact tliat THE horticultural APICULTURIST. California is always going to have control of the honey markets of The beekeepers of the State have the Pacific slope and the islands of their eyes open, and they, too, are the Pacific. Possibly, during an not to be found napping. They occasional dry year she may not know the excellence of the soil and be able to place sufficient honey climate. Many of them are locat- in some cities, and consequently ed in cosey little valleys where some may have to be brought warmth and good soil produce from elsewhere. Still, on account trees as it were by magic and of the cold climate and excessive where fruit comes in earlier than rainfall in Oregon and Washington in many places to be found else- Territory, these places will never where. They, as we were going make any great strides apicultur- to say, are planting trees for the ally. Those who have tried bee- fruit they will yield, notwithstand- keeping for profit in the Web-foot ing that they keep bees and that state and in the Territory are, in bees are said to do great damage to the majority of cases, and in the such crops. remainder are well nigh, fit subjects It bids fair that every apiary in for the column of despondents. the land, no matter where located, The apiculturists of California have will have its fruit trees growing in good reason to feel grateful for close proximity to the hives. their success financially and other- Where a sufficient acreage will wise although during the past warrant,many trees will be set out year they had to battle against low the fruit, if raised too far from city prices. Prices will not always be markets, will be dried on the prem- low. The wheat-growers of the ises, or sent to the nearest fruit Golden State were well nigh on cannery or canned by a new process thepointof abandoningthe plough, now being much used in the states reaper and thresher ; for, as is well right at home. Thus it will be seen known, wheat took a tumble and the California apiarist is not going quite nearly if not really broke up to starve. He can, in a dry year, many of the farmers who devoted irrigate his trees, for he generally all their land to wheat-growing. lives where water can be easily The culture of fruit seems to be conveyed in ditches to any desired the main stay with those who wish spot. If at any time the bees to make anj'thing out of the soil make a raid on the fruit, as many thus many farmers who see a gloomy fruit men claim they do, then away future for wheat-growers have be- he can send them to the moun- gun to devote some of their land tains, further up their sides, till to such use and intend to extend the fruit season is over, which the limits of their orchards every is not, by the way, a long season year. for stable kinds. The raising of The climate of the state is ad- honey and fruit in a practical way mirably adapted to fruit culture by our apiarists is something that and all fruits are to be found flour- is hoped will be a success. It will ishing here. add materially to the prosperity of The prices range at a figure that the commonwealth to say nothing

7 66 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

of the financial condition of tlie good will result from this. Tlie are be- cultivator ; which is the earnest numerous cures which now wish of the writer, ing published and tried may do more. I have an idea that it will W. A. Prtal. have its periods like those infec- No. Teviescal, Col. tious diseases which attack cattle, notes from new zealand. iiorses, and sheep, but which pass away. The injurious efl'ects may Apictjlturist : Ed. Am. be greatly reduced by care and the While 3'our bees are taking their use of those remedies which expe- winter rest, ours are in the height rience and science suggest. of their summer activity. Though Our second Auckland annual has the season up to the present show is in course of preparation and been only moderately good for bees, will probably take place sometime has been a good quantity of honey in March next. A liberal prize list secured in most districts, and is being arranged, which will no should this month and next con- doubt induce a good display both of tinue as good, or better, the sea- honey and the various appliances son's results will be satisfactory. of the apiarj'. New honey is now being placed In New South "Wales, Victoria in the market and fair prices are and South Australia rapid strides being obtained. The N. Z. B. are being made in beekeepino. In attempt Association has made an a few years if the progress contin- so to regulate the prices of honey, ues it will have grown into a very as to maintain a fair rate, and pre- considerable industr}^ and honey vent the market being glutted by will form one of the regular arti- persons anxious to sell their crop cles of diet ; a position which it dealers, I un- at once. The retail has not, by any means j-et attained interference derstand, resent this in these colonies, but is looked the part of the association, and on upon more as a luxur}- , beyond the as there are a good many produ- reach of the masses. cers who are not members of the As the demand for hives and association, it is likely to be a dif- other appliances increases, greater to ficult question for the committee effoits are being made hy the man- there has deal with. Hitherto ufacturers to supply it. Some of supplies or mar- been no regular the colonial makers are, however, ket rates or anything satisfactory adopting a questionable mode of to guide either the seller or the securing, or trying to secure, the buyer. A woman from the coun- monopoly of certain well-known Auckland sell- try was recently in and valued articles, by taking out ing her new season's honey in 1 lb. patent rights for these as inven- at a sixpence sections to the dealer tions of their own. Most of these her disgust at per lb. Imagine articles are from your countr}- and finding that others had been selling not patented there, such as the theirs at nine to ten pence. Langstroth frame and hive. Such Now that persons who have for proceedings are very reprehensible, bees be- some time been keeping and of no legal force if contested, of foul gin to understand the nature as only genuine inventions can be brood it is being found in many patented, but they serve to frighten will parts of the colony , and an ellbrt those who know no better. be made to obtain legislation for the N. Z. Correspondent. purpose of exterminating it if possible. I fear but little practical Jan. 2, 1885. THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 67

CANADIAN DEPARTMENT. too much excitement, and often dj'sentery, debility and death. Probably the manner of giving B. H. HOLTERMANN, EDITOR. food with the least exciting effects is on top of the frames where the bees can naturally have easy ac- — There is a rumor afloat that a cess to it, and it can be placed leading beekeeper and advocate of without the least disturbance to the deep frame in Canada is about the bees. Perhaps the experience to start a bee journal here. There of some older beekeepers would be is no doubt that a party not inter- valuable, but a good food is con- ested in the supply business, or so sidered as follows : pure granulated strong an advocate of a particular sugar mixed with water and frame, would meet with a heartier brought to a boil of a consistency support both by contributions in that, when about 90°, it will be writing and by subscriptions. very slightly soft. Or, as follows : It is a difficult matter for any granulated sugar three parts, water man to take a neutral ground in one one part, boil to the consistency of department of his business when ripe honey, pour out upon a mar- he knows it will act detrimentally

ble or other cold slab ; when cool upon another. enough to handle, knead a little — In consequence of the flow of and pull over a hook until the mass honey being early last season, and becomes white, roll into sticks the there being very little honey after desired thickness, and when nearly clover bloom, man}^ bees were de- cool break off into the desired ficient in stores in the fall ; then length. This latter above the clus- too, the unusual changes of atmos- ter will soften enough to enable the phere seemed to cause a large con- bees to work it readily, but will not sumption of stores. Inconsequence, become sticky. The candy does unless the apiarist has been careful not enable the bees to get too much to see to the wants of his bees, at a time. and understands bee-feeding, they are likely to come to grief. Many —In Canada we want a grand are, in fact, now complaining that convention where will be discussed their colonies are too light ; some mainly the various forms of hives parties are already feeding, and un- and the experience and reasons for less this is done cautiously the loss adopting certain frames, etc. There will be serious. certainly is a reason for everything We are aware that all feeding and we want to hear fully the rea- should be done in the fall of the sons for the superiority of any one year, and the bees remain undis- hive. Having full reports of such turbed in winter, but if the stores a convention circulated much good become exhausted during winter, would be done and not only those they certainly should not be neg- attending would be benefited but lected, as with proper precautions also those reading the reports. the chances of success are very This is a very important subject. probable. Those requiring to feed Beginners are very apt to take the their bees in the winter are gener- advice of the man who is dealing in ally those who know least about supplies best known to them, when the proper method of doing it. the name may be obtained through Syrup or honey should never be advertising or a knack of bringing fed at a time when the bees are un- one's self into prominence irre- able to leave the hive, as it causes spective of merifbf the hive. "We THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

should not accept the views of —The first thing bees get honey any man but judge for ourselves from in the spring is skunk cab- if there is reason in his statements. bage, followed by yellow willow. Then come the blossoms of fruit, Reports from leading beekeep- — hard maple, white clover, small ers state that bees are wintering fruits, basswood, sumach, winding well. One having over 200 colo- up with golden-rod, aster, Spanish nies, and a very old beekeeper, in needle and smartweed. calling upon ns, stated he believed indications had not been more the —There are so many beekeepers years. Another, favorable for many who would like to read "Huber's colonies in Lang- a possessor of 12 work, that we have decided to re- upon looking stroth hive, reported produce an English edition of it ten were at them Jan. 2, that in the "Apiculturist," giving one starved and the remaining two were page each month. Mr. Arthur it 6° below zero. without stores ; was Todd, of Philadelphia, Pa., who to full combs He transferred them had in his possession an English well. This and so far they are doing edition, has kindly agreed to fur- sides of represents well the two nish the manuscript. the picture : the former managed properly last fall ; the latter had — A short time since we pub- given little care. Many of the lished the first edition of our "Bee latter will lose heavily. Keepers' Companion," a little pamphlet, filled with valuable hints Oi-ders are coming in fast to — and information, and now those to supply dealers. Inquiries for foun- whom they have been sent are dation have been made for some calling for packages of them, for time and indicate that orders will distribution among their beekeep- be given early to secure a supply, ing neighbors. Now, if any of as last season's experience has our readers wish to assist us, and taught them that it is far better to also become our agents, and ob- order early. tain either cash or other premiums, we will send free of charge, a package of the " Companions." Just send your address, and try a few. You can obtain a valuable pre- NOTES AND QUERIES. mium, just as well as not. We are working for you, and you kindly sends us the —Prof. Cook should assist us. following note of congratulation. "I wish to add my congratulation — The glutted honey market on your invention of questions and depreciated panics in honey and answers from various apiarists. come not from an over-production, It is one of the best devices ever but because the beekeepers have conceived and executed by an left to the coniuiissiou men in our editor. One of our ablest bee- large cities too much of the work keepers, who is about to start a of creating a demand for honey. bee paper, wrote me not long since United and cooperative association for suggestions. I replied that the work will build up a demand that question scheme devised by S. M. will many times exceed the present Locke, and liberal contributions supply, but it depends on the bee- if from the ablest beekeepers, would be keepers ; their own individual the vehicle to success." A.J. Cook. duties. in this matter are neglected, THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. or disregai'ded, we shall have NOBTH EASTEBNBEEKEEPERS^ trouble. ASSOCIATION. The sixteeuth annual convention of —"Rural, jr.," thinks it about the N. E. B. A., was held in the City time everybody knew that "bees Hall at Syracuse, N.Y.,Jau. 21-23,1885. are as deaf as a post," and that the FIRST SESSION. The convention was called to order beating of all the tin pans in two at 1.30 p. M., Pres. Root in the chair, not restrain a de- counties would Sec'y Geo. W. House at tlie desk. parting swarm. His way is to After the calling of the roll, the throw among the flying mass water, Sec'y read the minutes of the last meeting, which were or the sun's rays b}' means of a adopted and placed on file. mirror. The latter plan he has Treasurer Bacon made his annual never known to fail. report, showing a balance on hand of $43.39. On motion, this report was accepted —We have received from Bag- and placed on file. On motion of nail Bros.,Tura Thames, New Zea- Sec'v House, it was agreed that the Standing Committees, land a fine photograph of one of and all other committees, report on the their apiaries. With the tempera- morning of the 23rd. ture here below zero, and snow and Sec'y House, at this point, appointed Silas M. ice all about, it makes one almost Locke as reading clerk. An address on "The coming Bee," homesick, as he in his imagination by Mr. James Heddon, was then read and dis- realizes that it is summer there, and cussed. the bees are merrily humming about The next topic for discussion was, "Is stimulative as they flit to and fro, in the warm feeding profitable and practical?" sunshine. Messrs. Root, Bacon, Snow, Vander- vort, Locke, Clark, Betsinger and S.Wilson, an Englisli scien- —A. others took part in tlie discussion ; and tist, has made an elaborate calcula- it was the geuei'al opinion, that bees tion to show the marvellous should not be stimulated to undue activity industry of bees. Starting with in early spring, as it causes them to breed too rapidly and waste the ascertained fact that 125 heads while on wing, in search of water, etc. of clover yield approximately Different methods of feeding were 15,432 grains of sugar, and that described, all of which are well known. the proportion of sugar in honey The convention seemed to favor placing the food inside of may be roughly estimated at 75 the hive, in pref- rence to feeding in the open air. per cent, he finds that 2,500,000 All agreed that it was beneficial to clover flowers must be visited by feed the bees between fruit-bloom and bees to obtain one pound of honey white clover. The topic from that source. "Will it pay to sow or plant for honey?" was next taken up for discussion, Messrs. Root, King, Bacon, Hilas D. Davis of Bradfor(\, Vandervort, Locke — and others, taking° Vt., has lately suffered a great loss part. It was generally in the burning of his supply factory concluded, that it would pay, especially on poor land, vrith a large stock of lumber and to sow for bee-pasturage; and abundant his entire outfit of machinery, new evidence was given to prove, that a loss of about S3000. He has alsyke clover not only yielded well as just visited us and he proposes to a honey plant, but also made a fine quality of hay. Mr. rebuild his factory and continue Root preferred one-third of this clover, and two-thirds his business. He has just ordered timotiiy, to any other quality of hay. a new lot of machinery. His cour- It was advised by one member, that age and enterprise are commend- the alyske clover be cut early, as the second crop able. was very valuable for honey. —

70 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

It was stated that England was much as to create undue excitement too early in advance of us on this matter; and in the spring. that much of the honey produced On motion of Mr. Clark, the follow- there was gathered from artificial ing resolution was unanimously adopt- pasturage. Utah stands high as reed. gards the quality of honey produced, Resolved, That the chair appoint a and it was stated that 100 colonies of committee of three,—before whom, bees had been supported, for a time, on all questions of whatever nature, com- one acre of mignonette. ing before this convention, and not on Considerable was said regarding the the programme, shall be submitted, worth of Bokhara as a honey plant. before such question shall be brought It was said that Mr. D. A. Jones stated, before this convention. The following that Bokhara clover, sown as a honey were appointed as such committee: plant, paid him better than any other Mr. Arthur Todd, Mr. C. G. Dickin- crop raised on the same land. It was son and Mr. G. H. Knickerbocker. good land and capable of returning After receiving memljership dues, the him $50.00 per acre. convention adjourned to meet at The beekeepers were advised to set 7 o'clock p. M. out as many basswood trees as possible, as it will pay, and pay well. They SECOND SESSION WEDNESDAY EVENING. will thrive best by streams of water, After the opening of the convention, or in a somewhat moist soil, but will Mr. Arthur Todd of Phila., Pa., read grow in almost any good soil. They a communication that he had received should be set out almost 10 ft. apart. from Mr. Frank Cheshire, of London, the members spoke in favor of One of England, who has made "Foul Brood" the yellow locust as it comes into a study. Mr. Cheshire wrote as fol- bloom between fruit and clover bloom, lows : and also was very valuable for posts. Mr. Vandervort said that he was Dear Mr. Todp, getting more honey from the pea I send you one slide Bacillus alvei vine or white clover. The farmers and one spermatozoa (you will proba- in his locality pronounce it excellent bly have read my articles on Egg Or- for hay. gans of Queens before this reaches The nest question for discussion you). Kindly give my fraternal greet- was, "Spring dwindling — cause and ing to American beekeepers at the prevention." Messrs. Root, Snow, Convention and tell them that the cure Locke, King, Hetherington, Clark, of Bacillus alvei by phenol is abso- Vandervort, Betsinger and others, lutely positive but that I have recently taking part. A number of causes found a difierent bacillus causing nearly were suggested, such as poor wintering, identical symptoms with B. alvei about which caused diseased bees; a poor which I am as yet uncertain as to quality of honey for winter food : a lack cure. B. alvei is the common one of suflicient winter stores, properly here, the other rarer. How it may be food, I not know, I placed ; an undue consumption of in America do but can during winter; dampness during win- microscopically distinguish them. I ter; unusual activity in early spring, should regard the submission of some caused by disturbing the bees (which specimens (single infected cells) to me was considered detrimental) and too for examination as a mark of friendly much fall honey. Capt.E. J. Hethering- sympathy between the older and the ton thought that spring dwindling was younger nation, the small and the great the result of constitutional weakness country and the two great peoples, caused by poor wintering, conditions which would be very gratifying. that impair their vitality. 1 write on New Year's Day and so He also thought that the conditions conclude with wishes of the heartiest that governed beekeeping had materi- kind for every success to you in the ally altered within the last fifteen or West and to ourselves in the East and twenty years, bringing atmospheric for eternal friendship in both. changes. As a prevention, it was ad- Believe me, very truly yours, vised that a good quality of honey or F. Chkshirk. sugar syrup food, well sealed, be given P. S. The bacillus is about one fifty- the bees for winter stores, and not fed thousandth inch in thickness and one too late in the fall, 25 to 30 lbs. being eight-thousandth or one six-thotisandth sullicient. Keep the bees warm, snug long so that it requires a good micro- and dry, and do not disturb them so scope. THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 71

The slides are my own mouuting and that comes to the beginner from the so not finished highly. The sperma- variation of opinions on this subject. tozoa are stained as well as the bacilli. At present, my advice to beginners is Mr. Cheshire was then made an hon- to disturb the bees as little as is prac- orary member of the association. Mr. ticable during April and May, in lati- Todd announced that he would have tudes as cold as central New York. bacilhts and spermatozoa in shape for Be sure they have plenty of sealed microscopical examination on Thurs- honey and use every precaution to pre- day. vent them from flying, particularly [To be continued.'] during cold days. As the season advances, if there is a time between the difi'erent classes of bloom when no honey is aflbrded, all stocks that ai'e not liberally supplied QUESTIONS AND ANSWEBS. with honey should be fed. Feed nothing but pure honey. I am aware that under experienced management stim- ANSWER TO QUERY OF J. B. HALL, IN ulative feeding may be practised to ad- FEB. NO. *' APICULTURIST," PAGE vantage, but the average person who 47, BY EDITOR. has not had experience would not be benefited. " Caucasian Bees." Eefer to page " 122 in October No. of " Apiculturist Mohawk, N. Y. for 1883, an ai'ticle written by Julius Hoflman. ANSWER BY PROF. A. J. COOK. "Caucasian Bees." Refer to page I have long believed that stimulative 169 "Apiculturist," December, 1883, feeding at the proper time was very an article by Arthur Todd. profitable. This is not a mere theory, have carefully experimented QUESTION BY THE EDITOR. as we in spring and summer — when there were There seems to be a diversity of opin- no flowers — and in autumn. We found ion among our most prominent and by careful comparison that such colo- successful apiarists and teachers in nies as were stimulated always in- apiculture, regarding the advisability creased more rapidly than those not of stimulative feeding during the fed. We feed always in April and spring. Will you give your ideas re- May, use the Smith feeder, which is specting this subject, as it is a matter described and illustrated in my manual. of considerable importance ? We trust Feed not more than a gill to each col- that those, to whom this question is ony per day, which is done just in the sent, will give our readers a careful and evening. I feed extracted honey if we thorough description of the matter, as have it, if not, sugar syrup. it appears to them, in the light of their Though I am aware that some of experience. our excellent beekeepers scout this In answering, please state when feed- idea, yet from actual and repeated

ing should be commenced ; what kind tests, I am persuaded that feeding of food should be used; what kind of sparingly, whenever bees are not ac- feeder (if any), is used; in what quan- tively gathering, will accelerate brood tities the food should be supplied; rearing.

what eflect is produced ; if it in any degree prevents the bees from flying in ANSWER BY J. E. POND.

; the relative con- search of water what The matter of stimulative feeding dition is, at the time of the first large in the spring is one of great import- yield of honey, between colonies thus ance, and one that should be thor- and those that were left to stimulated, oughly understood. In the hands of build up without it. an expert it will be conducive of great In fact our object is to present our good ; but the novice must understand readers with a brief, but decisive expla- that it is a "two-edged sword," and nation of this matter. when used indiscriminately may produce much mischief. Its chief value ANSWER BY L. C. ROOT. consists in using it so to increase a I am impressed that our prominent colony, that a full and eflective army and most successful apiarists will con- of workers may be on hand to gather tinue to investigate and experiment, in the first spring yield, that otherwise no matter what the opinions of others would not have been able so to do. A may be, yet I realize the confusion few years ago I was an earnest advo- 72 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

cate of stimulative feeding in spring; I feed sweetened water in any good of late I am of tlie opinion that more cheap feeder. The amount fed de- harm than good is caused by it. If a pends altogether on the size of the colony is lacking in stores it must be colony. One pint of warm water, in

fed of course ; this rule must be strictly which two ounces of sugar has been followed, but is a far different matter dissolved, is sufficient for a large col- from that of urging the production of ony if fed to them once a day, provided brood at too early a date. New Eng- the colony has some stores in reserve. I land weather is capricious ; a few days usually commence stimulative feed- of bright warm sunshine are liable to ing as soon as the first natural pollen be followed by a protracted season of begins to come in, which is generally severely cold weather; an excess of about the twentieth of March here. brood at such a time is a positive in- As far as my observation extends, jury. The bees intent upon their own stimulative feeding increases activity preservation, still desirous of protect- in bees, and for this reason I defer the ing their brood, hesitate about forming feeding till bees can safely be on the that cluster necessary to keep them wing almost daily, at intervals. alive, and the result is, that the brood A fair experience has led me to be- is not only finally chilled past recov- lieve that it does not pay to stimulate ery, but a vast number of the workers full colonies that have plenty of stores, lay down their lives, and thus com- with the object of obtaining a greater pletely destroy the effectiveness of the quantity of honey. colony for the season, without haviug Christiansburg , Eij. accomplished any good whatever. Beekeepers ought to know almost QUESTIONS L. E. to a day, when the first yield of honey BY BURNHAM. will be found; and knowing this, can 1. If you had colonies in the cellar easily, if a colony is worth preserving, which became short of stores before so build it up as a rule, without stimu- spring what method would you adopt lation, that it will be fully able to take to feed such colonies? advantage thereof. Nothing more than 2. Would you recommend remov- this seems to be needed, and nothing ing bees on a fine day to the open air less will produce the best results. and returning them again to the cellar " Each colony, however, must be a rule after they have had a purifying fliglit? unto itself," and it is only by experi- 3. At what time in the spring would mental practice that the best course to you advise removing the burlap sheet pursue can be learned. Not being an which covers the brood nest and .sub- advocate of stimulative feeding, I shall stituting therefor an enamelled cloth not attempt to give any instructions as or any covering to arrest the escape to best ways and means, but will say of heat from the brood chambers? that a large amount of water is used 4. At what time (in our climate) during brood rearing, consequently the would you advise removing bees from food used should be largely diluted cellar to their summer stand? therewith, else many bees will be lost Essex, Mass. in the attempt to obtain it from outside the hive, at a time when the tempera- ANSWERS BY L. C. ROOT. ture is too low for them to fly out with safety. 1. If I had no sealed honey in combs I would fill a comb with liquid honey or sugar syrup, and place it in the ANSWER BY G. W. DEMAREK. hive at the side of the cluster of bees, and cover it well to keep it warm. Let I have practised stimulative feeding, the liquid be warm when put into the more or less, every spring for several comb. years past. Doubtless location, as 2. If bees are reasonably quiet in pertains to earliness or lateness of their winter quarters, leave them un- honey resources, has much to do with disturbed. the question. 3. Change them when they are 1. It has paid me to stimulate weak placed on their summer stands in colonies, and especially such as are spring. scarce of stores. 2. It pays to stim- 4. About the first of May. ulate strong colonies to get early swarms if they are desirable, or to get early queen cells if they are wanted. We were unable to give Mr. Rasin's Otherwise it does not pay. questions attention this month.—Ed. The American Apiculturist.

to % lountal bffaohb Sntntific anb practical gwketptng. { \

ENTERED AT THE POST-OFFICE, SALEM, AS SECOXD-CLASS JUTTER. \

Published Monthly. S. M. Locke, Pubhsher & Prop'r.

VOL. III. WENHAM, MASS., APRIL i, 1885. No. 4.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES. the facts to be introduced will ap- $1.00 per year, payable ia advance. Sent ply with certain modifications to on trial three months Tor 35 cts., six months for UO cts. every species in it.

Advertising Rates :—Whole page, $12.00. It must be remarked by way of One-half page, $7.00. One-fourth i)age, $f.00. introduction, that it has long been One-eighth page, $-2.00. Card, $1.50. known that a queen or mother bee Those wishing special rates will please is correspond with tlie Editor. not doomed to total sterility if

All communications should be addressed raised at a part of the year wheji to S. M. Locke & Co., Weuhani, Mass. drones (males) do not exist, but that she, although later than at the EECEPTACULUM SEMINIS normal period, begins to deposit OF BEESA eggs, which, however, are in no instance converted into workers, but By F. R. Cheshire. invariably produce drones, which The labours of Siebold, Ber- must be of course, in this case at lepsch, Leuckart, and others, have least, generated parthenogeneti- put the fact of parthenogenesis in cally. Similarly, if a queen of the bees altogether be^'ond dispute, but Italian race (^pts Ligustica) which the argument, as these investiga- has consorted^ with an Italian drone be placed in tors have given it, although abun- a hive contain- dantly sufficient, has lacked that ing English bees {Apis melUfica) only, anatomical contirmation which it and which is itself located in is the object of the present paper to a neighborhood where Italians are supply. unknown, all her progeny, both iSince the honey bee can be so workers and drones, will to the readily kept under observation, and end of her life continue pure, car- the modern hive which forms its rying their characteristic yellow habitat under domestication can abdominal bands and a thousand be so easily and completely manip- other minor distinctive peculiarities ulated, it will be not only more ; but should she leave with a useful but more convenient to swarm or die, the workers will raise concentrate our attention some- a successor from one of her eggs. what upon this member of the The queen resulting must of neces- family Apidse, although no doubt sity mate with an English drone, and as a consequence the workers Reprinted from the Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society, London, Eug. *A11 bees mate but once.

(73) ;

74 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

produced by her will partake of transferred to the eggs, and how a the two races, exhibiting amongst mother could after her impregnation themselves those variations for as needed supply eggs either fertil-

which hj'brids^ are remarkable ized or unfertilized, and it is to these but her drones, on the contrary, especially that I invite attention.

will be absolutely Italian ; again As, however, the investigation showing that although their mother shows beautifully that the queen was impregnated, her impregnation after mating becomes most com- had in no way influenced their gen- pletely a creature carrying all the eration, or that they as before essentials of the two genders within

come from unfertilized eggs. Oc- herself, it will be necessary to con- casionally in the absence of a sider the organization of the males. mother-bee one or more of the If the abdomen of a queen be workers^ (which from their ana- cut open down the sides by fine tomical structures areincapable^of scissors and the three first dorsal coition) will commence ovipositing plates carefully removed, we dis- and these eggs, from reasons now cover two very large organs filling clear, develop drones only. Be- nearly the whole of the enclosed yond these facts and many similar space. These are the ovaries, and

ones, it has been demonstrated that consist of from 100 to 120 tubes^ the drone produces a vast number each, all lying side b}^ side and of spermatozoa, and that the gathered into a bundle by count-

queen after conjugation is found to less small tracheae which act as contain these stored in a receptacle connective tissue. These ovarian to which the names spermatheca tubes are at the upper end very and receptacuhim seminis have small, and here each egg is repre- been given, and that these threads sented by an initial cell, but dur- are the active means for possibly ing development it passes on, converting an egg that would oth- room being made for it by the es- erwise have yielded a drone into a cape of the mature eggs at the wi-

worker, or it may be a queen. But der lower end. Each tube merges many problems have had no an- into the oviduct the commencement swer, and most conspicuously those of which is formed by the opened- which asked how these threads were out walls of the peripheral ovarian

'^ ovaries are 'The word hybrid is used here rather pop- tubes. The two thus ularly than scientifically, and in obedience to covered below by very delicate but, custom. No assertion that Jpismellifica and as will be presently seen, highly Apis Ligustica are specifically distinct is conveyed. Tliey may be merely well-marked organized membranous expansions varieties. which may be compared to funnels, «Such workers are known as fertile workeis. They are abundant amongst hive ^In counting these tubes, it is needful to bees, but amongst some members of tlie thoroughly dissect, as the ovaries are not Apidae and Vespida) they pt-rform no unim- equally active in every part, and some of the portant part in the regular building up of the tubes, thin and flat, may otherwise easily es- colony. cape detection. 'One exceptional instance is declared, but 'The central tubes unite their lower edges it must be received with reserve. and complete the covering above. THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. the deliveiy pipes of which (the the closest and most curiously oviducts) unite into a single tube, felted plexus of tracheas with which the common oviduct. If a drone I am acquainted. This spermathe- be now opened in lilfe manner, we ca is in structural communication discover in the same relative part with the common oviduct, but the of his body two organs much smallest roughness will break it smaller in size, containing about from its attachment, and will frus- 300 tubes, individually minute, but trate any endeavour to discover the thread- how it is filled from which are evolved up and used ; but like spermatozoa, much as the with it separated, should accident eggs are developed in the queen, detach it, we may still study the so that the ovaries of the queen exceedingly curious and compli- and the testes of the drone are cated valvula apparatus with which homologues of one another. A it is furnished. Removing it to canal also on each side of the body the stage of the dissecting micro- couvej's these threads as matured scope,^ and surrounding it with di- to the vesicula seminalis which is lute glycerin, we get glimpses of much larger than the testis, and a contained membrane between the here they await the object of their meshes of the investing tracheae. development. The horaologue of So far as I know, those who have this store-chamber is clearly the studied this matter have failed to spermatheca of the queen. At discover that these tracheoe merely the time of mating, spermatozoa closely embrace the actual sperma- require a medium in which they theca, and that they in no instance ma}^ be floated into their proper enter its walls ; but such is the destination, and to supply this a fact, and by very careful teasing gland is provided—the glandula and cutting with needle-knives we mucosa— into which the vesicula may so separate them that they seminalis opens, and during ejacu- may be peeled off as a rind from lation the mucous secretion of the an orange. The sac itself is now gland and the spermatozoa are seen to have beautifully transpar- sent forward together. The mu- ent sides, giving faint indications

cous gland, we shall presently see of originating in coalescing cells, good reason to believe, has also but having no discernible struc- its homologue in the queen, which ture except near its outlet where

now we had better scrutinize. it has an epithelial lining. Throuoh Near the commencement of the its sides, if the queen is unimpreg- common oviduct, which is fastened nated, we discern only a perfectly

by very complicated muscles to clear fluid. 3 If, on the contrary', she the fifth abdominal ring, we find H use a "Stephenson's erecting binocular," the before-mentioned globular and hardly think what I am describing could body rather more than 1 mm. in be accomplished with a simple "dissector." ^Leidy describes the fluid as granular, diameter, glistening like burnished which is certainly erroneous. Leuckart says

silver, because densely coated with it is clear. Both of these observers appear to 76 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. has been recently mated, the whole causing these eggs to be fertilized. interior is densely clouded and This notion, so repellent from its semi-opaque, since it is perfectly bald crudity, could only be previ- filled with spermatozoa ; but as ously met by negative evidence, older and yet older queens are op- and since there is no confidence erated upon, the spermatozoa de- like the confidence of ignorance, crease in number, but instead of the error has died hard, and it is being generally difi'used are gath- worth while in this connection to ered into a tolerably compact note that the closing valve of the mass which lies near the aperture spermatheca, which we are pres- of the spermatheca, the remainder ently to examine, having been of the latter being filled with a brought away in situ, holds so very clear fluid as in virgin queens. strongly, that the sac may be

This collection of spermatozoa squeezed flat in the compressorium is seen by a J- in. objective to be without driving out a single sper- arranged in large, wavy, floccus- matozoon. The pressure increased like masses, the extremities of the the delicate bag at length bursts, motile threads pointing towards and a true microscopical marvel the aperture, while from its upper awaits us. The spermatozoa es- surface spermatozoa are observed cape in tufts, each containing hun- to rise in different spots like mic- dreds of thousands. These tufts roscopic eels, long and thin, curl- have a beautiful arrangement, re- ing and twisting with much grace minding one of a girl's back hair as they hold on by their tails. Af- combed after plaiting ; but each ter a few seconds they lapse into spermatozoon wriggles to be free, quietude, to be in turn succeeded and quickly they are widely spread, by others, and in a warm room this curling and uncurling with a pecu- most curious set of movements liar snapping movement, and with will long be continued, even though an energy that baffles description. several hours have been occupied Their powers in a few minutes be- in dissecting the abdomen whence gin to wane ; then one after the the spermatheca had been taken. other they take a form which with

J- It has been again and again as- a in. or even |- closely resembles serted, as an echo of a bold guess two 8's one over the other, sur- made long since in America, that rounded by a rather larger O. the narrower workeri" cell in which When all have sunk to rest, this worker bees are raised, by pressing singular pattern, repeated with upon the abdomen of the queen, strange regularity, covers the field. was the effective means for the Let us suppose that a complete forcing out of spermatozoa and so spermatheca is now before us ; as

we turn it we get it into such a po- have merely ruptured the sac by pressure, afterwards examining the expressed matter. sition that its outline is not unlike JO Honey comb consists of two-sized cells; the back of a man's head carrying worker cells 4 in. in diameter and drone cells \ in. in diameter. two large and prominent ears. THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 11

These latter are the upper ends of ted from its companion, which is two glands something less than placed at such angle that it gives 200,a in diameter, and which are no perceptible twist to the plane of held in position by receiving very polarization, and so remains out of numerous twigs from the investing view. The rotation of the stage tracheal plexus. These glands plate now darkens the first observed passing down the opposite sides of sphincter, while the second be- the spermatheca, meet together comes brightly illuminated. An and form a junction near the sper- indurated integument, probably a mathecal duct. They consist of chitinous plate, is pushed towards nucleated gland cells surrounding the spermathecal duct by the con- a tube which runs from end to end traction of its proper sphincter, and and enlarges somewhat during its in this work it is aided by a muscle course^ This tube gives off thous- which is one of two, the tendinous ands of tubelets which pass to the extension of which is only about distinct cells, upon the walls of 25 in diameter, or ^^ of the thick- which ness of a human hair.^^ These they seem to expand ; but after considerable painstaking I feel muscles would, no doubt, all re- myself uncertain upon this point. main tense the insect being in a

The spermathecal duct which is condition of repose ; but should short, stiff, and slightl}' rugose, she be engaged in ovipositing points towards but does not imme- and spermatozoa be required diatel}' join the duct of the appen- for fertilization, the muscle by dicular^i gland. Attached to these contraction^^ would lift the plate ducts and valve are five main mus- to which by a complex tendon it is cles, two of which are sphincters, attached. Into the cavity thus and which are the main instruments opened spermatozoa would pass. for respectively and independently The two sphincters at the same closing the spermathecal and ap- moment relaxing, an outflow of pendicular gland ducts. These glandular secretion] would be ready sphincters, which are separated by to sweep the spermatozoa towards an intervening wedge-shaped disk, their destination in the common ovi- lie towards each other at an angle of duct, and all would be at once from 30° to about 60°, and may be driven on by the appendicular beautifully shown by polarized sphincter first contracting, fol- light. The prisms being crossed lowed in order by the second the object is so staged that one >2I fully feel the difficulty of interpreting a sphincter most completely' resolves mechanism such as this, but very many dis- the polarized beam, by which every sections made with great care and most soru- pulously examined, will, I hope, be thought fibre in it can beperfectly dissocia- to justify the explanation given, which certainly seems to me to satisfy fully both tlie JiThis name appears to me not well cliosen, natural liistory and microscopy of the case. but since it has been given it had better be " I am fully satisfied that tliose muscular retained, although "mucous glaiid of the fe- changes would be all produced by reflex male" would have been more expressive. action. THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. sphincter and muscles, when the a prolific queen will lay 1,500,000 repose condition would again be eggs, each about 1-8 mm. long, established. 0-4 mm. in diameter, and that

A most remarkable adaptation these would fill, if systematically here arises. The spermatozoa packed, a half-pint measure. De- yielded by the drone are probably ducting a few thousand for drones, about 4,000,000 in number; but the remainder would each require these need to be economically an independent fertilization, and utilized, as, if they were shot out for this work probably not more haphazard, they would be ex- than 4,000,000 and often very hausted long before the queen's many less spermatozoa will be at death, when she would breed of command. We shall presently course drones only (a circumstance see that the number of spermatozoa which does actually, although and the size of the receptaculum somewhat exceptionally, arise when appear to be proportioned to the queens run on without accident to laying capabilities of the insect, the ripe old age of four or five and hence in every case some such

years) ; but the duct through mechanism as we have been ex- which they pass, I find to be the cen- amining will be a necessity. In the tre of another gland, which seems common wasp, for example, the fe- to the present to have entirely es- cundity is much less than in the hive

caped attention. This gland is, bee, but the spermatheca is much no doubt, excited to secretion by smaller, the capacity of that of the the presence of the spermatozoa, latter insect being about forty times just as food excites our salivary that of the former, while the sper- glands to the secretion of saliva, matozoa are nearly of the same size. and the stomach to the secretion The channel is fairly wide, and of gastric juice. Spermatozoa at first I supposed it tolerably thickly present will cause the ad- straight and simple, but upon ex-

dition of large quantities of fluid amining it with the low-angled front which will dilute and more widely of a Powell oil 1^ in., I discovered separate them. Their absence it to contain a membrane of ex- (for this gland is most richly pro- treme tenuity and remarkably con- vided with nerve-twigs, which send voluted, reminding me much of the numerous loops to the muscles curious structure of the epididj'uiis previously described and to the of higher animals. The meaning ganglion seen lying under the of this peculiarity I can in no way muscle) will yield the action explain. Tracing this channel on- which will send a new contingent wards till it perforates the side of forward as I have described, and the common oviduct, a bifurcation

so the}" come to be paid out with is detected, one channel of which some regularity. The necessity appears wide and indefinite and to for this regularity will be better be presently lost in the lower part

appreciated if it be remarked that of the oviduct, whilst the other THE A3IERICAN APICULTURIST.

enters a centralis and curiously netted (the chorion), almost as folded apparatus which, for a rea- though a tiny pearl had been cov- son to be presently explained, I ered with what the ladies call shall denominate the fertilizing "blonde," hundreds of the meshes

pouch. I have strong reasons for of which were required to coat it supposing that the path upwards completely. Towards one end the from the bursa copulat7-ix (where netting makes its cells long and the male organs of the drone are narrow and pointing towards a retained at the time of copulation) circular spot, just as the cordage and thi'ough the pouch aforesaid of a balloon points towards the to the sperraatheca is so involved upper valve by which the gas is

that it would not be possible for allowed to escape. This circular

the spermatozoa to enter the latter spot, I need not here explain, is

by following it, but that in the really an opening called the micro- early life of the second wider and pyle, by which the spermatozoon

straighter channel to which I have enters and unites its material with referred is fully open and by it the the germ cell, so bringing about spermatozoa, with their inscrutable fertilization. It will be remem-

power of self-direction, pass up- bered that it has been already stat- wards, avoiding the mazes of the ed that in bees this fusion of male fertilizing pouch and packing them- and female elements produces the selves for future use. The queen female (partially developed as to if still unmated at four or five sex in the worker, and fully so weeks old becomes incapable of developed in the queen), which will copulation, or at least she evinces possess qualities of both father no desire for it, and this possibly and mother, so that the tiny sper- marks the time when this lower matozoon not only differentiates passage closes ; this closure in a the entire creature, but communi- mated queen forcing the spermato- cates unerringly differences of zoa in descending to take their way species or mere variety even. The to the fertilizing pouch. spermatozoa from Cyprian, Italian, If a central comb be lifted from and English bees are to the most a hive during the summer months, refined microscopical examination eggs in number will be discovered. identical, and yet they contain If one of these be removed from differences which determine almost either a worker or drone cell by countless variations in form, color, the wetted point of a camel's-hair size, instinct, capability, and tem- pencil, and then microscopically per. examined in water or glycerin, its That the spermatozoon enters surface will be found beautifully the egg is certain, for it may be found if the latter be carefully 14 The tracing of this channel I found extremely diflicult in the hive bee. The prob- examined immediately after depo- lem in the common wasp is far easier, since sition. (It is my opinion, resting in the latter the walls are stronger and more definite. upon facts which do not fall within 80 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. the scope of this paper, that Sie- here the}'^ are brought into contact bold^^ has possibly been in error in with the spermatozoa and fertiliza- imagining that he has noticed more tion is accomplished, while drones than one spermatozoon within an are evolved from eggs which are egg. The great length of the carried down by the side of the bod3', about 250 ,a, necessitates pouch to the ovipositor and so es- man}' convolutions and would make cape all contact with the fertilizing

'^^) misconception easy . The head fluid. The oviducts are very high- of the spermatozoon is very nar- ly organized, containing a most row in order that the micropylar beautiful system of longitudinal aperture may be passed, but to ef- and transverse muscular fibres re- fect this time must be occupied, pletely provided with nerve-twigs, and how is this given ? It is clear evidently giving to the oviducts from what I have already said that the most complete control of the the spermatozoa pass not into a eggs which are to pass through plain tubular cavity to meet the them, while, as just hinted, they descending egg, but into a pouch are not without strong indications which I find to be elastic and curi- of two specialized but confluent ously formed of folds of the lining paths one towards the fertilizing membrane of the common oviduct, pouch, and the other to its side. and which takes up picric acid from Near the junction of the oviducts picro-carmine far more freely than also there are two thin muscles for the oviduct proper, whilst its sur- which I can conceive of no pur- face is dotted over with linear pose, unless it be to so reduce hy patches of setse from two to six in their contraction the opening lying a patch and from 1 to 3 /x in length. b}' the side of the fertilizing pouch

Its structure is particularly difficult that an egg could not, except it be to examine, and I should require relaxed, pass in this direction and to carefully dissect many more ex- so escape fertilization. i^ amples of it before I would commit The nerve structure of these myself to a drawing, but I am parts would lead me quite beyond satisfied that into or against this the intended scope of this paper, pouchi''' ii^Q eggs that are to form but it should be stated that the last workers are conveyed, and that large abdominal ganglion lies immediately beneath and in contact J5 siebold "On True Parthenogenesis," p. 85 with the oviducts and from it et seq. 16 1 have not failed to note that possibly the branches of nerves run in abun- body of the spermatozoon is very elastic, dance into the oviducts, the sper- measuring much less in the coiled than in the straight form. is The complicated structure which Mr. " Is not the pouch described by Mr. Lowne Lowne gives to corresponding parts in blow- as the bursa copulatrix of the blow-fly the flies and their general simdarity to those I same in use as the form now engaging our find in bees, leadnie to ask, whether it is not atte ition ? The bursa copulatrix of tlie bee at least possible, if indeed not highly prob- is lower down. It is wortli noting here tliat able, from what we know of members of other thediameterof the pouch is aboutCO/j. greater orders, that one of the sexes in the blow-fly than that of the egg. may be parthenogetically produced ? —

THE AMERICAN APICULTUBIST. 81 mathecal valve muscles, the sting body still adheres to the pappy and ovipositor, while small ganglia unconsumed food, from which I are distributed in profusion, a con- have little doubt nutriment is still siderable one Ijnng over the valve, received by osmosis. The spei-- and sending branches forward into matozoa with their marvellous the fertilizing pouch. vitality, still surrounded by drone It has been lately noticed by juices or nutrient food, would sur- some American beekeepers that if vive until the developing queen a maturing queen, that has still ruptures the very delicate integu- some days to pass in her cell before ment which is thrown off at the gnawing out, has her cell opened last moult ; they then would pass at the upper end so that into the into the vulva and enter the sperm- aperture a crushed drone larva atheca, giving us a queen fertil- may be put, the aperture being ized from the birth, but one which, again carefully closed, she will in no doubt, would carry but few due course appear as an imago, but spermatozoa, and so be practically that she will already be fertilized. useless—a point which the micro- It is stated that in many cases scope could alone determine. But queens so treated have commenced in this quaint performance practical la5ang fertile eggs almost directly men have given to the embryologist after leaving the cell. Incredible a method of experimenting, which as this might at first appear, it is may yield good results. Every well worth the careful attention of scientific investigator would see at microscopists. The testes are very once far better methods of pro- early developed in the full-grown cedure and possibilities, it may be, larva of which I have found semi- not only of tracing the course of niferous tubes and spermatic fila- the spermatozoa, but of producing ments in active movement (this is hybrids and mules, the study of quite in agreement with Mr. Lowne which may be of immense interest. in his observations on blow-flies), I hope at any rate to institute ex- and this fact will aff^ord a probable periments in this direction in the explanation. The larva which is coming summer, by which one to be developed into a queen is doubtful point may at any rate be provided by the workers with ex- made to pass from the region of tremely large quantities of a spec- speculation to that of knowledge. ialized food of very nutritive It is as follows : character. This is inserted into Although the drones produced the upper end of the pendulous by the fertile workers (to which cell, and being somewhat viscous reference was previously made) de- the growing larva sticks upon its velop spermatozoa exhibiting mi- surface by capillarity. At this croscopically all the appearances time there is of course no anus and of those obtained from the normal no genital aperture. When the drone, still the virility of the in- chrysalis condition is assumed, the sect has been questioned, practical 82 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

men supposing that because he insect as does that of the fowl, for it was of doubtful origin he probably appears to me that it may be argued was impotent. This question has that in the queen-produced-drone, both a practical and scientific although there is no actual spermatic value. Practical, because if the fusion, still the fluids of the queen spermatozoa from these fertile- generally are not uninfluenced by worker-drones are equally effective the constant presence of spermato- as those from normal drones, the zoa within her body, and that this apiarist would have at command, by influence may in some unknown in- keeping a fertile worker oviposit- direct way transfer to the drone ing, a stock of drones at a season of some qualities of the male with the year when they would not be which the mother mated, and it cer- obtainable from an impregnated tainly is evident that these sperma- queen, and hence he would possess tozoa are not cells, in the rest con- the means of raising and fertilizing dition. They not only are in partial queens either earlier or later in the movement, but they are abundantly season than would otherwise be pos- aerated, which seems at once to sible. The scientific interest centres prove that they absorb nutrition

about the fact that it is well known which they subsequently oxidize, that amongst the higher animals and that they as a consequence where a mother has borne offspring yield products which must pass

the influence of its father may be into the general blood-current. On impressed on her progeny after- the opposite side it may be urged wards begotten by a different par- that facts known to entomologists ent, as in the case of the transmis- would seem certainly to indicate sion of Quagga marks to a that no such slight indirect influ- succession of colts both of whose ence derived from copulation as is parents were of the species Horse, here suggested is necessary, for the mare having been impregnated amongst moths at least twenty gen-

by a Quagga male ; or in the in- erations of females have been pro- stance (many cases of which I duced without a single male indi- have observed amongst our own vidual making its appearance. poultry) of a pullet being spoiled The coming season will no doubt for the breeding of fancy stock by furnish some with an opportunity some accidental misalliance. The of testing the question by inserting explanation of the first given phe- larvae or the testes of drones de- nomenon, which rests upon the rived from fertile workers into queen statement that probably the blood cells. The marvellous persistence of the female imbibes from that of of the spermatic cell is worthy of the foetus through the placental note in passing. One taken from circulation some of the attributes a que^ four years old is utterly in- which the latter derived from the distinguishable from another de- male parent, does not seem so rived direct from the drone testis, directly to apply to the case of the although the former must have ex- THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. 83 istecl in tlie queen's spermatlieca the bees will replace and complete the whole of her life, less from five it with worker comb. to ten da^'s, between which ages 2. The invention of Mr. Z611 queens almost invariably mate. (of Everdorf, near Kissingen),who has succeeded in constructing whole combs with full-depth cells, is perhaps of more practical importance. In the fall of 1880 even, such combs SOMETHING NEW FROM were to be seen at the exhibition GERMANY. at Frankfort-on-the Main. They are said to have been very much

By L. Stachelhausen. heavier than natural combs ; but in this the first steps have been It might be of interest to the taken which will lead in time doubt- readers of the "Apiculturist" to less to the improvement of the discoveries and observa- learn what established method. been made of late in tions have What influence the invention will Germany regarding beekeeping. I have in practical beekeeping, I am will here relate, therefore, what unable to judge, and I know nothing seems to me to be the most impor- concerning the method of making tant. such comb. 1. Under certain circumstances 3. Another invention has been it may be of importance to prevent made by E. von Freyberg, namely, the building of drone comb without that of the artificial capping of

the use of too much comb founda- natural cells filled with honey. One tion. One prefers to let swarms can by this method save the bees build fall combs rather than to fur- the labor of doing this, and late nish them with comb foundation, in the fall such combs can be given because as a rule they build nice to the bees for winter stores. Very worker comb. But unusually likely this affords other advan- strong colonies, later on, build more tages. The cells of the horizontal- drone comb. At such times I use ly lying comb are filled with warm partially comb foundation, but the honey or sugar syrup ; then a sheet completed combs are now finished of white filtering paper, on one side with drone comb. The apiarist of which warm wax has been must therefore replace this with spread, should be placed wax side

comb foundation, which is a very down upon the comb ; on this lay laborious task consuming much several sheets of paper and then time. Mr. A. Zimmerman has over this pass a warm iron lightly. recently observed that if he cuts Upon removing the extra sheets away drone comb, that has been of paper, you will find that the commenced, to the worker brood waxed paper is stuck fast on the and then shaves off both sides of comb. the comb to the edges (V-shaped) By a method recommended sev- 84 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. eral j^ears since by Knoblauch, miration and it has generally been liquid honey is blown on the comb supposed that this was due to a (which has been filled with honey singular instinct on the part of the' or syrup), by means of a duster. bees, and j^et it was presumed by

This, however, gives but an im- some that it was the result of perfect covering, while the former chemico-physical laws ; but it method is said to give satisfactory seems that only Dr. Mollenhof of results. Berlin has succeeded in establish- There have been many valuable ing a satisfactor}^ theory by which theoretical discoveries lately made it no longer appears necessary to in Germany regarding beekeeping. attribute this to a high order of To these belong more especially instinct in the bees. It would take 4. The examination and exact too much space, however, to de- description of the so-called orifice scribe it here. of the stomach of the bees, by 6. Another observation of Dr.

Schonfeld (Bee Journal, 1883, Nos. Mollenhof is of great importance. 9-10). This organ of which but Before a honey cell is capped a little has been known until lately drop of bee poison is mixed with is of great importance to the sub- the honey. As the powerful anti- sistence of the bees, and many septic effect of the bee poison has features in the life of the bees which been demonstrated, it is not to be have been shrouded in darkness doubted that this addition to the are explained through the critical honey contributes greatly to its and exact examinations of this preservation. Through this there organ. I will here mention only is also given an explanation that one circumstance. shows how the bees, under favora- Several authorities have asserted able circumstances, can defend that in the large glands on both themselves against the much-to- sides in the head of the worker bees be-dreaded foul brood as the bee-

(salivary glands) the food sap for poison is able to destroy the the young larva is prepared and Bacteria, or germ, if used in suffic- separated. This was always dis- ient quantities. puted by Schonfeld and the con- 7. One observation of the great- struction of the orifice of the est importance is that of the mat- stomach seems to show that he is ing of the worker bees with a right and to prove that the food sap drone. On July 20, 1883, Mr. is nothing but chyle from the di- Kreraer found in his garden one gestive stomach of the bee, secreted worker bee to which a drone was at will by the help of this orifice banging. The worker tried to free of the stomach. itself from the already dead drone, 5. The apparent economy of twisting around in a circle, drag- space and the saving of material ging the body of the drone with in the hexagonal form of bee cells her. Kremer caught the couple have always been a subject for ad- and immersed them in spirits. THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 85

The well-known and very expert mented on the improved appear- Schoufeld examined them and ance he makes in Mr. Locke's hat. proved that copulation had actual- It is so much better than his old

ly taken place and that it was one that we are all glad that, before surely a worker bee and not a small he attended the World's Fair, he or imperfect queen with which the got a new hat from "down east."

drone had mated, because : 1. The Strange to say he declares it is not hind legs were shorter as is the case Mr. Locke's hat at all but an old with the smallest queens and pro- one of his own and that he can

vided with the pollen baskets which prove that he wore it once at so are missing in the queens. 2. The early a date as May, 1879. He has

head was absolutely that of a work- not worn it since until quite recent- er bee. 3. The sting which was ly because he has been taking a nap present was that of a worker. 4. (Rip Van Winkle) and he does not

The ovaries were undeveloped as wear a hat when he is asleep. is the case with worker bees. 5. A Furthermore, while he was asleep, seminal vessel was nowhere to be Locke stole it and made such a found. 6. The honey stomach and commotion with it as to awake him. the orifice which is to be found in However he won't complain or it are different in the queen from make any fuss about an old hat if that of the working bee and nobody will accuse him of taking showed here the nature of the lat- Locke's new one. It is our duty ter. 7. Finally, the pollen right to remind him, however, that the from the great-gut proved that here punishment, if not the guilt, is was actually a working bee. greater for taking a new hat than Of course this observation proves for taking an old one. I had hoped nothing against the Dzierzon theo- for an amicable settlement, until ry or parthenogenesis, as an im- just now my eye chanced to rest on pregnation of the worker bee is an editorial note in Gleanings that impossible, but goes to show that evidently means war (civil I hope). bees before they commence to lay As I understand it, he accuses both drone eggs can and do become parties of being moral pirates or amorous. In Germany, of course, at least they are guilty of not tak- this observation has called forth ing out "moral patents." He says lively interest and a great inter- the hat they have been wearing change of opinion. between them is one worn by the Selma, Texas. editor of the Beekeeper's Instruc- tor in 1882. Now I find on taking measurements that the hat worn WHOSE HAT (QUESTION once by Newman in 1879 and worn DEPARTMENT) IS IT? once by Thomas in 1882 is entirely too small for the editor of this Evidently the editor of the A. journal, therefore, I conclude Locke B. J. does not enjoy being compli- must have a new one. Who shall 86 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. decide when editors disagree? department on a new and original Prof. Cook? He says (see "Api." plan. A carefully selected list of of last month) that Locke lias not questions have been submitted to only a new hat but that it is a good some of the more experienced one. So say we all. apiculturists for answers and these The editor of Gleanings says answers with the questions have "In the 'Apicnlturist' for Feb. our been printed in each number thus friend P. H. Elvvood takes the A. giving to its readers the result of B. J. to task for copying (without the maturest thought and experi- credit) the plan of the question ence on the many topics presented. department, claiming this to be This fact is well known and appre- " original with the 'Apicnlturist.' ciated by the beekeepers ofAmerica, He (Root) carries the idea farther as is also the additional one that in that this plan was a special until the present year no other bee- feature of the Beekeeper's Instruc- journal had a question department tor for 1882. I have referred to the conducted in a similar manner. question department of that journal Starkville, N. Y. P. H. Elwood. for 1882 and find it was conducted 3farch 20, 1885. after the usual plan with no indications that the editor had ever a thought of changing it. I do find an editorial chiefly made up of the opinions of the different honey deal- WINTERING BEES. ers on the subject of marketing honey ; but this has nothing to do Br L. C. Root. with the plan of conducting question departments, and in the same The month of Februar}' was a and in succeeding issues we find very uniformly cold month, yet the this department conducted as it bees continued to leave the hives. always has been in bee-journals, From room A, I took one-half until the editor of the "American bushel of dead bees ; from room B,

Apicnlturist" changed it. twenty quarts.

The editor of the A. B. J. refers The stocks weighed as follows :

us to his journal of May, 1879, and Mar. 1, No. 1, 76 lbs.; No. 2,

in making this reference I find an- 48 lbs. ; No. 3, 58 lbs. ; No. 4, 84^

other editorial article compiled after lbs. ; No. 5, SU lbs. ; No. 6, 100

the same fashion as the one already lbs.; No. 10, 44 lbs. ; No. 11, 50 referred to in the Beekeeper's In- lbs. It will be noticed that No. 6 structor and subject to the same had consumed 27 lbs. This stock

criticism. The hat does not fit. died for want of stores. The The facts are these. Tiie editor weather was extremely cold, and " of the " American Apiculturist as they were under the snow, I left has, ever since the establishment of them undisturbed thinking they his journal, conducted his question had an abundance of honey. ;

THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 87

The mercury in room A stood I anticipated. Bees from apiaries at about 48° during February. In where fall honey was abundant, room B, it varied from 30 to 45°. and breeding continued late in the

April 1, I took from eacli room season, wintered much better. about one-half bushel of dead bees. In a future article I shall give The stocks weighed then as fol- some conclusions formed from these lows : experiments.

No 1, 73 lbs.; No. 2, 45 lbs.; 55J. No. 3, lbs. ; No. 4, 78 lbs.

No. 5, 33 lbs. ; No. 6, dead ; No. A GUIDE TO 10, 40 lbs. ; No. 11, 46^ lbs. The other three stocks that wintered THE BEST METHODS OF out of doors, weighed as follows : BEEKEEPING.

No. 7, 112 lbs.; No. 8, 114 lbs.; By J. L. Christ. No. 9, 98 lbs.

1 set out the bees from room A, R. F. Holterman, Translator. April 17th and from room B, April {Continued from p.5S, Vol. III.) 18 th. I neglected to measure the bees CARE IN PLACING THE COLONIES. that were swept from the rooms at In placing the colonies care this time, but 1 should judge there should be taken that the hives are were no more than there had been somewhat higher at the back than during the same period previously. at the front, say about half an inch, No. 4 weighed at this date 75 in order that the water and mois- lbs., No. 2, 45 lbs. ; No. 5, 30^ ture and particularly that which lbs. The others I did not weigh. during winter evaporates from the In room A, I lost two stocks in bees, can run out of the hive through twelve combs, Quinby hives, and the entrance so that it will not re- three in hanging frame hives. In main and cause the combs to be- room B, I lost two stocks in twelve come mouldy. The moisture is comb, and two in seven comb, also injurious to the bees them- Quinby hives. The hive in the selves. The gradual descent thus attic was subjected to too much given to the bottom boards enables variation in temperature, particu- the bees to remove from the hive larly to too extreme heat, as the more readily their dead bees or any attic became very warm during other foreign bodies that may be in sunny days. I see no advantages the hive and it is always well to in such a place for wintering. make all of the labors of the bees Considering the condition of as light as possible. these stocks when they went in Avin- ter quarters (being composed of REGARDING THE REMOVING OF THE nearly all old bees, and the disturb- BEES IN SUMMER AND AVINTER. ance caused by the frequent obser- If colonies are to be chauged to vations the results are better than other locations or positions in the THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. vicinity of the apiaiy, except in tion which they are to occupy. As case of an emergency it should be sheep, cattle and other animals do done veiy early, say in the latter far better when taken from a poor part of January or early in Febru- to a better locality, than if they ary ; because even though they are changed from a good pasture have flown but twice in the warm and warmer climate to an inferior sunshine they mark their location, pasture and more severe atmos- and if moved late the change must phere, so do the bees thrive far be accompanied by loss, as the bees better if taken from a cold to a either attempt to enter some other warmer location and where honey hive near by and are largely de- plants are more abundant. For, as stroyed beside creating much dis- small and apparently insignificant turbance, or else return to the old as this little insect is, its body and stand and perish. its whole nature become hardened Indeed I have noticed that many or tender depending upon surround- bees upon their first flight after a ing conditions ; and I have often winter's confinement, returned to found that bees in rather a severe their last season's location which and trying atmosphere have flown they had not forgotten. out and gathered stores when those If the new location is a distant from a warmer climate did not one or even an hour distant the show themselves. change in location can be made One should select, as much as without danger at any time of the possible, young colonies, which year.' The bees then mark their can be known by the whiteness and new homes at once, fiying about the tenderness of the combs. Young hive on the first day in a great cir- colonies are to be preferred not cle until they have become perfectly alone for their combs, but also for familiar with their location, after their greater energy and industry. which they never forget it ;or if they One should purchase from those should err in finding it, on account who care for their bees properly, of others being near by, they at and who do not experiment with once recognize the strange scent of and doctor them, but keep them the hive and return to their own. clean. He should choose, too, colonies that will probably swarm PURCHASE OF BEES. REGARDING THE early. The colonies to be pur- In purchasing strange bees with chased should be well stocked with the intention of establishing an a- bees and weighty as this is a most piary,one must be particularly care- essential feature. The heaviest ful, when he cannot obtain them colonies are good for nothing if in his immediate vicinity, not to they are not well stocked with bees select them from a location which and brood, for if the cells are large- is warmer or where the advantages ly filled with honey, the queen is as regards honey-gathering, etc., confined to only a few cells in which are greater than those of the posi- early brood may be reared, and in THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 89

consequence such colonies do not gest number of bees at the entrance

cast swarms at all in the spring or are the most populous, energetic very late. and the best. You should then Because of this, unscrupulous raise the hives or invert them and

apiarists having straw sleeps act examine the interior. Notice if more wisely when they dispose of thej^ are weighty, if the combs are

tlieir lightest and heaviest colonies well built out ; whether they are and keep those of medium weight not very black and thick, and very

for themselves. Of course every old ; that there are no traces of the one, when weighing a hive or skep, moth worm, nor webs about the will take into account the size of combs nor black excrescences on

the same, also the season and the the bottom boards of the hives ; or if

activity of the bees, as it may be perchance there may not be some of heavy either with brood or moths. the moths in the pupa stage upon The time of purchasing bees the sides of the interior of the hives, varies and we cannot always do as especially if you are examining we would in the matter. To pur- them in the latter part of February chase in the latter part of February or early in March. If the purchaser

or March is the best and surest should have to stand security for the but the most expensive, and as a safet}'^ of the colony until, say, the

rule it is generally difficult to pur- time of apple bloom, stipulation chase bees at such time, as people should be made upon which the seldom keep bees over winter to price and bargain will depend. sell in the spring. In the fall they When one has purchased bees are the cheapest and most plenti- it is more advisable for both parties ful. Purchase when you will, the that the bees should be taken to colonies should be thoroughly ex- their new home at once. If this amined. (This is accomplished is not done, however, one should best at noon as at that time, even paste a piece of paper over the top in the winter, if the weather is not board of the hive or a band with too severe, one can lay the hives on two seals, one at each end, for there the sides, and if the bees are fly- are dishonest people who will cut ing they will sting less if handled the hone}'- combs at the top and carefully.) replace the top board and often You should tap the hive with the ruin the entire hive in that waj-. fingers and place your ear to its If one purchases young swarms,

sides ; if you perceive a short, brok- (which is the more advisable, if he en noise and hum within, the colony desires to purchase bees in his

is weak in numbers ; the more pro- immediate vicinity), he should longed the noise the stronger the stipulate for the first swarms which colonj^ Blow in at the entrance are cast by midsummer and these of each hive when most of the bees are worth a florin more than those will remove and cluster at the en- cast later. trance. Those that show the lar- One should provide three or four 90 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

•'magazine" boxes (or Live) with with the hive upon his back. One their accompan3-ing glass cover and should be careful that there are no entrances and let the bees enter holes through which the bees can their hives at once ; where the bees escape and even then it is advisable are very strong, four boxes are that he should be provided with a

enough ; where not, three will suf- bee cap and gloves which he can fice. They should be removed on use in case of necessity. I consider the first night and placed upon it a hazardous undertaking to trans- the new stands. If, however, the port bees upon a wagon no matter swarm is in the straw skep and it how comfortably they are placed, has been moved on the first night, if only on account of the unavoid- it should, upon being placed on able jarring. If it is in the sum- the new stand, be put upon a mer the bees become greatly ex- white cloth and the magazine (or cited and in winter the wax of hive) placed upon it and in front the combs being brittle breaks too easil)^ of the straw skep ; a block of wood so that one cannot insure should be placed between, then against the breaking down of the knock the skep upon it so that the combs during transit. When the bees will all drop upon the cloth bees are in simple straw skeps and they will enter the hive. which are placed on their crown

(or bottom upward), it is somewhat REGARDING THE TRANSPORTATION easier and more safe, but it is better SHIPMENT OF BEES. AND to carry them in the manner pre- In the transportation of bees one viousl}' described. has to be very careful that thej' do Rodheim, Germany, July 25,1783. with any misfortune and not meet [To be continued.^ that they are always well supplied with air. It is especially dangerous and requires a great deal of care to ship them in summer. One can only ^hip them at night during EDITORIAL. that season, and if it is not pos- Some explanation is due our sible to complete the journey in many subscribers and readers for one night they must be deposited regarding the delay in sending out in a convenient place during the the present number of our journal,

(\a.y and the bees allowed to fly and as during the past month we and the journey continued on the have decided upon important following night. If the colonies changes in relation to our business, are well built one can prepare an it may not be out of place to de- affair for carrying them, such as the vote this editorial to a brief review salt carriers have and carry upon of the past history of our journal their backs. Under the bottom of and a prospectus of our future the hives is stretched a cloth when plans. one can march away cautiously Two 3'ears ago we issued the THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. 91 first number of the Apicultdrist, advance the cause of apiculture, with the intention to establish, if and further the interest of the pro- possible, an independent bee ducers and consumers, for their in- journal, and one that was in no terests are mutual. way connected with the supply- We have learned that a bee- business. journal must be either directl}' or Those with whom we have been indirectly connected with a well most intimately acquainted will conducted experimental apiar}^ in know that we have spared neither order that it may be well supplied pains, time nor money in our en- with a proper amount and variety deavors to carry out our original of information, valuable alike to designs, and, indeed, up to the the expert and novice, and that last issue of our journal we have such apiary be supplied with all been true to our trust in the strict- the modern appliances and fixtures est sense of the word. necessary for conducting scientific But few of our readers will ever and practical experiments and in- know how hard and exhausting the vestigations in apiculture. It is unequal struggle has been, and it also of vital importance that this was not enough that we were bee farm be under the personal obliged to pass through the fierce supervision of an expert who has and trying ordeal through which mastered every branch of apicul- all journals must pass during their ture. early historj^, but also we have It has been our object and in- been compelled to contend with tention from the first to estab- untold opposition on every hand. lish such an apiary in connection Had we been abundantly sup- with the Apicdlturist, but until plied with capital at the start, or the present, this has for many rea- had the past two years been less sons been impossible. trying to our brother beekeepers, To organize such an enterprise our circumstances would have been requires a large investment of cap-

materially changed ; but, while all ital and this we lacked ; again, it things considered, the growth of must be made self-supporting, the Apiculturist since its com- which makes it necessary to dis- mencement has been unequalled pose of its productions. This has by that of any other journal of a led us to defer any change until like character, during its early we had given the experiment of history, yet circumstances, over publishing an independent journal which we have no control, have a fair and thorough trial, which compelled us to make the changes we have done until we have been which we submit for your consid- actually compelled to make a eration. change. In the future as in the past, we We entered into this work with shall endeavor to conduct the a firm resolve to succeed, and journal in such a manner as to with the assistance of our brother 92 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

beekeepers, to publish a journal uable services as superintendent that would fairly represent and proof our queen-breeding department tect their interests. Though there and while hereafter we shall make are those who have kindly written a specialty of the production and our epitaph, yet, in spite of this, the sale of the best bees for honey Apiculturist still lives, and as we producing, yet we propose to con- shall commence with the June fine our advertisements to the ad- number to issue 5,000 copies per vertising department, giving our

month, it gives us great liope that subscribers full benefit of our read-

it will not always remain that ing columns.

" youthful bee journal," but will It is our purpose to test the in the near future take its place value of all the various honey pro- among the " more aged ones." ducing plants, and in order that Study and experimental investi- we may do so, we have purchased gation, both scientific and practi- in Wenham a fine estate of eight cal, are the life of any vocation or acres which we shall devote to this industr}', and as during the brief purpose. summer months it is utterly impos- We are now putting up a build- sible for the honey producer to ing which we shall use as an office, devote sufficient time to any ex- bee house and factory, and as soon

periments, to test them thoroughly as it is completed and the grounds

it becomes necessary that we es- are laid out, we shall give our tablish such experimental apiaries readers an illustrated description

as those to which we have referred. of it. We propose in the future, Lacking these, apiculture in this to devote more time to our journal country has not advanced as it and to conducting, with Mr. Alley's should, but we look forward with assistance, various experiments in great hope and anticipation to every branch of beekeeping, trust- great and grand changes and im- ing that we shall be enabled there- provements in this as well as in by to solve many of the vexing many other regards within the problems over which there is at next few years. With this object present so much discussion, and if in view, we have purchased from our readers will send us careful Mr. Henry Alley, of Wenham, descriptions of any experiments Mass., the old "Bay State Apiary," that they wish tested, we shall be established by him twentj'-seven most happy to make such tests, years ago, together with his entire and report the results in our bee and queen business, including journal. his choice and valuable collection The Apiculturist in the future, of breeding stock, the result of as in the past, will be published twenty-three years careful selec- as an impartial and independent tion and breeding. journal, so far as freedom of We have also been very fortu- thought and expression of opinions nate in securing Mr. Alley's val- are concerned. THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. 93

Its pages are open to all its that our readers will favor us with readers, and any communication, such implements, or other beekeep- written in a fair, candid and con- ing fixtures as will prove inter- siderate manner, that is intended esting to those who visit the apiar^^, to advance the interests of apicul- and we would here state that we ture, will always be welcome even shall always be pleased to welcome though it does not concur with our any of our patrons or beekeeping opinions and ideas. friends who may favor us with a visit. With the June number, we shall It is due our friends, and those commence our " Experimental vrho have so kindly stood shoulder Farm Notes," which will contain to shoulder with us through the each month, reports of the results heat and burden of the struggle of the various experiments that through which we have passed, we are conducting, together with that we show a just appreciation such other items of interest as we of their efforts, not alone on our may be able to glean. This will behalf, but also in the interests of prove one of the most valuable the great cause of apiculture. features of our journal. From the commencement of our We shall also commence (in enterprise, the articles and papers June No.) a series of papers enti- that have appeared in the Apicul- tled, " Instructions to Beginners," TUKiST have been cheerfully and and shall commence with the most freely contributed as an evidence simple instructions, illustrating of the appreciation of our efforts, them as we proceed, and leading and no more instructive and val- the novice on step by step, until uable a collection of bee-literature (if he has carefully put into prac- ever appeared in print than can tice the teachings presented him) be found in volumes I and II of he has become an expert. These our journal. papers will prove especially valua- We trust that in the future we ble, because, as we proceed, we shall be able to merit the trust and shall develop new and original confidence that have been conferred ideas and methods that have never upon us during the past two years, before appeared in print. by our most prominent beemasters. We also have in store for our We enter a new field of labors, readers a number of rich treats, with the same firm and unwavering and can assure them that if the Ap- determination to live and carry icuLTUKisT has in the past proven out the plans that we have formed instructive or beneficial as an ad- even though our idol has been vocate of their interests, that with broken. increased capital and facilities we Our past experience fits us for shall be enabled to make it still our new duties, and we shall en- more valuable. deavor to prove true to the inter- We mean to have an interesting ests of the beekeepers under all museum in our building, and trust circumstances. ;

94 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

To those who may be inclined ed. Indeed this apparatus is noth- to question the propriety of our ing more than the union of several veiy flat hives capable of separa- undertaking, or doubt the verac- tion. ity of our first intentions, we But bees must not be visited, in would say "bide a wee " and await such a habitation, before their the results of this experiment, ere combs are fixed securely in the you pronounce your decision. frames, otherwise the combs by falling out, may kill or maim the bees, or excite tliat degree of irritation as will expose the observer to being NEW OBSERVATIONS ON stung, which is always painful, and

THE NATURAL HISTORY sometines dangerous ; but they OF BEES. soon become accustomed to their situation, and are in some respect tamed by it. In three days we By Francis Huber. may begin to operate on the hive : to open it, remove part of the (Continued from p. 62, Vol. III.) combs, and substitute others with- certain measure, changed their out the bees exhibiting too formid- natural condition, and this circum- able symptoms of displeasure. stance possibly might have af!ected You will remember, Sir, that on their instinct.^ visiting my retreat, I showed you Therefore to obviate every ob- a hive of this kind that had been jection, I invented a kind of hive, a long time in experiment and how which, without losing the advan- much you were surprised that the thin. tages of those very at the same bees so quietly allowed us to open it. time approached the figure of com- In these hives I have repeated mon hives where bees form several all my observations, and obtained rows of combs. exactly the same results as in the I procured several small fir frames, thinnest. Thus I think already to a foot square, and an inch and a have obviated any objections that quarter broad ; and connecting may arise concerning the supi)osed them together by hinges, the whole, inconvenience of flat hives. like so many divisions, could be Besides, I cannot regret the rep- opened and shut as the leaves of a etition of my labors ; by going book. AVhen using a hive of this de- over the same course several times, scription, we previously fixed a I am much more certain of having comb in each frame and then in- avoided error ; and it also appears, troduced all the bees which were that some advantages are found in required for the particular experi- these which may be called hook or ment. leaf-hives as they prove extremely Opening the different divisions useful in the economical treatment in succession we daily inspected of bees which shall be afterwards both surfaces of every comb ; there detailed. was not a single cell, where we Having now come to the partic- could not see distinctly whatever ular object of this letter, the passed at all times, nor a single fecundation of the queen bee, I bee, I may almost say, with which shall, in a few words, examine the we were not particularly acquaint- different opinions of naturalists

5 A single comb of very large dimensions, next, I shall state the most remark- attached under the boughs of a tree, is said to able observations which their con- be constructed by a species of bees iu India.— jectures have induced me to make, THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 95 and then describe the new experi- it would have been confuted had ments by which I think I have she produced no eggs, or only solved the problem. sterile ones. However, the ex- Swammerdam, who studied bees periment has been made by us, with unremitting attention, and and the female remained barren ; who could never see the real union therefore it is undoubted, that the of a drone and a queen, was satis- emanation of the odor of the fied of its being unnecessary for males does not impregnate queens. fecundation of the eggs ; but hav- M. de Reaumur was of a differing remarked that at certain times, ent opinion. He thought that the drones exhaled a very strong the queen's fecundation followed odor, he thought it an emanation actual union. Having confined which operated fecundation by pen- several drones in a glass vessel etrating the body of the female. along with a virgin queen, he saw His conjecture was confirmed on the females make many advances dissecting the male sexual organs, to the males ; but unable to observe for he was so much struck with the anything so intimate that it could disproportion between them and be denominated their union, he those of the female that he did not leaves the question undecided. believe their union possible. We have repeated this experi-

Besides, his opinion concerning ment also : we have frequently the influence of the odor was plaus- confined virgin queens with drones

ible, from affording a good reason of all ages ; we have done so at for the prodigious number of males. every season, and witnessed all There are frequently fifteen hun- their advances and solicitations '

dred, or two thousand in a hive, towards the males ; we have even and according to Swammerdam, it believed that we saw a kind of un- is necessary' they should be numer- ion between them, but so short and ous that the emanation proceeding imperfect that it was unlikely to from them may have an intensity eflect impregnation. Yet to neg- or energ}' sufficient to effect im- lect nothing, we confined to her pregnation. hive a virgin queen that had suf- Though M. de Reaumur has fered the approach of the male. refuted this hypothesis by just and During a month that her impris- conclusive reasoning he has failed onment continued, she did not lay to make the sole experiment that a single egg, therefore these mo- could support or overturn it, which mentary functions do not accom- was confining all the drones of a plish fecundation. hive in a tin case, perforated with In the " Contemplation de la minute apertures that might allow Nature," you have cited the ob- the emanation of the odor to es- servations of the English natural- cape, but prevent transmission of ist, Mr. Debraw, which, from their their organs. The case should apparent accurac}', seemed at last have been then placed in a hive to elucidate the mystery. Favored

well peopled, but completely de- b)'^ chance, an observer, one day, prived of males, both of large and perceived at the bottom of cells small size and the consequences containing eggs, a matter appar- observed. ently prolific, at least very differ- It is evident, had the queen laid ent from the substance or jelly eggs after matters were thus dis- which bees commonly collect posed, that Swammerdam's hy- around their newly hatched worms. pothesis would have acquired

probability ; and on the contrary \_To he continued.'] 96 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

EXCHANGES. even during the forenoon when the bees are most busy, it is by no (Continued from p. 39, Vol. III.) means certain that they will fore- Apiculture and Agriculture, stall the stock in visiting any par- BY T. J. M.— Let us next con- ticular flower. If a field were so sider what proportion of those few overstocked that every head of pounds of honey could have found clover should be devoured as soon its wa}^ into the stomachs of the as it blossomed, then, of course, grazing stock if it had not been there would be nothing left for the for the bees. It is known that bees ; but if, on the other hand, as during the whole time the clover is generally the case, there are al- or other plants remain in blossom, waj's blossoms left standing in the if the weather be favorable, there pasture, some of them even till is a daily secretion of fresh honey, they wither and shed their seeds, which, if not taken at the proper then it must often happen that af- time by bees or other insects, is ter bees shall have visited such evaporated during the mid-day blossoms ten or even twenty times, heat of the sun. It has been cal- and thus collected one or even two culated that a head of clover con- grains of honey from one head, the sists of 50 or 60 separate flowers, grazing animal may, after all, eat each of which contains a quantity' that particular plant and enjoy bis not exceeding l-500th part of a one-tenth of a grain of honey just grain in weight, so that the whole as well as if there had never been head may be taken to contain one- any bees in the field. If all these tenth of a grain of hone}^ at any chances be taken into account, it one time. If this head of clover will be evident that out of the four is allowed to stand until the seeds or five pounds of honey assumed are ripened it may be visited on to be collected by bees from one ten, or even tvvent}' different da3-s acre of pasturage, probably not by bees, and they may gather on one-tenth, and possibl}' not even the wliole, one, or even two grains one-twentieth, part could, under of honey from the same head, any circumstances, have been con- whereas it is plain that the graz- sumed by the grazing animals— so ing animal can only eat the head that it becomes a question of a feio once, and consequently can only ounces of fattening matter, more or eat one-tenth of a grain of honey less, for all the stock fed upon an

w'ith it. Whether he gets that one- acre during the whole season ; a tenth grain or not depends simply matter so ridiculously trivial in on the fact, whether or not, the itself, and so out of all proportion bees have exhausted that particular to the services rendered to the head on the same day just before it pasture by the bees, that it may teas eaten. Now, cattle and sheep safel}^ be left out of consideration graze during the night and early altogether. morning, long before the bees There is still one point which make their appearance some time may possibly be raised by the ag-

after sunrise ; all the flowering riculturist or land-owner : "If the plants they happen to eat during working of bees is so beneficial to that time will contain the honey my crops, and if such a large quan- secreted in the evening and night tity of valuable matter may be taken, in addition to the ordinary time ; during some hours of the afternoon the flowers will contain crops, without impoverishing my no honey, whether they may have land, why should I not take it in-

been visited b}' bees or not ; and stead of another person who has The American Apiculturist.

