UMASS/AMHERST * 312066 0333 3285 8 | MM*, f- yfc LIBRARY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE SOURCE.. L.TON, K /STER now, k« LIBRARY U F MAS3M ETTS AMHERST, MASS. i Price Twopence. THE \itmh AND BEE-KEEPER'S ADVISER. EDIT lit) BY THOMAS AVILLIAM COWAN, F.G.S., F.K.M.S., F.L.S., etc. Author of ' The British Bee-keeper's Guide Book.' VOLUME XVII. /January-December, 1889. PUBLISHED BY SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT, & CO., LIMITED, 23 PATERNOSTEE ROW, E.C. fc O 5 . O vb "' ' 7 in i/te x. Abbott, C. N., biography I of, 157 Acid food as a prevention of foul brood, 365 Ad veutmv, a morning1, 353 ; remarkable, at Dyston, 359 Advice to a beginner, 521 Africa, report from, 454 African, central, bee?, 180, 262 ; south, honey bird, 404 ; missionary starting bee-keeping, 160 ; queen, 35 Agriculture and Bees, 102. Ahead, 200 Alley, Hen i*y , thirty years ) anions bees, by, 14, 31, 201, 211, 222 Amateur hive-making, 165 i Amateur's experience, 165 America, bees in, 453 ; bees not indigenous to, 462 American bee-keepers, wi'h the, 4, 17, 30; lady bee- keeper, 41 Ancient practice of tier- ing up, 378 ; use of honey, 116 Ants and woodlice, to ] deter, 257, 329 ; to drive out of hives, 318 Apiarian battle, 385 Apiaries, establishing out, 147 ; on wheels, 66, 85 ; practical work in, 73 Apiarist, pyrologist, po- j mologist, 402 Apiarv, arranging site for, i 207; chloroform in the, 68, 398 ; Fairlawn, 219, ; 265 ; Howard's, 269 ; management of my, 343 ; New England, 351 ; ' noted Warwickshire, 423 ; work no child's play, 512 Arches, climbers for, 379 Arran, bee-keeping in Isle of, 440 Artificial heat as applied to bees, 49, 105 ; pollen, 102, 118; swarming, 95, 230, 310 Assanlt ou a girl. 345 Association for Westmore- land, 521 Associations, bee- keepers' : Berkshire, 19, 40, 63 ; British, 6, 19, 39, ; 73, 97, 100, 110, 112, 124, L50, 169, 192, 200, 213, 239, 252, 333, 348, 414, . 416, 459, 468, 491, 493 ; British and affiliated as- sociations, 6, 25, 33, 43, 58; Derbyshire, 87, 146; East Lothian, 125, 323; I Ebor, 502; Esses, 91, ! 495, 503 ; Glamorgan- shire, 65; Goole, 224, 316, 375 ; Gloucester- | shire, 375, 495 ; Hamp- shire, 374 ; Hereford- shire, 315, 439 ; H orsforth District, 77 ; Hunting- donshire, 32, 336 ; Irish, 78, 125, 182, 203, 224, 263, 305, 336, 356, 374, 384, 397, 410, 417, 420, 440, 446, 477, 493. 509 ; Kent, 101, 439 ; Lancashire and Cheshii'e, 113 ; Leicester- shire, 64, 173, 345; Lin- I colnshire, 229, 254, 335 ; ' Lowestoft, 213 ; Middle- sex, 39, 76, 204, 355; i North-East of Ireland, 136 ; Northamptonshire, 65, 373 ; Nottinslnm- shire, 19, 65, 363 f Staf- fordshire, 150, 405 ; Shropshire, 113, 322, 3f4; Surrey, 395; Ulster, 493; Warwickshire, 242 ; Wig- townshire, 77, 396; Wor- cestershire, 136, 356; Wotton - under - Edge, 194 ; Yorkshire, 66, 148, 150, 182 Aunt Sally and the swarm, 347 Australia, 425 ; eucalypt'c honey from, 59 Autnmu feediug, is it neces- sary ? 226 ; pollen, 443 Bacilli and tobacco smoke, 75 Balling queens, 191 Bartrani, Rev. E.. D.D., biography of, 413 Battle, apiarian, 385 Bee-culture, benefits of, ! 415 ; Princess Christian • on, 323 ; at Jatf a, Syria, 343 Bee driving, 504; farm, a big, 41 ; humble, the, 40 ; lore, Sussex old- world, 366, 376, 385, 417, , 470 ; pasturage, 4^9 ; pastures, improving, 86 ; stings, 388. 408, 428; | tent, morality of the, 348, 397, 415, 432 Bee-keeper, an American lady, 41 ; a Scotch lady's experiences, 496 ; in Scotland, to a, 110, 122 Bee-keepers, eminent, 157, 179, 219. 250, 279, 302, 321, 341, 361, 391, 413, 435, 451. 467, 483, 499, 515 ; lady, 475 ; pocket companion, 188 ; voca- bulary, 16, 29, 39, 159, 173, 182, 193, 203, 230, 243, 251, 2*4, 304, 344, 425, 477, 487, 495. 503, 509, 519, 526; with the American, 4, 17, 30 Bee-keeping and Virgil, 21, 104 Bee-keeping as an industry, 518 Bee-keeping, commencing, 505; ethics of, 13; for cottagers, 141, 196, 215, 296, 325, 316, 418, 492, 502,509,525; for women, 127; hints to beginners in, 214; how to begin, 253; in EastGriqualand, 454; in 1889 on the Camel, 429; in Ireland, 51, 79; in Isle of Arran, 440; in Isle of Bute, 227 ; in New Zealand, 411 ; in Ulster, 348; in Utah, 159; in Westmoreland, 478; mis- sionary in South Africa starting, 160 ; notes ou, 175 ; pursuit of, 523 ; ra- tional, 527 Bees and agriculture, 102 ; and colour, 22. 426 ; and fruit, 404; and spiders, 166 ; and wasp in hive, 225, 245, 255 ; and wasps, 41 ; Apis dovsata, taking honey of, 404 ; artificial heat as applied to, 49 ; as a means of defence, 4*57, 495; as food, 206; as sugar testers, 55 ; best race of, 80 ; burning a hive of, 417 ; busy among the, 372; Carniolans, 118, 217,309,326; Carniolans and swarming, 327 ; Cen- tral African, 189; chilled, 50; claim for a swarm, 376 ; colony of, in a house roof, 472 ; communica- tion by, 512; condemned, 332 ; com rolling, with smoke, 14 ; dead, 11 ; defensive works of, 81; departure of. 389; diseased, 163 ; do, re- move eggs ? 15 ; docility of, 409 ; dying, 520 ; ex- cited, 367, 389; feeding, 205; flight of, 477; freak of, 309 ; getting into roofs, preventi cm of. 449 ; heredity in, 460; hor., that bees possess an acute colour sense, readily distinguishing such colours as blue, green, orange, red, white, and yellow. It does not follow from this that insects reason because colours are discerned, any more than a bee uses reason to con- struct its cells. — Prof. D. II. Pammkl, St. Louis, Mo. {American Bee Journal). (fcdjnts farm lljc !§tbxs. Bishop Burton, Hull, Yorkshire, Bee. 20th, 1888.— I have kept bees for five years — commenced in the old style, which is the most favoured in this part : but three years ago I got one bar-framed hive, the year following tiro more, and at present have sis, I find them a very great improvement on the straw skeps, both as to the amount of honey produced and the ease with which the bees can be manipulated. In 1887 I took 63 lbs. of honey from one hive containing a swarm of the previous year. This year, I am sorry to saj', I have fared as badly as others whom I read of in the Journal; have only had two swarms, and taken two 1-lb. sections of honey from six hives. Early in the season I had to take off all section-crates, and, in place of having them filled with honey, I had to begin feeding from the first. I have so far been successful in keeping my bees alive, and on examining them the other day I found that they have a nice quantity of sealed store. I therefore look forward to a better season in the coming year. — Arthur. Barnett. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- M. T.- -Moving Bees. — In moving hives the distance stated the principal points are, the security of the frames against swinging, the ventilation of the hives, and care in transit. If the frames have distance- guides or broad shoulders, a rack fixed to the floor- board will make them secure. If plain frames be used, fasten the frames by putting sticks in at each end g in. thick by § wide. Two sticks to be put in the corners of the hives, then a frame against them, then two more sticks and another frame, and so on. The last two sticks should be slightly wedge-shaped, so as to be driven down hard, and the frames so tightly fixed that they cannot be moved with the roughest treatment. Let your conveyance go slowly, and select the smoothest road. The quilt should be replaced by a piece of perforated zinc tacked on the top, and another over the entrance. With such hives it is not necessary that they should be inverted. W. H. — Good's Candy. — You will find this an excellent food during winter and early spring. It is made by mixing very finely powdered sugar with liquid honey till it is the consistency of stiff dough or paste. Or, take autumn syrup, and into this stir ' iceing sugar ' till the substance attains the thickness of Good's candy. Alpha. — Position of Apiary. — You should succeed admirably. Get a good strong May swarm. G. H. Garner. — Making Candy. — The mixture of sugar and water should boil until it will set. This can be ascertained by putting a few drops on a cold plate. If it just sticks to the finger when cold then it is done. J. II. West. — Dead Queen. — This queen is only one of very many queens that will be ' found dead.' It is noticed that the wings are gone. Was it so when you found it ? There is nothing to indicate any reason for her decease. J. James. — The proportion of salicylic acid to the amount of syrup made was too great. If you have any doubts as to the suitability of the syrup, sugar- cake can be placed under the quilt above the cluster of the bees. Corrections.— Pago 7, liuo 8, for conceding read concealing; line 10, for not read most. business directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Bubtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hdtchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C., 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley & Flood, 2G Donnington Road, Reading. Wken & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bro3., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. COMB FOUNDATION MILLS. Godman, A., St. Albans. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin, Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 10, 1889. SOYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF 0NGLAND. WINDSOR MEETING, 1889. Commencing MONDAY, JUNE 24th, and closing SATURDAY, JUNE 29th. PRIZE LIST FOR HIVES, HONEY, &c. Exhibits in Classes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 (sections excepted), must be manufactured by the Exhibitor. Exhibits in Class 1 and in Class 19 to be staged and repacked by the Exhibitor. Class 1. — For the best collection of Hives and Appliances, to consist of the following articles : — One Frame-hive, priced at 15s. ; one ditto, priced at 10s. {Note. — These Hives must be fitted with arrangements for Storifying.) One Observatory Hive; one Hive of Straw or other material, not entirely of wood, for ob- taining either Comb or Extracted Honey ; one pair of Section Crates fitted with Sections ; one Extractor, one slow stimulating Feeder, one rapid Feeder ; one Smoker or other Instrument for quieting Bees; one Veil, one Swarm Box for travelling, capable of being used as a Nucleus Hive ; one Travelling Crate for Comb Honey ; five other distinct articles not specified at the discretion of the Exhibitor. Each article to be priced separately. No articles must be added to the collection, nor any portion of the Exhibit removed during the Show. First Prize, 40s. ; second Prize, 30s. Class 2. — For the best Observatory Hive stocked with Foreign Bees and Queen. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 15s. ; third Prize, 10s. Class 3. — For the best and most complete Frame- hive for general use, unpainted. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 15s.; third Prize, 10s. Class 4. — For the best and most complete Frame- hive for general use. The Hive shall consist of (1) a Floor-board on four short legs ; two Chambers or Body- boxes, equal in size, similar and interchangeable, both to have porches, with entrances not less than 12 in. wide, that can be contracted at pleasure, each chamber to be capable of holding at least ten Standard Frames, but only one set of Frames with strips of foundation fixed and two division-boards to be supplied. (2) One Case of 4\ by 4J- Sections, with foundation fixed and separators, of such size as to admit of its being placed inside the chamber. (3) A substantial Roof, sufficiently deep to cover a case of sections and afford ample pro- tection to the whole Hive, the price of each part, namely, stand and floor-board, body-box, case of sections, and roof, to be given separately, the whole not to exceed 15s., unpainted. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 15s. ; third Prize, 10s. Class 5. — For the best and most complete Frame Hive for general uses. The Hive shall consist of (1) one Chamber or body-box, containing ten Standard Frames having strips of foundation fixed, two division boards, entrance porch, and floor-board, the chamber capable of being used with a second of the same pattern. (2) One Case of twenty-one Sections, 4J by 4], with foundation fixed and separators. (3) A Roof sufficiently deep to cover one case of sections at least, the price of each part, namely, floor-board, body-box, case of sec- tions, and roof to bo given separately, the whole not to exceed 10s. 6d., unpainted. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 15s. ; third Prize, 10s. Class 6. — For the best Honey Extractor, price to be taken into consideration. First Prize, 15s.; second Prize, 10s. Class 7. — For the best Honey Extractor, price not to exceed 12s. 6d. First Prize, 15s. ; second Prize, 10s. Class 8. — For the best pair of Section Racks, com" pletely fitted for use and interchangeable, price not to exceed 3s. 6d. each. First Prize, 15s. ; second Prize, 10s. ; third Prize, 5s. Class 9. — For the best Feeder for slow stimulating feeding. First Prize, 10s. ; second Prize, os. Class 10. — For the best Feeder for quick autumn feeding, capable of holding at least 5 lbs. of food at a time. First Prize, 10s. ; second Prize, 5s. Class 11. — For the best Smoker. First prize, 10s. second Prize, 5s. Class 12. — For Useful Inventions introduced since 1887. Special Prizes according to merit. Class 13. — For the best 12 Sections of Comb Honey, the gross weight to approximate 24 lbs. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 10s. ; third Prize, 6s. Class 14. — For the best 12 Sections of Comb Honey, the gross weight to approximate 12 lbs. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 10s.; third Prize, 5s. Class 15. — For the best 6 Sections of Comb Honey, the gross weight to approximate 6 lbs. First Prize, 20s.; second Prize, 10s.; third Prize, 5s. Class 1(5. — For the best Exhibit of Run or Extracted Honey in jars, not exceeding 2 lbs. each, the gross weight to approximate 24 lbs. First Prize, 30s. ; second Prize, 20s. ; third Prize, 10s. ; fourth Prize, 5s. Class 17. — For the best Exhibit of Heather Honey (Comb or Extracted), the gross weight to approximate i2 lbs. First Prize, 20s.; second Prize, 10s. ; third Prize, ~>s. Class 18. — For the best Exhibit of Granulated Honey in jars, not exceeding 2 lbs. each, the gross weight to approximate 12 lbs. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 10*. ; third Prize, os. Class 19. — For the best Exhibit of Comb and Ex- tracted Honey, in any form, staged on space 4 ft. by 4 ft., height not to exceed 5 ft. above the table. The gross weight of each kind to be stated. First Prize, 60s.; second Prize, 40s. ; third Prize, 20s. The Exhibits in this class to be staged by the Exhibitor. [A Silver Medal, independently of Money Prizes, will be given for the Exhibit most tastefully arranged.] Class 20. — For the best plan and design for an Apiary of 50 Hives on two or more acres of land, to include a suitable building for extracting and general work. The design to show arrangements for growing Honey- and Pollen-producing plants, attention being given to the value of the crops for other purposes. First Prize, 40s. and Silver Medal; second Prize, 20s. and Bronze Medal. Class. 21. — For the best Diagrams suitable for a Lecture on Bee-keeping, or Technical Lessons in Rural Schools. First. Prize, 40s. and Silver Medal ; second Prize, 20s. and Bronze Medal. Class 22. — For the most interesting and instructive Exhibit of any kind connected with Bee-culture not mentioned in the foregoing Classes. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 10s. ; third Prize, 5s. The Council reserve to themselves the right to publish for Educational purposes any Exhibit entered in Class 20 and 21. London : Printed by Strangewats & Sotta, at their Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C., in the Parish of St. Giles's-in-the Fields, in the County of Middlesex; and Published for the Proprietor by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, in the same county.— Jan. 10, 1889. J" Communications to the Editor to he addressed ' Stbangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 343. Vol. XVII.] JANUARY 17, 1889. [Published Weekly.] (Editorial, Sottas, fo. COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS AND THE CENTRAL. Since the last Conversazione, when the Rev. J. Lingen Seager favoured the meeting with his views on the subject of County and District As- sociations, there has been in the pages of the Journal an animated discussion on the development of these Associations. Mr. Seager's paper referred more especially to the possibility and necessity of other Associations than County being allowed to be affiliated to the Central. The discussion which has followed the delivery of the address has been di- rected more specially to the proposal that the re- presentatives of affiliated Associations should be ess-offldo members of the Committee, and so have a greater interest in the management of the affairs of the Association. It need be no matter of surprise that there should in the course of years be a desire to develop the work of the Association. Finality should never be written on anything mundane. If we look back on the history of the Association we shall see that it has already passed through several successive phases. In the year 1873, con- currently with the publication of the first number of the British Bee Journal, the idea of a 'guild' or confederation of Associations for the benefit of apiculture was mooted. This idea emanated from a correspondent signing himself ' H. W. IV His communication sketched a system of prizes for honey and bee-gear of any description or any novelty connected therewith, the prizes to be awarded at the Shows of the leading Agricultural and Horticultural Societies of the kingdom, who, it was thought, would appoint judges to pronounce on the merits of the exhibits. The idea met with general approval from bee-keepers, and after a time, being carefully nurtured by the then Editor of the B.B. J., it took root, and bore fruit, for in May, 1874, a meeting was held in a schoolroom near the Camden Station, when the foundations of a National Asso- ciation for the promotion of apiculture were wisely and securely laid. The Chairman of that meeting was the Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh, whom we are pleased to recognise as being the present Vice- Chairman of the Association. Mr. R. R. Godfrey, of Grantham, Lincolnshire, was the first to appre- hend the importance of the movement, and by his energy the Lincolnshire B.K.A. was started. His example was speedily followed by Mr. C. Tite, living then at Yeovil, and Mr. W. N. Griffin, Alphington, Exeter, and soon the Dorsetshire and ' the Devon and Exeter Associations were established. Several Associations were soon formed, and matters appeared to be proceeding prosperously ; but we regret to say that the rising hopes of bee-keepers received at that time a severe check from causes which need not now be dwelt upon. These diffi- culties were, however, overcome by the exertions of the Rev. H. R. Peel, who, by purse and pen, by voice and act, by diligence and tact, with the support of some of the gentlemen on the present Committee, reconstructed these Associations, and set them on a new basis. Since that time the Associations have done, and are still doing, a good work. For many subsequent years the laws and regu- lations for the guidance and management of these Societies have been found sufficient. But in the course of time all human things wax old, and repairs and reforms are found to be necessary. It therefore should be a matter of rejoicing that the County Associations have displayed such an interest in the future welfare of the Association as to ex- press a desire that some endeavours should be made to strengthen the position of both the parent and the affiliated Associations. We should like to have been favoured with the views of a larger number of the Secretaries of the County Associations. An old County Secretary, Mr. W. N. Griffin, has grappled with the subject in an able manner ; we are also indebted to the Hon. and Rev. H. Bligh, who has expressed himself in so manly and straightforward a manner on the subject. Of the suggested alterations submitted to the Central Committee for consideration by the special Committee appointed at the last quarterly meeting, we believe there are two matters which are con- sidered of considerable importance. (1.) That Asso- ciations other than Counties shall be allowed to be affiliated to the Central Association. (2.) That the representatives of such Associations, being members of the Central Association, shall be em officio mem- bers of the Committee. The former proposal no doubt emanated from the fact that representations having been mado 26 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 17, 1889. to the Central Committee they had recently re- solved to take this matter into consideration them- selves. We are therefore bound to conclude that, from their experience, good grounds existed for the consideration of the subject, and that such an alteration of the rules of the Association would be promotive of the best interests of bee-keeping. It is gratifying to find thatthe special Committee endorse the action of the Central body on this point. The second proposal is a matter which requires considerable care and forethought before arriving at any decision. It is well to ask at the outset in what relation do the affiliated Associations