§. Jfournal bfbohb to Scientific anb practical gfelucpiiig. EXTERED AT THE POST-OFFICE, SALEM, AS SECOXD-CLASS MATTER.

Fublished Monthly. S. M. LoCKE, Publisher & Prop'r.

VOL. III. WENHAM, MASS., MAY i, i^ No.

b}^ right, no interest in my crop or glad to see it done by any other n\v land ?" The answer to this is person. obvious. It is, of course, quite The position which is here sought open to the agriculturist to keep to be maintained, namely, that the any number of bees he may think extension of apiculture cannot pos-

fit ; only he must consider well in sibly be injurious, but must, on the how far it will pay him to add the contrary, be highly advantageous care of an apiary to his other duties. to agricultural interests, is deserv- No doubt, everyone farming land ing of the earnest consideration, may, with advantage, keep a few not only of those more directly colonies of bees to supply his own interested in the question, but of

wants in honey ; the care of them the public generally, because, if will not take up too much of his taken as established, it disposes time, or interfere much with his of the only diflaculty that has ever

other labors ; but if he starts a been raised in the way of an in- large apiary with the expectation dustry which is one of no trifling that it shall pay for itself, he must importance to any country, and either give up the greater portion which manifestly has had so much of his own time to it, or employ to recommend it in other respects. skilled labor for that special pur- Its importance in an economic

pose ; and he must recollect that point of view must be admitted the profits of beekeeping are not when we see what is being done for generally so large as to afford more its development in other countries. than a fair remuneration for the In the United States, for instance, capital, skill, and time required to in no part of which are the natural be devoted to the pursuit. In any climatic advantages more favora- case, he cannot confine the bees to ble, and in few parts so favorable work exclusively on his own prop- to the industry as here in New erty, unless the latter is very ex- Zealand, the production of honey tensive. When such is the case, is already considerably over 30,000 he may find it greatly to his ad- tons, representing a value of nearly vantage to establish one or more a million and a half sterling per apiaries to be worked under proper annum, and is increasing rapidly management, as a separate branch every year. In these islands, even

of his undertaking ; but in every in the present infant state of their case, Avhether he may incur or share population and land cultivation, the risks of profit and loss in work- there is nothing to prevent a pro- ing an apiary or not, the thiug it- duction of two to three thousand self can only be a source of unmixed tons, worth some hundred to hun- advantage to his agricultural oper- dred and fifty thousand pounds per ations, and consequently, if he annum, being attained as soon as does not occupy the ground in that the work is taken in hand by a way himself, he should only be sufficient number of qualified per-

(97) 98 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. sons, and being increased from time the serviceable handmaid of year to j^ear in proportion to the both agriculture and horticulture. increase of population and cultiva- Bay View Apiary, Katikati. tion, until it reaches, in course of time, at least ten times that amount, or something like the present production in the whole of the United States. This addition to the national wealth is made in the most unobjectionable form, the production of a healthful and agreeable CORRESPONDENCE. article of consumption, derived from inexhaustible and constantly new york and florida. renewing natural sources, and col- Dear Sir : lected through the instrumentality of an insect endowed with such In man}^ sections of New York wonderful instinct for the purpose. state the honey flow ceased during As an occupation beekeeping is the month of August, which neces- highly conductive to a healthy saril}^ stopped brood-rearing which, condition, both of mind and body together with the extreme cold (the so much desired mens sana in winter which has just passed, will corpore sano) of those engaged in prove very disastrous. it ; and as an industry it does not The bees in two of the yards in look for any Government aid in New York state had access to theshape of subsidies, bonuses, or buckwheat bloom during the fall protective duties. In making this which continued brood-rearing last remark tliere is no intention to quite late in the season and to such cast any slight upon other branches we look for only partially success- of industry which may, admittedly ful wintering. with advantage, be fostered by The bees from the south gathered after the Government help ; but the fact that but little month of Au- apiculture is independent of any gust and no brood was the result. such assistance is undoubtedly an The bees, when liberated, dwindled additional argument in its favor. very rapidly and continued to do so Private enterprise has been found during the months of January aud sufficient to do all that was pro- February which were unusually posed, at the time of the Colonial cold and damp for the climate, al- Industrial Commission of 1880, to though brooding was kept up all be done at Government expense winter in two or three combs. (and much more beside) in the way About the first of March the of introducing new races of bees weather changed making it more and doing all that is necessary to favorable for the working of the establish the industry on a proper bees on the orange bloom, aud tak- basis. All this being the case, it ing a start at this time the bees is only right that apiculture should have been booming ever since. not be allowed to suffer in public I spoke of observing the orange estimation in consequence of mis- bloom for hone}- and our observa- taken views, or groundless preju- tions have led us to believe it a dices, but that, on the contrary, it very highly developed flower, hav- should be viewed, in the liglit of ing rudimentary sepals, five pure truth, as an important and most white petals, long upright stamens desirable industry, and at the same which are sectionally united at the THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 99 base and assume a perpendicular so little notice of beekeeping and position whicli bring the pollen- its resources for pasture has been bearing stamens clustering directly taken that one can only learn by around the sensitive pistil. The personal observation in this vi- bee, in getting at the honey stored cinity. at the base, pushes its head in the The cabbage palmetto, they tell hollow tube formed by the upright me, is the linden of the south, but stamens which brings portions of I cannot find the date of blooming. its body against both stamens and As yet it has made no advances in pistil and cross fertilization is the that direction. result. Have taken some samples of fine There is no family that is more white honey gathered in October of sure or successful in securing set- last season ; the flavor is somewhat ting of its fruit than the citron like our linden, but do not know family depending entirely upon the the bloom that produced it. As bees for cross fertilization. my home yard was somewhat re- The bloom has' lasted eight weeks duced in strength and being anx- which is something unusual. Our ious to test the early spring thor- cold weather prolonged it several oughly I secured some colonies a weeks and "the bloom" will con- short distance away and have had tinue two weeks 3'et, which will the management of them since give us ten weeks of orange bloom March 20. This yard commenced for this season. The flow from working on foundation the first of this source some days is better March and by the middle had seven fill than on others ; the bees will combs of brood. ever}' available cell with honey of Have transferred this yard to a very light quality and the next shipping cases and divided them day not quite as good. I don't once and think I shall be able to di- think it quite equal to our northern vide again by the first of May. Our linden. time is so much taken up in pre- Tf the theory of the fragrance in paring to return north that we can- flowers is true in regard to evapor- not investigate as we would like in ation of honey which is the fra- swamps and lagoons for honey pro- grance in the air, there are tons of ducing plants which one should it floating away here. The saw know to work with confidence. palmettoes are reviving somewhat C. J. Ferris. and indicate a more successful bloom since the weather has mod- erated. This plant is very prominent in NOTES FROM NEW ZEALAND. Florida vegetation covering, as it Ed. Am. Apiculturist : does, two-thirds of all the land in the state and the blossom when The honey season is now about out is very rich with honey. on its last legs and reports are Wild grapes of some variety ex- coming in from the country of the ist abundantly in swamps and la- season's work. Generally speaking goons, which will be in bloom the the results are favorable and the last of the present month and we yield of honey will be fairly good. all know its value as a honey pro- In some places the crop was nearly ducer. all taken in the month of January. The botanical names of many In the South Island I hear of unsat- swamp vines which are good honey isfactory returns from some locali- producers are unknown here, and ties : no surplus and loss of bees to ,

100 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

a large extent, but from what cause beekeeping industry in this part I have not been able to ascertain. of the world. He is anxious to I think there is very little doubt secure the fertilization of the red that there is, at this moment, more clover, as up to the present this honey in New Zealand than there has not been eff'ected to any extent has ever been before. in N. Z. All red clover seed used I mentioned in ni}' last the difR- here has to be imported in conse- culty the N. Z. Beekeepers' Associ- quence. Tlie matter is really im- ation had experienced regarding the portant and worth accomplishing if prices of honey. Tlie retail dealers it should cost a good sum of money resented any attempt to regulate and trouble. prices, and refused to buy. The New Zealand Correspondent. committee of the Association then engaged hawkers and sent the honey to the people's doors, as an experiment, and it has succeeded HARD VriNTER ON BEES. very well. A good quantity has been disposed of at fair rates and Dear Sir : the hawkers have made good wages. The present is the hardest win- Comb honey in 1-lb. sections has ter on bees, of which I have any found the readiest sale in this way. recollection . The winter of 1 880-1 The first annual meeting of the notorious as a cold winter in the N. Z. B. A. takes place at southern states, commenced early Auckland on the 20th inst. and the and gave us steady cold weather first item on the programme for during December and January, discussion is marketing honey, and began to break up in February. including the regulation of prices. But this season we have the hard- The object which should be aimed est part of the winter in February, at is to bring the amount paid by and for this reason our bees are the consumer and tliat received by suffering severely. the producer closer together. I It is true m^' bees have had as do not know how it is in your coun- many flights in the open air as is try but here the middle-men get necessary for their health, but the the best of the business. I sold a sudden changes of weather have case of comb hone}' in sections to wrought severe mischief with un- a retailer at ten pence a pound and protected colonies. The consump- he sold it for fifteen pence. Cases tion of stores has been very great, are frequent where extracted honey and the weather is too cold to look was sold by the producer at four after their wants. This morning, pence and afterward retailed at Feb. 19, the mercury went down eight pence to a shilling. This is to zero for a few hours, and day too big a margin, hence the hawking after day old hoary winter clasps expedient. the " sunny south" in his icy era- Efforts are still being made to brace. If there is not a change introduce the humble bee into N.Z. soon I am sure that starvation will Twelve boxes containing queens reduce the number of my colonies recently arrived from England, but very materially. all were dead. Another lot is ex- My bees had stores enough to pected in a few days which, it is carry them through an ordinary hoped, will turn out better. Mr. J. winter, but this is not an ordinary C. Firth, the gentleman who is pay- winter by considerable. Feed them, ing the cost of these experiments, you say ? Yes, that is good advice ; has done YQiy much to assist the but how am I to go through one THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 101

hundred colonies this cold weather a swarm is expected. In case a to find out the starving ones ? They swarm issues and you wish to put will be fixed up all right when the the bees in a new hive, wait until

weather moderates ; that is, those they begin to cluster upon some that do not succumb to starvation object, then take the trap and place before the change comes. it near them. It can be held in place by being fastened with a G. W. Demaree. strong string and attached to the Christiansburg, Ky. limb of the tree. When the bees are quiet, hive them in the usual THE DRONE TRAP AND HOW way, releasing the queen as the bees pass in. In case the TO USE IT. bees miss the queen and return to Dear Sir : the hive without clustering, ]>roceed

In compliance with j'our request, as follows : Remove the parent I have prepared the following de- stock back, or to one side and put scription of my method of using the new hive on the stand in place

the "Drone Trap" of which the ac- of it ; as the bees run in, release the companying cut is a good represent- queen by drawing the slide back. ation. The "trap" has many uses, In case the bees get confused and and I find it indispensable in my attempt to enter the wrong hive own apiaries. (which I think will hardly ever occur), remove the trap and there will be no trouble. When a swarm has issued, examine the trap to find the queen. If she is in it, place the trap as near the bees as possible while they are flying, when they will settle upon it and may be hived at pleasure. The trap need not be removed from a hive that has cast The accompanying cut repre- a swarm, as the queen before she sents the drone trap, and shows has become fertile can pass through the perforated metal entrance, the it. B3' this you will see that your tin slide, the perforated metal at queens can be mated by the drones the top, through which the workers, of any particular strain in the that enter the trap, pass out, and apiary. also the cone through which the To those who rear queens the

drones or queens pass into the trapisindispensable. For instance : trap. The front of the trap, as suppose one has 100 colonies of will be noticed, is covered with black bees in his apiary and 10 wire cloth. colonies of pure Italians. Now if In using the trap place the open several of the Italian colonies have side towards the entrance of the cast swarms, each one of which

hive ; the tin slide which forms has left a fine lot of cells which the top need not be opened except one wishes to save in order to use when a queen is to be released, or the queens that come from them drones are to be removed. Arrange to replace some inferior ones in the entrance so that all the bees the impure colonies, this can be must pass through the zinc. easily and quickly accomplished

The trap should be placed at by the following method : remove the entrance several days before the queens from the colonies and —

102 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. at the same time insert the cells most primitive character while now when matured. by the use of the movable frame Put a trap at the entrance of all hive, honey extractor, comb foun- hives excepting those having pure dation and other modern inven- Italian drones^ and every one of tions it has become less hazardous the young queens will be purely and the profit can be calculated fertilized, and the apiary rid of with as great certainty as any other thousands of useless drones. rur ,1 pursuit. He pointed out the Then again the trouble and ex- importance of bees as fertilizers of pense of nucleus hives will be fruit, clover, etc., and as a source saved. This is the easiest, sim- of wealth to the country. The in- plest and best way to Italianize an teresting discussion which followed apiary of black bees. was participated in by Rev. W. F. If your neighbors have black Clarke, J. Ramsay, Mr. Rennie colonies, arrange with them for and others. The questions of foul placing the traps on their hives, brood, hibernating, spring dwind- as there can be no possible objection ling, etc., were brought up, but the to so doing. talk was shut off to make room for other papers. The project of a Henry Alley. beekeepers' convention was moved and may be proceeded with. Wenliam. Mass. '•''Guelph Daily Mercury."

—The Norfolk beekeepers' convention was held at Lynville, Ont., Mar. 7. The attendance was some- CANADIAN DEPARTMENT. what meagre, but the discussion of form of hive, weight of foundation, and other important questions were R. H. HOLTERMANN, EDITOR. entered into. The next meeting will be at Waterford the first Sat- urday in June at 10 a. m. A full in of —Reports still coming bees day is expected and a profitable not properly cared for in the fall, time. starving and being deficient in stores. Others appear to be doing —Martin Emyh of Holbrook, well. Early in the month bees had Ont., attended the beekeepers' con- an excellent opportunity of having vention at New Orleans. We have a cleansingflight, to-day (April 17) not yet interviewed him. Wax is 10° thermometer is below zero. If sellingat39 cts. Extracted honey a severe winter is followed by a per cwt., 10 cts. per lb. Combs 18 good honey season our prospects cts., lb. sections wholesale. are excellent.

—Ontario Agricultural and Ex- perimental Union, Ont. Agricul- tural College, Guelph, Second Day, March 13, 1885. Union resumed NOTES AND QUERIES. at 9.30. Mr. R. F. Holterman gave a paper on the importance and — With our June number, we growth of beekeeping, showing shall cohimence to issue a circula- how only a few years ago the ap- tion of 5000 copies per month of pliances for beekeeping were of the our journal. This will make it a THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. 103

most valuable advertising medium be covered and kept warm, even and it will pay all those who have during cold nights. At night and goods for sale to correspond with during the cold portion of the day, us as we can offer first-class in- allow the bees only a small en- ducements. trance. It will pay to attend to this. Enlarge the entrance some- — Promptness in attending to what when it is warm so as not to business correspondence, is a val- bother the bees. uable feature, and while in the past we have been overworked, and — Our experience during the sometimes have been obliged even past winter only more fully con- almost to neglect a portion of our vinces us that bees winter best in private correspondence, yet as soon chaff-packed hives, and on summer as we get arrangements completed stands, and that colonies so win- this difficulty will be obviated. tered prove more hardy and endur- ing, than those wintered in the cel- — We have now enlarged and lar, and during such a spring as improved our little "Beekeeper's we are now having, there is less Companion ;" it also contains loss in bees with the former than a likeness of Mr. Henry Alley, with the latter. Where one has superintendent of our queen-rear- two apiaries some distance apart, ing department. Please send for it is well to use hives so constructed a few copies (sent free) and dis- as to take two colonies, the brood tribute them among your beekeep- nest being large enough to take ing friends. from fourteen to seventeen frames, and a thin division board should — We should be pleased at any be placed between the colonies. time to receive from our readers In this way, the two colonies form any bee hive, implement or fixture but one cluster instead of two, and designed for use in the apiary, the heat is economized. For var- which we will place in our museum, ious reasons, this will prove very and also bring to the notice of our beneficial. We have tested this readers any valuable features that very thoroughly and speak from it may contain. experience.

— Do not fail to send us any — After July 1, 1885, the weight questions that you may wish us to of a letter which now can be sent answer through our question and for two cents, will be increased answer department. from one half ounce to anything under one ounce. — We are having here in the north an unusually trying and — During the month of Febru- backward spring. Keep your col- ary, 1885, $27,000 worth of honey onies snug, well packed and warm, was imported into Great Britain. and do not on any account, spread any of the combs so long as there — A short time since we re- is any danger of these sudden ceived from the Stanley Bros., of changes in temperature. Bees will Wyoming, N. Y., one of their new care for more brood, and increase four comb honey extractors, and more rapidly if the size of the so far as we have been able to test brood nest is adapted to the size it, we can truthfully say that it of the colony, so all the brood can works like a charm, and if when —

104 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. submitted during tlie honey —Dr.C. Spencer has been prying to severer tests, it prove equally- into the business secrets of the bee, satisfactory, it will surpass all and thus tells of what he has others in value. learned : "In ni}-^ observatory hive one cell was built against the glass, — For some time past, Mr. J. and that afforded an excellent op- E. Pond of Foxboro, Mass., has portunity of seeing how bees been rather unwell, and we regret deposit honey in the cell. First, to learn that he is now confined to a bee deposited a thin coating of his bed by rheumatism and heart honey upon the base of the cell, disease. making a sort of varnish, as it were, Still later. "We are pleased to to the base of the cell. The next learn that Mr. Pond is improving bee that came with honey raised up and is able to be about. the lower edge of this film of honey

and forced its hone}^ beneath ; the —We would acknowledge the re- next bee did the same, and this film ceipt from Mr. A. E. Bonney, acted as a kind of diaphragm, keep- Adelaide, South Australia, of the ing honey in the cell. When the fifteenth annual report of the com- cell is full enough to be sealed, the mittee of the South Australian bees commence contracting the Chamber of Manufactures, from opening with wax until there is which we have taken the report on only a small hole left in the cen- bee farming, that appears on an- tre, when they appear to take one other page, together with the report little flake of wax and pat it down of the committee on the same sub- over the opening. At any time ject, and also the following interest- during the process of filling the ing note from the address of the cell the honey could be withilrawn chief secretary. with a hypodermic syringe, and the "I am very pleased to find that a 'diaphragm' left hanging in the considerable amount of attention is cell." Transcriin. being paid to the industry of bee- farming, and I hope that the enter- —It may be interesting to bee prise will be a successful one. I masters at this season of apiarian believe that this is a fine country activity to know that M. Jonas de for bees, and that the insects thrive Gelieu, a pastor at Neufchatel, well here. There is a large quanti- Switzerland, in a work translated ty of honey to be gathered in the into English long ago under the colony, and v^hen we have an in- title of "The Bee Preserver, or dustry of this kind it is very Practical Directions for Preserving desirable that we should encourage and Renewing Hives," affirms "that it." when two or three distinct hives are united in autumn they are found —A London publication has a to consume together scarcel}'^ more paper on "The Emotional Language honey during the winter than each of Bees." We had always supposed of them would have consumed the language of bees to be very singly if left separate." In i)roof humdrum, though we were aware of this singular result the author that there was generally a good deal sets fortli a variety of experiments, of emotion when they began to all of which led uniformly to the gesticulate. same conclusion. He shows posi-

[Yes : and their remarks are gen- tively that of upward of thirty erally pointed and bear consider- hives six had their population thus able weight. Ed.] doubled, and consumed no more THE AMERICAN APICULTUBIST. 105 provisions during winter than a the third remaining in my own single liive, and tliat, so far from apiary. Pure Italian queens were the bees suffering anj^ diminution, given to Mr. Justice Boucaut, the doubled hives generally sent Messrs. J. Robertson and W. Ste- forth the earliest and best swarms. vens, who successfully intioduced The translator of M. Gelieu's work them to colonies of black bees. states that he practised in Scotland In order to keep the Italians pure most of the plans recommended on Kangaroo Island all the black in the original publication with bees have been removed. the same etfect. Many persons have entered en- thusiastically into scientific beekeeping, and the nuclei of what are intended to be extensive apiaries are already established. At present the largest venture of the kind INTERESTING NOTES. is at Kent Town, where upwards of one hundred hives are in use, and We clip the following from the it is expected to more than double Fifteenth Annual Report of the that number during next summer. Committee of the South Australian This apiar}!- is under the care of Chamber of Manufactures, Ade- Mr. Filbig, who is a recent arrival laide, Australia. from Europe and a very able bee- Mr. A. E. Bonne}^ under date master. He has adopted the Ger- of July 17, 1884, writes to the man hive and Italian bees with secretary of the Cliamber of Man- satisfactory results. ufactures: — I am pleased to say I think I am correct in saying that during the past season a great that, while the majority of persons impetus has been given to beeiieep- using ordinary box hives complain ing in this colony ; the movable of the bad honey season last sum- comb hive and improved systems mer, and the consequent loss of of management are rapidly super- bees, those who have adopted the seding the old boxes. There is no movable comb hive are jubilant at doubt that much of this improve- the large amount of surplus honey ment is due to the Chamber taking they secured. In my own neigh- up the subject ; the meeting held borhood there has been an uninter- on the 8th February last in con- rupted flow of honey from the end nection with this industry appears of February until the iwesent time, to have at once created a large de- and after this, my third season's mand for modern hives and appli- experience in practical beekeeping, ances. Also, the recently formed I am more than ever convinced of Beekeepers' Association should do the magnificent honey resources much for the advancement of api- of South Australia. The extreme culture in South Aust)-alia, and it drj'ness of our climate appears to is expected that the movement will cause the flowers to secrete a thick be well supported. rich honey which for flavor can The Italian bees imported by the hardly be surpassed in any part Chamber from Queensland have of the world. done well since they were intrust- The valuable report on the ''Bee ed to my care last December. The Farming Industry," by Mr. A. E. original colony was divided into Bonney, which was presented the

three : two of these in Langstroth previous year, attracted a large a- hives were sent to Messrs. Buick mount of attention, and during the and Turner, of Kangaroo Island, past twelve months satisfactory 10 106 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. progress has been made towards teresting charges have been received placing this important rural indus- to the gratification of the Commit- try on a more satisfactory basis. tee. Although the queen-rearing A well-attended meeting was held was not quite so successful as Mr. in the hall of the Chamber, when Bonney could have desired, the a paper on "Modern Beekeeping," Committee believes that substan- by Mr. Bonney, was read, and tial progress has been made in the new frame hives and other advancing the industry. The beekeeping apparatus were ex- Chamber has also been glad to as- plained by Messrs. Bonney, TVeid- sist in the initiation of aBeekeepers' enhofer, and Robertson, to the Association, which has been organ- evident interest of the public. The ized with a view to secure an Chamber has also become a sub- interchange of experience and scriber to the English, American, opinions of apiarists on matters and Australasian bee journals, so of mutual interest. that the best current information relating to beekeeping is now ac- cessible to the public at the office of the Chamber. It will no doubt be remembered that at our last annual meeting the Hon. R . D. Ross, REPORT OF THE NORTH- M.P., drew attention to the importance of introducing the Ligurian EASTERN BEEKEEPERS' bee, which is not only valuable as ASSOCIATION. a honey producer but also for

fructifying clover and other deep- (Continued from p. 71, Vol. III.)

tubed flowers ; and an opportunity offering to obtain a colony of Lig- KEARIXG QUEENS. urian bees from Queensland, the In the absence of Mr. Alley, who Chamber willingly availed itself of was to deliver au address on "Rearing it. Money was accordingly voted Queens," Capt. Hetheriugtou was stated that for the purpose, and the colony ar- called upon. Mr. H. he had tried the experiment of introduc- rived safe and was placed in the ing j'oung and fertile queens to a colony care of Mr. Bonney, who has from in summer, in order to prevent swarm- month to month reported satisfac- ing, but it had utterly failed. He had tory progress. An attempt has also experimented with introducing queens in cells, protected by a film been made,^y the withdrawal of of foundation, which was wrapped the black bees from Kangaroo Isl- ai'ound them, and during the first sea- and, and the placing of twocolonies son, had succeeded in introducing two of pure Ligurians there, to thor- or three hundred successfully; but on oughly establish these in that further testing failures resulted. He did not wish to recommend any- which it is locality, from hoped thing new that had not been tested supplies may in future be drawn. more than one season. Usually the Two colonies have been placed, one man with the least experience was the in these conventions, in the care of Mt. Buick, of Amer- most positive one or as a writer for the periodicals. ican River, and the other in care Messrs. Locke, Dickinson, Goodspeed Mr. Turner, of Smith's Bay of ; and others, then discussed the subject

and other Ligurian queens, raised resulting as follows : from the original importation, have To rear good queens, first select populous colonies in the spring, been distributed to Mr. Justice strong and take the best of care of colonies Stevens, Boucaut, Mr. W. and Mr. from which, both the brood for cells J. Robertson, from whom satisfac- and also the drones are to be taken. tory reports respecting their in- The drone mothers should be select- :

THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 107

ed with as much care as the queen them ; but are culls sent out, without mothers, and the drones exert fully as any test. No queen breeder can testa great an influence on the progeny, as queen properly, unless she has been do the queen mothers. Brood from kept at least one season. which the queens are to be reared, Dollar queens, so called, were just should be given to the bees when just as good as higher priced queens, sold three days old, from the laying of the by the same parties; and were more egg. Bees that have been kept queen- profitable to the general beekeeper less, and confined without brood for than higher priced ones. One must almost twelve hours, rear the best however deal only with those who are queens. Then cells should be cut out known to be honest and careful breed- when the queens that are in them are ers. just twelve days old, and are moving Queens should produce progeny, with about in the cells. After cutting them three-banded workers. The color of out, remove them to queen nursery, qneens was brighter when bred in- and hang them in the brood chamber warmer climates. Queens should be of a colony that is queenless. reared in full colonies. Mr. Betsinger To separate two cells so built that stated that a queen that would dupli- they cannot be cut apart without injury cate herself would always produce- to them, take a warm knife and cut thi'ee-banded workers. A queen that through the wax between the cells would not produce a three-banded^ •on each side down to the cocoons. worker was a hybrid. And then taking the cells between The workers in almost every instance the thumb and forefinger of each take after the mother. Mr. Betsinger's hand, gently roll them and the co- statements citUed forth quite a dis- coons will separate when a piece of cussion regarding the purity of queens. foundation can be pasted over the un- covered portion, so as to protect the BEST ARRANGEMENT FOR COMB-HONEY. cocoons. This will save cutting into parties the cells. Several had brought with When queens are about to emerge them, for exhibition, various arrange- from the cells, they gnaw a small aper- ments for securing comb honey ; and ture, and then reach their tongue out these were described and commented, through this aperture, when the attend- upon. ant bees feed them. This seems to strengthen the queens and better fit THURSDAY MORNING. them for the labor of cutting off the After opening the convention, Pres. cap of the cell. In view of this, it is Root announced the following standing well when putting the queen cells into committees : the nursery (not lamp nursery) to put Besolutions, C. G. Dickinson, Arthur in the layers, four or five attendant Todd, and J. Van Deusen. bees providing food for them. Exhibits, Ira Barber, I. L. Schofield An article from the Sun was read, and Geo. H. Knickerbocker. wherein it was stated, that the queens Question Draiver, N. N. Betsinger, of a certain beekeeper had laid ferti- A. J. King and Geo. W. House. lized eggs, without having left the hives to meet the drone, the drone being introduced into the royal larvae INTRODUCING QUEENS. jelly just after the queen cell was sealed. Mr. Goodspeed had tested S. M. Locke then read the following this, but was not sure of the results. paper on the theme of Introducing He however protested against tamper- Queens." ing with the cells. The introduction of queens is, with me, a difliculty of the past, as I have DOLLAR QUEENS—THEIR EFFECT OX THE long since become so familiar with STOCK OF THE COUNTRY. their habits, and also the habits of the bees, that I no longer experience any Messrs. King, Goodspeed, Betsin- troui)le. We introduce thousands of ger, Dickinson, Koot and others, dis- virgin queens every year, with no loss cussed this subject, resulting as when care is used, and but very few follows even when done hurriedly. I have had The cheap queen business is detri- a number of virgin queens caged in one mental, and has done an immense hive, and have liberated one at a time. amount of harm. Oftentimes they The first would usually mate the first are not ever worth the price paid for or second day, and as soon as mated I 108 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. would cage her again, and liberate an- be well to feed the bees, placing the other, and so on. By this means, you feeder on the top of the frames. could, in a few days, have five or six While virgin queens just hatched virgin queens all in one hive mated, and will almost always be readily accepted ready to be disposed of as circum- by a queenless colony (one that has stances required. Either nuclei or been queenless for two days, or more) full colonies can be used; or if there is yet it is very difficult to introduce one a short season when you do not care to that is five days old to the same colony. have your old queens lay, cage some of The proper and careful use of tobacco your virgins in the hive, and before smoke in introducing virgin queens liberating them, cage the old one, pro- was strongly advocated, as the best ceeding as above, thus securing many and safest means, whereby it could be fine queens, either for sale or supersed- accomplished ; although some of the ing purposes. A queen should not be most prominent members opposed it allowed to remain in a colony, till such for various reasons. For introducing time as she is so old and feeble as to laying queens, the majority seemed to require crutches to get around. Bather favor the "Betsinger cage." To intro- than allow that I would prefer to have duce with this cage, remove the old tAVO queens laying in one hive at once. queen, and then place the new queen Young queens just hatched, or hatch- on a comb containing hatching brood. ing, may be introduced at once into After which place the cage (a cage any colony, or any queen may be informed of wire-cloth, in the shape of troduced at once, by my chloroform the tin cover to an oblong box, say system, which has been fully explained 3X4 inches, with sides I of an inch before. Caged queens should be in- deep) over the queen, passing the sides troduced with care and judgment, and down into the comb until they reach an expert can tell just when a queen the septum or foundation. Then cut will be accepted, and can introduce an ^ inch cage from the opposite side, one successfully, while the novice is using for this purpose the small blade liable to have her destroyed, as he is of a penknife, or other small knife, liable to liberate her if the bees are leaving the plug which is formed, hang- balling the cage as if they were feeding loosely in the opening, so that it ing her, not knowing the diflerence. can be easily removed by the bees. A queen's actions has much more to do The beauty of this method is, that the with her acceptance, or destruction, bees on finding that their queen is gone, than has her peculiar scent. I can will immediately commence to release introduce any strange queen success- the new queen, and after gnawing an fully, totally disregarding her scent, if opening around the plug, one bee will I can only get her to behave herself as find his way into the cage and is fol- she should. Why will bees accept a lowed by others, who at once present young, freshly hatched queen, having a their antennae and tongue, feeding the different scent? Because it has no fear, queen, and showing their pleasure at and acts accordingly. Instead of try- being able to release her. Soon finding to invent new ways of introducing ing herself at liberty, she will quietly matured queens, learn to make them leave the cage, and enter upon her act like young ones, and the difficulty duties as mother bee. Those who ad- is over. vocated this method gave the most con- The subject was then discussed by vincing evidence of success. Messrs. King, Locke, Salisbury, Todd and others, resulting in the following : MARKETING PRODUCTS. To introduce queens, both laying and virgin, calls for a knowledge of the This subject was thoroughly dis- nature of the insects, and great care cussed, Messrs. King, Pierce, Bacon, in performing the operation. Bees will Todd, Root, Locke and others, tak- accept a queen much more readily, if ing part. introduced immediately after the old Unity of action, and the establishing queen has been removed, and before of proper relations between the pro- the bees recognize their loss. ducer and consumer, whereby a de- Queens, and especially virgin queens, mand may be created, and prices made can be more successfully introduced staple, were strongly advocated. when the bees are gathering honey, INIr. King referred to the British than in a time of dearth. If one is honey organization for example. The obliged to introduce queens when the condition of the honey market was bees are gathering no honey, it would considered, and it was shown that THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 109

California had been fortunate in secur- COMB FOUXDATIOX. large crop tins sea- ing an unusually Capt. Hetherington heartily endorsed put on the market at son, which was the use of comb foundation in brood the time with our own and at same nest and in the boxes, in the latter not This together with the low prices. more than eleven feet to the pound. Mr. general hard times has brought about Doolittle had found that if the bees a glutted honey market. It was gen- were filled with wax secretion, they that the beekeepers erally conceded used that instead of the foundation. themselves must work unitedly, in That made by Mr. Van Deusen, the making up a demand for their own flat septum, must be overhauled by honey ,'"disposing of as much of it as the bees before they could use it. Save in home markets. To do possible, the wax that the bees will inevitably it suggested that bee and this, was secrete, and you will not need the exhibits be held in connection honey comb foundation. If you give them every means with our county fair, and both, they must waste one or the the people as regards used to educate other. together the value and uses of honey, After some further discussion the with the methods by which it is pro- matter was dropped. duced. Mr. Locke read a communication at length on the Mr. King spoke from Messrs. Thurber & Co. of New question of its resources as a Cuba, York City, asking the association to country, and stated honey-producing sign a protest against the proposed flue, the that while the honey was and ''Spanish Treaty." yet the people there flora abundant, This subject called forth consider- slow in adopting new ideas, were so able discussion in which Capt. Heth- feared that competition need not be erington, Messrs. Locke, King, Todd, at present. Dickinson and others, took part; the re- Some of the members, however, majority favoring the signing of the into Cuba of ferred to the introduction protest. all the modern appliances, and sending A motion was made by Mr. Dickinson together there of experienced apiarists that the protest be commended by the the endeavors that were being- with association, and the Secretary be in- to foster and advance beekeep- made stalled to affix the names of all the also stated by ing there. It was many members of the association. that in their experi- of the members, After discussing the matter for some unprofitable to send ence it had proven time, without arriving at any definite markets, and honey to the commission conclusion, the meeting was adjourned that they would have received far bet- to meet in the afternoon. ter prices, sold it at home. had they Convention called to order at 2 p.m.. packages, labels, etc., had Neat President Root in the chair. After much to do with the sale of honey. considerable discussion regarding an objectionable clause, the following resolutions were adopted. WHAT CAX BE DONE TO IXCREASE THE DE.MAND FOR EXTRACTED HOXEY. To The Honorable, the Senate of the United States — Whereas, A large- Messrs. Ross, Pierce, Van Deusen, number of persons have been encour- Locke, King, Benedict, Todd, Betsin- aged to engage in the bee business by ger and others, discussed this subject, the present duty of two cents per pound and the general opinion concurred or twenty cents per gallon on imported with those relating to the sale of comb honey ; and, honey. Work up a home trade first, Whereas, By the introduction, into next woi-k your honey into the hands the island of Cuba, of the improved of those who use sweets in candies, appliances and methods of modern bee- medicines, cakes, canned fruit, etc., keeping, said island, which possesses and in fact wherever honey can be used the richest honey-producing flora in to advantage ; also have some neat the whole world, will shortly become pamphlets printed to give away with under the existing tariff a formidable the honey. Mr. Todd said, do not and successful rival of the United States put honey in tin cans, as the natural in the production of choice comb and acid will attack the tin as it does in extracted honey; and, tomatoes, which has already ruined Whereas, The confirmation of that the canning of the latter article. Use article in the so-called Spanish-Ameri- only glass. can Treaty which entirely removes all 110 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

duties on Cuban honey imported into interested in the production of honey, this country, will seriously cripple if is, How shall we create a more general not entirely destroy an industry still in demand for our products and establish its infancy (satherin,"- only about fifty a permanent and well regulated market million po'unds yearly) but which under for the same? the same fostering care extended to It may be well first to notice some other industries is destined to become of the causes which have brought a business of immense proportions. about the present condition of the Therefore. We, tlie beekeepers of market that we may be better able to the United States, petition our honor- work intelligently in placing it upon a able representatives in the U. S. Senate better basis. that the article admitting Cuban honey Twenty-flve years ago, box honey in free into this couutry be stricken out two to eight comb boxes, weighing of the Spanish-American Treaty. from five to ten lbs. each, would wholesale readily at from 30 to 40 cts. per Geo. W. House, lb. and retail in proportion. P. H. Elwood. With this advantage, had the minds of beekeepers generally been fixed upon the idea of establishing a reliable The following committee was ap- and permanent honey market, and had pointed to present the above resolu- they worked as faithfully to that end, tions to the beekeepers of the United as they have in the direction of pro- States, and also to the Senate and ducing a greater quantity of honey, House of Representatives, viz., Messrs. we should not have the unsettled Todd, L. C. Root, Vandervort, Betsin- market of to-day. ger, Locke and Elwood. Besides, if we had kept this matter The secretary was instructed to have fully in mind in all of its bearings, we printed copies of theabove resolutions, should have found that by producing and to send them to beekeepers, and less surplus honey in better shape, we interested parties throughout the Unit- should have experienced far less loss, ed States, and especially to those who particularly in wintering. had previously received another cir- There are many who have lost in cular issued by the association. bees during the winter much more than they have gained by their efibrts to produce a large amount of surplus. OFFICERS. ELKCTION OF I do not fail to recognize the grand progress which has been made during An informal ballot was taken for the past in the production of honey, president, which gave Mr. L. C Root and yet I repeat that far too little at- the majority—41 votes. Tliis was fol- tention has been given to fostering lowed by a formal ballot, which gave and encouraging a demand for honey Mr. L. C. Root 41 votes and elected which Avould sustain a permanent and him president. substantial market. Mr. L. C. Root was by acclimation have had by far too many pet unanimously made president. Secre- We hobbies and too much selfishness to be tary House was instructed, and did gratified. We have not worked with cast the vote of the association for enough unity and with enough willing- Chas. Dickinson as vice president. ness to make such sacrifice as would Mr. House stated tliat he should pos- result in the greatest good to the itively decline reelection as secretary, greatest number. as he had served in that capacity for a Our bee-literature has been seriously long time, and he thought tliere were at fault as an educator. Books have others who should share the burden. been written and journals have been A formal vote was then taken, which published from selfish motives. The resulted in the election of Mr. Frank tendency has been far too great in the I. C. Berick, as secretary. Mr. I. L. direction of urging everybody indis- Schofleld was elected treasurer. criminately to engage in beekeeping President Root then presented his without first qualifying themselves as annual address as follows : in any other pursuit. Beginners have been led to desire to THE HONEY MARKET. produce a large amount of honey, rather than to pursue well-considered The one great interest which comes and cautious methods which would before us most prominently, demanding secure a less quantity in better mark- the attention of all who are in any way etable form. THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. Ill

The motto has too frequently been no complaints of honey dripping from "cheaper, rather than better, prod- the boxes, souring in the comb, or pre- ucts," one individual even being inju- senting a watery appearance. dicious enough to assert that we can So long as we find honey offered for afford to produce liquid honey at five sale, partially sealed, produced without cents per pound. This savors too much separators, without being glassed, im- of the teachings of some whose names properly cured, and in leaky packages, are sometimes found uuder the head- we need not expect a substantial ing of "Humbugs and Swindles." market. i need not dwell more at length upon We must conform in some degree to the mistakes of the past. All who are the earlier methods. We must use informed know of them only too well. separators to secure straight combs, We have been too forcibly reminded be sure it is well sealed and firmly se- many times of the coufusion from cured to the boxes, have it well cured, which we must all suffer. nicely glassed, and cased in a neat and Now, in the direction of bringing substantial manner in a stancl^ird pack- about a needed reform, let me suggest age. that the one thing at which we should One of the oldest and most reliable aim in an unselfish, thoughtful and en- honey dealers in New York told me ergetic way is a hiciher standard of our recently that much confusion arose products. This, I believe, should be from the irregularity in sizes of cases. our motto. And our standard should The cases should never contain but one be high. We should not be satisfied tier of boxes. Those for two-comb with anything less than the best. We sections should hold twelve, and for should remember, that from the very one lb. sections, twenty boxes to the earliest history of the world honey has case. been considered a desirable article of I regret the necessity of mentioning food. We should also keep in miud the most unfortunate point in connec- the fact that it is the only entirely nat- tion with this subject, namely, that we ural saccharine product that we have have ever heard the name of anything given, us as a food. It is secreted in besides pure honey mentioned in con- the blossom, gathered by the bees, and nection with our pursuit. The minor stored iu the combs ready for our use, good that has ever come to producers without undergoing any change or of honey by using any food besides process of manufacture by man. When pure honey is as nothing, compared properly cured and kept under favor- with the great misfortune which has able conditions it will not granulate. resulted from associations connected To furnish this natural and desirable with the practice. ^ product with its delicious flavor pure I have not intended to take up the and unchanged, whether in the comb, miuor points of this subject, which or freed from it, is the first and highest are being freely discussed in our vari- standard which can be placed before ous journals, but rather to offer some beekeepers at this time, and in my suggestions whicli may stimulate more opinion will do more towards estab- full and thorough investigation. lishing permanency in a honey market On the question of compelling i-ec- than any other one thing. ognition from our legislatures, and It is very apparent that we have agricultural societies, several ad- made great progress during these dresses were made, Messrs. Hether- years, in neatness and form of pack- ington, Root, Clark, Betsiuger, Locke,

age ; and while this is true, it is also a and others, taking part. It was de- fact that we have made many sad mis- cided that united effort was necessary, takes which have resulted harmfully. and Capt. Hetherington in corrobora- The box of earlier date was glassed tion of this gave his experience in work- before it was tilled and, as a rule, was ing up an exhibition at the Centennial. left upon the hive until late in the The beekeepers did not respond and season. The effect of this was, that the join him as they should, and which, boxes were thoroughly sealed with had he not worked hard, would have re- propolis. The honey was perfectly sulted in entire failure. It was decided cured, and was covered with an extra that beekeepers' exhibits should be con- coating over the capping of the cells, nected with every agricultural fair, protecting it more entirely from moist- etc. The agricultural societies will ure. If any cells were left partly filled welcome us when we do our part. and uncapped, the honey was removed There is no need of compelling the by the bees. agricultural societies to do their part; With such products we should hear when our associations are so organ- 112 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. izecl that we can act unitedly, then we under Mr. Betsinger's instructions, can make displays and exhibitions that produce a case of foul bi'ood, by feed- will find a welcome anywhere. ing sour pollen or honey. Let us do our part, and then we On motion of Mr. Root, a collection shall have something to ofler the ag- was taken to defray incidental ex- ricultural association, when we ap- penses. Convention then adjourned, peal to them. to meet at 7 o'clock. FOUL BROOD. THURSDAY EVENING SESSION. Mr. H. N. Betsiuger opened the dis- THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES follows : cussion on this question, as OF MAKING COLONIES QUEENLESS He stated that " atmospheric changes " were the cause. The cure of TO PREVENT SWARMING. the disease could only be eflected by This was the first query discussed. carrying out certain laws. Mr. Doolittle had not attempted mak- Carbolic acid had been suggested as ingcolonies queenless for any such pur- a cure; but in his opinion, it was pose, and did not believe in it as far worse than the disease. Fermented as his locality was concerned. He had honey or pollen would cause the dis- taken queens from colonies, and such ease. He had learned by experience queens had worked vigorously storing that if the fermented honey alone were honey, and when the queen was put fed, in less than ten days foul brood back, the colony would work vigor- would appear. Such fermented honey ously in carrying stored honey into was oftentimes found in the blossoms. the boxes, and in bringing in new In the cold, wet seasons, the disease honey from the field. The remarks of prevails, because such seasons are fa- Mr. Doolittle seemed to be endorsed vorable to fermentation. by Messrs. Elwood and Betsinger. In dry seasons foul brood is never found. A complete cure would be NEW INVENTIONS AND DISCOVERIES.^ found in simply feeding salt. Make a strong brine, immerse the combs Mr Locke presented a very ingen- over night, and it will positively cure. iously constructed instrument for As a preventive to the disease, keep a measuring the length of a bee's little weak brine in the yard, where Bees' the bees can get at it. The speaker tongue called the Tongue Reg- fills a nail keg partly with sawdust and ister. He hoped to be able thus to salt and water; and enbugh will ooze discover the bees having the longest ^through the staves for the bees to tongues and from these it would be get. The discussion following Mr. Bet- best to rear future stock and thus ob- singer's remarks were extremely ani- tain an improved race that would se- mated, as the idea of treating our col- cure honey from the largest range of considered by many onies to brine was plants. The instrument was most an original and questionable one. heartily commended and endorsed That the saline or acid properties, gathered from newly-exposed earth by the convention. mine, stagnant pools, etc., had been Mr. King of New York presented utilized by the bees in feeding, freeing a sample of a reversible frame and the honey as it came from the flowei's, another sample of such reversible of all that was injurious, was taught frame was shown by Capt. Hether- by J. L. Christ (author of the old German work, being translated and ington. Mr. H. had tried the ex- published in the " American Apicultu- periment of reversing frames to one hundred years ago. rist") over induce the bees to carry up honey Also, and recently, the Germans have the bottom of the brood frames discovered that the poison of the bee from is a powerful antiseptic, and will kill into the boxes but had not been as the spores of the Bacteria. Mr. Bet- successful as a Michigan beekeeper. singer, nothing daunted by the oppo- Mr. Todd of Philadelphia pre- sition, oflfered $25.00 for a case of foul sented an instrument showing that brood, that he could not cure with salt, provided the competing party would liquid spheres of equal size pressing give him $25.00, if he did cure it. 1 Owing to lack of brevier type, we were ^Ir. Dickinson also oUei'ed the Asso- compelled to use a difl'erent letter for the re- ciation $25.00 if any person would, mainder of Convention Notes. THE AMERICAN APICULTUBIST. 113 against each other with equal pres- Art. 4. The officers of this asso- sure would produce hexagonal fig- ciation shall consist of a President, ures of mathematical accuracy, the Vice President, Secretary and Treas- angles of which will be identical with urer, who shall constitute the executive duties shall be those in the honey comb : the instru- committee and whose ment was examined with great inter- those usually assigned to such offi- est as it seems to show that the bees cers and their term of office shall be in the manufacture of comb only fol- one year or until their successors low a great law of nature. shall be elected. Mr. Clark presented the report of An honorary Vice President shall the committee on the constitution also be appointed from each county and by-laws. of this State.i The only important objection that was made to the revision was found The by-laws were unchanged with in Art. i of the constitution which the exception of the following : read as follows : viz. : This association shall hereafter be known in re- Art. 5. The secretary shall re- year for his membrance of its founder as the ceive ten dollars each Quinby Beekeepers' Association and services and he shall have power to secretary if he shall include in its jurisdiction the choose an assistant entire State of New York. wishes. The discussion upon this article Art. 6. The regular meeting"^ was a long and tedious one, Messrs. shall be held alternately at Roches- Dickinson, Betsinger and others ob- ter, Albany Utica and Syracuse, but jecting to naming the association shall be held no two years in succes- after a man deeming it better to sion at the same place. make it simply the New York State Association. Messrs. Hetherington, Elwood, FRIDAY MORNING SESSION. Clark, King, Locke and others, many The chair stated that an error had of whom had been members from its been inadvertently made on Thurs- organization deemed it only just and day evening in the adoption of the right that the one who had founded first article of the revised constitu- the association and had sacrificed so tion. much for apiculture should be en- By the provisions of the constitu- titled to this small token of respect vote is required for and honor from those who have been tion, a two-thirds its amendment. The revised article reaping the benefit of his labors. received a vote of twenty-four The opposition succeeded in had one in the nega- showing a majority and the consti- in favor and twenty- tive. (the chair) had declared tution and by-laws were adopted as He the article thus revised, when it follows : really lacked six votes of the neces-

Art. I. This association shall be sary two-thirds. The chair wished known as the New York State Bee- to correct his ruling and declare the keepers' association founded by vote in favor of the said article Moses Quinby in 1868. lost. Mr. Clark, of Oneida, moved that Art. 2. Each county or district the first article of the constitution be convention hereafter held in any part revised to read as follows, in accord- of this state shall be entitled to three

delegates to the State Society. lAs the list of the vice presidents representing the diflferent comities was foiind un- have omitted it, Art. 3. (Same as in old constitu- reliable and incomplete, we but will publish the same as soon as we can tion.) secure it. 114 THE AMEBICAN APICULTURIST. ance with the wishes of the majority or better before, on some warm, as expressed Thursday evening. pleasant day, look over each colony Art. I. This association shall be and see that they have a good queen known as the New York State Bee and plenty of honey. And cover keepers' Association (founded by them with enamel cloth or some Moses Quinby in 1868). Carried. material that will keep in the heat and moisture. In about ten days look them over again, and you will BEST INIANAGEMENT APIARY OF THE find colonies that cannot cover eight FOR COMB HONEY. frames, or the full number, to good advantage. Contract these by using Secretary Benedict then read a the division board until they have no paper on the above topic. more frames than they can cover well. sure each time to leave Mr. President, Be plenty of honey, uncapping a portion Ladies and Gentlemen that the bees may move it about in

and Fellow Beekeepers : the combs ; this will have a stimulat- The question that has been as- ing effect and cause the bees to lay signed me, if I shall speak upon it, more rapidly. Some may ask, why in the full meaning of the topic as it contract the brood chamber? For is given in our programme, I shall the reason that one of the great re- have to assume myself as having a quirements of proHfic brood-rearing better method than any that has is heat, and if your store is not large been given, by any of our honored enough to warm your room, then leaders in Bee Culture. And when contract your room to the size of I think of such men as the lamented your store. Quinby, Rev. L. L. Langstroth, Now let them rest about ten days Capt. Hetherington, Elwood, Doo- more, and by this time the young bees little, Heddon, Betsinger and many in the hive will begin to be quite nu- others, it little becomes me to as- merous, and if you find the queen is sume that I can give to this honora- using all the room, add one frame ble body of beekeepers " The Best to the brood nest. But this time Management of the Apiary for Comb make haste slowly, as you are liable Honey !" I hardly think when the to sudden changes, and you have committee gave me the question, many old bees that have nearly done they took into consideration the their work, whose places will soon varied climate and the different be filled by young bees. Now begin sources from which we procure our to feed and stimulate to brood-rearing surplus honey ; that the manage- as you have a good quantity of young ment in one section of the country bees to care for the larvse and gen- would not bring like results in an- eral work of the hive. This feeding other of a different surplus source. may be done in the hive from a top So I shall confine what I have to feeder, or from a feeder placed at offer, to a section in a latitude where the entrance, or any way that you clover and basswood are the prin- can easiest feed them a little every cipal sources of surplus. day ; three or four tablespoonfuls is We shall have to start in early plenty unless they are very sliort of spring, perhaps, before the first nat- stores. ural pollen is gathered, when we are At this season of the year they letting our bees work upon rye or use a large quantity of water in pre- Graham flour, as this should be given paring the food for the brood, and to supply until natural pollen comes. if you will supply it by feeding one Now, when natural pollen appears, part of sugar or honey to three of THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 115

water, it will save thousands of work- as you will want them when the ers that would go out unfavorable swarming season comes. days in search, of water and never Now we come to the honey sea- return. You are now not far from son. We are all ready with sections the first of May. Push them as fast filled with light foundation, not less as possible as you only have about than ten square feet to the pound, fifty days to white clover bloom. No placed on racks with separators one need have any fear of getting clamped between. Go to the yard, their colonies too populous at this and as you pass through, and lift up the time, and in this latitude with our quilts and find that they are whiten- short springtime. During the fifty ing the tops of the combs, we know days to come, look to each colony that they are storing new honey and weekly, add combs by spreading should be given the sections at once. brood and placing empty comb in I think I am safe when I say there the centre, keeping a record of every is no way in which the sections can colony. Up to this, I have not said be given, that has the advantage of anything about hives. Good results the rack, or clamping case, worked may be obtained with nearly all of upon the tiering-up system. When the movable frame hives. I think nicely started raise them up and when we get to the honey season, place another set under. Continue a rightly arranged top-storing hive this until well in basswood time, then is preferable. But during spring be careful not to get more started management a hive, in which you than the bees will finish on white can extend the brood nest, is of honey. great advantage. A strong colony Some of course are prepared to will use more than eight frames and take issue with me, who are joined to be crowded, before the honey harv- their idol, the old wide frame, which, est begins. Now, if your hive is if for no other reason than the saving such that you can add extra frames, of time, should have been laid aside they will be quickly filling them with long since, and any hive that will not brood. Some would say draw a admit of taking the top off to a level frame of brood and give to a weaker with the tops of the brood combs, be colony, and replace with an empty placed with them and be kept as frame. This may be done, but ex- reUcs. perience has taught that, as a rule, Now our dish is ready to catch the better results can be obtained by let- shower of honey. But just here ting the brood remain in the strong comes the cry the bees are swarming colonies until about the time you just as they had one set of sections wish to put on your surplus storage. about ready to raise. What shall we Then draw your extra frames, taking do? I would say, with all strong your oldest brood and give to your swarms that issue up to within one lighter colonies, if any still remain. week of the opening of basswood By this time, they are ready to take bloom, remove the old hive to a new care of it, and it comes when it will stand. Place the new hive upon the do them much more good than it old stand, filled with one empty comb, would earlier. If you are fortunate and seven frames of wired founda- enough to have your colonies on full tion, with the set of partly filled sec- frames, these extra combs with a few tions from the old hive placed in bees will make you some fine early position on the new one. Now hive nuclei, that will build themselves into your swarm, and they are ready for good colonies if given a young queen business. You have all the working or a queen cell. It is better to have force of the old hive. You will sel- a few young queens to give them, dom have any trouble with the new ;

116 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

nies that have cast a swarm. Now, is the condition of the old one? brother beekeepers, what I have said You will find eight frames of brood comes from practical experience, and in all stages and young bees enough if any one has gained a new thought to care for the eggs and larvae, and then I have accomplished what I hundreds more hatching every day. hoped I might. Let them stand six or seven days Allow me to discard the subject as then open the hive and cut all queen given, and ask you to accept this as cells saving the best to be placed in one of the best managements of the the nuclei from which you are to take apiary for comb honey. a laying queen and place in the old Mr. King believed that the remov- hive and you have a swarm that will ing honey as fast as capped and to

often fill one and two sets of sections replace them with those that are but

during the basswood flow.' After partially filled is the proper way to much experimenting, I find this al- secure the largest amount of surplus lows the bees a chance to be true to honey. nature, and still we practically con- This system did not discourage trol the swarming. Now we are the bees but was in exact accordance within a few days of the basswood with the nature of the little insect. bloom and we must make everything Mr. Locke spoke in favor of the sys-

count. Hive the swarm on the old tem and said it was that practised by stand as before, but do not carry the the ancient Germans who kept at old hive to a new stand but place it times a thousand colonies. beside the new swarm with entrance at right angles. Let this stand eight CIRCULARS AND PAMPHLETS. days. Towards night of the eighth The committee on circulars and day, open the old hive and you will pamphlets reported through Mr. find that you have a fair swarm of Locke, and in motion the committee bees. Have your comb box ready, was continued another year. remove the combs, shake the bees at the entrance of the new hive, place THE REVERSIBLE FRAME. the combs in the box, shake some of the bees from the old hive and re- The secretary read an article by move to a new stand, and place the Mr.lTefft on the "Reversible Frame." combs in the hive, cutting out all The article declared the invention queen cells but one, or all if you have a great improvement over the old a young queen that you can give hanging frame and it was very uni- them. Now the young bees and what versally adopted by the most intelli- are yet to hatch will take care of the gent apiarists. work in the hive, and with care will The article also referred to the ob- be in trim to take the last of bass- jects to be gained by use of this wood and store dark honey enough style of frame. to winter upon. From the first Messrs. King, Betsinger, Root, swarms you will get more honey than Clark, Locke, Benedict, Doolittle and you would had you tried to keep others, took part in the discussion, them in one hive by hiving, and re- and it was generally admitted that at turning to the old hive, and trying certain times in the season and with to suppress the swarming impulse. judicious management the reversible Second you get the greater part of frame would prove a success. the worker bees when they will do Some of the objections offered the most good during the honey flow. were that if care were not taken, poor And with the above management you honey would be carried in the surplus have doubled the number of colo- boxes, thus injuring the quality of the THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 117 honey stored there, and that inex- for the dignified and able manner in perienced beekeepers would, unless which he has presided over our meet- careful, reverse the frames too late in ings. the fall. Resolved, That a vote of thanks Some changes were made in the are hereby tendered the mayor and committees when the question and common council of the city of Syr- answer box was opened and answers acuse for the use of the City Hall, made to the conundrums therein contained. Resolved, That this association are On motion of Mr. Clark the exec- pleased to note the presence ot a utive committee was given power to number of ladies during the sessions, name delegates and issue creden- and trust that they will, at our next tials to those wishing to attend the convention, favor us with their pres- International Convention at New ence. Orleans. On motion of the several Resolved, That this convention ex- gentlemen, all persons wishing to attend a vote of thanks to Mr. Arthur the tend North American Beekeepers' Todd, Philadelphia, for the interest- convention at fall will Detroit next ing microscopic and scientific ex- receive credentials from the execu- periments given for the benefit of tive committee. this convention. On motion of Mr. Clark any per- Resolved^ That a vote son inside the State may become a of thanks be extended to member of the association by signing Silas M. Locke, Sal- em, Mass., for the scientific registra- the constitution and paying 50 cts. tion of the length of bees' Any clause in the constitution tongues as connected with scientific which conflicts with this was re- queen- scinded. rearing. Resolved, That a vote of thanks FRIDAY AFTERNOON SESSION. be extended to our retiring secretary for the ethcient manner in After the convention was opened, which he has performed the arduous Mr. Doolittle, on behalf of the com- duties devolving upon him. mittee, composed of Messrs. Doolit- tle, Todd and Locke, offered the fol- Resolved, That we as a convention lowing resolutions : do urge upon our members to attend the meeting of the North American COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS. B. A. at Detroit next fall and that all members so attending shall hereby Resolved, That a vote of thanks be be vested with the attributes of dele- hereby tendered to all the essay

All of which is respectfully sub- Resolved, That the thanks of this mitted. association are due and are hereby tendered the representatives of the C. G. Dickinson, " Journal, " " Evening Herald, " x-Vrthur Todd, "Morning Standard" and the "Cour- G. M. Doolittle, ier," for their extended notices of this S1L.4S M. Locke. convention, the publication of our proceedings and other courtesies The report of the committee on shown us. questions was made by Mr. King as

follows : Resolved, That the association do hereby tender a vote of thanks to our I. What is the best food for win- worthy President, Mr. L. C. Root, ter? Ans. Granulated sugar. . :

118 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

2. How many colonies of bees This Association having heard can be kept in one apiary. Ans. with great sorrow of the death, dur- That depends on forage—from 20 to ing the past month, of Mr. W. W. 2000. Gary of Coleraine, Mass., desires by this minute to put on record its high 3. Which is better for beginners, appreciation of his services. natural or artificial swarming ? Ans. A progressive beekeeper of one Natural. half a century's experience, among 4. How shall we prevent honey the very first to import and breed from candying ? Ans. Keep it at a the Italian bee, and zealous for its temperature of not less than 75 de- purity—enthusiastic in every advance grees. in the direction, both of the economy and manipulation of the honey 5. When the bees hang out is it bee, he took a high rank among best to put on more boxes? Ans. those who have helped both by Only when honey is plentiful outside. practice and pen to elevate and per- 6. How to prevent swarming when petuate the science of apiculture. producing box honey ? Ans. Keep With these considerations we do the bees at work. resolve that as a mark of our appreciation of his services this minute be 7. Why are porous cloth covers entered upon the records of the as- for winter use any better than en- sociation and a copy sent by the sec- amel cloth? Ans. Because they retary to the family of Mr. Gary. permit the escape of moisture. Resolved, That we extend our sym- 8. Why not use fine wire-cloth pathies to the afilicted family, and strung across the section frame in- commend them in their grief to the stead of tin or wooden separators? God of all consolation and the very Ans. Wire is too flexible. "present help in trouble." cause the 9. Does pollen bee The report of the committee on diarrhoea ? Ans. Yes and no. implements on exhibition was read,

10. What material is best to gum viz. labels for glass or tin? Ans. Dex- trine and hot water. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON EXHIBITS.

1 1 Is dividing preferable to nat- GhaffHive, top and side surplus ural swarming? Ans. Yes, decidedly. storing, standing frame, Quinby. Ex- hibited by W. E. Clark, Oriskany, 12. Why is chaff packing better N. Y. Awarded first prize. than dead air space ? Ans. Because GhaffHive, top and side surplus it is warmer. storing, hanging L. frame. Exhibited 13. Why are deep frames better by King and Aspinwall, New York for use in securing comb honey than city. Awarded second prize. shallow ones? Ans. Because they Automatic Honey Extractor. Ex- are better adapted to the collateral hibited by G. W. Stanley and Bro., system. Wyoming, N. Y. For extracting both sides of the 14. Why are shallow frames better combs, without handling the frames for use in securing comb honey than after being put in the basket, revers- deep ones? Ans. Because brood ing the combs by revolving the bas- will be necessarily closer to the sec- kets in an opposite direction, there- tions. by saving one-half the time used I'he following resolution was read by the old method. Awarded first by Mr. Locke and adopted. prize. THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. 119

Comb Foundation Mill. Exhibi- EXHIBITED BY ARTHUR TODD, PHIL- ted by J. Vandervort, Lacyville, ADELPHIA, PA. Pa. Microscopical Exhibit of " Bacill- For making thin comb foundation us alvei" or Foul Brood, and for surplus boxes. Awarded first " Spermatozoa " of Hive Bee, prize. mounted by Frank Cheshire of Lon- Quinby Bellows Smoker. Exhib- don, England. ited by W, E. Clark, Oriskany, N. Y. The "Holman" apparatus for Awarded first prize. demonstrating the tendency of Liq- Bellows Smoker. Exhibited by uid or plastic Spheres to assume hex- King & Aspinwall, N. Y. city. agonal forms under pressure. Awarded second prize. The " Cheshire " Charts for use Inside Feeder. Exhibited by of Lecturers on Bees and Beekeep- King & Aspinwall, N. Y. city. ing. Awarded first prize. Extracted Honey from W. S. Hart, Florida. HONORABLE MENTION. Extracted Honey from W. S. Da- dant & Son, Hamilton, 111. Drone and Queen Catcher. Ex- All of which your committee would hibited by James F. Norton, Win- respectfully submit. sted, Conn. Honey Knife. Exhibited by W. I. L. SCHOFIELD. E. Clark, Oriskany, N. Y. Ira Barber. One-piece Honey Boxes. Exhib- G. H. Knickerbocker. ited by Berlin Fruit Box Co., Berlin Heights, O. On motion of Mr. Todd, local Dovetailed Sections. Exhibited by associations were recommended to H. D. Davis, Bradford, Vt. purchase the Cheshire chart for be- Very nice nailed Sections and wood ginners. On motion the convention

separators. Exhibited by J. C. New- adjourned sine die. man & Son, Peoria, Wyoming Co., N. Y. Very nice nailed Spruce Sections. Exhibited by W. E. Clark, Oriskany, N. Y. Bee Veil. Exhibited by W. E. Clark, Oriskany, N. Y. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. Quinby's New Beekeeping Book. of busi- Exhibited by L. C. Root, Mohawk, Owing to the recent rush N. Y. ness and the important changes that have made, have been Very fine sample of Extracted we we obliged to the securing of an- Honey. Exhibited by W. E. Clark, omit Oriskany, N. Y. swers for this department this month. Sample of Ext. Cuban Honey. We trust, however, that our read- Exhibited by King & Aspinwall, N. ers will send us in lists of practical questions to answered, as so Y. city, in color the best on Exhi- be by bition. doing they can secure the opinions a prominent Three bottles of Ext. Honey. Ex- of number of our most hibited by L. C. Root, Mohawk, N. apiarists. This feature is invaluable Y. to those who wish to make a success " Bees' tongue Register." Exhib- of apicuhure. ited by Silas M. Locke, Salem, Mass. 120 THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST.

QUESTIONS BY J. H. WIRDMAN. 4. What is your opinion of wire iu frames? ANSWERS BY THK EDITOR. Aus. If the wire is so well embedded in the wax that it is entirely covered, and full sheets of foundation are used 1. Do you think it advisable to set and well fastened on the top and bot- tlie bottom of a liive dii'ectly on tlie tom to the frames, it is valuable, ground, or is it better to set it on a especially for use in hives in which stand or blocks, leaving au air space new swarms are to be placed; but if below the hive : and if so, how much tlie wires are exposed or left protrud- space should be left? ing at the bottom of the foundation, And in leaving the air space, do you the bees will sometimes gnaw out. think that it should be enclosed up to For general use, however, we have the bottom of the hive? found the foundation without wire Ans. Hives should always be so lo- more handy and equally good; but care cated and placed that the bottom boards must also be taken iu using the latter. will not gather dampuess, but should not be raised so higli from the ground, 5. What is your opinion of metal the wind that during cold days, when rabbets iu hives, and of metal support- from the is chilly, tne bees returning ing arms on frames? hive upon field will be blown under the Ans. We have never found any metal which they the cold damp ground from supports for top bars equal to the being can seldom arise owing to their common wood top bars of the frame. heavily laden and tired out. It is best if possible to have the spot 6. What do you consider to be the where the hives set raised a little in best material with which to cover the the shape of a mound above the sur- frames, at all seasons of the year? roundiug grounds, and then the hives Aus. Light duck. should be seton rough stands (hemlock is good) raised about 4 inches from the ground leaving a free opening under the hive. A slanting board ou which the bees may alight should be placed in front of the hives. LETTER BOX.

2. What distance should hives set Clinton, Mich., April I2, iSSj. apart when set either hexagonally or in straight rows? Friend Locke : Ans. "while bees will do well when American Apiculturist, Vols. the hives set about two feet apart in The straight rows, with the rows from four I and 2 bound together, duly re- to six feet apart, yet we prefer setting ceived. I must say it is a work of art. feet from them hexagoually, and six Your binder fully understands his centres. business. It is a pleasure and comfort when you open it at any place 3. In what direction should the en- without holding. trance of a hive fiice? Should all the to have it stay so hives iu an apiary face in one direction ? I have just had six volumes of If facing in different directions, should "Gleanings" bound in Toledo by any face the north? a first-class binder, but they do Ans. If possible the hives should compare with the work on the face the southeast, although tliey not could face the south, and perhaps the American Apiculturist. south, southwest. This again depends This work should be in the hands somewhat on the protection from of and read by every beekeeper, be- winds. One should so place and face ing full of practical ideas. No one his hives that when the bees arrive at there- the entrance, they will be protected can read it but to be benefited from the cold winds; those from the west, north and northeast, being the May you ever succeed m your most destructive. Also during Spring noble undertaking is the wish of time and mornings, the bees need the warm sunshine that comes from your friend, the south and southeast. H. D. Cutting. The American Apicultiirist

% lournal iJtboteb to Sneittific ant) |PractuaI gctkecjDing. EXTEEED AT THE POST-OFFICE, SALEM, AS SECOXD-CLASS MATTER.

Published Monthly. S. M. Locke, Publisher & Prop'r

VOL. III. WENHAM, MASS., JUNE 15, i^ No. 6.