under the present regime stand towards the Central. We think it must be admitted to be very much the same as that of the ordinary member paying an annual subscription for certain privileges or bene- fits, and, as such, are scarcely entitled to a separate representation on the committee with power to • vote in the expenditure of the Central Association's funds. If the affiliated Associations were taxed in proportion to the number of their members, paying large sums to the funds of the Central Association, such a claim would be undeniable. As Mr. Criffiu truly remarks, ' County members get very nearly the same advantages as the British members.' We fully agree with Mr. Seager that ' Local Associa- tions, having paid their affiliation fees, should be entitled to vote in the election of the Committee,' and we would add the privilege of nominating members for election on the committee. In respect to the representation of the affiliated Associations in the Central Committee, we con- sider, granting that such an arrangement is de- sirable in the interest of the Central and the affiliated Associations, the proposal to make repre- sentatives ex effic io members of that body can scarcely be satisfactory to all concerned. An ex officio and irresponsible body, with large powers, is against the spirit of the age. We can imagine the result of a proposal by Mr. Ritchie to make all the magistrates ex officio members of the new County Councils. One or more persons elected by the affiliated Associations, able and willing to serve on the Committee of the Central Society, and who would attend the meetings frequently, would be of far greater service to the cause than the body pro- posed. The Central Executive would receive more reliable assistance in its deliberations, and the whole of the affiliated Societies would be more directly represented. An arrangement on the lines proposed by Mr. Bligh would, we consider, meet the views of the majority of the members of the Association, and would tend to strengthen the foundations of the Society. USEFUL HINTS. The weather has of late been sufficiently cold to gratify the wishes of our younger readers who indulge in the healthy exercise of skating-, hut the four or five days of hard frost have passed away with rain, sleet, and what is called a ' cold thaw,' so far at least as the midland and southern parts of the country are con- cerned, such is the report. But not so in the north, A correspondent, who dates from ' Loweswater Hall, Cum- berland, January 7th,' writes : ' My place here is only six miles from the Sol way as the crow llies, and hitherto we have only had slight frosts, and on Friday night none whatever, the weather being very mild indeed. As an indication of the extreme mildness of the weather in this neighbourhood, I send you per Parcel Post a number of tlowers of various kinds which bloomed in the open iu my grounds here, and of which I appeud a list, viz., pampas grass, wild strawberry fruit, large red perennial poppj', gentian, auricula, polyanthuses, prim- rose, rose campion, laurustiuus, yellow jessamine, dande- lion, roses, ivy-bloom, Christmas rose, wallflowers, daisy, marigold, gooseberry-bloom, ferns, small pink nettle, double wormwood, rose of Sharon, watercress, barberry, hollyhock, hepatica,' the receipt of which elicited the remark, ' The flowers came duly to hand, and have a fresh and summery look which makes it difficult to believe that we are iu the middle of January.' So the north again triumphs over the south, and while our southern bees have been confined to their hives for many weeks, having no opportunity of taking a cleansing flight, we suppose the northern bees have been ' flitting from flower to flower, and kissing all buds that are pretty and sweet.' Shows. — In the matter of shows, however, we southerners shall have the best of it during the present year. The Jubilee Show of the Koyal Agricultural Society will open in Windsor Great Park on Saturday, the 22nd of June, and will remain open until tne following Saturday, two days longer than usual. (Will not some of our enterprising hive-makers enter, in the ' Hive and Honey Department,' a specimen or two of storyfying hives on Dr. Tinker's plan, described below, for which Class 3 offers a good opportunity ? ) Among the exhibitors will be the Queen and the Prince of Wales, who takes a great interest in the show, and will, we hope, again bestow his patronage on the bees. Then we shall have the Bath and West of England Show at Exeter, whilst the Royal Counties' Agricultural Society's Meeting will be held at Horsham in July, and ought to have a ' bee department,' when we might have a grand display of honey, for which the Windsor show unfortu- nately takes place too early, unless we are favoured with an unsually early season. Hives and Colonies should be inspected as early as the weather will permit and with little disturbance. Numbers of colonies around us have already perished, not from starvation only, but from the population being too small to keep up the necessary heat. Many colonies which were large and strong in June had dwindled to half their numbers when the autumn arrived, and so went into winter quarters short of bees. Condemned bees, from the cottagers' skeps, were mere hand/ids as compared with those of average years, and we had to unite some six or eight lots in order to make one good colony. Not a single lot we drove would have passed through the winter. There is, unfortunately, every prospect of a terrible dearth of bees when the spring months arrive. The months of July and August were more like winter than summer, and breediug ceased in many hives. Entrances must he carefully and frequently examined, and kept clear of dead bees and other refuse, but it will be well to raise the quilts and ascertain whether all are dead before feeding, or taking other precautions. Candy should still be used as food. The cream candy of Mr. Saddler, advertised in our columns, appears of excellent quality, judging from a sample lately received from him, and well adapted to the present needs of the bees. No syrup must be given for the next six weeks. Quilts, if pervious, may be changed — dry ones taking the place of those saturated with moisture — with advan- tage to the bees. Floor-boards also may be removed, and warm dry January 17, 1889.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 27 ones supplied. But these operations should be per- formed on fine days only. The winter, let us hope, will soon pass away, and those who are fortunate enough to find their bees alive will again be busily engaged in preparing for the summer campaign. Let there be no feeding by driblets, but give enough candy to last for a fortnight or three weeks, and cover up with plenty of warm wrapping. Good wholesome food, and ample protection from cold, are the two chief points in early spring management. Brood-chambers. — Dr. Tinker has a long article in the American Apiculturist of December last, entitled ' A New Management of Baes, Brood-chambers, Brood- frames,' &c, in which the chief points advocated are — (1.) Keeping the brood-chamber for brood solely; (2.) The use of hone3'-boards ; (8.) The indulgence of the natural-swarming instinct, without allowing increase ; and ^4.) The production of comb-honey, or extracted, in larger quantities than by any other method. In working this system we are told that a storifying hive, used with a queen-excluding honey-board, has great advantages over all others — that the invention of the wood and zinc queen-exchiding honey-board marks an era iu the pro- gress of apiculture, and goes a long way towards solving the problem of ' How to obtain the largest product from our bees.' Let us take the ideas on the above-named points, and compare them with our English notions. (1.) The brood-chamber. — Now, the small brood-chamber and the storifying system are pre-eminently English, and have been in use here for generations. AVitness the small straw skep, with its ' super ' mounted above, and the first frame-hive which came into general use in this country, viz., the Woodbury. Also, above all, we have the Stewai ton, which is, sui generis, a storifying hive, in which the brood is confined to two small chambers, together affording about the capacity Dr. Tinker advises. We are told that there must be no room in the brood- chamber for honey that should go into the supers — that such brood-chamber (English, ' body-box') should contain about 800 square inches of comb — that the one used by Dr. Tinker, containing 830 square inches, is formed of a very plain and cheaply-made brood-case, which holds eight hanging Langstroth frames, 7 inches deep by 17 inches long, outside dimensions, upon which is placed a section case containing twenty-four sections 4j x 4j x 7| inches. When speaking of ' square inches of comb,' cubic inches are evidently intended, since it is added that ' 50 workers can be reared every 21 days in each square inch of comb.' As each square inch of surface contains 25 worker-cells, both surfaces of the comb must be counted in order to produce 50 cells to a square inch, or rather to two square inches of surface. The actual comb surface contained in eight Tinker-Langstroth frames is 1720 square inches, or 860 cubic inches, if we suppose the combs to be one inch thick. It so happens that eight British standard frames contain 864 cubic inches of comb, supplying a brood-nest very little in excess of that used by Dr. Tinker. But few English apiarists consider ten standard frames too many for the brood- chamber, when the storifying system is followed, and, with supers piled on, it is difficult to prevent swarming, the whole ten frames, when the queen is young and prolific, being filled with brood, so far as it is in the nature of the bees to fill them. However contracted the brood-chamber may be, we have rarely seen its combs more than two-thirds or three-fourths full of brood ; the remaining one-third or one-fourth of each frame — above and around the brood — are invariably assigned to stores of unsealed honey and pollen, during the breeding season, and this arrangement we have never been able to prevent. The doctor's contention, therefore, that 40,000 workers can be raised every twenty- one days from his brood-chamber of 830 cubic inches of comb, is likely to prove a fallacy, even if we allow (for the sake of argument) the possibility of preventing a large and prosperous colony, treated on the swarming system, from building drone-cells. With the chief points of his scheme we are fully in accord, but when he gets it into full working, further experience will, we think, prove the necessity of allowiag a brood-chamber of the capacity of from 1000 to 1100 cubic inches of com)), or, in other words, to ten British Standard, or ten Tinker-Langstroth frames, each of which contains about 1080 cubic inches of comb. The comb capacity of the old ten-frame Woodbury hive was 040 cubic inches, which was found too small for a stori- fying hive. (2.) Queen-excluding honey-boards. — We are told that the invention of the honey-board marks an era in the progress of apiculture, creates possibilities heretofore unknown, and goes far towards solving the problem of ' How to obtain the largest product from our bees.' Not only the largest quantity, but also ' the finest quality of comb or extracted honey,' might have been added. The honey-board recommended consists of wood and zinc, each zinc slide, or strip, to have two rows of perfora- tions, which are said to afford sufficient ventilation to supers — so necessary to the rapid ripening of the honey, and free passage to the working bees, which are neither obstructed in their work, nor is the production of honey limited thereby in the slightest degree. The use of such a honey-board limits the brood space to the actual requirements of the brood, and if ample room is given in the supers there is no trouble with excessive swarming or carrying of pollen into the supers. (3.) The indulgence of the swarming instinct without producing increase of colonies. — The improved system of management begins with swarming, all colonies having been built up to full strength before that time arrives. It is a well-known fact that colonies which divide their working forces by swarming do not collect so much surplus as those which do not swarm, therefore a system of management which prevents division, without checking the working rim, must give the largest returns. All colonies are brought up to full strength by the com- mencement of the honey-flow, and receive supers. If a swarm issues from any colony, it is hived on the old stand, and the supers are transferred from the old to the new hive, the new brood-chamber receiving empty re- served combs, or frames filled, or partly filled, with foundation, or both combined. The bees remaining on the combs in the old brood-chamber are shaken off and allowed to run into the new hive together with the swarm, and these combs, full of batching and immature brood, are placed in an empty hive upon an excluding honey-board, and set upon the brood-chamber of another colony which has not swarmed, but which is sufficiently strong to be able to take charge of this additional brood, and at the same time the supers, together with the honey-board of this latter colony, are placed over the newly added brood. The queen-cells in the transferred brood may either be cut out or allowed to remain. Placing the brood with its queen-cells upon another colony does not cause it to swarm, because the old queen below is not aware of the existence of the queen-cells above. By this plan surplus brood-combs accumulate after a time, and on them future swarms may be hived. A supply of virgin queens may also be provided with the minimum of trouble and expense if the queen-cells are allowed to remain in the comb transferred after swarming. But on the management of queen-cells, virgin queens, and drones, Dr. Tinker promises another article. He further states, ' For years I have sought a remedy for the many braced combs which bees often build between the brood-frames and honey-board and supers. It is at last found in this new system of man- agement. In all cases of large swarms, and where brood is placed over other colonies, there are no brace 28 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 17, 1889. combs built anywhere, so that all parts of the hive are easily separable.' The Doctor also states ' a remarkable fact, never before made public,' when he says, ' My im- proved honey-board has never yet been passed by a queen, either laying or virgin, so that virgin queens that may hatch in brood-combs above laying queens cannot pass down to destroy the laying queen, as they are sure to do if they have a chance, for no queen-cells in combs placed above the honey-board are ever destroyed by the bees of other colonies to which they may be given. Thus all depends on the perfect working of the honey-board.' (4). Comb and extracted honey can be produced in larger quantities by this than by any other system. — This goes without saying if all that is predicated of the system be trustworthy. Since all the bees of every colony are kept together, and yet the swarming instinct is indulged, while the laying powers of the queen are stimulated to the utmost, it follows that the working energies of the bees will be as great as possible. Hence we miy fairly expect the largest possible storage of honey. Judging from our own practice and experience, we .are favourably disposed towards Dr. Tinker's method. Indeed the plan, minus the honey-board, is the one we have always found most productive of the finest quality of honey whether in the form of comb or extracted. For the production of the latter we decidedly recommend the shallow-framed supers over the brood-chambers, and the invariable use of the improved queen-excluding honey- boards. We hope that some of our readers will give the plan a trial in the forthcoming season, as we ourselves intend to do. In Jttrmcuiam. "WILLIAM RAITT, OF BLAIRGOWRIE. We very much regret that we have this week the melancholy duty to record the sudden death of Mr. AVilliam Raitt, of Beecrof d, Blairgowrie. This sad event occurred on Tuesday, January 8th. On the previous evening he attended what was con- sidered a very successful evangelistic meeting in the Mission Hall, Blairgowrie. On going home from it, he seemed to be in his usual health and specially happy. About six o'clock next morning, one of his boys, who slept with him, heard him breathing heavily, and called some of the other members of the household, who, on going into the room with a light, saw he was apparently dying, and he expired in a few minutes. The doctor had been sent for, and shortly arrived. He expressed the opinion that the cause of death had been stoppage of the action of the heart. About three years ago Mr. Raitt had been found almost dead in bed from a similar cause. Mr. Raitt was a man of superior education and intel- ligence. Before settling at Beecroft, where he took a feu of some acres and built a dwelling-house and offices eleven j'ears ago, he was schoolmaster at Lift. In his speech as a candidate for Blairgowrie School Board, to which he was elected in 1870, he said ' he had taught for twenty-six years in elementary schools, and had some experience in the higher education, as he happened to be an undergraduate, with honours, of London University.' Mr. Raitt was forty-nine years of age, a widower, and leaves a family of seven children, mostly grown up. We may truly say that the effect of this loss will be felt not only amongst his own kindred and people, but also amongst the bee-keepers of the United King- dom. By his presence at various shows both in England and Scotland, by the contributions from his pen to different bee-periodicals, and by his allowed ex- cellence and long experience as a bee-keeper, the name of Mr. Raitt is very widely known and respected. And 3ret, from a communication from his own pen, to which we shall presently advert, it is not as a bee-keeper that he would desire to be permanently remembered by his fellow-men. His aim and ambition have for many years been that his name should be known as one who was wdling to spend and be spent in the service of his Lord and Master ; and the letter to which we refer will show the earnestness and devotion he displayed in the vocation of an Evangelist. Mr. Raitt, as we have stated, having spent many years of his life as a schoolmaster, commenced bee- keeping in the neighbourhood of Dundee when he was about thirty-three years of age. When we note the high position to which he afterwards attained among bee-keepers we think it desirable to record, for the encouragement of young bee-keepers, that the first communication we meet with from his pen in the B.B. Journal (Vol. iii., p. 231) was respecting some appearance ir. his hives which indicated foul brood, and asking the Editor tj give a few plain directions for detecting foul brood in its incipient stage, and inquiring what remedy should be employed to cure it. In the month of May, 1877, Mr. Raitt had become dissatisfied with the imperfect meaus then in vogue for obtaining wax -sheets, and to him we would assign the honour of being the first to procure from America a foundation machine. He says, ' I have just sent off to America for a comb- foundation machine, probably the first on this side the Atlantic ; and as I am fully convinced of the right stuff, I hope to be able to report it a success before the season is over.' This machine having been received and tested, he reports it as ' a mar- vellous production,' and a* a great success. This was the commencement of a new industry with Mr. Raitt. His foundation was in great favour, and his business has from year to year increased so that he was able to report in the last number of the llecord that he had four tons of wax in hand for the supply of bae-keepers during the coming season. Mr. Raitt was an excellent judge of the qualities of wax. lu 187(5, the East of Scotland Bee-keepers' Society was founded, with Mr. Raitt as secretary. He threw his accustomed energy into the work of this society, reading- papers at its various meetings, conducting shows, and continually giving lectures on bee-keeping in the neigh- bourhood of Dundee. We note that at the show of September, 1870, Mr. Raitt took the first prize for the largest and best harvest of super honey the produce of one hive, the exhibit weighing lOOA lbs., and being ' pure in colour, regular in build, and as dry and well sealed as could be. This exhibit was sold for upwards of 8/.' Many of Mr. Raitt's communications will be found in the earlier volumes of the II. B. Journal. In 1882 he published in the Weekly News, of Dundee, a series of papers embracing the whole field of bee-keeping, and which we have ever considered worthy of a more per- manent record than is to be found in the fugacious columns of a weekly newspaper. In January, 188 j, Mr. Jackson transferred the editor- ship of the Bee-keepers Record to Mr. W. Broughtou Carr, of Higher Bebington, Cheshire, and to Mr. Win. Raitt, ' who has long been recognised as one of the leading apiarists of the day, and his writings on bees are highly valued both here and in America;' and by these two gentlemen the Record has been conducted in the most exemplary manner to the present day. Mr. Raitt, besides his work as a bee-keeper, has devoted much time and attention to the cultivation of strawberries, and his letters on the culture of that fruit which appeared in the Journal of Horticulture showed how fully his mind was imbued with the knowledge of January 17, 1889.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 29 their culture. In this pursuit Mr. Raitt was specially skilful and successful. Mr. Raitt was for somr time editor of the Bee Depart- ment of the Journal of Horticulture. At the Canadian Exhibition, in September 188-5, Mr. Raitt, as many of our readers may remember, was present at the banquet given in honour of the Canadian visitors, and took a part in the discussion that was held at the evening Conversazione. He afterwards paid visits to the principal bee-keepers in England, who were all much gratified by having (hi- opportunity of forming an acquaintance with one who had taken such a foremost part in the cultivation of the honey-bee. We were always, on the most friendly terms with Mr. Raitt, and only so lately as last September we spent two days with him at Lancaster judging. Asa judge he was fail- and free from bia>, and his decisions to be depended on. He was also in London, and helped to judge the Irish honey at Olympia. We adverted at the beginning of our notice to a communication which we had received from Mr. ltaitt ; and, as we have been endeavouring to delineate some of the leading features of his life as a bee-keeper, we offer no apologies for making some extracts exhibiting another phase in his manifold character which more especially present him before the world in that aspect in which lie would himself have preferred to be known. This letter bears the date of February 1'it, 1884 ; in it be saj s : — ' I confess to a considerable decline in the measure of my enthusiasm as a bee-keeper, owing to a long succession of unprofitable seasons, and am now restricting my venture to some thirty stocks or so, though probably 1 have put my- self to more trouble and expense in Scotland than any man living to propagate the modern style of bee-keeping. I do not care to be known but as little as possible as a bee- keeper. Fact is, I have another hobby, and my ambition is to be known under it. I can, I suppose, to yourself, as being a clergyman [the Bev. H. B. Peel was at that time editor of the Journal] explain myself without the danger of being considered mad. I may frankly say, then, that ever since I was about seventeen years of age I have been, heart and soul, devoted to the cause of Evangelism. I have never ceased to carry on evangelistic work since I was then awakened to its importance. In all parts of the north of Scotland I have taught and preached, and even now I am at the head of a local band of earnest souls who carry on some sixteen or seventeen services weekly in and around this town. I take a run occasionally to distant places, and am generally cheered by seeing great results. So much is this my hobby that I am never comfortable at home of an evening : I must be at work somewhere. Thus I manage to conduct from five to eight or nine services weekly. And never to my knowledge, though a poor man, have I pocketed a shilling for tliis work. ' Though a Presbyterian (Free Church) in name, I take no part whatever in sectarian work ; and in the Association I lefer to we have representatives of some seven or eight sects working harmoniously together. Our chief work is among the factory people, and by means of what we call " floating " meetings, that is, in cottages, shifting every week. I, however, conduct three general hall meetings every week, one of them being a large Bible class of from forty to sixty young men and women. ' Were my life written faithfully it would be taken up with such work, and the tremendous struggles I have had to stir up and keep up an interest in it wherever my lot has been cast, the persecutions I have endured, turned out of house and situation twice for the dear Lord's sake, &c. Bees would scarcely get a notice in it. ' A record of such a life would be out of place in your Journal. I might, I daresay, find more congenial ground in Boot's Gleanings, in fact I feel as if "Boot" and " Baitt " were twin brothers. ' As a dealer, I deal to lire, and beyond a bare living for my large motherless family, and a little to give to the needy, I care not to push my trade. You may observe in the upper corner of my price-list my trade-mark 1 — well, that's Baitt 1 ' BEE-KEEPERS' VOCABULARY ; Ob, Glossary: of Technical and Scientific Words used in Works upon Bee-keei'inu. Breed, sb. — A line of descendants from a particular parentage, and distinguished by particular hereditary qualities; applied by stock-raisers to races artificially produced and established; race, stock, family; strain. Breed, r. (Sax. bredan.) — To produce brood; to raise young; to be hatched from eggs; brood-raising; brood-roaring, Breed out. — To exhaust the breed ; degenerate; to eliminate undesirable qualities by breeding. Breeding' in-and-in. To breed always with near relatives ; close breeding. Breeding-box or chamber.— Stock-box devoted to brood-reanng ; brood-hive; brood-chamber; body box. Bridal tour or trip.— The flight of a virgin queen for the purpose of mating with a drone; wedding excur- sion or flight; marriage flight. Brimstone, n. {Sax.bryneta, burning) and stone.) — A hard, brittle, inflammable substance, of a lemon yellow colour; sulphur; sometimes incorrectly used as a verb to signify the destruction of bees by means of burning- sulphur; or the exposure to the fumes produced by burning sulphur. Broad frames, n.pl. (fr. Sax. fremtnan, to form.) — Wide frames for holding- sections when hung in the hive or super; frames having bars which touch each other while the centres are the proper distance apart for brood- rearing ; close frames. Broad-shoulders. (-Sua-, sculdcr.) — The wide pro- jecting ends of the top bars of frames intended to keep the frames at the proper distance apart. Brood. /;. (.1/. E. brodc.) — Progeny, offspring, young; young bees in the cells in all stages between the egg and the bee that has just left its cell ; immature bees still in the cells. Brood-cells, n.pl. (L. eel la, prob. fr. celo, I hide.)— The cells in combs used for brood. Brood-chamber, n. (Fr. c/iambre.) — That com- partment of the hive reserved for brood-raising ; a box which contains brood. See Breeding-box. Brood-cluster. /(. (Sax. cluster, a congregating together.) — The cluster of bees which cover the Ijrood- nest. Brood-comb. a. (Sax. comb, a valley.) — Assem- blage of cells in a comb containing brood ; worker and drone comb used for breeding-. Brood-drones, u. j>l. (Sax. dran, drosn, hum- ming.)— Drones in various stages of brood; or drone brood. Brood-food. u. ( pints soft water and add 1 pint of dairy salt ; put these in an earthen vessel and raise to 00° Fahr. Stir till dissolved. Then dissolve 4 tablespoonfuls of bicarbonate soda in 1 pint of boiling water, and add to the above. Stir in enough honey to make it quite sweet, but not to thicken it. Then take f oz. pure crystallized salicylic acid, and dissolve it in 1 oz. alcohol and add to the above while still warm. Shake the bees from the combs and extract closely all the honey. Spray the mixture thoroughly all over the combs and return them to the bees. The honey may then be fed back after having had 2 J; ozs. of the remedy added to each quart. If syrup is used, then 1 oz. of the remedy is added to each quart. Not to be given in such quantities as will allow the bees to store it. Thoroughly and copiously spray the combs with the remedy every three days. Then, to keep the bees from bringing in fresh pollen, burn old dry bones to an ash, pulverise in a mortar, and sift finely and make a mixture of three parts rye-flour, one part bone-flour, adding enough syrup to make a thick paste. Press this into the cells with a stiff brush or thin knife ; also keep sweet- ened brine at all times accessible to the bees, and continue the treatment till a cure is effected. To show that it is efficient Prof. McLain gave the following case. On June 1st the owner of 200 colonies reported that he had two cases of foul brood very evident and twenty-five others suspicious. Actual examination proved that sixty-three colonies were diseased, and there were cases in every stage. Every colony was treated, and three applications of the remedy were made. The January 17, 1889.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 31 first time the honey was extracted. In two weeks the whole apiary was free from the disease ; cost of remedy, tid. Several other cases were related to me, all having the same result. Prof. McLain gives the following reason for his notion that the contagion of foul brood is carried in the pollen of plants, — that the larva) rarely exhibit any symptoms of disease till the time the process of weaning begins, at which time the character of the food is changed from the glandular secretion to the par- tially digested and undigested food. Live pollen is then added to the larval food, and with it the bacteria in greater or less numbers, growth is arrested, and death ensues. The remedy appears to destroy the {bacteria, to cure the bees of the contagion, and restore them to their natural vigour. The Professor has made very many experiments in wintering, and his two strong points are that the bees should have their stores sealed quite early; that is, some time before they are ready for hybernation. He thinks that when the autumn feeding is about to be commenced, or when the bees are about to gather the fall honey, the combs should be placed a little further apart, so that the bees can elongate the cells, and so place a large share of the store in the upper part of the frame above the cluster. The second point is that all the bees should be in full vigour — not too old nor too young. They should be hatched after the main honey season is past, and before the time arrives for the bees to cease flying freely. If they are wintered in a cellar they should be placed on racks rather than be piled upon each other, and the bottom tier should be about 18 inches off the ground. Then he approves of using woollen quilts, as tending to give better escape of any moisture, and preventing the radiation of the heat. His observations as to cellar tem- perature have caused him to decide that 44° Fahr. is about the best, it depending, to a certain extent, upon the dryness or dampness of the cellar. Many stocks have been kept so that the shape of the cluster could always be seen, and also the degree of rest or unrest of the bees composing the cluster. He finds that if kept at 41° to 44° F. at intervals of about one week the bees arouse to activity, the cluster changes form, and after an hour or two of slight humming, the bees having appeased their hunger, the cluster again becomes compact, hum- ming ceases, and respiration becomes slow, and the comatose state again prevails. The more even the tem- perature the longer period will they keep in this the most desirable condition. He condemns the practice of some bee-keepers of raising the temperature towards the end of the wintering period in order to induce the bees to raise brood. He prefers that the temperature at 4'° to 44° F. be maintained till it is safe to put the stocks out on their summer stands. Spring dwindling is as great a trouble here as it is in England. Prof. McLain contends that the remedy is to supply the bees with the food needful for the purpose of brood-rearing, and thus prevent the bees from roaming abroad in search of such food at an inclement season of the year. He takes 10 lbs. sugar, half a pint of salt, two tablespoonf uls of bicarbonate of soda, two tablespoonf uls of rye-flour, two tablespoonfuls of finely-powdered bone- ash, and one tablespoonful of cream of tartar. Add to these two quarts of hot water, and boil for two or three minutes only. This food is given to the bees, and is used to rear the brood, and the old bees are kept at home and their lives preserved, and consequently spring dwindling is prevented. Small colonies are also built up with marvellous rapidity by using this food, and I think it should be of good service to the British bee-keeper. No more should be given than the quantity actually needed by the bees for present consumption, as it is not desirable for them to store it. He has given it, too, to colonies after the honey harvest, when they have gone down con- siderably in numbers, or require to be much strengthened in number so as to winter well, In England we do not hear much about the destruction of fruit by bees, but in the States, more especially in the grape-growing districts, many complaints have been heard, and have caused a number of actions at law. Prof. McLain has given valuable evidence in favour of the bee, and has thus enabled the bee-keepers to still ply their avocation undisturbed. The most exhaustive trials have been made to endeavour to compel the bees to attack and damage sound ripe grapes, but in every case without success. The experiments were tried in a large, gauze-wire-covered house, and the conditions of a severe drought were imitated. The bees were brought to points of hunger, thirst, and starvation, and these experiments extended over forty days. Thirteen different varieties of grapes were obtained, representing from the toughest to the most tender-skinned berries. They were hung around in the building; some bunches were dipped in syrup, some were suspended in the hives themselves; but in no case did they attempt to gnaw the skins of the grapes. If a grape was cracked or punctured, then they would suck the juice ; if over-ripe and burst the)' would do the same, but appeared utterly unable to do any damage to sound fruit, nor did they attempt to further damage the cracked fruit. Even when the epidermis was removed they were still unable to penetrate the film surrounding the berry. In many instances he was sum- moned by fruit-growers to witness the bees tearing open the skins of the grapes, but in each case he succeeded in convincing them that the bees were simply sucking those grapes that had become cracked or damaged through the weather or over-ripeness, the most common source of such injury being the previous attacks of birds or wasps. The cultivation of plants suited for honey supply has also had the Professor's attention. This matter is not of much interest to us, land being too valuable to be devoted entirely to such purposes. The time was all too short to hear such a mass of information that Prof. McLain was desirous of imparting to me. I have just given the heads of the subjects on which we talked. A wonderful hive, the construction of which is at present a secret, was shown to me, but I have not permission to publish the details. Suffice it to say that he has by its use obtained a tar higher average of honey than by any other, and that desired end we are all trying to obtain. Some time later I may give details concerning it. The Professor very kindly went back to Chicago with me, and showed me some of the chief points of interest in the city ; among other places we visited some of the firms who deal in honey in Lake Io, which is the Uoveut Garden of Chicago. THIRTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES. By Henry Alley. Queen-Rearing. {Continued from paye 16.) Eggs — Time required to Hatch Them. — It re- quires three and a half days from the time the egg is placed in the cell for it to hatch, or the minute larva to appear. Well, now suppose a comb containing eggs is given the bees to rear queens from. That comb may have more or less eggs in it that were laid that day and other eggs that were deposited three days previously. Bees when forced to rear a queen never select an egg, but always a larva if it is to be found in the hive. As other larvm are developed more cells are begun, and so on for about four days in succession. Thus it can be seen that when the young queens begin to emerge they will continue to appear each day for three days in suc- cession. This illustrates the importance of removing the eggs each day from the hive in which the breeding queen is kept. After queen-cells have been capped several days, not even an expert can tell in all cases from which ones the queens are most likely to come 32 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 17, 1889. from first. Hence the uncertainty regarding the time to look for the young queens. Not only is the above a most serious objection to rearing queens by the old methods, but others, equally as objectionable, can be advanced. Night-work in Queen-rearing. — As stated on an- other page, the night work that is necessary in order to save young queens from being destroyed, either before or after they leave the cell, is more than a person can endure who has worked hard during the day, and I was actually compelled to devise some better method for rearing queens. Before adopting the present plan now practised in the Bay State Apiary, I think I did more work during the night than I did in the daytime. The night work was to watch queen-cells, and as soon as a queen emerged she was at once removed to prevent her from destroying other queens, or the remaining cells. This work was necessary from the fact that the cells were so constructed that they could not be separated without destroying a large number of them. It really seemed as though queen-bees could not be born except in the night, as by far the largest percentage of all 1 reared seemed to ap- pear between sunset and sunrise. Such operations as watching queen-cells at night and removing queens are now numbered with the things of the past. After practising all the known methods as given in many of the books devoted to bee-culture, and the methods as recommended by the most prominent apiarists of the world as published in the several bee publications, it occurred to me that I had travelled in those old ruts as long as necessary. How to avoid the night work was the one thing that with advancing years I must in some way overcome. Just how it was to be done required not a little study and considerable experimenting. However, I succeeded in devising a plan for compelling bees to construct queen- cells in such a way that all could be separated without injuring any. Those experiments were conducted many years ago, yet nothing new on this particular point of having queen-cells built in rows has been devised, while in all other particulars connected with queen -rearing, much advancement has been made, as will be noticed as we proceed. Starting the Cells. — The plan I shall describe for having queen-cells built in rows, as illustrated on an- other page, was devised and first practised in the Bay State Apiary some ten years ago. Since it was made public, several foreign queen dealers, of more or less note, have adopted it and claim it as an invention of their own. Some noted English authors of bee litera- ture have coolly informed their readers that they do not agree with me in all I claim in the several editions of the Bee-keepers' Handy-book, notwithstanding the fact that hundreds of people have visited the Bay State Apiary and seen these doubtful things in actual opera- tion. The plan for having the bees build queen-cells as hinted, and which have been practised so many years by some of the best queen-dealers, is really the only one that comes nearest to nature in any degree outside of natural swarming. In fact, many of the queens reared by the-e methods are superior to those reared under the swarming impulse. This, of course, some few people will doubt, yet the queens can be produced that will speak for themselves. I have no idea that all who read this work will agree with me in everything claimed. That would be too much to expect. Yet what is herein stated is worthy of the attention of those who keep bees either for plea- sure or profit. I am giving no theory, but actual facts. Hearing Queens in large quantities. — While the first plan given here for producing queens relates more particularly to rearing them on a large scale, neverthe- less it will be found one of the best, even though only a small number are to be reared. Many of those who will read this have been made acquainted through the Handy Book with the details of preparing the combs and eggs for starting cells, yet it is necessary to give them again, as hundreds of those who now read the American Apiculturist do not have the least idea regarding the best methods practised for rear- ing queens. Preparing the Comb and Eggs for Queen Cells, Necessary Tools and Fixtures to have at Hand. — When ready to set the bees to building cells, one of the combs moved from the hive in which the breeding queen is kept, is taken to a warm room which had been previously pre pared for quickly doing the necessary work. There is at hand an oil-stove, for heating the room, and an iron pan, say one that is twelve inches long, six inches wide, and not less than three inches deep, in which is a quantity of beeswax and rosin, which should be suffici- ently heated to have the material mix thoroughly. An old table-knife, one having a very thin blade, and made quite sharp, is one of the most convenient and handy tools that I have in the apiary. This is used for cutting foundation or comb of any kind. A kuife fur such a purpose will work nicely if first warmed. Fiu. 4. — Comb containing eggs. A quantity of hot water should be at hand to dip the kuife in occasionally. When not convenient to have the water, it may be warmed by the blaze of a kerosene lamp. Now we are ready to cut the comb from the frame. Bear in mind that the last eggs deposited by the queen are those near the edge of the comb, and in order not to take them the comb is cut half an inch in from the frame. After warming the knife again, the comb is cut in strips through alternate rows of cells as indicated by the lines in figure 4. When this has been done the pieces are laid flatwise upon a board, or on the table, and about half of the cell is cut off as illustrated farther on. The knife should be very warm and sharp, or the ends of the cells would be made so ragged that the bees would be apt to remove the comb entire, and no cells would be made. ( To be continued.) HUNTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The committee recently appointed by the general meeting of the Bee-keepers' Association to consider the best means of carrying on the Association and increasing the subscription list, met at the Fountain Hotel, Hun- tingdonshire, on Saturday lost, and as a result of their deliberations the following letter was drawn up for sending throughout the county : — ' Hunts Bee-Keepers' Association. ' (President, the Earl of Sandwich.) ' This Association was established some years ago with the view of encouraging the cultivation of bees and the production of honey by the cottagers and agri- cultural labourers of the county. From want of suffi- cient income the committee regret that hitherto they have not been able to achieve that which was the primary object in establishing the association — the pro- viding of an expert who would visit and instruct in bee- culture those becoming members of the society and January 17, 1880.