SUBSCRIPTION PRICES. is from the latter standpoint alone

$1.00 per je.ir, payable in advance. Sent that I shall review the subject. on trial three months lor 35 ct*., si.v montlis Beekeeping is, strictly speaking, for 60 cts. a branch of agriculture, and many Advertising Rates :— 15 cents per line of a farmer is today getting a space each insertion. greater return from his investment in bees A line of this type wilt admit about? words One inch will contain twelve lines. than that received from any of his other Transient Advertisements must be paid for stock ; but right here I say in advance. that beekeeping as a pursuit has Those wishing special rates will please to-day become a "specialty." The correspond with the Editor. man who enters upon this pursuit When sending money make all postal notes (leaving the question of capital and money orders payable at the Salem, Mass., Post Office. aside) must be one endowed with physical and All communications should be addressed mental ability ; a man to S. M. LocKK & Co., Wenliam, Mass. with open eyes and ears, one ready for emergencies, prompt to do BEEKEEPING AS A PUB- what is necessaiy at once, and one who is not easily SUIT.^ discouraged. The physical ability is required because beekeeping demands real By Arthur Todd. hard work—yes, back-aching work —not suitable to the sick ladies This subject ma}' be regarded and gentlemen so often ill-advised from two standpoints— that of the to go into beekeeping. The men- man who, with income assured from tal ability is required to keep the other sources, pursues beekeeping beekeeper abreast of the times and that for its pleasure ; and of the its rapidly changing conditions. man who, wishing to increase his Beekeeping is now a science, a slender income, or actually make stud}', and the conditions which an income, turns to beelceeping govern one season, or colon}' of with a view to profit on the capital bees, will be completely changed and labor to be invested. But, as for the next. Every stage in the to the latter are denied none of the life of a colony of bees requires to pleasures enjoyed by the former, it be understood, There must be no "guessing," and this will bring us I Read at the Beekeepers' Congress, at New Orleans. to the cultivation of the habit of (121) 122 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. observation, and a disposition to cialist, gifted with the requisite hear all that one can npon the spec- mental and p^iysical qualities, must ial snbject. be "the right man in the right Emergencies will occnr needing place." He must have hives of the heroic treatment, but the beekeeper movable-frame order. Moses Quin- with mind and hand trained b}' ex- by wrote thus, in 1858 : "There is perience and thoughtful considera- not the least doubt, in ray mind, tion of his "specialty," will rise that whoever realizes the greatest superior to any occasion, and when profit from his bees will have to discouragement comes, as it inevi- retain the movable combs in some tably will, in the words of the im- form ;" and who of us will gainsay mortal Longfellow, "He will look this to-day? Out of the many styles not moui'nfully into the past, it of movable-comb hives now in ex- comes not back again, but wisely istence, the beekeeper will select improve the future for it is his." one best fitted for the business in

Pleasure and profit go hand in which he means to engage, be it hand, as a rule, in this specialty, the production of comb or extracted although the former is not unal- honey, queen-rearing, bee-selling, loyed by a liberal application of the or a combination of all. "business end" of the little busy The specialist who intends to bee, and the latter by a recurrence rear bees for sale will do well to of poor honey seasons. In nature employ that hive which will take are found both the beautiful and the the size and style of frame most sublime ; in the hive both are in use in the district in which constantly under the beekeeper's he resides. Interchangeability of eye, teaching him to look with parts is a grand secret of success, amazement from "nature up to na- and the beekeeper who can sell a ture's God." As he views his hive colony of bees, or buy a colony and sees the city grow, and popula- well knowing that each and every tion increase, the waxen walls, and frame is usable in his own or his stores well filled, the free-born cit- neighbors' hives, has made a step izen hurrying to and fro, each with in the right direction. The main his special task, outside of the points in a good hive are, "Sim- thoughts of profit will come to the plicity of construction, combining most unimpressionable, thoughts of plenty of bee-space with perfect wonder and admiration for the ease of manipulation." works of that great Architect of the The race of bees will next engage universe who said, "Let there be the specialist's attention. Study life and there was life." and experience, and also the actual The profits of beekeeping are line of business engaged in, will what ? To many a one the}' hold best decide this point. The black, out the hopes of "the glorious the Italian, the Syrian, the Cyprian, ;" privilege of being independent and the Carniolan, alike have their and to obtain these profits the spe- votaries. At present, for all pur- THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. 123

poses of sale and honey-gathering, that one is reminded of the old say- the Ligurian or Italian-Alp bee is ing, "when doctors differ, the pa-

the principal one in demand ; but tient dies." The bee-man must •the very best race of bees will af- strike out his own line of action ford but little profit unless the suitable to his own special circum- queens are carefully' looked after. stances. In running for extracted

As fast as signs of senility appear, hone}', swarming is, to a great ex- these should be removed and their tent, controlled, for "Poverty mak- places supplied by younger and eth humble ;" but I insist that the more vigorous queens. The apia- good bee-man will know the condi- rist for profit should not only rear tion of each hive, and act accord- queens, but know how, when and ingly.

where to replace them. He should The specialist is a man who reads, also know the requisites of a good and although he may not get or queen, and how to judge of her use a single one of the many traps, progeny. or patent articles now off'ered, he

Pasture to the beekeeper is ev- should know all about them ; for

erything ; if that be poor, his re- at any moment, what he has read

turns will be poor ; hence he about these things may give him should carefully examine his loca- an idea, the successful carrying out

tion. Districts vary greatly in of whicli maj' help him over a diflEi- their flora, and by a carefuPstudy culty. The capacity of the bee- of this question before locating, keeper to attend to a certain num- disappointment will be avoided. ber of colonies, be it greater or less, The beekeeper should be a walking will have a great influence on the calendar of the flora of his neigh- profits of the pursuit. As a pur- borhood for miles around, then, as suit, beekeeping should not be en- the honey comes pouring in, he tered into without careful thought can tell its source and label it ac- and consideration as to the capital

cordingly. This knowledge w^ill required, the location and the suit- enable him to build up colonies, ability of the employment to one's and follow the old advice, '"Keep temperament. To-day, before em- ;" your colonies strong so that barking in the business, it is possi- when the honey does come, there are ble for the intending beekeeper to bees to gather it in. serve an actual and willing appren- Tlie management of bees kept ticeship in the yards of well- for profit will vary according to known and successful bee-masters. the object of the beekeeper, whether I need dwell not upon the advan- it be the production of honey or tages of this plan for they are ob- the rearing of bees or queens. In vious. running for honey alone, we have To the enthusiast with but small the swarming and the non-swarm- experience, I would say, "Go ing methods. The experiences of slow !" Read the good bee-liter- good bee-men are so diversified ature now so easy to be obtained, —;

124 THE AMERICAN APICULTUEIST. and never be above learning from HOWES' REVERSIBLE others. Visit beekeepers wherever FRAME-SUPPORT. 3'ou can enjoy the privilege, attend bee-conventions, and gradually a By C. J. F. Howes. store of knowledge will be gathered upon which you will draw with To whom does the invention be- profit later on. long? From articles lately appear- Profitable beekeeping as a pur- ing in Gleanings in Bee Culture,

suit is, to my mind, the outcome and editorial comments thereon, I

of the union of two great factors think there is a misapprehension ot "talent" and "tact ;" for "talent what the above invention consists, or

is power, tact is skill ; talent is what it really is, and whose property

wealth, tact is ready money ; talent it is. The above-mentioned articles

knows what to do, tact knows how and editorials are, I feel, doing me an

to do it ; talent makes the world injustice, and have a tendency, virtu-

wonder that it gets on no faster, ally, to rob me of all the benefits, to tact excites astonishment that it say nothing of the "honors," of the

gets on so fast ; talent may obtain discovery, which I had considered to a living, but tact will make one. be my property. Talent convinces, tact converts As to what constitutes my inven-

talent is an honor to the profession, tion, I will quote from my article in tact has the knack of slipping into the A. B. Journal, page 57, in reply it good places, and keeping them ; to Mr. Heddon's claim to the inven- seems to know everything without tion of the frame illustrated in Glean- learning anything: it has no left ings, page 104. hand, no deaf ear, no blind side, "At the annual meeting of the with a full knowledge of the Py- Southeastern Michigan Beekeepers' thagorean doctrine, 'that a man Association, held at Adrian, Mich., ought rather to be silent, or say Jan. 23, 1884, I exhibited samples " something better than silence.' of a device for reversing brood-frames, I submit these remarks to my which device, or plan, suspended the fellow beekeepers, being painfully frame by strips of wood, or metal, conscious of many shortcomings which strips were pivoted to the cen- from the high standard of excel- tre of the end-bars, and extended up lence that man should attend to to the top of the frame, there form- who in these days goes into "bee- ing projecting arms to rest on the keeping as a pursuit." rabbets, and allowing the frame to revolve on these pivots. Germantown, Pa. In describing the device before the convention, I distinctly claimed as my invention, the plan of suspending the frame between side-strips pivoted to the end-bars, as described." Previous to the illustration and THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 125 description of my device, all reversi- rights to the labor of his brain, by a ble-frames had fixtures at both fop patent, as provided bylaw ? If a bet- and bottom; see Gleanings for 1882, ter device, to secure the results aimed page 71, also 1883, page 65, Burgess' at, by reversing the brood-combs, device; 1884, page 155, Baldridge's shall be discovered, I shall be glad to device; and 1884, page 332, Heth- adopt it, in my own apiary, and will, erington's device. These attach- willingly, pay for the privilege. Un- ments were entirely different in prin- til then, I request all to "please keep ciple from the "Howes' Supports." off my preserve." No one had ever suggested revolving Adrian, Mich., Feb. 7, 1885. the frames on "centre pivots,^'' previous to the illustration, and description of my frame in Gleanings for 1884, page 156. Soon after I began to manufacture and sell Howes' Reversible Frame PROF- and Supports,— as advertised in WHICH IS THE MOST Gleanings, for 1884, page 285,—re- ITABLE RACE OF BEES. versing devices began to appear from Bv D. F. Lashieu. all quarters ; both men and women joining in the scramble for the "hon- or," if not for the profits of the inven- Which is the most profitable race brooding, cornb- tion ; each one suspending the frame of bees regarding by "centre pivots," as I had described building, honey-gathering disposition them. Several used hoop -iron bent and wintering qualities ? at a right angle to form projecting I have no desire to injure anyone's arm. (Prof. Cook at the Michigan business and wish merely to bring to convention claimed to have tried notice a few facts which it seems to this plan, though a lady, I think, first me to have been overlooked.

described it in Glea7iings). Perhaps a few notes founded upon Mr. Root has often, through years of experience would not be out Gleanings, acknowledged that these of place, especially as my motives

different devices are, practically the are entirely unselfish. same thing as the "Howes' Support;'' I commenced beekeeping in 1872

still he does not hesitate to manufac- with one colony of gray bees in a box

ture, advertise and sell th*em, as if hive. I purchased this hive of a the invention was common property. neighbor whose bees seemed to be (See editorial remarks in Gleanings; very hardy and gentle. They are of

page 74, describing Mr. Nuzvinis' uniform size and as large as any Ital- seen, even device ; then Editorial in next num- ians that I ever have ber, page 104, on the same subject.) when the latter were reared in comb

I submit the question, in all seri- of their own building. I hive all my ousness. Does not this state of gray bees without any protection th\ng% justify anyone, in securing his whatever. and the same when looking —

126 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. for queens, etc. With the Italians native bees that have been de\oted this would be perfect madness.^ to rearing foreign races, beekeeping Doubtless some will say " your of to-day would be in a far better gentle bees must suffer from being condition. It is the general result robbed." Not so, my friends, they and the general summing up that are good protectors of their homes. decide which is the more profitable

I have purchased queens from vocation. some of the best breeders in the Of late years I have wintered my States hoping to get the best in the bees in a frost-proof building, and market, and I never have, as yet, have found it to be a great saving of seen any that will hold their own with honey. At some future time I will tell my gray bees. your readers, if they wish, how this In breeding, the Italians commence building is constructed so as to carry bees safely through five months of as a trifle earlier in spring, but they dwindle so badly that when fruit trees cold winter weather as ever existed bloom they are not as strong as the in my section, together with my experience in fruit gray bees. raising in connection For honey-gathering from the white with beekeeping and how I manage and red clover the Italians and gray to save my natural swarms from absconding. bees are about equal, but when buck- This having swarms decamp to wheat is in bloom the grays beat the parts unknown is all wrong. I have Italians by fifty per cent, had more swarms come to me than I have wintered both races in- doors and out of doors. The grays I ever had desert, and the idea that bees injure fruit blossoms is alto- seem to become dormant not caring

gether erroneous. Why ! we were to move about, while the Italians are obliged to plum trees uneasy, crawling out of their hives prop up our and wasting away. last season to prevent them from breaking down with the load of plums, My gray bees have steadily in- chenies had a most creased by natural swarming- from and of we boun- tiful crop and this right in our apiary the one colony to 120, all in the in an average too. same apiary ; giving me, pleased to give your season, a nice surplus of box honey, I should be readers a paper on fruit and bees if and in a very poor season holding it would be acceptable.^ their own without feeding or spring dwindling. Hooper, N. Y.

I think that had one-half the pains 5 Doubtless our readers would be pleased been taken to improve some of our to hear from friend Lashier again, and we trust that he will favor us with the article. —Ed. 1 If our friend will visit us we will show him colonies of Italians that can be examined without fear of stings, and this with neither smoke nor protection. Ed. 2 When working for comb hone}-, I return all of my swarms so that I get no increase that season.—D. F. L. ;

THE A3IERICAN APICULTURIST. ni

HOW TO FORM NUCLEI. have constructed several queen cells and when released will return to the By Henry Alley. new location. Most beekeepers wish to rear a A matured queen cell may be

few queens and must have for such a given them at this time ; or, when purpose a few nucleus colonies. they have been queenless seventy- The following plan for forming two hours, a virgin queen can be in-

them is an easy and simple one. The troduced safely. nucleus hives should be constructed Before releasing the bees the nu- of light material and about one-third clei should be placed some distance the width of the large hive, and the from the stands from which the bees covers should be cleated to prevent were taken. While the bees are con- splitting and warping. If the hives fined in the hives they should be are painted they will last many years. supplied with water. For such pur- The nucleus colonies should con- pose I find the cone feeder very sist of three combs and two quarts of useful. bees. When ready to form them, If the reader has studied the arti- place in one of the hives two combs cle in the May number in reference containing honey and, in the centre, to the drone trap he is prepared to one containing brood, after which have his queens purely mated with add the bees. Perhaps the better any particular strain of drones in the way would be to remove from a full apiary. colony a comb containing brood, Wenliam, Mass. together with the adhering bees, being careful of course not to take the queen with them. In such case there will be a sufficient number of bees A GUIDE TO THE BEST on the comb to care for the brood METHODS OF BEE- if not, a few more may be brushed KEEPING. from another comb into the hive. After the combs and bees have By J. L. Christ. been placed in the hive, confine the R. F. Holterman, Translator. latter for thirty-six hours to the hives (Contiuued from p. 90, Vol. III.) and release them early on the morning PERTAINING TO THE FINEST AND of the third day. BEST COLONIES. Do not remove the screen (with which they have been confined) from It is a principle in beekeeping if the entrance except just before dark one desires to derive a benefit from

or early in the morning ; as, if released his bees, to see that one keeps very in the middle of the day, the bees populous colonies. The mere num- would rush out and many would not ber of colonies has nothing to do

return. with amount of value ; but their After having been confined in the strength, the number of inhabitants hive for thirty-six hours, the bees will in a hive, is the measure of its worth. 128 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

One single populous colony is worth to be frozen, and are less able to more and will store more honey than stand the changes in temperature. four weak ones. In fourteen days They cannot rear brood as early the one will bring in more honey as the strong one and there are many than the four will in four weeks. advantages the strong one has over

I place a strong colony at 40,000 the weaker, one of the most prom- working bees ; of these 13,000 to inent of which is that the strong one

16,000 can daily fly out and bring displays more energy and is more

in stores ; the remainder stay at home industrious than the weaker. to care for the brood, to build comb, and to perform such other duties as IN THE ORDINARV STRAW SKEPS ONE may be required of them.^ CANNOT CARRY OUT ONE'S DESIRES Of four weak colonies, however, COMPLETELY IN MANAGING BEES. each calculated at 12,000 workers, only 4,000 can fly out leaving 8,000 As important and well known as at home. These four colonies to- the fact now is of having the colo- gether not only cannot send to the nies strong, one cannot make them fields as many workers as the one so if they are kept in the common, strong one, but they also labor un- simple straw basket where one does der many disadvantages. nothing but destroy in a slovenly way,

It may be good weather for eight especially farmers. In the fall they days and the flow of honey abun- take the heaviest and lightest colo- dant and the strong colony may in nies and in a sinful and thoughtless that time gather all its winter stores, manner kill and smother its inhabit- but the weak ones can take only ants thus doing themselves a deliber- sufficient advantage to gather at ate injury, as if they permitted these most one-fourth of the required useful creatures, these patterns of stores. If unfavorable weather should industry, to live, they would gain far follow, and the flow of honey cease, more. the strong colony is supplied and the I once saw a beekeeper take a very four weak ones are lost in the winter heavy colony consisting of two col- if they be not fed, which latter is onies which in swarming clustered associated with much expense, together, and smother them, because trouble and inconvenience and even he thought that owing to the large then often fails, not to mention the number of bees the colony might

facts that the weaker ones cannot de- not have enough winter stores. Yes ! pend upon themselves as well against a clown of a fellow actually burned robbers, moths, ants, etc. ; and in with straw his young swarms, because winter they cannot maintain the they came rather late. But I do not proper warmth as well, are more liable intend to occupy my time describing the wrong mode of keeping bees, as I Nature has wisely ordered it that generally only one-third of the bees in a colony fly through the length and breadth of to the fields, so that the colony would not out the land this has been so passionately perish even if all the absent bees were lost through some mishap. spoken of and they will learn, only ;

THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 129

as matters progress, to adopt a bet- manipulation. Thus, some yearsago, I

ter mode of beekeeping. conceived the idea of making, as far as possible, those that were more

THE MAGAZINESTOCK^ ARE CONVEN- complete and convenient ; to that IENT, PARTICULARLY WITH THE end I made wooden four-cornered WOODEN TOP BOXES WITH A hives of boards and put in the same GLASS SIDE. at least one pane of glass which, al-

though only costing but little, is of If one wishes to build up popu- inestimable value. lous colonies, one must commence I improved on these until I found

by controlling swarming : namely, the most useful and convenient to swarming often. To do this, one must handle. provide roomy dwellings and those The samples that I have I not only that can be enlarged gradually ; with- had myself for several years, but I out this the object would fail. If also made some for good friends, one should give the bees a large and others made copies of them and dwelling at once they would become their great value makes me recom- discouraged and would not half fill mend them unhesitatingly. These the hive and there would be many hives are very little more expensive other disadvantages. than straw (if they are made plain The dwelling must also be ar- and cheap), they last longer, are ranged in such a manner that the better and more convenient and can bees can be handled with ease and be made anywhere, while men who without damage to the bees, or ever can make straw hives are often diffi- to have to destroy the latter to enjoy cult to get. the product of their industry and One should not allow himself control their surplus in honey and to be frightened into thinking they wax. are too expensive, when conducting All this is required ; but now as to an extensive bee business ; or that, if the care of the "magazine." one begins with them, the profits will As the bees conduct their domes- soon disappear. tic affairs within a limited space and I will just describe their complete- they from time to time according ness and their general utility and to the demands of time, attentions, their advantages over the straw hive, etc., are increased or diminished, one more especially for the purpose of generally makes them of straw (at giving guidance how to make them least I have seen no others) and of the greatest use in beekeeping. lathes which are very useful, if not Rodlieim, Germany, July, i~8j. too large (as they generally are) \_2o be continued. nevertheless, these straw " storing '\ cases" have several drawbacks which I have found by observation and

^Litevallj' magazine or wave house hive.- R. F. H. 130 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

IS BEEKEEPING PROFIT- extract from 120 to 140 lbs. per ABLE. hour, say 1200 lbs. per day. In four successive days last July I extracted and filled into cans 5,200 By T. F. Arundell. lbs. of honey, working about eight hours each day extracting and filling My attention being called to the cans from the tanks mornings and article headed, "Is Beekeeping Prof- evenings. Hives in my apiary av- itable" (page 64, March No.), I will erage about 40 lbs. each extracting. answer it to the best of my ability. No. 5. In regard to the number of The answers to questions i and 2 colonies an apiarist could oversee, depend simply on the annual yield it depends more on the talent and of honey per colony, and the suc- genius of the overseer than upon the cess attained in wintering. Should number of colonies possessed. While a surplus of 100 lbs or more be ob- one man can direct and control hun- tained from each colony (spring dreds of employes, another cannot count), together with a moderate in- even manage his own labor to lead crease in bees and with little or no to the best results. loss in wintering, success would be At some future time I would like assured; but, should the average to describe, in your Journal, the best yearly surplus amount to no more and speediest methods of extracting than 40 or 50 lbs. coupled with se- honey in large apiaries as practised vere losses in wintering, the business in this country. could not prove otherwise than a Santa Paula, Cal. financial failure.

No. 3. In this section one man can properly manipulate at least 150 INSTRUCTIONS TO colonies and their increase, make the BEGINNERS. extra hives, and extract all the honey from them, excepting possibly, a very By the Editor. few days when honey is stored more rapidly than usual. There are, properly speaking, two As to tools wearing out with use, systems of keeping bees : the one I will say that I have extracted 40,- adapted to the needs of the expert 000 lbs. (20 tons), in the last two and specialist who keeps a large summers with a four frame "Novice" number of colonies and devotes his geared extractor with no appreciable entire time and attention to the pur- wear, and my honey knives are as suit ; the other adapted to an api- good as when first bought. A well arist who keeps bees in connection made hive should last a lifetime, so with some other business, either for that the depreciation in value of uten- the pleasure and recreation, or for sils is more imaginary than real. the purpose of adding another source

No. 4. Given d, properly arranged of income. hive and appropriate tools a man can The latter class constitute the ma- THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 131

jority of the beekeeping fraternity pay their way and also furnish funds and only too often are their needs for new investments. overlooked by those who write upon If your first lessons have been the subject of apiculture. gleaned from flaming advertisements

While we are aware that if one is or reports of enormous yields, or adapted to beekeeping, and enters through reading some of the over-

into it properly in a favorable loca- drawn works on apiculture (so writ-

tion and masters it that success will ten with the purpose of making new as rule, advise converts), just take some wholesome, follow ; yet, a we keeping bees in connection with practical food for study and thought, some other vocation, as when one both by securing one or more of the

becomes thoroughly familiar with all works on practical apiculture men-

the requirements of beekeeping it is tioned in this journal, and by visit- an easy matter to enlarge his apiary. ing some practical and successful Then, again, a few colonies properly apiarist. In this way, you will

managed will generally give far bet- be prepared to look at both sides ; ter results than can be obtained from and if, after doing this, you enter into a large apiary. beekeeping with a detenuination to

Those who are just commencing succeed you are certain to make it should remember that the less they pay, provided you are adapted to the handle their bees, and yet accomplish business, and other things are equal. what may be required, the better for There is not the slightest reason their colonies. why nearly every person who has a

If one is naturally nervous, it is fair-sized garden should not keep a best to wear a bee veil at first and few colonies of bees and thus pro- when manipulating the colonies work vide the table with nature's purest gently and avoid jarring or fretting and most healthful sweets. Success them. in any vocation always means hard V/ hen looking for the queen, blow work, together with push, tact, and a little smoke in at the entrance as energy. Thousands embark each this causes the queen to run up on year on the sea of business enter- the comb and the bees that may be prise and the shoals and quicksands running about on the bottom board are strewn with stranded wrecks, yet will fill with honey. there are those who, by rigid econo-

One of the first steps for the be- my and shrewd management, accu- ginner is to decide, as far as possible, mulate a competency besides estab- to which class he intends to belong, lishing a good remunerative business. and what amount of capital he can Our advice to those w^ho wish to safely invest. engage in beekeeping would as a rule

Where one has a limited capital be this. If at present you have no and wishes to become an expert or location, look about you and find a a specialist, it is far better to begin on small place of from one to ten acres a small scale and gradually increase according to your means and the his number of colonies making them situation. 132 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

It is better to have the land slope purchase them of some reliable dealer to the south and east if possible and and always select a standard frame, it should be well protected from the and it will pay you well to look into cold north and west winds. Perhaps the merits of the various frames be- • you can rent or lease a place adapt- fore making your purchase. ed to your needs. The surround- While for some reasons we prefer ing country should be well supplied a frame about loX 15, yet as the with bee pasturage in the shape of "Langstroth Standard" is now so orchards, clover, basswood (if pos- largely in use and is no objection as sible), wild flowers or many others regards wintering the bees, we deem that we might name but which are it best to adopt it in our own apiaries. described in most of the works on Circumstances must in a great apiculture. measure control these matters, but

Where one is located in the city whatever style is adopted it should be or village and means to keep only a adhered to, else much trouble and few colonies this advice is unneces- expense will result. sary, but with all others it is imper- We deem the tenement hive the ative that they locate in a good best for all purposes. True, the first honey-producing district. cost is somewhat greater, but in the

It is also best to learn if there are end it pays. many bees kept where you wish to The hives should be constructed locate ; as, while there is no law to in as simple a manner as possible, prevent your establishing an apiary and while if one wants but a few he by the side of your neighbor, yet the can make them after obtaining his latter has rights which it is proper colony of bees and estimating the and just to respect. it is This again will size of the brood chamber ; yet not matter without you intend to much better if he wants five or more build up a large apiary. hives to purchase them in the flat. One may secure a large yield of While we prefer for working bees honey and yet find a poor market for a cross between the Italian and Holy- it ; hence it is always best to take into lands (from Syria), yet as a rule we consideration the advantages for es- would recommend the Italian as the tablishing a good home market. It bcsi for the average beekeeper. Ex- will pay far better than shipping to perience will teach one which is the large markets and giving all your best race. profits to commission men. We shall endeavor to give illustra- There are so many items of inter- tions of different styles of hives in our est which should serve as an intro- next paper but have been too busy duction to these papers that we to attend to it this month. hardly know where to stop and must Our first advice is "Make haste be necessarily brief and even leave slowly," but '"stick to it" until you many of them until we write again. have either mastered the business or

In purchasing bees it is best if you found that you were better adapted want but from one to five colonies to to some other vocation. THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. 133

NEW OBSERVATIONS ON But we afterwards found it an illusion THE NATURAL HISTORY arising from the reflection of the light OF BEES. for nothing like a fluid was visible except when the solar rays reached the bottom of the cells. This part is Bv Francis Hubkk. commonly covered by shining frag- ments of the cocoons of worms suc- (Continued from p. 95, Vol III) cessively hatched, and the reflection Solicitous to learn its origin, and of the light from these when much conjecturing that it might be mas- illuminated, produces an illusory ef- culine matter, he began to watch the fect. We proved it by the strictest motions of every drone in the hive, examination for no vesdges of a on purpose to seize the moment fluid were perceptible when the cells when it should be received by the were detached and cut asunder. pfrrrc Though the first observation in- He assures us, that he saw several spired us with some distrust of Mr. drones insinuate the posterior part Debraw's discovery, we repeated his of the body into the cells for that other experiments with the utmost purpose. After frequent repetition of care. the first he entered on a long series On the 6th of August, 1787, we of other experiments. immersed a hive, and with scrupulous There was something very spe- attention examined all the bees while cious in this explanation : the exper- in the bath. We ascertained that iments on which it was founded there was no male, either large or seemed correct ; and it afforded a small, and having examined every satisfactory reason for the prodigious comb we found neither male nymph number of males in a hive. At the nor worm. When the bees were dry same time the author had neglected we replaced the whole, along with to obviate one strong objection : lar- the queen in their habitation, and vae appear when there are no drones. transported them into my cabinet.

From the month of September un- They were allowed full liberty ; there- til April, hives are generally destitute fore they flew about and made their

; of males ; yet, notwithstanding their usual collections but it being nec- absence, the queen then lays fertile essary that no male should enter the eggs. hive during the experiment, a glass Thus the prolific matter cannot be tube was adapted to the entrance, of required for their impregnation, un- such dimensions that two bees only less we shall suppose that it is nec- could pass at once ; and we watched essary at a certain time of the year, the tube attentively during the four while at every other season it is use- or five days that the experiment con- less. tinued. We should have instantly To discover the truth amidst these observed, and removed any male ap- facts, apparently so contradictory, I pearing, that the result of the ex- determined to repeat Mr. Debraw's periment might be undisturbed, and experiments, and to observe more I can positively affirm that not one precaution than he himself had done. was seen. First, I sought for that matter which However, from the first day wliich he supposes the prolific in cells con- was the 6th of August, the queen taining eggs. Several were actually deposited fourteen eggs in the work- found with such an appearance, and ers' cells ; and all these were hatched during the first day of observation, on the tenth of the same month. neither my assistant nor myself doubted the reality of the discovery. \_To be continued.'] 134 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

to give them such instruction as will EDITORIAL. aid them in their work. Do not fail to send for a few of Doubtless our friends will not take our "Companions" and distribute it amiss if we give but a brief edi- them for us ; it will be but little torial this month. Our new enter- trouble and will aid us wonderfully prise is receiving such hearty en- in building up our subscription list. dorsement from every quarter that We are preparing to give our we must conclude that we have taken readers a large number of ill'istra- the right step after all. We only ask tions and as our list increases we that the reader and our customers shall be able to add many new and bear patiently with us for a while. interesting features to our Journal. The season has been so backward We have already sent out 5,000 that we are in a rush but shall be "Companions" within the last two amply able to meet all demands. weeks, and the call is so great that We have not utilized the question we are printing 5,000 more. and answer department this month as the amount of work that we have been obliged to perform has been EXPERUIENTAL simply enormous, but we shall soon BEE FARM NOTES. have that department in running On account of the many duties order again. devolving upon us in establishing our would urge upon our readers We bee farm we have not as yet been the importance of creating a home able to carry out any of the experi- demand for honey this season in ments that we mean to test for the order that we may not have a glutted benefit of our readers. While for the purpose of experi- honey market with which to contend. menting we shall devote some colo- the State conven- Work hard at nies to the production of honey, both tions to have county associations comb and extracted, yet this season's operations will be confined almost formed ; these are the educators that exclusively to queen-rearing. will prove the gateway to a home We start with about one hundred demand. colonies of the different races of bees. first-class exhibi- Prepare to make The season thus far (in this locality) tions at county fairs next fall : it will has been unusually backward and pay. It may seem as though this trying, giving us but little warm, pleasant weather and but few days when advice was premature, but we have the bees could gather honey freely. none too much time to prepare for Last winter most of our colonies • these fairs. were wintered in the beehouse and Remember that if we ever have a were removed to the summer stands, permanent market for our honey the about the 28th of March, in fine condition and there seemed to be beekeepers must make it. but little difference between their wish our readers to come to We cor^dition and that of those wintered us with their experiences, successes on the summer stands. The first and failures and we shall endeavor work of the season commenced '

THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 135 when the bees were removed from ish. Never spread brood faster than the beehouse. The hives were it can be covered and well protected cleared (as much as possible with- by the bees even during the cool out removing the combs) of dead nights. During the last few days in bees ; the honey boards with which April the weather was favorable for the hives were covered during winter honey gathering and a few pounds were removed and replaced with were stored by each colony from the mats on the top of which chaff cush- soft maple bloom. ions were placed. Our colonies have been so well We kept our colonies well packed protected that they were not troubled that they might be snug and warm with spring dwindling and soon they even during the sudden changes became so strong in numbers as to in temperature and we make it a be in fine condition for queen-rear- rule never to remove such packing ing. until warm weather has "come to It is poor policy both for the stay." breeder and for the honey producer As soon as the bees could be han- to attempt to rear queens with any dled safely the colonies were exam- but the most populous colonies if ined and all combs outside the they want first-class queens. cluster were removed. This is an At this date we have between 300 excellent practice, as by reducing the and 400 queen cells in all stages of capacity of the brood chamber to the construction and quite a large num- size of the cluster we enable the bees ber of queens ready for fertilization. to maintain sufficient heat to carry on Our queen-rearing is conducted by brood-rearing much more rapidly the methods given in the Beekeepers' than when they are surrounded by a Handy Book; and, indeed, after hav- cold vacant space. ing practised all the various methods, At the time of setting out the bees, we would as soon think of going back the entrances to the hives were all to the old box-hive system of keeping contracted to about one inch and it bees as to practise the old unsatisfac- is wonderful to see what a help this is tory and uncertain methods of rear- to the bees in keeping the hive warm. ing queen bees. In a few days after being removed It is a pleasure to examine the nice from the bee-house the bees were evenly built and conveniently spaced busily engaged in carrying in the ar- rows of cells found in the queen-rear- tificial pollen (wheat flour) which we ing colonies now under Mr. Alley's provided for them placing it near by supervision. It is indeed a most in- in the apiary. teresting sight and one that we would Brood-rearing soon commenced be pleased to share with our beekeep- and in about four weeks the colonies ing friends to whom we extend a began to show marked signs of in- most cordial invitation to visit us. crease. We shall endeavor to impart to all Soon we found it necessary to add our visitors all the information pos- empty combs wherein the queens sible regarding queen-rearing and the might deposit eggs. While in the general management of the apiary as hands of the expert this is a safe and conducted at our "bee farm." At sure method of building up the colo- present we have four races of bees nies rapidly, yet it must be conducted from which we are propagating with caution else during a warm spell queens, prominent among which are tlie queens may utilize more combs the orange-yellow Italians. We confix than the bees can cluster and thus dently assert that we never saw or neglect thf brood in the outside possessed a more beautiful or hardy combs which in such case must per- strain of pure Italian bees. 136 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

We shall run four separate apia- nection with this practice that Mr. ries situated about three miles apart Pond and others fail to give. in order to keep each race strictly It often happens that when a col- pure. ony at work in the sections is dis- We have set out one hundred turbed, the queens will run up into "prickly comfrey" plants, purchased the latter and in the removal may of Mr. Arthur Todd of Philadelphia, be lost. To prevent this make as Pa., and shall refer to them again litde disturbance in the transfer- later in the season. We have also ring as possible and smoke down, sown one and a half acres of Bokhara into the hive, all the bees that clus- clover for the bees and it will pay ter on the tops of the frames. our readers to utilize every waste The bees removed with the sec- spot (at least) with either or both tions will not quarrel with their new of the above. Increase in pas- neighbors. turage means increase in surplus There are many items that would honey. It is now time to prepare prove interesting to our readers but for the coming honey harvest and in- we have already devoted more space deed in many sections of the coun- than we intended to this department try the surplus boxes have been and must await another opportunity. placed in the hives, or the honey extractor resorted to. When the colonies that are to be run for section honey become populous and begin to build white comb along the edges CORRESPONDENCE. of the top bars, and perhaps between the combs, it is well to place one set the honev extr.'vctor. of sections on the hives but they Friend Locke : should have only the amount of sur plus room that they can utilize and Your beautiful book. Vols. I and II other sections should be added as of the "American Apiculturist," is be- they are needed. fore me and its contents noted. It A piece of comb foundation one- seems to fill the bill, being replete with half the size of the section, cut items of importance especially to the in the shape of a triangle and at- more advanred apiarist. While we tached point downward, will be a won- cannot forget the labors of a Langs- derful help to the bees and prove a troth, a Quinby, and a few other paying investment to the apiarist. dear names, your work fills a more If some colonies seem strong but modern want, and if you keep in do not utilize the sections readily, view the interest of honey producers, just exchange their empty sections as I do not doubt you will, you with partially filled sets (bees and all) ought to meet with success. I have raising from other colonies. This is a plan been in the business of and practised more than twenty-five marketing comb-honey about 35 years ago by Mr. Alley and Mr. John years. Made a litde at it once, but of late years it hardly pays. The J. Gould, formerly of Wenham. Mr. G. was at one time one of the larg- injudicious use of the honey extrac- est beekeepers in this State. tor has been a great damage to us Mr. Pond, however, credits a bee- as beekeepers, and it is the only keei)er in Maine with being the orig- thing I know of tliat can injure your inator of this most excellent plan for success. This engine bee business inducing the bees to enter the sec- is a mistake. Some are clamoring for will ex- tions. a large iron extractor, that tract not less than four combs in no There is one disadvantage in con- THE AMERICAN APICUL TURIS T. 137

The fragile insect needs the care time. I suppose their reason for it And kindness of your heart, is that the larvae will not expire un- If you would win his services To aid you in a start. der the operation. Some do not C. Clark. relish larval honey anyway, and Jo- J. seph prefers quality to quantity, nor Alden, N. K, Apr. 15, 1885. does he believe it benefits brood or comb to be violently whirled in the CHAFF HIVES AND DESTRUCTION OF vortex of death. BROOD. They talk about a glutted market.

Well ! well ! honey is down and the Mr. Editor : mourners go about the streets. What I drop these few lines to you to shall we do ? Create a home de- ascertain whether the "Apiculturist" ? I think friend L. mand C. Root is opposed to publishing opinions of has answered this question on page beekeepers in regard to certain hives, 48, Vol. II, "American Apiculturist" in certain localities, their good and when he says "we must devise some bad qualities, etc. producing smaller means of crops," I sent A. I. Root my opinion of and I would add without diminishing the chaff hive, in my locality, how I that annihilate our income we the lost my bees very nearly all one extractor. What other method can season, by using them ; and I proved we rationally adopt to curtail the the cause to be the fault of the hive.i the quantity and enhance quahtyand I must have been right, or he would thus keep up a demand at home and certainly have published the article. Self interest for is self abroad ? one At least I thought I was, since he interest for all honey producers. It didn't publish it, which is about two is better to make a little pay than a years ago. Now he ought not to good deal not pay. I am not talk- have been opposed to publishing my for the supply business if I were, ing ; article, because I have already read I should undoubtedly advocate the in the Glean inos, where he said he extractor, because what bees it does was always glad to have the children not kill in the larval state are has- write pieces for it, because, as he tened to an untimely death by a says, they generally speak their mind cruel barbarous system, which and right out, no matter whom it hits. creates for fresh victims, a demand Now, I am no child, nor am I a fresh queens and fresh workers, so professional writer ; but I consider that the supply dealer alone now makes that my article was as well gotten up anything. as any child could get one up, and it When a law is passed by the Leg- was just as plain spoken too, as any islature against the practice wicked article a child ever wrote for Glean- of extracting honey as now carried ings, but it must have hit in the on, it will be the happiest day that wrong place. the bee, or the beekeeper who keeps Now, Mr. Editor, if the " Ameri- bees for profit, has seen. Of course can Apiculturist" is conducted and I do not hope to do justice to 1 We are unable to decide to what extent this question in so short an article, the "Chaflf Hive" was liable for the loss of our but would submit it to your thought- friend's bees, as quite frequently the lack of ful consideration as one of the most a thorough knowledge of beekeeping will re- important questions touching the in- sult in loss of queens or bees which is attrib- terest of the American beekeeper. uted to the hive or dealer. Our friend certainly has a right to speak and the columns of the "Apiculturist" are always Be gentle with the little bee open to those who wish to express opinions, Which toils the summer day. so long as they do so in a fair, manly way. To bring its treasures to your home From every hidden way. —Eu. 12 138 THE AMERICAN APICUL TUBIS T.

run on such selfish motives, I would to bound vols, of papers and maga- rather have my money returned than zines in general, being free from ad- be considered a subscriber. vertisements through the body of the You are at liberty to publish this book. In fact one could hardly tell

if you choose. that it was a magazine as it has a Sometime since I saw an article in strong appearance of being compiled one of the bee journals, in answer expressly for book form. The me- to an inquiry as to the reason why chanical part of the work is ahead of a certain gentleman's bees tore down any volume on apiculture we know

their worker brood and dragged it of, and of course the literary part is

out. par excellence, coming as it does from

The answer that he received was such men as L. C. Root, A. J. Cook,

this : in case the honey flow ceases J. E. Pond, Arthur Todd, etc., etc. suddenly, the bees will tear down No apiarist who wishes to be up their worker brood and rid them- with the times can afford to be with-

selves of it to prevent starvation out it. It is an ornament to any library. which, so far as my experience goes, The snow is all gone, but with the I have never found to be the case, exception of a few days the weather although I have known the honey has been cold and May i and 2 it flow to cease very suddenly and very froze quite hard in the night. The often with me. winter has been severe. The loss in When the honey flow suddenly bees in this county is fully 50 per cent, ceases it is a very common thing to yet what are left are in fair condition. see the bees dragging out drone Clover appears not to have been

brood ; but whenever I see any of my killed during the winter and I think bees carrying out their worker brood we may look for a fair crop of honey • I know that that colony is troubled if we can get our stocks strong with the moth (or wax) worm. enough to swarm in time. I then open the hive and assist Wishing you success, I remain the bees in ridding themselves of yours truly, the pests, and I have never yet failed CM. Goodspeed. to find the latter travelling along just Thorn Hill, N. K, May 4, 1885. under the cappings of the brood, where their presence is easily detected by white streaks which are easily followed with the head of a large jDin new york and florida. or the point of a knife and the worm removed without injuring the brood Dear Sir : in the least. Books, papers and " Apicultur- I suppose that the bees, in their ist" received. Thanks. efforts to secure and remove the Owing to the continued cold weath- worms, tear out some of the worker er in January and February the or- brood. ange bloom is not at its prime yet at

J. C. Simmons. this date (March 11), so I will omit Pottsville, Pa. the report of its value as a honey producer until next month. The temperature for February was news from new york. yet lower than for January. I have taken three observations daily for Friend Locke : the two months. Vols. I and II of the "Api" For January, at 7 a.m., average for (bound in one) came to hand in nice the month 55.° At i p. m., in sun shape. Its make-up is far superior and cloudy weather, highest 78°, at 1

THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 139

8 p. M., 54.° Extreme temperature, Long, branching hairs on the crown hottest, 98,° coolest 34.° of the head stand thick like a minia- For February, 7 a. m., 47,° i p.m. ture forest, so that an ocellus is in sun, 79,° 8 P. M., 53.° Highest scarcely discernible except from a above 92,° lowest, 28.° particular point of view ; and then Greatest variation during seven the observer remarks an opening hours, 58.° through the hairs — a cleared path-

February at 7 a. m., temperature way, as it were, in such a forest only 7° colder; at i p. M. 1° hotter —and notes that the ocellus, looking and at 8 p. m., i° colder. like a glittering globe half immersed January was very foggy and damp in the substance of the head, lies at and much more uniform in temper- the inner end of the path. The ature than February. opening connected with the front Bees work every favorable day but ocellus expands forward from it like no swarming in this vicinity this a funnel, with an angle of about fif- month. teen degrees. The side ocelli have C. G. Ferris. paths more narrow, but opening more

; that the two together Sauford, Fill., March 11, 1885. vertically so command a field which, though hedged in anteriorly and posteriorly, embraces, in a plane transverse, of EXCHANGES. course, to the axis of the insect's body, an arc of nearly one hundred Limitation of the visual field and eighty degrees. OF the worker honey-bee's ocelli. These paths through the hairs ap- BY THE REV. J. L. Zabriskie.^—The pear to me to be indications that the honey-bee is a remarkably hairy in- ocelli are intended for distant vision, sect. On the head the hairs are although the opinion that near vision dense, and of various lengths ; and is their function is held by eminent they cover every part, even the com- opticians. pound eyes and the mandibles. The The ocelli are nearly hemispherical, antennae, however, are apparently and the diameter of each is about smooth, having only microscopic fifteen times that of a facet of the hairs ; and a path through the long compound eye. Such a form of lens hairs, from each ocellus, or simple would, I will concede, indicate for eye, directly outward,—to be de- these organs a short focus, and scribed more fully presently, — is hence, a fitness for near vision. practically smooth. But if the ocelli are intended for ocelli are situated The so that near objects, it is difiicult to under- when the ]:)ee is at rest and the face stand why they are surrounded by a vertical, they are directly on the top growth of hair so dense as to per- of the head, arranged as an equilat- mit unobstructed vision only in a eral triangle, and one ocellus is di- very narrow field, and why they are rected to the front, one to the right so placed on the top of the head as side, and one to the left^. to be debarred from seeing any ob- in 1 By mistake this communication, which jects the neighborhood of the should have appeared in our last, was ovei-- mandibles and the proboscis, the looked and as it contains valuable items we give it in this number.— Ed. ability to see which objects would ap- ^Tnis paper was read at a meetinnr of the pear to be very necessary in the con- New York Microscopical Society, Alarch 6, 1885. stant and delicate labors of the 3 Tlie ocelli are simple eyes or lenses, set between the compound eyes, as adtlitional or- worker honey-bee among' the flow- gans of vision. These organs are possessed ers. by all insects which have compound eyes. —Ed. Dr. Zabriskie exhibited the head 140 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

of the worker honey-bee for the tered 178 out of 180 ; one winter he purpose of illustrating the above re- lost none out of 150 and his success marks. At the conclusion of his ob- is fully as great m summer manage- servations, he added : "Besides the ment. He doubtless could give much worker honey-bee, I have brought information of value but we seldom for exhibition the drone and the hear of him in public. queen of the same species, and the Most parties report bees to have queen-cells; the queen oi Bombus died in March after the severest Virginicus, one of our native hum- weather had passed. Is this not ad- ble-bees ; the Melissodes binotata, ditional proof that loss was caused male and female ; the Melissodes pru- by aged bees going into winter quar- inosa, both sexes ; the beautiful An- ters and becoming worn out, and in- thop}io7-a dispar, male and female sufficiency of stores? One report of Tunis, Africa ; and the celebrated before me gives eleven starved out little stingless bee of Abyssinia, the of thirteen. Bees in some localities Trigona Beccai-ii, which lives in im- are doing remarkably well this spring. mense colonies, and stores large Fresh honey is being stored in abun- quantities of honey. The Anthophora dance, combs having honey from top dispar has a very long proboscis. to bottom, and here we feel confident The possession of such a proboscis some of our colonies, unless there is by our own bees would add millions a sudden change in the weather, will of dollars annually to the wealth of require extracting before the end of the United States. the week and the prospects are that beekeepers will reap an abundant harvest. Brantford, Ont. CANADIAN DEPARTMENT.

R. r. HOLTERMAN, EDITOR. BOOK NOTICES AND We have to report a very heavy REVIEWS. loss ; at first one-third dead was supposed to cover the gi'ound, but later —"Money in Potatoes" is the title reports will probably bring it nearer of a valuable and instructive little 50 per cent. The losses may briefly manual published by the Franklin be accounted for, at least largely : News Co. of Phila., Pa., which they by the failure of the honey crop after kindly sent us for review. clover ; consequent cessation of breed- —Mr. A. I. Root of Medina, Ohio, ing and old bees ready for winter has also sent us a potato book en- quarters ; an unusual consumption of titled the A B C of Potato Culture, stores in the fall, followed by a se- written by T. B. Terry of Hudson, vere winter. Men who stimulated Ohio, which is well illustrated and breeding until a proper season, fed printed in good clear type. sufficient stores of the right kind and at the proper time, and properly Mr. Henry Alley, of Wenham, packed their bees outside or had Mass., has submitted for review, the them in good cellars, were generally proof sheets of the latest edition of successful. Experienced beekeepers the "Beekeeper's Handy Book." Our have generally been successful as reason for not waiting until the work they know and are careful about get- was complete was because it will ting the proper conditions for suc- be placed on the market at about cessful wintering. the same time that our subscribers Martin Emyh, of Holbrook, win- receive their journal. THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 141

Mr. Alley's former work was an in- the proper care and management of valuable addition to bee literature, swarms is excellent, while that per- giving as it did, not only the most taining to queenless colonies and their scientific, systematic and practical care is very important and valuable. method of raising queen bees, but The subject of comb-foundation also many other items of interest and and its manufacture is complete much valuable information, gleaned and exhaustive, and is written by one from an intimate acquaintance with of the best manufacturers of comb- beekeeping of about twenty-seven foundation in the country. years. The present work, however, The chapter on beehives, their surpasses the former in every respect, construction, etc., is entirely a new and no beekeeper can afford to do departure, and original with this work. without it. A large number of the best are illus- The instructions given have been trated and described, also their valu- thoroughly tested by the author who able features, as claimed by their has made a success of the business, originators. and these instructions are presented The work also contains a brief, but to the reader in a simple matter- interesting, description (with fine of-fact way : They are, in fact, the illustrations) of the various honey concise description of the every-day producing plants, and also the ene- experiences, for nearly twenty-seven mies of bees. years, of a thoroughly practical apia- The second part, which is devoted rist who has mastered every branch to queen-rearing, has been revised of the business. and corrected, and many new and This work contains about 300 valuable illustrations and items of in- pages, and nearly one hundred illus- struction have been added. trations. It is a work that we can heartily While we have other valuable endorse and recommend as indispen- works on Apiculture, yet none of sable to every beekeeper. them fill the position occupied by the "Handy Book," and no matter what works one may have this one should be procured, as it will more than return its cost each season. The first part contains about 175 NOTES AND QUERIES. pages, is devoted to general subjects of apiculture, while the second is Mr. M. Shuck who a short devoted to queen-rearing. — J. time since suffered a severe loss in The author, so to speak, takes the the burning up of his beehive stock, beginner out into his apiary and has just sent us his neat and attractive gives him just the information circular stating that he is again pre- needed to enable one who is almost for business. wholly unacquainted with the bees, to i:)ared

this continue it commence study and —We have just received from- Mr. with a surety of success. Pryal of Temescal, Cal, a complete tells the beginner "how to He file of the Califonna Apiculturist, start an apiary," how and when to which we are pleased to add to our select, pack and remove their bees, collection, Mr. Pryal will please the on, when to place section-boxes accept our thanks for the same. how to prevent bees from deserting surplus boxes on cool nights, and —We shall issue- our Journal from how to strengthen weak colonies. June to December on the 15 th of His description of swarming and the month. 142 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

—Those who are so strictly ortho- finest lot of red raspberry plants that dox in their opinions, especially when w^e ever saw, they certainly do him criticising others, should remember credit. that their first duty is to practise As we are publishing what they preach, as their teachings — now 5,000 copies per month of our Journal, will then be productive of good. advertisers- will do well to give it a —We shall continue to issue our trial. Journal from the Salem Press office, but all communications should be —Use every effort to work up a addressed to Wenham, Mass., and home demand for your honey this when sending money do not forget season as in most cases it will pay to make all postal notes or money much better than sending it to city orders payable on Salem, Mass., post markets. office. —Read all our club offers for this — We have just received a cir- month carefully and if you should price list from Mr. B cular and , receive more than one copy of our who is now in Europe dealing in Journal kindly hand the other to foreign queens and bees. The char- your neighbor. It may do him some acter of the language and criticisms good and it will help us. contained therein will not warrant us Better chances were never offered in giving it a favorable notice. to secure first-class goods cheap than Manly criticism or counsel and ad- will be found in our club list. vice, or one's opinion expressed in Mr. Clark his kindly language, always demands re- — J. C. submits communication to us for considera- spect ; but since Mr. B has en- tion, and we would state that while gaged in the sale of the eastern bees and queens he has introduced some the extractor in the hands of an inexperienced apiarist or by injudicious finely drawn lines of distinction be- will doubtless prove a great in- tween the names given to the differ- use consider it the ent races of bees from the Holy jury, yet we one of Land. most valuable implements in a well apiary. Until lately we had no trouble in conducted understanding what was meant by The trouble with the "glutted" market comes, not from the the terms Holy Land bees, Syrian honey the honey extractor, or the bees or Palestine bees, and in order use of over-production of honey, but from that we may be set at rights again a lack of proper knowledge and will some one capable of judging of creating a demand. As a kindly tell us what countries are in- means cluded within the boundaries of rule we do not consider it best to the Holy Land (not Holy Land extract honey from combs containing proper.) unsealed larvae, but one must be governed by his knowledge of and Mr. B— is not even contented to in this business. establish names of his own but makes experience We could not be hired to do with- it a point to abuse all those who dif- extractor for many reasons. fer from him. out the should be pleased to hear from We trust that he may yet learn to We this subject, as allow others the same freedom in ex- Mr. Dadant on he pressing their opinions that he uses the extractor extensively. himself and then abstain from wishes A few days since while we were busy abusing them for so doing. at the desk, Mr. Alley called us out —We have just received from F. into the apiary to witness a swarm of D. Wellcome of Poland, Maine, the bees issuing from a hive that was THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 143

provided with one of his drone traps. We shall experiment further with It was very amusing and interesting the trap and give the results. to watch the honey-laden bees rush pell-mell out through the perforated —Mr. J. D. Goodrich of East metal entrance giving conclusive ev- Hardwick, Vermont, has sent us some idence that the perforations were most excellent comb foundation. amply large to freely admit a worker The thin for sections was especially bee laden either with pollen or honey. fine, Soon the queen unable to force —For I3.00 cash we will send the her way through at the entrance "American Apiculturist" one year passed into the trap. As soon as the and one of our fertilizing hives majority of the bees had passed out containing four combs with brood we removed the drone trap, fastened and one-half pound of bees and a it to the end of a long pole and choice selected queen—the hive will rested it against a small tree near by. also be supplied with one of our cone In a short time the bees, discover- feeders. With this small nucleus ing their queen in the trap, clustered colony one can rear a number of upon it. queens during the season and it will When the bees had become quiet be a great help in learning queen- we removed the trap to a convenient ^ rearing. shady spot near by and laying it on its side placed over it one of the —Advertisers will please notice swarming boxes, covering the box the change in our rates, 15 cents per with a board so as to cover the wire line each insertion. There are about cloth and it dark within the box. make seven words to the line, and twelve then left the swarm in that We lines to the inch. In sending copy condition for about six hours in order always write it on one side of a sep- to with it and learn experiment arate sheet of paper and be very whether the would force her queen particular to have the names, ad- way out. dresses, etc., very plain. In the early evening examined we Parties unknown to us must send the swarm found that the queen and cash with the order. was out among the bees in the swarm- All copy for advertisements and ing box, and found that as the trap manuscript must reach us by the first was laid on its side the bees that of the month, if they are to appear filled the trap formed a bridge over in the following number which we which the queen could pass through shall issue on the 15 th of the month the wire tube through which she until December. passed into the trap. This is a valuable feature of the trap because if one cannot always be at hand to attend to the swarms, the queen after about six hours will LETTER BOX. find her way back into the hive again, thus preventing either her loss or that Des Moines, la. of the bees. Deau Siu : We have had considerable experi- Am in receipt of Vols. 1 & 2 of the ence with hiving swarms, but never "American Apiculturist" handsomely performed the task with such ease or bound in cloth with an enormous golden

bee ! so speedily as we can with the drone bee on the front cover. Happy to thus repose upon a production that has trap. can heartily endorse it as We sprung up under the skies of Quinby, invaluable to the beekeeper even for Carey, Parsons, Elwood, Alley, Heth- this one purpose alone. erington, Doolitlle, L. C Root, and a —

144 THE AMERICAN Al'ICULTURIST.

host of northeastern beekeepers who Brantford, June 4, 1885. have honored the calling. Friend Locke: The attractiveness of the boolv and I see by the last num- its practical teaching should find for it ber of the "Apiculturist" much new a ready sale. and valuable information from Eng- J. M. Shuck. land and Germany. Last fall I learned through a Gern)an journal that the poison of the honey bee was utilized in Willamina, Yamhill Co., Ore. curing honey. April 22, 1885. A thought suggested itself to me which I hoped ere now I should have Sik : S. M. Locke, been in a position to practically test, I have just received j'onr first and but circumstances have been unfavor- second volumes bound together in able and perhaps you know of some cloth, and must say that it exceeds my one who would take an interest in the greatest expectations. Every beekeep- matter. per should have it. I intended taking a strong colony and feeding them, say 3 lbs. of syrup Frank S. Harding, per day and allow the bees to seal Pres. of the Willamette Valley B. A. this and extract with great care. Then feed the same colony 25 lbs. in a day of twenty-four hours (and it Oxford, Bvtler Co., Ohio. can be done) and after it has been sealed extract as before, during hot Dear Sir : weather, and again later in the season, , Vols. 1 & 2 of the "Apiculturist" re- giving four distinct experiments, and ceived, and after carefully examining then test the various syrups for dif- its contents, I have no hesitancy in ference, if any, of quantity of poison pronouncing it fully up to any bee contained in stores. If a marked journal published. Its contributors are diflerence occurred after repeated ex- first-class, and show by their articles perimenting the matter might be wor- that they are men of ability. I highly thy of consideration and thus one rea- approve of your treatment and conson why stores put in late are not as demnation of fraud in every shape. I good as those given earlier. am pleased to meet with the familiar I must say a man must be too much face of our old friend Mr. Langstroth of an enthusiast if he considers, as in Vol. 2. He lives within 200 yards many appear to, that any one condition, of me, and is one of the dearest old if fulfilled, will insure perfect success men I ever knew. A person has only in wintering. Doubtless much is to to him to appreciate his worth. know be learned in wintering, and theories D. A. McCoRD. advanced will often be another step towards success. If we only acted thoroughly up to our present knowl- Battle Ground, Ind., April 13, 1885. edge and were more careful, the percentage of loss would doubtless be Dkar Sir: wonderfully reduced. The "Am. Apiculturist" came safe Your brother beekeeper, having examined its to hand, and con- R. F. Holterman. tents, or rather the headings of the We are pleased with Mr Holter- major part of the book, I pronounce man's suggestions, and, if possible, it 7ie phis xiltra. It should be in the will some tests, as this matter is hands of every respectable beekeeper make of more vital importance to beekeepers of our broad land, it being complete than they are aware. We shall refer and full of most useful knowledge to this again in the near future. "With many thanks lam, sir, very truly Mr. Holterman has touched the right yours in fraternal bonds of apiculture. key ; we must have more careful ex- P. S. I truly wish you success, in all perimenting with a view to solving that is good and honorable, and shall some of the mysteries that now sur- try to furnish an occasional article for round apiculture, and we trust that the Am. Apiculturist. Please find tliis others of our readers and beekeeping my second contribution to same. If ac- friends will offer like suggestions and ceptable you are at liberty to publish. also assist us in making the tests. It Trusting the "Apiculturist" may live will pay you well to do so, and we can long and prosper, I am as ever, by this means help each other vei'y J. M. Hicks. much. Ed.] The American Apiculturist

§. Ifoitnial b^bohb to ^mntifit ani) |Pradi;raI §cilu£ptng. ENTERED AT THE POST-OFFICE, SALEM, AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER.

Published Monthly. S. M. Locke & Co., Publishers & Prop'rs.

VOL. III. WENHAM, MASS., JULY 15, li No. 7.

SUBSCRIPTION PRICES. three ; the A. flora in two ; and what $1.00 per year, payable in advance. Sent I suppose to be the "Melipona" of on trial three months for 35 cts., six months South America, in six or more varie- for 60 cts. ties. Advertising Rates :— 15 cents per line of space each insertion. At first dawn the bees pour forth

A line of this type will admit about? words from their homes, and their mighty One inch will contain twelve lines. hum fills the air. Trees up to three Transient Advertisements must be paid for and four feet in diameter, with wide in advance. spreading tops full of bloom, and Those wishing special rates will please others covered with correspond with tlie Editor. great creepers, a foot in diameter, with a bloom so fra- When sending money make all postal notes and money oiders payable at the Salem, grant, that its sweetness reaches to a Mass., Post Office. long distance about, tempt the bees All communications should be addressed to their feasts of honey. to S. M. Locke & Co., Wenham, Mass. One would suppose, that under the circumstances, the bees would gather

THE BEES OF INDIA. great quantities of honey, but it is seldom the case, even with A. Indica, By a. Bunker. that any considerable quantity of

honey is collected, owing in part, I I HAVE been promising myself the suspect to their many enemies, which pleasure of writing to you for some tend to break them up into many time, but the extreme heat and my swarms, and these being small are

duties have prevented till now. easily destroyed, or caused to abscond I spent the month of April in the from nest after nest. For instance, jungle studying bees. It was my va- the moth is very destructive, and when cation. I camped on the top of a once they attack a swarm, the victory

high mountain amidst trees of great is soon won by one side or the other,

size, which afforded a dense shade. mainly on the side of the moth I Although the thermometer often think. I captured a fine large swarm showed 86°, yet we found this place of yellow A. I, and on transferring a great relief from the heat of the them, found a few moth worms which plains. I destroyed. In a few days the whole Here the bees are very numer- swarm absconded, and on examina-

ous. The Apis dorsata is found tion I found the combs riddled by

in two varieties; the A. Indica in moths, that is, all that were not torn

13 (145) 146 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

down by the bees, in trying to rid them- scarcely a sting, though working of-

selves of their enemies. Again, the ten without a vail. But they have

small openings in the trees compel their moods, and before they are fully the bees to swarm, even when the subdued one needs to be careful. parent swarm is small. Their envi- The A. dorsata has been under ronment, as Mr. Spencer would say, study as well as other races, but as I is not favorable to large swarms, and am not yet satisfied with my experi- the energies of the bees are devoted ments, I dare not write much about to increase of species. Honey can this class or the "Melipona''\}). be got in small quantities all the year This last class is a stingless bee, pro- round so there is no necessity to store ducing abundance of wax, and little it up save for a rainy day, and there honey, but offering a very interesting is seldom more than a week in the study to the lover of natural history.

depth of the rains that bees cannot I have two varieties of this class of take a flight and gather some honey bees in observatory hives, and I hope and pollen. There is one kind of to have something interesting to re- A. Indica which I have not been able port by and by. to capture yet, which takes up its Toungoo^ Burmah. abode in piles of rocks, and forms May i8, iSSj. large storehouses of honey. This kind seems to be an exception to the general rule.

Notwithstanding all these difficulties which the A. Indica must meet, BUILDING UP. they multiply with great rapidity, and

I hope may yet be made of some use By C. M. Goodspeed. under domestication. I have had six swarms, several months, under trial, After such a winter as we have and although I have obtained only just experienced, the question comes ten pounds of honey, yet I am en- in from all sides, "How can I best couraged to continue experiments. restock my empty combs?"

If I can restrain the swarming im- • Making a practice, as I do, of selling pulse sufficiently to secure large bees and queens, I am doing this swarms, I believe they can be made building up all the time and will tell useful. I have taken one colony you how I do it. through the season without swarming, In early spring I confine each col- and now I have a very large hive of ony on just as many combs as they bees, which I am trying to induce to will cover thoroughly and no more, work in supers. Tliey are now at examine them carefully each week, work on combs placed in supers, but and as soon as I am sure they will do not act as if it was natural to them. bear it I increase the brood room and These bees are remarkably gentle, insert one empty comb in the centre.

I have taken as many as a dozen Be careful not to do this until there swarms from tVees this year with are bees enough to keep all warm. THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 147

Mark the date on the top-bar of this I have occasion I draw from them frame. The object of this is to get more heavily. The young colonies a frame of brood that will hatch rap- are built up by adding brood without

idly. I treat all that I wish to run for bees ; or, better, exchanging one of increase in just this manner, after they their combs from which the brood has are strong enough to crowd four hatched for one about to hatch. But

frames, always drawing all frames after they get a laying queen of their given, as described above. Just as own I help them no more except by they begin to hatch nicely, great care adding empty combs as they require should be used so as not to get the until the two have reached a strength

queen but take all adhering bees. that will employ the full laying powers Two of these frames of brood and of their queen and then treat them

bees will make a good nucleus, but I just as the ©Id ones ; drawing brood, use three or four if I have so many bees, etc., as they can spare it. If this that hatch together. plan is carried late into the season the In the morning of some warm day, nuclei should be formed by taking take a nice clean hive and put as more frames to start with, "say eight,"

many of these frames in as you can so they may be strong in bees at once. afford, taking only one frame however In following this plan one must be from a hive. The novice may fear posted in the flora of his locality or

putting so many strange bees together else be willing to feed liberally if he lest he should induce them to quar- starts nuclei after the honey flow has rel, but there is no danger as every ceased.

bee if she attempts to leave her own Thorn Hill, Onon. Co., N. V. comb "bumps noses with a stranger"

taking the fight all out of her. This mixing up also helps to keep the old bees from going back to their old home. Let them be in this condition DOES BEEKEEPING PAY? one hour ; by this time all the knowing they ones have gone home and By G. W. Dejiaree. will take anything you have a mind to

give them for a queen. If it is a For the benefit of those who may queen that has come a long distance, be in want of information as to

or a virgin queen, I carefully Hft up whether they may safely take up the one corner of the quilt without smoke, business of beekeeping, with reason-

and let her run in on the combs ; if a able expectation of fair compensation

cell, rest it carefully in one corner be- for outlay of capital and labor, I ask tween the top bars of a couple of the privilege to reply to your corres-

frames. A laying queen from my pondent whose article and list of own yard I let run in at the entrance. questions appear on page 64, current

The old stocks are managed in this vol. 'Api." In the first place "Apis

way until they have increased to the Canadensis" fails to recognize the

uU capacity of the queen. Then if fact that bee culture, as a business 148 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

pursuit, is in its infancy, and there- Bee culture is a rural pursuit, and fore many "pranks" and "tumbles" cannot with fairness be compared may reasonably be expected of it at with the greater lucrative pursuits of the start. The prattles of the "works the world which make men "rich," on bees" about the profitableness of or crush them forever. bee culture has done but little harm, Let him compare bee culture with in fact less harm than good in a gen- other rural pursuits, and its most ar- eral way. dent friends will not shrink from the Most of the works on bee culture, comparison. though enthusiastic in style, are con- How many hundreds of people servative in fact, and have done an toil on poor little farms, or cultivate immense amount of good. It is true lands on the shares, or toil as day la- that one or two "works" that have borers, or work on the farm by the been pushed into wide circulation are month, or by the year, or toil as a full of "advertisements" of expensive mechanic, sometimes with employ- machinery, and cranky fixings not at ment and sometimes not, all of them all suitable to the humble occupation barely eking out a scant living from of beekeeping. The world would be year to year ! better without these, but they are Compare the "lot" of the apiarist simply excrescences growing on the who is his own "proprietor," moving limbs of the infant giant, to be as "boss" among his myriads of busy brushed off in more mature years. workers, who bring him an humble, These are "sweet advertisers" who perhaps, but pleasant, living, with the take advantage of the enthused, to above careworn toilers, and choose fleece them while in a muddled state ye which. of mind. Like Joab of old, they take How many persons working poor their victim aside and say "brother" farms make anything above a bare or "friend," and stab him — in the subsistence ? How many clerks, at a pocket? Of course. I know no salary of ^looo or ^1200, have any- remedy for these evils. People who thing over after paying the expenses enter the enthused state of mind in- of extravagant city life ? cident to "bee fever" will have to It matters but little as to just how abide the crucial test of the "survival many colonies of bees one man may

of the fittest." handle profitably ; that depends alto-

I have a tender place in my make gether on previous preparation. I up which responds when addressed plead the cause of bee culture as a as "brother," or "friend," but I am pursuit, because it has ameliorated

too old now to be hurt by it ; but let the hard lots of many worthy people, the novice beware that these "hon- and is destined to ameliorate the eyed words" do not smooth the way hard lives of thousands of others in to his pockets. the future.

"Apis Canadensis" dicidedly la- Is this not enough to justify Lang- bors under a delusion as to the true stroth, Quinby, Cook, Newman, Bal- character of bee culture as a business. lantine, Alley, etc., to wax enthusiastic THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 149 over their success in bringing pleas- their health and comfort, than when ant and remunerating employment to wintered out of doors. For twelve thousands of their fellow beings ? years past, I have wintered my bees If the business of beekeeping alternately in a cool, dark, dry, and turns out to be more precarious as a quiet cellar, and in the open air. pursuit than at first portrayed, by When housed, many died, dysentery the writers on the subject, the facts prevailed among them, and the stocks cannot be long concealed. Those were weak in the spring. When left who invest their money and time in the open air, on the other hand, in the business will be first to find it none of these evils were experienced. out. In conclusion I wish to say 2. Water dearth is a mere imagi- that the average beekeeper does not nary trouble, for the colony had necessarily need as high salary as a overhead no covering on which va-

''first-class clerk" does. His life por or moisture could condense. need not be so expensive as that of The window recess is only four inch-

the latter. Besides, "first-class" es broad, and all the rest was clerks are not numerous, and "places covered with woollen blanketing,

of fatness" for such are full and which certainly absorbed all moist- running over. The apicultural field ure. During the last fourteen years, is as wide as land and sunshine. I have kept my bees in top-opening

Christiansburg, Ky. hives. In the first four years, I did not close the interstices between the

slats forming the honey board, leaving open such of them as the bees

had not closed ; merely placing thereon a sheet of thick paper and a 'BIEA'ENZEITUNG'' NOTES. cushion filled with hay, and they wintered well. Then the idea oc-

Bt J. M. Hicks. curred to me that it might be better

to close all these interstices thor- M. BoTTNER in the Bienenzei- oughly. Adopting the notion, I f//ng states that he has learned from plastered them shut with clay. But

his experiments in endeavoring to the bees did not jvinter any better prevent swarming, and in wintering than before. As this plastering in his bees economically, the following the bee house was so inconvenient,

results : I omitted it during the last four

I. In wintering bees it is needless years on the six colonies wintered

to be so exceedingly anxious and there ; and these not only passed the

careful, if they are well supplied with winter as well as any of the others, stores, and their hives can shield but came out last spring as true co- them from the severity of the weath- lossal colonies. I had merely, as in er. Placing them in some wintering former years, placed a sheet of thick

repository is a useless and superflu- paper on the honey-board, laid an

ous labor, and is less conducive to old coffee bag on that, and covered 150 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. this with a layer of about four inches with stores, allotting to each, in proof hay. There was no trace of wa ter portion to its seeming deficiency, dearth. Only be careful that your and estimating one pound of granu- bees are not restricted to old candied lated sugar as equivalent to three honey for winter food. pounds of honey, and all these passed

3. Bees will swarm when so dis- the winter in excellent condition. posed, in spite of all the preventions We find in the above report of the beekeeper may please to use. this able German apiarist some valu- Give them as much room as you able instructions, especially in the please, and ventilation to reduce the wintering of bees on pure granulated yet they will, if the sugar, being by far the best substi- temperature ; go swarming mania seizes' them. This tute for pure honey, when they are colony had the entire garden-house found lacking in Nature's choicest

as room for expansion ; and that it and best of food. But when we are

is a cool place I am very certain. told that bees do better without a

Still, the swarm left. Only by re- proper protection as some would moving combs of maturing broods have us believe, we truly become and inserting empty combs, can sceptical with over forty years of ex- swarming be prevented. perience, finding as we do that a

4. That a colojiy may be well win- cellar of a proper temperature, and tered on seven potmds of granulated kept so as to be free from dampness

sugar. In the first year my colony and sudden changes, as well as from had not one pound of honey in store. all jars and noise is by far more

I gave it seven pounds of granulated preferable than wintering on summer

sugar in solution, and it was in a stands. splendid condition in the spring. Battle Ground, Ind.