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 33 desiring his assistance, and fear that unless additional subscriptions are received the Association must be dis- continued. ' We, the undersigned, having been appointed at a general meeting a committee to consider what steps should be taken to increase the income of the Associa- tion, appeal to the residents of the county, inviting them to become members of it, believing it may be made of great utility. ' The committee could arrange for a lecture on bee- keeping to be given in your neighbourhood on your communicating a desire to have one, to the honorary secretary, Mr. C. N. White, of Someraham, who kindly offers his services gratis, out of pocket expenses excepted. — Yours faithfully, ' J. II. Howard, A. W. Maiishaix, G. N. White. ' Sandwich, T. C'oote, Junr., C. G. Hill, ' December 31, 1888." Mr. White reported that the Rev. G. G. Hill would at the annual meeting allow himself to be nominated for the position of honorary secretary. fomspcmbcnic. The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention will be taken oj anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one bide of the paper only, and give their full names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should he drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, &c.t must be addressed only to 'The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," do .Messrs. Strangercays and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C All business communications relating to Advertisements, &C, must be addressed to Mr. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (sen 2nd ]>age of Advertisements.) %* In order to facilitate reference. Correspondents, when speaking oj any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. B.B.K.A. AND COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS. [1953.] I have read with considerable curiosity and interest the discussion and letters published in the B.B.J, concerning the relations between the B.B.K.A. and the affiliated County Associations. Being entirely an outsider, I have failed to discover any real cause or reason of complaint, or any sign of weakness on the part of the B.B.K.A. It appears from Mr. Webster's letter (1857) that certain county representatives consider they have not a sufficient voice in the management of the B.B.K.A., nor can I personally perceive that they can lay claim to any right of priority, my opinion being that county repre- sentatives should hold a somewhat subordinate position, and that their influence should only have weight where matters pertaining to County Associations are directly under consideration. Seeing that the B.B.K.A. does not, to my knowledge, intrude any direct interference with the proceedings of the County Associations, Mr. Webster's letter appears rather one-sided, nor is his reasoning that ' if the Counties flourish, the mother must do the same,' quite clear. Mr. Seager's suggestion (B.B.J., November 1) for the formation of Local Asso- ciations (the many in place of the one) raises the difficult question of Local Secretaries. These will, under the proposed scheme, become Association Secretaries, and will have the whole responsibilities of Hon. Secretaries put upon them. Mr. Seager suggests ' shrewd business men,' but where are they to be found ? Even in large Associations where the work may have approached a routine business, Hon. Secretaries find they have con- tinually to work hard to keep matters in satisfactory course; how much more will be the difficulty when gentlemen are wanted to organize and establish new Associations and obtain new subscribers ? In our county we are unable to find gentlemen to take up even small village clubs, where the work would be half done by the promoters of the various village flower-shows with which we wish to join hands. I fear most gentle- men who have the necessary time at their disposal will object to take up a matter with which they are nut conversant, and such gentlemen, as a rule, would hardly take up bee-keeping as a study or hobby for the benefit of their fellows, for ' bees have stings." It appears to me that many Associations are practi- cally held together by the enthusiasm of the few, and in some cases no doubt the Hon. Secretary is the real motive power. It is here, I fancy, that will be found the stumbling-block in the formation of Local Asso- ciations, and there is also to be considered the palpable objection that the weakening of some of the existing Associations, by attempting to raise two in place of one, may end in the destruction of both. If ' unity ' be admitted as ' strength,' then a divided interest must prejudicially affect the whole. Mr. Seager points to the ' clique ' complaint, but this ' disease ' is quite likely to attack any Association, great or small. However, I take it there could be no objection for the formation of a Local Association which may be affiliated to the B.B.K.A., in cases where it would be admitted by two or three County Associations that portions of those respective districts are isolated, and could be better worked by an independent Local Association (by this 1 mean that the adjoining boundaries of two or more counties might conveniently establish a Local Asso- ciation ), or where in large counties existing Associations admit, there may be ample scope for two or more estab- lishments being formed without mutual injury. I deprecate any authoritative acknowledgment of the rights of a few malcontents in any moderately-sized county or appropriated district to attempt the formation of an opposition Association, and agree with Mr. Garratt when he says, ' the independent multiplication of societies would bring difficulties.' No doubt Mr. Woodley is correct when suggesting the more intimate connexion between British and County Associations, but how is this to be effected ? The suggestion is worth- less without the means of accomplishment, and his desire to acquire additional voting powers for County repre- sentatives cannot affect the intimacy in the least. Every one would admit that it woidd be very desir- able to infuse fresh impetus to County Associations, but I fail to see how so useful an ingredient could be sup- plied by the B.B.K.A. It is a question of local effort. I fancy Mr. McClure (1875) would be rather disgusted at the result of his suggestion (if carried into effect) anent the attendance of Local Presidents at the annual meetings of the B.B.K.A. Mr. Woodley, in (18(51), evidently tunes upon Mr. Webster's harp, requiring only increased voting power, but I would ask, To what end ? What arguments can be adduced to prove that increased voting power to County representatives would assist County Associations ? Certainly no Association, as far as I have read, complains that it does not receive an excellent quid pro quo for its affiliation fee; and I would also respectfully suggest that an ' exclusive ' Committee — at present evidently the reproach attaching to the B.B.K.A. — is far better than a divided one, for the latter could never be unanimous ; and if Associations, by their representatives, have the power of voting for Committeemen, they should abide by the election. I can understand and appreciate the desire on the part of the B.B.K.A. Committee not to introduce any question of unpleasant aspect or grievance, be they righteous or not, for public consideration, such as might be considered in Committee. I consider such an objection is a very worthy one, for no public Association of any standing would permit public controversy. Mr. Grimshaw in (1882) greatly assists in the solution of the whole question. He also points to the difficulties of a large 84 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. | January 17, 1889, county like York (but, by the way, they exist in like proportion in smaller ones), and it is apparent there is room for more than one Association there. In carefully reading the correspondence published, I do not find many practical suggestions -which would be of real benefit to the community, so much easier is it to pull down than to build up ; nor is any scheme mooted for improving the condition of County Associations. Surely the improvements required should be made in great measure by local efforts. I fancy, after all, the greatest object of the B.B.K.A. must be the organization and successful management of the various exhibitions, chiefly the one held in conjunction with the R.A.S.E. Un- doubtedly the annual shows benefit every bee-keeper in the kingdom. They tend to reduce costs of appliances, bring out new, cheaper, and better ones, and modes of management, and besides the instruction given both by shows and lectures, create or promote (I hope) a demand for, and sale of honey. That exhibitions do tend to im- prove the various industries concerned, we have the highest authority, notably, of late, the decisions of the Parliamentary Commission upon Horse Breeding, which devoted the whole Government grant of 1888 in prizes at Nottingham Show. Nor do I quite see how County Associations can do better. In many districts modem bee-keeping is fairly well known to the agricultural classes, and wherever this is admitted, I apprehend that a well-organized show, with classes for cottagers, artisans, amateurs, professionals, aud manufacturers, should meet the requirements of local bee-keepers. Take the instance of the English Agricultural Societies. Even the H.A.S.E. gives but little in comparison to their members beyond the annual show, and many other Societies have no other object. Should the suggested alteration of County to Local Associations be effected, 1 fail to see where the B.B.K.A. will improve its position. In the case of Shropshire, affiliation fees have been paid from 1877 to 1884, when, in consequence of the inability to find a Hon. Secretary to carry on the work, the Association dissolved. In 1887 steps were taken to get up a honey show, which, being successful, enabled us to reform the Association, but no fees have been yet paid. This year, 1889, it is proposed that we become affiliated, but as we receive a full return in shape of prizes and privileges, I fail to see how the B.B.K.A. will benefit by our affiliation. It was quite as well off last year when no fees were paid. The balance of benefit will clearly be with us this year. It seems apparent that the B.B.K.A. Committee is prepared and anxious to meet the wishes of the bee- keeping community, and, as it is composed of those who give their time and trouble without appreciable benefit, and are most certainly perfectly disinterested, full justice should be accorded for the good work done. If reformers, even with good intent, set to work, let them be careful lest they reform away the whole consti- tution. In thus putting down my opinion, I hope I may not have touched the susceptibilities of any one, but as some alteration in the existing state of affairs seems imminent, I have thought that possibly the ideas of a totally dis- interested ' outsider ' may be of interest, more especially as no outsider appears to have ventured to express his views upon the subject ; and if I may humbly presume to offer advice, I would urge the avoidance of any course of procedure calculated to alienate those of high social standing who have taken the bee-keeping industry under their special protection, and who have undoubtedly been the means of bringing it to its present high state of popularity. I trust this letter may not be considered an infliction, and wish all your readers a happy and good honey- producing New Year.— W. G. Pkeece, Jun., Local Hon. Sec. Shropshire Bee-keepers' Association, January Srd, 1889. SITUATION OF HIVES. [1954.] Your correspondent, Mr. A. Sharp (1944) does well to follow up a subject that has had but little ventilation in the Journal, though, doubtless, the matter is one that has had considerable attention. Hitherto I have placed my hives almost exclusively near the ground, but those few which were not so have shown an advantage in their favour, sufficiently im- portant to induce me to raise all in future about a foot from the ground. With a few stocks the advantages either way may not be very apparent ; but it is a fact, nevertheless, that the frost is more severe on the surface of the earth because of the greater moisture, and the dampness with cold is, of course, detrimental to the bees ; for while there may be a difference of only two degrees, or less, between the temperature at the earth's surface and that a foot or two above, the effect is worse than with a temperature ten or twelve degrees lower, if dry. In the summer it matters little ; but how often my aching back has made me wish all the hives were a foot or so higher! Yes, in some ways legs are a nuisance, but while, perhaps, a little more expensive, the stand should never be a fixture to the body of the hive. I do not think the practice of placing hives near the ground has been general in this country, but it would be interesting to hear from those who have had the opportunity of testing the matter on both plans. — S. SlMMINS. FBAME STANDS. [1955.] I should like to put forth a suggestion, which I think if carried out would be a boon to many bee- keepers. I wish some of our hive-appliance manufac- turers would provide us with a light trellis-work cast- in m frame-stand for hives. I should like one about 19 inches square and 6 inches high. The sides might simply consist of diagonal bars resting on a base of not less than li inch in width. The front and back need only have an arch without a base. Four screw-holes should be provided in the top of the framework to enable the hive floor-board to be screwed on to the stand. The advan- tages of such a stand are — 1. Elegance, when nicely painted. 2. Free circulation of air beneath the hive. 3. A bad refuge for insects. 4. Practically indestructible. — Hive. WASPS' NESTS. [1950.] Having a little interest in the wasps' nest that J. W. Blankly took in an open cow-shed — ' Useful Hints ' rather doubts his word for a wasp to build a nest in an open shed — I have sent you a nest that was started last spring in an open cow-shed, that was suspended to the rafters. There were several larger than this, only they got knocked down in killing the wasps last spring. There were a gi-eat many queen-wasps in this district, the bad season, and so many enemies, I don't think anyone who is a lover of bees would spare the life of a queen-wasp. — Mid Sussex, January 7. CUPJOUS MICROSCOPICAL EFFECT. [1957.] The other evening a friend was trying a micro- scope in his magic lantern, and had prepared a few makeshift slides. Among other things lie had pressed a portion of a bee, on which was a parasite (a Braula, I suppose). The heat set the little creature in motion, and as there was ample space between the two pieces of glass, it careered about in the liveliest manner, giving the ap- pearance of a mouse running wildly about the sheet. It would certainly be a striking effect if this display could be produced as desired.— C. K. S., South Cornwall, Jan. 11. January 17, 1889.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 35 WINTERING BEES. Best Age fob Bees to Go into Winteb Quarters. [19o8.] As is well known, I always winter my bees on the summer stands, and for years I have met with practically no loss. This I conclude depends more upon preparation than any other cause, and after repeated experiments I have come to the conclusion that extra- late breeding makes no real difference in results. For years I had the idea that late-bred bees must winter better than those that were older, but the theory, plausible though it be, is not borne out by the facts ; that is to say, I get no better results in wintering from causing the late breeding, than I du from allowing strong colonies to manage the matter as they please. Of course, there are exceptional cases. If a colony is weak in late summer, from any cause, such as a poor queen, or the queen being crowded out by an extra honey yield, as may happen at times where the greatest care is used, then I may be obliged to strengthen up my colonies for winter by forcing the queen to the latest possible point of time ; but under ordinary conditions, I find that bees bred as ordinarily done, with no special attempts to force the matter, go through the winter fully as well, and come out in the spring fully as strong, as with forced breeding; and such being the case, I am of the further opinion that too much interference in that direction, at the hands of inexperienced persons, under the instructions as given at the present time, will prove hazardous, and do more harm than good. I do not think that in the hands of experienced men, late breeding will do any harm, but 1 fear that those who attempt the matter without knowing just how it should be done, will fail in the work. Late breeding artificially is rather against the natural law, and any variation from that law must be made on certain lines, else failure must ordinarily result; for this reason, I advise those only who have large experience to attempt the matter on a large scale. Those who have no large experience, should go slow and gain that experience by working1 on a colony or two only, until they fully understand the matter. — J. E. Pond, North Attleboro, Mass. (American Bee Journal). NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- Letters or queries asking/or addresses of manufacturers or correspon- dents, or where appliances can be purchased, or replies giving such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Con-espondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt oj their communication. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in Otis column. . R. W., Natal. — 1. South African Queen. — We regret to say that the queen and workers were found dead on arrival. We have written to you privately. 2. Coccidce. — A further and complete examination of the coccida? sent by you in October last has determined them to belong to the genus Icerya, and it is prob- able that they are identical with Icerya Purchasi, a well-known pest throughout the Southern States of North America, and common in Cape Colony. It is largely dealt with by Professor Riley in the American State Reports, and is at present a sub- ject of interest as regards its extinction there and elsewhere. The close similarity of the legs and an- tennas of these insects to those of Ortonia Natalensis has considerably exercised naturalists here, who, being- accustomed to determine species by references to these parts, were inclined to regard the two creatures as being therefore closely allied, notwithstanding the great difference in their external appe'arance, size, and colour. Happily all doubts have been set at rest on this point by the successful hatching out of the larval forms of both species, which show differences which are quite conclusive in establishing the fact that Ortonia and Icerya have nothing to do with each other. As a matter of microscopical interest, the subject was brought before the Quekett Microscopical Club at its ordinary meeting in December by Mr. R. T. Lewis, I'M!. M.S., who exhibited specimens of the larvae both living and mounted, as well as draw- ings of the same. Some interest also attaches to the ' ladybird ' which got inclosed in the box with the Icerya, and, as formerly stated, destroyed large numbers of the larva; en route. It is identified as belonging to the genus Rodolia, and will probably prove to be the species found in Cape Colony for which Miss Ormerod proposes the name Rodolia Icerya, A SunscraiiER. — Old Honey. — Yes ; you could not do better than mix some with sugar till it is about as stiff as soft putty and place some over the frames at the first opportunity. J. \V. Paul. — The sample of honey sent is very good. ^Business directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell lioad, Bristol. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Burtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Godjian, A., St. Albans. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hdtchinqs, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C. , 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Binrield, Berks. Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. COMB FOUNDATION MILLS. Godman, A., St. Albans. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B. , Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 17, 1889. S.0YAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. WINDSOR MEETING, 1889. Commencing MONDAY, JUNE 24th, and closing SATURDAY, JUNE 29th. PRIZE LIST FOR HIVES, HONEY, &c. Exhibits in Classes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 0, 10, 11 (sections excepted), must be manufactured by the Exhibitor. Exhibits in Class 1 and in Class 19 to be staged and repacked by the Exhibitor. Glass 1. — For the best collection uf Hives and Appliances, to consist of the following; articles : — One Frame-hive, priced at 15s. ; one ditto, priced at 10s. {Note. — These Hives must be fitted with arrangements for Storifying.) One Observatory Hive; one Hive of Straw or other material, not entirely of wood, for ob- taining either Comb or Extracted Honey ; one pair of Section Crates fitted with Sections ; one Extractor, one slow stimulating Feeder, one rapid Feeder ; one Smoker or other Instrument for quieting Bees ; one Veil, one Swarm Box for travelling, capable of being used as a Nucleus Hive ; one Travelling Crate for Comb Honey ; five other distinct articles not specified at the discretion of the Exhibitor. Each article to be priced separately. No articles must be added to the collection, nor any portion of the Exhibit removed during the Show. First Prize, 40s. ; second Prize, 30*. Class 2. — For the best Observatory Hive stocked with Foreign Bees and Queen. First. Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 15*. ; third Prize, 10s. Class 3. — For the best and most complete Frame- hive for general use, unpainted. First Prize, 20*. ; second Prize, 15s. ; third Prize, 10s. Class 4. — For the best, and most complete Frame- hive for general use. The Hive shall consist of (1) a Floor-board on four short legs ; two Chambers or Body- boxes, equal in size, similar and interchangeable, both to have porches, with entrances not less than 12 in. wide, that can be contracted at pleasure, each chamber to be capable of holding at least ten Standard Frames, but only one set of Frames with strips of foundation fixed and two division-boards to be supplied. (2) One Case of 4j by 4J Sections, with foundation fixed and separators, of such size as to admit of its being placed inside the chamber. (•'!) A substantial Roof, snfficiently deep to cover a case of sections and afford ample pro- tection to the whole Hive, the price of each part, namely, stand and floor-board, body-box, case of sections, and roof, to be given separately, the whole not to exceed 15s., unpainted. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 15*.; third Prize, 10*. Class 5. — For the best and most complete Frame Hive for general uses. The Hive shall consist of (1) one Chamber or body-box, containing ten Standard Frames having strips of foundation fi-xed, two division boards, entrance porch, and floor-board, the chamber capable of being used with a second of the same pattern. (2) One Case of twenty-one Sections, 4£ by 4y, with foundation fixed and separators. (3) A Roof sufficiently deep to cover one case of sections at least, the price of each part, namely, floor-board, body-box, case of sec- tions, and roof to be given separately, the whole not to exceed 10*. 6d., unpainted. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 15s. ; third Prize, 10s. Class 6. — For the best Honey Extractor, price to be taken into consideration. First Prize, 15*.; second Prize, 10*. Class 7. — For the best Honey Extractor, price not to exceed 12s. (id. First Prize, 15*. ; second Prize, 10*. Class 8. — For the best pair of Section Racks, com- pletely fitted for use and interchangeable, price not to exceed 3s. (id. each. First Prize, l-~>s. ; second Prize, 10*.; third Prize, 5*. Class 9. — For the best Feeder for slow stimulating feeding. First Prize, 10*. ; second Prize, 5*. Class 10. — For the best Feeder for quick autumn feeding, capable of holding at least 5 lbs. of food at a time. First Prize, 10s. ; second Prize, 5*. Class 11. — For the best Smoker. First prize, 10*. second Prize, 5s. Class 12. — For Useful Inventions introduced since 1887. Special Prizes according to merit. Class 13. — For the best 12 Sections of Comb Honey, the gross weight to approximate 24 lbs. First Prize, 20*. ; second Prize, 10*. ; third Prize, 5*. Class 14.— For the best 12 Sections of Comb Honey, the gross weight to approximate 12 lbs. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 10*.; third Prize, 5*. Class 16. — For the best 6 Sections of Comb Honey, the gross weight to approximate 6 lbs. First Prize, 20*.; second Prize, 10*.; third Prize, 5*. Class Hi.— For the best Exhibit of Run or Extracted Honey in jars, not exceeding 2 lbs. each, the gross weight to approximate 24 lbs. First Prize, 30s. ; second Prize, 20«. ; third Prize, 10*. ; fourth Prize, 5*. Class 17. — For the best Exhibit of Heather Honey (Comb or Extracted), the gross weight to approximate 12 lbs. First Prize, 20*.; second Prize, 10s.; third Prize, 5*. Class 18. — For the best Exhibit of Granulated Honey in jars, not exceeding 2 lbs. each, the gross weight to approximate 12 lbs. First Prize, 20*.; second Prize, 10*. ; third Prize, 5*. Class 19.— For the best Exhibit of Comb and Ex- tracted Honey, in any form, staged on space 4 ft. by 4 ft., height not to exceed 5 ft. above the table. The gross weight of each kind to be stated. First Prize, 00s.; second Prize, 40s. ; third Prize, 20*. The Exhibits in this class to be staged by the Exhibitor. [A Silver Medal, independently of Money Prizes, will be given for the Exhibit most tastefully arranged.] Class 20. — For the best plan and design for an Apiary of 50 Hives on two or more acres of land, to include a suitable building for extracting and general work. The design to show arrangements for growing Honey- and Pollen-producing plants, attention being given to the value of the crops for other purposes. First Prize, 40*. and Silver Medal ; second Prize, 20*. and Bronze Medal. Class 21. — For the best Diagrams suitable for a Lecture on Bee-keeping, or Technical Lessons in Rural Schools. First, Prize, 40*. and Silver Medal ; second Prize, 20s. and Bronze Medal. Class 22. — For the most interesting and instructive Exhibit of any kind connected with Bee-culture not mentioned in the foregoing Classes. First Prize, 20*. ; second Prize, 10s.-; third Prize, 5s. • The Council reserve to themselves the right to publish for Educational purposes any Exhibit entered in Class 20 and 21. London : Printed by Stranqeways & Sons, at their Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C., in the Parish of St. G-iles's-in-the Fields, in the County of Middlesex; and Published for the Proprietor by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, in the same county.— Jan. 17, 1889. Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Strangeways' Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 344. Vol. XVII.] JANUARY 24, 1889. [Published Weekly.] (Sfoitnrial, Sottas, #t. PLANTING FOR BEES. The question has often been asked, ' Does it pay?' Well, it will and it will not, as the saying is. Before the apiarist spends any money in this direction, he should very seriously consider his own peculiar situation. The possibility is that if his district really will not support his apiary, it will pay him better to move his apiary to where it will have a chance of giving satisfactory results. But, on the other hand, a district can often be greatly improved over a term of years by the ex- penditure of a little time at a slight yearly cost, especially if there happen to be much waste land in the vicinity. Meadows can be improved by scat- tering a little white clover seed as opportunity offers. Neighbouring farmers may be induced to grow alsike in the place of, or mixed with, red clover, especially if the bee-keeper is prepared to pay the cost of a portion of the same. Odd corners or rough land generally can be utilised by sowing mellilot clover, particularly if it happen to be along lanes, by the roadside, or where deep cart- ruts are made over ground not actually in use. Clover is very partial to road-grit, and we have known a very heavy growth of white clover come where the grass land had been dressed with this material, and at no cost whatever for seed. According to present experience, we should say it does not pay to cultivate laud for bees year by year, but where it can be had at a very cheap rate, and a crop is put in (carefully, in the first instance), that will afterwards take care of itself, such as mellilot ; then, without doubt, it will pay wrell. Small garden crops of course are simply valueless to the large apiarian for honey, but it is a pleasure to many to make a collection of such plants as bees appear to like, giving a small space to each variety, and we have no other wish than to encourage this commendable hobby. It must not for a moment be supposed, how- ever, that these patches will offer any real test for arriving at the most desirable plants to be cultivated for the production of honey on a large scale. The very plants the bees appear most fond of are too often such as it would be utterly im- possible to cultivate on a large scale, while the patch that now is neglected as a miniature crop, if grown by the acre, would be visited by tens of thousands, while the winged workers would simply ' roar ' as they pass to and from the apiary in one continual stream. We have then to look to what will produce honey on a large scale at the least cost in rent and labour when the desirable plant has no other use, and the land so occupied has no higher value ; while those who have the means of growing crops for hay can certainly make it to their own advantage to accommodate the bees at the same time, and thus secure the best results in a double harvest. In the case of crops left for seed, there can be no question as to the great benefit and more certain profit to be secured from the flowers being freely visited by the hive bee, and so ensuring the fullest possible fertilisation of the bloom, and consequently heavy crops of fully developed seed. On the other hand, when wanted for hay of the highest quality, it must be a consideration whether it will pay better to let the crop stand a few days longer for the benefit of the honey crop or be cut immediately the earlier bloom begins to fade. This is rather a delicate question, but one we should not hesitate to decide upon in favour of the bees on the one condition that the best of weather prevailed, and they were making such good use of the time as is well known they can do as occasion offers. We have considered the question of ' planting ' in so far as it relates to honey, but while a large crop only is of use for that purpose, the quantity of pollen that is obtained from a small bed of certain plants is something considerable. Never- theless we question if many bee-keepers really have any need to grow for this purpose, seeing how freely this article is generally brought in. Wallflowers yield pollen early in considerable quantity. Cro- cuses we cannot recommend, after an extensive experience, and we mention the fact as so many have thought highly of them. They come early, and that is nearly all we can say for them, as we have watched bee after bee, and have been surprised and really disgusted to note the very long time it took to get a load, contrasting very unfavourably with the work done on wallflowers and mustard, whicli latter we can recommend as a plant that can be brought in to suit almost any district at a time of scarcity. Rape sown during the previous autumn will give an unlimited supply of pollen from the 38 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 24, 1889. end of April, earlier or later, according to the season, for three or four weeks just at the right time ; but for the most part bee-keepers can use their own judgment, bringing into bloom what is likely to prove most serviceable at a time of scarcity, according to their respective needs, while plants grown especially for honey may, in many cases, be made to bloom several weeks longer than is naturally the case, by a judicious pruning of the fading flowers, or partial cutting of the crop, as the case may be. GLEANINGS. In the Canadian Honey Producer, Mrs. H. F. Bullen says, ' I attribute my success in wintering so far to my never putting my bees away damp ; and to avoid this, before frosty nights replace the summer quilts with thin factory cotton, over which I put quilts made with a layer of wool between coarse canvas, and put on a cap to the hive so that the lid does not he flat on the quilt and keep the moisture from the breath of the bees in the hive. I am wintering eight colonies outside, packed in sawdust, and now that I know how to arrange the covering over them find they winter as safely and with as little honey as in the house, but it is more trouble to pack and unpack than to carry into the house iu the fall and out of it in the spring. The storm porch over entrance of hives saves from any danger of smothering by snow drifting ; in said storm porch is a small box as wide as entrance of hive, with a flap to let down in front to keep the drifting snow out. A 2-in. augur hole in one end of the box admits air even if hive and porch are completely covered with snow. In the Home and Farm T. E. Hamburg says : ' It is a well-known fact that if a pure Leghorn pullet mates but once with a black Spanish cock, her chicks ever afterwards will occasionally show a black feather ; and by like reasoning, and by observation, which comes by a long practical experience, I believe it is so with bets. If those who believe in the theory of parthenogenesis beyond that the egg can be laid impregnated or nut, and think that the mating of an Italian queen with a black drone has no effect on her progeny, must be somewhat in error, for certainly by absorption the queen's blood becomes somewhat contaminated, as the effect of such mating. She may be able to produce pure or nearly pure drones, but the contamination is in her blood all the same, which will show to some extent in her workers, and of course, if an egg from such a queen, which would have produced a worker, be so treated that it produces a queen, such a queen will not be a pure Italian, but will be hybrid, and her drones, of course, will partake of this quality.' In the American Bee Journal J. 0. Shearman says that the shrill cry ' Pe-e-p, peep, peep ' of young queens, and the ' Quahk, quahk ' of those in the cells are pro- duced by their wings. He has seen them do it — a short, quick, vibrating motion; and the hoarser ' note' of the queen in the cell is caused by its confined position, though they have room to make the motion just the same. To him it appears that this alone should settle the question ' Do bees hear P ' What is hearing but concussion of waves of sound upon any sensitive object, whether it be ears or the soft parts of bees all over them? Bees are very sensitive, and their senses of sight, smell, and taste, are more acute than most other animals, and he thinks it is equally so to sound. With regard to robbing the Rural Canadian says that after the bees have once become engaged in robbing, they are of no use in the apiary, as they will continue to steal during the rest of their lives, and the sooner they are disposed of the better. If much robbing is going on *n the apiary the thieving colonies should be found and removed to a new location, at least a mile away. By sprinkling flour on the robber bees as they leave the hive being robbed they can be easily traced to the stand where they belong. He has often broken up a colony which were robbing by blowing tobacco-smoke in their hive. When this is done care must he taken that the other colonies do not turn to and rob the one that has been doing the robbing. Useful Plants. — According to the calculation of our best botanists there are 2300 different plants in the world that are of use to man. Out of this number 1140 have medicinal uses; 283 have edible fruits or seeds ; 117 furnish vegetables ; 104 give us roots, tubers, or bulbs ; 40 belong to the cereals ; 21 produce sago ; nearly as many yield sugar and honey ; 30 are oleaginous. There are therefore 600 species that serve us as food, 8 which yield wax, 76 produce colouring matter, 16 soda salts, 40 are forage plants, 200 have technical and industrial uses. There are about 350 poisonous plants, of which 66 have narcotic properties. BEE-KEEPERS' VOCABULARY ; Ob, Glossary of Technical and Scientific Words used in Works upon Bee-keeping. Brood-workers, n. pi. (Fr. Sax. weore, wore, work.) — -Worker-bees in the brood state ; worker-brood. Brooding' bees. — The nurse-bees are so called by some writers. Brown bees. n. pi. — See Black bees. Brownian movement. — The irregular oscillatory movement observed in microscopic particles or ' molecules' suspended in a limpid fluid, so named after Dr. Brown, who first discovered this movement; molecular move- ment. Brum. v. rare. (Ger. brummen.) — To hum. Brush, n. {Fr. brosse, a bush.) — Short stiff hairs on the legs of bees used to remove the pollen which collects on different parte of the body ; appliance con- sisting of a piece of wood set with the small tufts of hair or bristles, used for sweeping bees off combs; utensU for sweeping and brushing. Brynstam, brynt stain, n. Sulphur. (Scotch.) — See Brimstone. Buckwheat swarm. — Applied in America to a late swarm issuing during the blooming of buckwheat. Buccal, adj. (fr. L. bucca, a cheek.) — Of, or per- taining to, the cheek ; the jaws of bees are called ' buccal appendages.' Bulb. n. (L. bulbus, onion.) — The soft enlargement of the root end of hair, which contains a nerve end, and constitutes it a sensitive touch organ. A large propor- tion of the hairs on the outer skeleton of the bee are furnished with a bulb. Bulbous, a. — Of the nature or shape of a bulb ; pertaining to a bulb. Bulge, sb. (Old G. belgan, to swell.) — A swelling out ; a protuberance. Bum. v. intr. (Onomatop.) — To buzz ; to make a humming noise ; or Boom, q.v. (North of England.) Bumbee. n. — A humble bee; a wild bee that makes a noise. (Scotch.) Bumbee-byke. n. — A nest of humble-bees. (Scotch.) Bumble, v. — To make a humming noise. (Kent.) January 24, 188D.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 39 Bumble-bee. n. (fr. O. Du. bommelen, a frequent- ation of bommen, to boom.) — A bee that booms or hums ; humble-bee. Bumbulation. n. — A hummiug noise. (Kent.) Bummle-bee. n. — Humble-bee. (Yorkshire.) Bummil, Bummle, Bombell, Bumble, sb. — A wild bee. (Galloway.) Bumping". M, sb. (Onomatop.) — Striking heavily; npplied to the striking of the side of a skep heavily on the ground in order to break the combs from their attachments. Bunt. n. — A fungoid disease of wheat; used by Butler and other writers for puff-ball (Lycoperdon bovista), formerly used for smoking and stupefying bees; also called frog-cheese, mully-puffs, pucktist, blind-ball, devil's snuff-box, fist-ball, fuss-ball, fuzz-ball, hurt. L. giffanteum, giant puff-ball; a fungus found in meadows. Bursa copulatrix. (Lat.) — A recess on both sides of the vagina into which the male organs are extruded and there locked by the horned pneumophyses. Butcher-bird. n. — A bird belonging to the shrike family [Lanius e.veubitor), an enemy of bees, which it destroys and impales on thorns and twigs. Common in France, but a rare visitant in England. Burning" bees. — Destroying bees by means of the fumes of burning sulphur, still practised by some igno- rant bee-keepers. Buzzard, n. — See Bee-hawk. Buzzing", rbl. sb. (fr. v. to buzz, onomatop.) — The humming sibilant sound characteristic of bees. Bye-hive. -Obs. form of bee-hive. CANADA. Foltl Brood. For some years the reports of foul brood have been becoming more numerous, and as the number of cases reported have increased, so for some time the agitation has also increased for legislation to prevent the spread of the disease. It was proposed that the Ontario Legis- lature be requested to pass a Bill which might have the desired effect. A number of circumstances however arose, and for the last year the matter has received but little attention. The Blant Bee-keepers' Association, at their meetings last week, however, revived the question. It appeared that up to that time no member had any traces of the disease, whilst in the county of Oxford a number of cases had. been reported, one apiarist, after trying almost all of the methods of cure advocated in the numerous bee journals, only to have the disease spread to colonies before apparently unaffected, destroyed about one hundred colonies. It was resolved that the Blant County Association, through its representatives, request the Ontario Bee- keepers' Association to expend a part of its annual Government grant In paying the expenses of inspectors who shall, at any time desired by them, inspect the apiaries of such as offer bees and queens for sale. Of course without legislation the apiarist need not permit the inspection of his bees, but such a refusal published would almost bear conviction that all was not well, and any one whose bees were free from the disease would probably only be too well pleased to have their bees properly inspected. Whilst we believe we are, when other lands are considered, comparatively free from the disease spoken of, many prominent bee-keepers feel that something should be done to maintain the present state, or, better still, root out the disease where it exists. Our winter has been very mild so far ; and to-day, January 2nd, there is at Brantford not a vestige of snow, and the temperature, although cloudy, barely freezing, It is hard on our clover. We are all anxiously wonder- ing what our next honey season will be like. My bees are quiet in the cellar, and it is difficult to keep the temperature down to 4-'!