Granulated sugar is preferable to

sugar candy, first, because it is cheaper, and, secondly, because it A RECORD OF QUEENS it is more soluble. On the first AND COLONIES. day of October, I placed equal quan-

tities of this sugar and of candy, side By G. a. Deadman. by side, in a small open box in my cellar. On the twentieth, the gran- I PRESUME different beekeepers ulated sugar was completely lique- have various plans for keeping a

fied, whereas the candy then merely record of queens, colonies, etc. The

showed signs of moistness. A sau- one I am about to describe, and cer of dissolved granulated sugar, which I have adopted will, I think, exposed in my sitting room, began answer the purpose for which it is to candy only after the lapse of nine intended. weeks. You first procure a small book

Moreover, I apportioned fifty with as many pages as you expect to are pounds of granulated sugar among have colonies ; if the pages not

twelve stocks insufficiently supplied numbered it makes no particular dif- THE AMEBICAN APICULTURIST. 151

ference as you can do that yourself. essary you can make an additional

You next go to your tinsmith and arrangement beneath it, for it to

get him to cut you as many pieces slide under, but I do not think it is of zinc or tin as you require, or one required.

for each colony ; these will only cost Now you are to have a record of

you for the time it takes to cut them, each queen in your book, the num- as they need only be large enough ber on the hive corresponding to the

for the number to be painted on page on which this record is put. them, and can, therefore, be cut out For instance, the hive to which

of waste material. They should be No. lo is attached contains a queen made sufficiently large, however, to fully described on page lo in your allow for a hole being made above book or on a page the same as the the numbers to suspend them by on number in the hive. No experienced your hive. You then buy or borrow beekeeper will question the utility of (I would not advise the latter) a box this, but to a beginner an explana- of stencil figures numbering from tion might be of service.

one to ten, and with these you can The object in this is to enable you very easily make as many numbers at any time to know what queen a

as you may require. For my own I certain hive contains, that is whence

had all the numbers cut out of the obtained, her age, and any remarks

zinc, but I would not advise this you think necessary concerning her

plan it being not only more expen- offspring. It is best to know how sive, but not so distinct. You are old she might be, so that you will to paint Avell the pieces of zinc or better know when to rear another in

tin before j'ou paint the numbers her place, or when it will be likely with your stencil figures and a special for the bees to do so themselves, and

brush for this purpose. You then which some beekeepers prefer. It suspend one of these to each hive by is certainly advantageous to know the help of a hook or screw so ar- whence obtained, because you can

ranged that it will not blow or fall in this way better improve your

off, and yet so as to be easily restock, by only breeding from those moved when the colony sends out which give a good account of them-

the first swarm ; a small screw with selves. An example of this may not

a large head which is filed flat on be amiss. two sides, so as to be long and nar- You wish to know about a queen

row will answer. You then make the in a hive to which No. 54 is sus- hole the so as just to you simply turn to page above numbers pended ; 54

go over this ; now you will readily in your book and you find there

see that the screw can easily be fast- " Italian queens from A. I. Root, ened to the hive, the opposite way, July 16, 1884," or " Queen cell from

lengthwise to the hole above the num- No. 29, Aug. 5, 1884." Now if you

ber, so that the latter would have to wish to improve your stock it will be

describe a quarter circle before it necessary to observe closely what each

would come off. If you think nec- colony has done and how near your 152 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

standard of perfection it lias reached. the number to the hive you put them

To better enable you to do this take in, and its record in your book re- some number as a standard to be mains as it was, unless the queen desired but not attained, and then is disposed of in some way. To the nearer they reach the number, have a permanent number on each the nearer they are to your standard hive is practically useless, unless you and so only breed from those that are are willing to go to considerable the highest on your record or that extra trouble. In keeping a record attain somewhere near it. E. A. of industry, it will be necessary to Thomas suggests the following clas- make a note of the hive from which

sification : First, industry, second, a swarm issues, so as to take the pro- docility, third, hardiness, fourth, products of both into consideration lificness, fifth, color. The first two when making your estimates at the of these are all I would occupy my close of the honey season. With a time with, because for " hardiness," record such as I have described you the very fact of a colony existing as will be enabled to make correct a colony sufficiently long enough to comparisons between young queens test their working qualities is proof from any colony that has been mated that they should not be condemned with drones of other races. on this score ; and then as for "pro- Brussels, Ont. lificness," if the queen is so prolific that all the stores are consumed in feeding young bees, then she will be EDITORIAL. cond«emned under the head of " industry," for I am not particular about We are pleased to learn that the a queen being very prolific so long as beekeepers are at last awakening to I get plenty of surplus honey. As the fact that American apiculture for "color" I think it deserves only a demands some protection of its in- passing notice ; I would never breed terests and welfare, through a more for color nor would I reject a colony thorough and systematic organiza- because of it. There are then two tion of its forces. qualities that we are to record, Ever since our journal was namely, industry and docility ; the started we have endeavored to keep latter is certainly very desirable, but this matter prominent before the

I would never sacrifice the former for minds of our readers, and all our ef- the sake of it. What I look for are forts at conventions, and in fact large returns in the shape of market- everywhere, have been centred in able honey, and if I can have them this one great and grand work. docile withal, then I rejoice in this It has appeared somewhat strange also. to us that our more aged contempo-

The number is made movable on raries have carefully held their peace each hive, so that when any colony on this subject until compelled by swarms taking the old queen with the "Freeborn case" which is now them, all you have to do is to remove being so freely commented upon, to THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 153 take immediate and effective meas- live for an extended period, it is not ures to protect tlie interests of the convincing or conclusive evidence

beekeepers. of its right to claim the "highest Perhaps our journal represents seat" and "most honored position ;" one of tlie "children" so quaintly re- doubtless it is annoying and vexing journals" conferred to in the "A. B. J.," No. 25 of to have the "younger the current year, by its editor, and tinually spurring on to duty these quite likely the older journals have old war horses tired and weary with been vexed by our "prattling ;" but the strife, but it may awaken them we are well aware, as we always have to renewed action and do them been, that younger journals are en- good. titled to the same gentlemanly treat- Peace and quiet is a glorious boon ment and journalistic courtesy that but a crown of discredit when pur- the editors of the former so much chased by the sacrifice of the in- desire. In our experience, public terests of those in whose behalf we teachers command respect in pro- are working. Death on the field, portion to the practical value and amid the roar and tumult of strife, worth of their teachings ; and would is an honor, and yet oftentimes those they avoid annoying and vexing crit- who stay behind, enjoying the quiet icisms, they must conduct them- of their peaceful homes and replen- selves in such a manner as to merit ishing their coffers at the expense of and call forth only commendation. the life-blood of these dying heroes,

There are those who attempt to pluck all the laurfels. Public sentiment please everybody, and who are never is a fickle thing borne on the wind of known to take advanced or aggres- prosperity and success and controlled sive positions, especially when their by ever-varying circumstances, only own personal interests are endangered too frequently favoring those in power and they always object to any move- to the sacrifice of those who are ment of reform not born of their struggling to protect and further own efforts. A short time since, the ed- public interests. itor of "Gleanings" trusting (we sup- How often within the memory of pose) thereby to doom to eternal si- our readers have various reforms lence and oblivion these "prattling in- been slighted and neglected, until fants," pubhshed an editorial so de- those who had toiled the hardest void of reason, logic, justice or through the heat of the day were right, that we were surprised when "resting with head pillowed upon oblivious the editor of A. B. J., holding the the lap of mother earth," position that he does, should give of the credit awarded to their mem- place to it in his journal. ories, or the laurels which crown Our aged contemporaries who alone their tombstones. talk so much about jealousy, etc., The older journals have of late should remember that all things do taken to giving fatherly advice and not improve with age, and that be- are now urging us to lay one side cause a bee journal has managed to "petty strife" and jealousy, and work 154 THE AMEBICAN APICULTURIST. hand in hand with them for the in- funeral sermon and announcing our terests of the majority. resurrection, they at last attempt to Silence on our part simply admits punish us again before admitting us that we accept the unjust and mis- to their ranks. This even surpasses represented position tendered us by the cruel treatment of some of the the former. young Indians who are passing Whatever may have been the through the ceremonies which en- raison cV etre for the other "young title them to the position of men or journals" the "Apiculturist" was braves. instituted to fill a place until then Well, we have managed to strug- occupied or filled by no other jour- gle through it all thus far (no thanks nal, and instead of holding our to our contemporaries) and per- peace at the dictation of others, haps we may be able to survive the or faltering in the one aim of our rest. life, we propose to speak whenever Mr. Newman in a late issue of the we deem that the interest of the Bee Journal says : "Now let us have beekeeper demands it ; and we no more of such nonsense but let would ask our contemporaries to re- the bee papers (how the term bee member that the mere assumption journal troubles him) get down to that we have misrepresented and work for the good of the pursuit of abused them, to the extent that we beekeeping, if that is the object of are not to be considered "gentle- their existence." men," will do for fliose who never Why ! that is just what we have become aught else than children no urged from the commencement, and matter how great their age. Mr. N. is but repeating our advice ; We can only be silenced with but we differ somewhat, perhaps, in reason, logic or proof; we never regard to the meaning of the term mean to be defeated with paper air- nonsense. guns. We have, in our opinion, In accepting the position of tem- made all our statements in a fair and porary vice president in the Bee- manly way, but we never proposed keepers' Union now being organized, to pick the thorns out, and if our we have done so trusting that we contemporaries wish to prove us in may give our support to an object,

error they must do it by taking the the intention of which seems to be same course or forever hold their to protect the interests of the bee- peace. Past records are the crite- keepers. rion, not present assumption. Per- At present this seems to be the chance our contemporaries may best means of commencing proper

learn this in the early future and not organization, but we should forget

administer these parental spankings our duty if we neglected to explain

without first proving us to be guilty our views upon this subject.

of misdemeanor. It is better to look matters square-

It is really too bad that after rely in the face at the commencement porting us dead, preaching our than to find in the near future that THE AMERICAN APICUL TUBIS T. 155 our energies, talent and money have Are they working up a demand for all been expended in supplying one our honey, instituting better means demand of our interests to the neglect for disposing of the same, sim- and injury of others of equal or plifying the methods of teaching even greater importance. And in apiculture, establishing properly con- our mind it is well to consider that ducted experimental schools, or are with a properly organized system of these problems being solved in a large

beekeepers' associations representa- measure by individual enterprise ? ive in their character the same results If our contemporaries wish to could be accomplished, and at the "work," Jiere is avast field for action same time all other interests protected almost overrun with weeds, nor has and fostered. It is needless to re- it seen the editorial cultivator for peat all that we have written on this many long years until the present. subject as it can be found in our Visiting a field occasionally and back numbers, and we trust that tearing out a handful of weeds will those of our readers who have not never assure a crop. The entire followed us through it will secure ground must be turned over and

our bound volume and become ac- over again and again and if one will

quainted with the course that we not attend to it another must, else have taken. but a poor crop, if any, will be the

We see no reason why all that is result. desired cannot be accomplished by If the beekeepers and our brother our National Beekeepers' Association, editors will go to work right, and endorsed and supported by the bee- stick to it, it will be only a brief in- keepers in every state in the Union. terval before we have a National Neither do we see any cause for Beekeepers' Association representa- forming a distinct organization which tive in character with affihated asso- will have a tendency to retard the ciations in every state and, we trust, in work of estabUshing a thorough sys- every county in the United States.

tem of associations. We may err When this is done we need not fear but we are always open to convic- to claim our rights before any assem- tion, and eager for truth which will bly of people, and apiculture will

enable us to work with better effect command the respect which is its

for the welfare of apiculture ; either just due. the Beekeepers' Union and the It is useless to evade this question. National Beekeepers' Association The large majority of beekeepers must meet in conjunction and be con- never can attend the National Con- ducted and controlled by the same vention and yet their interest de-

officers, or we shall be as deep in the mands that ihey shall be represented mud as we (in the past) have been there. in the mire. W^e trust that amid the excite- We can justly inquire what marked ment, created by this new move- advances the beekeepers' associa- ment, the matter of association work tions of the United States are taking. may not be forgotten or neglected. 156 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

We urge every one of our readers tenth of August ; and I ascertained, to become a member of this ''Union" by means of immersion, that no male was present. and support with their money and The bees were confined four days advice every effort made to protect in the closest manner, and then I our interests. found forty young larvos recently Send to Mr. Thos. G. Newman, hatched. I extended my precautions so far as to immerse the same hive 925 West Madison St., Chicago, III, a second time, to be assured that no for constitution and by-laws. male had escaped my researches. Each of tlie bees was separately examined and none was there that did not display its sting. The co- JVEPV OBSERVATIONS ON incidence of this experiment with the THE NATURAL HISTORY other proved that the eggs were not OF BEES. externally fecundated. In terminating the confutation of Br Francis Huber. Mr. Debraw's opinion I have only to explain what led him into error. He (Continued from p. 133, Vol. III.) employed queens in his experiments

This experiment is decisive. Since with whose history he was not ac- the eggs laid by the queen of a hive quainted from their origin, when he where there were no males, and where observed that the eggs produced by it was impossible one could be in- a queen confined along with males troduced since these eggs I say were were fertile ; he thence determined fertile, it becomes indubitable that that they had been bedewed by the aspersion with the masculine matter prolific matter in the cells. is not needed to effect their exclusion. But, to have rendered his conclu- just, Though it did not appear that any sion he should have first ascer- reasonable objection could be started tained that the female was in a virgin against such an inference, yet as I state, and this he neglected. The had been accustomed in all my ex- truth is, that without knowing it he periments to investigate the most had used a queen after her commerce trifling difficulties which could occur, with the male. Had he taken a vir- I conceived that Mr. Debraw's par- gin queen the moment she came from tisans might maintain that the bees, the royal cell, and confined her in deprived of drones, perhaps would his vessel along with drones, the result search for those in other hives, and would have been opposite ; for carry the fecundative matter to their even amidst a seraglio of males the own habitations for the purpose of young queen never would have laid depositing it on the eggs. as I shall afterwards prove. It was easy to appreciate the force The Lusatian observers and Hat- torf in particular thougljt the queen of this objection ; for the only thing necessary was repetition of the for- was fecundated of herself without mer experiments, and confinement of concourse with the males. I shall here the bees so closely to their hives that give an abstract of the experiment on none could possibly escape. You which the opinion is founded. know very well, Sir, that these animals Hattorf took a queen whose vir- can live three or four months confined ginity he could not doubt. He ex- in a hive well stored with honey and cluded all the males of the large, and wax, if apertures are left for circula- also of the small species, and in sev- tion of the air. eral days found both eggs and worms. This experiment was made on the \_To he continued.'] THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 157

EXPERIMENTAL We have at last completed our BEE FARM NOTES. shipping-cage, which is a combination of many of the good qualities found in others We have been longing for a rest- and one new (we think) ing spell when we could devote some feature. of our time to experimenting with the We are tired and weary of having so many persons write that they bees but it has been one continual had rush and drive ever since spring received the queen all right, but failed to introduce successfully. opened. We even worked the lar- her ger portion of the "Fourth." Well, Never disturb your colony for three rest must come ere long. or more days after a queen has We seldom remember a time been introduced. If the bees have when the bees seemed so. panic- begun to ball her you cannot do her stricken with the swarming fever as much good, because oftentimes they during the past month. simply bother her for a while and then let her but, at The bees commenced operations go ; any rate, the chances loss this all at once and swarm they would in of by early dis- spite of every precaution and we turbing of the bees after introducing the sometimes had from five to six queen too frequently result in swarms in the air at once. her death. Where the hives were supplied After many experiments with with drone traps no difficulty was ex- frames of every character and description, we have, through our su- perienced, as we had the queens ; and perintendent, the bees, if they united in one cluster, secured one which at could be easily and quickly divided. present promises to supersede all But many colonies unprovided others. We shall experiment with it with traps cast swarms which united still more fully. and the queens got mixed up. The season with us has been a peculiar one, and the This is quite annoying and we white clover is more abundant perhaps than for know of but one remedy for it, viz., ten the honey extractor. years prior to this time and the bees We have just received a note from have been storing honey well from it. one of our subscribers in California, One of our neighbors near our to whom we had shipped a queen. Albino apiary has a large tract of alsyke He says that " the queen was re- clover and it is wonderful ceived safe and in fine condition, how the bees will work upon it and with not one dead bee in the cage." the flavor of the honey produced This seems refreshing after finding from it is delicious. that sometimes a queen just as care- Our superintendent who does not fully prepared for shipment will die agree with Messrs. Dadant & Son, before reaching a customer who that the drones from laying workers, lives within loo miles. or other small drones, will pass A short time since on opening through the zinc on the "drone one of our nucleus hives containing traps," tried the following experiment queenless bees, we discovered one lately : young bee just hatched which was One of our nucleus hives was so pure white and transparent that abundantly supplied with fertile workers and their progeny. few we almost went wild over it. Some A one secured the mother of that bee, of the drones were confined in a as we had sent her out. Had she cage covered on one side with remained in the apiary until we saw "Jones' zinc," and they remained that bee, no money could have se- there until they were all dried up and cured her. withered. 158 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

We should be pleased to have up with the queen business and the Mr. D send us some of those Journal that it has been impossible drones that will pass through the to do much with getting surplus

Jones' zinc ; we would like to ex- honey. amine them. We find that if, after a colony has We have lately been using some cast a swarm, you introduce a laying fine foundation that we received queen at once into the old colony from Messrs. Dadant & Son and it much time is saved. We have al- works like a charm. That received ways found it an easy matter to do from Mr. Falconer was also fine, this. but we received from one other party The season thus far, since spring some that would sag badly in spite set in, has, in our locality, been a of all that we could do. We are un- very fair one for the honey busi- able as yet to give any reason for ness, but a trying one for queen- this, excepting that from some cause rearing. at present unknown, the wax was too Everything seems to warrant a pliable and elastic. fine crop of honey wherever the Perhaps Mr. Dadant will explain basswood is abundant, as our corre- the cause for this sagging of the spondents report that the trees seem foundation. The samples referred full of buds. to were quite heavy and seemed to We have seen no good reason as be made of fine, pure wax. yet why the best grade of honey Our sweet clover and comfrey should be stored in sections without are doing finely, and we have sown separators and unglassed. two acres of silver hull (the best) So long as honey remains a luxury buckwheat. This is to keep our the better class of purchasers will full and nucleus colonies busy after not find any fault with the glass and the main sources of honey are gone. will even call for it. It may be well Nuclei must be fed when pasturage for some to get up an excitement on is scanty and but little honey is be- a " special" style of sections, etc., ing stored, else they will continu- but "the proof of the pudding is in ally swarm and mix up the queens the eating." and " raise your dander." It is well perhaps to secure a por- New subscriptions are coming in tion of the crop in the one-pound so fast as to keep us busy and we sections, but we prefer for all pur- are pleased to know that the queen poses the si X si X 2 glassed. bees sent in connection with the What can have quieted the ex- journal give such genuine satisfac- citement overtlie "reversible frames" tion. Occasionally one will secure a so suddenly? Perhaps like the rest- queen whose workers will not all be less wave which spreads its strength well marked, but she will prove none on the beach, this subject has the less valuable or prolific. merely receded to gain force ; well, While the beautiful bright yellow any thing for a boom. It pays some queens are handsome and good, one perhaps ( ?) who? otherwise, yet we prefer the rich or- What a wonder it is that one col- ange hue ; it seems as though queens ony that we have at Salem and one showing the latter produced more that is in a hive which has remained hardy progeny. in one position and has been undis- We are now selecting and testing turbed for fully twelve years, never our stock for another season which perished during the cold winters, as will give us time to compare our it had no protection and was of queens critically. course filled with "pollen" which to Unfortunately our time is so taken our knowledge the bees never re- THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 159 moved from the hive Ji/s^ before ness and incorporates it into his daily winter. There are doubtless reasons conduct in the apiary, he finds it why pollen will sometimes cause the more easy to accomplish each al- bee diarrhoea, but if one will take a lot lotted task and success is assured. of bees, put them in a hive provided Last month we confined our re- with comb foundation, feed the bees marks almost exclusively to intro- with sugar syrup food and let them ductory suggestions preparatory to build comb, then, if there be any acquaintance with the bee itself.

it all place the This month we shall take up the pollen, remove ; colony in winter quarters, then shake or subject of bees, giving only the nec- rap the hive occasionally each day essary information, as all the works during winter, we warrant as a result on apiculture provide the rest. of this experience that the experi- THE HONEY BEE. ment will bring about a genuine case of pollen dysentery (?) ; at least the A colony of bees will contain bees will give up the struggle. from 40,000 to 60,000 bees, one After our busy spell is over we queen (or mother bee), and, during propose to take time to experiment some portions of the season, a few " some and see how about this pol- hundred drones ; although, if there is len theory" and some other impor- an abundance of drone comb and the tant matters. queen rather old, the colony may be overrun with drones.

THE QUEEN OR MOTHER BEE. No sweeter nor more appropriate INSTRUCTIONS TO name could be given the queen than BEGINNERS. that of the mother bee, for she is the mother of all the bees and the only By the Editor. perfect female in the hive. In laying the eggs she performs all the It would be very pleasing to us if duties that seem to be allotted to her. our readers could be with us in the ap- True, poets have iary and listen to the talks that we are ascribed many beau- now obliged to put on paper, and we tiful and touching shall in all our instructions try to lines expressive of avoid the old ruts and stereotyped her royal power and methods and imagine with our read- dignity, but those ers that they are really present : this who are most famil- will add novelty to the value of the iar with the habits instructions. of the bees have We had intended to talk about learned beyond a beehives and illustrate them this doubt the queen is month ; but owing to our many cares subject to the will and duties and new developments in and wishes of the majority to a great hives, and frames, we must defer this extent at least. until we have more leisure, when we However, here is a field for the trust to be able to make up for the studious and inquiring mind, replete delay. with treasures for those who are given Each day as we work among the to investigation. bees we recognize the value of an Fig. 1 gives a fair representation intimate acquaintance with our pets of a queen, although it is slightly and their needs and wants ; and as larger than a laying or fertile queen. one regards this feature of the busi- In shape she is unlike either the "

160 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

workers or drones ; her abdomen is and even leaving the hive in their longer and larger (when fertile) than efforts to find her. If they are un- that of the worker, but not so large successful they return disconsolate as that of the drone ; the head and to their home thus made desolate, thorax of the queen are larger than and in mournful tones give expres- that of the worker, while they are sion to their deep grief. smaller than those of the drone. The experienced apiarist as he The wings of the queen are short passes by his hives can easily detect in proportion to the body, this being, any of the queenless colonies, as the quite likely, because she seldom needs tone of the bees at such times is pe- to use them. When moving about culiarly mournful, and cannot possi- on the combs the queen does really bly be mistaken for the happy hum appear dignified and majestic, and it that comes from a contented colony. is not at all strange that one who has After the bees realize that they a poetical mind or a vivid imagina- must replace the missing queen and tion should call her queen. Her commence to build cells, this tone is movements are generally slow and diminished somewhat and is not so matronly, but when necessary, she easily detected. can move about quite rapidly. On an average tlie queen will de- In color the queens are, as a rule, posit from i,ooo to 1,200, and rather darker on the upper side of sometimes 2,000 eggs, in twenty-four the body than the workers, and the hours. two posterior legs and under portion When five days old the queen are of a golden yellow. Her abdo- leaves the hive for fertilization, pro- men is generally devoid of the hair vided the weather is pleasant. coloring which is found on the Quite frequently our visitors ask workers and drones. The queens, us where we are likely to find the even of the same race, differ greatly queen when we open the hive, and in color, some being much darker as this is a matter which will interest than others. our readers, we quote from the" Bee- The conduct of the worker bees keepers' Handy Book :" in their treatment of their mother is "During the brooding she wanders

most touching ; while attending to about from comb to comb depositing her duties she is constantly sur- eggs wherever she may find cells pre- rounded by a circle of her loving pared for them, and occupying no

offspring who testify in various ways particular portion of the brood-nest :

their affection and regard ; some when the season's work is completed lovingly fondle and embrace her and breeding has ceased, she may be with their antennae, while others ap- found in the centre of the brood-nest proach her and offer her honey from surrounded by the cluster." We also time to time. quote from the same source the fol-

Could these same evidences of lowing foot-note : "When examining love and affection be carried into a colony for the queen, bear in mind and made a part of every home cir- that her ladyship is usually found, at cle, social life would prove more as noon time near the centre of the

our Heavenly Father wishes it to brood-nest, when, after depositing an be. egg in each prepared empty cell, she Should the queen be removed will gradually work back to the combs or lost, excitement and despair at one side of the hive, and during ; seem to reign supreme for a time each twenty-four hours she will visit the laborers abandon their work and twice, all parts of the hive while brood join in the search for their queen, rearing is going on." running excitedly about the combs The queen is provided with a sting ;

THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST, 161

which is cui-ved and which is seldom It is needless to state that the or never used except to destroy a rival worker is provided with a formidable queen. sting which is made use of to the The average age to which a queen sorrow of the intruder whenever the attains is about three years, but for worker is provoked. If the apiarist is our use we prefer that most queens cool, makes no quick motions, never be superseded when two years old. gets excited nor becomes careless, This is not necessary, however, except the bees are less hable to become where one is forcing the queen to vindictive and will prove far more deposit a larger number of eggs dur- agreeable as neighbors. They are also ing the first two years than she would furnished with an exceedingly curi- if left in a natural condition. ous and complicated tongue which it

is needless to describe here. It is how- THE WORKERS. ever an interesting object for study to The worker bees (Fig. 2) com- the student and we would refer the prise the majority of the population latter to the standard works on apicul- of the hive and they are smaller in ture for a description. size than either the queen or drones. The hinder legs of the worker are furnished with a spoonlike cavity wherein she carries the pollen gathered from the flowers. When the workers are between twenty and twenty- one days old (from the depositing of the egg) they emerge from the cells, and for the first two weeks following remain in the hive The workers are undeveloped (except when they take an occasional females incapable of laying eggs ex- flight for exercise) nursing and car- cepting when they become what are ing for the brood, and attending to called "fertile workers," when they other duties. After this they assume only lay eggs that will produce un- the regular duties of the worker developed and imperfect drones ; and bee. hear we would caution the beginners During the working season the against allowing any colony to remain workers wear themselves out in about queenless for any considerable length six weeks but those hatched in Sep- of time as when once the "fertile tember will live until May, as daring workers" infest a hive it is almost that period they have but little labor impossible to introduce a queen there. to perform. Upon the workers depend all the THE DRONE. labors of the hive, those performed by the queen being excepted. The The drones, or male bees (Fig. 3) following description of their duties are larger, stouter and more clumsy which we quote from the "Handy than either the queen or workers Book" is a cmplete one. although their bodies are not quite "They build the comb, the con- as long as that of the queen. They struction of which seems to us so are unprovided with a sting or suit-

marvellous : collect the pollen and able proboscis with which to gather honey store and them for future use ; honey from the flowers ; they have protect and care for the brood-nest no pollen baskets on their thighs and by clustering about it, or fanning no means whereby they can secrete with their wings for ventilation when wax. Hence they are physically un- too warm. They also act as warriors qualified for any office excepting defending their homes against intru- those of impregnating the young ders. queens, and even this causes their ;

162 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

death : as, during the act of copula- we should discard the honey extrac- tion, the male organs are torn from the tor. The injudicious practice of ar- bodies of the drones and the latter tificial warming is also very damaging, immediately expire. They usually as many beekeepers divide their appear about the last of April or first hives till their colonies are all too of May or in about six weeks after weak to winter. And yet, artificial the bees commence carrying in pollen. warming is undoubtedly greatly beneficial to practical beekeepers, when properly done. In a well organized apiary, run for extracted honey, the apiarist will never extract honey from the brood chamber, or at least so seldom that the exception is not worth mentioning. The main requisite is to furnish As sexual intercourse takes place the bees with sufficient empty comb while the queen and drone are high above the breeding apartment to prevent them from crowding the queen in the air it becomes necessary that many drones be reared where but few with honey. Where this is done, the breeding chamber will never are needed. In large apiaries it is only necessary to keep one or two contain more honey than the bees colonies rearing drones and the need to winter on, and the extracting "drone trap" or honey knife should from brood comb will be avoided. In regard to the "glutted" mar- be used to rid the apiary of all the ket for honey, would say that in rest. we this business, as in all other occupa- In July or August, or, indeed at any time, when there comes a honey tions, the man who tries to find a market usually succeeds but he dearth or season of scarcity, the ; who folds his bees, seemingly recognizing the fact arms, and finds fault with his neighbors for being in the that they must reduce family expense, same business as is, will ruthlessly drive the drones from the he never do anything. large hives sometimes stinging them, but We raise crops of honey every more frequently gnawing the roots year, raised 36,000 lbs. in 1883, and have never failed to sell our of their wings so that, when once we honey (extracted) at driven from the hives, they cannot remunerative prices. "annihilate" his return. Oftentimes they will be Let Mr. Clark extractor if use it properly found hanging in clusters on the front he cannot will nevertheless continue and bottom boards of the hives. we to employ our large four-frame extractors, and thus save our comb from one season to another. Chas. Dadant & Son. CORRESPONDENCE.

THE HONEY EXTRACTOR. report for 1885 ON wintering.

Mr. Editor : At your request we Dear Sir : will give our views in answer to Mr. The early part of March Clark's article on page 136. I shovelled out my bees, ninety- all living Mr. Clark is right when he says three Qolonies, which were ; that the injudicious use of the ex- some were in splendid condition,

tractor is a damage to beekeepers, while others were considerably weak- but it does not follow from this that ened by rushing out of the hive, ;

THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 163

caused by uneasiness, which is al- everything was supposed to be per- ways the case. My bees have win- fectly tight, unless something fell tered, so far, better than they did last from above and knocked the pipe

winter, on account of not being so out. I have no clew as to how it

long confined ; they had a fair fly happened. I only know it did. It the early part of last January, which burned very quickly, as it was well they did not have one year ago. The filled with hives and other dry ma- spring so far has been very unfavor- terial. I lay the damage at ^1,000, able, as the weather was not quite insurance $375. I do not wish to warm enough, when they were shov- be placed in the "blasted hopes" col- elled out, for them to have a good umn, although I feel as though I fly which I think very essential, as could make but little headway

they will then return and be con- this season ; still I shall try and raise

tented for some time ; while as it has enough honey for our own use, as we been this spring they keep coming are very fond of it. I have the ma- out, never to return, every time the terial on the ground for a new build- cold lets up a little. We are now jng and have got my tools to-day, so having one of the coldest spells of that as soon as the weather changes weather Ave have had this winter. we shall put up the building and It is a wonder to me that so then I can proceed to business. many of our best apiarists suffer P. S. I am very much pleased such losses. I have always claimed with Vols. I and II of "American Api- I could winter bees as safely, accord- culturist." I think it well deserves a ing to the number kept, as other place in every beekeeper's library. stock. I this to Prof. Cook at stated A. P. Cowan. the State convention at Lansing last Grattan, Mich., winter. He said "there is time enough March 20, J. yet." I have wintered six winters and 188

I think we have had a fair average ; should I lose, I would say I am liable to lose other stock, as I lost 12 NEW YORK AND FLORIDA. sheep this winter out of 75 by some unknown disease. Our bees in New York state were I have had the misfortune to lose, set on their summer stands after a by fire, my honey house and shop confinement of one-hundred and combined, consisting of 1,100 lbs. fifty days terminating Apr. 19, 1885, of comb honey, 150 of extracted, in much better condition than we had the surplus to 75 Doolittle hives, all reason to expect. Our loss of bees of my tools which were not few, 7 in cellar was four per cent, but after saws, 7 planes, 3 draw shovels, 2 setting out it was necessary to unite coal chisels, augers, bits and chisels several colonies which increased it to from 2 in. down to | in. ; in fact, I had eight per cent. The bees came out almost everything a person needs to with little or no brood, which with the carry on an apiary. The morning of cold weather that came, the last of the sixteenth I went to the shop, April, made it very bad for the colo- started a fire and returned to do nies that had to wait for the young a few chores at the house while it bees to hatch to replace the loss was getting warmed up. I did not caused by the old bees dying. And think I had been in over five min- as a natural consequence, by the first utes when I noticed the smoke. I of May our bees were much reduced think it started where the pipe en- in numbers. tered the chimney, as that was the The past experience in wintering only place where fire was to be seen has taught me that in order to win- 164 THE AMERICAN APICULTXJRIST. ter successfully in this state we must daceous they were when they first put have none but well-bred queens and in their appearance, but soon found the younger the better. Bees under that they were the most disastrous these conditions will invariably come enemy that we had to encounter out with young bees hatching and while south. During the heat of will not feel spring dwindling, to any the day and the early evening they extent. Also, much care is necessary simply swarmed in and around the in preparing the top of our frames orange trees, and the venturesome and hives. I have put one foot of bee that reached its home without chaff over the frames in cellar and being captured might consider it- had the worms drive the bees out and self fortunate. If one should go take complete possession of the among the bees and commence combs. Then again I have used two handling he w^ould immediately be inches with very desu-able results. surrounded by such numbers of these The past winter I used a shipping insects that, if timid, he would be case made of quarter inch stuff and alarmed for his own safety. And placed nothing on the top but the looking on the trees he could see cover, part way over the frames, which them hanging thick, munching each gives the bees plenty of fresh air, and one a bee, in their spacious maws. I am inclined to believe that by re- While the bees are away working taining the heat we also keep a large among the flowers these flies have percentage of moisture to the detri- no occasion to assemble in the yard ment of the bees. Many winter suc- as they can help themselves and cessfully by putting a mat on top of catch a bee that is loaded, with more the frames and then clasping a tight ease than otherwise. But soon as fitting box over and down on top of the bees come in from the field the mat and frames. But with me such bee dragon follows and spends hours treatment would prove disastrous. in graceful gyrations stopping with Our bees in south Florida during lightning rapidity when seizing a bee the month of April worked nicely as and alighting upon the trees where long as the orange bloom lasted. you can hear them devouring the By consulting my diary, I find, under bee, which one soon recognizes by date of April i6, the following note; the sharp snapping sound of their "bees are letting up on the orange strong masticating mandibles. If

bloom to-day, yet no indication of our friend A. J. Goodwin of New robbing, which with the sudden ces- Smyrna, Fla., who is so bothered sation of our honey flow is marvel- with ants (as figured in February lous." Our queens that were reared No. of Apiculturist Vol. Ill, pages is from pure Italian stock and mated ( 34-36 ) not troubled with these with pure blacks of Florida are prov- pests, he can congratulate himseJf, ing, so far, superior to any I have as they would with the ants soon seen. Our queen-rearing was at- destroy the best managed apiary, if tended with marked success during the ants are as bad as he represents the month of March and first of in his article. With me ants both- April. Then we were visited by a er no more than North, in fact not very unwelcome visitor in the shape as much, and I have no hesitation in of the dragon fly (see "Manual of the saying that much is unjustly said Apiary," seventh edition, pages 269- against them when in reality the real mosquito hawk, cause is, the colonies have been al- 270) ; it is known as bee-killer, etc. These flies made lowed to remain queenless and after their appearance about Apr. 10, and they become reduced in numbers, increased in number as the season ants, moths and worms are found, advanced. Did not know how pre- and get the reputation of destroying :

TEE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 165 the colony. Many young queens in ature of 90° in the shade, to New second and third swarms in the south York, and with what success ; also are lost in mating and require much will try to describe the country, and attention in order that they may be to what extent it will pay to move bees successful, especially after the bee south for the winter, and back in the dragon appears, as they are very fond spring before the pests of the south of queens and are apt to be cap- commence. tured while returning home, which Chas. G. Ferris. leaves the colony with no means to Sanford, Fla. reproduce another. Many small bee- May 1, 1885. keepers here have three and four swarms from one, and upon examination found many that were queenless owing to loss of the queen on her w^edding flight. As soon as I NOTES AND QUERIES. found the dragon fly so carnivorous — Several parties are writing to I stopped rearing queens. In south us complaining of the dealings of Mr. Florida queens should be reared in George W. House. the early spring months and also the We trust that Mr. House will at- best time to increase bees is before tend to these matters, as quite prob- the hot weather appears. The saw ably he intends to do. It is sometimes palmettoes that I have spoken of be- hard to know just what to do in such fore, that are so plentiful and from cases, as we are not thoroughly ac- vi^hich I expected to get early honey, quainted with all the circumstances. bloomed but little. They commenced trying to bloom in January — The Haldimand Beekeepers' and have just put out their first ma- Association met May 29th at Nelles ture blossoms, so that the bees Corner, Ontario, 1.30 p. m. The began to notice them. Its huge rival, President, J. Armstrong in the chair. the cabbage (so called), has shown First topic for discussion : Report but little signs of starting at this date. of winter losses and cause of losses. The magnolia blossom is no bee Many attributed their losses to the flower as its structure is such that fact that the stores were not placed bees can get little if any honey. The compactly enough in the hive, and sweet bay, which is related to the owing to the long and intensely cold magnolia, is also a poor honey pro- weather the bees were unable to ducer yet very fragrant. It is well leave the cluster to secure food or if to understand what flowers we can de- they did it was accompanied by a pend upon for honey and the past great loss of bees. Doubtless much winter has taught much in that di- loss might be avoided during severe rection. winters, if sufficient stores were The average temperature for placed in as few combs as possible, March at 7 a. m., 54°, at i p. m., 83° and all superfluous combs removed. 8 evening, 56°. Greatest variation We append the report during the day, 62°. For April at Jas. Collins, 16-14 7 A. M., in shade, 62°, at i p. m., 82° Geo. Warner, 5-1 at 8 evening, 63° greatest varia- and ; Bassbinder, 50-46 tion 34°. Our bees, that were fed M. Hunsberger, lo-o occasionally during the months of Selkirk, 18-3 January and February, at this date are F. Mehlenbacher, 12-9 in much better condition in bees and John Boyer, 13-12 honey. In our next we will give our R. Coverdale, ii-io experience in moving from a temper- Kendree, 30-25 166 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

Vanderburgh, THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 167

double-barrelled gun at his feet, one his bereaved family through his de- barrel of which had been discharged. cease. Death must have been instantaneous. The "American Apiculturist" ex- The jury returned a verdict to the tends its heartfelt sympathy to the effect that the deceased came to his bereaved family. death by a gunshot wound, but there —The following note, kindly sent was no evidence to prove how this us by Mr. Newman, suggests a new was inflicted." Mr. Peel was born and valuable field of labor which

Feb ruary 8, 1 83 1 , at Canterbury. His properly managed will prove produc- father was the late very Rev. John tive of much good. We cheerfully Peel, D. D., Dean of Worcester. He accept any position that may be was also a nephew of Sir Robert Peel offered us by our brother beekeepers the eminent statesman. ISIr. Peel with the assurance that we will do resided at Thornton Hall, Bucking- our duty to the best of our ability. ham, Eng., and was, until last year, We quote as follows : Secretary of the British Beekeepers' "Let it be a national Union. Mes- Association which position he has oc- srs. Dadant and Son make the fol- cupied with great credit and with un- lowing as suggestions : 'We are wil- told benefit to the beekeepers of ling to put our shoulder to the wheel Great Britain. He spent much time for a National Beekeepers' Union, and means in organizing and support- and to pay our share, whether it may ing this association. be $1.00 or ^25.00. W^e suggest He was also since January, 1883, that a special request to unite in this the editor and proprietor of the "Brit- Union be sent to all the bee-papers ish Bee Journal" regarding which the and their subscribers. We must "London Journal of Horticulture" have a National Union or none.' speaks as follows : This is 'good and timely,' and "Under Mr. Peel's management, we publicly invite the editors of all the "British Bee Journal" for some bee-papers to unite in this noble work, years has been published once a fort- and would cheerfully vote for the fol- night, whereas formerly it was issued lowing as the officers of the temporary only once a month. Its circulation organization, if these editors will co- has largely increased and the most operate with the Union : advanced beekeepers from all parts President—A. L Root, Medina, enrich its pages. First Vice-President of the globe The Ohio. —A. J. compliments paid to its proprietor King, New York. Second Vice- (Mr. Peel) are only his due, for he President — A. G. Hill, Kendallville, has done more to advance beekeep- Lid. Third Vice-President— Silas ing in England than any Englishman M. Locke, Wenham, Mass. Fourth living ; and the extraordinary ad- Vice-President—H. Scovell, Liberal, vance of apiculture in England dur- Mo. ing the last five years must be attrib- This would unite all the bee-pa- uted chiefly to Mr. Peel and the pers in the Union, and we sincerely band of friends whom he has attracted hope that it may induce all of them to himself by his ability, energy, ear- to work together for the general good. nestness, and philanthropic desire to As soon as the organization is com- do good to his fellow-countrymen. pleted, we will cheerfully relinquish Mr. Peel has made a mark for good, our position to any one the Union and richly deserves the gratitude and may choose, but the Bee Journal esteem of all right-minded men." will give its unswerving support to The British Bee Journal speaks the Union and all its officers. very touchingly of the great loss sus- If Canadians, who are governed by tained both by British beekeepers and other laws, find such an organization ;

THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. necessary or desirable, the editor and 1. In your opinion what will be the subscribers of the Canadian paper advantages or disadvantages occurring to the honey producers from the pro- all cordially invited cooperate are to posed National Beekeepers' Union? with this Union." 2. Do you think it best that its la- In order that the object of this en- bors should be confined to mere legal terprise be not defeated the organi- questions and legal protection, or should its province be broader and in- zation must call into its ranks and on clude the interests of beekeepers in ev- the advisory board some of our most ery branch and department of apicul- prominent and successful honey ture? producers, as such ones are more 3. Could not a National Beekeepers' Association be so organized and con- deeply interested in the success or ducted as to prove all that would be failure of this than any others. Union needed and also prove even more ef- We trust that every individual aim fective and successful in its workings will be lost or forgotten in our en- and results than a Beekeepers' Union? deavors to establish this enterprise. 4. What advice, if any, would you ofler as to the proper organization of It is a move in the right direction and such a union? should receive the hearty endorsement of the beekeepers. American AjSSWers by a. j. cook. apiculture and the interests of Am- 1. The advantages will be the protection of a member who is involved in erican beekeepers call for a thorough a suit at law, in which we are all organization of char- systematic some equally interested. If properly con- acter and we care not on what founda- ducted I see no disadvantages. tion it is built so long as it is conduct- 2. It seems to me that aside from up the ed in the interests ot the majority. such cases as the one that called present Union, our societies, state and So long as it is properly conducted, national, are better qualified to discuss our services are subject to the will and settle important matters. of our brother beekeep- 3. Possibly so possibly not. Many and wishes ; ers and we are only too pleased to will join this Union, who will not attend and possibly would not join the As- be able to offer them. sociation. I think quite likely a more perfect organization would permit the association to do this work. It is not now organized for it, and so a new or- QUESTIONS AND ANSWEBS. ganization is called for. 4 Unless the National Association For some time we have urged the perfects its organization so as to do iiocesi^ity for more system ai)d union such work better, I have no criticism in association work, a department of to offer on the present plan for a Union. apiculture which has been too much L. C. ROOT. neglected and made subservient to in- ANSWERS BY dividual aims and personal gain. 1. A National Beekeepers' Union Just at present this lack of system properly organized and conducted in and proper organization of our forces the best interests of beekeepers gen- is becoming painfully evident and erally could not but result in good. there is now being organized a "Na- 2. If it is simply alone for the legal tional Beekeepers' Union" which in our protection of beekeepers I have some own mind would have been unneces- doubts of the good results. Legal sary if we had a thoroughly organized points in such matters are usually agi- and properly conducted National Bee- tated to the harm of all interested. keepers Association. 3. It matters little what the organ- In order that we may learn the opin- ization is called. If its aims are high ions of those whose iutei'ests are most and unselfish its success is certain. likely to be involved (the honey 4. I have but one suggestion to producers), we have decided to ask the make as to the organizing a society— following questions trusting that each that is, to meet the demands. If it is one to whom these questions are sub- to be a success, its officers and founders mitted will answer them to the best must be active, practical beekeepers of his ability for the benefit of his otherwise, it will not receive the con- brother beekeepers. fidence of beekeepers generally. The American Apiculturist.

% gomnd ^tMtii to BdmMt anb Uractkal ^nkn^mc^. ENTERED AT THE POST-OFFICE, SALEM, AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER.

Published Monthly. S. M. Locke & Co., Publishers & Prop'rs.

VOL. III. WENHAM, MASS., AUGUST 15, 1885. No. 8.

SUBSCRIPTION PRICES. translation that his readers are una- $1.00 per year, payable in advance. Sent ble to do, and from the mass of facts, on trial three months for 35 cts., six months scientific, tor 60 cts. many many purely interesting, collate as will give the gist Advertising Rates :— 15 cents per line of such space each insertion. of the work going on abroad. A line of this type will admit about" words Great minds are at work across One inch will contain twelve lines. the seas : their names, their work, to- Transient Advertisements must be paid for tally unknown to the beekeepers here. in advance. This should not be. The average Those wishing special I'ates will please correspond with the Editor. reader should be put in the way of

When sending money make all postal notes knowing who these men are, and Salem, and money orders payable at the their work. So that, for instance, Mass., Post Oflce. when Giotto Ulivi is spoken of the All communications should be addressed to S. M. Locke & Co., Wenhara, Mass. hearer's mind will at once throw on

the mirror of memory : "Ah ! that is FOREIGN NOTES. the parish priest way down in Italy who holds to the doctrine that queens By Arthur Todd. are fertilized inside the hive." Who of you has heard of Mr. The greater part of the work be- Vignolles? Yet he was one of the ing done among beekeepers of the thoughtful painstaking bee men of nations outside the United States of France and the one who undertook

America is practically unknown to an exhaustive series of experiments the average beekeeper of this fav- to determine what weight of honey ored land. With the exception of has to be consumed by the bees to an occasional translation of an arti- produce a given weight of wax. cle, little appears in the journals to Sir John Lubbock, Frank Cheshire, keep all ^^au couranf with the march Pastor Dzierzon and others have of apistical events abroad. made their names household prop-

The great majority of beekeepers erty and it will be our pleasing duty cannot read French, German or Ital- to bring prominently forward each ian ; hence, even if they did receive successive step they take in the foreign journals, they would be a paths of discovery.

sealed book to them. It appears to "Arrenotokia" ! ! Professor Cook me to be the duty of the publisher may have known what that word of a leading bee journal to do the meant, but the average beekeeper

15 '(169) 170 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. does not, I feel sure. Now what is texture and fine "grain when broken, it? This word signifies that when a others again break with a very coarse queen bee has her spermatheca com- greasy fracture. The art of the pletely furnished with spermatozoa, chemist may yet be profitably em- yet from some paralysis, or other de- ployed to determine the suitability fect of the muscles attached to the of certain grades of wax for founda-

spermathecal glands it is powerless tion making. to act, and she becomes a drone The making a market for honey is

layer. This condition in a queen occupying the attention of our Eng-

bee can, it appears, be produced arti- lish brethren. Any and every one

ficially by pinching the extremity of was induced to "keep bees," espec- the abdomen so that the last gang- ially the cottager class, and then

lion is injured. when they got honey there was no

The introduction of queens is a one cared to buy. An organized

subject interesting to all, and the system of sale has been decided "Simmins" method has lately re- upon, and the British Honey Com-

ceived much attention ; then we have pany is now fairly afloat with a capi-

a Mr. Reidenbach in Germany who tal of $100,000. Honeys will be re-

constructs a small cell of wax artifi- ceived for sale on commission, each

cially, puts the fertile queen therein, lot being graded on arrival. It will

closes it up, and places it in the be wise to follow the workings of this queenless hive. organization, as if successful a simi- Mr. Simmins has also started a lar system could be carried out here. dry sugar method of feeding, also a The Bee and Fruit Farming Co. method of doing away with the trou- with a $50,000 capital has also been

ble of boiling syrup by using cold started. Its object is set forth to be water with the sugar. More on these "To assist beekeepers by providing points anon. a ready means for disposing of the The sagging of certain makes of honey and wax now being produced

foundation when others do not sag is on a large scale and to meet the diffi- a point yet unexplained. A French culty experienced by so many in find- writer says only last month (and he ing a quick market for their produce.

manufactures) "all qualities and kinds The company will buy from its share- of wax are not suitable for the man- holders and also sell on commission. ufacture of comb foundation," and Having had some experience as enumerates the departments of Nor- secretary, and manager of certain

mandy, Calvados, Picardy, Aisne, companies, I would simply say that if

Pas de Calais, as only producing the right man for manager is chosen wax which, when made into founda- and then the President and Board of

tion is accepted slowly by bees and Directors go on a vacation and leave very liable to pay. him thoroughly alone to manage, there

There is undoubtedly great differ- is a poor prospect of success ; but in

ence in wax : some is of a smooth England, as in this country, the ten- THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 171

dency is to "boss" the manager too this cause I am inclined to attribute much, and with the result that "too the tardy breeding up of my colonies. many cooks spoil the broth." In an apiary of over seventy colonies

The prevalence of cholera it ap- I had but one swarm in the natural

pears has had a bad effect on the way, and I found it impossible to Frencli honey market. Let us hope stock my queen-rearing apiary, to that by careful sanitary conditions any great or material extent, with- we shall keep the scourge away from out seriously damaging my apiary, our doors. and, therefore, I was compelled to

As time rolls on I trust the chatty remain silent because it was impossi-

"Foreign Notes" as now outlined will ble for me to answer all, or even a ma- come to be looked on as a vahiable terial part, of the letters of inquiry feature whence new ideas will spring about queens and bees which poured

to help on the march of progress. in on me daily. But this is the way

Phiia., Pa. the world goes, and I have learned not to fret. I have improved the time making some important experiments which have resulted BEE CULTURE IN THE in enrich- ing my limited store of apicultural SOUTH. knowledge. By practising economy

By G. W. Demaree. I have stocked about twenty-five nursery colonies, and have reared The past year has been a poor some extra fine queens for my regu- one for the prosperity of bees in a lar customers, and shall continue these large portion of the middle states till late in the season. and in a greater portion of the Owing to the irregularity of egg- south. laying by the queens, brought about In the first place the past winter by the unfavorable weather, there was was an exceedingly long and cold one, no regularity as to the age of brood far into extending the spring months ; in the combs, and this made it diffi- and to add to the discomfort of our cult to start good nuclei, and set weakened colonies the early part of me to work to overcome the defect. the honey season was cool and other- When extracting honey I would wise unfavorable. And when the transfer any combs of brood with main honey season came in with white adhering bees that the working clover at its best, cool, rough east colonies could spare, to a full size and northeast winds prevailed much hive, till the hive was fully stocked of the time and lessened very much with them. The bees were confined the honey yield ; the result was that to the hive for twenty-four hoiurs ; we got less than a half crop of honey. then late in the evening a good queen Never before did my bees build up cell was grafted into each of the ten so slowly. Although there was plenty combs, and the entrance to the hive of bloom to all appearances, yet but was left open tiU next morning. It little pollen was gathered, and to was then closed till late in the even- 172 THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. ing, when the ten combs were divided from the eyes of the apiarist, and de- into ten nuclei, giving each comb of prive him of the welcome sight of brood, with queen cell and adhering the whitened combs at the tops of bees, a comb containing honey and the brood frames which he gladly pollen. In this way I controlled receives as the best evidence that most of the field workers and got his bees are ready for the surplus the best of nursing nuclei. department. As the science of modern bee- If we must tolerate the "bits of culture progresses, a desire to super- combs" or be deprived of a ready sede tolerated defects in the system glance at the tops of the combs of manipulation is the more keenly without first prying off a rickety felt. The proneness of bees to build honey board, I prefer a "close top "brace-combs" between the brood frame," for it can be made in such and surplus departments has led a way that the bees can pass readily many apiarists to the conclusion and promptly into the surplus de- that the present system of adjust- partment and not a .bit of comb will ing the surplus department of the be wedged in between the top and modern frame hive is, in a great the surplus combs. measure, defective. For this reason I have made, and am using, a few some have gone back to the old of these frames. They are the per- honey board system, claiming "im- fection of mechanism, and bring less provement" of course, and with labor to the apiarist than does the some show for their claims. honey board system.

If I had the time and space I Christia7isburg, Ky. could point out the many devices that have been employed, or resorted to, to prevent the bees from fiUing up every available space with "bits THE BIG DRUM. of comb," and thus hindering the ready removal of the surplus depart- By T. O. Peet. ment in a nice clean condition. But

I will only mention the "slat honey Not long since I chanced upon rack" for holding sections, which is the following article with the above only another form of the honey board. heading. As when a boy it was the Then we have the "slat honey board" chief attraction in the band, so I finely slitted so as to act as a "queen was naturally drawn to it, read it, excluder," and last of this kind we and was struck with its aptness of have the slat recess or "sink" honey comparison to some of our bee con- board. ventions. of All these devices are subject to "When a band music passes it the the same objections that may be along the street, be band of a urged against the "close top bar" regiment, or a village band, or the charity school, it frame. They in the same way con- band of a may be that the chief centre of popu- ceal the tops of the brood frames noted THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 173

lar attraction is the drum department. number of Bee Conventions, each The head-wagging, whistling, step- ^of which, I think, had at least, one keeping crowd cares httle for the /ng drum. It is generally a little piccolo, or fife, or trombone or cor- difficult at the outset to get under net players ; they are admittedly way with discussions, as the rank and important contributions to the gen- file usually seem diffident or reluc- eral effect, but are regarded as sub- tant to begin the music, but soon the ordinate to the drums, and the cen- big drum with the usual time beat tre figure of the drum department comes to the rescue, and with deep is the uncomfortable, irritable look- resonant sounds strikes up the old ing personage, who, tottering at an time march, and away they go. The unnatural angle, thwacks upon the little pipers and players on small vellum of the big drum. We believe pieces fall into line, and pipe away that the majority would rather play the same old, worn-out tunes, among " the big drum than swagger at the which are : How shall we winter head of a column in a commissioned our bees? " '' How shall we market officer's uniform. our honey?" "Comb foundation;" " " But there are big drums outside A standard frame ; Stimulative military or other bands. There are feeding;" "Dollar queens," etc. men in all assemblies or communi- Oh ! for some Mozart or Han- ties who make themselves heard, del among our beeniasters who will and command attention, much in compose some new harmony, that the same way as the big drum of a will contain martial music that the band. A big drum who taps gently, veritable big drummer can master, and who does not take more than so that we may learn to march abreast his fair share of space, would be un- of the times, even if we must be led worthy of his position. Other men by the pompous beater of the vellum. may have powerful instruments, but We were glad to notice that the they must be kept in check, mod- N. E. Convention were constrained erated, adapted to surrounding cir- to notice the question of tariff as cumstances ; but the big drum is proposed by the new treaty with bound by no laws or considerations. Spain. Why? It touches home.

He has a big part to play, and if the We fail to see any mention of revers- (as other parts cannot keep up with him ible frame yet) ; perhaps when so much the worse for them. Better we see the full report it may be there. a loud big drum and feeble accom- I tell you, gents, there is more in paniment, than a loud accompani- that new idea than many of you ment and feeble big drum. What reahze. Get the big dru/nmer to the other performers of the band are practise on it. I think I see, too, to the orchestral big drum, the rank a cloud in the distance (not yet big- and file of a social assembly are to ger than a man's hand) hovering the big drum of the convention." over a Pond, that is going to let fall

It has been my privilege during some big drops by and by, that will my bee life experience to attend a i^^^come fertilizers to our Queens ;

174 THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST.

" and enlighteners to our Kings, and he remarks as follows : some mass-

make new music for our l)ig drum- es are attached to the cloth above

mer. Wq trust more will come of the bees ; these are full of fibres it than was realized some years ago which were undoubtedly torn from by the bee fraternity, who were led the cloth by the bees. Some of these to look for great and startling devel- masses, perhaps most of them, nev-

opments by one of the big drummers ; er went through the bees I think."

but, alas ! it ended in nothing but The pieces of cloth in question noise like the buzz of a drone. An- were cut from sheets of cotton placed other big drummer was going to show over the bees last fall. In spring, us a "great light" that would solve I found some of them soiled with the winter question, but, alas ! it too discharges, some of which were thin ended in nothing but droppings, as and were absorbed by the cloth the noise of the big drum ceased. others were thicker, and were formed Among the many big drums that we into cylindrical drops, not exactly have heard, we will recall a few on the body of the cloth but on the which some of our brethren will rec- fibres of cotton, while others were " ognize at once : Pollen Theory ;" evidently still less watery, and re- "Apis dorsata ;" " Holy Land Bees ;" tain the cylindrical form in which " Smoker Question ;" " Coopera- they were discharged. The fibres tion ;" "Chaff Hives ;" "FoulBrood," were, therefore, not torn from the etc. But like the big drum of the cloth by the bees, but adhered to band, that would be no band without the faeces while they were fresh and it, so these are necessary as it were plastic, and I can see no reason for in order to keep time, that the march the shadow of a doubt that these of progress might go on keeping masses did, every one of them, pass

step to the music. Hurrah ! then, we through the bees. But since Profes- say, for the big drummer. May he sor Cook and I now differ as.to the na- live long and beat aloud the notes ture and origin of a substance which

of martial music, and may we all we have both examined, I purpose

recognize his importance and neces- to submit it for inspection to a num-

sity among us as the drone is among ber of prominent and intelligent bee-

bees ! keepers, both in Canada and the Brooklyn, N. Y. United States, and by concurrent sample post, I send a parcel to the editor of the "Apiculturist," with a re-

quest that he shall start it on its

DRY F^CES. rounds, each one receiving it to

send it on to the next person desig- Br S. CoRNEiL. nated, and so on, till it has com-

On page 1 48 of the Canadian Bee pleted its journey and has returned Journal, Prof. Cook has an article to me. regarding a lot of dry faeces received Besides the masses which Profes- from me. Concerning one sample, sor Cook thinks never passed through THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. lib the bees, the parcel contains samples through the columns of the "Apicul- of dry faeces attached to chips from turist," we shall feel pleased. hives, etc., half an inch or more in Lindsay, Can. Aug. i, 1885. length, voided by the bees on their first flight in spring, so dry that, when found, many of them were standing INSTRUCTIONS TO vertically samples collected on the ; BEGINNERS. bottom boards beneath the bees wintered in the cellar ; samples of the By the Editor. long sausage-shaped kind gathered from leaves in the garden during the One of the first questions asked us present summer ; specimens of mass- by the beginner and one that comes es consisting of wax, bee-hairs, fibres to us by every mail is. What is the from the quilt, propohs, etc., rolled most valuable race of bees for the up in the cluster into pellets and cyl- honey producer all things considered ? inders and dropped on the bottom In order to answer this question, boards ; specimens of wax and some and because it properly belongs in other dark colored substance which connection with the paper preced-

I beheve to be bee faeces, moulded ing this (July No.) we have decided on the inside of the posterior leg of to devote our talk this month to the bee as the marks of the rows of solving this problem. stiff hairs plainly show ; a specimen We are aware that our opinion may of matter dropped by bees on a sheet conflict with those of other promi- of paper in early spring during a few nent 'and expert apiarists, but we days when they were carrying in flour can only give the results of our and collected by Dr. Tinker ; and two experience leaving our readers to specimens of faeces so fine that to test the matter and decide for them- the naked eye they seem like dust selves. but are regularly-formed oval pellets We are convinced, however, that voided by the larvse of two or more were our queen breeders united in

species of beetles which were very their efforts to establish methods for plentiful in the debris on the bot- rearing better queens, and less given tom boards, in the cellar, towards to getting up an unwarranted excite- spring. ment over some new and almost un- Since opinions differ on a matter known strain or variety, for the sake so apparent as the specimens on the of popularity or individual gain, there

cotton cloth, it is not at all surpris- would not be so great a diversity of ing that there should be a difference opinion regarding other matters. of opinion as to the nature and or- We have the ItaHan bee and know

igin of some of the matter found, in that it stands high in the estimation spring, beneath the cluster. If the of a large majority of our naost suc-

gentlemen who receive the parcel, cessful honey producers, and will

will take the trouble to give their always figure prominently among the

views on the matter in dispute valuable bees of the future ; and yet, 1

176 THE AMERICAN APIGULTVRI8T.

as we have indisputable evidence comparison with other branches of that Italian bees formerly sprang from the science of beekeeping, we are led a common origin with the yellow Eu- to feel that we are as yet but students ropean races, we feel certain that it in one of the most fruitful fields of

will lose none of its identity, but be investigation and discovery, and he benefited by the addition of the blood who claims that he has reached the of the original race, the Holylands. ultimatum is justly entitled to the We have in our apiaries to-day Al- seat of the novice. bino bees (a freak of the Italians) We refer to these matters not to which so nearly correspond with the gain popularity, but merely to show

Holylands, that it takes the most that our statements are based on careful and critical examination of practical experience and should com- the expert to discriminate them. mand at least a small degree of atten- We do not propose to give the tion. history of the different races, but The beginner, in stocking his api- recommend to our readers " Cook's ary, wishes of course to feel sure that Manual" (latest edition) and the he starts out with the best bees for "Beekeepers' Handy Book" (both honey-producing purposes, and hav- of which we keep in stock), as these ing little or no experience must rely works contain exhaustive descriptions on the judgment of those who place

of all the new races of bees. before the public their experiences

It has always been our aim to de- and opinions. vote a large portion of our attention to It is always noticeable that, as a the development of the best bees for rule, those who are the first to speak honey-producing purposes, and with and speak the longest and loudest

this in view we have served a long are those who have had the most and thorough apprenticeship with a meagre experience, others waiting number of the most prominent api- until thay have carefully tested the

arists and queen breeders, including, matter before venturing an opinion, among others, D. A. Jones of Beeton, and the advance of apicultural educa- Ont., Henry Alley of Wenham, Mass., tion has been many times retarded Nellis of Canajoharie, New by this deplorable feature which can and J. H. York. only be overcome through the agency We have likewise visited a large of a thorough system of association number of the former many times and work. have been a constant attendant upon The Holyland bees were first im- the beekeepers' conventions in order, ported into this country in June of 1880 and yet during the if possible, to master this the highest summer of branch of apiculture, for upon first- 1 88 numbers of apiarists everywhere

class queens or mother bees depends were ready to pass judgment upon the success of the apiarist. them. As with added experience we com- Notwithstanding the severe criti- prehend with what apparent neglect cisms to which this race has been queen-rearing has been treated in subjected, it has been steadily gain- THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. Ill

ing favor until at present it stands which destroys many other more

( in the opinion of a large numl)er of valuable traits.

the most prominent apiarists) at the If you want beautiful bees, add to liead, unsurpassed by any. your best Italian blood the blood of If the Holylands in the short space the Holyland bees, and our word for of time that they have been tested, it you will be pleased with the re- have proven so valuable, what will sult. In order to prove valuable, our be said when they have been given worker-bees must prove strong, ac- tlie same advantages with which tive, energetic and correspondingly American Italians have been fa- gentle. All this we have in the Holy- vored ? lands, and especially in the progeny The first essential with the majority of an Italian queen mated with a of those who call for queens is, that Holyland drone. they be beautiful, and in this regard We are now so confident of the we have never seen any bees that superiority of the Italian and Holy- equalled the Holylands, and this land bees that we propose hereafter concurs with the opinion of the ma- to devote our attention exclusively jority of those who visit our bee farm. to them and to their crosses, with the

It is claimed for the Italians that assurance that we can thereby do the test of purity is the showing of more toward developing better honey three golden bands or rings on the producing bees than by attempting anterior portion of the abdomen; to keep so many races pure. this marking being uniform, both in The Carniolans have received con- the number and color of the bands. siderable attention of late, but the Those who are most familiar with majority of beekeepers would never the importation and breeding of Ital- be pleased with them as they show ian queens are aware that, as a rule, too much of the black markings and queens received from Italy do not have a great propensity to swarm. produce workers showing a uniform- For these reasons we have discarded ity of this marking, and are further them entirely. aware that, as a rule, the majority of It may be well to enumerate the imported Italian queens prove to be requisite qualities which go to make hybrids. up the best bee for the honey pro- This comes not alone from the ducer and see if we liave in them fact that European queen breeders those races to which we have given do not fully understand queen-rear- the preference. ing, but because the Italian bees are 1. They must be a hardy race, the production of across between the and able to withstand, successfully, dark and yellow races, and if left to the trying changes and severe winters themselves will retrograde, hence, in of our northern climate. order to maintain uniformity of mark- 2. Good breeders; keeping the ings careful selection and breeding hives well supplied with brood and are necessary, which without caution young bees, from spring to fall, and will lead to in-and-in breeding, even during the most trying portions 178 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. of the season, as success depends properly managed, we have no diffi- largely on populous colonies. culty in this wise.

3. Gentle and quiet in their move- As honey gatherers and breeders ments, thus permitting of easy ma- they are not excelled, and woe to nipulation, and this without dimin- the luckless robber bees which at- ishing their working qualities. tempt to invade their homes and fall

4. (rood honey gatherers, ener- into their hands. getic, determined and successful in They have been known to fly (in

their efforts to secure every drop of Palestine) six and one-half miles to precious nectar, which circumstances obtain pasturage. We (as previously

will permit, storing and capping the stated) consider them a most beau- same in an attractive manner, and tiful race of bees, although their type

fully as energetic and determined in of beauty differs from that of other protecting their stores and homes races. against the invasion of robber bees. We have used bees for queen-rear-

5. Strong and active on the wing, ing from nearly every race, and many and capable of making long journeys of their crosses, and find that the when necessary without being ex- Holylands have no superior for this hausted. purpose.

6. Long tongued, in order that At Beeton, in company with Mr. they may sip the precious nectar, as Jones, we have witnessed large num- yet inaccessible to the bees, from bers of Holyland bees at work on the many honey-producing flowers the red clover (large heads) when which now refuse to yield up their there was a plentiful flow of white hidden sweets, wasting them on the clover honey, and have known them

summer air ; and, finally, beautifully to work on forage, in large numbers, and uniformly marked, also duplicat- farther from the apiary than the other ing the above markings, quaUties and races. characteristics. Most of our readers are well ac- Every one of our readers will ad- ([uainted with the qualities of the

mit that bees passing the above men- Italian bees ; they need no com-

tioned qualities, etc., are all that can ment.

be desired, and it is our purpose to Our advice to the beginner is to show that the Holylands and their purchase either the Italian or Holy- crosses with the Italians, or perhaps land (those from Syria) or Italians the crosses of the Italians with the crossed with Holyland drones. If one

Holylands, give us just what is re- prefers to make his own crosses, it quired. would be best to secure a Holyland No race of bees will fly more rap- queen and after obtaining some drones idly or farther in search of honey from her-, mate with the latter some when necessary, than the Holylands, young queens from his best Italian

nor are any more hardy then they ; stock; but, as a rule, it would be and while not as gentle as some of better to purchase the crosses reared our American Italians, yet when by some reliable queen breeder. THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 179

And here we wish it jilainly under- EDITORIAL. stood, that for just reasons we denounce, as we always have done, the It is our puri)ose to be more brief cheap queen business, and if neces- this month than last, but as the "con- sary we can prove by figures (and tinual dropping of the water wears figures dont lie), that one cannot de- away the granite," and persistent ag- vote his time and attention to the itating of any prominent subject proper care and management of the brings it more fully before the people queen-rearing apiary and make it pay for consideration, we wish to speak to rear first-class queens at the re- once again on our favorite theme, markably low prices at which some "association work." Already from quote them. north and south, east and west, For instance, we use a full colony comes the inquiry, How shall we of bees so populous that we are often best dispose of our honey. obliged to keep them confined in This has been the theme of bee two swarming boxes, one not being talk each fall, and the burden of con- large enough, with which to start vention discussion ever since Lang- twelve to fifteen queen cells. Now we stroth, Quinby and Wagner first took could start fifty cells with the same prominent action in these matters. number of bees and have known it Does it not seem strange that in to be done. the past twenty or thirty years some

Knowing full well that the bees one individual or some party of in- should not be permitted to complete dividuals could not have solved this over fifteen, we are aware that where matter ? In spite of the rapid strides so many cells are completed the ma- that have been made in England and jority must contain poor queens. Canada in this regard, the beekeep- We prefer to sell but a few queens ers of the United States stand almost at a fair price rather than to resort to with folded arms, waiting for some lamp nurseries, deception, and lower one to move and then waiting to see our prices. whether he succeeds ere they lift a We wish to say, however, that hand to assist him. some of those who sell cheap queens Some one has said considerable are conscientious and will give a about jealousy, and here is one of the good article even though it is at their reefs on which beekeeping enter- own loss, but we are aware that in prises are wrecked. Let an in- this, as in all other vocations and in- genious apiarist dare to place before dustries, low prices, as a rule, lead to the beekeeping fraternity an inven- deception and degradation of labor tiouj either patented or unpatented, which it is our purpose always and and monopoly and individual selfish- everywhere to denounce. ness at once pounce down upon him, point the finger back into the dim vista of the past, to some forgotten, dust-covered and often worthless model, resembling his really valuable 180 THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. and practical invention, and then of those who know him to be in the with thundering words of assump- right, permit him to suffer injury, tion, denounce him for having dared rather than gather about him and to make pubUc his discovery. sustain the cause on the side of jus- There are those who cry down tice and right. patents, presumedly ( ?) because There must be some reason why they cannot control them, and then our association work has not pro- if, perchance, something does arise gressed, and why the beekeepers of over which they can gain no control, this country have no effective organ- they do their utmost to damage it ization. do not. and cannot, believe by depreciating its value, a practice We that it is on account of any lack of that is only equalled by the wily interest the part the stranger, who forgets that your on of masses of beekeepers, as we have always found pocket-book is not his own. open-hearted, If the beekeepers of America ever them generous and intend to place apiculture on a firm even enthusiastic. The trouble is now, and always basis, they must individually put their shoulders to the wheel and hands has been, that those who should be the leaders ?£//// not act in to the plough, and show that they harmony. have some energy and backbone. Why this is so the former must answer. There is enough talk about reform Of what use is it to produce mil- in government to make this country lions of pounds of honey if there is a paradise, or in temperance, to close just call for a to be a glutted market? This is a every dram shop ; but pertinent question, and one that is mustering of the troops who will often put to us. Our only answer stand by the banner, and then look is that when the beekeepers are with sorrow and regret as the talkers ready to take the proper steps to pass into the background, and leave create a demand, there will be no but a handful of devoted followers. trouble in disposing of ten times This appUes to every department the strikes honey that we now produce. of life, and only when an evil Make the subject of association hard at our own door, and curses our the theme and own home, becoming unbearable to work burden of your talk at conventions and among your the majority, any move is made. Apiculture in this country seems neighbors. Keep the matter alive, agitate it, and ere you are aware, to be fettered with the chains of grand developments will be made in jealousy. If one dares to make an our association work. outcry against any injustice or wrong, Write to Mr. Thos. G. Newman, even his very friends shudder with apprehension, being fully aware that 925 West Madison St., Chicago, 111., and after securing constitution and he will either be treated with silent by-laws of the proposed " Beekeep- scorn and cold neglect, or open ers Union, " join it, and thus form a abuse, and, fearing that their individ- nucleus for effective work. ual interests will be threatened, many THE AMERICAN APICULTURI8T. 181

NEW OBSERVATIONS ON by putting a virgin queen into a hive THE NATURAL HISTORY from which the whole of the males carefully and to be OF BEES. were removed ; physically certain that none could obtain access, a glass tube was adapted Bv Fhancis Hubek. at the entrance of such dimensions that the working bees could freely (Continued from p. 156, Vol. III.) pass and repass, but too narrow for He asserts that there were no the smallest male. Matters continued drones in the hive during the course thus for thirty days ; the workers de- of the experiment, but although they parting and returning, performed their were absent the queen laid eggs from usual labours, but the queen re- which worms proceeded ; whence he mained sterile. At the expiration of considers that she is impregnated by that time her belly was equally slen- herself. der as at the moment of her origin. Reflecting on this experiment, I I repeated the experiment several did not find it sulSciently accurate. times, and always with tb.e same re- Males pass with great facility from sult. hive to hive ; and Hattorf took no Therefore, as a queen, rigorously precaution against any being intro- separated from all commerce with duced into his. He says, indeed, the male, remains sterile, it is evident there was no male, but is silent re- she cannot impregnate herself, and specting the means adopted to prove that Hattorf's opinion is ill-founded. the fact ; and although he might be Hitherto, by endeavoring to con- satisfied of no large drone being fute or verify the conjectures of all present, still a small one might have the authors who had preceded me, escaped his vigilance, and fecundated by new experiments, I had acquired the queen. With a view to clear up the knowledge of new facts, but these the doubt I resolved to repeat his were apparently so contradictory as experiment, in the manner described to render the solution of the prob- by him, and without greater care or lem still more difficult. precaution. While examining Mr. Debraw's hy- I put a virgin queen into a hive, pothesis I confined a queen in a hive, from which all the males were exclud- from which all the drones were reed, but the bees left at perfect lib- yet she was fertile. When moved ; erty. Several days afterwards I considering the opinion of Hattorf, visited the hive, and found newly on the contrary, I put one of whose hatched worms in it. Here then was virginity I was perfectly satisfied in

the same result as Hattorf obtained ! the same situation : she remained But before deducing the same con- sterile. sequence, we had to ascertain beyond Embarrassed by so many difficul- dispute that no male had entered the ties, I was on the point of abandon-

hive. Thus it was necessary to im- ing the subject of my researches, merse the bees, and examine each when at length on more attentive re-

separately ; by which operation we flection, I thought these contradic- actually found four small males. tions might arise from experiments Therefore, to render the experiment made indifferently on virgin queens, decisive, not only was it requisite to with whose history I was not acquaint- remove all the drones., but also by ed from the origin, and which per- some infallible method, to prevent haps had been fecundated unknown any from being introduced, which the to me. German naturalist had neglected. \^To be continued.'\ I prepared to repair this omission 182 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

them a fair trial and thorough testing EXPERIMENTAL before winter comes. BEE FARM NOTES. About June 25th we made up a large number of nucleus colonies With us the past month has been (standard frame). We used eight- an unusually busy one and the call frame hives containing two frames for queens in connection with sub- filled with brood and six frames scriptions has alone even almost filled with unwired foundation. We enough to give us but little time for then added to each, a young laying rest or study which has obliged us to cjueen and about two quarts of bees defer the carrying out of many of that had just completed a lot of our plans and projects until the rush ([ueen cells. of the queen business is over. We These colonies now have every have been very fortunate this season comb well filled with brood and have in rearing first-class queens and while several quarts of bees clustering on we have shipped large numbers of the hive fronts. With us the nucleus them yet we have had but three or system of increase is far preferable four complaints as regards the im- to that of natural swarming. purity of the queens and we have Our apiary has been damaged no hesitancy in stating that we never more than $100.00 worth this season saw a better collection of breeding on account of the utmost insane de- stock than we now have at the Api- sire to swarm with which our bees were culturist Bee Farm. possessed. During the swarming A short time since we shipped to season we were very busy and had a party in California one lot of fifty carelessly neglected to supply every queens, twenty-five of which were colony with a drone trap ; the result young Italian queens mated with Ho- being that, suddenly, colonies that lyland (Syrian) drones and twenty- contained some of our choice breed- five young Holyland (Syrian) queens ing queens, and those from which we mated with Italian drones. We had no reason to expect that swarms have handled thousands of queens, would issue, sent forth their first and with our superintendent, Mr. swarms and being unprovided with Alley (who is authority on queens), traps had everything their own way we can truthfully say that we never for a time. before saw as many fine and uni- The "Whitman Fountain I'ump" formly marked queens packed and paid us many times its cost this sea- shipped in one lot. son and proved a "friend in the By the time that this number of time of need." One forenoon a our journal reaches our subscribers swarm issued from one of our colo- every order for queens will have been nies and settled on one of the topmost filled and we shall have at least 500 branches of a high tree ; almost im- queens in nuclei which will enable us mediately swarm number two poured to fill orders for Holyland (Syrian) out from another hive and. mingled and Italian queens promptly. with swarm number one. Our friend, While many disparaging and un- the fountain pump, was brought into favorable reports concerning the play and the cluster was thoroughly Holyland (Syrian) bees have ap- drenched with water ; but to our dis- peared in the various bee publica- may ere the bees had become quiet, tions, yet those who will procure swarm number three issued from one of our home-bred Holyland another hive and you may be assured (Syrian) queens will find them all that there was "fun ahead" for a and even more than we claim for short time. However by keeping them and now is the time to give those that had clustered thoroughly THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. 183

drenched and pouring a constant Some of our colonies have already stream of water into swarm number stored upwards of one hundred three, we at last compelled the latter pounds of honey this season and to cluster within ten feet of the former Mr. Alley says that during his exper- and as soon as they became quiet we ience of twenty-seven years in bee- secured the bees in separate swarm- keeping he has never but once before ing boxes, caged the queens and known them to do as well. Our su- cared for the bees. perintendent, and indeed all those We had no trouble however where who have visited our bee farm, agree the colonies were provided with drone in the statement that they have never traps. No apiarist should be without seen a larger or finer collection of a good fountain pump and we have queen bees than we now have on seen none that equals the "Whitman." hand. This may seem to be strong Absconding swarms can, as a rule, language but it is a fact that we be compelled to alight by the dis- would be pleased to demonstrate to charge in their midst of a loaded gun to all those who choose to favor us filled with fine shot. This has often with a visit.