° Fahr. — R. F. Holtermann, Brantford, Canada. ASSOCIATIONS. BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. Meeting of the Committee held at 105 Jermyn Street on Thursday, January 17th. Present — Hon. and Rev. II. Bligh, in the chair: Rev. Dr. Bartrum, Rev. J. L. Seager, Captain Bush, Rev. F. T. Scott, J.M. Hooker, and the Secretary. A communication was received from Mr. Glennie, the Treasurer, regretting his inability to be present. The minutes of the last Committee meeting having been read and confirmed, the Secretary read the statement of accounts for the past year, the same being duly signed by Mr. Kirchner, the auditor, and the treasurer. Resolved, 'That the same be received and adopted and published in the Annual Report.' It was unanimously resolved, ' That the Committee of the British Bee-keepers' Association have heard with deep regret of the death of Mr. W. Raitt, of Blairgowrie , and desire to place on record the high sense they enter- tain of the invaluable services he rendered to the progress of modern bee-keeping. They trust that the conscious- ness of the useful life led by their father will be a source of constant consolation to his bereaved children.' Resolved, ' That the Quarterly Meeting to be held on Thursday, February 21st, commence at 2 o'clock.' It was resolved to open a special fund on behalf of the Windsor Show and other objects. The Secretary was requested to prepare a paragraph in reference thereto for insertion in the Annual Report. The suggested amendments to the rules of affiliation as prepared by the special Committee appointed at the last Quarterly Conversazione were' further considered. Resolved, ' That the same as amended be placed on the agenda for consideration at the Annual General Meeting.' Manufacturers and others desiring to advertise in the forthcoming report of B.B.K.A. are requested to commu- nicate with the Secretary without delay. MIDDLESEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. Report for 1888. Bee-keepers will, in nearly all parts of England, have cause to remember the present year as one of the most disappointing on record. A late and inclement spring was followed by a few weeks of fairly good weather, and then there set in, just when the honey-How was expected, a series of wet weeks, which not only destroyed all hope of securing surplus stores, but so prevented the develop- ment of nectar in the flowers that the bees could scarcely gather sufficient food for the fast-growing larva?. It seemed at one time as if vigorous summer feeding could alone avert starvation from many stocks. August and September allowed something to be done towards keep- ing up daily supplies of food from the fields; but we fancy comparatively few colonies were fit for the winter without abundance of syrup being furnished to them during the autumn. In our own county only one case has been reported of any considerable amount of honey being taken. In this instance, from six very strong stocks, as much as 1501bs. were extracted. We fancy, however, this quite excep- tionally prosperous bee-keeper was considerably indebted to a large bean-field near his apiary. It would be inter- esting to learn whether aphides were very plentiful on 40 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 24, 1889. the bean plants. They seem to have been scarce on the lime blossoms, owing to the cold and wet July, and happy were those bee-masters who had in their neigh- bourhood a large amount of the fragrant linden flowers. The late disappointing season has been most unfor- tunate, not simply in yielding no profit from the hives, but we fear many who have only lately begun bee-keep- ing will be still more disheartened by winter losses. As a consequence, there is further to be apprehended a lack of interest in our Association, and a falling off of the number of our subscribers. To prevent these mishaps the committee woidd urge on all who are interested in api- culture to give practical help and encouragement to their neighbours, who seem unable or disinclined to go on with bee-keeping. Notwithstanding the difficulties presented by the in- clement summer, a show was held in the grounds of our general Secretary, at -Hampton Hill, in the month of July. The weather was most unfortunate, and the am omit of honey shown very small. The general Secre- tary was fortunate enough to secure the B.B.K.A. silver medal in the class open to the county, and Mr. C. Wright (of Hounslow) received the bronze medal. Shows were . also held in Mr. Ilasluck's grounds at Southgate, and at Wood Green. Both of these were successful, not- withstanding the small amount of honey staged. As there was no possibility of getting up a show in the N.W. Province, the grant of 4/. to that Province was resigned in favour of the Hampton Hill and South- gate Shows. The bee-tent continues to be an attraction at various horticultural and other exhibitions, and there is reason to hope the manipulations therein performed not only interest and amuse onlookers, but stir up the desire to have practical acquaintance with such useful, tractable, and, in ordinary seasons, such profitable insects as bees. The Expert, Mr. Baldwin, has made during the year two very complete tours — one in the spring, the other in the autumn. It was thought to be especially advisable that he should pay a second visit to the apiaries of members before the season was too far advanced to con- tinue feeding ; for there was a well-grounded fear that, through want of stores, the stocks of many inexperienced bee-keepers would perish during the coming winter. The extra expense of the second tour was seen to be thoroughly warranted by the condition in which Mr. Baldwin actually found many stocks. The committee regret the resignation of the office of district Secretary by Mr. H. 11. Leach, of Pinner, and by Mr. Attenborough, of Staines. In the early part of the season Mr. W. M. Graham, our Secretary for the Northern Province, left the county, and his place was filled by Mr. W. l'ye English, who also succeeded to Mr. Graham as County representative at the B.B.K.A. quarterly Coirferences. The number of members and the amount of subscrip- tions do not present any striking differences as compared with last year. About 110 had paid up in time to par- ticipate in the annual drawing for bee-appliances. A suggestion, and a very practical offer to attempt the working of it, has been made by Mr. Pye English. The committee think it well to print the portion of a letter referring to this subject, which was sent by Mr. English to the general Secretary : — ' Perhaps it would be convenient to members to have a means of sale, or exchange, &c, i.e., anyone wishing to buy bees, &c, or sell same, should (if he wished) have his name put upon a register, to be kept by the Association, with a note of his requirements. It would work thus — A has a swarm for sale, and B wants to buy one. A writes to the Secretary, who puts him into communication with B. The negotiations to be entirely conducted by the two parties. We should only undertake to put the buyer and seller into communication with each other, and they would have to settle everything between them- selves. If you think this worth consideration I will undertake the working with pleasure.' Attention is also called to the want of secretaries for several of the districts. In conclusion, the committee have to report that they have met five times during the year for the transaction of various important business ; and they feel it due to Major Fair to express their sincerest thanks to him for kindly attending to many extra duties consequent upon the general Secretary's unavoidable absence for some months on the Continent. THE BERKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The Annual Meeting of this Association will be held on Wednesday next, January 30, at the Victoria Cafe Restaurant, 13 Broad Street, Reading. As the business to be transacted is of a specially important character, it is hoped that an effort will be made by members from all parts of the county to attend. The following are the arrangements for the occasion : — 4 p.m., meeting of Sub-committee on Organization ; •5 p.m., meeting of General Committee. 6 p.m., Conver- sazione, and an exhibition of bee appliances, to which members and their friends are invited — refreshments will be provided. 7 p.m., Annual Meeting of members ; the Rev. R. Errington, vicar of Clewer, in the chair. Business. — Presentation of annual report and balance sheet, revision of rules, election of officers. Notices of motion should reach the Hon. Sec. not later than January 26. 8.30, an Address will be given by Mr. T. B. Blow, F.L.S., on ' My Experience among American Bee-keepers.' The Humble Bee. — It is the patient humble bee that goes down into the forest of the mowing grass. If entangled, the honey bee climbs up a sorrel stem and takes wing, without any sign of annoyance. His broad back with tawny bar buoyantly glides over the golden buttercups. He hums to himself as he goes, so happy is he. lie knows no skep, no cunning work in glass re- ceives his labour, no artificial saccharine aids hiin when the beams of the sun are cold, there is no step to his house that he may alight in comfort; the way is not made clear for him that he may start straight for the flowers, nor are any sown for him. He has no shelter if the storm descends suddenly ; he has no dome of twisted straw, well thatched and tiled, to retreat to. The butcher-bird, with a beak like a crooked iron nail, drives him to the ground, and leaves him pierced with a thorn, but no hail of shot revenges his tortures. The grass stiffens at nightfall (in autumn), and he must creep where he may, if possibly he ma}' escape the frost. No one cares for the humble bee. But down to the flower- ing nettle in the mossy-sided ditch, up into the tall elm, winding in and out and round the branched buttercups, along tlie banks of the brook, far inside the deepest wood, away he wanders and despises nothing. His nest is under the rough grasses and the mosses of the mound, a mere tunnel beneath the fibres and matted surface. The hawthorn overhangs it, the fern grows by, red mice rustle past. It thunders, and the great oak trembles, the heavy rain drops through the treble roof of oak, and hawthorn, and fern. Under the arched branches the lightning plays along, swiftly to and fro, or seems to, like the swish of a whip, a yellowish-red against the green ; a boom ! a crackle as if a tree fell from the sky. The thick grasses are bowed, the white florets of the wild parsley are beaten down, the rain hurls itself, and suddenly a fierce blast tears the green oak leaves and whirls them out into the fields ; but the humble-bee's home, under moss and matted fibres, remains uninjured. His house at the root of the king of trees, like a cave in the rock, Jauuary 24, 1881). | THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 41 is safe. The storm passes and the sun come.s out, the air is the sweeter and the richer for the rain, like verse with a rhyme; there will be more honey in the flowers. Humble he is, but wild ; always in the held, the wood, always by the banks and thickets, always wild and hum- ming to his flowers. Therefore I like the humble bee, being, at heart at least, for ever roaming among the woodlands, and the hills, and by the brooks. — Richard Jkfferius [Longman's Magazine). Wasps and Bees. — The wasp is as much entitled to the epithet of ' busy ' as is the bee. It does not store up a supply of food for the winter, because all the inhabitants of the nest will be dead before the winter has set in. But, not the less does it collect food for the sake of others, and the fruit which it eats it stores tem- porarily in its' crop, and brings it home as food for the young. The life of our hornet, which is the largest of our wasps, is much like that of the ordinary wasp, except that the insect generally places its nest in a hollow tree, and is even more industrious, working not only by day but also by night, as long as the moon continues to shine. So that the hornet is even more ' busy ' than the much-belauded bee. The popular idea that the wasp is a spiteful insect is without the least foundation. It never uses its sting except for defence, and moreover, it can, like the bee, recognise human beings and be on friendly terms with them. The late Mr. S. Stone lived in the society of wasps without being attacked by them. Mr. F, Smith also had wasp- nests at work in his room without suffering from them ; while the story of Sir John Lubbock's tame wasp is too familiar to need repetition. Wasps often enter my house at meal times, and fly among us while they are hunting for food, which they can take back to the wasp- babies at home. We are not afraid of them, never fight them, and though we are a tolerably large family, none of us have been stung by our winged guests. — Rev. J. G. Wood, in ' Sunday Magazine! €axxtB$avfotm£. The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- munications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only, and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, bat as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, £c, must be addressed only to *The Editor of the "British Bee Journal," cfo Messrs. Strangeuiays and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C All business communications relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr, J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 2nd page of Advertisements). *** In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking oj any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears, AN AMERICAN LADY BEE-KEEPER.— INTRODUCTORY. [19-39.] To the readers of the British Bee Journal, — I come among you a stranger, but with the kindest intentions, and hope that an acquaintance may spring up which may prove beneficial to all parties. If my great-grandmother did cherish feelings of ill-will against your country, and wanted to sweep your soldiers into the Atlantic with a brush of her broom, it is no reason why we should not be friends. We speak the same language, and believe in the same God, and our only difference is that we were transplanted across the Atlantic. I now make my salaam, and extend my right hand in token of friendship; as the little girl said, ' She laughed at me, and I laughed at her, and then we were acquainted.' I was very much impressed with the greatness of Great Britain whde attending the World's Fair at Phila- delphia in 1876. I was up in one of the galleries of the main building, and, looking down, saw the exhibit of ' Great Britain and her Colonies.' It spoke well for a great nation. It seems strange to me that among so great a nation there are not many women who keep bees, and tell how they manage them ; but in looking at. a copy of the British Bee Journal I cannot find a line from any of them. New Year's Day. — To-day many good resolutions will be made, and a new start in the journey of life taken. It is well for bee-keepers to review the past and lay plans for the future. It our bees have not paid, could we have made them do so r1 Last season was a very poor one for honey in this locality, owing to the severe droughts of the two previous seasons, destroying white clover. I could not have prevented this, but at one time during the season there was a big flow of honey from button bush, growing in the lowlands along the Illinois river, only a few miles distant. There were thousands of acres of it, and it bloomed for weeks, yielding a nice white honey. If the mountain could not come to Mahomet, he could go to it ; it would have paid well to have taken my bees thither. Winter Work in the Apiary. — I wanted to do something for my little pets on this first day of the year, so I have been down into their cellar and swept up their dead ; the loss so far has been but trifling. The thermometer indicated 44 degrees. This cellar is 6 feet by 12, and has a sub-earth ventilator ; in it are stored fifty-two colonies of bright, healthy, happy, and contented bees. Why should not they be, for they have pure air, good food, and warmth ? About the same number of colonies are passing the winter upon their summer stands, and are doing well. The season has been mild, and bees have frequent flights. Ice and coal men are despondent; no snow and but little rain. In sheltered nooks, when the sun shone upon the hives to-day, bees were upon the wing, and at 2 p.m. the thermometer hanging in the shade stood at 42 degrees. Hives. — The hive that I use and prefer is the eight- frame Langstroth's. I am not very strong, and I like a hive that is light and simple. Other hives may be just as good; I had a few ten-frame ones made, but I do not like them ; they are heavier, and as they are larger it takes longer for the bees to fill them — consequently it is later in the season when they commence storing in the surplus boxes. Now is a good time to have hives made, and have them well painted, to be in readiness for another season. I have known many a swarm emigrate while their owner went to purchase a hive. There is nothing that adds so much to the pleasure and profit of bee-keeping as having everything in readiness when the busy season comes. — Mrs. L. Harrison, Peoria, III. [Mrs. L. Harrison has kindly promised to write for the Journal once a-month. Mrs. Harrison has been very successful with her bees, and her example, we trust, may induce many British ladies to follow her example. She credits bee-keeping with making life more enjoyable, opening up a new world, and making her more observant of fruits and flowers. Mrs. Harrison is well known as a writer for the press, and has been bee-editor of the Prairie Farmer since 1876, her writings being marked with much vigour and originality. — Ed.] A BIG BEE FARM. 'The most extensive bee-farm iu the world is probably near Beeton, in Canada. It covers four acres, and the owner, in a favourable year, secures not less than 75,000 pounds of honey from his 19,0U0,U0o little workers.' — Hevsspapw paragraph. [I960.] I observe a paragraph in your last issue, under the above heading, stating that ' the most ex- tensive bee-farm in the world is probably near Beeton (not Beeton) in Canada.' Now, I happen to know the owner pretty well, and though he is not averse to being puffed a little, I know he would at once decline the 42 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 24, 1889. honour you would thrust upon him. I may say that the reputed extent of ground, be it ' four acres ' as in this case, or 100 acres, gives no idea of the real magni- tude of a bee-farm, since the bees from even a single hive, occupying it may be a space under a square yard, have a range of pasturage in all directions to a distance of about five miles ; and though 100 colonies were kept in the same yard, their united pasturage would be no more extensive. The true measure of extent in an apiary is the number of colonies kept. In Mr. D. A. Jones' apiary, at Beeton, there are only hundreds kept, while in othors L know of there are thousands. I have no doubt the most extensive bee-keeper in the world is Captain J. E. Hetherington, of Cherry Valley, New York. He owns about 3000 colonies, or stocks of bees, kept in fourteen different apiaries, from two to twelve miles distant from his home. The Captain does not appear anxious to publish results, but I should guess that iu a favourable year each of his stocks would yield an average of 175 lbs., in all about 525,000 lbs. The late Adam Grimm, of Jefferson, Illinois, was, in his day, the most extensive bee-keeper in the States, having about 1400 colonies, and clearing in one year from them ten thousand dollars. He died in 187G. Mr. J. S. Harbison, of Old Mission Valley, San Diego, CaL, some years ago had as many as 3500 colonies, and is said to have consigned as much as 130 tons of honey at one shipment. He has latterly given more attention to fruit-culture, so that probably he is not now the most extensive bee-keeper in the world. The above are but a few names among many who own more colonies than Mr. Jones. But I cannot close without mentioning another, whose remarkable story was given lately in the Woman's Missionary Advocate (Am.) Her name is Mrs. Sarah Axtell, of Roseville, Warren Co., Ill, and her portrait is before me as I write, that of a worn-looking invalid, for such she is. Eager to work in the cause of missions, she busied herself in such light handiwork as suited her, selling the proceeds for that end. In 1871 she began to keep bees 'for God,' and has, ever since they began to pay, forwarded the pro- ceeds to the missions. Her stocks number over L'00, and her yearly returns have, on some occasions, been marvellous. For instance, in 1882, from ISO colonies, 30,000 lbs. of honey were taken, and that year Mrs. Axtell was able to send to the American Board of Missions ' one thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight dollars and thirty-two cents.' In six years, up to the time the article referred to was written, she had sent in all 7500 dollars, equal to 1500/. Of cour.