been tested by John J. Gould, of We are continually receiving tes- Ipswich, Mass. It might be well timonials even stronger than the where a large number of colonies statements that we have made and are kept to keep a loaded gun ready it is a pleasure to us to know that for use. Perhaps, however, some of the queens and goods shipped by us our readers have a safer and more are giving universal satisfaction. We simple and effective method for pre- propose to furnish only first-class venting the swarms from absconding. queens and goods. If so we would be pleased to publish We are receiving the same ques- any orignal method that they may tions over and over again regardingthe choose to send us. care and introduction of fertile and We are having wonderful success virgin queens, but as brief answers with our new "combination nursery are not enough, we advise all those and introducing cage" (the invention who wish to become conversant with of Mr. Alley). the rearing and care of queen bees Out of the hundreds of virgin to purchase "Alley's Handy Book," and fertile queens that we are con- third edition, as it is "authority" on stantly introducing hardly one is lost. all such questions. The work is for This is the only perfect, simple and sale at this office at $1.50 per copy. practical introducing cage that we Occasionally, a customer ^vrites have ever known and every apiarist that his queen "was successfully in- should have at least one nursery troduced but does not lay." The filled with these cages for use in his fact is, the queen was not success- apiary. Its uses are many and dur- fully introduced, but was stung when ing the swarming season every choice liberated from the cage. swarming cell can be saved and the When this is the case the queen young queens cared for until they to all appearances is all right as there can be used and this with but little are no marks of the sting. In a few trouble or expense. days, however, she will be missing, We have in our apiary a number and queen cells are started. of queens that are well worth ^50.00 With the most explicit directions

each, and our superintendent says there are those who ?<;'/// lose queens that the hatching bees in the nuclei when introducing them, and one show that we have shipped several /iii/sf become acquainted with the hundred queens equally as good as habits of the bees ere he thoroughly those that we now have. understands why these things are so. —

184 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

The essentials of the successful in- not very favorable, and the fall flow- troduction of queens are these : ers abundant, late swarming will The bees must of course be queen- prove the destruction of both the old

less ; and the bees and queen to be and young colonies, as it is so late introduced must become thoroughly in the season that sufficient young acquainted and scented alike ere the bees cannot be reared to keep up latter is liberated. At the time when the proper temperature during win- the queen is liberated the bees must ter. be undisturbed, in order that neither In some cases, and especially the queen nor bees may become ex- where one wishes to save the cells, it cited or frightened. is well to keep the old colony queen- Some parties claim that even where less three days, remove the cells to a fertile or laying queen is to be in- the "nursery" and then introduce troduced the colony should be queen- the old queen, or any other, as per less at least three days ere the new method given elsewhere. queen is given them. This, in our We have been overworked thus experience, we have proven beyond far this season, but we are looking dispute is not necessary, and further forward with pleasant anticipation to we find the loss in introduction smaller the time when we shall be able to where the laying queens are intro- carry out the many plans that we are duced or liberated by the bees within maturing to make this department forty-eight hours after the old queen many times more valuable and in- has been removed, than where the structive both to the expert and nov- colony remains queenless three days. ice than it now is. With virgin queens, however, the three days' method is the only safe one. About three weeks since, we sowed a piece of silver hull buckwheat and now it is in bloom which to us seems CORRESPONDENCE. like a rapid growth. We have sown acres of buckwheat for in all three NEW YORK AND FLORIDA. our pasturage. We have been examining the Cle- As the earth slowly approaches thra alnifolia (swamp alder) which is the great winter, as known among found in abundance along the roads astronomers, our summers continu- near the lake, and in the swamps ally grow shorter until a few hundred near our apiaries, and it has proven years hence, spring and fall will so valuable as a honey plant, yielding pass insensibly from one to the such rich, beautifully colored and fine- other without any summer at all. ly flavored honey that we propose to Those that become interested in the surround our whole estate (eight vicissitudes of the weather observe acres) with a double hedge of it, our seasons gradually changing and also use it for shade in our apiary. enough to be noticeable in a very Towards the last of August and few years, as we have late springs and early in September, especially in sec- earlier falls, which will make it nec- tions where buckwheat is abundant, essary for even the hardiest plants a few swarms may lie expected to is- in the vegetable kingdom to grow sue. spontaneously. Also it is materially The wise apiarist will, as a rule, affecting the successful survival of remove or destroy the cells and re- our pets (the bees), which in time turn the bees to the hive from which will become extinct in the north, like they came, because if the weather is the mastodon of a past tertiary j)e- THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 185 riod, and the ancient dodo of ceno- York, December ist, we confined zoic time. our attention most minutely to all The most careful management things pertaining to successful move- and application of modern science ing en route between New York and are necessary to carry them through Florida. Our investigations led us from fall until warm weather and to believe that it was worthy of a flowers again appear, as proven year trial on a larger scale. after year by those who make bee- As before stated, in Jan. No. "Api" keeping an exclusive study and busi- we took sixty colonies and started ness. The yield of honey from Nov. 10 from New York state and maple, willows and all early blossoms arrived at Sanford in good condition. was very profuse. The bees worked Here is where our experiment finely when the weather was warm, commences. Every step to be which has been seldom the case dur- taken was a step in the dark not ing the past month. In Herkimer knowing the extent of southern county the small apiarists have been bloom in swamps, temperature, etc. unsuccessful in wintering their bees, During the month of December it and what have survived will be in was hot and sultry. The bees car- poor condition for the clover and ried pollen and juice from the orange, linden bloom later. but not much honey. Robbing was Our yard, wintered in Herkimer going on every day if any honey or county, commenced the month of combs were left exposed. The May with just bees enough to keep queens, however, started brood in brooding nicely, and as all the colo- two and three combs, and everything nies had young, vigorous queens, promised finely. By looking at the they soon commenced gaining in temperature given heretofore, you numbers, although too reduced to will observe that the months of Jan- gather much surplus honey. The uary and February were decidedly first week of May was cold, but was cold, averaging for the two months followed by a warm spell of a few only 55° and 54° with a variation of days ; then cold and desolate the 58° in seven hours. Now, my ideas rest of the month. The reader who of keeping bees south was to keep is interested in the Florida enter- them cool, so I made one great mis- prise will note the condition of the take by leaving the top of frames bees of New York, and compare exposed, with nothing but a thin the result with that of those brought cover, one inch from the frames, from Florida, and put in the same and the result was disastrous. While yard. aware they were too cold, I kept During the summer and fall of neglecting it daily, expecting warm 1883-84, the idea was first presented weather again, so the month of Jan- to me to take bees to South Florida uary passed and the bees had been to winter, and increase them exten- consuming the stores given them sively, so as to have no loss in win- upon their arrival and became much tering, and have all strong with young reduced in strength. vigorous bees to take advantage of During February there was no im- our numerous spring flowers. After provement in temperature, and a very

corresponding extensively with the poor month ; for, with the scarcity of permanent beekeepers of the south, bloom and dampness, none but those information in regard to swarming under favorable circumstances im- in March, and the abundant bloom proved during the month. During during the month, made it a point March they improved rapidly and worthy of investigation, so, taking many that belonged in the south one colony and sailing from New swarmed. But mine did not com-

16 186 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. mence until April to show indications when bees are taken south it should of swarming, and by the first of May be done that they may take advan- we had divided and had four to seven tage of the early flow of honey in sheets of brood each. The orange October which will give them suffi- bloom had passed. cient stores to last during the winter Our time had come to return months which are December, January, north. The grape was about to and February. Second, all colonies bloom and the palmetto was attract- to give the best results should have ing the bees' attention with a fair abundant food, say twenty pounds promise of having our hives filled each, to consume during those with loose honey. So we secured months. Third, all colonies should all weak combs with transfer sticks be kept warm and cosy during this and put four sheets of brood and time and not disturbed any more bees and three empty frames in a than is strictly necessary. Bees un- light shipping case with just honey der those conditions will be strong enough to last the bees during the enough to swarm as soon as the journey. Then we put four hives in orange commences to bloom and the a crate which made a very neat pack- wideawake southern beekeeper can age, weighing about one hundred rear his choice queens and get in pounds providing the bees with fine shape before the dragon fly ap- abundant ventilation. Thus crated, pears ? they were more easily cared for during Chas. G. Ferris. transit. Coluvihia, N. K, June i, 1885. On May 6, 1885, we started from Sanford, Fla., via St. Johns river to Jacksonville, S. F. & W. R. R. to Savannah, and by the O. S. S. Co. " Ox-cow " QUEEN BEES.^ of Savannah to New York, where we, with our bees, arrived on the loth Mr. Editor : — I was a keeper after a very successful journey. Our of bees, and not without enthusiasm, loss was three out of one hundred for some eighteen years, from about and twenty, which was caused by the year 1840. I read every book suffocation during our journey from on the subject that I could obtain, Albany to Herkimer. The rest were and most earnestly and carefully just perfect, no dead bees in hives, studied the ways and habits of this and the hives full to overflowing with fascinating insect, in my dozen hives. young bees, which upon being lib- Much less was then known than now, erated upon the maple bloom imme- and the hives then used were less diately commenced to build great favorable to the investigator than sheets of combs in the extra frames those with the movable frames, now and filled the hive with honey while affording so satisfactory facilities to those that were wintered north could the apiarian student and manipulator. only secure enough to keep them Nevertheless, something was learned from starving owing to their reduced by use of book and hive, and the ex- state. perience of others, and I ventured, after a while, to write deliver Now the question, Does it pay? and a " Taking into consideration the time, lecture on the Habits and Manage- expense, and uncertainty of such an ment of the Honey Bee." Among undertaking, with the success that ac- the places at which it was read was companied my experiment, I should ' While visiting Mr. Oliver a short time Rinoe, he referred lis to ihis paper on the say no. But much is to be devel- "Ox-Cow " queen beew which we have repro- the A. B. 187«, to oped in making it more interesting duced from J. of show what advances have been made since the time re- in a financial point of view. First, ferred to by the writer.—Ed.] —

THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 187

the Representatives' Hall of the State operations of this most expert bee- House in Boston, before the Massa- keeper. He makes a business of chusetts State Agricultural Society, a breeding queens, selling them when portion of the lecture being devoted ready for market, and sending them to the anomalous, but now univer- in little boxes adapted to the purpose, sally known, fact that bees when de- to purchasers in all parts of the coun- prived of their queen or mother-bee try. He and many other apiarists will, by some process or means as are actually accomplishing the thing yet unexplained, so operate upon a declared to be "as impossible as to worm or larva, that left untouched, make a cow out of an ox." He has, would become a worker or barren this very centennial year, sent to cus- female, as to render her organs of tomers more than 750 of these "ox- reproduction fertile, the change pro- cow " queens, and will sell more duced even affecting her shape and before the close of the season. size, as well as her after habits of As is well known, the Italian bees, hfe. imported into the United States about A writer in the Maine Farmer fifteen years since, are the favorite of made a report (though with some very many of the present bee masters. inaccuracies) of my remarks, caUing They were not known here in my bee- " them new, interesting, and instruct- keeping days (1840 to 1 858), we hav- ive ;" but very soon afterwards the ing the English bee imported by the editor of a Portland, Me., paper, early colonists, a much more pugna- under date of April ii, 1842, as- cious insect, and said to be less ac- sailed both lecture and lecturer with cumulative of honey than the Italian, a savagely severe and denunciatory while the Italian queen is said to be criticism, calling the former "a bun- more prolific of eggs, and therefore gling piece of nonsense, of a con- a hive of Italian is more densely temptible sort, and full of absurd peopled than a hive of English bees.

statements," and declaring the latter I well remember how difficult it to be " wholly ignorant of the sub- was, in former days, for those who ject upon which he undertook to en- knew only the English bee, to under- ligliten others." Specially severe stand the poet Virgil's description of was he upon my statement that a the queen, he, however, erroneously queen bee can be manufactured out calling it the king. I translate the

of the worm of a working bee or neu- passage from his Fourth Georgic : ter. " The thing is as impossible," Glowing with yellow scales and daz- he added, " as it would be to make zling hue, " a cow out of an ox" and nothing His body marked with golden bauds can exceed the contemptible folly of we view book-worms in the silly stories of the If safe this King, one mind abides in all— ancients about making queen bees If lost, in discord dire and feuds they out of workers." What ancient fall; writers treat of this subject the critic Destroy their work, waste all their did not say. I made no reply to gathered store. Dissolve all bonds, are this onslaught preferring to be nor a nation more. guided by Solomon's advice (Prov. If he but live ruling the glowing hive, xxvi : 4), and to let time determine All are content, the fertile race survive. truth. Him they admire, with joyful hum sur- This reminiscence came to my round, While labor thrives and honeyed sweets mind as I stood, a few days since, in abound. the apiary of Mr. H. Alley, in Wen- ham, Mass., and witnessed the won- Now we know that the poet's king derfully skilful and truly scientific is a queen, or more truly a fertile 188 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. mother-bee, and taking the Italian them in our movable frame hives bee, of which Virgil wrote 2,000 and save all this loss, as well as years ago, she has a yellotv body and keep our bees in a better condition not a b/ack one like the ordinary queen ready for their winter quarters. It is of the English and American hives. not worth my while to enter into a I was very much rejoiced when I mathematical calculation, for be you first saw an Itahan queen, seeing by reader, who you may, I say make the facilities afforded in Mr. Alley's your own calculation, and see what apiary more cjueens in a single hour you can sell a pound of wax for and than I had seen in all my own bee- subtract it from fifty pounds of honey keeping experience. It was a real at twenty-five cents per pound, which apiarian revelation, and I only re- makes a difference of $12.25 ^^^^ gretted that it had not come to me you have your loss told, after you have at an earlier day, when fitting boys your pay for wax at twenty-five cents for college, I encountered this des- per pound ; and yet we often find cription by Virgil, then wholly ob- many beekeepers melting their prec- scure and inexplicable. ious combs into wax, that should be I do not now recall any explana- utilized in a different way, and saved tion of the difficulty by any annotator for future use. of the Georgics, even Martyn, the J. M. Hicks. learned Professor of Botany in Battle Ground P. O., Indiana. the University of Cambridge (Eng- land), in his admirable translation (1740-41), being wholly silent on the subject. Now, Virgil's descrip- NOTES AND QUERIES. tion is intelhgible, as well as wholly — accurate. Henry K. Oliver.^ -A certain party seems terribly troubled now that the "lamp nursery" Salem, Mass., June 11. is doomed, because it cannot be shown that all parties who invent ON LOSS AND SAVING OF HONEY queen-nurseries copied their ideas COMB. from the "Jewell Davis" nursery. What a pity that they did not learn, Ed. Am. Apiculturist. ere this, that the "Jewell Davis" nur- It is a mystery to many tvhy sery was practical and useful. An- good clean honey comb is worth from other case of "dog in the manger." two to four dollars per pound. Now, my dear reader, let m.e say it is true —The editor of one of our bee- that it takes twenty-five pounds of journals states that " Mr. Benton has clean, nice honey to make a pound had the largest experience of any and a quarter of comb ; Hkewise it breeder in shipping bees by mail, takes from fifteen to twenty days, and that he is having the best success precious time, for the bees to secrete in shipping queens long distances. and make the above amount of comb. The party making this assertion It is also true that a good swarm of is well aware that Mr. Benton was bees will gather from five to twenty never heard of as a queen breeder pounds of honey each day when the until within a few years, and this same flowers secrete most bountifully. So editor knows that there are a large you see that this will make at least a number of queen breeders in this hundred pounds of a clear loss. country who have shipped quanti- Whereas, if we will save our l)cst ties of queens where Mr. Benton has combs, we can use them by putting shipped one. We have in our possession the ' The sad intoUijrence comes to us this moruiug, (Aug. 13) of Mr. Oliver's dcutli. cages that Mr. Benton sent to the THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. 189

Northeastern Beekeepers' conven- are willing to work for us, and those tion for examination, and Mr. Alley who wish to obtain with but little has shown us that they are almost trouble a choice queen. identical with that used by him over To any person who sends us a twenty years ago, the difference being club of five new subscribers either at that while Mr. Benton uses sugar and ^i.oo each, or at any of the club honey for food, Mr. Alley used honey offers, we will make a present of in a sponge. The success obtained one of our choice selected queens. by Mr. Benton is no more remark- In order that you will understand able than that of Mr. Alley and many our offer we will cite an instance. others, who have had extended ex- If five of your neighbors should perience. " Honor to whom honor choose to take advantage of our offer is due." of the " Apiculturist," for one year with a choice queen for $1.50, and — That pollen is an article of food you should send us their addresses with the worker bees, and even nec- and $7.50, we would make you a essary to their welfare, seems to be present of a choice queen. Any a settled fact with the majority of member of the club can, however, experienced "bee doctors." take advantage of either of the club offers that he may choose. — The editor of the " Canadian This is a splendid opportunity Bee Journal makes rather a sweeping for you to try our stock of queens. and unqualified statement in the late issue of his journal, and one —We have been issuing 5000 which we fear might prove mislead- copies per month since April, and ing to many readers. He says : "We we invite advertisers to give our col- find no more trouble in introducing umns a trial. virgin queens than we do in introducing fertile ones. We simply —To all persons wishing to pro- cage them on combs for about twenty- cure a cheap but a practical bee- four hours, and then release them." smoker for use where one has but a If said party will, during a period few colonies, we can heartily recom- when there is a scarcity of honey, mend the " Clark smoker," illustrated remove the laying queens from sev- in our June number. It is all that eral full colonies, and cage upon the can be desired for the object for sides of combs virgin queens (Cy- which it is designed, and no one can prian especially) five days old, so afford to do without a smoker when arranged that they will be released one can be procured for 35 cents. within twenty- four hours, he will find more trouble than he reports. — We have just received from Mr. Again, if he will remove laying Cornell the specimens referred to in queens from fertilizing nuclei (when his article and shall make a micro- no honey is coming in, or in fact at scopical examination of them. most any period) and then attempt We trust that each party to whom to introduce virgin queens five days they are sent will examine them old, he will be less confident in his carefully, sending us for puljlication assertions. It is oftentimes trouble- such reports as they may deem best, some for the expert to introduce vir- as this is an important matter and gin queens, and we wonder at our one that should be decided posi- friend's statements. tively and conclusively. Mr. Cornell will please accept — For a short time we offer the thanks for the favor so kindly shown following inducement to those who us in the course that he has taken. ;;

190 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

Parmeter ; Essex, Frank- —To all parties who send us ^1.50 H. Moses ; for the "Apiculturist "one year, and lin, L. N.Wright; Fulton, George one of our choice golden yellow Vanhostrand ; Genesee, J. E. Moore ; queens, we offer the following guaran- Greene, A. L. Green ; Rockland, A. tee. J. Chapman ; St. Lawrence, R. F.

We agree, that if these queens do Barber ; Saratoga, E. Pierce ; Schen- not prove pure or what we recom- ectady, I. G. Quinby ; Schoharie, mend them to be, we will either re- S. Vroman ; Schuyler, H. C. Stow- place them or return 75 cts. in cash. ell ; Seneca, O. G. Smith ; Sullivan, We are shipping just such queens, O. F. Winter ; Tioga, L. Brown as selected queens, by every mail at Tompkins, A. J. Chapman ; Ulster, gi.50 each. Subscribe at once for John E. Van Etten : Steuben, H. " the " Apiculturist and secure one Stevens ; Warren, O. F. Dean of the finest queens that you ever Washington, J. H. Martin ; Wayne, saw. Mrs. L. C. Russell ; Herkimer, P. H. Jefferson, D. Whitcomb Sample copies mailed to any ad- Elwood ; O. ; dress free. Kings, T. O. Peet; Lewis, H. N.

Waters ; Livingston, L. Densmore : For the rest of the season we will — Madison, F. L. Smith Monroe, Nel- send with each queen one of our new ; son Tenny Montgomery, C. C. Van combination nursery and introducing ; Deusen ; New York, L. King cages together with careful directions J. Niagara, George Wright ; Oneida, for introducing the queens. W. E. Clark; Onondaga, A. H. To any old subscriber we will send Marks Ontario, William Barriman one of these choice queens for $1.00. ; ; Orange, A. H. Cooly ; Oswego, A. best time in the year —Now is the E. Sheldon ; Otsego, H. T. Smith to introduce queens and get your Putnam, C. Gallup. colonies in proper condition before winter comes. Colonies that have not shown as much vigor as they ought be reqneened. Remove all should QUESTIONS AND ANSWEES. old and inferior queens and replace them with young and vigorous ones. QUKSTIONS BY THK EDITOR. The colony having a prolific queen 1. Suppose that a party who is will, as a rule, store from 25 to 100 a novice in beekeeping has an apiary pounds of surplus honey, while that of l)laclv bees and wishes to Italianize colonies; with a poor queen will store but litrie a portion or Ihewliole of liis what would you advise as the clieapest, if any. A good young queen will pay safest and best method of iloin.u- this? her cost and it is a 200 per cent on 2. In introducinii; queen bees, either good investment to secure a $1.25 laying or virgin, what dangers are queen. there and how may they be avoided? 3. Why is it that a virgin queen is list of county Vice- —The following not so readily accepted by the bees as re- Presidents was omitted from our is a laying one? ports of the N. E. B. Convention :— 4. What difl'erence, if any, is there Alle- between the quuens of tiie different Albany county, H. W. Garrett ; race as regards the matter of introduc- county, F. A. Bunnell ; Broome, gany ing them to strange colonies? L. I. L. Schofield ; Cattaraugus, M. 5. Is there any diifereuce between W. T. Falk- diflVrent races as re- Langmade ; Chautauqua, the bees of the Che- gards their accepting any queen that ner; Cayuga, J. E. Murphy; may be given them? nango, L. E. St. John; Clinton, S. 6. Ifyou wish to introduce queens Cortland, G. F. Ful- O. La Bounty ; when the bees are getting no honey, D.Smith ; Dutchess, any differently than at ler ; Delaware, J. do you proceed J.N. Knickerbocker; Erie, D. A. other times? If so, please state how. THE AMERICAN APICULTURI8T. 191

ANSWEKS BY J. E. POND, JR. by losing several flue queens, said losses having been caused by opening 1. The cheapest, safest and best the hive immediately after the queen way to Italiauize an apiary, by a nov- has been uncaged, owing as I suppose ice, would be to purchase dollar queeus to the timidity of the queens, causing from some reliable breeder, aud ex- them to act as strangers when ilis- change them for the blacks. turbed by opening the hive before they In case his apiary is so far distant were famiharized with it. from other black bees, that there is no Foxhoro, Mass. chance for cross-mating, he can by studying "Alley's Beekeepers' Handy ANSWKRS BY HENRY ALLEY. Book," learn to rear queens for himself. 1. Purchase first-class queens of 2. The chief danger is that such some reliable dealer. queens will not be accepted, but in- 2. No danger whatever when the stead thereof killed. Workers, by proper method is adopted for introduc- some mysterious intuition, know ing them. strange queens at once, aud imme- 3. Did not know that bees would diately on finding tliem in the hive, not accept one queen as readily as an strive to murder them. It would re- other, when certain conditions were quire a large amount of space to ex- observed. plain how the dangers attendant upon 4 & 5. None whatever. introducing a strange queen may be 6. I use the same method for intro- avoided, and in fact as yet there has ducing queens at all seasons of the been no absolutely safe method by year. In all cases I prefer the three which such introducing can be done. days plan, that is, leave the colony 3. Any answer to this question queenless three days before introduc- would be wholly theoretical. Probably, ing the queen aud success is sure to be however, by some peculiar intuition, the result. a fecundated queen can be distin- Wenham, Mass. guished from one tliat is unfecundated. They will accept the fecundated queen, QUESTIONS BY MR. R. D. AVERY. because they probably know that the 1. Which are the best bees for work- very life of the colony depends upon ing on the red clover? her; while the unfecundated queen 2. What is the average amount of will be of no use for a number of days, comb honey produced by an average aud perhaps not at all; guesses are in colony (either Italian or native) of order, and I shall look with interest bees during an average season? lor guesses from others. 3. How many colonies of bees can 4. I have not been able as yet to one manage properly for comb honey? discover any difference, but my experience has only been with Italians, Sy- ANSWERS BY EDITOR. rians, Carniolans, blacks and crosses between them. 1. In our opinion the Holy Land I have found at times that a queen (Syrian) bees. would have been accepted with joy 2. This depends on anumber of con- had she behaved herself, aud I am of ditions ami circumstances. opinion that as much of the trouble is If you have a buckwheat locality owing to the queen as to the workers. you may get more honey from the na- 5. I have found no difference in the tive bees than from the Italians from bees so far as regards the different that source, though tlie difference will races, I do find though that very young- not be very great. bees accept a strange queen readily, The average amount of honey col- while older ones require considerable lected in an apiary of bees depends coaxing before they will do so. largely on the amount of pasturage and G. Yes, I feed liberally prior to the the skill of the apiarist. Where there is introduction, during the time while the but little pasturage for ihe bees, the introduction is taking place, and for average can be increased largely by some days after she has been probably sowing Bokhara clover or setting out accepted. My experience has taught prickly comfrey and other honey-pro- me that it is not safe to open a hive ducing plants. for three or four days after a strange In our opinion it will pay well to queen has been let loose among the provide artificial pasturage for the bees l)ees, and the lesson so taught has where it is lacking. been very strongly impressed upon me, 3. This also depends largely on the 192 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. skillofthe apiarist and hisknowledge of liapidan, Va. beelieeping. We should say from one Yours of the 1st inst. just received. hundred to one hundred and tifty colo- Thanks very much for your kindness nies, and yet there are those who man- in answering my questions. I will age much larger apiaries successfully. send you $1.50 lor renewal of Ameri- If during the busy season one has a can Apiculturist and queen as soon as boy to assist with the lighter work I have time. I will also get some and to do the running about, a much queens of you in August. can be cared larger number of colonies R. R. CUYLER. for tlian where one is obliged to do all the work alone. Christiansburg, Kij-, July 10, 1885. One great help in this regard is to The honey season is have every implement and all fixtures the poorest since arranged systematically and handily; over here and was the white clover bloom as plen- this saves much valuable time. 1882; tiful and lasted as long as usual but the weather was unfavorable to the secretion of nectar. The rainfall has been unusually light, succeeded by a cool LETTER BOX. spell at least once a week during the white clover harvest. North and east Charleston. S. C, June 8, 1885. winds have prevailed much of the time, Mr. S. M. Locke. and we never get much honey when tiie winds blow from those quarters. Dear Sir : I wrote you on Saturday asking if you had forgotten me, and What honey we have secured is of ex- tliis A. M. comes the Volume of the Ap- cellent quality. iculturist for '83-4. Bees liave not been up to rousing tliey It is really an addition to my A pi- colonies this season as usually cultural Library and the only wonder do. Queen-rearing on a large scale has the question. is how you can furnisli it and the cur- simply been out of rent year's at the low price of 01.75. From about seventy-five colonies I Have you not over cropped yourself? have had but one swarm. This fact You may keep back ray numbers for alone tells the story about our poor sea- several months, if you will only guar- son. When the season is good here antee, when they do come, that they swarming is the greatest drawback. will be as valuable as your April and We got about one-fourth of a full May consolidated number. Mr. Che- crop this season. G. W. Demaree. shire's opening essay was worth all I ever paid you. I anticipate much pleas- Arlington Heights, June 18, 1885. ure in studying over Vols. I and II We have had since the tenth of May which I have not had time to do up to a most extraordinary season for bees. this moment. S. C. Boylston. Colonies that were weak in spring have built up strong in the shortest time that Macon, Ga., June 28, 1885. I ever knew them. They are throwing

Gentlemen : off large swarms and have been for ten I wrote to you one week ago, and in "days, iully a month earlier than for two consequence of its contents, will now years. All the flora has secreted a state that the queen has got to work great deal of honey thus far and clover and is the handsomest bee queen I ever and linden are going to blossom pro- laid my eyes on. I am much pleased fusely. Bees wintered poorly in wes- with your dealings. You will hear from tern U.S.; fully one-half died from me again. J. T. SrKoiiEUY. bee cholera and starvation, but everything looks favorable for good increase

Dkar Sir : and a full crop of honey. I write to inform you of the safe ar- Frank C. Bicnedict. rival by mail of the back numbers of also (much the "Apiculturist" and Harford, Pa., June 23, 1885. to my pleasure) of the beautiful look- Dear Sir : I received your book. ing queen which you sent. Vols. I and II, a few days since and am I am much impressed with the well pleased with it. I think those that promptness and neatness with which buy it will wish to continue their sub- you fill your orders and altiioiigh a be- scriptions and have them all bound. ginner in the science of beekeeping I They are useful and instructive. hope to patronize you to the extent of my needs. W. E. Li,f)Yi). W. J. LowRY, M. D. The American Apiculturist

% loitrnal htMtii to MmMc mxb fractrtal gcektfpmg. ENTERED AT THE POST-OFFICE, SALEM, AS SECOXD-CLASS MATTER.

Published Monthly. S. M. Locke & Co., Publishers & PropVs.

VOL. III. WENHAM, MASS., SEPTEMBER 15, iJ No. 9.

SUBSCRIPTION PRICES. Journal, and the objects which it

$1.00 per year, payable in advance. Sent has been established to support, will on trial three months for 35 cts., six months under his direction receive fresh for 60 cts. a impulse from his extensive and prac- Advertising Rates :— 15 cents per line of space each insertion. tical knowledge.

A line of this type will admit about? words For many years, Mr. Cowan has One inch will contain twelve lines. occupied the foremost position Transient Advertisements must be paid for among British beekeepers. Many in advance. years ago, great attention was drawn Those wishing special rates will please to his correspond with the Editor. exhibit of 120 lbs. of comb honey from When sending money make all postal notes one stock of bees, the and money orders payable at the Salem, result having been accomphshed by Mass., Post Office. his plan of getting his stock strong All communications should be addressed in the spring, selecting young to S. M. Locke & Co., Wenham, Mass. queens and judiciously spreading the brood, He has given great attention to the FOREIGN NOTES. construction of the hive, and the " " Cowan hive is now well known By Arthur Todd. and employed in England. It is, I understand, a modification of the The British Bee Journal, owing to ''Woodbury," and "Stewarton" the death of the editor, the Rev. H. hives. Mr. Cowan has paid great H.Peel, has sustained a severe loss, attention to the perfection of honey inasmuch as this gentleman was one extractors, making three different of England's most earnest and en- kinds and sizes, now well known in lightened beekeepers. Fortunately England under the names of the " " there is one man in England emi- Amateur," the Rapid " and tlie nently capable to assume the respon- " Automatic."

sible duties of the position tendered Mr. Cowan is an authority on bee to him, and happily accepted. It matters, has compiled works thereon, is T. W. Cowan, Esq. The an- notably: '-The Beekeepers' Note nouncement of his acceptance of the Book;" "Wintering Bees;" and

part of editor to the B. B. J. is hailed "Tlie British Beekeepers' Guide with satisfaction, for in his hands the Book " which latter has met with a interests of beekeepers will be se- surprising success, having passed six cured, and it is expected that the editions in four years, and been

17 (193) 194 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

translated into several foreign lan- Recently, I had some old box hives

guages. sent to me by rail, packed by a

Mr. Cowan, having plenty of lei- farmer, and it is a miracle that they

sure, and being wealthy, has had ever arrived at all. Now I mention every opportunity to study his favor- this occurrence, to warn our readers

ite subject among the bee men of to pack carefully, for if some great

England and Europe generally ; his accident were to take place, we liberal education giving him com- might wake up some day to find the mand of foreign languages, which railroad companies putting some vex-

alone is a great factor in the under- atious restrictions on the transit of standing of methods employed by packages of live bees. beemen whose apiaries one may Frank R. Cheshii-e, well known for visit. French, Swiss, German and his researches on "Foul Brood," is Italian methods, hives, etc., are all about to give to the bee world a new equally familiar to Mr. Cowan, and work, entitled, " Bees and Beekeep- this knowledge, joined to urbanity of

ing ; scientific and practical," on manners and strict impartiality, has which he has been engaged for many made his services as a judge sought years. I cannot do better than copy after for all the principal shows in the words of the notice of the appear- England. ance of this work from the B. B. J. Knowing all I do, for many years " The author, Mr. Frank R. Ches- past, of the gentleman, I feel sure the hire, F.L.S., F.R.M.S., is well known B. B. J. will gain much by having in this country, on the continent, such an editor, and be more than and in America, where he is uni- ever appreciated by its subscribers. formly acknowledged to be the most I heartily wish Mr. Cowan a long scientific beekeeper in England. career of usefulness. His numerous writings have been for The necessity, when sending bees many years before the public, and by rail, to see them very carefully and his inventiveness has set an indelible securely packed, has lately been mark upon the apiculture of the day. strongly enforced by a case occurring At the first bee show, properly so recently in the north of England. At called, held in this country, he se- a junction, a hive of bees had to be cured the whole of the eight prizes lifted from one train to another, and offered for new inventions calculated

the cover or bottom, not being se- to advance apiculture, and this fact

cure, fell off. The bees escaping, alone is the most ample guarantee

caused a scene, it is stated, that just that \}i\Q. practical part of the work baffled description, and that any will be as perfect as the scientific. beekeeper can imagine. The iron His thorough knowledge of the literature of the subject has horses did not seem to mind it, but made their drivers did, and got themselves him acquainted with all that has and passengers out of that station as been done before, both abroad and fast as possible. at home, and has enabled him to ac- THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 195

curately judge of the importance of "Bees and beekeeping, scientific

his discoveries, as well as to explode and practical : a complete treatise maiiy erroneous theories which have on the Anatomy, Physiology and hitherto been accepted. His inves- Profitable Management of the Hive

tigations into the relations of insects Bee," is the full title of the book. to flowering plants, and his close The illustrations of the anatomy study of the anatomy and physiology of the bee, bee appliances, etc., ex- of the hive bee, have revealed many pressly drawn for this work by the

little suspected facts of the utmost author, are numerous, and of an ex-

importance, whilst his long courses of cellence, both as regards accuracy lectures on apiculture, scientific and delicate finish, that has never and practical, given in the lecture yet been equalled. theatre of the South Kensington Museum, and the Gardens of the At a convention of beekeepers,

Royal Horticultural Society, and il- held in Switzerland, some time back,

lustrated not only by his splendid it was mentioned, as an observation hand-painted diagrams, but by a by several good bee men, that the small apiary established in the Carniolan queen cells have a greater grounds of the Natural History Mu- diameter, and are longer than the seum for the purpose,' have emi- queen cells of the common black

nently fitted him for imparting his bee, and that it had been found informatio7i in the clearest ?nanner. necessary to keep the frames of comb

No stronger testimony to the high wider apart than is usual with the esteem in which Mr. Cheshire is common bee. For the Carniolans a held in scientific circles can possibly full i'& millimetres was found neces- be given than the reception accorded sary, while 34^ to 36, sufficed for to his investigation into the structure the common bees. The 38 mm. is of the sex organs of bees, the about I ^ inch from centre to centre method of controlled fertilization of frame. exercised by the queen, and the Mr. Bertrand, the editor of the glandular structures, stated by Pro- Swiss "Bulletin d' Apiculture," ob- fessor Stewart to be the most inter- served that the 2,'^ mm. must not be esting of any communication made exceeded, nor must less than 34^ to the Royal Microscopical Society mm. be employed, inasmuch as for several years. His discoveries of combs built very close together, and the nature and scope of foul brood, used for brood rearing, are worth less and the introduction of a method of than the others because, by reason cure, are a boon to beekeepers, and of their shallowness, they are for a afford a further proof, if one were shorter period suitable for brood necessary, that the practical man- rearing, on account of the gradual agement of bees has received as shortening of the depth of the cell close attention from him as the more as each successive generation of bees interesting but less remunerative leaves its cocoon behind it. scientific questions. I believe a microscopist counted 196 THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST.

as many as nine hundred cocoons, medicated syrup, and in so doing, one within another in one cell, and dosed themselves, and, as it proved, it is perfectly reasonable to doubt effected a cure at the expense of the

if a bee raised in such a contracted loss of the colony they started out to chamber can be as perfectly devel- rob.

oped as it would be raised in combs The Germans are ahead on the comparatively or entirely free from question of adulteration of honey cocoons. with glucose, and method of detect- "Foul brood" has been observed ing the same. Mr. Fritz Eisner in- in a Swiss valley to have almost stituted a series of experiments, and cleaned the bees out of existence has proven that with the aid of the where numberless stocks were form- polariscope a very, very small quan- erly kept. A bee man states, "It tity of manufactured glucose mixed cannot be caused by the use of with honey can be immediately no- modern hives, as popularly believed, ticed. I purpose giving an entire for there never was one in that val- translation of the article in next issue

ley." One Swiss beekeeper relates of Foreign Notes, as I deem it a

that he had some fifty fine stocks, subject worthy of notice by all of us when in the spring a neighbor started who have to compete with the so- up a lime kiln. The vapors coming called, and labelled, "Pure Honey." off from the burning limestone Philadelphia, Pa. brought on a perishing of the brood in his hives, and he lost every one.

Since then he has found it impossible to reestablish his apiaries. Each ADVANCED BEE-CULTURE. attempt has failed. From Bordeaux (France), Mr. By L. C. Root. Durand writes that he has got rid of foul brood by an energetic use of Beekeepers in most sections have the Hilbert salicylic acid treatment. been much discouraged over what Since then the disease has broken seemed a very unfavorable prospect out in neighboring beehives, and he of securing much surplus honey. has been called in to cure. Up to the middle of July, bees He tried camphor, and fumigating seemed to spend all their time and with thyme ; the brood ceased to rot, energies in swarming. and dried up. He puts a bag with All sources of honey seemed to camphor in it on top of brood frames. fail us, except to supply just enough He likewise tried Cheshire's "ab- to induce breeding, and create' a de- solute phenol" and fed the medicated sire to swarm. syrup at night ; but bees from another At this date the basswood com- infected colony commenced to rob menced to bloom and, as I had pre- that colony next morning, and, prov- dicted, it has yielded richly from the ing strongest, carried away all the very start. ;

THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 197

There is a lesson in this kind of sibilities of advanced bee-culture un- a season that should not be lost. der favorable conditions. It has afforded every possible ad- Mohawk, N. V. vantage for securing large quantities of brood, and making all stocks ex- treinely populous. BLACK BEES MORE DIS- When stocks are in this condition, POSED TO ROB, AND MORE surplus may be se- a large amount of LIABLE TO BE ROBBED cured, even if the season is short. THAN ITALIANS. The motto in this, as in all other

success is attained, is things where By L. L. Langstroth. "Faithfulness to the end." As every loyal heart has been made When the Italian bees came to sad in the death of him whom all this country they brought with them delighted to honor, so should we re- this character, from the Baron of " joice that he taught us that success Berlepsch : they are more disposed can only come by honestly "fighting to rob than common bees, and more it out on this line," which must always courageous and active in self-de- be a line of honesty and faithfulness. fence." Experience soon convinced The few lines I am able to send me that while Berlepsch was right in you I. am pencilling on a pad in the the second of these two assertions, he midst of my busy family. was entirely in error as to the first. I have never seen honey stored Let me give some facts. more rapidly than it is being at pre- On one occasion I was examining sent. I am running forty-eight stocks a colony of bees, when a visitor was in my home apiary for extracted hon- announced. Intending to return in ey. We extracted all of the honey a few moments, I left the hive open from these stocks on the 15 th of while several combs were resting

July. On the 27th, we extracted against it on the outside. I forgot from these hives 3,715 lbs., all hav- all about this hive until my visitor ing been gathered in twelve days. asked if there was not robbing go- The next day, July 28th, we had ing on in my apiary. We went with us Pedro Casanora, the pioneer at once to the neglected hive which beekeeper of Cuba, who accom- was now surrounded by thous- panied us to our apiary, six miles ands of robbers. The bees on the distant, where there were forty stocks. combs which were outside were

We had extracted all the honey vainly striving to protect them, while from these hives just seven days pre- the robbers were literally swarming viously. upon them and forcing their way into This day's work proved one of the exposed hive. Many were killed

the most astonishing of our experi- but we all know that under such cir-

ence ; we secured 4,103 lbs. of cumstances this makes no dif- honey. ference. Putting back the exposed This proves something of the pos- combs, thereby shaking off the bees, 198 THE AMERICAN APICULTUMIST. and replacing the cover of the hive, demoraHzed by such an occur- but leaving the whole front entrance rence ? open, we watched the result. In a Let me now relate something which few moments the bees have their line took place about two weeks ago. In of battle spread over all the alight- examining a very strong stock which ing board extending down from the had only a slight touch of Italian floor of the portico quite to the blood, robbers soon made their ap- ground. The dying and the dead pearance and the hive was closed are dragged out in large numbers. before the queen could be removed. Every robber that dares to alight I say closed, but the upper cover where this line of embattled Italians had not been properly adjusted ; there is formed is attacked, and if he can- was quite a corner left open. At- not pull away is quickly killed. tracted by the roar of bees, I found The robbers soon understand the that this large colony was being changed condition of affairs and in robbed. The cowardly black blood less than half an hour the attack had not proved equal to the emer- is over. gency. When the cover was shut tight, Under such circumstances I never there was no line of battle formed, re- contract the entrance. It annoys the sistance had ceased, and it was neces- bees by making their hive too hot, sary to close the entrance, cover the and with Italian bees is a useless whole hive with wet cloths, etc., in precaution. When such robbing as order to save it. Of course the

I have described sets in, it is amus- robbers fell upon the other hives, ing to see the robbers, when fairly several of which were quite weak. beaten off", spread themselves every- Some of these were pure Italians where over the apiary. Wherever and the others had enough of that they have tasted a drop of honey blood to make such a fierce resist- that they have not gathered from the ance that the robbers were soon

fields, there they are hoping to find beaten off. They had tasted stolen

more, and if there is a stock or nucleus sweets, they were crazy with excite- from which they have stolen any- ment, and yet they could not rob an-

thing, they are there too. In short, other hive !

every colony large or small is put to If only a few of these stocks the proof and their ability to defend are in or near to a large apiary

their stores fully tested, but it is al- of Italian bees, you will ever find

most impossible to rob, when it is in them on hand when there is any good heart even a small nucleus of chance of stealing and at times when Italian bees. scarcely an Italian gives you any an-

Need I say to those who have noyance. had much experience with black I do not deny that there are a few bees, what would have been the points in which black bees have su-

fate of this colony if it had been perior merits, but their eagerness to

of that race, or how much a whole rob when forage is even a little scarce, apiary of such bees would have been and their deficiency in pluck, by THE AMEBICAN APICULTURIST. 199

which they are so often ruined where the pollen theory. So deadly is pollen the yellow races would not be se- in its effects on the brethren's bees verely injured are, with me, suffi- that the microscope is brought out, cient reasons for discarding them. as in the case of suspected poison in

Oxford, O., August, iSSj. the stomach of man or beast. Then there is this difficulty in the

way of the pollen theory, to wit : bees do not suffer with diarrhoea in a mod- BEE CULTURE IN THE erate climate. My location is not far SOUTH. from the dividing line between diarrhoea and no diarrhoea. Nevertheless,

By G. W. Demaree. I am on the side of no diarrhoea. With some knowledge of bees for If the honey season was as poor forty years I have never seen a fatal all over the country as it has been case of diarrhoea, i. e., the combs here, there would be no need of those daubed and the bees soiled, resulting philanthropic articles which have in death. Every hard winter, how- appeared in the bee papers from time ever, shows the trouble in its incip- to time, warning people not to board iency. Some colonies show a large the bee schooner lest she go down per cent of bloated bees, but the the crew. Those persons with whole trouble is more dropsical than fecal have been "fired" with bee en- who in character, and this fact alone is thusiasm by reason of the past good fatal to the pollen theory ; because it honey seasons, after seeing this sea- shows that accumulation of watery son through, will need no soft emul- substance produces the distended sions to soothe nor application of ice condition as perfectly as does the to cool down their raging "bee fever." accumulation of the substances ex-

DIARRHCEA AND POLLEN cremental in character. I believe

Is a subject that is having a sad that those conditions surrounding effect on some of the brethren. bees which prevent healthful exha-

"Pollen is the cause" (?) but the lation from their bodies are the true theorists cannot tell us why the dis- causes of bee diarrhoea and pollen is eased bees are loaded with watery not even one of the causes. I have excrementa. If pollen loads the bees no reasons to change my former con- and induces inflammation and dis- victions that the cause is climatic. ease, whence comes the large pre- I have said that I never saw a fatal ponderance of watery substance? case of bee diarrhoea. Well, I intend Dr. Tinker has been making perti- to produce a case or two, or make a nent inquiry in this direction of late, discovery that will be worth a great and there will have to be more theo- deal to me' in the future. I shall rizing. Mr. Doolittle reported two winter several colonies on the cheap- cases of diarrhoea when no pollen est brown sugar I can find, and at was present in the hives, but the mi- least colonies two on sorghum syrup ; croscope was resorted to, to save ( ?) I shall exclude all pollen. If they 200 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

winter well on food (no pollen) at the yellow strains, with their varying

four cents per pound, why should I purity, viz., Italian, Cyprian and Syr-

waste pure honey at twelve and one- ian, is the correct way to obtain the half cents per pound? You see we best bees- of the yellow race.

are told with great authority that Christiansbin-g, Ky. nothing but pollen will hurt bees, not even "fizz" will hurt them.

THE BEST BEES. THE NEW vs THE OLD. I have taken great interest in this

subject. articles, My published in BY T. A. P. a number of the bee periodicals, will

show that I, like the editor of the No branch of apiculture has made "Api," have pointed out the fact that more rapid strides in improvement

the Italian bee is a hybrid. Really, than the shipping and introducing of

I believe that I was first to publish queen bees. It would seem that we

convictions of this fact. Still the have almost reached the acme of

Italian is a hybrid of respectable age, success. The fact of sending a live perhaps two or three thousand years queen bee by mail to any part of the

old. Well, now, if these aged hybrids United States is even now looked still ''sport" breeding, as with the when every upon wonder by uninitiated ;

experienced breeder knows they do, but to us of the bee fraternity it is what do you think of the "fixedness" no new thing, except it may be to of the "strains" of hybrids of less than receive from or send them to foreign

a half score years old. countries, which no doubt is about When we breed the Italian from being accomplished, owing to the selected specimens we only breed invention of a food that obviates the back towards the original stock on necessity of water accompanying the the side of the yellow parent. Of queen. It is only a few years ago course we may make mistakes by that, to ship queen bees from Europe, faihng to choose breeders from the it was necessary to accompany each strongest and best working stock. queen with a small swarm of bees From long and careful observation put in a miniature hive which held

I am inclined to think that, originally, some small combs of honey ; resulting there were but the two great families often when arriving here in a mass of of the honey bee, the yellow and the dead bees and honey, and that too • black. What we see in the ants, after undergoing the expense and wasps, etc., warrants this conclusion annoyance of red tape in the custom to say nothing of the disposition of house. The thing can be done now most types or races of bees to "sport" in a small shipping and introducing when breeding them. I advanced cage which can be thrown right into this theory some years ago as may be the mail bag, and, thanks to the fast seen by referring to the "files" of the sailing steamers of our day, sent with American Bee Journal. If I am lightning speed around the world. correct in this, the inter-breeding of To ship a queen short distances TEE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 201

has always been comparatively easy, were from the very lightning itself but a journey that would take a week and chained to every pole. or ten days was a ver\' doubttul mat- That the "Api" may prosper and,

ter and with valuable queens could like a true child of the times, grow

not be risked by any except those apace with the "New vs the Old" is who could afiford to take the risk sincere wish the writer.^ ; the of but now owing to the "Good'''' candy

and fast travel, there need be no risk

at all, and then if a party did receive

the cjueen all right, the introducing EDITORIAL. of her was a feat not so easily accom- We must of necessity be brief

plished as the reading of the theory this month, and the thought which would indicate. In the first place we would present to our readers is she must be transferred into another one that we have often urged before, cage to be introduced and often was but never more opportunely than hurt beyond redemption between now,—that of association work. the fingers of the trembling hand of With the month of September a nervous beekeeper. Not so now. comes the calling ofour conventions, The "Peet" cage was the first to rev- the beginning of our apicultural year olutionize that part of the work and so to speak. It is not the time to now , the "Alley cage" simplifies it boast when the harness is being put still more and can truthfully say, we on ; and it is not in the way of the beekeeper "though a fool need boasting, but by way of summons, not err therein ;" and the saving of that we say there never has been a time by withdrawing the old and in- year that began with better promise, troducing the new queen at the same and from which we had reason to ex- opening of the hive is a point of pect greater results, than the one now value highly appreciated by every dawning upon us. The tone of feel- beekeeper, who has had any exper- ing manifested by our earnest and ience in the old method. Truly we active apiarists in the work of the live in a wonderful age, everything is future is unmistakably encouraging ; fast. The electrical current seems the system of organization among us to permeate this part of the world has never been so complete ; and the completely ; distance and time are opportunities are overwhelming. annihilated on land and sea we have ; We cannot but feel ourselves jus- S's fighting time and dis- our Maud tified in contemplating plans for en- tance talk with other hun- ; we each larged activity, and we only voice, miles apart as though dreds of we we believe, the sentiment of the bee-

face to face ; ride ele- stood we on keeping fraternity everywhere, when v vated railroads across bridges and we bid welcome to the opportunities that span the streams of waters as and responsibilities before us, in though suspended the from very pledging ourselves to energy and heavens, and are lighted on our way iTne initials at be^'inning- ol' tlii.s article by a similar current captured as it s/iowMread " T. O. P."

18 202 THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. faithfulness, and in asking tlial our great work, and gird ourselves to endeavors be crowned with a ricli perform it witli tlie strong armor of and abundant fruitage. justice and right. It seems as if very

We would therefore especially di- little argument, it any, were needed rect the attention of our readers to to convince us all that we cannot do the notices of such meetings that the work we arc called upon to do have been forwarded us, and trust without cordial, active, earnest co- that they will be more than ever im- operation. The interchange of pressed with the importance of these thought and opinion which we here organizations and the hel]3 they afford obtain, is of vastly more value to us to the individual beekeeper. than we are willing to admit. This

To this end, we can but repeat the may seem to be a very trifling thing. advice given in our Editorial of last But just as the massive oak springs month to "make the subject of asso- from the insignificant acorn, so we

ciation work the theme and burden find the insignificant in life ; but it is of your talk at conventions." The there for the sake of the infinite. two are so intimately blended, so Grasp then, its possibilities, and so closely interdependent, that we feel respond that all hearts shall be glad, in recognizing the necessity of the and a new era Ije inaugurated in one, the importance of the other is our labors to advance the cause already acknowledged. which we represent.

Association—the very name is Apprehending this fiict, you will pregnant with meaning. Implying, see the importance of bringing as it does, Sl coming together, for work thither your best thoughts, a thorough

or for counsel, we must feel that it knowledge of general principles, or

contains the elements, which, if a ready activity to learn of those al- rightly employed, will contribute ready versed therein, and a lofty greatly to our advancement. Our courage to grapple with wliatever

only misfortune is that either we difficulties may be in the way.

have no faith at all in this cardinal The time is coming, and is not

fact, or our faith is so weak as to be far distant, when the science of api- practically inert and inoperative. culture shall assume a higher posi-

Let us then awake to duty, and tion than it has yet occupied. Freed show by our presence at the conven- entirely from conventional restraints tions, that we are ready for work. on the one hand, which have limited

One organization cannot act here, its range of thoughtand observation, and another there, without any co- and from petty jealousy and suspi-

operation, with any efficiency. To cion on the other, lest it should be

do our work well, there must be straying beyond its sphere, it will united action. Money would be speak not in the uncertain language wasted, labor would be lost without of theory, nor with the wayward

it. We shall be false to ourselves tones of private speculation ; but and to our fellow beekeepers unless with an impetus gained from present

we arise to a just conception of our experience it will gather its treasures THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 203

from the rich mines of thought and call, it will show the public that we spread them broadcast over the world. are alive to our interests, and intend Thus armed, our meetings can but to defend them to the bitter end, tend to a profitable issue, and we and the result will be that by pre- shall come away with the feeling that senting a bold and determined front, we have fulfilled our part of the we shall assure any possible antago- mission these organizations were in- nists that we are not to be assailed stituted to accomplish. with impunity by any one who fan-

It is hardly necessary, perhaps, to cies he is aggrieved. On the other

call your attention to the prospective hand, if only a {t\N of us respond in

National Beekeepers' Union ; for if this matter, it will tend to show that we may trust the present indications, either we take little interest in this

the appointment of delegates is likely matter of protecting our rights, or to be general. And yet the impor- else that we believe ourselves in the

tance of such a Union is so great, wrong, and consequently prefer to

that no op])ortunity should be lost, save our dollars rather than invest of making our several organizations them where we shall lose.

realize, beforehand, the duty of be- Let me urge one and all to enlist

ing represented in that body by the in this cause ; do not delay a mo- very best and ablest of our beekeepers. ment, but at once send in your

Mr. Pond in the Am. Bee Journal names ; and what is of more con-

of Aug. 26, in anarticle entitled, "Is sequence still, your money, and thus

the "Union" of value or not?" says : show the public that you do not pro-

" I do not understand the apathy pose to be intimidated or to allow

that seems to exist among our bee- any one to drive you from the field

keepers in regard to our Union for without first making a strong and " defence ; nor can I understand why bitter fight to accomplish it. every beekeeper in the country does We are sure that the topics pre- not respond at once to the call, and sented for discussion will suggest

enroll himself on the list 'of papers possibilities of effort in behalf of the

thereof. There is no (juestion but cause to which we are espoused as

that the "Union" is of importance will enlist the enthusiasm and the to the fraternity as a whole, although, earnest cooperation of every ardent

perhaps, there may be cases (like lover of bees. It is idle to say that

my own for instance) where no par- we shall know just as much if we ticular individual benefit will result stay at home and read the results in

from it. We, however, as a class the bee journals. We need to look should drop selfishness, and instead each other in the face in the pres- of saying cui bono as to ourselves, ence of the thought of the great du-

should ask simply, will the "Union" ties and opportunities which are be of any advantage to the fraternit}- before us and, by discussion of them,

as a whole ? at once mature wise methods of ac-

If a large majority of the beekeep- tion and rouse each other to a spirit ers in the country respond to the of consecration to our work. ;

204 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

NEW OBSERVATIONS ON to conclude that if the queens were THE NATURAL HISTORY obliged to go out for tecundalion, OF BEES. instinct would induce them to do so at the same time as the others. At eleven in the forenoon, we placed By Francis Hubkk. ourselves opposite a hive containing an unimpregnated queen five days (ContiniUHl from p. 181. \'ol. III.) old. The sun had shone from his

Impressed with this idea, 1 un- rising : the air was very warm ; and dertook a new method of observa- the males began to leave the hives. tion, not on queens fortuitously taken We then enlarged the entrance of from the liive but on females decid- that selected for observation, and edly in a virgin state, and whose his- paid great attention to the bees en- tory was known to me from tlie instant tering and departing. The males of their leaving the cell. From a appeared and immediately took flight. very great number of hives, I removed Soon afterwards, the young queen all the reigning females and substitu- came to the entrance ; at first she ted for each a queen taken at the did not fly, but during a little time moment of her birth. traversed the board, brushing her * The hives were then divided into belly with her hind legs ; neither two classes. All the males, both large workers nor males bestowing any no- and small, were taken from the first, tice on her. At last she took flight. and 1 adapted a glass tul)e at the en- When several feet from the hive, she trance so narrow that no drone could returned, and approached it, as if to pass, but large enough for the free examine the place of her departure, passage of the common bees. In perhaps judging this precaution nec- the hives of the second class I left essary to recognize it ; she then flew the whole of the drones belonging to away, describing horizontal circles them, and even introduced more twelve or fifteen feet above the earth. and to prevent them from escaping, We contracted the entrance of the a glass tube, also too narrow for the hive that she might not return unob- males, was adapted to their entrance. served and placed ourselves in the For more than a month, I carefully centre of the circles described in watched this experiment, made on a her flight, the more easily to follow large scale, but much to my surprise, her and witness all her motions. But every queen remained sterile. Thus she did not remain long in a situation

it was proved that (jueens confined favorable for our observations, and in a hive would continue barren rapidly rose oui of sight. We re-

though amidst a seraglio of males. sumed our place before the hive ; This result induced me to suspect and in seven minutes the young that the females could not be fecun- ([ueen returned to the entrance of a dated in the interior of the hives, and habitation which she had left for the

that it was necessary for them to leave first time.

it for receiving the approaches of the Having found no external evidence male. To ascertain the fact was easy of fecundation, we allowed her to of liour by a direct experiment ; and as the enter. In a (]uarter an she after point is important I shall relate in re-aj^peared ; and brushing detail what was done by my secretary, herself as before, took flight. Then and myself on the 29th of June returning to examine the hive, she 1788. rose so high that we soon lost sight Aware that in summer the males of her. usually leave the hive in the warmest \_To be coniiniicd.'] part of the day it was natural for me THE AMERICAN APICULTURLST. 205

CORRESPONDENCE. etc., to which we have replied in

nearly every instance that it is too the honey market. early in the season to give tiuotations

Messrs. Editors : on the coming crop, and too early In the August numner of the to commence shipping com!) lioney. Beekeepers' Magazine is an arti- We mention these items not as an " cle entitled The Honey Market," adverdsement, but to prove to the in which the author alludes to our author of said article, that he has firm in rather disparaging terms. done us an injustice and should make Said article charges us with misrep- due reparation. resentation in order to induce pro- We have always endeavored to ducers to ship us their honey, which hold prices up rather than to depress cliarge we most emphatically deny, them, as our experience teaches us origi- and which seems to us to have it is easier to lower prices than to solely in the fertile imagination nated raise them, while it seems to us uur of the writer, without facts to sustain frier.d seeks to keep them down his assertion. A few facts, however, rather than to elevate them. may act as a solace to his affected McCaul cS: HiLDRErH Bros. brain. New York. We have, at the solicitation of publishers of numerous magazines, given A VISIT TO THE liEK FARM AND quotations the year round, as we OTHER MiVri'ERS. have a market for honey every day in the year, Sundays and holidays Friend Locke : excepted ; and when the author as- About two weeks have now serts that there has been absolutely passed since my pleasant and prof- no demand for honey since May i, itable visit to your bee farm to he says that which is not true, as which I shall always look back with there has not been a week nor a day pleasure. I hope soon to hear that since May ist to present date that your factory is in active operation, we have not sold more or less honey. and that you are on the road to We sold out our entire stock of prosperity with your pets, the busy white comb honey about the ist of bees. April, and since that time have had I received the " Apiculturist " a to go on the market here and pur- short time since (July 29) and chase of other dealers to supply our deem that number worth more than trade, a fact to which some dealers in one year's on account of the informa- our city will testify. We had a lot of tion contained therein. What bee- thirty-eight barrels of honey turned keepers want are the minute details over to us June 12, which had lain on to aid them in caring for their bees, the market over six months, which and it is essential that these instruc- we disposed of and sent the owners a tions be given in the most plain and check June 29. Since May i, we simple manner possible, so that the\- have had a better trade in honey can be easily understood. than we ever had at this season of What beekeeper can afford to be the year. We have received a few without this journal if he wishes to small lots of this year's crop comb be successtul? honey, which has sold readily at our My Cyprian bees led out a swarm quotations, and returns have been on July 28, and returned to their made to shippers. We have re- hive again. I could not get them cendy received numerous letters to work properly. Swarm they must from producers, inquiring as to the and swarm they did. I divided them, state of the honey market, prices. gave them one good queen cell and ;

206 THE AMERICAN APTCULTURIST. cut out the rest, and on the next working for their good and in their morning they were at work as though interests. that hive had always been their home. Alley's "drone traps," received are a success, let others I removed a number of pounds of from you fine say what they may. I have nothing honey the other day ; it was very linden honey. There were a large at stake, hence can afford to tell the number of sections not yet com- truth. I have no drones in my api- pleted. ary but Italians, thanks to the drone trap. I like my hives better than any exhibition others that I have ever seen, even I want to make a good though they cost a trifle more than at our county fair this season, and cheap ones. They are, however, trust that you will aid me all that substantially constructed and will you can in so doing. I ha\'e had the raised from last a lifetime, are easy to manipulate premium on honey and to pack for winter. $10.00 to |!25.oo, so as to have a all hard The linden bloom is now over for good show. We must work to our part in introducing our this season. Clover is blooming, do honey, and working up a demand and I hope to get a fine crop of for the same. honey from it, and the golden rod looks well. James H. Bosworth. of rain, and We have had plenty Taunton, Aug. j, 188j. all nature has been benefited by it the fields and pastures look green, NOTES FROM "DUN GLEN APIARY." and the honey-producing flora seems " " dear Api : abundant. My There are no lazy bees in ra\ Last night closed our (Ross) Co. apiary. The (lueen received from fair. We had a remarkably good at- you has grown to be very large and tendance considering the hard times, has filled her hive with young bees. and the failure of our wheat crop year. It is the first I looked her up the other day, and this year in was surprised, as it was quite a task which any display of bees and api- to find her because the bees were so cultural fixtures has taken place. I numerous (she is a "big" one), had on exhibit an observatory hive her progeny are well marked, or- with bees, brood, etc. ; the hive and in ange-colored and of good size. I fixtures I use my apiary ; a queen think of rearing some queens from nursery on Alley's plan which I have her to put in some of my other hives, used very successfully this year (and as her bees work so well. I do heartily recommend his "Handy a fertilizing Well, now, Mr. Locke, if I were as Book") ; hive, some young as you are, I should start a queen cages, etc. C. M. Roberts bee farm, as I believe that it would exhibited Root's foundation machine some foundation worked prove a success. You have every- ; out by the bees with his name in large thing in your favor : good health, and a great love for the business, which letters plainly visible at the fish

! extracted, at"the start would insure success. I bone some and some trust that you will always prosper in comb honey. E. Magenhoffen had your undertaking. I should^ be an extractor (Muth's), and David pleased to have you come to Taun- Brown, of our county, had an observ- ton and return my visit, when I will atory hive with a frame of Holylands introduce you to a number of my and some queens in cages. A good beekeeping friends, who will take an deal of interest was manifested by interest in the work that you are visitors in our display. We ho])e to doing when they see that you are be able to improve very much on it THE AMERICAN xiPWULTURIST. 20^ next year, and to induce our man- hatched in strong and vigorous agers to offer something in the way stocks, to be much the best ; hence, of premiums on articles, thereby it will be readily seen that all working up more interest and a spirit stocks to which I attempted to in- of competition. I am highly de- troduce virgin c][ueens were strong lighted with volumes i and 2 bound and full, having been robbed of in one, of the "Apiculturist," as I their ([ueen but a short time. In some also am with the current volume. instances a day or two, and some- The " Api " is certainly advancing times only two to six hours they were things in Kee-ology. left queenless, before I attempted the P. S. Our honey season has been introduction of the virgin queens, a failure, white clover all frozen out. all of which were hatched in a queen Italians worked on red clover and nursery, placed in strong stocks. gathered some surplus, blacks none. Now be it remembered that, to my David Brown, who has Holylands certain knowledge, I have never (Syrian, I suppose, as he got his -queen had but one virgin queen accepted from Alley), reports some honey, and become fertilized when I have plenty of brood, and a good pros- attempted to introduce as above, pect for wintering. Bees generally and this one case was accomplished wintered badly ; I lost heavily. in one of my Ohio apiaries, in 1883, Sweet clover is abundant along the which I do not really look upon as a water courses and railroads, but the success, from the simple fact that farmers are uneasy at seeing it mak- she was superseded in less than sixty ing its appearance on the roads fear- days. Hence we are of the same ing its encroachment on their farms opinion now as we were thirty years and that it will be hard to get rid of. ago, that all forced queens, as well Francis W. Blackford. as those reared in nucleus hives, are short-lived as well as worthless. We Cliillicothc, O. ask who can fully explain why it is that virgin queens cannot be siifely how can a virgin queen L!E and surely introduced. Try it who SAFELY introduced ? will, and we will guess a failure eighty-five times in one hundred

Eds. Am. Apiculturist : trials. What say you, brothers We have been engaged in bee- Locke, Alley, Heddon, Cook and keeping more than forty years, antl other apicultural teachers? Please have often hatched some very fine answer and oblige your readers. queens, from stocks possessing such M. Hicks. desirable traits of character as to J. warrant us in the effort of hav- Battle Groi/iut, Iiui. ing all our stocks of bees composed

if it were possible of the same, ; but, THE cowing frame. after hatching many fine queens from the eggs of a chosen stock as Ed. Am. Apiculturist. above, I have also made special ef- In Cook's Manual, i)age 131, fort to have some of the young among others. Dr. Tinker is (juoted (queens properly introduced into other as using the Gallup frame. It ap- queenless stocks, made so for the pears from the doctor's circulars that purpose, but in nearly every instance he has now abandoned this size and the queens were killed, and the adopted one 14I by 9^ inches as his reader can best judge how I felt un- standard. Up to this I had imag- der such circumstances. I have ined the "Gallup frame" to be all always found rjueens that were that could be desired ; but, as the 2G8 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

Doctor is an experienced apiarist, it. On Thursday, I insert a capped before abandoning the Gallup he cell into each one of these stocks, must liave discovered some flaw in it just letting it rest lightly between which I fail to discover. I would the top bars of a couple of frames. therefore beg ask him to give us There is no necessity for taking out through the columns of the "Apicul- any frames or anything of the kind, turist" his reasons for making tlie just get the cell in the hive, right end change and state also if he finds any up without bruising, and the next special advantages in his new size day, if fine, look out for a swarm ; if that would warrant its adoption as cloudy or cold, the swarm will not the "coming frame." come out until Saturday or the second day. Apis Canadensis. This cell answers another purpose also.

jottings from entf.rprisk apiary. Hatching, as it should, not more than two or three days after swarm- Messrs. Editors : ing, before there is sufficient young Among my bee papers and bees hatched to cast a second swarm, books, I find but little said about the the remainder of the cells will be use of "(^ueen cells," as an aid in a fine, young, destroyed ; you have controlling a colony of bees. Not Italian queen from your best stock, doubting that the older, or if you and in my experience all after-swarm- please, the "XYZ" class know all ing effectually stopped, not having about it, I give my experience for had one in the last four years. Of " " the benefit of the A B C class. course, to do this and succeed every

Some years ago, when I commenced time, one must have a fiiir knowledge keeping bees, I stayed home from of the habits of bees. church for five or six Sundays each Bees have increased wonderfully season to watch my bees, but not this season. Last spring, I set aside feeling it to be right to do this, I five colonies for increase, and by the tried all non- swarming plans I could use of empty combs, I have reached hear of, artificial swarming, etc., etc., twenty-five now all ready for winter, but none seemed to give as good except two. I have fed them noth- results as natural swarming. How ing, and let them rear their own was I going to have natural swarm- (jueens. ing, and yet not have it occur on No dark honey as yet has been Sunday ? Five years ( or nearly ) ago, secured. The yield of white honey I found an answer to the question with specialists, is about loo lbs. per in the proper use of queen cells. colony, spring count. start During the swarming season, I P. S. Impress on your readers that cells from my breeding ([ueens twice " late and heavy working" of bees is each week, always dating them. the prime cause of loss in wintering. These cells are designed for my nu- C. M. GoODSPEED. clei, but may be used to control swarming as might any other cell Thorn Hill, N. Y.

after it was capped, but I prefer to know when it will hatch and from news from california. what stock it was reared. Eds. Apiculturist : In looking my bees over on Mon- day, every stock that I think will The spirit moves me to write be apt to get in condition to swarm you a letter, not that I exi)ect you on Sunday following, I mark the hive to print it, for I never could properly article for on closing it, by laying a stone on prepare an publicadon, THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 209

and I dare not ask you, a stranger, tions of the moth, and last fall I did to edit it. as directed in the above mentioned What I wish to say is, that I am article, and put all the spiders and " so well pleased with the " Api eggs I could get into my comb box,

that I am recommending it to all closed it, and waited. beekeepers that come in my way. This spring on opening it, I found My attention was first called to it by every comb in perfect order. Thus, my neighbor, Mr. Irwin. He pre- having tested this simple and effec- sented me with the numbers of 1884. tive measure, supplied us by nature, I read them all, over and over again, I take pleasure in calling the atten-

and was so well pleased that I deter- tion of beemen to it. I am now mined to have the whole thing, fi-om storing my box honey in spiders and the start, and just at that time I dis- cobwebs in the hope that they may " " covered your ad in the C. B. J., be thus preserved for sale. offering with the whole outfit a fine Chas. L. Colton. queen as a present. I jumped at the chance. The bound volumes came Mta York, N. Y. along in due course of mail, and then the queen. She is a beauty. I introduced her at once to a frame of hatching brood, placed between NOTES AND QUERIES. division boards in a nursery hive, —The October, November and in the house. Two days after, added December numbers of the "Amer- another frame and soon had quite a ican Apiculturist" are to be the most little colony. She now occupies a valuable and instructive ever sent prominent place in the apiary, and out. bids fair to be as fine a colony as Mr. E. Pond will conduct the I have. J. department for beginners and the Fr.\ncis D. Havens. novice will find his papers to be invaluable. P. S. I am not a woman, but I happen to think of something more. —For a short time we offer the If you would like to hear an)'thing following inducement to those who more about Santa Barbara beekeep- are willing to work for us, and those ing you might drop me a postal. who wish to obtain with but little trouble a choice queen. F. D. H. To any person who sends us a Santa Barbara, CaL, Aug. i, i8Sj. club of five new subscribers either at $1.00 each, or at any of the club offers, we will make a present of THE SPIDER AS A COMB PROTECTOR. one of our choice selected queens. Messrs. S. M. Locke & Co. In order that you will understand Under the above title an article our offer we will cite an instance. was published in the July number If five of your neighbors should (1884) of the "Api, " translated by choose to take advantage of our offer myself from the German of W. Eck- of the "Apiculturist," for one year hardt. He described his method of with a choice queen for $1.50, and preserving surplus combs from sea- you should send us their addresses son to season, by putting them into and $7.50, we would make you a a box containing spiders and their present of a choice queen. Any eggs. member of the club can, however, I have been much troubled by the take advantage of either of the club loss of combs through the depreda- offers that he may choose. 19 — — —

210 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

This is a splendid opportunity goes off without first settling. You for you to try our stock of queens. should have some good clean hives, in a cool place, ready for the swarms —Mr. Arthur Todd is now conduct- when they come. ing for us a series of papers entitled If you have a number of stocks "Foreign Notes" which, as presented, that you think likely may swarm right forms a new and valuable feature here- away and cause trouble, as soon as tofore neglected. you see a swarm issuing, fill your —Do hens eat live bees ? A Los garden sprinkler with water and sprin- Angeles apiculturist seems to throw kle those stocks that have given some Hght on this mooted question. signs of swarming, which will hold

He says that having often caught his them in check till your swarm al- poultry in the flagrant act—standing ready out can be hived. If another in front of the hives and taking the begins to pour out after the first one busy insects as they pass in and out is clustered, but before you have had —he finally despatched one and time to hive them, throw a sheet found in her crop i8o bees. No over those clustered to prevent the wonder the honey business is proving others from alighting there also. I unprofitable in that State, if this is have had as many as three such clus- the general custom of the California ters covered at one time, other hen. swarms coming out too fast for the first to get out of the way. —We are now printing 5 ,000 copies per month of our journal, and we Let your swarm have plenty of time to cluster no need to be in a mean before the season closes to ; hurry if they cluster well. If they place it in the hands of every beekeeper in the land. light on some tree or bush that you do not care about marring, cut off call the attention of our —We the limb or limbs they are on, and readers to the following offer : carry to where your hive is, which in

Apiculturist for i year, i .00 this case may be where you want it Locke's Feeder, .50 to stay. Place a cloth drawn in front Apiculturist and feeder of the hives so the bees can have a together, 1.15 clean road to the entrance. Hold- ing your cluster within a foot of the —We are indebted to a friend for entrance, give it a slight shake the following newspaper clippings : enough to throw off part of the bees HIVING BEES. — they will soon find the entrance, This is rather a simple job to do and, setting up that happy hum

when one knows how to do it, yet which is music to the beekeeper, will

how many there are who seem to think travel in ; then when they are all well they must comply with all the super- under way, shake off some more, stitious notions of ages past? Who holding the branch meanwhile over has not seen and heard the hub- those shaken down, which will attract bub and fuss of hiving a swarm of and catch those that may take wing. bees by the old method. And too Should you shake them all down at many stick to the same old style yet once and step to one side, you may —the ringing of a bell, pounding have the fun of seeing them form the dish pan, etc., to drown the com- another cluster for you to cut down. mands of the queen. We know now Watch the corners, and see to it that that all this is useless. If you have the stream of bees does not get down

trees or bushes Iiandy for the swarm under the hive or alighting board ; to cluster on, you will rarely lose a keep them in the ranks by brushing swarm, as it is very seldom that one back gently with a wing, or blowing THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 211 a light puff of smoke in their faces by grasping with the hand. Turn now and then. Keep them moving the sack wrong side out by passing till you get them all in, else your it through the hoop, and the few queen may be outside, and the swarm bees remaining are on the outside. come out to find her. We are indebted for this sack-hiver It is of importance that you give to Charles Dadant & Son, Hancock them, if possible, a small patch of County, 111. brood in a frame, as a new swarm Should your bees cluster on the rarely leaves a hive with a brood in body of a tree, or down among the it. Never leave a new swarm where it roots of a bush, place your hive or a is hived till sundown ; this is a mis- box up over the cluster, or next to it take—one which loses you many bees, as near as you can, and stir them up for in less than an hour they will lo- by a little smoke on the opposite cate their new home and be carrying side. Soon a few bees will find the honey and pollen. If you have to way in and set up their cry, "Here move it then, do so when they are is a home for us ; come on boys," all in. In case your swarm alights and the rest will follow. It at any away up on a tall tree, or on branches time they lag on the way in, and you do not wish to cut off, have a stop in little clusters, a little puff of sack made of common muslin, about smoke, or drawing a small bunch of three feet long and fourteen to six- grass or leaves over their backs will teen inches in diameter. Sew a small start them on again. Some sprinkle finger loop on the bottom of the the cluster with water before hiving. sack both outside and in. Bend a I could never see any adv^antage in I or I -inch iron rod into a round this, any more than in the rant and hoop for the mouth of the sack, let- noise of old times. Keep quiet and ting the two ends be welded together enjoy the music of a swarm of bees three or four inches to form a handle, on the wing. and sew the ring fast to the mouth of ARTIFICIAL PASTURAGE FOR BEES. the sack. Not enough attention is paid to Next get a good stout pole of such this subject. If beginners would a diameter and length as to handle study the honey resources of their best for the height of your trees, or locality, and if their bees lack pas- make one out of a 2 x 2 piece of pine. turage, supply them with more by Bore a hole in one end and insert sowing honey plants, there would be the handle of the iron hoop, fasten- fewer beekeeping failures than now. ing so it will not turn. Have an- I do not think that it pays to culti- other pole (or a half-inch rod may vate any plants for honey alone, but do) with a hook on one end. With there are good honey plants that pay these two tools you can get down a aside from the honey obtained from cluster from quite high places by us- them. One of the best of these is ing a ladder part way. Hold the alsyke clover. This does well on al- sack up till it touches the limb, the most any soil, but is best adapted to cluster being inside ; then give the moist, heavy clay soils, and in such limb a jerk with the hooked pole, localities it will outlive red clover. drop the latter and turn the hoop The hay made from it is fine in qual- quarter way round, which closes the ity, and is equal to any of the clover sack with the bees inside. Lower or grasses in use for pasturage for the sack and carry to your hive, put stock. In this locality it is one of your finger through the loop on the our best honey plants. It comes in bottom, end it mouth down, and bloom about a week earlier than shake out the bees. The loop is to white clover, and under good cultiva- prevent the crushing of bees inside tion yields a larger amount of honey. —

212 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

Basswood, or linden as it is some- in its infallibility. If glucose is al- times called, is one of om- finest ways " entirely wholesome," why shade trees. It is hardy and bears does its use so often bring such wide- transplanting well, is a rapid grower, spread disaster in wintering bees? and seldom fails to yield large quan- Granulated sugar is better for bees, tities of honey, which, when well many think, than honey ; no one- ripened in the hive, is in every re- doubts that it is equally good. Glu- spect as good as that made from cose, on the other hand, has given white clover. Buckwheat comes such fatal results with so many, that into bloom directly after basswood it is everywhere condemned. An in this locality ; it can be raised on actual case of poisoning in Michigan, almost any soil, but yields more by the use of table syrup, led to an honey if the soil is well cultivated. analysis, which showed the presence This is true of almost any honey of sulphuric acid. plant one acre of buckwheat, on ; BEES IN ORCHARDS. rich soil, well cultivated, will yield more honey than several acres would It is said a larger crop of apples on poor soil. Although buckwheat is raised when a hive of bees is sta- honey is of an inferior quality, and tioned in the orchard. The bees does not command so high a price visit every flower, busily flying from in market, yet it is a source of much one to another, and then passing to profit to us, for we extract the early an adjoining tree. The pollen on is honey and let the bees fill their their bodies rubbed against the combs with buckwheat for winter pistils of myriads of flowers, which stores. The ras])berry is quite an become fertilized in this way. Many important honey i)lant, and although, of the strange modifications in the in this locality, it blossoms about the form of flowers ai-e due to insects, the same time as white clover, it is a transfer of pollen from different va- much more valuable honey plant, rieties resulting in hybrids. Darwin " for its drooping blossoms protect remarks that all experimenters the honey from moisture, and the have been struck with the wonderful bees work upon it when the weather vigor, height, size, tenacity of life is so wet that they can obtain noth- and hardiness of their hybrid pro- ing from upright blossoms. No one ductions." He was the first to should think of giving up beekeep- show that, from a flower fertilized by ing as a poor business because of pollen from a different plant, the poor locality, until he has tried to seedlings were much stronger than its pollen. improve it by sowing honey plants, from own The wind and for I believe that beekeeping can be insects are Nature's great agents in made profitable in almost any place performing this act of cross-fertili- by a little judicious management. zation. The stamens and pistils of O. G. Russell. the pines, birches, poplars, grasses, corn, etc., are so arranged Chenango County, N.Y. that the wind fertilizes them— but in a large BEES POISONED BY GLUCOSE. number of flowers they are so situ-

Professor A. J. Cook of Michigan ated that they can be reached only Agricultural College says in regard by the agency of insects. The to glucose — We had come to regard moths, many of which have tongues the dictum of the Naticjnal Academy five inches long, probe the long tu- of Science as conclusive on whatever bular flowers of orchids and other

it pronounced an opinion. Its plants, and withdraw them loaded recent decision, however, in refer- with pollen, to leave it on the pistil ence to glucose may well shake faith of some other plant. THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 213

CONVENTION NOTES. the potato crop, the most indispensable to the human family, will be of Beekeepers' The Wabash County such proportions that we could feed Convention will meet in G. A. R. the world. Mother Earth is cer- Hall, North Manchester, Inch, on tainly doing her full share to bring Beekeepers every- Oct. 10, 1885. about good times and make happy where are most earnestly requested all her diligent children. to be present. These facts, in connection with the auspicious in J. J. Martin, Secretary. omens the rooms of the Board of Agriculture, in the North Manchester, Ind. shape of business connected with the Aug. 20, iSSj. State Fair, to commence September 28th, give assurance The New Jersey and Eastern Bee- of another keepers' Association, having ac- grand success. It has been asserted that the last cepted an invitation to meet with the Mercer County Board of Agriculture Indiana State Fair was the best agricultural exhibition in the United of Trenton, N.J., will hold their semi- States. This is annual Convention, in the Grand not mere assertion, for the facts can be easily Jury Room, Court House, at Tren- produced to prove it, and the ton, New Jersey, on Thursday, Nov. management have reason to expect this season an 5 and Friday, Nov. 6, 1885, at 10 improvement on the last. o'clock A. M. A full attendance of The Fair has outgrown its clothes the members is requested. To all ; the greatest is persons interested in our vocation want now more room to spread itself, the is we extend a cordial welcome. The and day not Committee of Arrangements have far distant (for the idea is now being entertained), all vehicles secured hotel accommodations at re- when will be shut out from the ground during duced rates. the Fair, to give room for the exhibits A. J. King, President. and visitors. AVm. B. Treadwell, The railroads promise better rates Secretary. than ever, and there is hope of some of the prominent men of the nation Fair. Indiana State being present at the fair. The present season, so far, is the R. M. LoCKHART, Pres. most productive in the history of the state. The grass and hay crop, the Alex. Heron, Secy. most important of the products, is Indianapolis, Aug. 12. immense, and all that could be desired. The corn crop, second in importance, is magnificent ; the recent hot weather, with the propitious rains, has given it boom by which it prom- EXCHANGES. ises to excel, in this state, any previous year by several millions of California Honey Crop. — The bushels. following report of the honey season The wheat crop, although com- in California, from a correspondent paratively light in quantity, is of in that State, dated June 9, 1885, good quality and exceeds all antici- will doubtless be interesting to our pated estimates, with enough and to readers. Does it not furnish a spare. pointer to the honey-producers of The oat crop is the largest ever the country, as to the future of the grown in this state, by one-fifth, and honey market ? A light crop in Call- — .

214 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. fornia means better prices all around, 2. It is not necessary in the case now that foreigners are finding out of bees to raise anything for their sup- what a good thing American honey port. There is not a home in the " is —to take. Reports from all quar- country where this need be done for ters of southern California agree that a few hives. while the bees are in good coiidition, 3. Any woman or girl can not only they have not stored much if any make honey boxes, but the hives surplus honey, and in some localities themselves, as these can now be they have actually reduced their bought all ready to nail together, so stores very materially. The cool that putting them up and painting nights and windy days of the past them require no strength. month have not been favorable to 4. The capital necessary to com- the development of honey-producing mence with is small. flowers or the secretion of nectar. The little time required for their Both sorts of the sages are in bloom, care can be secured without interfer- but they afford little honey as yet, and ing with other occupations. A what is stored is not in any respect mother can care for her children equal to the honey obtained in the while she attends to her bees. (My same sections last year at this date. own successful work with bees was The low price of honey quoted in done with an infant in my arms, or in all the markets is not encouraging, a baby carriage, and the other chil- but the values of other commodities dren barely able to play alone, but all are about on a par with honey. the time within reach of my voice.) Sugar competes somewhat with A teacher can care for her bees out honey, and the price of that article of school hours, and after she has a points still downward in the princi- start, make more from them than from pal marts of the world, and it is not her other work. We have in mind reasonable to suppose that honey teachers who have also found health will advance in price very materially, in the out-door air and exercise which until sugar regains its lost ground to their bees gave them. some considerable extent, not only 5 There is a fascination about the in the United States, but in Europ- business which relieves all its tedium. ean countries where a very large A woman will think of her bees, study quantity of our last year's crop of about them, and become so interest- honey found customers, who paid ed as to be almost paid for her work better prices for our product than by the love of it. could be obtained at home, or on the east of the mountains." A. B.J.

Women as beekeepers, by Re- QVESrWA'S AND AN8WEBS.' becca Harding Davis.—The advantages of both beekeeping and poultry ANSWKKS 15Y G. W. DEMARHK. raising as an employment for women 1. When T did my first Italianizing of the science are great for these reasons : I knew nothing- modern of queen-rearing. I removed the I. They can be followed at home. queen from a strong colony, and seven Whether on a farm or in town, or days afterward destroyed all the queen even in a city, if you can have the ceils, and again on the tenth day from ground necessary to set the hives, it the day I removed the queen, I looked over and destroyed every- is all the land you need. No matter all the combs thing in the sh.ipe of queen cells —mak- if you do not own the land, or, if ing sure that no unsealed larv8e were your lot is small, a place can easily be made on the roof of a house, shed 'These answers to questions in last month's issue came too late for insertion in that num- or barn. ber. THE A3TERICAN APICULTURIST. 215 left in the hive. I now removed one of the queen can be safely released. their combs, and put in its phice a When I find this state of things, I re- comb containing eggs and larvae just move the slide and stop the door in hatched, which I had taken fi-om my the cage with a plug of soft candy, and te&ted Italian queen. On the seventh leave the bees to release the queen. day thereafter, I removed as many Christiansburg, Ky. black queens as I had cells in my cell- rearing hive —save one for them—and on the tenth day from the time I in- ANSWKKS BY A. J. COOK. serted the comb, I cut out as many 1. Buy a good Italian queen early cells as I had removed queens, and in the season. Stimulate the colony proceeded to insert one cell between when she is introduced by feeding and the top bars of the frames of each hive. adding brood so as to get early drones. I placed the cells in such a position Keep drones out of all other hives, that I could see if the queen cut out at then rear and introduce Italian queens the fi/ifZof the cell, by simply raising the into all other colonies. This is done quilt or honey board. If I found the with ease, and is a very excellent ex- cell opened at the side, I knew at once perience to the young beekeepei'. that was a failure, and proceeded to give them another cell. In order to 2. Danger of the queens being killed have cells on hand, I set two or more unless t^ery young. Caging for forty- colonies to rearing cells at intervals eight hours is an almost sure prevent- of three days apart. A novice can ive. hardly go wrong by this simple, tedi- 3. I do not know. ous method. Of course, I now follow the more modern methods. 4. I have had experience only with Italian 2. This is a question of deep interest German, and Syrian. I find to me, especially as pertains to intro- no marked difference in these three ducing virgin queens. The dangers races. will are that the bees "ball" and kill, 5. I cage longer, and watch care- lite, the or injure for queen before she fully as I liberate the queen. If she is accepted. only I to The way know is not kindly received I cage her for avoid it is to keep the queen caged another twenty-four hours. till the bees show by their actions that they are reconciled to her. ANSWEUS BY E. E. HASTY. 3. The hees seem to know that a virgin queen is of no use till she is fer- 1. The old bachelor's advice to young tilized, and they look on her as an in- people about to be married was simply truder and disturber of the peace. "Don't." If, however, the novice is Perhaps her shy, unsteady ways pro- too deeply in love with Italians for voke an attack from the bees. I have such advice as that let him buy three found that scary, fertile queens are or four dollar queens of different breed- more likely to be " balled " than are ers, test them thoroughly for honey the gentle, steady ones. gathering qualities ; then from the one that proves the best, rear 4 & 5 I have never discovered much young queens difference in the several races of bees by the Alley method. A second batch in this respect. of queens may be reared to supersede that prove impurely I liave found that the black and hy- those mated. brid queens are more fidgety as a gen- 2. The dangers of introducing may eral rule than are the Italian queens, be mainly reduced to two, the foreign and this trait is not favorable to quick scent of the queen, and her prejudice introducing. against her new subjects, leading her 6. I proceed in the usual way, ex- to behave improperly. The foreign cept that I keep the queens caged a scent is partly got rid of, and the scent greater length of time. I still insist of the new colony partly acquired by that the only safe and practicable way caging the queen for a day or so among to introduce queens is to cage them the bees to whom she is to be given. on top of the frames, where the actions To keep the queen from sulking, strik- of the bees can be seen by simply turning, and making noises, and other exing back the quilt. As long as the asperating capers, take away all her bees " ball " and bite the cage, the only own bees from the cage when it is im- safe place for the queen is in the cage. mersed in the bees of the new colony. When they walk about the cage gently She thus finds absolute solitude unen- as they do in other parts of the hive, durable and is obliged to make friends 216 THE AMERICAN APICULTVRIST.

with tlie bees ou the other side of the LETTER BOX. wires. One thing a novice needs spec- Lindsay, Out., Aug., 1885. iallj^ to be told is that iu returning a queen to her own colony, after she has The pure Cyprian queen you mailed been used elsewhere, nearly the same to me on the 11th inst., arrived at my p. care must be used as if she were a stran- apiary at 7 M , on the 1-lth, in good ger. condition and without a single dead bee If possible choose a time when bees in the cage. I immediately placed the are good natured and gathering honey. cage beneath the cloth cover of the Earnestly avoid having any robbing brood chamber of a strong colony of around the premises for a week before bees. The next morning I made a queens are to be introduced. rather weak colony queenless, removed Avoid giving a strange queen to a the worker bees from the Cyprian colony that is overworked at rearmg queen, and placed her, still caged, upon yoking bees, Bees often kill their own tlie frames of the queenless colony. On queens from tliis cause and will be Saturday evening I again examined pretty sure to kill a stranger. tlie Cyprian queen, filled the food com- Vei-y late in the season is a specially partment of the cage and its opening bad time to introduce. with fresh, "Good" candy, stopped the When circumstances are unfavorable entrance with an old queen cell, and keep the bees three days queenless be- replaced the cage with the tin cover fore releasing a strange queen among open. When I examined on Wednes- them. day, I found the cage deserted, nearly The surest way, when bees are des- all the candy consumed, and the queen perately contrary, is to cage a whole had laid a large number of eggs iu two comb from which young bees are combs. emerging, putting the queen tliereon, John Head. and leaving her and her young sub- Cottage Grove, Ind., Aug. 3, 1885. jects tlius segregated for a week in the

heart of the colony. Gents : 3. A queenless colony desirous of American Apiculturist, Vols. I and more brood is greatly pleased with the II, cloth l)ound, rei.eived some time scent of fertility which a laying (jueen ago, and I must say I was most argreea- diffuses. This scent operates as a bly surprised on receiving the same. I bribe to make them overlook her for- have since perused a good part of the eign odor. In the virgin queen the work and like it much. Hardly know scent of fertility is as yet very feeble, how any beekeeper can do without it. and consequently she is treated more You can just put me down as a regular nearly as a foreign worker bee would subscriber as long as your journal is be treated published. for 4 & 5. Very little difference owing to With good wishes your future race, I think. I have rather felt that prosperity, 1 remain very respectfully, a colony was the the more energetic P. C. Barnakd. more resistance they would make to being re-queened. A strong colony of South Bend, Lid., Aug. 24, 1885. vigorous hybrids late in the fall is the

"cap sheaf." Dear Sirs : 6. Would leave the hive longer My son and I wintered 200 colonies queenless, and be more careful gener- of Italian bees in the cellar with the ally. loss of but two colonies and five or six queens, and, you will remember, Ohio. Eichards, Lucas Co., last winter was a severe one. After removing them from the cellar we sold all but 19G colonies and now have 250. QUESTION 15Y A BKHKEEPEK. Our bees had the swarming fever bad, causing much shortage in the honey 1. What do you think of using ether yield. Bees are now doing well on for controlling bees? red clover and buckwheat. Ans. While in the hands of an ex- bound volumes of the "Apicultu- perienced apiarist and used with dis- The rist" duly received. I find them filled cretion ether might prove useful yet with " good things " for the beekeeper. we would not advise its general use. T consider the "Apiculturist" all Punk (or rotten wood) properly used but indispensable to the would-be apiarist. will meet ever reciuirement and is much more safe. A. J. Hatfield. The American Apiculturist.

% loxtrnal htboiitH to ^dmii^t anb Uratlttal gei^kceptng. ENTERED AT THE POST-OFFICE, SALEM, AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER. ^

Published Monthly. S. M. Locke & Co., Publishers & Prop'rs.

VOL. III. WENHAM, MASS., OCTOBER 15, 1885. No. 10.

SUBSCRIPTION PRICES. were capped, and on July 28, at 2 year, payable in advance. Sent $1.00 per p. M., some 200 were capped, many on trial three months for 35 cts., six months for 60 cts. eggs having, for some cause, disap-

Adveutising Rates :— 15 cents per line of peared. On Aug. 9, none had space each insertion. hatched. On Aug. 10 examinations A line of this type will admit about 7 words were made every hoar. At %.yit One inch will contain twelve lines. p. M. none had crawled out ; at 6j^o Transient Advertisements must be paid for two had hatched, and a third was in advance. hatching. If these drones came Those wishing special rates will please correspond with the Editor. from the first eggs laid, they took

When sending money make all postal notes about 25 days and 8J- hours to de- the Salem, and money orders payable at velop. Mass., Post Office. At 6 A. M., on Aug. II, many more All communications should be addressed to S. M. Locke & Co., Wenham, Mass. had hatched, and at 6 a. m., on Aug. 12, all but 17 had hatched. At 6.30 OBSERVATIONS UPON p. M. all but 2 had hatched, and at DRONES. 6.30 A. M. of Aug. 13, the last one was found with the cap off, trying to

crawl ; it By L. L. Langstroth. out was strong and perfect. Now, if the egg producing this drone Bevan says that the drone hatches was laid just before the comb was

on the 24th or 25th day after the removed, then it took nearly 2 7 days

egg is laid. I know of nothing more to mature. definite on this point. During the whole time of these ob- To get more precisely the facts, servations, the weather was of the

on the 1 6th day of last July, a drone- most favorable kind—the thermome- comb was put, at 7 A. M., centrally ter ranging nearly every day above in a strong colony, which had been 80° Fahr., and being only once as fed for several days, as the drones low as 62°. The colony was kept in were being expelled from many hives. good heart by daily feeding, and I At 9 A. M. the queen was found on can think of nothing which could that comb, having laid three eggs. have retarded in the least the devel- She had just begun laying. At 9 A. m., opment of these drones, unless pos-

on July 1 7, it was removed to a sibly the fact that from so many of strong colony, without queen, eggs the eggs having disappeared, they

or larvae. On July 27, many cells were not as compact in the comb as 20 (217) 218 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

they otherwise would have been. In pollen baskets ; and that he can se-

this observation, although there could crete no wax. Great as his bulk is, not possibly have been more than 24 he has no sting, and can do nothing hours' difference between the laying for the defence of the common-

of the first and the last egg, there wealth ; but then, without him that was about two days and a half be- commonwealth could have no exist-

tween the hatching of the first and ence. The sole object of his life

the last drone. seems to be, at the proper time, to

It is quite interesting to watch the fertilize the young queen—and this different actions ofjust hatched work- he is always ready to do. Now why ers and drones. The worker, true should we blame any creature which

to her name and office, begins to fulfils the special object of its crea- crawl over the combs as if to feel her tion ? And yet I fear me in spite of legs, stops occasionally to clean her- all that can so justly be said in his self up, and before long helps herself favor, our poor drone will always be to honey from an open cell. The cited as an incorrigibly idle reprobate, drone, on the contrary, is a born de- who meets with only his just deserts

pendant. His first ' act is to touch when after a life of pleasure he is the nearest worker he can reach with killed without mercy by the indus- his flexible antennae, and, begging to trious workers. He will always be be fed, he is at once supplied with known as Shakespeare's "lazy yawn- honey disgorged from the proboscis ing drone." of his attentive nurse. And so he Oxfoi-d, Ohio. goes on all his life, seeming to prefer \_To be continued.'] to be fed, although perfectly able, if needs be, to help himself. A very bad name has always been given the drone. Virgil has his fling FOREIGN NOTES. at him, stigmatizing him as having no proper office in the economy of Bv Arthur Todd. the hive—seeking only to devour the stores which he had no share in col- Camphor is well known as a pre- lecting. I wonder what the poet servative against moths in furs and thought he was made for ! or, as he cloth, also against mildew. From says that the bees collected their Russia we learn that Mr. Ossipow young from the flowers, being too has been applying this substance as chaste to breed them, what motive he a remedy in cases of Foul Brood. could have thought they had to One spring he found he had two

gather in such useless consumers ! hives infected : one very badly,another Aa:id yet without any special pleading slightly. He wrapped up in a piece how much can be said in his defence ! of rag a piece of camphor the size of It is only too evident that his pro- a walnut and placed one on the floor boscis is too short to suck honey from board inside each hive. Soon after- the flowers ; that his legs have no wards he noticed that the first hive :

THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. 219

was completely rid of the disease. " Now that starch sugar is to be had The bees of the second hive were so cheaply, bee men can use great

noticed to go off gayly enough to the quantities of it to feed their bees and fields but, on coming back, showed in that manner obtain enormous a disinclination to reenter the hive. quantities of honey." In many older

Believing they found the odor too books we find it stated that honey

strong, Mr. Ossipow withdrew the contains variable quantities of fruit

camphor for three days and put it in and grape sugars and that the quan-

again at the end of that time ; he tity of the latter increases as the honey continued this treatment for a month gets older. If this statement were cor-

when he found all trace of the disease rect, then those above mentioned

gone. For two months he allowed should be also ; but, Dr. Fritz Ellsner the camphor to remain in the worst has found by numerous experiments,

affected hive and then found only it is not so, and he has proved that

four infected cells. Later on, the the determination of manufactured

colony became very strong and in a glucose used to adulterate honey is perfectly healthy condition. extremely simple. A great number When Mr. Ossipow has found a of samples of honey having been given case of foul brood since, he has put to Dr. Ellsner by the Leipzig Bee in his lump of camphor and inva- Society to analyze, he was able to riably found the remedy effective. study this question closely and, with-

On the principle that prevention is out speaking of his microscopical better than cure, he puts in each hive researches, he carried out a series of every autumn a piece of camphor. experiments to establish correctly a When living in Algeria some years method for determining the exact back, I found that great reliance was percentage of manufactured glucose placed upon the emanations from the in any sample of honey. leaves of the eucalyptus trees (the A large number of samples of honey big gums of California) as a curative were obtained, their exact source of

agent against fevers, especially those supply being known ; ten per cent so- of a typhoid character. These trees lutions of these were prepared, de- all belong to the camphor family and colorized by animal charcoal, and I was informed that bees were always submitted to examination under a healthy when placed under one of Wasserlein polariscope. That instru- these trees. ment gives at once the percentage of grape sugar but is equally good for It is not very long since it was general observations. Here is the thought that the adulteration of honey result

made in a careful manner was very 1 Honey of Leipzig, Fennel in

difficult or even impossible to detect. comb, I year old o°.9 In Hager's "Pharmaceutical Manual" 2 Honey of Leipzig, Colza " it is stated : Very pure glucose or comb, I year old o°. beet sugar mixed with honey cannot 3 Honey of Leipzig, Colza and be detected with certainty ;"and again, Fennel comb, i year old o.°3 220 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

4 Honey of Leipzig, Heather interests of truth, one of the members

candied, 3 years old o°.8 of the Leipzig Bee Society sacrificed 5 Honey of Leipzig, Heather a colony by feeding it glucose. He candied, 35 years old o°.6 tried feeding it solid and in solution, 6 Honey, Wurtemberg, candied but it was only after having mixed a

2 years old o°.3 thick syrup of it with equal parts of

7 Honey, American, candied, honey, that he could get his bees to 2 years old o°,6 take down any quantity. Having

8 Honey, Chili, candied, 2 got a comb well filled it was extracted years old 1°, in the presence of witnesses. This 9 Honey, Wurtemberg (pre- honey had a good odor but was dark, pared cold), 4 years old 0°. very liquid and remained a long time 10 Honey, Thuringia, clover in as liquid as syrup. comb i°.2 From three different samples of 11 Honey, Thuringia, spring this honey thus produced, were pre- flowers o°.3 pared solutions of twenty per cent,

From this table it follows that all decolorized by means of animal char- honey, no matter what the age and coal, and the polariscope then gave the source of supply, contains exclu- the following results : sively inverted sugar and, moreover, 1° + 3°7 that the quantity of fruit sugar which, 2° + ^% under the polariscope, turns the ray 3° + 3°7 of light to the left, is constantly strong It suffices then, to have but a very enough to compensate for the devia- minute quantity of manufactured tion to the right caused by the nat- glucose to obtain a striking deviation ural grape sugar. In a single word, of the ray of polarized light and that

then, a// honey, if it is pure, is en- to the right. These remarks were

tirely without action on polarized afterward verified by observations on

light or deflects it shghtly to the left, solutions in which were mixed di- but never to the right. In order to rectly, from five to twenty per cent know what action on polarized light of glucose. a honey, produced by the feeding The Swiss honeys, of which men- manufactured glucose to bees, would tion was made above, all deflected, have, some direct trials were made. without e:xception, the ray of light

It will be remembered that it is in the polariscope to the right some well known to beekeepers that glu- 8° to 13° and were declared impure. cose acts in an unhealthy manner, The manager of one of the largest

and often deadly, on bees ; and that factories for Swiss honey, later on, no wefl-read beekeeper would dream admitted that all honey put up by his

of feeding glucose to produce honey. firm contained glucose ; and that be- With glucose food bees get the diar- cause the public demanded honey rhoea, their belly swells, then comes that would remain liquid and not paralysis and death. candy which, in the eyes of the pub-

Notwithstanding that, and in the lic, is a proof of purity. To prevent : :

THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 221

trouble they labelled their goods not editor of the Canadian Bee Journal "Veritable honey from Bees," but pretty severely to task for publishing " Veritable Swiss Honey." the article as if it were original matter.

It only remains to know if a The same article was afterwards re- honey obtained by feeding sugar published in the American BeeJour- can be regarded as pure. The pro- nal, headed by the words "Popular ducers, all competent judges, say Science Monthly" but any one who

"no." In general, sugar is only em- will take the trouble to compare it ployed as a food in cases of real need, with the original will see that the ed-

that is to say, for wintering, and with- itor of the American Bee Journal is in the limits of what the bees can guilty of the impropriety of mutilating

consume themselves ; when there is the article by making alterations,

more than that it is only syrup with- ehsions and additions. In doing so

out flavor or taste. Nothing then he is unjust to the writer of the article, ought to be called honey except the unjust to the publisher, and he prac- actual product of the secretions of tises a deception upon his readers.

flowers, and stored therefrom by the There are in all about twenty changes, bees. but I shall take space to refer to two The conclusions to be drawn from only and leave the reader to say Dr. EUsner's work therefore, are whether or not in making these

first, all honey, that under the polar- changes, the editor shows a spirit of iscope turns the ray of light to the petty jealousy in excluding from his

right, is impure. Second, that the columns any complimentary reference smallest quantity of manufactured to the editor of another bee journal. glucose added to honey can bq de- In the third paragraph of the sec- tected by using the polariscope. ond column, page 390, of the Amer- ican Bee Journal, we have this Philadelphia, Pa. sen- " tence : For the Syrian races of bees leading apiarists claim, etc." In the

Popular Science Monthly it reads : IMPROPRIETIES IN "For the Syrian races of bees Mr. JOURNALISM. Jones and other leading apiarists claim, etc." In the fourth paragraph

By S. Corneil. of the first column on the same page of the American Bee Journal we Recently the Ca nadia n BeeJour- read: "The Syrian and Cyprian va- nal republished an article on api- rieties have been extensively imported culture from the Popi/la?- Science into this country." In the Popular

Monthly and called attention to it Science Monthly we find it thus in a flattering editorial notice, giving " The Syrian and Cyprian varieties credit to the journal from which the have been extensively imported into article was taken. The editor of the this country by that distinguished American Bee Jourjial overlooked and enterprising apiarist, D.A. Jones the editorial paragraph and took the of Beeton, Ontario." 222 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

No doubt most of the readers of enough, but it does not come up to the American Bee Journal {e\t under the standard required by Mr. New- obhgations for the privilege of reading man. "Millions sterling" must be those very interesting articles by changed to "millions (9/'sterling" be-

Mr, Frank Cheshire on Foul Brood, fore it can be permitted to appear in published about a year ago, but the pages of his journal. Altogether probably few are aware that they the changes are so extensive and so are so altered that the author would important, that those who wish to see hardly know them. In an introduc- what Frank Cheshire actually did say tory paragraph we are told they are on Foul Brood, will have to read his copied from the British Bee Jour- article in the British Bee Journal. nal, comparing with the but on them Lindsay, Sept. 8, i88j. originals, we find that there are nineteen words and one phrase added, sixteen words, nine phrases, thirteen clauses, thirty-six sentences and ten THE NEW vs THE OLD. e7itire paragraphs omitted, and sev- No 2. enty words, three phrases and two clauses altered by substituting others. In some cases the idea as well as the phraseology is changed and yet Mr. In our journey through life how

Cheshire is held responsible before often we make comparison with the the public. In the seventy changes old. Those who have lived any of words the good Anglo-Saxon word number of years look with wonder

"stock" is invariably changed to the at the rapid march of improvement, less appropriate word "colony;" and yet often can compare the good "hive," when used so as to mean the old times with the new, with the ad- contained for the container,is changed vantage on the side of the old. One to "'colony," and the word "apiarist" reason for this is the fact that there is always substituted for the more are two forces that travel equally fast euphonious word "apiarian." Even and side by side. For instance one if it were allowable to make changes man wants a gun whose missile will in the language used by a writer, in penetrate the armor of any ship or such a case some of the changes fort known, but simultaneously with made cannot be defended. For in- him, another is inventing an armor stance, Mr. Cheshire quotes a para- that is able to resist it, and so it goes, graph from " Carpenter on the one man's ingenuity arrayed against Microscope" in which this phrase another's, and great results are ac- occurs : "The mortality caused by it complished ; yet in reality the situa-

(Pebrine) being estimated to pro- tion is unchanged. These compari- duce a money loss of from three to sons can be made in almost every four millions sterling annually for branch of science. In the science of several years." This language of the apiculture the comparison between the great Dr. Carpenter should be good old and new is one that gives pleas- THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 223 ure and satisfaction, at least to the his wallet from his honey sales twenty progressive beekeeper if no pecun- years ago then he does to-day. iary gain follows. In our last we Still we would not go back to those made some comparisons between the days. Although we may not be as well old and new methods of introducing off pecuniarily, we are rich in knowl- felt edge. Our children enjoy the advan- queen bees ; Ave might also, if we capable, compare the new 7!s the old tages of an enlightened age. Where method of raising them and show we paddled our canoe, they ride that although the acme of success has in steam palaces ; where we jogged been reached, yet the expected pe- along in the old stage coach, they are whizzed along the lightning train cuniary results do not follow. Sup- by ; pose we compare the old box-hive a day with them now was a week and method of getting the old style with us then, and we look on and of two comb four-pound boxes of wonder, and grow chronic in making comb honey therefrom. I fancy that comparisons with the new vs the Capt. Hetherington can look back to OLD. Brooklyn, N. Y. those days and find the advantage 'financially on the side of the old. He may be able by the hew to produce four times the amount of honey and THE UTILITY OF FEEDERS. in a style that outshines the old as the Br Henry Alley. electric light outshines the rust, but

that other fo7'ce has brought the price A GOOD bee feeder is appreciated down to such a figure that the net by every apiarist, as every one who results in bank will not compare with keeps bees has more or less use for

the old. But to view it through the such an article during his beekeeping eyes of a philanthropist may give experience. There are in use as some satisfaction, as many eat honey many styles and patent feeders as to-day that could not get a smell then. patent hives. All of them possess

I see in the Sept. "Api" some notes more or less merit, and nearly all on "Advanced Bee Culture" from L. will do the work for which they were C. Root, in which he gives some as- designed. I do not have a very good tonishing figures, the result of the opinion of an "entrance" feeder. new vs the old under favorable cir- Unless great care is used, robbing cumstances. Well, in this branch of will be induced. Then again, what our science the old certainly cannot advantage does an entrance feeder compare favorably with the new but have over a feeder used over the

this is one of those cases where we frames ? The former can be used only can almost say a new article is pro- while the weather is warm, as the bees duced; as the present production of will not and cannot cluster near the extracted honey can not be classed feeder to keep up a proper warmth the syrup. as the same goods with the strained while at work removing serious ob- honey of old, and yet, I fancy Mr. The above are very Root carried more money home in jections to an entrance feeder. Now 224 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

I will give some of the advantages also prevents any scent of the food of feeders used over the combs. A from escaping. Therefore, when

properly constructed feeder can be one of these feeders is placed upon placed upon the frames and directly a hive unprotected by any covering, over the cluster at any season of the no robber bee can enter or even

year. It can be covered by a chaff get a sniff of the contents of the cushion, or some warm material and feeder. We have used them this retain the heat. The bees can fall upon some hives and have not

take the food from it and not protected them at all from the leave the cluster. A feeder of this weather. The heaviest rain that ever

description can be filled without dis- descended cannot enter the feeder,

turbing it or the bees even, as often either at the top or about the bot-

as the food is removed. During my tom. It is weather- and robber-proof long experience with bees, I have in every sense of the word. been obliged to use feeders, more or For a hive that has a honey board,

less, every year during some portion a mat or plain top, it requires about

of the season. My experience with one minute to apply the feeder to it.

such implements will equal that of All that is necessary is to make an

any man in the bee business. I have opening about i^ inches in diameter

used every kind of a feeder thus far in whatever covers the frames ; and

presented, and have finally settled when the feeder is ready, let the upon the two best adapted for gen- sponge come directly over the aper- eral use. ture made to give the bees access to The one is a glass fruit jar; the feeder. I have no doubt that " the other Locke's Perfection this feeder would preserve a colony Feeder." Both embody the same

principle, namely : atmospheric. The latter has many decided advan- ^^yjilllll "jisiaai,- tages over all others in use. It is

made of tin, and can be made large through the winter, even though it

enough to hold several quarts of had no capped honey at all. If the syrup. The samples which I have bees are kept in a cellar or reposi-

seen, and which are sent by mail, tory where the temperature is kept at are made to hold about one pint of 45°, they can sip the food from the syrup. There are apertures in the feeder as easily as they can take top and bottom. The one in the honey from the combs. One of

top is for the reception of food, these feeders could be made to hold

while the one in the bottom is closed a sufficient amount of food to last a with a sponge from which the bees colony through the winter. It could

sip the food and place it in the be filled in the fall and need not be

combs for further use. The cap disturbed till spring. Their cost cer- which covers the opening in the top, tainly can be no objection to their

through which the food enters, fits general use.

so nicely that no air can enter, and The illustration here given repre- THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 225 sents a feeder holding about one bush huckleberry, holly and gallberry. pint. One that has a capacity of The Italian, Syrians and Cyprians do several quarts costs but a trifle more much better after the main honey than the pint feeder. flow than do the blacks ; they usually Wenham, Mass. store twice the amount of honey from June lo to October that the blacks do. They stored a good deal of honey this season for me, from NORTH AND SOUTH IN cotton and sumac, beginning about BEE CULTURE. July 20 and ending Aug. 15, while the blacks in this section were doing

fly out here nearly By Abbott L. Swinson. nothing. Bees every week in winter during the mid- A GREAT deal has been written pro dle of the day. They gather plenty and con in regard to pollen theories of pollen during February from alder, in the diarrhoea troubles among bees. (not elder). I had queens reared, this last I must confess that the article of G. mated and laying April 8, queens W. Demaree, in your last issue is spring. I find southern-bred pretty near the truth, as near prob- live longer and are more prolific, here than are northern-bred ably ( ?) as any article that has been wjth me, published in regard to these diarrhoea queens, which I have bought up troubles. That the cause must be north, notwithstanding the com- " " "climatic" is pretty well proven by plaint against southern queens by the fact that there is no such thing some of the northern beekeepers. among the bees in the south as diar- THE BEST BEES. rhoea or foul brood, while our northern brethren are more or less troubled The American Italian (Albinos) are

with it every season. These are facts the coming bees (?). I have tried that our theorizing beekeepers should for the past two seasons the crossing not overlook. of ItaHans, Cyprians and Syrians as We lose no bees here during win- suggested by Mr. Demaree, under ter or spring, except from starvation, the above heading, and I have come

that is usually brought about by the to the conclusion that the American bees being kept principally in old box Italians are the best bees on the and gum hives, and their keepers x\merican continent— Carniolans not robbing them in June and July, after excepted — for purity, gentleness,

the honey flow is over, and taking beauty, prolificness, size and working the " yel- out too much of their stores, not qualities ; they are certainly " knowing how much is being left. lowest and whitest marked bees we The black (or German) bees store have. The young of eight queens

but very little honey after June lo, that I now have are nearly white,

in eastern North Carolina, the main when first hatched out, but after they honey flow being during the month become exposed to sun and he^ in of May, from black gum, poplar, low- working, they show four to five yel- ;

226 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

low bands (when they are expanded one takes into consideration all the with honey) and the white and black advantages in beekeeping, the com-

(it is not such a deep blue-black as parative estimate is a low one. How most albinos show, either) bands easily may an apiary, composed of around the abdomen are about an ordinary straw skeps, be in one year

equal width. This has been brought totally annihilated ; hives, however, out by careful breeding and selecting very seldom, because such, owing of the best queens from which to to the number of bees contained breed drones and queens among my therein, can, in the few good days, Italian stocks—by in-and-in breeding carry in at least sufficient to secure too—that is, drones and queens all their winter stores. Adverse circum- from the same queen, as all these stances of all kinds, such as poison- American-Italians. I have twenty ous mildews, robbers, cold winds in

queens of them, but not all of them spring, hail storms in summer, strong show uniformly marked bees of four colonies can overcome more easily and five bands as do the eight selected and their broods can soon make up

ones, bred and mated to drones of the loss ; but weaker colonies, such one mother, which I bought last season as those in straw skeps usually are, in a lot of nine untested queens of a become depopulated and on account Tennessee breeder, that showed her of such a rapid and sudden depopu- progeny to be extra fine Italians lation become foul-broody and at but those bred of her and ma fed to best they cannot recover themselves her drones are much finer and far for the year or many days. A hive sel-

ahead of any bees I ever saw among dom becomes entirely depopulated : Italians, Cyprians or Syrians. at least we have but few examples so far then such a populous colony com- Goldsboro,N. C, Sept 22, 1885. ; mences to raise brood in January, yes, even in December, and on account of the heat generated by the A GUIDE TO THE BEST bees this is done successfully and METHODS OF BEE- therefore should the queen even be KEEPING. lost in April a new queen can be raised. With the hive one can secure the nicest store of honey and By J. L. Christ. wax, without it being necessary to

R. F. nolterman, Translator. destroy the useful insects, without

(Continued from p. 129, Vol. III.) cutting the comb, and thereby en- dangering the bees and one's self OF THE GENERAL USE OF THE HIVE. and causing much unpleasantness.

The use of the hive generally is In skeps the best colonies often very much greater than keeping bees ruin themselves by repeated swarm- in ordinary straw skeps and the coming, but in hives one can hinder their

parative value of the use of them for warming and some years prevent it

one year is as five to one ; and when altogether. In the case of hives they THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. 227 are rejuvenated nearly every year ber of wooden hives having a sym- and if it has stood for twenty-five metrical appearance, which is no years it is not an old colony, as nearly matter of indifference to a person of "^ every year new " Untensatze are taste and a lover of bees ; but how built full and the previous year's profitable and easy and at the same combs are taken off thro-gh the time how pleasant does that insignif- upper stories. The combs do not icant glass, which only costs a kreutzer become blackened, the cells do not (half-penny), make the handling and contract as in old skeps, as every tending of the bees ! young bee leaves her pupa garb be- I can not only amuse myself at hind her and the cell is valueless for their internal work and observe them the full maturity of the brood. The summer and winter, but sometimes reason is that a skep which has been have the good fortune, especially in in use five or six years without chang- May and June, to see the queen with ing combs is of little value and the her body guard and watch her deposit in bees will seldom swarm. eggs, etc. ; while, on the contrary,

It is on account of this also that the straw skep, I can observe nothing with the hive there becomes no old but their outer industry and their visible proof, of colony ; but clean, nicest and best of flight. But I have a honey is produced. On the contrary, their inner economy which is very that cut out of old skeps, or procured profitable and necessary to the bees. by smothering bees, is soiled by brood, I see how much honey they have, dead bees, sulphur fumes, etc. And how much brood, how much they what is an advantage above all others have built and this is (as can be seen in the hive is that one in the latter from what follows, in harvesting always has bees, which can be taken honey, in dividing or swarming, by care of pleasantly and without great adding stories and other operations) fatigue. of the utmost importance, in remov- honey. I can THE SPECIAL ADVANTAGES OF WOODEN ing stories filled with I can take from these HIVES WITH GLASSES. see how much stories without taking too much from As it has for some time been pro- leave them enough for ven by experiment that beekeeping the bees and winter. in hives is the best and most profit- I can calculate how many feet able according to my actual test, my or pounds of honey, how much previously described hive, made out wax every colony has, yes, how much of boards and the top story furnished fifty colonies have ; as every story with a pane of glass, is the best and has equal dimensions and the pattern has distinct advantages over the shows me that such a story when hive made of straw. I will not speak empty will contain four measures, of the ornamentality and general when filled it will contain two meas- appearance which are given to a ures of honey and "i^ quarter lbs." bee stand- or garden by a num- of wax. With straw hives, where I 1 Literally, tilings placed beneath. take 2 Apiary would be a better term. know nothing definite, I must ;

228 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. such a heavy colony and, with many and then are not so easily dislodged difificulties and no little danger, Aveigh by the bees. it and then guess at the amount to RodJieim, Gei'inany, July, Ij8j. deduct for the hive itself. \_To be continued.']

Further, if I wish to prevent a colony from swarming altogether or EDITORIAL. the second time, I give them must The season of 1885 will be re- another story at the proper time membered as one of the best the bee- that is as soon as they have the last keeper has experienced. As a rule, story a little over half or at most three large crops of honey have been gath- quarters full which I can see with my ered, and the increase in colonies has hive at any time, but with the straw been satisfactory. At the beginning hive one must, with great trouble of the season the prospect for the and danger and displeasure to the beekeeper was a gloomy one. We bees, tilt over the hive to see, and had just passed through one of the should it be seventy to eighty pounds most disastrous winters to bees yet in weight such is almost impossible. experienced, and thousands of bee- And should a straw hive have only keepers were ready to give up the three stories on and one were to turn business in disgust. Now our apia- it over, it would be easy for a story ries are in fine running order again, to fall off unless the hive was built in and we can take fresh courage, as we an expensive manner. Yes, in many are sure to be well repaid for all the cases it is absolutely necessary to be trouble and time devoted to our pets. able to see and examine the inner Like all other business, beekeeping

economy of every story, especially has its " ups and downs " but no one in making nuclei, so as to know where should be discouraged by meeting to divide it is ; necessary to examine with an occasional drawback ; we the old as well as the nuclei (the up- must expect to experience disaster per stories to be lifted off as well as the and ill luck sometimes. Neither lower which are to remain) for brood should we expect or look for a large and such like. The cleanliness and crop of honey every year. Last smoothness of the glass and the season Californian beekeepers sent planed board are acceptable and pleas- an immense crop of honey to mar-

ant to the bees ; they save thereby ket ; this year they have but little, if not only much time and labor which any, to send. Last year bees did have to be expended on straw hives poorly in Vermont ; this year they in biting and tearing off loose pieces have done extra well. Do not get

and carrying them out, which time discouraged, push on as if nothing could better be expended in procur- but prosperity was certain to crown

ing their best and most necessary your efforts. If disaster comes, re- harvest; they also have no danger pair the damage as quickly as possi-

from moths which we all know not ble and push right on the same as only gnaw themselves into a hive but though nothing of consequence had which secrete themselves in the straw happened. ;

THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 229

NEW OBSERVATIONS ON in a few minutes without any ex- THE NATURAL HISTORY ternal marks of impregnation, and OF BEES. departed again in a quarter of an hour with so rapid a flight that we could scarcely follow her a moment. By Francis Huber. This absence continued thirty min-

(Contiimed from p. 204, Vol. III.) utes, but on her return the last ring of the body was open, and the or- This second absence was much gans full of the whitish substance longer than the first ; it occupied already mentioned ; she was then re- twenty-seven minutes. We now placed in the hive from which all found her in a state very different the males were excluded. In two from that in which she was after days we found her impregnated. lier former excursion ; the organs These obsei-vations at length demon- distended by a substance, thick and strate why Hattorf obtained results hard, very much resembling the so different from ours. His queens, matter in the vessels of the male though in hives deprived of males, completely similar to it indeed in had been fecundated, and he hence color, and consistence.^ concludes that sexual intercourse is But more evidence than mere re- not requisite for their impregnation, semblance being requisite to estab- but not having confined the queens lish that the female had returned with to their hives, they had profited by the prolific matter of the male, we their liberty to unite with the males. allowed the queen to enter the hive We, on the contrary, have sur- and confined her there. In two rounded our queens with a number days we found her belly swollen, and of males, yet they continue sterile, she had already laid .nearly a hun- because the precautions for confin- dred eggs in the worker cells. To ing the males to their hives, had also confirm our discovery we made sev- prevented the queens from departing eral other experiments and with the to seek that fecundation without, same success. which they could not obtain within. I shall continue to transcribe my same experiments were repeated journal. The on queens twenty, twenty-five and On the second of July, the weather thirty days old. All became fertile being very fine, a number of males after a single impregnation. How- left the hives and we set at liberty ever, we have remarked some essential a young virgin queen eleven days peculiarities in the fecundity of those old whose hive had always been de- remaining in the virgin state until prived of them. the twentieth day of their existence, Having quickly left the hive, she but we shall defer speaking of returned to examine it and then the fact until being able to present rose out of sight. She came back naturalists with observations suffic- lit will afterwards appear that what we iently correct and numerous to merit took for the generative mattei- was the male organ lel'tiu the body of the female, a discov- their attention. Yet, let me add a few ery wliich we owe to tlie circumstance that to I already said. shall be Immediately )-elated. I'erhaps I words what have sliould avoid proli.xity by suppressing all my Though neither my assistant nor my- first observations on the im|)regnation ol the queen and passing directly to tlie experiments self has witnessed the commerce of that prove she carried away the genital organs a queen and a drone, we think that but on such observations whicli are both new and dflic.ite, and where it Is .so easy to be de- after the detail which has been just ceived, I ronsider tliat a candid avowal of my the fact errors is doing tlie reader service. This is an commenced, no doubt of additional jiroof to so many others, of ab- can remain, nor can its necessity to solute necessity tliat an observer slionld repeat all liis experiments a thousand times to effect impregnation be disputed. obtain tlie certainty (of seeing facts as they reallv exist. \To be confi?wed.'] 230 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

EXPERIMENTAL about as much danger as the un- BEE FARM NOTES. sealed honey, in case it should sour and daub the bees. In May we had seventy colonies In case the weather continues of bees ; some of them were in bad warm, but little unsealed honey will condition owing to the cold and be found in the combs by the middle backward spring. We have reared of October. and shipped not far from 1500 queens of all races, also a large number of Cell-building was discontinued be- I-, 2- and 3 -frame nuclei, beside the fore the last of August, but we had full colonies. a large number of cells to " hatch" We also made up and run 315 during the early part of September. nuclei during the season, and now Here in New England it will have sixty strong colonies of bees of hardly do to rear queens (start cells) the finest Cyprians, Syrians and in September. Generally the weather

Italians to be found in the country. is very fine during the month and Of all the queens shipped, but a no trouble is experienced in getting small number have died in the mail, the young queens mated. At this and only three have been reported season of the year very few drones impure. can be found in the hives except in Nearly all of our customers have those in which drone-rearing has expressed themselves as entirely sat- been encouraged, or in such queen- isfied with the purity and quality of less nuclei as are used for our the queens and bees sent them. supply of late drones, and the queen "breeder" is pretty sure to have his From Aug. 24th to Sept. loth the queens purely mated. Those who weather was very unfavorable for purchase queens fertihzed in Sep- bees, especially for queen-rearing. tember will be most likely to get It was cold, cloudy, and the temper- pure queens for breeding purposes, ature fell to nearly the "frost point" and should by all means purchase almost every night up to Sept. 10, them during the above month. The though we had no frost to kill the fall latter part of September is certainly flowers, and the bees are still gather- the best time, for many reasons, to ing honey. introduce valuable queens. Just as we had made preparations for feeding our entire apiary a warm We are now preparing our bees for wave set in and but Httle feeding was winter. All upward ventilation is necessary. checked, and no draughts of air will The only danger to be feared from be permitted to pass through the this late flow of honey is a change cluster. to cold again, as much of the newly Some of the colonies will be gathered honey is unsealed, and con- placed in the cellar about the first tinued cool weather would drive the of December or sooner, if old Prob. bees from the outer combs and the predicts a cold wave for New Eng- honey unsealed would remain so land about that time. Last fall the and would sour, run out of the bees were put in the bee-house about combs and daub the bees. the 27th of November and during Of course the colony in such a the next six weeks the weather was as condition would perish. We hardly fine and warm as in October, with think that by extracting the un- the exception of one cold day, and sealed honey it would be of much ben- we wished many times they were on efit, as the disturbance to the bees the summer stands. so late in the season would result in The bees wintered finely, but THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 231

would have been in much better month earlier, the bees would have condition in the spring, if they had had about four weeks of fine weather

been left on the summer stands, at • to work upon it. least six weeks longer. "As one extreme follows another," During the past season we have I predict that the weather will be reared Syrian queens from homebred cold during the early part of the and imported mothers. The results winter, and warm during the latter as regards size and markings are pre- part, which would be the reverse from cisely the same. We have found what it was last winter. that young Syrian queens are much smaller and darker than the other The colonies should be prepared races. In fact, all Syrian queens for winter early in October, whether reared from imported mothers have they are to be wintered in the cellar, striped, yellow and black bands. yellow rings are bright, bee-house or on the summer stands ; The very and a certain amount of preparation is the dark ones very black. The

necessary and it should be attended worker bees of this race are not so to early, so that the bees need not uniformly marked as the Italians. be disturbed when they have once Many of the bees show but one

formed the winter cluster. narrow, yellow band ; nevertheless We have wintered bees in tene- the young queens are very uniformly ment hives and may use some of marked, all striped, and not a clear them the coming winter. If pos- black one is produced. An Italian sible, we will explain this hive in this queen, whose workers would be as

number with directions for using it. poorly marked as Syrian workers, would produce nearly all black Early in July we sowed several queens. This clearly indicates that acres of buckwheat for the bees. the Syrian bees are a distinct race, Our experience with this article was while the Italians are not. We have rather limited, but we saw in the no race of bees that seem so strong Am. Bee Journal at the time we on the wing as the Syrians. sowed it, " July is the time to sow We consider the Syrians the most buckwheat;" so we ploughed rather hardy of the new races. Many of more than three acres of land and our customers have called for Ital- had that number of acres of buck- ians crossed or mated to the Syrians. wheat in full bloom for over six They are the most desirable hybrids weeks. It may do to sow buck- we have. wheat about the tenth of July in some sections, but here in New England we have learned by this year's experience that it should be CANADIAN DEPARTMENT. sown as early as June 15, possibly by June 10 to be of any benefit to our bees. K. H. HoLTERJiAX, Editor. About the tenth of July the honey flow ceased, and that is just when The season has varied very much the buckwheat should have been in different parts of Canada. Along coming into bloom. Just as it did the shores of Lake Erie we have the into come bloom, cool nights came best reports ; one lady (where about on, and, although we had three full fifty colonies are kept in the imme- acres all white with flowers, the bees diate vicinity) reports three increased were not in the least benefited by to eight, 750 lbs. extracted and 50 it. Had the seed been put in one lbs. comb honey, the remaining more 232 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. than doubled and procured over loo eleven and twelve and one-half cents. lbs. per colony. Another, having two The honey crop this year is little, hundred colonies, reports season not if any, larger than the season of 1884 up to the average. In fact bees were and the demand greater. Supply weak in the spring and unless they dealers have done a poor business received special attention, colonies generally ; the mortality being so great were not in good condition to take that very little has been sold in such advantage of clover ; basswood, al- lines as hives, honey extractors, honey though it promised well, was rich in knives and brood foundation ; the bloom, appeared to die off and in demand was fair for sections, section most localities bees only worked one foundation, honey cans and labels. or two days upon it ; thistle only With bees there has been a great yielded fairly. Regarding fall flowers tendency to increase and should the so far our own experience is brighter winter prove favorable and an ordi- than it has been for the last four years. nary amount of care be exercised in It has been impossible to remove top preparing, packing and storing away stories except one or two ; some for winter, the lobS of the previous have half stories others whole upper winter should be fully made up. stories, all extracted immediately be- The bees have done well on fall fore fall flowers came in and now full flowers and have not yet finished in of honey, brood and bees. There is some localities. Yesterday (Septem- litde present demand for wax, nice ber 28), I left a friend's apiary while white, A I extracted honey sold for his bees were gathering actively on a short time in localities for nine golden rod and aster. They had cents per pound. It is safe to say gained several pounds per colony the supply of honey is not greater since the i8th inst. ; and upon enter- than the previous year, whilst the de- ing the yard the night before, we mand steadily increases. could hear that contented hum which Our leading fairs and exhibitions spoke well of their success during the have closed and we have had the day. pleasure of interviewing many of our The London Fair had a fine dis- most prominent beekeepers. The play of honey as to quantity (little reports for the season are conflicting behind Toronto), but the quality was and run from 250 lbs. per colony generally inferior. Toronto was fair down to 50 lbs. The locality may as to both and took the lead as to have something to do with this, but quantity. Hamilton, however, had much depends upon the condition the finest display as to quality that it bees were in when the honey season has ever been our fortune to set eyes commenced. Year by year it be- upon ; for texture it could not be ex- comes more evident that much of the celled, color was very fine, flavor diflerence in reports of yields are due hardly up to the two other properties to the vast difference there is in the but very good. strength of our colonies, especially The Ontario Beekeepers' Conven- such a season as the past. tion could hardly be regarded as a The average yield, among men success this year. The meetings were with a full comprehension of their announced far too late for the first business, was between eighty and week of the Toronto Industrial Ex- ninety pounds of extracted honey hibition ; it had always been the sec- and seventy-five per cent increase ond and many would not come in per colony. Extracted honey may until then ; meetings were finally be bought from men anxious to sell, called the second week also, and thus, at eight to ten cents, and little doubt in a measure, all were a failure. that by Christmas it will be up to Brantford, Out. ;

THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 233

CORRESPONDENCE. kept constantly busy answering questions from the steady stream of visi- visit to the new england fair. tors which crowded around the apiarian department. Mr. Editor : Mr. Norton certainly deserves the Having just returned from a thanks of the beekeepers of New visit to tlie New England fair, and England for the successful display Eastern Maine State Fair at Bangor, made by him, in the face of the fact Me., I tliought I would write you a that there were no premiums to be short letter on what I saw at the N. awarded. E. fair. conversation with him, he in- Owing to the fact that there were In the season had been no premiums offered for exhibition formed me that of bees or honey, the show of apia- a very good one in his locality, and rian exhibits was somewhat limited, in answer to our question, Which do you consider the best race of bees, but what it lacked in quantity it ex- all things considered? he repHed celled in quality. The first thing which met the eye of the visitor upon promptly, I think the Holy Lands entering the hall was the large and are decidedly the best, and when varied display of Mr. W. H. Norton of their good qualities are more fully No. Madison, Me. In a prominent understood by the people, they will place, where their movements could at once take the front rank as honey be readily observed by the delighted producers. Adjoining the collection large and visitors, were shown two full colonies of Mr. N., was shown a splendid pyramid of comb honey, of bees in observatory hives : one colony of finely marked Italians, and which was produced by Mr. W. M. one of Holy Land or Syrian bees. Chapman of Dixmont Centre, Me., Near by was shown a large honey whose snowy combs called forth extractor containing combs, showing tokens of admiration from all observ- the manner of extracting honey, and ers. judging from the number of questions Mr. C. bespoke for his brother api- with which Mr. N. was assailed, was arists a much larger collection of " something entirely new to most of "bee fixings at the coming Maine the people present. State fair at Lewiston, as liberal pre- Mr. Norton also had on exhibi- miums were to be offered there, tion the different styles of hives with thereby encouraging people to do their best toward educating and in- both crosswise and lengthwise frames ; the various kinds of surplus cases teresting the masses in the science fast honey in all kinds of marketable of beekeeping, which is becoming one of the recognized industries styles ; boxes containing combs in all the chfferent stages of construction of the United States. and to add to these, the indispensa- Luther E. Burnham. ble smoker, a new and fine founda- Essex, Mass., Sept. g, 1883.

tion mill (Pelham make) ; beautiful foundation both heavy and light exposition. nice section cartoons or paper boxes ST. JOSEPH (Mo.) for retailing comb honey, and, in fact, The St. Joseph Exposition for nearly every thing appertaining to 1885 was a grand success. We had modern bee culture, and you have the largest and finest display in the an idea of the fine display made by Bee Department we have ever had. Mr. N. The Board gave us all the space we Mr. Norton, although a young wanted, and everyone had a chance man, is evidently an enthusiast on to display his goods to the best ad- the subject of apiculture, and was vantage. Too much cannot be said

21 ;

234 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. in praise of the ofificers of the Expo- notes from austr.4lia. sition for the Hberal treatment which My dear Mr. Locke : have received at their bee men By the Californian mail which ar- hands. rived yesterday, I received a pleasant in premiums was of- About ^300 surprise in the shape of a beautifully this department, and the Hst fered in bound copy of the "American Api- was well represented. culturist," Volumes i and 2. I have of Jerseyville, 111., Mr. Armstrong noticed Mr. Cutting's remarks in ref- first premium on best colony of took erence to the excellence of the Itahan bees, comb honey, wax, his binding and can fully endorse all crown hive, and a number of other he says. It so happened that things. the monthly meeting of our Bee- Apiary carried off The St. Joseph keepers' Association was held last the first premium on extracted honey, night, and I was able to lay the vol- case for display of honey on sale ume on the table for inspection by Cyprian Carniolan bees, Syrian, and the members, who were much pleased and several small premiums. with it. They tried to convince me Newman's Extractor took the Mr. that you intended the book for the first over a "Novice." The Berlin use of the Association. I am now got first on Sections. Fruit Box Co. under a debt of gratitude to you, Mr. Muth got first on his " Perfec- which I will endeavor to pay, by get- " in competition with tion Smoker ting new subscribers to the "Ameri- one that has been before the public can Apiculturist." This is all the for some time. The " Glass Front" more easy since yours is certainly Veil no trouble in winning Bee had the best of the bee papers. the first premium. Mr. Alley's I have also received two copies of honored with a di- Drone Trap was the "Beekeepers' Pocket Compan- ploma. ion," and have started circulating were two large displays of There them among the members of our literature, which Mr. apicultural on Association. Parker was awarded first, and the Our short winter of three months St. Joseph Apiary second premium. is over : — almond trees, which are superintendent of the depart- The planted largely around Adelaide, are large photograph of ment had a white with blossoms presenting a Langstroth framed, and set up in a beautiful appearance and offering conspicuous place, accompanied by good forage for bees. The honey a slip of paper on which was written, season has therefore started. " Rev. L. L. Langstroth, inventor of Wishing you success in your new the movable frame hive." Many business, and trusting that the " Api- stopped to look at his genial face, culturist" will long continue to flour- and, we trust, went away with the ish, believe me impression that in a certain sense, he Yours truly, might be called a benefactor of his A, E. BONNEY. race. We hope that next year your read- Engineer-in- Chiefs Office, ers will remember the St. Joseph Ex- Adelaide, Aug. 7, 1885. position and come with their bees, honey, etc., and help to swell our display. We are confident that they NOTES AND QUERIES. will not regret it if they do. honey E. T. Abbott. —The crop of California will not be over one quarter of that St, Joseph, Mo., Sept. 8, i88s. of 1884. THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 235

lioney —The crop of Vermont for — Mr. J. E. Pond, jr., who has so 1885 is considerably above the aver- kindly agreed to take charge of the age for that state and of a finer qual- department entitled "Instructions to ity than common. One apiarist has Beginners," has been compelled by raised 22 tons. circumstances beyond his control, to defer his introductory article until —More honey is raised in Aroos- November. We are certain that our took Co., Ivlaine, than all the New readers, with us, are anxiously wait- England States together save the ing to hear from him, and are more state of Vermont. than ready to welcome any instruc- —Not far from 5000 queen bees tions that may be given. are reared and shipped from the state of Mass. each year. While Vermont —While in Boston a few days and Maine are noted for their fine since, we had a chat with a prominent honey, Mass. beekeepers have the dealer in honey. His supply comes credit of rearing the finest queens mostly from Vermont, and is in the world. mainly stored in two pound sections. He says the day for such large —There is not a township in the packages will soon be "gone by," as United States that does not furnish the small dealers or grocery m&n sufficient flora to support from one demand one pound sections, and to one hundred colonies of bees. the day we saw the dealer, he could have sold one-half ton of honey, had —Of the animals most detested it been in one pound packages. Bee- and most likely to be attacked by keepers, he says, must adopt the bees are the horse and dog. Cows smaller sections and take a lower and oxen are seldom injured by bees. price for their honey. [Our readers Sheep are sometimes attacked, but will understand that this dealer refers this is not the case unless they are to the New England honey market.] confined very near an apiary.

—Now is the time to make all prep- —We would invite all practical arations for wintering bees. Get them beekeepers to send us short articles packed so that they need not be dis- relating to bee culture. Remember turbed when the weather is too cool that short articles are the ones that for bees to fly. We need not give always receive attention. Short, any special directions here for win- pithy, and interesting articles are al- tering bees, as they have been given ways welcome. Of course there are in tlie journals many times and are questions which require many words, found in all treatises upon bees. All and a short article would hardly do should understand them by this time them justice ; nevertheless, they are and act accordingly. If your colo- the ones that produce the best effect, nies are supplied with plenty of and are the most satisfying to the wholesome food, and properly packed general reader. for winter there will be no loss of bees. —Honey is said to be a luxury. The careless beekeeper will cer- If so, it is one of the most whole- tainly have reason to complain that some and cheapest luxuries offered his bees die in winter, or that they for sale. When pure honey can be do not do well. Such a person will purchased at from 12 to 15 cents per not prepare his colonies properly nor pound, it certainly cannot be consid- at the right time for winter. The ered dear. If more honey and less result is loss of many bees during oleomargarine were eaten, the health winter. of the people would be better. 236 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

—Will those of our patrons who —We regret to announce to the have purchased queens from the readers of the " Apiculturist " that Apiculturist Bee Farm, and intro- Mr. Locke is suffering with tempo- duced them successfully, give us their rary indisposition, caused by over-

method for doing so, in as few words work ; but we hope that he will soon as possible for publication in the be able to resume his editorial duties. Apiculturist? The friends of the "Api," who have so kindly favored us with arti- —We notice that some grocerymen cles for its columns, are requested to deal in the so-called "pure" honey continue the same, all of which will put up in tumblers. The only pure be duly appreciated and acknowl- honey about it may be found in the edged. small piece of comb, placed in each The following list of Premiums, package. Another way people are — awarded at Iowa State fair, was sent swindled is by the sale of the "pure to us by Mr. Wm. Kimble. fruit jellies," put up in such packages as is the vile stuff called honey. INIessrs. B. Menbencher & Ayers, These various jellies do not contain premium. one particle of fruit. In fact, every- On comb honey, thifig in their composition is artiiicial White clover, first premium, 5.00 and sooner or later will destroy the On extracted honey. health of those use them. who White clover, first p., 5.00 Goods of the above kind are bought On best display of extracted for sick people, and by others who honey, first p., 25.00 cannot afford to purchase honey in On beeswax, first, 5.00 larger quantities. Is it not about time dealers discontinued the prac- A. J. Norris premium. tice of imposing upon and defrauding On Itahan bees, second p., 2.00 their customers, by such methods ? On Cyprian bees, first p., 5.00

It is very hard to convince people On Holyland bees, second p., 2.00 that they are being defrauded by On Black German, first p., 5.00 purchasing such goods. On best and largest display of different races of bees, first 20.00 —Now is the time weak colonies p., should be united. The best and On largest number of queen cells on one frame, first safest method for uniting bees is as p., 5.00 On extracted honey. follows : Remove the queens from the colonies to be united. Confine White clover, second p., 2.00 the bees in the hives three days, use On extracted honey. wire cloth so as to give plenty of ven- Fall flowers, first p., 5.00 largest tilation. Keep the hives in a cool, On best and display of dark place. At the end of three comb honey, second p., 10.00 days, and just before sunset, brush On beeswax, second p., 2.00 all the bees from the combs of one Pumphrey Bros., Premium. of the hives in front of the other, On comb honey, white clover, and as they run in, let the best queen, second p., 2.00 of the two removed, go in with them. On display of comb honey, sec- If the bees are fed a small amount ond p., 10.00 of syrup flavored with the essence of peppermint, or given a little tobacco Wm. Kimble, Premium. smoke the day they are united, the Best Italian bees, first p., 5.00 operation will be a success beyond On Cyprian bees, second p., 2.00 doubt. On Holyland bees, first p., 5.00 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST, 237

On Black German bees, sec- ANSWERS BY J. E. POND, JR. 1. This question is a curious sort ond p., 2.00 of conundrum, and any answer would be On best and largest display of problematical to say the least. I don't bees, sec- different races of know that any positive tests have been ond p., lO.OO made of any one with a view to deter- On comb honey, fall flowers, mining the matter, and I am sure that it would be very difficult, if not posi- first p., 5.00 tively impossible to make such tests. On best and largest display In the matter of beekeeping, it is desi- of comb honey, first p., 25.00 rous to "prove all things, and hold " On largest number of queen fast to that which is good ; how this old saying applies to cells on one frame,second p., 2.00 the question at issue, I can't precisely see. It requires from lifteen to twenty pounds of honey to make one pound of comb QUESTIONS AND ANS WEBS. is, I think, the admitted idea of beekeepers generally, and tliat it is economy to Friknd Lockk : use foundation is also generally ad- I would like to get all there is to mitted ; further than this all answers know ou "Feeding back Extracted must be wholly theoretical, and how Honey." Can you not get some who proofs can be had by tests is some- best knows to write an article cover- thing I can't just see. After all, how- ing all the ground as to whether it ever, of what value would a correct will pay, and the relative merits of answer be to the fraternity? The only top, side and bottom feeders, and question of importance is to my mind, whether it is best to feed in midsum- wliether the use of foundation is econ- during the honey dearth, late mer or omical at present prices or not? and in the fall months? I saw in an old that is, the testimony we have is cer- Beekeepers' Exchange reference to tainly strong in that direction. an article by Nellis on the subject. 2. In my own experience granulated If it is good, and up with the times, sugar at the same price as honey is the will you reproduce it? cheaper ; that is to say, that one lb. of Samuel Cushman. sugar will be converted into more Pawtudcet, B. I. comb, than one lb. of honey. 0. I have made inquiries sufficient to QUESTIONS BY SAMUEL CUSHMAN. enable me to answer fully, but my im- 1. In a given amount of comb liouey pression is, that they are not. For made without foundation, what is the myself, I can only say, that I have not proportion of wax and honey? found tliem so parlicularly advanta- 2. Which is the more profitable to geous as at fust I thought they would feed for comb building, granulated prove. This is one of those matters sugar or thick extracted honey at the that sound big in theory, but pan out same price? rather light in practice. 3. Are practical producers generally 4. I think the majority so agree. using tlie reversible frame ? Some think difierently. In fact, friend 4. Is it notgenerally accepted by all, Doolittle takes the ground that it is that full sheets of foundation in sec- economy not to use foundation at all. tions are the correct thing? that it As f(»r myself, I should use it at a profit pays better than starters or V-shaped if Ipaid 1.00 per lb. for it. sheets ? 5. I do not think it is, neither do I 5. Is the plan of feeding (when honey think it practical. It would require, is scarce), to build out foundation in however, a large amount of corres- sections for another season, generally pondence to ascertain the facts, and followed by experienced and extensive the answers to this question may de- beekeepers. termine the matter. I trust that inter- 6. In feeding candied honey will it est enough in this matter will be taken be best to liquefy it? For spring stim- to give data sufficient to prove it one ulation would not candied honey be way or the other. better than dry sugar which is advo- 6. 1. Yes. certainly. 2. For stimu- cated for inside feeding? lation I should feed liquefied honey 7. Who are the largest producers of diluted, and should dilute candied comb honey, also of extracted honey? honey, in order to give the water re- Their names, according to relative quired for raising brood. amount produced, and their addresses ? 7. I don't know. 238 THE AMERICAN APICULTUEIST.