-e Mrs. A. has the help of a kind husband and of a girl, but she tells us that her own health has so much improved in the course of so much open air work that she is scarcely an invalid at all now. Such examples of devotedness are unhappily so rare that we think it well to publish them. As to the number of bees in the Beeton apiary, given as nineteen millions, I have been asked how that can be made out. It has been proved that about 4500 bees weigh 1 lb. A good stock in summer is known to con- tain from 10 to 15 lbs. of bees — that is, a modern frame- hive properly worked. An average of, say, 12 lbs. would give over 50,000 workers to the hive, so that Mr. Jones' nineteen millions would be equal to some 400 stocks. Employing the same calculations, Captain Hetherington should have at one time a force of 150 millions of busy bees working for him. The largest apiary in Scotland is, I believe, that of Mr. W. M'Nally, Glenluce, who owns abut 130 colonies. The pasturage in this country is too sparse, and the seasons too precarious, to warrant any one in going in for bee-keeping on the extensive scale they do in America. But we have in ' Scotch Heather Honey ' the richest honey of the world ; and as such will always be in demand, it may be worth while for those in favourable localities giving more attention to this growing pursuit. — William Raitt, Beecroft, January '2nd (Blairgowrie Advertiser). [There is a melancholy interest attached to the above letter, which appeared in the Blairgowrie Advertiser of January 12. It is the latest contribution to the press from the pen of the lately-deceased Mr. William Raitt. He had desired to see a proof for the purpose of veri- fying his figures. But before he had the opportunity of returning it he had passed away. — Ed.] COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS AND THE ' BRITISH.' [1961.] I have just been reading over very carefully all the correspondence and articles which have appeared in your pages on the above subject since the October meeting up to this day (January 17th), and your leading article this week induces me to add one more letter. There can be no doubt that the more intimate the connexion is between B.B.K.A. and the County Associa- tions the better for all parties. The question is, What can be done to effect this ? I cordially agree with my friend Mr. Griffin in all he said on December 24th (1029), especially as to lack of funds being at the bottom of all mischief — a cause which has, during three years of general depression, affected all Societies. It is my firm belief that this is at the bottom of any ' strained re- lations 'that may be thought to exist between the B.B.K.A. and the affiliated Associations. The former cannot give us more liberal assistance xvithout a larger support. The Quarterly Conferences, to which each Association is expected to send a delegate, wei-e instituted for the very purpose of securing intercommunion between B.B.K.A. and the County Associations ; but, how have they been attended ? It is rarely that even six counties are represented — often not more than three or four, and these (with a few notable exceptions) the home counties. How is this? Not, certainly, because the representatives take no interest in the work, but on account of the ' penny-wise-and-pound-foolish ' policy of too many of the County Associations themselves in declining to pay the travelling expenses (to say nothing of the loss of time) of the delegates. It would be interesting to know how many of the discontented Associations do this. This payment of travelling expenses by the Wilts B.K.A. accounts for my having only missed attendance at one Quarterly Meeting since our institution in July 1881 (and that one through serious illness), and I am convinced that if all counties did the same, there would always be such a large attendance of county repre- sentatives at the Quarterly Conferences as would greatly influence the courteous and able Committee of B.B.K.A. Several of our members have at times endeavoured to rescind this rule of ours of paying travelling expenses, but I have always resolutely declared my intention of resigning at once if this were done, being fully convinced of the importance and mutual advantage of the County Associations being represented at the Quarterly Con- ferences, so that the Committee may know what is wanted, in which case my own experience is (after eight years' regular attendance), that careful and courteous attention is invariably given to all recom- mendations. All are anxious to know the result of the delibera- tions of the Sub-Committee appointed last October to consider the ' conditions of affiliation.' Had I been one of its members, I should have certainly suggested, as an addition to No. 4, after the words ' Shall elect two of its members as representatives to attend the Quarterly Conferences of B.B.K.A.,' the words, and shall pay the travelling expenses of one of them at each meeting. Then, but not before, might Mr. Bligh's suggestion in January 24, 1889.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 43 his letter, January 30th (1038), of five members of the B.B.K.A. Committee being elected by the county repre- sentatives (if adopted), have a practical result which should satisfy everyone. I suppose those few County Associations (or their representatives) could afford the ex- pense of a monthly attendance, even if the time occupied were no object ; and so all honour and gratitude is due to those gentlemen who, at a great expenditure of time and money, have, during so many years, ably managed the affairs of B.B.K.A. free of all costs to the various Associations. One word more. All who have attended the private meetings of the county representatives before the Con- ference in Jermyn Street, will, I think, join with me in thanking Mr. MacClure for having initiated them. I hope that all these discussions in the Journal will bear good fruit. — W. E. Burkitt, Hon. Sec. and Delegate Wilts B.K.A., Buttermere Rectory, Hunger- ford, January 17th. SITUATION OF HIVES. [1062.] On January 18th the temperature at noon in the open was 60°, with bees flying from every hive. So tar all is well, and I have cause to be thankful, but the winter is to come yet, and then the spring, for ' In the spring a steady dwindling, Is the thing we most detest ; In the spring the gentle bee-man Cannot help but be depress'd.' We have had no snow since the three inches of October 1st, the average temperature having been very even during the whole intervening time. That is not to the point. As a result then of this grand January flight, I observe that the bees ' Had better far have stayed at home, Than ever to have roamed at all ; ' for the number of chilled bees (or those trying to get chilled — bees distinctly appear to try their utmost in this way) on the ground at the front of each hive is simply appalling. One row of hives is arranged on two beams of wood on bricks, the total height of the hive entrance from the ground being just a foot ; the alighting boards are six inches from front to back, and the whole width of hive in length. In front of each flight-board I have put a heap of clean cinders (breezes), clear of ash, in order that any bee alighting on this stuff, by accident or design, may by its warmth pull itself together and get home by a single spring. I regret to say these cinder bills have proven themselves veritable cinereal mounds, which will be found rich in ' finds ' by the anti- quarian aves and coleoptera of the near future, for they are just covered with dead bees, and all for want of a missing link connecting the hill-top with the edge of the flight-board. From this painful experience I deduce that I ought to have heaped up the cinders until they reached the board. Slugs, snails, and other nasty creepers, could not possibly have mounted this heap; and as for mice they could get up to the entrance at any time under almost any circumstances. Other hives on legs, and one, in a shed, with the opening half-way up (without cinder- heaps), were quite free from chilled bees. Now the natural inference is, that as bees in a wild state have their home in a bank side, in a tree trunk, or in the face of a cliff, but always with a continuous alighting surface reaching from the entrance downwards (so that bees missing their aim may climb up home), an alighting- board should be extended to the ground in every case where hives are placed near to the ground ; otherwise I think it were better to have no flight-board at all. Per contra, the further the flight-board is from the ground (where it cannot reach it) the better, so far as chilled bees are concerned. This is my past experience, con- firmed this winter, and at this point the Cowan hive with its extensive flight-board comes further into prominence. As to the height from the ground, there is less moisture and mouldiness, more circulation of air, and dryness, ' sweetness and light,' when hives are placed at a reasonable height, than when squatted down on bricks or bare earth, where rot and mould doth corrupt. I would say from one and a half to two feet high should be the minimum with those hives having a jib-like projecting flight-board, but with such as may have the same continued to the ground six inches to one foot. Dryness is a sine qua non, and cannot be obtained on the surface of the ground. — E. A. II. Gbimshaw. A REAL ORIGINAL. A BRIEF SKETCH OF HER DOINGS AMONGST BEES. [1963.] We occasionally have had the pleasure of read- ing in the Journal some very interesting accounts of small apiaries worked on what we style a primitive system of bee-keeping. I hope, therefore, no apology is needed if I give a short account, of such on a large scale that has recently come under my notice, one which I think may, in the present day, be considered a rarity ; the complete uniqueness of which can only be fully appreciated by a visit to the spot, and procuring an interview with the aged owner of seventy-nine stocks of bees {pure natives), all in straw skeps, save one, which is in a tub. This may be accomplished iftact and discretion be exercised, not otherwise ; but when once admitted, and it is found that the object of your visit is honestly intended, the veil is withdrawn, save the touch-not and handle-not, a little trial, perhaps, to those of us who are fond of handling. I must confess it was to myself, as I thought what a grand opportunity here offers me for testing how bees in their natural habits will build their combs, and so to have been able to place the facts before you, Mr. Editor, Mr. ' Useful Hints,' and others. Such might pos- sibly have induced further thought, and to some advan- tage. To give, then, a short history of this extensive, primi- tive bee-garden, which I discovered in as primitive a village in Lincolnshire, and owned by an equally primi- tive bee-keeper, I must take your readers to my first introduction to it in May last. Whilst staying in this little village I inquired, as is usual with one who is going about, if there were any bee-keepers in the village. Being informed of three only, I made my call and asked after the bees, of course. On introducing myself to the lady, the subject of this sketch, and with the customary salutation, ' Good day, Mrs. W., hope you are well,' I was favoured with a smile and a reply, ' Yes, sir, I am ; thank you.' ' How are your bees doing, Mrs. W. ? ' ' I hardly know, the weather is against them.' ' Yes, it is very much against bees thus far this season, but we must wait patiently for a favourable change. I see you have a large number of hives.' ' Yes, sir, I have.' ' Are they all stocked P ' ' Yes, sir, I believe they are.' ' Why, how many stocks have you ? ' ' I can't tell you, sir, I don't bear it in miud. You'll excuse me, sir, but I hope you're not going about the country to get information about bees, and then make us pay a duty on our bees.' ' Oh dear no, Mrs. W., I am one who is greatly in- terested in bees and bee-keeping, and whenever I meet with a bee-keeper, I like, when I can, to have a chat, and try to learn all I can.' ' Well, sir, j^ou'll not learn a deal from me.' I was afraid I might rind those words true. I had gained but little up to this. Looking wistfully over the gate into the garden, I remarked, ' What a pretty sight to see such a garden so busy with bees ! ' 44 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. | January 24, 1889. That brought out a smile and a reply, 'D:> you think so, sir ? ' ' Yes, indeed, I do, Mrs. W. Will you allow rue to walk round ? ' ' I've no particular objection, sir ; but I don't have folks going' about among my bees, aud never let anybody touch 'urn ; it don't do.' Having got inside the gate, and put my hands in my pockets as a signal of my non-intention to meddle, I was trotted round sharply, trying to get a little talk as we went, and keeping count of the number of stocks. ' Why, Mrs. AV., you must have nearly eighty stocks.' ' Maybe there be, sir.' ' And they all appear to be doing well.' ' I hope they do, sir.' ' Don't you really know how many stocks you have ? ' ' Well, sir, I should know if one was took away, I guess. You'll excuse me, sir, but it's my dinner-time, so I wish you good morning, sir.' ' Good morning, Mrs. W., and thank you very much for allowing me to have a look over your garden, stocked so full of bees : it's been a great treat.' ' Not much of a treat, I should think, to you. Good morning.' ' Good morning, Mrs. W., I must give you another call.' ' Very well, sir, if you think well.' Here I parted with my friend, who is a fine, hale, hearty old lady, a widow, too. I wish I could enclose her photograph ; her exact age has been confided to me, but 1 must not divulge, that would not be polite, especially in this case of a widow, but I may say she has passed some steps beyond the allotted span, her years nearing up to her number of stocks of bees. Anxious to know something more about the manage- ment of this big lot of bees, 1 took the first opportunity of making another call, when I was allowed again to walk round the garden, and alone this time, which afforded me an excellent chance to have a good scan at the stocks. So far as I coidd judge from outside appearances all were in a fair working stage, and many were very strong, the greater number in large size skeps, few only in the common little skeps, those that were had ekes of various contrivances, some formed by bricks, rims of cheese-boxes, &c, all were well cared for in the way of coverings of the most varied descriptions, and all hives well mortared round bottom ; the greater number stand simpl}' on slabs of stone or plaster, and sepa- rately, few only have a proper floor-board, each hive entrance is protected by a piece of zinc or lead with a small A cu' large enough for two or three bees to pa,^s in and out; these are lifted up in front as the season advances, and fastened to the hive, in readiness at any time, as needed ; no large entrances allowed in this apiary ; many of the more recent hives introduced have large openings at top for supering, but the bulk of honey taken at the close of the season is, unfortunately, by the cruel old practice. The position of the hives, as maybe gathered from the accompanying rough plan of the garden, stand almost to all points, and there appears to be but little, if any, difference in the strength of one stock to another. Not much thought is given to position so long as plenty of swarms are got to set up. In the yard dividing the gardens is placed a little watch-box, in which the old lady sits ready for action, and during the swarming season she seldom leaves it, not even for meals, in fact, it is not uncommon for her to be with her bees up to midnight, and again at three o'clock ; it may be truly said she almost lives amongst her bees, aud alone too, as she declines any offer of assistance unless it be to run after a truant swarm or a high ladder job. On returning from the garden I was very politely invited into the cottage, which stands close by, and, getting seated, was asked to take a glass of wine. Here, then, was my chance of learning a bit more, and I was soon busy at it, first remembering to proffer my best thanks for the privilege of having had so grand a treat amongst the bees, and the opportunity of learning so much. Here I was met with, ' You won't larn much from me ; I'm one of the old- fashioned sort of bee-keepers. Maybe I may larn some- thing from you, you seem to know a lot ; you're not like a man I was talking to a bit back, he talked as if he know'd all about this, that, and t'other, but I could soon tell he didn't know so very much about bees, and he darn't go among um unless he was covered up, and NATIONAL SCHOOL and PLAYGROUND. a: c: ro m CAR DEN IS STOCKS t 3 -106 FEET- 'S J DOOR I The whole enclosed in stone walls greatly dilapidated. YARD and SMALL BUILDINGS. o =0 ° I I *:-+'->-; ---106 FEET- GARDEN SO STOCKS 11 o when I asked him how many stocks he had, he told me two, but had had three and lost one ; that made me smile, his telling me he had lost one out of three stocks. If I lost one in ten I should begin to think I was on the road to be ruined ; but then you know, sir, I ought to tell you this man keeps his bees in your new sort of a way, not in straw hives like mine.' ' Then you have never tried the frame-hive, Mrs. AV. ? ' ' No, aud I don't think I shall begin now, I'm mucli too old ; but maybe I should do as well as some do if I tried my hand.' ' I have very little doubt about that, Mrs. AV., if once you tried. I shall expect one day to find you giving the frame-hive a trial, one would look well amongst your large lot of skeps.' ' I don't know so much about that, sir ; my bees cost me ever so much as it is, without my spending more money still on them expensive sort of hive. About how much do them hives cost, sir P ' January 24, 1889.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 45 ' Oh, only about ten shillings for a good one.' ' Ten shillings, do they F Oh, look what a lot of honey I must sell at the price these days to make up ten shillings.' ' You might sell swarms, Mrs. W., as you have plenty of stocks.' ' I never sell my bees, sir.' ' I think you might do worse, Mrs. VV.' 