ANSWERS BY E. E. HASTY. sheet" for surplus boxes. Years ago, when we put 1. I am under the impression that boxes on the hives hav- the proporlion of wax to honey varies ing combs in them, made the previous greatly, but liave made few experi- year, we noticed that the bees hesitated a long ments. Two years ago I melted up a time before working in those lot of poor section lioney Cbuilt ou boxes which were full of comb; while narrow starters of foundation) and the those having but a small piece in the box were filled and lot yielded 30 lbs. of honey and U lbs. "work-down" first. of wax. 5. Don't think it is. It would pay well, but is not 2. Do not tliink profitable is the word practised. for forced comb-buildiug. Probably 6. Candied honey will do to feed in the honey would be a little less un- the spring for stimulating and brood profitable. rearing purposes, and it is better than dry 3. Think not. sugar. Bees cannot use the latter 4. Quite a few dissent, I think, my- unless water is supplied at same time. self among them. I might perhaps 7. I think we shall have to read the l)ack agree if in a different location. numbers of the bee journals before 5. Think not. we can make a correct reply to this 6. Liquefy candied honey if for stim- question. ulating purposes ; but leave it solid Wenham, Mass. if preventing starvation is the only ANSWEKS BY L. C. ROOT. object. It will be better than dry sugar. Very weak or torpid bees must 1. About one lb. of wax and fifty not be trusted with solid stores. lbs. of liouey. 7. Am not posted as to the amounts 2. Honey. I would be glad if sugar produced by the largest apiarists. had never been mentioned in connection with bees in any way. Bichards, 0. Many people look upon us with sus- ANSWEUS BY A. J. COOK. picion if we use it in any way. 3. No. 1. The amount of wax is slight and 4. Yes, especially if honey is to be varies with the depth of cell. Some- shipped long distances, and sold in times nearly double as much honey is markets wliere the appearance is a put into a cell that will be put in at an- prime condition. other time. For home use I would say use no 2. I think the granulated sugar would foundation at all. pay the best, as it has less water than 6. No. the honey. 6. I would liquefy both sugar and 3. Not yet; the frame is new and lionej', and consider it far preferable. new things, even when good, come into 7. J. K. and J. Hetherington of use slowly. It is a good thing and Cherry Valley, N. Y., are the"" largest must grow rapidly in favor. })roducers of fine comb honey in best 4. I can not answer; but know one market sliape in the world. 1 think I who thinks so. am correct in this statement. I am 5. I think not. not certain who is the largest producer 6. I should never feed either sugar of extracted. or honey in the crystallized state. 7. I presume Mr. Muth could give a MohawJc, X. Y. good answer to this question. Lansing, Mich. ANSWEHS BY G. W. DEMAREE. 1. It is a difficult matter to answer ANSWEKS BY' H. ALLEY. this question accurately, because bees

1. It is said that it requires twenty build their combs thicker and heavier lbs. of htiney to produce one pound of at one time than they do at another, wax. I think this may be correct. and for this cause any experiments we But who can tell without guessing? may make are liable to vary in results. 2. Neither sugar nor honey is profi- From the tests I have made I would table to feed for any' such purpose. say that the proportion of wax and The experienced beekeeper never honey, as to weight, is one pound of the gives thick honey to his bees. Itslioukl former to fourteen of the latter. be diluted with water, so tiiat the bees 2. Honey gives the best results. so, can "work" it. 3. No, sir, not "generally" by a 3. We guess not. great deal. 4. So far as my experience goes the 4. It is not accepted by all honey V-shaped starter is better than a "full producers that full sheets of fouuda- THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 239 tions in sections is the correct way, the largest amount of syrup possible but a large majority of the most suc- capped over in the least possible time, cessful honey producers believe and it should be fed as rapidly as the bees know that it pays to use full sheets in can take it down and store it. If the the sections. feeding is being done for stimulation 5. I think not, for the reason that it it should be fed regularly but slowly. will never pay to feed solely to induce comb building, for any purpose Every attempt that I have made to have foundation drawn out by feediu"- solely for that purpose, has resulted in loss to LETTER BOX. me. Dun Glen Apiary, 6. When feeding granulated honey ChiUicothe, Boss Co., Oliio. for winter stores,! "cut" it with hot water, reducing it to the consistency My dear Apiculturist: of thin new honey. When feeding in We in this section have again the spring I prefer granulated honey made a failure in our honey crop. No just as it is to any other food. white clover. Apple bloom short. 7. If I were to undertake to answer Locust bloom shortened four days. this question I should miss some of the Catnip and sweet clover our only bloom largest producers and tliey would feel through the entire summer. Then slighted. Please have me excused. rain, rain, rain, and cool nights and bad days. Just enough honey flow to Christianshurg , Ky. keep up a moderate quantit.v of brood. questions by a beekekpeu. Blacks have done badly ; Italians a lit-

Ed. Am. Apiculturist : tle better; Syrians better still. If we Dear Sir, do not have a good flow of honey this Will you please answer the follow- fall, many colonies will perish. Much ing, as many are advising to extract- feeding will have to be done to bring ing honey in fall and replace with through the winter. sugar syrup. F. W. Blackford. 1. What proportion of the sugar is lost in capping, or how many pounds Lake Village, Ark. of sugar will be required to produce Dear Sir: ten pounds of capped stores? Received queens Sept. 2, all O. K. 2. How long will it take to cap same, Introduced them successfully, and they and should the syrup be fed as fast as are laying now, Sept. 5. I am very possible, or a small portion, | or ^ at much pleased with ihe queens as well a time? as the cages, which I think are supe- By answering, you will oblige rior to any I have yet seen. You will A Beekeeper. hear from me again. Very ti'uly yours, Fowler, Ohiq, July 29, 1885, H. Ramus. AXSWERS by J. E. POND, JR. Vernon, N. Sept. 1885. 1. This question is one of those in- Mt. Y., 4, determniate and indeterminable prob- Silas M. Locke & Co.

lems that are constantly arising in Gentle:\iex : every-day practice. It would require Tiie goods came safely the day after very nice and accurate tests to solve I wrote you concerning them and I the question, if solvable at all. Again, thought i acknowledged receipt of the conditions are so constantly chang- them. I am much pleased Avith the ing, and so seldom alike in difl'erent new edition of Alley's Handy Book and hives, that an apparent solution in one the bound volume of the Apiculcurisc instance would be " teetotally " dis- is something that I think every bee- proved in another. I would be willing keeper should have. I started to se- to pay a handsome sum myself, for a lect some of the most interesting arti- positively correct answer that would cles but they are all so interesting and apply with certainty to every case. useful that I g^ve it up and intend to 2. The first part of this question is read right through from the beginning problematical also, and the time would to end. There certainly is more use- vary in every instance, owing to the ful information in the two books than fact that no two colonies are ever found I have ever received for so small a existing und^r and in the same condi- sum. tions. To the second part, I will say Very truly, most positively, if the object is to get Philip H. Lucas. 240 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

S. M. Locke & Co. : ingly the old queen to be black, and the new queen of their race. I niij:ht report my experience in bee- I had given a favorable report of the keeping-. other queen received of you, true so I bought June 2(i, 1885, four colonies far as it went, but disastrous in the of blacirbees in old box liives, and on end. This old black queen I had July 11.^10 very light colony of Ital- looked for in vain during one whole ians in ^^jvable comb hive 12 X 12. afternoon (yoti see what a novice I am) When transferring, I got 100 lbs. of and in order to keep queen safe and strained honey, after which 75 lbs. of my happy, I put her in the small fertilizing surplus section comb houey from three hive, with young bees, brood and colonies (no surplus has been taken honey, confining them two or three this year in this section of any ac- days; this hive I placed in an open count). window in the second story, but on I now have nine fidl colonies, five going to them one morning, found the more 4-frame nuclei (2 bees* and whole hive in possession of large brood and 2 honey) with young laying black ants. I saw one ant the evening queens, three with virgin queens and before ; so you see it was the work of four more with queens not hatched, one night. making in all 21. I am thankful for the very plain and The 12 4-frame nucleus, I put three valuable directions given with the last in one hive (three five frame depart- queen, as I shall now know how to ments). keep queens in future, safely. I was I am the greenest of beginners, as I ashamed to report this before it seemed never handled a bee in my life, and had so careless. never read anything of their manage- Respectfully yours, ment until this last spring. If I come out alive next spring, I S. E. Wiley. want to Italianize all my bees and had intended to try the cross with the Holy Wadestoimi, W. Va., Aug. 22, 1S85. Laud queen I had from you. Mk. S. M. Lockk. Respectfully, Deaii Sir : The honey season is over I. S. HUCKINS. here and one of the poorest that was ever known in this section of country. Bees almost failed to swarm and those Poitghkecpsie, Sept. 10, 1885. that did secure a few swarms failed to to S. M. Locke & Co. : store enough honey winter them. season has been so dry the white The Syrian queen arrived safely, The clover almost failed to bloom and it is on the 8th, I am well pleased with her. our principal honey plant here. I I placed her over the frames as di- shall renew my subscription and se- rected, with a small colony of black cure one of your queens the first of bees, whose queen isabout three years next month. old. I went out to take in the hive to C. L. Eakin. find the old queen, and found them in a high state of excitement, and a crowd of iloly Land bees at the entrance. Pottstown, Sept. 14, 1885, I returned in half Being called away, Messrs. S. M. Locke & Co. : an hour, and found the old queen dead Sent you a postal on the 12th inst. in on the ground before the hive. the morning, and at noon I received a This was quite surprising to me, as queen which had been already safely I did not know that bees would kill introduced, ^i'he other queen I got their own queen to make room for a could do no better. I have got queens stranger, and one also of another race. from difierent breeders, but none to I took out the caged queen and found compare with yours. them feeding her, but fixed the cage Wm. H. DeWitt. as directed with sugar in the opening, and they are now happy and peaceful. Baltimore, July 2, 1885. I am very grateful to the bees for giving her the " happy despatch," for she Erienu Locke : Your beautiful book Vols. I and isone that I have looked for twice in II received and contents noted. It is vain. I thought it remarkable the bees handsomely bound and I have no in the entrance of the hive were all very hesitancy in pronouncing it fully up to Holy Land bees, as I have but few published, workers of that race. They seemed any bee journal Winsixgek, very much interested ; knowing seem- H, The American Apiciilturist

§. lournal ^tbaitb to Scientific anb Uractital geekteping.

ENTERED AT THE POST-OFFICE, SALEM, AS SECOND-CLASS SLiTTER.

Published Monthly, S. M. Locke & Co., Publishers & Prop'rs.

VOL. III. WENHAM, MASS., NOVEMBER 15, 1885. No. II.

SUBSCRIPTION PRICES. to me, the queens have laid later than in advance. Sent $1.00 per year, payalile usual and hence the supply of young on trial three montlis lor 35 ct.<., six mouths for 60 cts. bees will add to the colonies the chances Advertising Hates :— 15 cents per line of of a longer lease of life. I space each insertion. am not much in favor of late breed- A line of this type will admit about' words ing ; at any rate I shall have the op- One inch will contain twelve lines. portunity to test the matter pretty Transient Advertisements must be paid for thoroughly this winter. in advance. Our convention was Those wisliing special rates will please honored with conesi)Ond with the Editor. the presence of the father of modern

M^hen sending money make all postal notes apiculture. Rev. L, L. Langstroth, and money orders payable at the Salem, Mr, Langstroth is seventy-fi\-e years Mass., Post Office. old and when in ordinary health, All communications should be addressed to S. M. Locke & Co., Wenham, Mass. possessed a strong and vigorous mind and still takes a deep interest in bees, B££: CULTURE IN THE hives and implements used in the SOUTH. apiary. His address to the convention, explaining the steps which led to his invention of the movable frame, By G. W. Demaree, was exceedingly interesting to all persons present, Mr. Langstroth Judging from the enthusiasm of took an active part in the discussion Kentucky beekeepers, as exhibited of all important subjects before the at our state convention at Covington, convention. Ky., the on twenty-third and twenty- The display of honey and apicul- fourth days of Sept., 1885, it will tural implements was very fine. Some take more than one bad season to finely bred bees were shown in ob- effect the enterprise in our State, servatory hives, also some imported Information gathered from nearly Italian bees and queens. A number every part of the state shows that the of new devices and implements on season was unfavorable all over the exhibition were objects of great in- state, and but a light crop of surplus terest. An examination of these honey was secured. Bees, however, would convince any one that Ken- are in good condition for wintering tucky beekeepers are fully abreast as far as the bees themselves are con- with the times. cerned. For some cause not clear Mr, Chas. F. Muth, in whom we ' 22 (241) 242 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

claim an interest, though he resides The great supply business of mod- across the hne in the Queen City, ern apiarian fixtures has been greatly

aided the convention not a Httle by augmented by throwing out false in- his presence and experience, as well ducements which have no regard for as by his display of honey extractors, the locality of their customers. Such wax extractors, smokers, honey, glass an indiscriminate promise of success jars, etc., etc. must of necessity provide a column All together the convention was of " blasted hopes " for the wail of pleasant and profitable. It was gen- the unsuccessful.

erally conceded that it would require Nothing is more evident, and at

considerable feeding to get all our the same time more astonishing, than bees safely through the coming the great difference between the winter. honey yields of different localities.

Bees have gathered but very little Not only states differ, but neighboring honey during the fall months. The parts of the same state differ. One chief cause of failure in summer and man reports, " I never have had a fall seems to have been unfavorable greater harvest;" and another man weather for honey secretion; north but a few miles distant from him re- and east winds mean no honey with ports, " My bees have done scarcely us. When the flowers were dried up anything." My interest in bees was the weather was good, and when the originally kindled by the pleasant fic- flowers were plentiful, the weather was tions of Mrs. Lizzie Cotton's circular, rough. though I did not fall into her clutches.

I soon learned by experience that Christianshirg, Ky. exaggerated hopes founded on such misrepresentations could not be re-

alized. Different localities need entirely different management according to climate and favoring surround- LOCALITY TO BE CONSID- ings. The debated question whether ERED IN THE MANA CE- black bees or Italians are better de- MENT OF BEES. pends somewhat, I think, on the locality and peculiarities of the apiary. By D. D. Marsh. My hives stand on the only land I have at my disposal, a low and damp All writings upon beekeeping soil in a hollow surrounded by shady should have in mind the difference trees and buildings. I have found between the various localities of our thus far, during eight years, that land ; and the novice, fired with en- black bees have made comb honey thusiasm at the reports he reads from far better than Italians. some great honey locality, might as After buying bees of farmers and well understand at the outset that Italianizing them with high hopes of

what is done in one place cannot the yellow beauties, I have gone back always be done in another. again to black bees because, with the ;

THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 243

same treatment, they have made they invariably alight high and dry

nearly all my comb honey. I cannot in the air, and select as their home but think that, had I a dryer and the hollow of a tree away from the

more favorable position for my hives, ground's dampness ? I have noticed the Italians would make a better that farmers, who have box-hives showing."^ As I am situated, only bees roaring hot with bees early in spring, which enter boxes readily, and stay have their hives up on a plank two

in them during cool nights, promise feet at least from the ground.

success. I can readily believe the I believe the place for hives on

reports of others in different localities ordinary soils is up away from the

concerning the boxworking tenden- ground. I noticed in Mr. Alley's cies of their Italians. The swarming apiary that his bees were off of the

tendency of bees is largely dependent ground a foot or more. For several

on the position of the apiary. I years I kept my hives on the ground know a man who has his bees in a where ihe damp chill of night would dense thicket of trees and grape vines, settle round them, and under the

where no sun shines in, and the bees shade of trees at that. My premises have hard work to find a path out. being limited, that seemed the only He gets hardly any new swarms, place where I could have them. A

while if he would set his hives out in neighbor of mine had his hives on a the sun in a dry and warm place, he dry knoll, just such a place as a man would have new swarms enough. would choose on which to erect a tent, The raising of the hives from the sunny and airy. He beat me right ground has a great deal to do, I along every year in section honey; think, with success in getting comb sometimes he would get twenty-five honey. Most of the bee-books direct pounds a hive when mine would that the hive be placed directly on make scarcely any. A year ago I built the ground or on narrow strips a few a wooden horse about four feet high, inches from the ground. in a sunny and airy spot of my yard

A captivating authority on bees and in the dryest part of it, and put advises that sawdust be banked about my hives on it. They wintered well the hive ; a moisture-holding and there and came out strong this spring damp material when placed on damp in double-wall hives with chaff cush- soil. A friend of mine sent for his ions. This season I took off one first hive of bees, and, following his hundred two-pound sections from the A, B and C literally, placed the hive six hives I had on the high horse flat on the ground near a bog-hole, which was far exceeding anything and under the shade of a too Iriendly I had been able to do before tree. Is there any evidence that for, in addition to the disadvantages bees were designed to be ground under which I had labored, our insects? Where do they make their pasturage hereabouts is not a very home in their wild state, in holes in rich one. My experience has con- the ground or in high trees ? Do not vinced me that hives run for comb bees know what they are about when honey should be raised away from 244 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

the damp ground, though my hives What can the trouble be ? I am not run for extracted honey are only a sure, but I incline to the opinion that foot from the ground and have done it is a case of chilling. We have had well. If an apiary is on very dry a remarkable year. In mid-summer soil and well elevated, hives may do the season was excellent ; honey came well enough set on the ground ; but in by the gallon. The bees bred very even then I should prefer to have fast, and so the brood-chamber be- them elevated some. The reason for came very full of brood. The last this elevation is, that bees breed up of August the weather came very earlier in the spring in dry air and, cold ; the cluster of bees must be as they make comb in sections during compacted and so its size reduced. the night, we should keep them above Thus the bees chilled, the brood per- the damp chill of the ground. The ished, and young bees just coming advantages of stimulative feeding in from the cells were so chilled, or so early spring also varies according to pinched with the cold, that they could locaHty. never straighten out, and so were I am situated ten miles from the cast out as unprofitable servants. In sea, and during early spring the east some cases I have seen young worker wind begins to blow after a sunny brood and nymphs—pupa— thrown forenoon, chilling the bees which out of the hive in heaps. Many who have been tempted out by early feed- complain of the small, black, young ing. My bees have come out the bees, which seem bereft of vitality, strongest in June when I have kept also speak of the heaps of dead larvse. them as quiet as possible during the One young beekeeper supposed he spring. The successful beekeeper had "foul brood" and came in great must study the peculiarities of his haste for me. I found his bees in own locality and adapt the principles admirable condition, yet much brood of this fascinating pursuit to his own and many pupa and young bees were case. piled out in front. Yet the bees were still strong and in good condition. Georgetown, Mass. Lansmg, Mich.

WHY THE BEES DIE. FEEDING BEES AND FEEDERS. By Prof. A. J. Cook.

p. Jl. Russell.

I HAVE many complaints this fall No. I. about bees dying. Several of these dead bees have been sent to me by Mr. Editor : If I could charge different parties. The bees are small, a big gun with all I know about bees and their management, and discharge apparently young, very black ; yet a close examination under the micro- it full in the face of your numerous scope shows no organic disturbance. readers, it would be altogether THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 245

more than they could well assimilate advance and retreat through a garret

at one dose. I imagine I can see window as many times as I did with the knowing ones popping their a cohort of enraged bees after him heads above the parapets and laugh- he would have been a hero indeed.

ing in derision. But hold ! If I All that is changed now and those should charge the gun with what I hybrids have given place to civilized doti't knoiv about bees, I don't Italians, and although we exchange

want to be around when it is fired shots occasionally we for the most

ofif. I should expect it would be part get along very amicably.

blown to flinders and the cannoneers I have had very fair success with carried off in baskets. my bees—especially in wintering But we will let the big gun rest for them.

the present and if you are not afraid Although the amount of surplus

of the smell of gunpowder, I will honey I get is rather small, which I

proceed to touch off a few harmless attribute to poor location, still I doubt

squibs. The commissary depart- if any beekeeper in eastern Massa-

ment first suggests itself to my mind chusetts with an apiary of over twen- (perfectly natural to an old soldier) ty stands can show a much larger

so I announce my subject : Feeding average.

Bees and Bee Feeders. By way of I use the closed end standing

reconnoitre I wish to state that, after frame and prefer it to the hanging I returned from the late civil war, frame, having used both. Now to

being still aggressive, I looked about return from this digression to my

for other foes to conquer ; and soon subject : Feeding Bees and Bee found them under an apple tree in feeders. I have two feeding cam-

the shape of two hives of bees, paigns in the year, spring and fall.

20,000 strong. As they appeared to We will begin with the fall. Having have considerable fight in them I performed all preliminary work of

arranged with their owner to place uniting all nuclei, removing all sur- them on my territory and to give plus boxes, reducing number of them the advantage of position. They brood frames to eight as the maxi- were placed on the flat roof of the mum number, supplying, queens ell where I could make sorties at where needed, etc., then by raising them through the garret window. the rear end of a hive I can tell to a

Instead of the cast-iron guns I had hard-tack just how much each will been using I chose a small tin breech- need to be fed. If they have loader about a foot long, and with twenty-five lbs. of stores, all right ; if armor on I soon began to skirmish not, then feed till they have. I make around those hives,—but I never my feed as follows : I place my tin caught them asleep ; they proved budge barrel (which has a faucet themselves fully worthy of my valor. near the bottom and has been used Indeed, they were perfect little sav- all summer as an uncapping can) on ages. Talk about the hero of Ther- the stove and put therein twenty-five mopylie. If Leonidas had had to lbs. of granulated sugar and five 246 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

well quarts of boiling water ; stir it BEEKEEPING FOR WOMEN.

and when it is clear set it aside. I find it is not necessary to boil it. A By Mrs. Sallie E. Sherman. perfect feeder suitable for use on all occasions has not yet been produced ; Why is it that there are so few but the one I like by far the best for beekeepers among women ? It cer- fall feeding is simply the common tainly cannot be that they are not Mason's improved glass top, one and adapted to the pursuit, for some of two quart jars. our most successful apiarists are wo-

The way I use them is this. Re- men. I am quite sui;e that it is a move the glass cover and in its place much more healthful occupation than put a perforated tin disc which can sewing on the machine or than fol- be found at any tin shop, screw on lowing many other occupations that the zinc collar and it is held firm. many of our sisters follow for a liveli-

Then I want a half inch thick board, hood. I'll tell you that if more of cleated on top to prevent warping, you would join our ranks and get to place over the frames ; a hole is out of the house where you could sawn in the centre large enough to breathe the pure fresh air, you would admit the muzzle of the feeder. Cut be more healthy and add a good a piece of wire cloth five inches many more dimes to your meagre square, mould it into the shape of a income, to say nothing of having straw hat. This must just fit into pure honey upon your own tables of the hole and lack one-eighth inch of your own raising the whole year being flush with" the under side of round. You would not then have to the board, and a few tacks through consider it a luxury too dear to have the brim will hold it fast. This wire only occasionally at long intervals. cloth answers the double purpose of Just think of the thousands, yea, supporting the feeder and keeping millions of flowers that annually the bees below when refilling. After " waste their sweetness on the des- a time it will get fouled with propolis, ert air," for the want of the little but can be easily cleaned by applying busy little bees to gather and store a little heat from a lamp. When all it for the use of man. But if you is ready, fill the feeder and invert it decide to go into the business, you over a vessel to save the drops that should undertake it intelligently and will fall. Then place it in the hole with the full determination to make and the feed will flow no faster than a success of it. the bees take it. The capacity of There must be no such thing as the feeder being known makes it "give up" in your composition. If you easy to estimate the amount being fail try, try again and keep trying. fed. In changing feeders from hive Only get one, two or at most three to hive there is no need of a smoker colonies to begin with ; get a good as the bees are confined by the wire text book and study it diligently and cloth. carefully, and then practise its teach-

Lynn, Mass. ings. Not do like a good lady of THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 247

my acquaintance did, wait until your than in a real good honey season. bees get to swarming and then hunt I have several of my best Italians up your bee book to see what to do that have yielded 150 lbs. per col- with them. ony this year, while I have a few

There is a great deal to be learned common natives from which I have

about this busy little insect. I have not taken a pound of honey. been working with them now almost To prove to you that our vocation

constantly for five years, and if it had is a healthy one, I shall only have to

been fifty instead of five I should still tell you that I weigh fifty pounds expect to learn. I have gone into more now than when I purchased the business for a lifetime, be that my one colony of black bees in a gum

long or short ; and I for one am de- hive. My health is better than erer

termined to make a success of it. I before in my life. I am often sur-

am what is called an enthusiast in prised at my strength. Then, dear

bee culture. In addition to your text- sisters, do you wonder at my saying

book you should take a good bee that I am in the business for life? journal. I would suggest the " Api- If this interests you, I will try and

culturist," that is published at Wen- write again, and tell you of my suc- ham, Mass., for the small sum of one cess as a specialist in bee culture. also Bell Co.^ Texas, dollar per annum ; you should Salado, get a good smoker, and a bee-veil to Oct. 16, 1885. protect your face. I never use gloves

now, though I did when I first began. Of course, your bees should be in a movable-frame hive. I decidedly pre- THE BEST FRAME. fer one with a movable bottom-board

for our hot climate, so that in very By Dr. G. L. Tinker. hot weather th^ hive can be raised and thus ventilated from the bottom. On page 207 of the ''Apiculturist," I only had one frame melt down a friend inquires why I should aban- through our past hot summer and don the Gallup frame for a size 14I that was new tender comb and very Xgi, which I have adopted, after a full of honey. I saw it immediately trial of several styles of deep and of

after it broke and don't think that I long frames, as my preference. In lost two tablespoonfuls of honey. the production of comb-honey, the I would siiggest that in buying selection of a frame has generally liad your bees you get pure Italians reference to the mode in which the at the start from some good reliable surplus receptacles are applied, and

dealer and thus save you the trouble in my case it has been no exception. of Italianizing them, for if you read After many experiments in winter- the bee literature of the day, you ing, I came to the conclusion that

will, I am satisfied, decide in favor of where a brood-chamber was enclosed

the Italians. They show their super- by chaff, leaf, or sawdust packing,

iority in a year like this, more plainly the form and size of the frame, where ;

248 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

brood-chamber the dimensions of the be lifted to get it out of the hive.

were the same, had nothing whatever The greater facility in lifting out a

to do with the safety of wintering. shallow frame will not be fully realized there are those who will Doubtless by any one till they try one by the disagree with me on this point, but I side of a deep frame. think that when they have carefully My objection to a very long frame

tested the matter as I have done they like the standard Langstroth is the will give it up. After coming to the sagging of the top bars. If a bee

above conclusion it was decided to space is provided (which I no longer make a frame for my own conven- use) between the top bars and supers,

ience adapted especially to my new it should never be more than five-six- system of comb-honey production. teenths nor less than one-fourth of

I had abandoned side storing and an inch. It is a very common thing with that went the Gallup frame, as to find the top bars of the Langstroth

it did not present enough surplus frame sagged one-fourth of an inch room on the top of ten frames to cor- this would give a space of one-half

respond with the large amount of inch in the centre to be filled up,

brood comb below. There were as it never fails to be, with brace two other, but minor, objections to combs. We have in use some Sim- it that in themselves would not have plicity frames made with heavy V- warranted the change, but still they shaped top bars that work very well,

are worth noting. The first was the but even these will sag a little in time. disposition of the bees to attack brace Now the liability to sag of a top bar combs between the ends of th^ frames sixteen inches long, made V-shaped

and hive that is seldom noticed with and solid, as in the Victor frame, is long frames. This could be over- almost nothing as compared with one come by making the space only five- nineteen and one-fourth inches long sixteenths of an inch between the end as in the Simplicity. But since, with bars and hive, but then there was our surplus arrangement, we could trouble in getting out the frames, for, apply as many one-pound sections in spite of the closest workmanship, on the shorter frame as on the long it was found impossible to make the one, we could see no advantage in frames so true that some of them the latter that would warrant us in would not hang too close to the hive adopting it. Hence our preference at one end or the other, or soon after, for the size named. from changes in the wood of the As to the proper depth for pro- frame or hive. The lower end of the ducing comb honey, I stated long frame would then be stuck to the hive since, that I believed Father Lang- with propolis so as to make it very stroth had struck the happy medium difiicult to get out except in the in the proper depth of his standard warmest weather. With shallow frames frame. In a top-storing hive, if the we have never had any trouble of frames are too deep the bees will this nature. The other objection was not enter the supers readily ; if too in the distance that the frame had to shallow, the bees will carry a large THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 249

amount of pollen into the sections. Some one has remarked, with The point of least objection in the considerable pertness, "that he did

above particulars is at nine and one- not want his brood combs reversed eighth inches of depth. unless they were already wrong side

We do not expect ever to see a up." The inference here is plain that standard frame adopted in this coun- his frames are always right side up. try. There are too many minds to Such may not be the case.

suit ; too many radically different Apiarists are generally agreed that modes of applying supers requiring good management requires the brood

specially constructed frames ever to frames to be full of brood, in all

think of it. If all beekeepers pro- stages when white clover or the main

duced extracted honey, in which crop of the season is to be gathered.

production one form and size of A colony that is thus able to nurture

frame is no better than another, we its thousands, has force adequate to

should then have hopes ; but so long the harvest, and as the brood combs

as some of our leading apiarists pre- are already full, the surplus case, for

fer for comb honey side-storing hives, either comb or extracted honey, is

some top-storing and some both side the only place in which to put it. and top-storing, we shall never agree No close working apiarist wants two upon a standard frame. Were I to or three inches of honey in the tops go back to side- and top-storing hives, of his brood combs at this season. I should go back to the Gallup frame The tops of combs thus used are or the American, but with an exclu- usually store combs, and are only sive top-storing hive, which we have halting places on the way to the store- fixed upon, we are somewhat pro- room of the hive. When they are in nounced in our preference for a shal- this condition near the beginning of low frame. the honey harvest they are "wrong

New Philadelphia, O., side up" no matter whose they are nor in what hive they are. Invert Oct 13, 188s. them, turn them right side up, then those storage cells will be cut down

and turned into brood cells ; they will INVERTIBLE HIVES. become the cradles of thousands of workers instead of loitering places Bt J. M. Shuck. for idlers. They will then become When the verdict of this year has a source of live profit instead of been written it will be largely in favor remaining dead capital. of the invertible principle in the After the enterprising apiarist has manipulation of bees and thin combs. manipulated "reversible frames" for Those who are now in favor of re- a season until he begins to see clear- versing the brood combs of the hive ly that he approves them, that they are simply pioneering the way for are practical, that he can achieve greater results than the average bee- results with them that he cannot keeper has deemed possible. without them, he naturally concludes 250 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

that if it is good to turn one frame cell. Combs, if they break down,

upside down at a time, it may be always part where no brood has been profitable to fix them firmly in the raised. Combs for storage of honey hive and invert all at once. If it to be extracted are more serviceable takes three minutes to open a hive, after having given forth a few gener-

reverse one frame and close it, the ations of bees. One disadvantage proposition is plain that time is may be named, they are more liable saved by inverting the hive and all to the ravages of the moth worm. the frames in less than three min- One curious incident connected utes. Besides the saving of time, with the inversion of brood combs the combs and brood are not ex- this season may be mentioned here. posed to robbers and danger of chill- A colony was rendered queenless ing the brood which are always and the hive inverted five days after- present in cool weather. wards. An examination the next

The ready control of the combs day showed all queen cells destroyed.

secured in Mr. Langstroth's inven- Nine similar trials were made with

tion, and the great ease with which the same results. It is supposed they could be handled, have led that the change in position of the

perhaps a majority of beekeepers to queen cells at that stage caused the excesses in manipulation. No hive disgusted bees to tear them down. from which profit is expected should Marked advantages accrue to the be opened "just to see what they are producer of comb honey by using doing" or to show a visitor a beauti- invertible cases and inverting them ful queen. Still practical honey pro- when the sections are two-thirds

ducers know thBt manipulation of filled, or strong enough to stand the right sort stimulates the colony alone. The sections will then be

and causes the brood to spread, filled full and plump all around, if the

other conditions- being favorable. honey flow is sufficient for their

This class of "handling" may all be completion. done by changing the position of Des Moines, la. the hive, set it on end to-day, and in a few days place it on its bottom or top and then again on the other end. Any of these positions may be given BINTS FOR BEGINNERS. the invertible hive in a minute and By J. E. PoxD. the bees scarcely disturbed, and it can be done at night or at other In accepting the charge of the times when hives cannot be conven- department for beginners in bee iently opened. culture, I am actuated solely by a Inversion of the combs ensures desire to make plain some of the their strength, they become fastened points that to myself were matters of solid to the frame all around, brood serious import when I first began is reared all over alike and the co- keeping bees some twenty years ago. coons strengthen and toughen every At that time there were but two or THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 251 three works on bee culture, and those winter, leaving the matter of pur- related most entirely to old methods. chases till spring opens, and all na-

Frames were used to some extent, ture shows its gladness at seeing the but not by those who did as now, cold dreary reign of winter broken. give the world the benefit of their Among the works published, I will growing experience. Not that they advise " Langstroth on the Hive and would not have done so had they the Honey Bee, " Quinby's Work" re- opportunity, but bee culture had not vised by L. C. Root, and " Alley's attained any rank among the indus- Handy Book" for beekeepers. From tries of the world, and but few jour- a careful study of all these a correct nals were published in its interest, knowledge of principles can be and those that were published did gained, and when their contents are not reach the masses, as they were well digested the student may follow only known to those of experience. them with " Cook's Manual." Bearing in mind the difficulties Bee culture can only be learned that beset me at every point in my by study and practice. The prin-

endeavors to learn, I shall be well ciples should first be fully learned, repaid for my efforts if I am enabled and then their application can be to aid a few only (I trust I shall aid practically made by actual labor in many) in the most fascinating pur- the apiary.

suit in which I have ever engaged. In my next article I shall treat of It will be my aim to state facts only, the hive and methods of manipula- and those gathered from my own ex- tion. perience, leaving theories to be discussed by those who have a greater taste for them than I have at the EDITORIAL. present time. " I do not propose to undertake to In the last issue of the Api," that tlie season just past fill the position of a text book, as we stated there are a number now published had been generally speaking a most that can be perused with great prosperous one for the beekeepers.

profit. I shall endeavor simply to Judging from the reports in our ex- give such seasonable hints from changes, there have been some local- month to month, as will enable those ities where but little honey has been who have a real desire to improve, stored. Now this is not the case as to gain a practical knowledge of a rule. In some parts of the country methods that will be of use and the season has been too wet, while

profit to them. It is now too late in other places it has been too dry. to think of purchasing bees, and Then again, where large crops of the prospective beekeeper can make honey were made in 1884, the crop no better use of his time than for 1885 has been a light one. As to procure two or three of the we have before stated, all this may best works on apiculture and study be expected, as sure as one season them carefully during the coming follows another. A fruitful year is 252 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

sure to be followed by a season of of Bee Culture,'' by A. I. Root. Un-

scarcity. It is a well known fact to til a better name can be found for

pomologists and fruit-growers gene- it we shall call it " bee-cholera." rally, that fruit trees will yield a given If any reader of the " Api " has any

amount of fruit for a few years, then colonies that show symptoms of this the tree must rest and recuperate, malady, he will oblige us by sending and in due time, with proper care, a report to us, also giving his

will again bear abundantly. So it opinion of its cause and results of is with the honey-producing plants. any experiments made to find a They yield largely one season, and remedy or to discover the origin of

little or none the following year. the disease. Should it prove to be

Again, the honey-producing flora is " cholera," perhaps with properly governed by the state of the atmo- conducted experiments, a remedy sphere. With us here in New Eng- may be found. On the other hand,

land, the flowers secrete no nectar if it be a disease transmitted to

when the wind is east of north or the worker progeny by the queen, the

south. But when the wind comes remedy is an easy and simple one.

from the northwest or west, the bees If it be a disease peculiar only to the

work smartly. The largest quantities Italians, the remedy is also easily ap- of honey ar^ gathered when the wind plied, as we now have other races

is about southwest, and the atmos- equal, if not superior, to the once phere somewhat muggy. universally favorite yellow bee. A new disease has appeared in " In time of peace prepare for

some apiaries the past season. As war." Winter is a time of peace no investigation of its origin has been with the beekeeper. The thoughtful

made, its cause is as yet obscure. and practical apiarist makes every One of the principal symptoms of preparation during the cold months this disease is this : the worker bees to secure the prospective honey may be seen crawling about the en- harvest the coming season. His new trance of the hive, and on the alight- hives are " put up," painted and ing-board and act the same as bees made ready for immediate use the that have been chilled. In dissect- moment some one cries out " the ing a bee, the sac is found full of bees are swarming." what appears to be newly gathered The fixtures and apparatus for se- honey. curing in sections the surplus honey The bees do not die off rapidly, are made ready to place upon the but the colony gradually decreases hives as soon as the bees are ready in numbers, and the hive after a while to receive and work in them. It is is depopulated. The healthy bees not best, perhaps, to place founda- continue to do the routine work of tion in the frames, or sections, dur- the hive, gather pollen and remove ing the early part of the winter, but the dead and dying bees. one should arrange so that but little A description of a somewhat simi- time will be required for such work lar disease may be found in "A B C when the honey harvest begins. THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 253

NEW OBSERVATIONS ON sexual union within the hives ? This THE NATURAL HISTORY is a secret still unknown to us. It is OF BEES. possible, however, that some favorable circumstance may enable us to Bv Francis Huber. penetrate it in the course of our observations. Various conjectures may from 229, Vol. III.) (Continued p. be formed : but at this day we require The sequel of our experiments, facts, and reject gratuitous supposi- made with every possible precaution, tions. It should be remembered, appears demonstrative, the uniform that bees do not form the sole repub- sterility of queens in hives wanting lic among insects presenting a similar also males, and in those where they are phenomenon ; female ants are confined along with them, the depart- obliged to leave the ant-hills previous ure of these queens from the hives, to fecundation.- and the very conspicuous evidence 1 cannot request, sir, that you will of impregnation, with which they re- communicate those reflections which turn, are proofs against which no ob- your genius will excite concerning the facts I have related. jections can stand ; but we do not despair of being able next spring to This is a favor to which I am not obtain the complement of this proof, yet entitled. But as new experiments by seizing the female at the very unquestionably will occur to you, moment of her union. whether on the impregnation of the Naturalists always have been ex- queen or on other points, may I so- tremely embarrassed to account for licit you to suggest them ? They the numbers of males in most hives, shall be executed with all possible and which seem only a burden to the care, and I shall esteem this mark of tlie most community since they fulfil no func- friendship and interest as that the tion, but we now begin to discern flattering encouragement the object of nature in multiplying continuance of my labors can receive. them to sucli an extent, as fecunda- Pregny, August ij, ijSg. tion cannot be accomplished within ; You have surprised me most agree- and as the queen is obliged to trav- ably, sir, with your interesting dis- erse the expanse of the atmosphere, covery of the impregnation of the it is requisite the males should be queen bee. It was a fortunate con- numerous, that she may have the jecture that she left the hive to be chance of meeting some one of them. fecundated ; and your method of Were only two or three in each hive ascertaining the fact was extremely there would be little probability of judicious and well adapted to the their departure at the same instant object. Let me remind you, that with their queen, or that they would male and female ants unite in the meet in their excursions, and most of air ; and that after impregnation the the females would thus remain sterile.-^ females return to the anthills to de- But why has nature prohibited posit their eggs. It would be nec- 1 RemiU'kable irregularity subsists in tlie essary to seize the instant when the number ofmales, comiiared witli tlie other inhabitants of a hive. .Swaninienlam found 69:{ drone unites with the female. But along with 8494 workers. Previous to tlie the power of the swarming of a large liive Reaumur counted how remote" from 700 among 26,416 common bees, and one queen. observer are the means of ascertain- In another containing only 2900 worker--, lie found 693 males. He comijuted 50.000 cells in ing their commerce in the air. the former, of which 20.000 were lull of brood. About 2.520 cells were aiipropriated for breed- 2 The males and females of ants are winged

ing males, and about half ol tliem were occu- insects ; the former pei ish sometime alter their pied by larvfe and nymphs. Thus, including amours, and the females lose their wings a the 700 in the perfect i-late he observes, that certain period after iinprej^nation. this hive would be provided with about 2000 males. \To be continued7\ ;

254 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

EXPERIMENTAL We consider that a large entrance BEE FARM NOTES. furnishes about all the ventilation a strong colony will need. A small aperture There is so little doing at the pres- might be left at the top of ent time in the apiary, that we have the hives, without in the least en- but few notes to make. The colo- dangering the health of the colony. nies are ready for winter quarters, There cannot be much air pass and at the proper time they will be through a hive while the bees are in placed in the cellar, under our the cellar, and out of the way of all wind. new factory. The situation is such The temperature of the bee- that we can take the bees into the room will be kept as near 45° as is cellar without climbing over an} jDOssible to do. So often as once a steps or a long flight of stairs. month the dead bees will be swept When we get ready to put the bees up and removed from the cellar, so under cover for winter, we can do that the atmosphere will be kept all the work in about one hour's sweet and pure. time. The ventilators are so arranged that the fresh air will enter at the bottom and the foul air will Experience has proved that the pass out through the tall chimney Italians are the poorest nurse bees erected to take the smoke from the of any race we have. The Cyp- boiler. rians and many colonies of our Our colonies consist of Cyprians, Syrians were reared for the express Syrians, Albinos, Carniolans and purpose of cell-building another year. ItaUans. All are about in the same The two latter races rear the best condition as to stores and bees. queens of any bees we have used We shall note from time to time for the purpose. We will say as to which of the races are wintering the the disposition of the Cyprians, that best. While such experiments may we have but one colony that are real prove nothing, or be of any practi- "tigers." Unless this colony is handled in a scientific cal value, yet it will be interesting to manner the op- know which of the races will best erator will get badly punished. We stand the confinement they will have have used this particular colony for to endure for four long months. no other purpose than cell-building. When the hives are placed in the They are fine nurse bees, and so well cellar, the back ends will be elevated adapted for such work, that this is four inches higher than the fronts. the only reason they are permitted to We do this so that the bees as exist in our apiary. We have other they die may roll out at the entrance, colonies of Cyprians that are as docile as easy to handle as the which is the full length of the hive and and about one-half an inch high. Italians. Should the dead bees lodge under the frames, as they most always do We are favored by a large number in winter, it will be an easy matter, of visitors. All who come are desirous where the hives are thus prepared, to see the different races of bees to remove any accumulation of dirt so this fall we have added to our from under the combs, by using a stock a fine imported Carniolan small stick for the purpose. We are queen. Possibly we may rear some quite sure it can be done by a care- queens from her another year, to ful person without scarcely disturb- supply the demand for the few or- ing the bees. dered. When beekeepers have fur- While the bees are in the cellar ther tested these bees the sale of very little ventilation will be given. them will be small. The second or THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 255 third generation from an imported common stocks that I have, I have Carniolan mother, unless crossed by not taken a single pound. This is the Itahans, will resemble the blacks also the case with a neighbor living so nearly that only the expert can just across the street from me. My detect the difference. bees up to date have averagerl thirty It is our aim to rear at the "Api" pounds per colony. I had forty- Bee Farm only queens of the best eight colonies to begin with this races. We consider the Italians spring ; have an increase of only ten. and Syrians, and their crosses the Thus you will see that I have taken best, for all purposes. The Syrians 1440 pounds of honey. I have this are the smarter, more energetic and day (July 21) fixed two hives for hardier of the two races. It is said queen-rearing and am determined that the Cyprian when mated to the not to be satisfied or stop trying until Carniolan produce a fine strain of every bee in my yard is pure Italian. bees. The latter race are very gentle I want to say to everybody that is in disposition, and when crossed with interested in bee culture, or that is the former transmit that good qual- likely or liable to be stung, never pull ity to their worker progeny, thus pro- the sting out, as by doing so, because ducing a very desirable strain of bees. of the peculiar construction or formation of the sting, you push the virus or poison into the flesh, thus causing if will CORRESPONDENCE. great pain ; whereas, you scrape the sting out with a knife you also WHAT A WOMAN CAN DO WITH BEES. scrape the poison out, thus relieving

Bees in my locality wintered well the pain at once : I then blow a little where they had been properly cared warm smoke on the place from a for, but owing to the excessive rains smoker, and the trouble is ended. and long-continued cool weather in This morning (July 22), while go- the spring they consumed what wining to a neighbor's house I passed ter stores were left over in brood- through a few acres of cotton, upon rearing without being able to gather which I found hundreds of bees busily at work. All more ; consequently much of the of these were brood was torn down and destroyed, either pure Italian or hybrids ; not a and the drones were all killed. Yet, single native bee could I see. After despite all this management, many reaching my neighbors I looked of the little workers died of sheer through her four colonies of native starvation, and that, too, with thou- bees, and not a pound of surplus sands of flowers in full bloom all honey was to be found. There have around. It is just as essential that only been a few pounds taken from the weather be propitious for the se- one colony this season, and, judging cretion of honey as that there should from appearances, there will not be be flowers in which the nectar may any more. secrete. The hives being thus de- Mrs. Sallie E. Sherman. populated is it any wonder that the honey crop is a partial failure ? This [By request of Mrs. Sherman we also explains why there have been give place to the above. It shows so few swarms this season. Every what a woman can do at keeping colony that has Italian blood in it bees, and also, the superiority of speaks for itself, when you come to the Italian bees. Our lady readers take off your surplus honey in a sea- will be pleased to know that Mrs. ton like this. I have taken over loo Sherman has promised to become a pounds per colony from several of regular correspondent to the " Am- my best Italians, while from a few erican Apiculturist".] 256 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

EXCHANGES. of different kinds is consumed in its manufacture. FEW Facts concerning Bees- A As honey from one kind of plant wax, BY C. H. Lake. To quote — differs in taste from that of another from Prof. Liebig's great work on kind of plant so wax differs in color. "Animal Chemistry :" "The bees," In the covers or hds of brood says this learned writer, "consume cells there will be noticed the fact twenty pounds of honey to make that they are always the color of the one pound of wax, and every ounce cells they cover, the cells of dark of comb after constructed would comb will have dark lids, and white hold one pound of honey." comb, white lids. Many other prominent writers The learned Prof, also makes compute the consumption of honey another assertion that is incorrect. at twenty-five pounds to every pound He says "combs are never built in a of comb built. hive unless the bees have the pres- Wax is not gathered like pollen or ence or prospect of a queen," propolis. The bees have to manu- I have frequently put large swarms facture it, at great cost, both to them- of bees into empty hives and set the selves and their owners. swarm where the old hive stood, Wax is manufactured in the bodies catching and killing the queen at the of the bees, as milk is in the body of time of hiving, and have had by this the cow ; and with bees it is both a method some of the finest drone secretion and excretion. In collect- combs built I ever saw or possessed. ing honey, bees carry it to their hives "Wax-making and comb-building is in sacs if it passes into their stom- ; a very interesting and important achs or their intestinal canals, it question in the workings of the bee passes into the juices of their hive, and but little is with certainty bodies, and scales of wax ooze out known about it." So says an able or are excreted from the under side writer on the subject. of their bellies. Wax is a very inflammable sub- Dr. Liebig says "it takes thirty- stance, containing over So^per cent eight hours to convert honey into of carbon. I have found that a. wax," that is to say, that the laminae pound of virgin worker comb con- or thin scales of wax do not appear tains over 50,000 cells, which fact on the bellies of the bees till thirty- shows what wonderful frugality is dis- eight hours after the honey has been played by these model architects in taken into their intestines." comb-building. Quite a book could This surely cannot be correct. If be written on wax and its uses. Did a swarm of bees is forced from an it ever occur to you, reader, that all old hive full of old combs, and the beautiful flowers ornamenting so placed in an empty hive, comb- many of our parlor tables, making building will commence in about six home cheerful, were the product hours in warm weather. — of these little busy bees ? Immense Both the weather and the warmth quantities are used for this purpose, the hive have a great deal to of do and also in doll-making. As many comb-building. with The making of your readers, Mr. Editor, may be or secreting of wax is voluntary on unacquainted with the immense traf- the part of the bees, and this is fic carried on in wax, perhaps a few another of the mysteries that has facts from the census reports of the fathomed. never been Bees do not past may be interesting. to any extent secrete wax when their The census of 1840 gives the hives are filled with comb. value of the product of the United will differ in color, if Wax honey States at $'628,000, or about 2,000,000 —

THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. roi

pounds. That for 1850, "wax and we cannot secure a fair remuneration honey," nearly 15,000,000 pounds, here, we ship, and the result will be worth nearly ^3,000,000. That for an important one. A more fixed i860, for wax alone at 1,357,000 market price, therefore, less danger pounds. The exports in 1859 and in handling. Employment for an '60 were 362,000 pounds, worth unlimited number of colonies thereby

$135,000. In 1S61, 238,300 pounds increasing the wealth of Canada : di- were exported from New York alone. rectly, by the production of honey In i860 nearly five-sixths of the ex- and bees, indirectly, by an increased ports were to Brazil, England and yield of clover seed, fruits of all kinds, France. Foreign countries also send etc., wherever additional bees are large quantities upon the market, kept. the Portuguese province probably taking the lead, by annually sending to Europe nearly 50,000,000 CONVENTION NOTES. pounds. Beeswax is produced in St. Joseph, Mo., Sept. 1883. every country in the temperate and 2g, In answer to a call of a committee torrid zones. The Baltimore List. the beekeepers of this section came together on the 24th inst. at 2 p. m., and elected a temporary chairman CANADIAN DEPARTMENT. and secretary, and then adjourned until next day at 2 p. m. The en- R. H. HoLTERMAN, Editor. closed clipping from the St. Joseph Gazette will explain the result of that meeting. Canadian beekeepers are organizing for the purpose of having a mon- The adjourned meeting of the Bee ster display of honey at the Colonial Keepers was called to order at the county court room at 2,30 p. m. and Indian Exhibition to be held in A Constitution was adopted and the as- London next season. display is A sociation named " The St. Joseph desired of such magnitude and so Inter.State Beekeepers' Association." rich in quality that it will attract uni- The election of officers for the permanent organization resulted versal attention and not without an as follows : President, Ernst Schuman, Brecken- object. ridge, Mo. ; vice-presidents, D. G. For some time we have felt the Parker and Robert Corbet; secretary, want of a larger market and we have E. T. Abbott, superintendent of St. Joseph apiary; treasurer, Dr. D. acted the part of paralytics ; we felt G. EUingvvood, St. Joseph. The the want, knew that our remedy has following persons paid the annual fee of i^l.OO lain in Europe but, as individuals, we and became members of the associa- have felt powerless to put forth any tion : effectual efforts to open it. Now we E. J. Abbott, L. G. Buvis, have before us the opportunity of T. B. Nichol, John Stewart, sending our honey, free of charge, G. B. McArthur, Rev. A. E. Abbott, and probably some one to take care F. G. Hopkins, James A. Matney, D. G. Parker, E. Eastman, of it, and it is to be hoped no one J. D. Ellingwood, Ernst Schuman. will lose the opportunity of doing all After the election of officers there in their power to make the enterprise was some interesting discussion of a success. various questions relating to bee cul- Once let us secure a foothold in ture, and the meeting adjourned to meet England and Germany with our honey on the second Tuesday in April, 1886. All persons interested and we can defy these small, ignorant in bees are invited to see the secretary and become honey-raisers who have done so much members of the association and re- in the past to injure our market. If ceive a copy of the constitution. 23 258 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

This new society represents a grow- W. Z. Hutchinson, Prof. Cook and ing and important industry and should James Heddon reply as follows : receive tlie hearty support of our citi- zens. It may be nothing except the bees E. T. Abbott, Secretary. dying of old age.— W. Z.Hutchinson. Most beekeepers write me that the Belmont, Ont., Can., Oct. 29, 1883. aflected bees seem young, and are Mr. W. Z. Hutchinson writes me black from being bald.— A. J. Cook. a colony that he will undertake to secure re- It is nothing strange that should lose that number of bees daily. duced rates over all railways leading Just why they do not go ofl' to die, I to Detroit at time of N. A. B. A. do not know. Perhaps cool weather Come, friends, let us have a big is the cause. I do not apprehend anything serious.—James Heddon. time : the more go, the better rates, I suppose. W. B. T. writes: S. T. Pettit, Vice Pi-es.for Ont. What ails the bees? I have thirty branch N.A. B.A. three colonies in good condiliou, and gathering honey ui abundance from The North American Beekeep- buckwheat, Spanish-needle and gold- ers' Association will meet in Detroit, en-rod. But one of them is aflected with a malady which suggests poison; on December 8, 9 and 10. Every but if that were the case other colo- practical apiarist should make an nies would be affected. The badly effort to attend and give his rich val- affected bees I should think would uable experience, by taking part in number 2,000. They are constantly the discussions of the various sub- cleaning themselves by rubbing tlieir bodies, legs and wings, and turning on jects and questions brought before their sides; they will not run from the convention. The novice and smoke. Their abdomens are shining, inexperienced should by all means and the black portions are intensely attend, as he will be likely to gather so; they are shrunken and pointecl. They are taken from the hive in a more information from the old vet- string or path extending sis feet from erans in a few days, than by a whole the hive. The first indication was year's experience with a few colonies. about a quart of dead bees that sug- The hotel accommodations are ample, gested robbing. The weather has of the and at reduced rates, and with the been wet and cool one week past two. They have a fine queen, but railroad fare at about one-half the she is not laying to the extent that the regular prices, it should be sufficient others are. They also have preserved to induce an unusually large attend- their drones. What ails them? ance. Mr. S. M. Locke will attend, To this Mr. Heddon replies as provided his health will permit. follows :

I would guess that this colony had found some liquid sweets in bulk, and NOTES AND QUERIES. were robbing.

By the above it will be seen that —Several beekeepers have written there is no mistake about a new bee to the Ajnerican Bee Joiirnal con- disease. So far as we are able to cerning the new bee disease of which learn, this new malady is not conta- mention is made on another page. gious, and there is little cause for W. S. S. writes thus : alarm. Nevertheless, " as an ounce What is wrong with my bees ? The of preventive is better than a pound strongest colony that I have is losing cure," we advise the removal of bees very fast. Early in the morning of there are in the hive from fifty to two all infected colonies, to at least one hundred old bees dead and dying. I mile from any apiary. examined it to-day, but could find noth- The season is now so far advanced ing wrong. It had four combs of that no investigation can be made to brood in all stages, from the egg to capped brood. discover the cause. It is our opin- THE AMEBICAI^ APIGULTURIST. 259 ion that every diseased colony will the first foundation cells are exca- die before another spring, and if the vated, all the subsequent ones be- combs are destroyed, and the hives ing built up and around these which properly cleansed, it may never ap- are usually three in number. The pear again. Unless it reappears we size and shape of the cell are deter- would advise no one to experiment mined by its future use, but all comb with it. Some writers have expressed is formed of two sheets of cells placed the opinion that the bees are merely back to back, the partition walls of chilled. Would the bees in some the two sheets always alternating with colonies die from cold while others one another. If the cells are in- are at work gathering honey? We tended for brood, twenty-five cells saw one infected colony dying at the of worker and sixteen of drone go to rate of about iifty bees each day, the square inch." Von Berlepsch, while the healthy bees in the same a celebrated German apiarist, de- hive were working smartly.^ clares " that he has known cases in which a swarm have built three hun- —A writer in Scribjiei-'s Montlily dred square inches of comb in a gives a very interesting account of single night." comb-building. "When a swarm of For short time the "Apicul- bees is about to leave its old home — a turist " will be sent to any address, and seek another one, each bee fills itself with honey. After entering three months, on receipt of 25 cents their home the gorged bees suspend in postage stamps, or five copies, themselves in festoons hanging from three months, for ^i.oo. the top of the hive. They hang mo- Please call the attention of your tionless for about twenty-four hours. brother beekeepers to this most lib- During this time the honey has been eral offer. digested and converted into a pecul- —We should be pleased to receive iar animal oil, which collects itself in reports from all those who keep bees, scales or laminae beneath the abdom- whether encouraging or otherwise. inal rings. This is the wax. One If you have conducted any exper- of the workers, called the founder, iments the past season, and they then draws from its own body, by have proved successful and practical, means of its clawed foot the scales please report the result of them for of wax, and crumbles and works with publication in the "Api". Don't its mouth and mandibles, till it be- feel that you are not competent to comes pliable, and it issues from the write an article for publication, but mouth in a long narrow ribbon, made send us a plain statement of facts, white and soft by an admixture of and they will prove both valuable saliva from the tongue. Meanwhile and acceptable. Please send in the other bees are making ready their your articles and thus help make one material in the same way. On the of the most interesting bee journals ceiling of the hive an inverted solid published. arch of wax is built, and from this —Mr. A. E. Bonney of Adelaide, 1 Since the above was put in type M'e have seen the result of an experiment we tried lor South Australia, has favored us with a triend upon two colonies that were badly a copy of the South Australian Ad- di.

8 L-fraraes and one that has a cap any beekeeper, be he average or ex- sufBcieiitly deep to cover two sets of pert. All we need in a hive is a simple boxes when ''tiered up " as good a box of four sides and a bottom, with hive as is i-equired, when properly rabbets cut in the top edges of the front managed, to make beekeeping a suc- and back to receive a set of simple cess? frames made of seven-eighths stuff all around. This, with a simple cap to ANSWERS BY WILL M. KELLOGG. protect the surplus arrangement will 1. As regards the deep or shallow get as nice honey, and as much of it as frame for wintering, my experience has a crimson and gold finished palace of a been so strongly marked, and always so hive. in favor of the deeper frame, that to me, 3. I have never been an advocate of there is no question which is the bet- small hives. From one that is fifteen ter. Heat naturally rises, and spreads inches square by tiiirteen inches deep, latterly only when it can't go up. In a inside measure, I can get just as much deep frame, a very much larger portion lioney, as can be got from one that is of the honey is above the cluster, where one-third smaller. Then, too, the small the heat, rising and remaining, enables hive invariably bothers more by exces- the bees the more readily to go up to get sive swarming. I can tier up the lar- a fresh supply of food. In the shallow ger hive easily. I consider a 10- frame L. frame there is scarcely ever over two better in every way than an 8-frame, inches of honey above the brood (I have especially of the L. pattern. I do not used them by the hundred hives) and like a deep cap deep enough to cover this supply soon becomes exhausted, two sets of sections, but prefer one when the bees have to move latterly to depth with extra rims to raise one or the ends of the combs for food. In a two tiers higher, cellai-, warm or in a southern climate, AXSWEHS BY PUOF. A. J. COOK. this objection not hold would good ; but 1. I question if a shallow frame, the warm cellar will not protect stocks when rightly managed, is not as safe when removed to their summer stands, for wintering as a deep one. For and we often have sharp cold weather comb honey it is certainly better. We after we have taken our bees out. As wish honey above in sections not in to breeding and honey storing, again I deep frames below. can see no advantage in a long, shallovv 2. Yes, decidedly, and for all others. fi-ame. In my expei-ience, and I have 3. I think so; but after a fair trial had twenty years of it, the square, or I much prefer the Heddou style and oblong, frame puts the brood in the best would omit the cap. Then we can tier possible shape, i. e., in a circle, for the up to our liking, and the hive is very bees to care for, the queen to deposit simple and excellent. her eggs, and the beekeeper to handle Lansing, 3Iich. the frames. I have had very much less trouble ANSWERS BY J. E. POND, JR, queens with entering boxes where I 1. None whatever. On the contrary, used the deeper frame, and I had over a frame of depth of the regular L. 9J two hundred L. hives to experiment inches, I deem to be the safer for with in a good rich honey flow. This, wintering, as good as any for breeding, is plain to me, evidence, of the queen's and far superior to all for honey stor- desire to extend her brood nest upward ing; and this after an experience of 19 to complete the circle. years, during which time I have given I have always had little to do with all styles and depths a fair trial. practical facts theory ; hard are what I 2. Yes, by all means, and the plniner write of, and in this case I say that the and simpler the better. The form and claim of increased surplus from using a size form the chief requisites of a per- shallow hive, has never been sustained fect hive. in the least particle while using both 3. Success can no doubt be achieved kinds of hive in the same apiary in large with an 8-frame L. hive. The advan- quantities enough to thoroughly test tages gained by the use of a 10 frame it. My claim for a deep frame over are such that I advise that size even if a shallow one is this in brief. More but eight frames are used, compact form of brood and hive, frames Foxboro, Mass. and hives easier handled, food easier got at in winter, less brood in upper ANSWEPvS BY JOHN H, MABTIN. stories, and stronger combs. 1. If beesai'e properly prepared for 2. In my opinion "a plain simply- winter I don't see as the shape of the constructed hive is the best," for frame makes any material difl'erence. 262 THE AMERICAN APTCULTURIST.

Foi' breeding;, a frame 11 inclies deep, 12 2. No complicated hive has yet come to 14 in length placed in the hive cross- out which is to be recommended for wise of the entrance, has given us the general use. best results. The bees can be crowded 3. A two story 8-frame Langstroth upon few frames, heat retained and the hive ought to succeed. I prefer, how- back portion of the hive used for feed- ever to have the hive hold ten frames ing. For honey storing, it depends and contract to seven by the use of upon what you are runninir bees for, ex- dummies or loafers. tracted orcomb honey. For extracted Michards, 0. honey one frame is as good as another; ANSWERS BY L. C. ROOT. with the exception that a long shallow 1. It is to or a very large frame is awkward to a fact not be disputed that handle. For obtaining box honey a if during early spring our bees are to shallow frame with a large surface has make the greatest possil)le advance- perhaps a slight advantage. ment in brood-rearing, the warmth be 2. Yes, and also for the expert. generated by the bees must economized to the If this 3. No. The 8 frames will do, but very extreme. be provide more room fortiering up. For true, the advantage of the deep frame ordinary seasons perhaps two sets of is so apparent, that for this purpose boxes are enough but we sometimes we need not argue its superiority. I have an extraordinary season. Shallthe have proven for a certainty that bees beekeeper be ready for it or will he be reach their stores more readily in a caught with a hive without surplus deep frame, than in a shallow long frame, that, side by side, they room ? It is a safe plan to provide plenty and winter more successfully in the former. of room up stairs : there will be times size of frame that will insure when you will need it. The best results in wintering and brood ANSWERS BY UEV. D. D. MAKSH. rearing, thereby securing a good work- 1. A deep frame permits a winter ing force at the earliest possible date, cluster to form within the centre of is the best for honey storing. Surplus combs, not exposing the outer edge in combs or boxes can be arranged for any direction. Place their honey above storing honey, no matter what the size when it retains the heat, is the secret of the frame may be. To those who of the farmer's early swarms from box dider with me in these opinions, I ask hives. this question : It favors breeding by encourag- If we were keeping bees in bad hives ing a few bee spaces between large which we desired to winter well, and patches of brood, rather than yiany from wiiich we desired to secure early spaces to be ttlkd by bees between swarms, who would think of construct- many small areas of brood. It is not ing hives, seventeen inches from front so favorable to storing in boxes, be- to rear, fifteen inches wide and eight cause Nature's " box" is the upper part inches deep inside measure, rather than of a deep comb itself, and a box top of twelve inches square and fourteen that is too far aloft. A medium depth inches deep. I think tlie best for storing. 2. Yes. 2. The plainer and simpler the bet- 3. If you mean by L. frame, the shal- ter; just brood-box, sections and cap. low frame with a hive so constructed Nature's hive is just a hollow tree. that there is a space on all sides and 3. I believe from experience that between the frames, I answer, no. our 8 L. frame hive is preferable for If you mean a properly constructed section honey. The section clamp hive as to size and form of frame, and should be made in halves : put one on for securing box honey only, I answer, ' and get the bees at work, then put on yes. , the other, then tier up. Mohaivk, N. T. Georgetown, 3Iass.

ANSWERS BY K. K. HASTY. ANSWER TO QUESTION BY SAMUEL CUSII- 1. For wintering, my experience is MAN IN OCT. NO., BY HENRY ALLEY. that the shallow frame has the advantage. Some years the deeper frame Our correspondent inquires regard- makes the better show of surplus, but ing the question of feeding back honey I do not regard tiie matter as settled. to induce bees to finish out incomplete For breeding in cold weather a square sections. This reminds me of the expe- frame prevents waste of heat. In warm rience I had and the experiments I made weather there is no very great differ- several years ago in order to get some ence I think. unfinished sections filled with honey. THE AMERICAN, APICULTURIST. 263

To do this I fed sevei-al colonies very and rosin. A few years ago, some one liberally with the best houey slightly conceived the idea of placing cells diluted with water. I had no trouble containing eggs upon a stick, and of- in getting the bees to take away all the fering them for sale. The idea was so honey given them. Although I fed them ridiculous that the trade in that line with'nice syrup for a long time, not one of goods was soon abandoned. After particle of it was placed iu the untin- repeated attempts to rear queens by islied sections. The reason why the the single cell method and failing each bees would not do as I desired is well time I gave up the idea, as not one known to all experienced apiarists, queeu so reared was of the least value, though it did not occur to me just at the young queens were very small and that time. The fact that bees will uot worthless. I could never account for mix the different kinds of honey was this very singular freak, —could I rear why they would not finish out the un- good queens by such a method I would capped cells. Instead of working in the abandon all others. To reply more sections, the brood-combs wei-e filled directly to the question of Mr. Bonney so solid that it was necessary to use I will say that the same objection was the extractor, iu order to give room for found to destroying the eggs and leav- the queen to deposit eggs, and keep ing the third one for a queeu cell. By up the supply of brood. removing every other cell and follow- In my opinion it will not pay to "feed ing the directions as given in the back," and so far as I know, no one Handy Book, one will surely rear the has ever made it a success. If a supply finest queens. of honey could be had, the same as the bees are storing in the section, just at QUESTION BY A BEEKEEPER. the time the flowers are giving out, it What is the cause of the different it might do to "feed back", but even in shades in the marking of the Italian that case I doubt the expediency. Such bees? Some are of a dark orange hue feeding should be done at night while and others very light. the bees are still gathering some honey. When the harvest is ended, feed only ANSWER BY A BEEKEEPER. iu daytime. The feeder I used on the We never supposed that the Italian occasion was a common tin such an bees were a distinct race. It is sup- about four pan, one that would hold posed by many prominent apiarists placed in front of quarts, the pan was that the Italians are a race of hybrids. ground, and all was the hive, on the This fact must account for the differ- a cloth to protect the bees covered by ent markings and shades in color. The toads to retain the warmth. from and fact that we get the beautiful Albinos, left for the A small opening only was the leather and orange colored Italians bees to enter the pan from the alight- all from the same race seems to con- colony would ing-board. A strong firm the supposition that the Italians syrup dur- take away several quarts of are a distiuct race of bees. Neverthe- the night. ing less, fine yellow queens which produce Wenham, Mass. bees of uniform marking usually du- plicate themselves in their queen pro- QUESTION BY A. K. BONNEY. geny. But the impurity will crop out In preparing the strips of comb con- occasionally and a black or striped taining eggs for queen-rearing after queeu will emerge from a cell, while Alley's method, is there any objection from the adjoining cell would emerge to leaving every third egg only, instead one of the most beautiful queens. of every other one? The Italians are the only "race" of Adelaide, So. A^istralia. bees whose queens will produce worker bees that show strictly pure and ANSWER BY H. ALLEY. uniform markings. The Cyprian, A good many years ago, and long Holyiand and Syrian queens produce before the adoption of our present bees that show from one narrow to method of queen-rearing, we conduct- three yellow bands. And queens from ed many experiments to compel bees these races produce very dark or to build queen cells in such a way that striped royal progeny. all could be removed without destroy- Pieces of comb containing ing any. QUESTION BY CHAS. H. SMITN. esgs were cut into separate cells. Each individual cell was fastened to Several gentlemen in this place the comb or to the underside of a claim that comb honey is manufactured frame, by a mixture of warm beeswax iu New York and Brooklyn; that the :

264 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. comb is made by machinery and then twenty years has kept her bed three- filled with glucose or some other cheap fourths of the time ; but who, after substance, and are then capped by giving much of her time both body means of hot irons, smeared with wax and mind to the care of the bees, or paraffine, being-drawn over them. with the help of a hired girl now Some even claim that they have seen cares for one large apiary and her hus- it done. band cares for anotlier and the apiary To me, the idea is simply absurd; of which she has the charge proves but to settle the discussion, will you equally profitable with the other. please give us the benefit of your Women who are anxious to make knowledge on this subject, through money to further the Lord's work the columns of the "Api?" should study up beekeeping as through such a course one can accomplish this ANSWER BY A BEEKEEPER. object. We have heard the same statement An Invalid. made several times, but were never able to obtain any of the so-called manufactured honey. A young man informed us that honey was so manufac- Carversville, Fa. tured, as t nployed by parties he was S. M. Locke & Co. who dealt in it. s the young man does not know pure from impure honey In August last Ave had a very heavy we suspect he may be mistaken about freshet in the creek running through it. We often go to Boston and when our village, and among the losses was there again will make an eflbrt to find my whole apiary of fifteen colonies. some of the vile stufl". The unusually high water was caused by the breaking of dams situated above the village. I recovered ten of the hives, with part of the frames, which were washed about one-half mile from here, and succeeded in saving two colonies, LETTER BOX. nearly all of the bees being drowned. And strange to say, one of them con- Arlington Heights, Mass. tained the Italian queen purchased Dear "Api." from you about a month previous. I put her with the bees (about two This has been a very good season quarts), on four frames of foundation with us. Began the year with three in a new hive, and by feeding have got colonies, sold two and increased to a pretty good colony. The other hive four and one-half. Have taken thus only washed away a few rods, but the far 79 lbs. and expect about 25 more. fi'ames were spilled out of the hive. I Located as we are on a high hill and replaced them early in the morning, on most of the nectar being at the foot, the old stand, and they are doing pretty it has to be "tugged up." Have no well. The fermenting honey and pol- difliculty in disposing of our honey at len from the rest of the recovered 20 cents to neighbors. hives, soon attracted robbers, and for Sliall remember with pleasure our a few days there was trouble in the visit to the Experimental Bee Farm camp ; at the end of a couple of days, I and trust it will be a grand success. put on my bee hat, took my smoker and Enjoy the regular visits of the "Api" made an examination of the ruins, when very much and think we have a treas- I found them all torji to pieces, with ure in the bound volumes. the exception of the before mentioned Italian queen, with her few surviving Chas. G. Wheelock. bees who had left the wet combs and clustered in the cap of the hive. I also

lioseville, III. liad about 200 lbs. of comb honey in one Dear Sirs: and two lb. sections on the hives, which was all lost. In answer to an article by Mr. Arthur I will cheerfully distribute any circu- Todd in the June number of your jour- lars or copies of the " Apiculturist," nal I wish to say that beekeeping is you may see proper to send to ray just the most suitable employment that address. "can be found for sick and weakly Very respectfully yours, women. Why! it just imparts new life to at least one person who for Gko. E. Clossno. The American Apiculturist

% ^anxml latbaUla to BtmxMc aitb IPractiral g^Bke^jptiig. ENTERED AT THE POST-OFFICE, SALEM, AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER.

Published Monthly. S. M. Locke & Co., Publishers & Prop'rs.

VOL. III. WENHAM, MASS., DECEMBER 15, i! No. 12.

SUBSCRIPTION PRICES. has never been determined. Wilson^ $1.00 per year, payable in advance. Sent estimated the reducing sugar and su- on trial three months for 35 cts., six months crose in the nectar of certain flowers. for 60 cts. All the sugars however reducing cop- Advertising H.vrKS:— 15 cents per line of per were classed as glucose. In gen- space each insertion. eral the total quantities of such sugars A line of this type will admit about; words were greater the"' thf sucrose present. One inch will contain twelve lines. In the flower di die red clover the Transient Advertisements must be paid for glucose was three times as much as in advance. the sucrose. Since in pure honey

Those wishing special rates will please there is very little sucrose it follows correspond with tlie Editor. that the chief change which the nec-

When sending nionej' make all postal notes tar undergoes before it ^^pears as and money orders payable at the Saleni, honey is in the inversion of sucrose. Mass., Post Office. During the last year I have had All communications sliould be addressed examined by the Division of Chem- to S. M. I.OCKK & Co., Wenham, Mass. istry of the Department of Agriculture a large number of honeys some of HONEY AND ITS ADUL- which were known to be genuine and others of unknown origin. TERATIONS. Following is a description of the

various samples examined : 5v Prof. H. W. Wiley. No. I. Choice golden rod honey from Wm. Thompson, Wayne Co., N. Y. Price 25 cents per lb. Pure honey is the nectar of flowers No. 2. Choice comb honey from passed through the organism of the Githuns Rexamer, Phila., bee and stored in a comb. Adulter- & Pa. Price 25 cents per lb. ated honey is any compound or No, Same as No. 2. preparation known or sold as honey No, which has not been formed in the No, Strained honey manner described. Chemically con- marked C. O. Perrine, Ind. Price 20 cents sidered, therefore, pure honey consists per lb. of the substances gathered by the No. 6. A very dark honey exhibited bee from flowers, subjected to such at Indiana Beekeepers' Asso- modifications as they may undergo ciation. in the insect laboratory through which No. Choice clover they pass. 7. honey from Charles Israel, N. Y., cts. The saccharine exudation of flow- 25 per lb. ers consists of a mixture of various No. 8. Pure white clover honey, sugars, containing, in the form of 30 cts. per lb., marked G.R.X.X., pollen, a small quantity of nitroge- Pennsylvania. nous matter. The exact number and kind of sugars in the nectar of flowers iChem. Xe^vs, Vol. 38, p. 93. 24 (265) 266 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

No. 9. Honey in comb, 30 cts. per No. 27 Sample marked B. F. Davis, lb., locality not given. North Salem, Hendricks Co., N.Q. 10. California comb honey. Indiana. Bought in Lafayette, Ind., 20 No. 28. White clover and basswood cents per lb. honey (Comb). Linden Place No. II. Same as No. 5. apiary, Indianapolis, Ind., No. 12. Eagle brand honey (in comb) Pugh & Dougherty. Cayuga Co., N. Y. Bought No. 29. Choice extracted honey, in open market, Lafayette, strictly pure, 25 cents per lb., Ind. Price 25 cts. per lb. from McCaul & Hildreth, No. 13. White clover honey. From New York. C. W. Hutchinson, Acton, No. 30. (No brand), from Chas. S. Marion Co., Ind. Duval, Spencerville, Md., 20 No. 14. Sample from Louisiana, C. cents per lb. F. Muth, Cincinnati, Ohio. No. 31. Comb honey made in Tip- No. 15. Bassvvood or Linn honey pecanoe Co., Ind. 25 cents from Illinois, C. F. Muth, per lb. Cincinnati, Ohio. No. 32. Comb honey from Chicago, No. 16. Mangrove honey from Flor- 111. 20 cents per lb.

ida, C. F. Muth, Cincinnati, No. 2,2,. Comb honey made in Cal- Ohio. ifornia, 20 cents per lb. No. 17. Mangrove honey from Flor- No. 34. Strained honey, marked ida, C. F. Muth, Cincinnati, white clover XXC & R, 30 Ohio. cents per lb. No. 18. Pure white clover honey, No. 35. Comb honey bought in open apiary, M. B. Shaw, 378 Union market, Indianapolis, Ind. St., Indianapolis, Ind. Price 25 cents per lb. 30 cents per lb. No. ^6. Pure extracted honey, from No 19. Strained honey from choice F. S. Bull & Sons, Valparaiso, selected white clover, 40 cts. Indiana. per lb. No. 37. Pure extracted honey, from No. 20. Pure extracted honey (crys- Dougherty & McKee, Indi- taUized), 20 cents per lb., anapoHs, Ind. from R. F. Weir, South River, No. 2,^. Extracted honey (dark). Maryland. Supposed to be from sun-' No. 21. Pure extracted honey (liq- flowers. uid), 20 cents per lb., from No 39. Sample donated by C. F. R. F. Weir, South River, Md. Muth, Cincinnati, Ohio.

No. 22. (No brand), from J. Heps- No. 40. Clover honey donated by berger, Md., 25 cts. per lb. C. F. Muth, Cincinnati, O. No. 23. Comb honey made in Tip- No. 41. White sage honey, J. E. pecanoe Co., Ind. Price 20 Pleasants, Santa Ana, Los cents per lb. Angeles Co., Cal,

No. 24. Strained honey. Bought in No, 42, Sumac honey, J. E. Pleas- bulk. 20 cents per lb. ants, Santa Ana, Los Angeles No. 35. Comb honey bought in open Co., Cal. market, Indianapolis, Ind., No. 43. Clover honey from near from H. K. Thurber, N. Y., Cincinnati, C. F. Muth, Cin- 25 cents per lb. cinnati, Ohio, No. 26. Pure machine extracted hon- For convenience of study I have ey, Italian apiary, F. W. Ab- arranged the analyses of the above bott, Indianapolis, Ind. 30 samples in five groups. In Table i cents per lb. are collected the analyses of those THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 267

Table No 1. HONEYS ADULTERATED WITH STARCH SUGAR.

2 268 THE AMERICAN APTCULTURIST.

samples which were adulterated with sugar in a volume of 100 cc. will pro- starch sugar syrup. duce a right handed rotation of 100. In Table 2 are found those sam- The sucrose was calculated from the ples which apparently were adulter- two polariscopic readings (before and ated with sucrose. after inversion) by the usual formula. In Table No. 3 are grouped those Table No. i. In all these samples samples to which it appears that inas indicated by the analyses, starch vert sugar may have been added. syrup (glucose) was largely used as an In Table No. 4 are found the anal- adulterant. In sample No. 5,very little yses of those samples which appear real honeycould have been present,the to be genuine. sample was composed almost exclu- In Table No. 5 are collected the sively of starch syrup and of sucrose

analyses of those specimens which which had been added to give it were obtained from producers or sweetness. In the other cases the su- dealers and which I have every rea- crose which was found by analysis was son to believe to be genuine. probably originally present in the honey part of the mixture, since, had it been added as an adulterant, REMARKS ON TABLES. more of it would have been found. The The temperature at which the di- characteristics of each sample as well rect polarization is taken is given so as of all of them collectively can be that if any great difference in the two seen by studying the table.

temperatures should occur it can be Table No. 2. The mean percent- at once noted. Since the tempera- age of sucrose present in these samples ture has a marked influence on the as/letermined by double polarizations Isevo-rotatory power of invert sugar is 11.79 ^i^d by reduction 14.58. it should always be taken into ac- With the exception of No. 11, to count in expressing the data of the which sucrose was undoubtedly add- work. In order to secure results ed, I cannot think that any sucrose which are strictly comparable some was added by producer or dealer, on definite degree of temperature should account of the small percentage of it

be chosen, at which all the polariza- found. In such cases it is proper to tions should be made or to which suppose that the bees had access to they should be reduced. I am now flowers whose nectar was rich in su- having an instrument constructed crose or that they had been fed a so- which will enable me to make all such lution of that substance. The use of polarizations at any selected temper- solutions of sucrose as bee food is ature. not unusual. The percentage of reducing sugar Table No. 3. These sixteen sam- is calculated for dextrose, and the ples I have grouped together on ac- numbers, therefore, must be taken count of their great Igevo-rotatory with this understanding. In the last power. For the first polarization this column of each table are found the amounts to 16.75 divisions and for percentages of such sugars in terms the inverted liquids to 18.10. It is of total solids. This gives a much possible that this great deviation to better idea of their relative amount the left may have been due to the than if they were expressed in per- entire absence of dextrine or sucrose

centages of the weight of the sub- in the honeys, or that it might have stances examined. been produced by the bee food being In the polarizations the numbers rich in sucrose which suffered a nearly given are divisions of the cane-sugar complete inversion in the body of scale of a large Laurent shadow po- the insect. lariscope in which 16.2 grams of pure It would be quite improper to def- THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. 269 initely assert that invert sugar syrup had been added as an intended adul-

terant. I think it quite possible that bees having access to sucrose food might at one time produce a honey like that in Table No. 2, and at another like that in Table No. 3. Table No. 4. These honeys all appear to be genuine although it is hard to draw the line between such samples as Nos. 31 and 32 and those found in Table No. 3. The mean reading to the left is 7.40 divisions

before inversion and 1 1 . 1 1 afterwards. The mean of undetermined solids is 7.56 and the percentage of reducing sugar before inversion to total solids, 86.77. The means of sucrose as determined by both methods are low and fairly agree, although, as in the other tables, they differ widely in single instances. Table No. 5. These honeys, obtained directly or indirectly from well known apiarists, I have every reason to believe to be pure. If they con-

tain any adulteration it has been added by artificial feeding and not intentionally. It will be observed that these honeys are strongly tevo- rotatory and indeed so much so that some of them miglit have appeared in Table No. 3. It wiM be instructive to compare the numbers in the above tables with those obtained by other analysts. Koenig- gives the following means

of seventeen analyses :

Water 270 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

in a communication to the French quent method of adulteration is to Academy, show that the poison of take a few ounces of genuine comb all the hymenoptera has an acid re- honey, place in a can, holding one action but that it contains also an or two pounds, and then filling up active alkaline substance. The ac- with glucose. The real honey will tivity of the poison is conditioned on gradually diffuse throughout the whole the presence of both the acid and mass giving the required flavor. alkali. The acid is always in large This, the most frequent sophistica- excess and each substance is furnished tion of honey, is also the most readily by a special gland. The inversion of detected. The high dextro-rotatory the cane sugar in the organism of the power of commercial glucose renders bee may be due to the presence of its detection by optical methods ex- these acids. On the other hand it tremely easy. Containing as it does is plain that certain species of pine a considerable percentage of dextrine and some other plants furnish formic and maltose, its percentage of reduc- acid and therefore the detection of ing sugar is consequently small. In this acid in honey is not positive ev- ten samples purchased at random in idence that it is derived from the bee. the eastern markets three were adul- In a recent article'^ the author claims terated in this way. In eleven sam- that the formic acid which honey ples purchased in the western market contains tends to preserve it from only one was glucose. This percent- fermentation. Honey-S3'rup from age, however, does not represent the which the greater part of the formic actual extent of the adulteration. In acid has been washed out or expelled making these purchases I endeavored by heat does not keep as well as the to get a sample of each kind of honey normal product. The latest research- on sale. It will be found that the ers show that this acid is deposited strained honeys of commerce are by the bees themselves by means of quite generally adulterated with glu- their stings. From time to time the cose. bees apply to the walls of the cells Detection of adu/teratiaH with of the comb the tiny drops of poison glucose. (formic acid), that gather on the ends of their stings. Sooner or later I have never yet found a genuine this remarkable antiseptic is incor- honey which is not laevo-jotatory. porated with the honey. The pre- Nevertheless, the turning of the po- servative power of this acid is said larized plane to the right is not con- to be greater even than that of phe- clusive evidence of the presence of nol.^ glucose unless the amount of deflec- A careful study of the results of tion is more than ioo° of the cane these analyses shows the chief adul- sugar scale, when the amount of the substance taken for examination is terants of honey are the following : the same in weight as that required I. COMMERCIAL GLUCOSE. by pure sucrose to read loo divisions. After treatment with .i volume This substance, on account of its of hydrochloric acid and lieating lo honey-like a[)pearance and low price, 70° the solution is cooled and repo- has been one of the most common larized. If now it still reads to the substitutes for honey. Mixed with right the presence of starch sugar- enough of the genuine article to give syrup is established. In such cases, it a flavor it is sold extensively as after inversion the free acid is neu- pure extracted honey. A very fre- tralized and the reducing sugar ' DeutPch Americanische Apotheker Zeit. determined by an alkaline copper 5, 21 p. 6(i4. 8 Comptes Rendus, Vol. LXI, p. 1179. solution. The percentage of this ;; 5

THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. 271

sugar will fall much below seventy reading of scale, -15 ; divide this unless a large part of the adulteration number by two gives -7.5 divisions, has been due to cane sugar. correct reading for a 200 mm. tube. After inversion the reading in a 220 2. CANE SUGAR (SUCROSe). mm. tube was -20.5 divisions, tem- A thick syrup made of cane sugar perature 23° ; difference of the two readings divided by is also used to adulterate honey. 13 144- 11. equals 9.18 per cent; equals sucrose There is only one reason why it is present. not more extensively employed, viz. : The method of double reduction its tendency to crystallize. On this of Fehling's solution once before and account it can only be used in small once after inversion of the cane sugar quantities. There would be no dif- can also be employed. optical ficulty in detecting added cane sugar The method is quicker and, when properly in honey were it not for the fact that conducted, more reliable than the we cannot definitely say how much method by reduction. If the rota- of this substance is present in the tory power of the sample is quite genuine article. In the analyses given small, two or three times the normal by Seiben^ the mean of sucrose in quantity taken the polar- the sixty samples was r.o8 per cent may be and ization conducted in a 400 or in one case, however, it amounted to 500 eight per cent. In the analyses given mm. tube. in this paper the mean percentage of sucrose in eight samples of genuine 3. INVERTED CANE SUGAR. honey was 2.87 and in seven samples As an adulterant of honey the in- which appear to be genuine, 2.74 verted cane sugar is much superior and in the samples contained in Ta- to the sucrose itself. It does not ble No. sixteen in number, which 3, crystallize and when properly made may be genuine, 1.77 per cent. Judg- is palatable and wholesome. Sucrose ing from these analyses I would say is usually inverted by heating with an that it is a rare thing to find a gen- acid and for commercial purposes uine honey which contains more than sulphuric acid is the one generally four per cent sucrose. In the two employed. The difficulty of remov- samples of California honey, Nos. 41 ing all traces of this acid renders the and 42 the percentage of sucrose is detection of inverted sugar somewhat very high. Doubtless the kind of easy by the presence of the traces of flower and climate have much to do the sulphuric acid which still remains with this and it would not be strange in the solution. It is now said, how- if California honey, produced in the ever, that inverted sugar is made in unique conditions of climate and large quantities by treatment with flora which there obtain, should de- brewer's yeast and without the use velop some constant difference from of acids of any kind. When added honeys produced in other parts of to honey in large quantities it can be the world. detected by its great Isevo-rotatory Detection of cane st4gar in honey. power which however decreases rapidly as the temperature rises. At The presence of cane sugar in 23° a pure invert sugar solution would honey is easily detected by the proc- mark -32.5 divisions. In the present ess of double polarization. Illustra- state of our knowledge it would be tion : Sample No. weight of 14, difficult to detect the addition of a sample taken, 16.2 grams in 100 cc, small quantity of invert sugar to honey. length of observation tube 400 mm. From the above studies it appears

9 Op. cit. that pure honey is essentially com- 272 THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. posed of invert sugar together with and requested him to kindly give me a certain portion of sugars optically his views. The following are his inactive (anoptose), water, a small words : quantity of albuminous matter, ash, Boimd Brook, Oct. and solids not sugar, i. e., those which N.J., 28, 1885. while resembling sugar in chemical I have read first and second parts composition are yet not detected in of Frank Cheshire's new book, Bees the ordinary process of analysis. and Beekeeping: Scientific and Prac- In addition to the above it appears tical, and I have been pleased with from the results of a large amount of work done at my suggestion by Mr. it, as with no other new book that I G. L. Spencer, that pure honey con- have seen for a long time. It will tains a varying amount of dextrine be a very valuable contribution "to which in some cases amounts to as general entomology, and the only much as four per cent.^*^ exhaustive work on bees yet written. This investigation is still in progress and therefore its result cannot yet be The plates are magnificent, original, announced. The presence of dex- and so skilfully arranged as to dem- trine in honey doubtless accounts for onstrate the anatomy of the "bee," the phenomenon that in some sam- as has not heretofore been done. ples of pure honey the Isevo-rotatory They prove Mr. Cheshire to be one power is very small or, according to some authors, entirely disappears, of the very ablest microscopists in which would not be the case except the world. for the presence of some highly dex- The publishers also deserve great tro-rotatory substance. credit for the elegance with which Agric. Dept., Washington, D. C. they have done their part. Every beekeeper.oa this side of the water

will want this book, and if the prac- FOREIGN NOTES. tical part proves to be as much in advance of all competitors as the

By Arthur Todd. scientific part is, we shall all be

obliged to have it. Frank Cheshire of London, Eng., [Signed,] S. Hasbrouck. has been kind enough to send me The British Bee Journal in com- the first two parts of his new work menting on the work speaks most entitled, Bees and Beekeeping: Sci- highly of its merits as seen in the two entific and Practical. parts issued, and only regrets that it Not having time fairly to examine will be at least nineteen months be- or pass any opinion on them, I fore the work is complete. sent them to Professor Hasbrouck,

1" Since this investigation wns nnflevtaken It appears by a recent decision the :mtlior(Kei). Anal. Cliem., 18So, p. I(;3)lia8 shown that lioney gatheied from jjine i'oiests in a Sheriff's Court in Scotland contains rlextiine, often in such quantities as to become dextio-rotatory. Klinger claims that the ancient laws relating to that this phenomenon is not exclusively confined to honey of conilerous origin. Accord- bees are not binding if the circum- ing to our observations even left-handed honey may contain marked quantities of dex- stances attending their application ti'ine. If this be so it can hardly be true as W. Lenz (Cliem. Zeit. 8, (il3) affirms that after are considered strained, by the light fermentation honey yields no optically active substance. of modern usage and thought. The THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 273

considered they had action was brought by the pursuer for them, and they a right to take possession of them. 5.00, the value of a swarm of bees. with the bees, and The pursuer resided with his McKie remained Lockrie went for a skep. mother, Mrs. AHison in Glenluce. got them into the He was from home the morning the After they had skep, and were putting the cloth over bees swarmed, and his mother (an looked old woman) was watching the bees. them, Mrs. Allison came, and " these She saw they were working as likely over the bank, and said, Men, replied that to swarm. Her garden, where were bees are mine." McKie that the bees, runs along the roadside. she was too late of coming, and careless about She went in the house for some ten she had been rather detained about minutes, and when she came out, her bees. He was she saw the defenders standing on an hour over the bees. Mr. McFad- to the the road beside a horse and cart. yean contended that according The bees during her absence had law, as laid down by Erskine, when bees hived got away, they re- come off, and the two men were hiv- and ing them into a skep. covered their natural liberty, and be- the She went forward and told the came the same as wild birds, cap- men the bees were hers. They said property of the first person who she was too late in coming, and she tured them again. replied she was here now. She did The sheriff said he had a great re- not see the bees leave the skep, but spect for Erskine, and would be she knew they had come out of her sorry to upset the law of Scotland, garden. The defenders stuck to but he would be still more sorry to them, and took them with them. allow an old woman's bees to be Other evidence was given to show taken in this way within five yards of that when the bees were being her own door, because they had skepped, there were bees flying back- swarmed when she was absent for a ward and forward between this swarm few minutes, and she had not in- and the skep in the garden, and that stantly pursued them. He thought this barefaced case of appro- it was the habit of bees when they was a person's property. came off, if they alighted in the priation of another neighborhood of the place, to keep It was a case that should never have

coming and going in this way. been defended. For two respectable There were no other bees hived men to appropriate another's bees in Glenluce that day. in this way was disgraceful. It was The evidence of the defenders all very well to quote an old law that was to the effect that they were pass- when bees got away they became ing into Glenluce when they discov- wild ; but he could not hold that wild, ered this swarm of bees hanging to they had got away or were so a branch on the side of the road. long as they were within a few yards They were on the opposite side of of the house to which they belonged. the road from Mrs. Allison's garden. He gave decree for £1 and expenses. There was no one there looking after 274 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

The central association for the en- Compared to the returns from my couragement of beekeeping in Italy bees in Pennsylvania, such news al- has lately held a meeting at Milan, most makes me wish myself back in and guests from Switzerland, France, old England again. Germany and England were there. The price of honey has fallen con- Wm. Cowan, editor of the British siderably in Switzerland, principally Bee Journal was there, and promises from too much haste on part of pro- a detailed description of his visit, ducers to rush their crop on the mar- the meetings, etc., and in future ket. There is no harmony of action numbers of " Notes," I shall hope to amongst beekeepers there any more give a few extracts from the same. than here, and honey is rushed in quantities into the great centres of The great bee master, Dr. Dzier- population while the smaller towns zon is to have a Golden Jubilee are left unworked. shortly, and festivities are being or- Lately there has been a great cry ganized in Germany to celebrate the out about the manufacture of honey same with befitting splendor. Del- in Switzerland ; and Monsieur Bert- egates from Italy and other countries rand took the trouble personally to are to visit the doctor. investigate the matter. He found there was only one factory for false A prominent Britishbeekeeper has honey buying its glucose in Germ.any, started for the region whence came ; and its honey in Italy. He found the Carniolan bees, with a view to in- two small shop-keepers who mixed vestigate in their birthplace the mer- their honey with glucose before sell- its claimed for them. He proposes ing their patrons the pure Swiss taking in, on his return journey, the honey from the Alps, but, otherwise, various countries on the eastern the mountain of talk brought forth coast of the Adriatic sea, and also a very small mouse of adulteration. visit several queen-rearing apiaries in Many merchants in France and Italy. For their gentleness, Carnio- Germany decorate adulterated stuff lans seem to be getting into favor in with the name of Swiss honey, Alpine England, but from what I have heard honey and so on, and such conduct their great swarming propensity is has contributed to discredit Swiss against them for a business bee. honey more than anything else. The honey harvest in Switzerland Fhila., Fa. for 1885 has been one of the finest

lbs. is of the century ; 50 to 100 announced on every side, and often BINTS FOR BEGINNERS.

lbs. from 100 up to 200 per colony. By J. E. Pond. In England the season has been good, and one beekeeper in south of HIVES AND THEIR MANIPULATION.

England expects to record by end In beekeeping it is well to follow

of the season a minimum crop of the old rule, viz. : —"first get your

200 lbs. per colony. cage and then your bird." This THE AMERICAN APIGULTURIST. 275 rule should be followed by the begin- tained from any of the frame hives ner, for the reason that fully as much in common use, but that some of depends upon the choice of hive as them are more in use than others, upon any other one thing connected and of course it follows that those with the business. In choosing a are the most valuable, that have hive I need not say that movable the largest endorsement of beekeep- them. frames are indispensable ; as it is now ers of experience by their use of well known that no others can give Probably the praise given to the even fair results. In the choice of different forms of frames is so frame, regard should be had to the given because their owners have be- condition and surroundings of one's come accustomed to using them, and locality, and the purposes which one don't care to change ; but it is prob- has in view, viz., gathering surplus able also, that had they chosen a dif- comb or extracted honey. A hive ferent form at the start, they would should be constructed as plainly and have given that form the same praise. simply as possible, and as few " con- For myself, I have for years used traptions " as necessity alone requires the " L" frame so called, and have " should accompany it. A plain box found that " it fills the bill far bet-

with rabbets for the frames to rest ter than any other ; and I have given upon is aU that is needed or re- nearly all a fair and thorough trial. quired, and any expense made be- I do not propose here to advertise yond that point is so much money any form of frame, however, but thrown away or simply expended leave its selection to the choice of for mere looks. The construction each individual. While movable of the hive should merely be such frames will allow of their being taken that it will accommodate the style out of the hive and examined at any save for and size of frames decided upon ; time, it is not advisable, and I will say right here in the most the purpose of gaining manual dex- imperative manner, that but one terity in manipulation, to examine a size and style of frame should be tol- hive unless for a special purpose. A erated in a given apiary. As upon colony of bees cannot, it will be seen the frames depends the whole meas- at once, be pulled over, taken out ure of success or otherwise, they and returned, without creating con- should be constructed with the great- siderable disturbance, and such dis- est care, and as nearly mathemati- turbance ean be but detrimental to cally exact as is possible, so that they the working of that colony. may be interchangeable not only in The rule to follow then should be a given hive, but with the frames of never to open a hive unless with every hive in use. The necessity of some special object in view. If it is this if not seen now by the novice, desired to show friends or visitors will be at once appreciated the mo- the ease with which bees can be opment he begins practical work. In the erated upon, it will be well to devote choice of hive it should be borne in one colony to that particular pur- mind that good results can be ob- pose ; by this means the minimum of ;

276 THE AMERICAN APICULTUEIST. disturbance will be made. As I said much depends upon the person in my first article, the time to pur- himself, his disposition, strength of chase bees is in the spriag rather mind, power of fortifying himself

than the fall, for while they can be against losses that are always liable purchased more. cheaply now, the to occur, and patience to work with extra cost in the spring is not so insects that have so formidable a

great as to overbalance the chance weapon of offence and defence ; and of loss during the winter, especially also to bear up under difficulties that with the actual beginner. happen even in the best regulated Hives should be purchased in the apiaries. A careful course of study fall, however, and some portion of on all the points indicated in this the time during the winter devoted to article will be of value in forming examining them, removing and re- an opinion and making a choice placing frames, sections, and surplus and about all that can be done in honey receptacles ; by this means the limited space allowed me, is to manual dexterity will be gained, and guide my readers to the right path, such dexterity is greatly to be desired. rather than to attempt to make that

It is a mooted question whether path for them.

surplus comb honey or extracted The golden rule of beekeeping is pays the best. This is an individual one that should ever be borne in mind, question, and each must determine for for unless it is kept constantly in view, himself. Much will depend upon and closely followed, nothing but dis- the locality, and much also upon the aster—will result. It is the rule of O^^o, operator. If surplus comb honey is viz. : "Keep your stocks strong." decided upon, then a study should be Beekeeping is made up of two

made of the various methods in parts, viz., theory and practice, and vogue of storing the same, and here they should go hand in hand to-

there is so great a variation of opin- gether ; not however like a party

ion, that it is hard to decide which whom I once knew, who bought sev- is the best ; but as all are largely used eral works on beekeeping and never and with success, any choice then looked at them excepting when will ordinarily show goQd results. something turned up out of the usual

In the gathering of extracted course of things ; and many an acci-

honey, the weight of evidence is on dent happened, or loss occurred to the side of two or more story hives, him, for the reason that he would

each story of course being a dupli- not look up a point till obliged so to cate of every other. Probably the do by something unusual taking

beginner will succeed better the first place among his bees. Study, and year in working for extracted honey, careful study too should be prelimi-

as swarming is brought more under nary, and the theory being well

control by so doing, and of course learned from the books, then one is

much trouble is thus avoided. It is ready and able too, to apply princi- difficult to advise any given person ples to actual practice. in regard to apiculture, because so Foxboro, Mass. THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 211

FEEDING BEES AND the well known candy mixture to en- FEEDERS. courage the recruiting of young bees. We now begin the "grand By P. R. Russell. rounds." I approach the first stand, place my ear at the embrasure, No. 2. knock lightly on the sally-port, when I begin feeding about the first of I hear from within the old familiar Oct. and intend to finish about the challenge : 15 th. No use to feed before this Halt ! Who comes there ? time for winter stores because the "Friend with the countersign." bees are still getting honey and too "Advance friend and give the much brood still remains unhatched. countersign." No need to fear unsealed stores. "Good candy." After the feeders have all been re- Countersign correct, advance there are moved, no great heaps of friend. rattle-traps to lumber up the store Having removed the covering it house as with other kinds of feeders gives me great joy to see the little because I have the jars all filled with soldiers all massed up against the nice pear, quince, tomato or other wire cloth at "present arms" waiting for sauce for winter you see I have all ; their rations. All is clean and bright, my fixings do double duty if possi- no foul odor arises, but the fragrant ble. sweet waxy smell of the hive. I The bees are now all ready to take from my haversack their quota pack for wintering on their summer of candy dough, place it on the stands. I replace the feeding board wire cloth directly over the bees, with a light frame covered with wire cover it with a little patch of enam- cloth and reinforced centrally with elled cloth, and then go to the next two cross bars to prevent sagging. hive and repeat the operation and so This I place on the frames, wire cloth on until all have been supplied. If down, which allows bee space under this food is not mixed too thick and and that is all I want. I want my only powdered sugar is used, it will bees to winter on their combs and all be eaten up clean. But if it is not cluster in a ball on top of them ; placed so that the bees can run all An old piece of carpeting is laid on over it they will suck the honey out the wire frames and then the big of it and leave the sugar to fall down chaff cushion with plenty of vention the bottom board. I keep them lation above it through the gabled supplied with this food as long as roof. I give them but very little at- they appear to need it. During the tention during the winter, save once pleasant days of April I place a suit- or twice I draw out with an iron rod, able feeder in the open air, in a hooked at the end, any dead bees sunny nook, some rods away from that may fall to the bottom board. any hive and each day supply it with I open the spring campaign about a quantity of sugar syrup made some- March ist by offering a bounty of what thinner than that used in the 27i THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. autumn. This manner of feeding popular feeders lying round that will not do, however, if there are have been mustered out of service other bees in the neighborhood, or for disability, among .the poorest of in the fall of the year. By the side of which I count those that are used at this syrup feeder I supply plenty of the entrance. These latter have all rye meal and it is just fun to see been court-martialed and drummed them carry it off. I discontinue all out of camp. To my beekeeping feeding with the first bloom of the comrades who have, "read a fiery cherry tree which will be about the gospel writ in burnished rows of

loth of May. At this time if I steel," I give you a soldier's greeting have fed judiciously, my frames will hoping some thought in these strag- be well filled with brood way up to ling sentences may lighten the labors the top bar and but litde food will of your "forward march." be found in the hive. The bees are Lynn, Mass. now ready for the approaching harvest. This closes up feeding opera- year. tions for the A GUIDE TO THE BEST seldom have occasion to feed I METHODS OF BEE- during the summer months, but if I KEEPING. should this is the way I should do it, and this idea alone is worth in my 5r J. L. Chkist. opinion a whole year's subscription R. F. HoUerman, Translator. to the journal. Place the fall feeding (Continued from p. 228, Vol. III.) board with the three-inch hole, in The grating is placed in line with the centre of the hive ; then take any the entrance and the bees are almost tin cylinder three or four inches high compelled to build their combs regu- without top or bottom that will fit larly to it, so they build up the into the hole in the board and set it pane .of glass only very seldom, and in the hole. Then fill it with the above also in winter and early spring mould mentioned sugar dough and cover it is seldom found even in damp over. The food will pass through weather as the air has communica- the wire cloth no faster than the bees tion with all the spaces and can take it and is much safer for a sum- draw through the combs. ^ mer food than liquids which always 'This grating is much preferable for a freer incite robbing. passage of air and the tendency to regular I saved a weak colony this sum- building of comb than a board witli a round or square hole in the centre through which that being ruined by robbers mer was the bees went on building. Tliia circum- and on the point of starvation. The stance made me resolve even in the earliest years to discard the board and favor the grat- robbers left and it built up rapidly ing. On the former the capping of wax by the above plan ; but success will from the winter stores and all otlier refuse remains lying, which not only makes it largely depend upon having this food very dUncult lor tlie bees to carry out from of the right consistency which you amongst tlie combs but it gives the motlis nourisliment and a place to locate. Also by will soon ascertain by a litde prac- many top stories through the irregular l)uild- tice. I have quite a number of the iiig and cross running combs the pane of THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 279

One can also by this arrange In placing underneath large straw through opening the sHde before the skeps I can furthermore not always openings between combs, upon sul- hit the time so that the last one will try days, to give the bees great reUef be built full and this empty space is with the fresh air and draft which very injurious in winter because of the strong colonies require very much. the cold as well as in the fall and In winter during wet warm weather particularly in spring because of one can make the hive cooler which robbers. is often very serviceable yes, even ; Again, my little wooden top stories necessary, as I have found honey have many advantages which one running out of the hive at such a time. sees and finds only after using them, In addition to all this my wooden one can reap a harvest with them in hives stand solid, fit exactly one even very moderate seasons. upon another and have no instance One can supply small, medium and as yet, although they stand simply large swarms proportionately top sto- fastening, upon one another without ries and give them three, four or five over; but how of any being blown stories as is best. One can always

often do the straw skeps stand lame, enlarge them as long as there is get crooked and are bent with the nourishment in the field. One weight of honey. can in the fall, middle of winter, in What havoc can the mice create spring, or when one wishes, help other

in the winter in the straw skep ; but bees in want of stores and give with the wooden their energies to them one or two stories from colo- get in are vain. nies having abundance of stories set

Lastly, the straw skeps are gener- away. One can at all times of the ally too large and lack many advan- year in a few minutes unite two or tages in consequence. One can three weak colonies, place a weak easily take in such, too much honey colony over or under a strong one. from the bees, although not easily If one has a strong colony which

too little ; but one can only leave to swarmed late and did not have

much as one year's honey may be enough time to supply itself with suffi- worth more than another, even if cient nourishment for winter and one

bees are left two winters of stores, does not wish to unite it with another there is little lost as one can harvest swarm one can give them a story

so much the more next year as the with honey and next season it will bees will consume not a drop more. be the youngest and best swarm, and

Yet it is well when one can conven- if he has not enough combs he can iently take the extra stores and the get a lower story with empty combs interest from capital in the apiary and there are many more advantages drawn yearly and renewed. of which experience is constantly reminding us. glass is built over so one can only sec one comb. Also a board through changing from I would hesitate to recommend moist to dryness, crack and warp which is this kind to all lovers of bees, had I unpleasant and injurious it' not known in time. not been convinced of their superi- 280 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

ority by much experience and long a Story underneath, it is necessary use, as do also all that have copied to close up the upper entrance after me recommend them strongly. Yes, two or three hours or the bees will

I am prepared to give as a thank- not continue building readily ; it is offering my whole apiary to any one also necessary with old stocks which that will show me a better and more one does not wish to let swarm or useful dwellinsf for the bees. from which one does not wish to make nuclei. One gives them in

April, if they are populous enough

HOW TO MAKE THE SAME SERVICEABLE (before, they will not build) and they BEES. IN RAISING have enough stores ; the robbing time

is past it is enough to build Out of the preceding much light and warm

an under story ; for to give several has been given as to how to use the at once is not serviceable. First, the stories. If one wishes to have put bees prefer building in one rather in a new swarm, place (if the swarm

than two empty ones ; next the in- is strong) four such stories- one upon carrying lose too time another quite free without attaching bees much

running up the empty story ; then them in any way ; only should they they cannot guard the entrance thor- not fit exactly on one another they oughly against robbers, ants, moths, should be glued in the cracks, and etc. When this story is more than the swarm put into it. If, after two half filled give them another and so or three weeks, the fourth story is on I always did this placing-under half full, if four have been taken, or ; early in the morning when the bees it is three-quarters full, place another were yet quiet, particularly if the story under to prevent the bees from

morning is somewhat cool ; one pla- throwing a swarm which is not good ces a story upon a board^ and stands in fact injurious, when the fifth is full with the same before the hive. Your as before, put on the sixth and so on assistant stands behind it, raises it. until the bees build no more, which generally takes place in August. 3 I generally call this the under-story board, As soon, however, as one has placed it might also be called the alighting board. It sliould be allowed to project half a foot, so the 2Ia such cases one must put neither too bees can conveniently fly from it, rest and sun many nor too few stories. If one takes too few, themselves, it is inconvenient for them if they if the next day is a warm one, the bees may cannot have considerable room at the en- out as tlie heat forces them out; but if one move trance. The alighting board is, tlierefore, to the is too great in takes too many and room be one foot eight inches long and one foot proportion to their number they are discour- three inches wide. In front it can be made to out. For ordinary aged and will not build an slope away or cut rounding. With the thick swarm three stories are generally sufficient. In board, I had for many years much trouble on some years ago two is- my presence swarms account of warping. I used an oak board the time from equally strong sued about same which was particularly bad if cut from the in three stories the other parents, one was put whole log, viz., through heart and all; after in four. Tlie llrst not only filled its three some rains and sunshines on account of the stoiies but a fourth I placed underneath it; strength of the board, raised up hive and all the others quit building wlien two were filled, from warping. Therefore take lighter half- 60 I took the fourth away and they at once inch and not such strong material. Let the commenced building again and eventually board have less strengtii than the weight of filled the fourth one. the colony can resist. Pine is good. THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 281 then draws out the old board'* and now we are warranted in making the statement that, so long as we retain r ^places the new story upon the board ; this must be done rapidly. This the confidence of the keekeepers by is always essential in handling of bees continuing in a straightforward, man- and everything should be ready be- ly course, there is no question as to forehand that nothing be wanting in its future success. any operation, and one should be We are pleased to know that the fortified with bee-cap, gloves and most prominent and practical apia- boots. rists are gradually gathering about us RodheiDi, Gc7'maiiy, Jiih\ 1783. and endorsing our position so that \To be continued^ the richest thoughts of the ripest in- tellects will be found in our columns. We can safely say that the Apicul- EDITORIAL. turist for 1886 will be far more interesting and valuable than ever With this number closes another before. We mean always to maintain year and the third volume of the the same independent course in con-' Apiculturist. While our cares and ducting our journal which has char- burdens during the past season have acterized it from the start, and all been very trying, yet we are wonder- those who send articles for publica- fully cheered and encouraged by the tion may rest assured that they will steady and healthy growth of our be treated with careful consideration. journal, an omen of future pros- There are those who seem to feel perity. that they can pursue any course that The Apiculturist enterprise was they choose no matter how injurious entered into as an experiment and it may be to apicultural interests, and

* One must take away the old board as gen- then suppress any opposition to, or erally there are a number of bees upon it and public investigation of, the same. many would be crushed if one should shove or place upon it the old story. These bees re- So far as they can control the the morning main sitting upon the board in public press and the writings of oth- and often re-locate themselves. One should, therefore, lay the board near tlie stock or upon ers, this may be possible ; but we wish stool in front of the stock so the bees can a it plainly understood that the columns run in again. If the weather is wet one sliould are always turn them upon the new alighting board with of the Apiculturist open a goose wing, so none of them will perish. It to truthful investigation and the free- is in manipulating, and particularly placing expression of thought and opinion s

Beekeepers' Association the nucleus vances have been made in apicul- around wliich our interests should tural knowledge, and we look forward cluster and to which our efforts to still greater and grander develop- should be directed. The only effect- ments in the near future. ual method of producing the desired Our readers can render us much results is to make. our associations assistance by distributing sample representative in character, and this copies among their beekeeping should be done at once. We trust neighbors, and we will cheerfully that at Detroit this matter will receive furnish, /r*?*? of cost, all the sample careful consideration. copies needed for that purpose, if Having had a severe attack of ner- you will call for them. vous prostration we have been unable With you we bid adieu to the old for the past three months to do justice year, trusting that we shall again to our journal work ; but, thanks to a meet you at the commencement of kind Providence and a strong consti- the new year, with renewed ener- tution, our health is rapidly improving gies and a stronger determination, and we expect to be able to join with your help, to make the Apicijl- hands with our western friends at De- TURIST the most reliable and best troit and bring home to our readers representative of the interests of the considerable valuable information. beekeepers. We take great pleasure in extending our heartfelt thanks to the many beekeeping friends for the unwaver- CORRESPONDENCE. ing, confidence and continuous sup- invertible hives. port which they have rendered us. Dear Editor. W^e will not attempt to say more for I have read with much interest words often fail to convey an ade- Mr. Shuck's article on Invertible for indebted- quate expression such Hives in the last issue of your val- ness, so we would ask our readers and uable journal. (I beg Mr. Newman's patrons to continue such support in pardon, I should say valuable bee paper). "Manipulation of the right our work and to increase the circula- sort" says Mr. Shuck, "stimulates the tion of our journal, just so long as colony and causes the brood to repre- they consider that we properly spread," etc. If we can, by simply sent and foster the interests of the inverting the hive get rid of the beekeepers. trouble of opening up, spreading frames apart, uncapping honey to As we pen the closing lines of our stimulate, etc., as is generally prac- last editorial for this year, we are tised in the spring, we have advanced impressed with the solemn sense of a long step in bee culture. the weighty responsibility resting up- What I notice more particularly in on us, and we look to the Source of the article and which I think ought not to be lost sight of is the fact all wisdom and strength for guidance stated that "when a hive is inverted in the work that is almost as dear to the bees at once proceed to destroy us as life itself. queen cells." "Nine similar trials During the past year many ad- your correspondent made with the THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 283

same result." Have we not here an Avoid repeating old methods or say- easy method of preventing after ings that have appeared in print

swarms, superior to the "Heddon" or over and over again ; then we can any other plan? Eight days after a give our readers much more infor- first swarm has issued invert the mation in the same space.

hive, 4he ' bees will destroy the re- —Have you discovered any liew maining queen cells and the thing is and simple methods of manag'ing done. ' How many readers of the your colonies? Have you had bet- "Apiculturist" will try this plan and ter results in introducing queens or tell us how they succeed? caring for swarms, etc. ? Have you ' Apis Canadensis. found any difficulties hard to over- Kingston, Ontario, Nov. i§, /S(?5. come or any new methods of avoiding any particular difficulties ? If so,

please tell our readers all about it, NOTES AND QUERIES. and ki^ return others will perhaps give you some valuable information that — We have omitted the Dealers' will doubly'repay you for your efforts. List, and some other matter to give Lef us be' one great family, each

room to Prof. Wiley's valuable paper one 'wining to ' assist his neighbor, on the adulteration of honey and and we fcan assure you that the re- trust that the dealers will pardon the suits will be pleasant and-;prpfi,tat)le. omission. —We are preparing a rich feast —^^'ill those who have articles for for our readers which will appear in the " Apiculturist " kindly send them the January number. Be sure and in at once so that we can send out watch for the same. the January number on the first of the month. — Some of the prices in the Nov- —Our old subscribers must not ember club list were incorrect, but forget our liberal club offers, but re- they are all right in the present new their subscriptions promptly and number.

. take advantage of them. Remember — On page 236 of our journal will that all who renew can secure a choice be found a note referring to the adul- warranted queen either Italian or teration of honey. Holy Land for^i.oo extra ; the pay This . note was prepared whil^ I for th^ same not to be sent until was. at home sick, and escaped my spring, after you have been notified notice when ;the jourjial was printpd. in the journal that we are ready to While it is a fact a large portion of send our queens. New subscribers " the " tumbler ". or " prepared can secure one of these same queens honey found in the grocery stores in for 50 cents extra under the same this section is justly described in said conditions. note, yet* I have no hesitancy in say- .A§.,\v§ shall ,book. your calls for , ing that whenever a package of queens as your snbscjriptions are sent honey is labelled with the address in, you must be prompt if you want and signature of the producer of your queen early in the season. said honey it will be found pu7-e. advantages- offered us —The by I; have yet to learn of a bee- to advertisers are not excelled. Try keeper who puts adulterated honey our journal and see if we are not cor-, on the market. And it would cer- - rect. ' •, tainly be folly for him to do so under —When taking convention reports his own signature. " boil them down ;" give us the facts I would heartily urge the beekeep- and the cream of the proceedings. ers not only to " put up " their — . —

284 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST.

honey in "tumblers," but also in melting it and placing a drop on a every kind and class of receptacle piece of woollen cloth ; after it is that will attract the attention of the perfectly cold and solidified, pour on a customer. few drops of ninety per cent of alco- While we cannot prevent the adul- hol and rub the cloth between the teration of honey, yet we can make hands. The wax will be converted a sale for pure honey by making a into dust, and will easily separate liberal offer for any adulteration found from the cloth if it contains no fat in of 01/ r any honey ; placing such and will leave no stain ; when it con- offer on our labels over our own sig- tains fat it will leave grease spots. nature. Silas M. Locke, Editor. British Bee Journal.

—Of late there has been a question — One of the most remarkable raised as to the advantages and dis- yields of honey ever heard of has advantages of using smoke to induce just been gathered at an apiary near bees to fill with honey and become Riverside, Cal. The yield from quiet. thirty-three colonies was seven and a While it is true that in- a smoker quarter tons, an average of 414 judiciously used is a detriment, yet pounds to the colony.— Canadian in our experience we have found it Bee Journal. indispensable. Generally, a few puffs — Another member of the Los An- at the entrance and a few puffs as geles County Beekeepers' Associa- the cloth cover is carefully re- tion has been called away. Peter moved are all that is needed with per- Philipi one of the oldest and most haps a few puffs occasionally where skilful apiarists of this county, died the bees seem determined to run or on the 7th of August last, at his fly out at the top of the hive. 1 apiary, near San Fernando. Mr. One must acquire a knowledge of Philipi was born at the ancient city the habits and disposition of the of Frier, on the river Moselle, in bees under his charge, else he will Prussia, in and learned the have trouble, smoke or no smoke. 1831, trade of weaving. During his ap- With the Cyprians, smoke has the prenticeship he took care of his mas- the effect of making them almost ter's bees, and took a deep interest desperate, and it affects the Holy- in the business. He came to the lands somewhat similarly, although United States in 185 and located the latter are not so irritable. 1, at Los Angeles in 1858, and soon Our advice is, keep your smoker after commenced beekeeping, start- at hand, but use as little smoke as ing in the business with only a few possible to produce the desired re- colonies. He made his settlement sults. This must be acquired by on government land at the Tujunga practice. in 1 87 1, and took with him forty- TESTING BEESWAX. eight colonies of bees. By the open- — When beeswax is chewed it ing of the season of 1876 he had should have no disagreeable taste increased them to 180 colonies, and .and must not stick to the teeth. In during that season extracted 75,000 the adulterated wax the nature of jx)unds of honey. During the sea- the foreign material can generally be son of 1884 he extracted about detected by the taste ; the addition 45,000 pounds of very superior of fat can generally be readily de- honey. tected. If it sticks to the teeth, the ]\Ir. Philipi was one of the found- presence of resin may be assumed. ers of the County Association, and A simple method of detecting the for many years took an active part in presence of fat in wax consists in our meetings. For the last four THE AMEBICxiN APICULTURIST. 285 years he had been afflicted with par- beekeepers, snd although they took no part were very encouraging listeners. alysis, but was able to attend to his The committee to prepare questions apiary until about four months before brought out the following which were his death. He leaves a wife and taken up in order: "Does it pay to two daughters to mourn his loss, and feed extracted honey in order to produce comb honey and what way can it a wide circle of warm friends who be done the best?" Mr. Couser : I sympathize with them in their sorrow. think it takes about three pounds of —Rural Califoniian. extracted honey to get one of comb and do not think it will pay. I feed by tipping the hive back and pour the

honeyln at the entrance ; I do this at night.

CONVENTION NOTES, L. W. Baldwin : I feed only to get unfinished sections completed which can be done just as the honey harvest WESTERN BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION. is closing and not allow the bees to The fourth annual meeting of the stop comb building. There is money Western Beekeepers' Association con- in it if carried out in this manner. vened in the Court House at Independ- A. A. Baldwin : I have fed extract- ence, Mo., at ten o'clocli, a. m., Oct. ed honey for this purpose and think it 15, 1885. will pay but have not tested it by act- President A. A. Baldwin occupied ual weighing and experiments. the chair. The morning session was 2. "Which race of bees is best to taken up with the order of business. keep for the purpose of getting comb The committee appointed by the North honey?" R. B. Leahy came forward' Am. Beekeepers' Societv said that the with a plea for the blacks as far as get- following railroads (A. T. & S. F., M. ting white capped and finished up P., U. P. and H. & St. Joe) gave flrst- comb honey for market. I think they class freight rates on honey in glass enter the sections more readily before and third-class on extracted honey. swarming and are less disposed to The committee also suggested that in- swarm. All things considered I pre- asmuch as the transportation compa- fer the Italians.

nies held monthly meetings that a com- James H. Jones : I would*not keep mittee be appointed that had more bees if I had to keep the blacks. Here time than the present committee to the discussion was quite animated in prosecute the business further by vis- bringing out the difierent traits of the iting these meetings and if possible ob- two races, but the association came tain a better schedule for beekeepers. down solid for the Italians. Report received and the appointment Other races of bees were spoken of, of a committee deferred for the pres- but no oue had handled them suffi- ent. ciently to be very enthusiastic over The association next proceeded to them. the election of oflicers for the coming 3. "What way is best to winter year, resulting in the choice of E. M. bees?"

Hayhurst of Kansas City, Mo., Presi- L. W. Baldwin : I winter my bees in dent, R. M. Leahy, Higginsville, Mo., the cellar and have found by the scales Vice President, JainesH. Jone.s, Buck- that on an average bees consume from ner, Mo., Treasurer and P. Baldwin, ten to twelve pounds more honey per Independence, Mo., Secretary. The colony when wintered on the sunnner remainder of the morning session stand than when wintered in the cellar. passed pleasantly in the discussion of This is quite an item in wintering a several interesting topics relative to large ajfiary.

bee culture ; and as tlie object of the A. A. Baldwin : I think that outdoor morning session was to get the ma- wintering brings the bees through chinery oiled up ready for business, with more vigor and they usually the president appointed a committee swarm earlier, and I feel confident to prepare subjects for the afternoon's that bees packed with chaff will con- discussion, and the association ad- sume at least five pounds less honey journed to 1.30. than if not.

Afternoon session. —The association Pres. Hayhurst : I think chafl'-pack- was called to order by president Hay- ing saves stores. hurst at 1.30. The general opinion was that bees Several ladies took seats with the wintered on the summer stand should 286 THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. be crowded on to as few combs as they Mr. Thorn: I would have them face can occupy with 20 to 25 pounds of the same way summer and winter. stores and well packed. S. W. Salisbury : I have loose bottom 4. "Does it pay to use reversible boards and raise the hive in summer " frames and section boxes? and prevent the bees from lying out No one present had made any use of and let them down on the bottom board them except Mr. Conser who had used in winter. I think the hives should them and was well satisfied with face the south. them. 7. "How should young swarms be 5. "How far from each other should handled to secure the largest amount' larye apiaries be located in a good of honey?" " honey country? James H. Jones : Ihavetrie'd several This question brought out from some different methods year after year and of the members statements of long am not satisfied yet. fliglits for honey, but the opinion most S. VV. Baldwin: I make a nucleus generally accepted was that if placed from the swarm and put the rest in the not less than four miles apart there parent colony. , . would be no conflict. r. Baldwin : A good way is to shut the Association adjourned till nine swarm on five or six frames and compel o'clock next morning. them to go into the sections at once. Association met at nine o'clock. The 10. "Is there any successful way of president not having arrived, vice introducing queens?" president R. B. Leahy took the chair. E.M.Hayhursthavingmade the state- L. W. Baldwin was selected to pre- ment that he could introduce five hun- pare the table of statistics. There dred queens without the loss of one being no other business- to be trans- was called on to give his method which acted the list of questions was taken is as follows : After making the colony up and opened with the question : queenless I have a young queen caged 6. " Does it pay the trouble to use in a Peet cage and place the cage di- wired fi-ames? " rectly over the cluster of bees and leave

A. A. Baldwin : I have had but very it there till I see the bees are perfectly little experience with them, but all I reconciled to the queen; this will re- have examined showed the wire. quire two or three and sometimes Mr. Conson: I have used them. several days. I then remove the queen Where a m&n is shipping bees I think cells and place the cage on an outside they are of great benefit. In handling comb over some honey, remove the combs at home they are not of so much slide and rim out a plug through the use. comb letting the plug remain in place L. W. Baldwin: I have had probably and leave it undisturbed for a week. as much experience as any one present If the bees are disturbed before the in handling and moving bees for several queen begins to lay she will become years and in all that time have not had frightened, running and piping and the a half dozen combs injured even if bees will chase and kill her. The im- transported without springs and as far portant point is to have the bees rec- as I have ol)served cannot see any use onciled, every cell out and no robbing. for wires. L. W. Baldwin : I have found that difli- R. B. Leahy : If I were going to run colonies long queenless are very for comb honey, using a frame with a cult colonies to introduce queens to, short top-bar, I should not use wires. almost impossible with me. In handling, I had rather have them Adjourned to L30 p. m. wired, especially for lower story. Closing session.—Meeting called to 7. "How can we remedy the turning order at L30, president Hayhurst pre- out of the starters in the sections as siding. the bees work them?" • Several persons came forward and This question called out this sea- became members of the association. son's experience of several leading bee- A member handed in the question keepers, and it was generally thought " What is the most simple, cheap and that the cause was the slow flow of expeditious way for the practical bee- honey, cool weather and colonies keeper to change his stock by re-

light for bees ; some advocated using queening?" smaller starters, others turning the L. W. Baldwin : I put in cells after sections around, while others thought the colony has swarmed and again im- to crowd the bees would remedy it. mediately after Ihe honey harvest by 8. "What direction is best to have taking the queen from the colony and the hives face in winter time?" the next day give it a queen cell. — —

THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 287

A. A. Baldwin: I had just as soon at this hotel are .$2 per day, but they as not have my colonies queenless for have been reduced to §1.25 per day to twenty days after the honey harvest those attending the convention. There and would take this time to give them will be reduced rates on all Michigan a queen. i-ailroads, also as far east as Bufl'alo, as S. W. Salisbury: I rcqueen with far west as Chicago, and as far south swarmins cells. as Toledo. Efforts are being made to The question " Is it advisable to clip secure reduced rates to still further the queen's wings? " brought outalively points, but at present the prospects of discussion. success are not very promising. No

J. H. Jones : I prefer to have my certificates will be sent out until about queens clipped. Dec. 1; but all who expect to attend S. W. Salisbury: I have tried clip- should write to the Secretary at once, ping the queen's wings and think it in- and certificates will be sent out as soou duces the bees to supersede the queen as they are ready. immediately. I also have a great deal W. Z. Hutchinson, Sec, of trouble in finding a clipped queen when swarming. Bogersville, 31ich. L. W. Baldwin : The ease and facility PROGRAMME. in handling swarming are much in favor of clipped queens. I lilce the practice. first day.

A. A. : Baldwin I do not think that Tuesday FORENOON SESSION 10a.m. clipping the queen's wings causes the —Convention called to order. — Address bees to supei-sedeher. past The season of Welcome, by Edwin Willetts, Presi- with an apiary of 135 colonies only two dent of the Michigan Agricultural Col- were superseded and they through nat- lege. —Response by tlie President, L.C. ural causes. Root. — Calling the roll of members of great majority A of the members last year, payment of annual dues, represent practised it. ception of new members, and distribu- James D. Meador was appointed to tion of badges.— Reading the minutes endeavor to get better schedule on a of the last meeting. —Reports of the apiarian products from the railroad Treasurer and Seci'etary. —Announce- companies. ments.—Miscellaneous business. Adjourned to meet in Kansas City, Afternoon session. — 2 p. m. —An- next spring, at the call of the executive nouncements. —Annual address of the committee. President. —Miscellaneous business. B. Thorn of Glen. Kans., had on W. " Production of Comb Honey," G. M. exhibition a colony of Holy Land bees. Doolittle, Borodino, N. Y.-" Produc- Mr. John Conser, of Glen, Kans., made a tion of Extracted Honey," Chas. Da- display of extracted honey. There was dant, Hamilton, III. — " Marketing Hon- no general display. ey." C. F. Muth, Cincinnati, O. The following is the number of colo- Evening session.—7.30 p. m.— An- nies of bees, pounds of honey and wax nouncements. — Miscellaneous busi- represented: ness. —Discussion of questions tliat No. colonies last fall. 1,528 " " have accumulated in the question box this spring, 1,138 during the day. " lbs. comb honey, 33,557 " " ex. honey, 10,285 SKCOND day. " " Avax, I'JG Wednesday morning se.ssion.— 9 P. Baldwin, Secretary. A. m. —Announcements. — Miscellane- ous business. — "Bee Pasturage, !'Thos. THE NORTH AMERICAN BEEKEEPERS' G. Newman, Chicago, 111. — "Selling SOCIETY. and Shipping Bees by the Pound," E. M. Hayhurst, Kansas City, Mo.— Selec- This society will hold its IGth annual tion of place for holding next conven- convention on Dec. 8, 9 and 10, 1885, tion, and election of officers. at Detroit, Mich. The hall in whicli Afternoon session. — 2 p. m. — An- the meeting will be held is known as nouncements. — Miscellaneous busi- the " Red ^Nlen's Wigwam," is lo- " and ness. — Excellence or Cheapness : cated at 63 Michigan Avenue, one block Which?" A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio.— west of the City Hall. Just across the "Comb Foundation," John Vandervort, street from the "Red Men's Wigwam" Laceyville, Pa. —"Beekeeping as a bus- is the Antisdel House, wliicli will be iness," Dr. C. C. Miller, Marengo, 111. the hotel at which the society will make Evening session. — 7.30 p. m. — An- its head-quarters. The regular rates nouncements. — Miscellaneous busi- 288 THE A3IEBICAN APICULTURIST. ness.—Discussion of questions in tlie to go. Then, with the reduced rates at question box. the hotel, it will make your expenses low. Your committee is still at THinD DAY. very work trying to make it pleasant for you a.m. Thursday morning session.— 9 when you arrive in Detroit. We hope Miscellaneous Announcements. — you will all come and make this meet- James business.—" Reversinj? combs," ing one long to be remembered by those Pol- Heddon, Dowagiac, Mich.—" The present. A large sample room at the Agri- len Theory," Prof. A. J. Cook, hotel has been placed at our disposal cultural College, Mich. where you can have every facility to An- Afternoon Skssion.— 2 p. m.— show anything new or of interest to the busi- nouncements. — Miscellaneous Society. ness.— "Wintering Bees," Ira Barber, Let every beekeeper canvass his " Different DeKalb Junction, N. Y. — neighborhood and find how aiany will Beeton, Races of Bees," D. A. Jones, attend, then send to W. Z. Hutchinson Ont. —Adjournment. for certificates as soon as possible, so W. Z. Hutchinson, Sec. that he will know how many to apply for. Clinton, Mich. H. D. Cutting. As many do not fully understand the use of the certificates to secure the QUESTIONS AND ANSWEES. benefits of reduced rates, I will try to explain their use. questions by henry alley. difference whether you It makes no 1. Which do you prefer, a dove- Beekeep- belong to the North American tailed or a nailed section ? Please give ers' Society, or any other society, or your reasons for the preference. wdsli togo to De- ever expect to, if you 2. Will a good colony of bees store troit, Mich., to attend the annual meet- as much honey in forty one-pound sec- ing of the several beekeepers' societies tions as they will in twenty that hold to be held at that place on Dec. 8, 9 and two pounds each? to Z. Hutch- 10, you will simply write W. 3. In tiering up sections, how long for as inson, Rogersville, Mich., asking would you let the bees work in a set many railroad certificates as you can of sections before raising them and use. Mr. H. will book your name and placing another set under? certificates you want, the number of 4. Have you ever used sections on the certifi- and as soon as he obtains a hive without a honey-board between? railroad companies, cates from the 5. What was the space between which will be about Dec. 1, he will mail bottom of sections and top of Irame? will fill out the blank, them to you. You 6. What was the width of top-bar and when you buy your ticket have the of brood-frame and width of space railroad agent fill out his part. If you between each two frames? ticket to Detroit, cannot buy a through 7. Were you troubled by the bees buy one for as far as you can, and when building comb between the top of the you procure a new ticket have the agent frames and underside of the sections? endorse on the face of the certificate d. d. marsh. that he sold you one lull-rate ticket questions by from that place to as far as you get 8. What is the best material to put your ticket. You may be obliged to in cushions, chaff, or sawdust, or get tickets at several places, but always leaves? iiave the agent certify that he sold you 9. Does it injure a swarm to drive out a full fare ticket. a half peck or so of bees about the mid- AVhen you arrive at Detroit, present dle of July to sell? the conditions being : your certificates to Mr. Hutchinson, it has abundance of bees; the clover and he will fill out the blank left for that harvest is over: no busswood in the purpose, certifying that you were in at- locality; and golden rod abundant in tendance at the above-mentioned meet- September. Will a hive thus treated ing. Tlien, on presentation of your winter just as Avell? certificate properly filled out, you will ANSWERS BY J. E. POND, JR. be able to procure a return ticket by paying one-third the regular fare, thus 1. A dovetailed as a rule, unless the greater than those to nail; saving to you two-thirds of the reg- price is far that they can be put to- ular fare one way. for the reason quickly and, if made as This is a great reduction, and will gether more plenty strong enable many to attend at Detroit that they should be, they are if, however, one should be would feel that it would cost too much enough; THE AMERICAN APICUTURIST. 289 found occasionally that does not join before the time comes for packing for tightly, a nail or two will make it a winter. I have built up many small nailed section, to all intents and pur- three-frame nuclei to the strength nec- poses. essary for safe wintering after Sept. 1. 2. In my experience (and in an- A hive thus treated will winter just as swering any questions that may be well as though not so used, if built up propounded, I intend simply to give strong afterwards, and no trouble will my own views, and not to say that I be found in so building up. ni'n right and all who differ, wrong) it will depend on circumstances. If the ANSWKRS BY D. D. MARSH. all the hives sections are placed upon 1. A dovetailed, because it looks at once, early in the season, the 2-lb. more attractive, and can be made of sections -will be filled first; but if they thinner stock. viz., are put .on as they should be, a 2. I should think the bees would fa- few at a time, till the strength of the vor the two pound sections, but the colony is ready to work in them, it will market prefers the one pound. little, So, if make if any, diflerence. 3. Till the comb begins tocroiod the all are put on the hives at height of bees in the sections. will season, little difference, if any, be 4. I have. found. 5. Three-eighths of an inch. partly 3. Until they are most of them 6. One inch and an eighth, and the sealed over, unless it appears that more same apart. is swarming room needed to prevent 7. Never have been to any great or to keep loafers at work. In this lat- extent, so I could not get the sections ter case I should give all the sections ofl' readily. they would occupy, no matter how high they were tiered up. ANSWERS BY L. C. ROOT. 4. Yes quite often and with good ; 1. All things considered I prefer them results. nailed. The' average person will make 5. I have set sections directly on the better box and one that will keep its frames and allowed a space of about a shape best in this way. three-eighths of an inch. The results 2. As I figure they must store nearly in both cases were about the same. the same but not as quickly. 6. I have used top bars from I inch 3. If the honey fiow has just com- to \\ inches in width. The sections menced and is abundant I would add a should correspond in width to width of second tier of boxes as soon as they top bars. The spaces required for the have started to work in all of the first bees to travel up into sections being tier. scant h inch they should have tops and seasons it will work better, bottoms made same width of the frames Some colonies will seem to work used, while the sides should be enough and some best, if the additional tiers are added wider to allow of this space between, instead of placing them un- Avhenthe sections are crowded together at the top der. on top of frames. A | inch top bar 4. I have used them more this way Avould require sides of sections to be than any other. about J%f' in. wide. A 1^ inch would Three-eighths of an inch scant. require the sides to be correspondingly 5. Seven-eighths of an inch, with larger. 6. five-eighths of an inch between frames. 7. Not to do any harm. Of course 7. No, not if sufticient surplus room some brace combs will be built, but as was provided. a rule, not enough to be of any great use cotton. disadvantage or to cause much extra 8. Chaff. I 9. they have an abundance of trouble or labor. If brood and suflicieut honey they should 8. I do not use cushions at all, for not be harmed for successful wintering. the reason that tlie material used for filling them must necessarily be crowd- ANSWERS BY G. W. DEMAREE. ed more compactly than is advisable. I prefer forest leaves pressed lightly 1. If the section is to be in four on top of frames. I think coarse chaff' pieces, I prefer the nailed section. Rea- dovetailed sections would 1)6 preferable for cushions; the son : because the principle of the preference is stated are too cranky for my use and patience. above. 2. Yes, if the apiarist knows just 9. No, I can't see how it can cause how, and when to do the "tiering up" any injury. All that is required being necessary to the best results. • to "bring the colonies up to full strength 3. I can get the best results by lift- 290 THE AMERICAN APICUTURIST. ing the cases and "tiei'ing" them when be put together ahead of time with the bees commence to cap the fullest any surety that they will be in good sections, say, when two-thirds of the order when needed. In taking off section combs are drawn to foil length. honey, the sections are always stuck 4. Yes, I have produced thousands fast and the dovetailed needs to be of pounds of honey in that way. handled very carefully or a loose piece 5. Practically /„ of an inch. of honey is the result. It is argued 6. The top bars of frames were that one can put them up so fast that seven-eighths of an inch, and space we need not fold them till time to put between tlie top bars as pertains to them on tlie hives. I, for one, am so the wood about one-half inch. crowded with work at that time of the 7. Yes. Worried out of all patience. year, that I can't spare even that much But I accepted the "braces" rather time. My surplus arrangements must than to accept a pesky honey board. I be ready before the hurrying time. I now have a better system of produc- use one and one-half pound sections, ing comb honey which will be made sawed to nail. I can put together one plain by my article published in the thousand in ten hours, and that is fast next "Api". enough for me. Can tumble them in a 8. Don't make any cushions. I pre- heap in the corner, or pile up, and they fer chaff or cut straw, as a packing for keep true. In taking off honey, I work bees. ' fast, and very seldom crack a comb by 9. It would depend on how much the giving of a section. brood was in the hive. If there are, 2. No. The larger the section the say, eight combs of brood and young more honey will be stored. Give the bees cutting out all the time, the young bees an empty cap if you want to get bees would be ready for the fall har- the most honey. vest, and the bees taken from the hive 3. Till they'have filled the first tier would mostly die off before winter any two-thirds or three- fourths full. way, and I don't think they would be 4. Yes. missed much. Still I would not like 5. Not any space. to draw on my colonies so late as that. 6. Top bar of frame I inch. About | inch space between each two frames. ANSWERS BY G. H. SIAKTIX. 7. No, could not be. 1. Dovetailed more quickly put 8. Oat cliafl' undoubtedly. together. 9. No. Because the less honey eaten 2. They will not store as much, but at such a time the belter, provided you if you reduce the width of the section keep the queen raising more. It will they will store as much. Sections one winter as well because the bees for and three-fourths will hold a pound if winter should be raised later, and well fdled sections; one and one-half those you sell will be dead long before will hold three-fourth pounds and bees winter comes any way. will put as much honey in tliese as in ANSWERS BY A. J. COOK. two pound boxes : at least, that is my experience. 1. Dovetailed. I can buy them nicer 3. Until nearly capped. and cheaper than I can nailed, as they 4. Yes. are in the market. 5. Three-eighths inch. 2. Yes, if rightly handled. 7. Yes. 3. Long enoufth to be in all sections 8. Fine chaff, but I prefer loose and to commence capping central ones. chaff or leaves with a few inches of 4. Yes, for years; but shall not any sawdust on top. more. 9. It does in this locality. win- To 5. Set on frame or else -j% in. above. ter well we want fall flowers or fall G. Varied at difterent times. feeding to stimulate breeding and have 7. Yes, and also by their sticking with plenty bees. of propolis. 8. I like fine dry sawdust. AXSWKRS BY WILL. U. KELLOGG. 9. Yes, when strong. Especially if 1. I prefer a nailed section all by fed a little. means and would not take the dovetailed section as a gift. My reasons are, tliatat no time are the dovetailed Erkata. sections anytliing but frail affairs at On p. 249 fNov. No.) in 4th line of J. M, should read their best. The least little rack and their Slnick's article, thin combs combs. stability is gone; the one dropped on On p. 202. in Ans.by L. C. Root, 25th line, floor is a total wreck. They cannot bad hives should read box liives. '

INDEX.

A few facts concerning bees from "Dun Glen apiary," Demaree, G. W., Does bee- wax, 25G. 206. keeping iiay, 147. A guide to tlie best metbort of Bonney, A. E., Foul brood in Demaree. G.Sv., Hard winter beekeeping, 10,28,50, 87, 1-27. Australia, 33. on bees, 100. 220, 278. Bonnev, A. E., Notes from Detection of adulterations A trip to tbe home of the Car- Australia, 234. with glucose, 270. niobin bees, 274. Bonney, A. E., Questions by, Detection of cane sugar in A .visit to tlie bee farm and 203. honey, 271. otlier matters, 20.5. Book notices and reviews, 41, Diphtheria, cure of, by honey, AblK)tt, E. T., St. Joseph (Mo.) 140. 39. K.xposUion, 233. Bosworth, James H., Visit to Dollar queens, their efl'ect on, Adulteration of honey, 283. tbe bee farm, 205. the stock of the country, 107.

' — —'— iii France Building up, 146. Drone trap and how to use it,

and Germany, -2741 . . Bunker, A., Bees of India, 101. Advanced bee culture, 196. .145. Drones, observations upon, After swarms, are the}' profit- Burnham, Luther B., Visit to 217. able y.il. the New England fair, 233. Dry faeces, 174. Allev, Henrv, Answers to to questions, questions, litl, 2.!8,2{)2, 263. California honey crop, 213. Eilitor. Answers Alley, Henry, Drone trap and Canadian department, 67, 102, 120, 191. Editor, questions by, 21, 71, bow to use it, 101. 140, 231. 257. Alley, Henry, How to form Cane sugar (sucrose), 271. 168, 190. nuclei. 127. detection of, in Editorial. 13. 30. .58. 90, 134, 152, Alley, Henry, Utility of feed- honey. 271. 179, 201, 228, 251, 281. Moses Quinby ers Cell formation, Holman's il- Elwood, P. H., Analyses of honey. 267, 269. lustration, 60. and his life work, 1. hat is it? Apiculture and agriculture, 37, Cells of the hive bee, origin Elwood, P H., Whose 96. of, 52. 85. jottings Apis canadensis, A new man- Chafl" hives and destruction of Enterprise apiary, ual, 18. brood. 137. from, 208. Apis canadensis. Is beekeep- Cheshire, F. R., Heceptacu- Exchanges, 37, 60, 9(i, 139, 156, ing profitable, 61. Inm seminis of bees, 73. 213. notes, Apis canadensis, Tlie coming Christ, J. L.. A guide to the Experimental bee farm frame. 207. best methods of beekeeping, 134, 157, 182, 230, 254. Apis canadensis, invertible 10,28,56,87, 127,226. Extracted honey, how to in- hives, 282. Clark, J. C, Honey extractor, crease tlie demand, 109. Artificial pasturage for bees, 136. Feeders, ntility of, 223. 211. Clark, F., Wintering bees, W. Feeding bees. 285. Arundell, T. F., Is beekeeping 43. Feeding bees and feeders, 244, lirofitalile? 130. Colton, Cbas. L.. The spider Avery, li. D., Questions by, as a comb protector, 209. Feeding bees, proper time for, 191. Comb foundation, 109. 67. Commercial glucose, 270. Ferris, Chas. G., New York Bee culture in the soiitli, 171, Composition of honey, 265. and Florida, IS, 63, 98, 138, 199, 241. Convention notes, 20,41, 2.57, 163, 184. Bee farm, visit to, and other 285. Foreign notes, 169, 193,218,272. matters, 20.5. Cook, A. J., Answers to ques- Foul brood, 5, 33, 112. Beekeepers' union, 167. tions, 45, 47, 71, 168, 214, 238, in Australia, 33. Handy Book, re- 261, 290. cause and cure of, view of. 140. Cook, A. J., AVby the bees die, 112. Beekeeping as a pursuit, 121. 244. , does it pay Y 147. Cornell, S., Dry freces. 174. Golden jubilee of Dr. Dzier- lor women, 246. , Improprieties in zon, 274. in the south , 34. jonrnaliKm, 221. Goodspeed, C. M., Buildingup, Bee i>oison, active prniciple Correspondence, 16, 32. 63, P8, 146. of. 269. 136, 102, 184. 205, 233, 2.55,282. Goodspeed, C. M.. Jottings Bee poison, a preservative of Cowan, A. P., Answers to from Enterprise apiary, 203. honey, 2<;n. questions. 44. Goodsjieed. C. M., News from Bee poison, an antisei)tic, 270. Cowan, A. P., Report for 1SSS5 New York, 138. Bees and l)eekeei)ing, scien- on wintering, 162. Goodwin. A. J., M.D., Bee- entific and practical, 272. Cuban honev, petition respect- keeping in the south, 34. Bees, industry of, 69. ing, 109, lio. in orchards. 212. Cushman, Samuel, Questions Haldemand beekeepers' asso- natural history of. new by, 237. ciation. 165. observations on, 03, 94, 133, Cyprians, disposition of, 254. Hall, J. B., Answer to query 1.56, 181,204,229.253. of. 171. Bees of India. 14,5. Dadant, Charles & Son, The Hall, J. B., Answers to ques- poisoned by glucose, 212. honey extractor, 162. tions, 23. wax, how made, 2.56. Davis. Hilas D., Safe wintering Hard winter on bees, 100. wintering of, 9, 25, 43, of bees, 36. Hasty, E.E.. Answers to ques- .56, 86. Davis, Rebecca Harding. tions, 45.47, 214,2.;S,262. Benedict, Secretary, Address Women as beekeepers, 214. Havens, Francis D., News by, 114. Deadman, G. A., Record of from California. 208. Best management of apiarv queens and colonies, 150. Hicks, J. M., How can a vir- for comb honey, 114. Demaree, G.W., Attei- swarms, gin queen be safely intro- Bienenzeitung, "notes from, are they profitable ? 51. iluced?207. 149. Demaree, G.W., Answers to Hicks, J. M., Notes from the Black bees, more disposed to questions, 22, 46, 72, 214, 238, Bienenzeitung, 149. rob and more liable to be 289. Hicks, J. M., Loss and savmg robbed than Italians, 197. Demaree, G.W., Bee culture of honey comb, 188. Blackford, Francis W., Notes in tbe south, 171, 199,241. Hints for beginners, 274. (291) 292 INDEX.

Hives and their manipulation, New inventions and discover- Root, L. C, Wintering bees, 9, 274. ies, 112. 25, 56, 86. Hives, invertihle, 249. New bee disease, 2.58. Russell. P. R., Feeding bees Hiving bees. 210. New Jersey and eastern bee- and feeders, 244. Holteinian, R. F., Trans, of the keepers' association, 213. German of J. L.. Christ, Newman, Thos. G., Marketing Safe wintering of bees, 36. 10, 28. 5fi, 87, 127. 226, 278. honey, 42. Scottish court decysionon a Honey analyses, 2(57, 209. New manual, 18. bee-trial, 272. Honey and its adulterations, New obsei vations on the nat- Sherman, Sallie E., What a 2G5, 283. ural history of bees. 63, 94, woman can do with bees, Honey, composition of. 265. 133,156,181,204.229,253. 225. Honey extractor, 13(3, 162. New vs. the old, 200, 222. Sherman, Sallie E., Beekeep- ing for 246. Honey harvest in Switzer- New York and Florida, 18, 63, women, land, 274. 98, 138, 136, 184. Sliipment of queens to New Honey market, 205. New Zealand, shipment of Zealand, 16. Honey market in Switzerland, queens to, 16. Siiuck, J. M., Invertible hives, 274. News I'rom California, 208. 249. Honey report from England, News from New York, 138. Simmons, J. C, Chaff hives North American beekeepers' and destruction of brood, How can a virgin queen be convention, report of,41. 137. Smith, Chas. H., Question bv, safely introduced ; 206. North and south in bee culture, How to form nuclei, 127. 225. 263. Howes reversible frame sup- Northeastern beekeepers'asso- Smoking bees, 284. port, 124. ciation, 69, 106. Snell, F. A,, Report from Mil- 34. Huber, Francis, New observa- Notes and queries, 19, 39, 68, ledgeville, 111., tions on the natural history 102, 141, 165, 188, 209, 234, 258, South, bee culture in, 177, 199, of bees, 63, 94, 133, 156, 181, Notes from Australia, 234. 241. 204, 229, 253. Notes from California, 65. Si)iders as comb protectors, 209. Hybrid honey sages of Cali- Notes from New Zealand, 66, fornia, 49. 99. Spring feeding. 279. Improprieties in journalism, Notes from Norway, 32. Spring dwindling, cause and Notes from "Dun Glen" prevention, 70. Indiana state fair, 213. aitiary, 206. Stachelhauseu, L., Foul brood, Insects, muscular strength of, Notes from the Bienenzeitung, 5. 45. 149. Stachelhauseu. L., Something Instructions to beginners, 130, Nuclei, how to form, 127. new fiom Germany, 83. 159, 175, 250. Observations upon drones, St. Joseph (Mo.) exposition, Interesting notes, 105. 217. 2.33. L., North Introducing queens, 107, 286. Oliver, Henry K., Ox-cow Swinson, Abbott and Inverted cane sugar, 271. queen bees, 186. south in bee culture, 225. Invertible hives, 249, 282. the origin On of the cells of The best frame, 247. Is beekeeping profitable ? the hive bee, 52. 64, The big drum, 172. Peet, T. O., The big drum, 172- The coming frame, 207. Italian beekeepers' meeting , The new vs. the The lioney market, 110. at Milan, 274. old, 200. 222. Tinker, G. L., The best frame, Kangaroo Island enterprise, Phelps. W. G., Why not keep 247. 259. bees ? 27. Todd. Arthur, Beekeeping as Kellogg, Will. M., to Answers Pond, J. E., jr.. Answers to pursuit, 121. questions, 261, 290. questions. 21, 71, 191, 237, Todd, Arthur, Foreign notes, Lake, C. H., few facts A con- 239, 261, 289. 193, 218. cerning 256. beeswax, Polarization ot honey, 268. Todd, Arthur, Muscular Langstroth, L. L., Hlack bees, Premiums awarded at Iowa strength of insects, 25. more dispo'^ed to rob li- and state fair, 236. Todd, Arthur, On tlie origin able to be robbed, than Ital- Preparing bees for winter, 277. of the cells ot the hive uee, ians, 197. Pryal, W. A., Hybrid honey 52. Langstroth, L. L., Observa- sages of California, 49. tions upon drones, 217. Pryal, W. A., Notes from Cal- Utility of feeders, 223. Lashier, J. L., Which is the ifornia. 65. most profitable race of bees? Virgin queen, how safely in- 125. Queens and colonies, record troduced, 207. of. 1.50. Visit to the fair, Letter Box, 24, 120, 143, 192, New England 216, 239, 264. QuestionbyJ.B. Hall, 47. 233, Limitation Questions and answers, 31, 71. of the visual field Wabash (Ind convention, 213. of the 119, 168, 190, 214, 237, 2,50, 288. ) worker lioney bees' Western beekeepers' associa- ocelli, 139. Questions by a novice, 46. tion, 285. Locality by a beekeeper, 216, to be considered in What a woman can do with management 239, 263. of bees, 244. bees, 2.55. Locke, S. Questions by a reader, 260. M., Introducing Which is the most profitable queens, 108. by H. Alley, 288. 107, race of bees ? 125. Loss and saving by D. d: Marsh, 288, of honey Whose liat is it? 85. comb, 188. by W. J. Rasin, 47. Wliy not keep bees ? 27. Marketing honey, 285. 42. Races of bees, Why tlic bees die. 244. Marketing 106. products, 103. Rearing queens, Wdey, honey and its Marsh, adultera- D. D.. Answers to Receptaculum seminis of bees, tions, 265. questions. 262. 73. Wintering bees, Marsh, 9, 25, 43, 56, D. D., Locality to be Record of queens and colo- 162. considered in tiie manage- nies, 1.50. Wintering, report on, for 1885,- ment of bees, 242. Remarkable yields of honey, 162, 285. Martin. ,lohn H., Answers to 284. Wirdman, J. H., Answers to questions, 261. Report from Milledgeville, McCaul questions, 120. & Hildreth, The hon- 111., 34. Women as beekeepers, 214. ey market, 205. Reversible frame, 116. Moses Quinby and his life Root, L. C, Advanced bee Young, Ivar S., Notes from work, 1. culture, 196. Norway, 32. Muscular strength of insects, Root, L. C., Ans. to questions, Zabriskie, Limitation of visual 23, 71, 72, 168, 238,262, 289. field of ocelli of Morker Nebraska beekeepers' associ- Root, Jj. C, The honey mar- 139. ation, report of, 48. ket, 110, honey bee,