'Perhaps so, but I have no faith in selling bees. Excuse my interrupting you ; now if I was to make up my mind to sell some swarms, what might be about the price ? ' ' Oh, about 2s. Gd. per pound.' ' What, sir ! sell bees by the pound ? How could I do it ? I couldn't weigh bees ; I never heard of such a thing before, and I've known a good deal in my time. Weigh bees; no, I won't bother in that way, if I sold at all I should sell the swarm as it came, and a good swarm now should fetch 12s. or 15s., but I don't care to sell bees ; you'll think I have curious notions, and so I have.' ' Yes, Mrs. W., bee-keepers do have curious notions, — very curious often, so you are not alone : I could tire you in relating such as have come under my notice.' ' No doubt you could, sir, I quite believe it, as you go about a deal, and must come across all sorts. Have you ever heard that it's a bad sign when swarms settle on a dead fence or any dead tree ? ' ' YTes, I have, Mrs. \V., but I take no notice of it, as I don't believe in suchlike fancies.' ' Well, sir, whether you believe or not, I can tell you that in the season as my husband died, the following autumn all my swarms settled on dead fences, and posts, and dead branches, like yon in that orchard, and I don't think a swarm that year settled on a green tree. I always remember it, and I remember a person as had five stocks, and he died, and they didn't tell the bees about it, and every stock died.' ' It's all fudge, Mrs. W. ; don't believe in suchlike stories. If you do, be sure you take care to give full instruction to those you leave behind in charge of your lot, or there might be an awful slaughter.' ' Well, you know, sir, I do often think what would become of all them lot of bees and hives.' ' Just so, Mrs. AV., no doubt you do. We won't dwell upon that subject. I want to ask you a few other particulars, but I must not trespass longer upon your time now. I will call in again as I pass to-morrow, perhaps you will have had a swarm to tell me about.' ' I hope I may, but they are very backward this year ; but swarm or no swarm, I shall be glad to see you, sir.' ' Thank you. Good day, Mrs. W.' ' Good day, sir, if you're going.' — R. R. Godfrey. {To be continued.) SUGGESTIONS AS TO MANAGEMENT IN THE PRESENT YEAR. [1964.] With the commencement of the new year our thoughts are naturally turned to the coming season ; and it must be so if our bees are to bring us either pleasure or profit. The failures of the past two seasons — and who has not either experienced or heard of them? — should have a stimulating effect on those who failed, and the record of the failures, with their causes, should act as a warning to beginners. Feeding, which is correctly described as the ' lever to successful bee-keeping,' has been the means, to my knowledge, of bringing success to those who have practised it judiciously, and have been favourably situated with regard to honey -producing plants, even during the past two seasons. Amongst cottagers I have found it a practice, in some cases, to take up in the autumn t/te heaviest and the lightest of their stocks, irrespective of the state of the colony from other points of view, or the age of the queen; while in other cases none but the heaviest are left. In neither of these cases will the owner, as a rule, resort to feeding. The eyes of both classes (No. 1 and No. 2 I will term them) respectively were opened by the season of 1887, for while No. 1 had been in the habit of doing fairly well, and No. 2 badly, the results were reversed in 1887; and why? The explanation of this reversal of fortune, and the general want of success on the pait of cottagers and amateurs, is very simple and may be acceptable. Starting with 1887 the stocks of No. 1, having only a moderate supply of food, will have plenty of empty cells in which the queen may lay her eggs in the spring ; and the supply of food in the hive, added to what is coming in, during an early and favourable spring allows (if the queen is a good one) of the increase of brood and the subsequent increase of the stock, which will be ready to take advantage of the honey flow when it comes. The stocks of No. 2, being left almost full of honey the preceding autumn, are found to increase slowly in the spring because the cells which the queen should be occupying with eggs are not yet relieved of their honey, and consequently the stock only increases as the hone}', stored the previous season, is consumed in the production of brood, so that such stocks usually become strong just too late in the season, and hence a loss instead of a gain to the bee-keeper. (Here, in cases like the latter, the advanced bee- keeper, with his frames and extractor, gains a decided advantage.) Now, in 1887, the stocks of No. 1 consumed their food early in the year, and, unless fed, were almost, and in some cases quite, ruined by the time the honey flow came, hence no surplus ; while the stocks of No. 2 were, during the long unfavourable spring, slowly consuming their abundance of honey in increasing the population. These latter, and all in a similar condition by feeding, were therefore the stocks that gave the surplus, because when the opportunity presented itself they were pre- pared with plenty of brood and a strong colony. Now, my intention in writing this letter is to endea- vour to draw the attention of cottagers and amateurs to the necessity for a little more common sense in the general management of their bees, and particularly in feeding. I fear it is too well known that cottagers' stocks, if they are not fed up in autumn, will be in an impoverished condition at the present time ; and if attention is not given quickly and continuously as long as it is necessary, they will be weak and almost useless during the coming season. And then, of course, if this advice you, Mr. Editor, so often give, is not acted upon, we shall hear the cry again, ' Bees don't pay.' In giving syrup in the spring, care must be taken that it is given slowly or in moderate quantity. If syrup be given in large quantities, it is taken down by the bees and stored in the cells, and thus, instead of helping on the increase of the colony, the cells, filled with syrup, are not available for the eggs of the queen, and the colony is placed in an almost similar condition to the stocks put into winter quarters with too much food. If stocks are at the present time at starvation point, half a pint or a pint of warm syrup should be given on the first warm day about noon, when the bees are having a flight. The entrances should be narrowed, and no syrup should be spilt, neither should any crack or crevice be left to give other stocks a smell of the treat being given to their needy neighbours. The syrup should be given so that it can be taken down quickly, and then a good cake of soft, warm candy should take the place of the bottle in the evening, and if the bees 46 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 24, 1889. are well packed, they will have food to last until other warm days appear, or continuous syrup feeding may he resorted to, full instructions for which may always be found under the heading, ' Useful Hints.' Many bee-keepers will no doubt be making a fresh start this season, while others will, for the first time, be taking up bee-keeping for pleasure or profit, and it is for their benefit that I now make a few remarks about hives. As I have before stated, I am convinced that we err in advising cottagers and beginners to start with bar- frame hives. A great percentage of those who start thus fail, and among amateurs, those who are worthy of the name of bee-keepers are a very small proportion of the great number of bee-keepers it has been my pleasure to come in contact with. By all means let us give them to underatand that our ultimate aim is to make them expert in the management of their bees in bar-frame hives, but do not let us, as is so often done, recommend bar-frame hives directly we begin to get cottagers and others interested in modern methods of bee-keeping. If evidence were wanted that the fixed-comb system was still in great favour, it is only necessary to find out the numbers of skeps supplied ; and that there is still a large demand is evident from the fact that they are still advertised by all appliance manufacturers. I have yet to be convinced that the moveable-comb system is an advance on the fixed-comb system in the hands of the cottagers. Of course I do not mean to say that I recommend the senseless and disgusting system still in vogue in many rural districts, but I do advocate the keeping of bees in skeps on the system detailed in the first number of the Bee-keepers' Advertiser, or in boxes, upon which may be placed sectional supers. Bee-keeping under those systems is simpler, more pleasurable, and more profitable than when there are frames to get out of order, and crevices to fill around crates (which do not always get filled), to prevent the loss of heat, or the bees from storing in the roof of the hive. When a wooden hive on the fixed-comb principle can be offered to the cottager or beginner at very little increase on the price of a skep, I think we are not justified in recommeuding a start with more intricate and more expensive appliances. With permission of the editor, I shall refer again to the subject of cottagers' hives. — 0. N. White, Sowers/tarn, Hunts, January 10th. TO DESTROY TITS AND WASPS. [1065.] The blue tit, which is very destructive to bees, is easily taken by a small spring trap baited with a piece of gristle or meat ; the spring trap I mean is procured at the ironmonger's, some 4d. to Gd. each. Last winter I got forty that came to my hives. If you take half a gill of paraffin oil and dash it into the hole of a wasp's nest at night, and cover tight with a sod, it will kill the whole nest ; night being best, as all are in. — J. B. R. EXCLUDER ZINC. [19(36.] This being a dull season of the year with regard to bees, and as it is a favourable time to discuss any subject of interest to bee-keepers in general, 1 should like the opinion of some of your numerous readers with regard to the use of excluder zinc. I take the Adviser, and I might say I purchase the B.B.J, every time I pass a Smith's bookstall. I notice a lot of things in both papers that I think are fads, although there is a lot of very useful information. I once, before I kept bees, was assisting an old bee-master to take off some sections ; a lot of those sections had bee-bread in them, and he remarked, ' This is the result of idleness in not putting on excluder zinc ; and I have also heard him say since then that sometimes they will not go through it to work. In the B.B.J, of May 10, 1883, in 'Useful Hints ' Olla Podrida, I take it to be in favour of the slotted excluder. Same paper, in ' Notices to Corre- spondents,' in reply to ' H. J. S.,' ' 1. Excluder zinc. — We have long since discontinued the employing of excluder zinc, as we have found that it interfered with the work of the bees, and that we always got much more honey without its use than with it.' In the Adviser, July, 1888, there is a new fad: Raynor's excluding honey boards, and a description of them. No. 50, Mr. ' R.,' speaks in favour of them in the latter part of his letter, where he says, ' I may add that I obtained sections last season worked ou these honey-boards better in quality, brightness, and colour than any I had previously obtained without the use of the queen-excluding honey- boards. In the Adviser, August, 1888, No. 87, a letter signed ' H. O., Dundalk, Ireland,' he condemns the use of excluding adaptors. Also in same paper, in ' Notices to Correspondents,' in reply to 'A. Everett,' ' We never use it, although there is a growing tendency to do so when using any other but sectional supers.' Now, sir, as an amateur, it is difficult to sift the wheat from the chaff. I last season purchased a whole sheet of excluder zinc, and tried it ou a couple of hives, but it did not work ; I put it down to the season, I also put it behind the eighth frame, so as to keep the bees troni putting bee bread into the last four frames. I might say that my hives have twelve standard frames, and the tops hold eighteen 2-lb. sections. I work for sections, and I should like to see the opinion of some who have tried it before the season comes in. I have been advised to put it right on the top of the frames, then again I have been advised to put it in the section crate so as to allow the bees a free passage between frames and crate. I hope from the answers to this, my first letter, that I shall receive good information as to whether it is of use or not. — J. B. R. WASPS. [1967.] Having charge of a fruit-farm, I was much troubled in the autumn of 1837 by the depredations of wasps, which had strong colonies in two or three places among the fruit-trees and in a sunk rose-bed (old pond), and attacked mostly the Bergamot pears and Washington plums. We destroyed the nests in question, and the labourers, for a reward of 3d. a nest, were careful when digging and hoeing the following winter and spring months to unearth all the nests they could — about eight — whilst I killed all the queens that entered the house, or flew with the bees about the berberis- bushes. The heavy rain must have destroyed most of the others, as well as the multitudes of caterpillars, though I killed a few at the entrances of bar-frames and other bee-hives. Taking an old bee-house into the barn the other day for alteration, repair, and painting, I found inside in the highest part two of the spheres of the usual burnt-paper consistency, and with the usual cells in their bases. These were just like those of the wasps, but I am not acquainted with hornets' nests. No wasps were visible about the fruit last autumn. — M. H. R., West Sussex. A SUGGESTION EOR CONSIDERATION AT OUR SHOWS. [1968.] As one of the objects of the B.B.K.A. is educational, it has struck me that much may be done in this way at our shows. I have seen a book published entitled Enquire Within upon Everything. Could there not be in connexion with the Secretary's office at our large Shows an ' Office of Inquiry,' where bee-keepers amongst the large numbers that frequent our Shows could go and obtain advice and instruction in bee matters? I think at the busiest time of the day — say from 3 to 6 p.m. — -amongst the many experienced bee- January 24, 1889.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 47 keepers present there would be no diilieulty in getting gentlemen who would devote one or two hours of their time to that purpose, to be relieved by others. There are many persons who would like to consult the sages about their bees, who do not like to put questions in the tent, amongst a large gathering of the public. I think also it would tend to make the bee-tent and bee shows more of a rendezvous for the fraternity, where they could exchange their views and become acquainted with each other. Also, has there ever been in connexion with our exhibitions any attempt to bring together goods manufactured from wax, and its various uses ? What a display some of the wax-ilower makers would make for a small prize, and how readily some of our candle-manu- facturers would contribute for the sake of reputation ! — J. B., Lewanniek, Launceston. qfojjois torn % |)to. North Leicestershire. — On Thursday, Jan. 17th, and two following days, bees were pretty well all on the wing after a very close imprisonment of exactly six weeks. They were looking well, and showed not the slightest symptoms of distress, their rigid confinement notwith- standing. The skeppists who refused or neglected to feed up in autumn now see their folly, for in many cases their bees are all dead. — E. B. Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington, 21st January. — 19th December was a nice change ; bees Hying very much, and carrying dead bees. 22nd December, very sunshiny, though tne sky looked rather stormy. Bees agaiu on the wing very much. On Christmas day, too, they were out again. After this cold weather came on again, we had very sharp white frosts, and bees did not show themselves except one or two occasionally till about 15th and lGlh of January; they were then out a bit, and on looking around at the entrances, I noticed something like a dead drone or two at one of the entrances, and when I came to examine them, I found they were drones, so 1 said to myself, ' Oh, oh ! sure enough you did not get mated this autumn,' meaning the queen, of course. I very well remember this same hive in September. They had raised a young queen, and I had examined them several times to see if she was laying, but never saw any eggs, but as she looked rather fat, I thought she was all right. I had not time to examine the hive the same day I noticed the drones, so next day I took a iook into the hive, and found a patch of drone-brood as large as my hand, and there were young drones that were hatched out too,so 1 just found the queen and pinched her in two, and covered them up till dusk, and then un- covered them and put a little syrup on the frames, and lifted another small stock on top of them. (Here I may say that before I uncovered them at night there was a fine hubbub about the loss of the queen that I had killed.) In less than ten minutes they were as quiet as possible, so I let them stay a day or two as they were, one on top of the other, and then put them into one hive, and on looking the combs over I saw the queen was all right. I thought it was not worth while to let them go on with a drone-laying queen till all the bees had got old and useless. On the 18th and 10th I looked over stocks, and as the bees were flying in great numbers I thought I would look on tops of frames, and give some candy cake to those that appeared to be getting rather short, for fear, if it should come on bad weather, some of them might run short. — Joiin Walton. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- C. B. K. — Messrs. Dines, Maldon, Essex. W. J. S. — A New Hive. — We would suggest that your hive, or a model of it, should be forwarded to one of the Quarterly Conversaziones of the B.B.K.A. You should be present to explain any of its new features ; or, failing to be able to attend, a paper might be sent giving a minute description of it. It would, on such an occasion, have the benefit of the criticism of the bee-keepers then present. 0. — Improving Strain of Bees. — We would recommend a pure Carniolan queen to be introduced in spring. The bees sent are fair specimens of English black bees. J. Kbarlby. — We have had no experience of Professor McClain's treatment of weak stocks; but from the high name he bears among American bee-keepers, we are inclined to say that his method is worth trial. pSusiness ^(Directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bbos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Koad, Bristol. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Bubtt, E. J., Stroud Road, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Howard, J. fl., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchings, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadhah, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leioester. Neighbour* Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Binfield, Berks. Woodley & Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Reading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Edey di Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Rugent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. COMB FOUNDATION MILLS. Godman, A., St. Albans. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington. ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 24, 1889. SOYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF GfNGLAND. WINDSOR MEETING, 1889. Commencing MONDAY, JUNE 24th, and closing SATURDAY, JUNE 29th. PRIZE LIST FOR HIVES, HONEY, &c. Exhibits in Classes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 (sections excepted), must be manufactured by the Exhibitor. Exhibits in Class 1 and in Class 19 to be staged and repacked by the Exhibitor. Class 1. — For the best collection of Hives and Appliances, to consist of the following articles: — One Frame-hive, priced at 15s. ; one ditto, priced at 10s. (Note. — These Hives must be fitted with arrangements for Storifying.) One Observatory Hive; one Hive of Straw or other material, not entirely of wood, for ob- taining either Comb or Extracted Honey ; one pair of Section Crates fitted with Sections ; one Extractor, one slow stimulating Feeder, one rapid Feeder ; one Smoker or other Instrument for quieting Bees ; one Veil, one Swarm Box for travelling, capable of being used as a Nucleus Hive; one Travelling Crate for Comb Honey ; five other distinct articles not specified at the discretion of the Exhibitor. Each article to be priced separately. No articles must be added to the collection, nor any portion of the Exhibit removed during the Show. First Prize, 40s. ; second Prize, 30s. Class 2.— For the best Observatory Hive stocked with Foreign Bees and Queen. First Prize, 20s.; second Prize, 15s. ; third Prize, 10s. Class 3. — For the best and most complete Frame- hive for general use, unpainted. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 15s. ; third Prize, 10s. Class 4. — For the best and most complete Frame- hive for general use. The Hive shall consist of (1) a Floor-board on four short legs ; two Chambers or Body- boxes, equal in size, similar and interchangeable, both to have porches, with entrances not less than 12 in. wide, that can be contracted at pleasure, each chamber to be capable of holding at least ten Standard Frames, but only one set of Frames with strips of foundation fixed and two division-boards to be supplied. (2) One Case of 41 by 4£ Sections, with foundation fixed and separators, of such size as to admit of its being placed inside the chamber. (3) A substantial Eoof, sufficiently deep to cover a case of sections and afford ample pro- tection to the whole Hive, the price of each part, namely, stand and floor-board, body-box, case of sections, and roof, to be given separately, the whole not to exceed 15s., unpainted. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 15s. ; third Prize, 10s. Class 5. — For the best and most complete Frame Hive for general uses. The Hive shall consist of (1) one Chamber or body-box, containing ten Standard Frames having strips of foundation fixed, two division boards, entrance porch, and floor-board, the chamber capable of being used with a second of the same pattern. (2) One Case of twenty-one Sections, 4j by 4f, with foundation fixed and separators. (•"<) A Roof sufficiently deep to cover one case of sections at least, the price of each part, namely, floor-board, body-box, case of sec- tions, and roof to be given separately, the whole not to exceed 10s. 6d., unpainted. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 15s. ; third Prize, 10s. Class 6.— For the best Honey Extractor, price to be taken into consideration. First Prize, 15s. ; second Prize, 10s. Class 7. — For the best Honey Extractor, price not to exceed 12s. 6d. First Prize, 15s. ; second Prize, 10s. Class 8. — For the best pair of Section Racks, com- pletely fitted for use and interchangeable, price not to exceed 3s. Qd. each. First Prize, 15s. ; second Prize, 10s. ; third Prize, 5s. Class 9. — For the best Feeder for slow stimulating feeding. First Prize, 10s. ; second Prize, 5s. Class 10. — For the best Feeder for quick autumn feeding, capable of holding at least 5 lbs. of food at a time. First Prize, 10s. ; second Prize, 5s. Class 11. — For the best Smoker. First prize, 10s. second Prize, 5s. Class 12. — For Useful Inventions introduced since 1887. Special Prizes according to merit. Class 13. — For the best 12 Sections of Comb Honey, the gross weight to approximate 24 lbs. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 10s. ; third Prize, 5s. Class 14.— For the best 12 Sections of Comb Honey, the gross weight to approximate 12 lbs. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 10s. ; third Prize, 5s. Class 15. — For the best 6 Sections of Comb Honey, the gross weight to approximate 6 lbs. First Prize, 20s.; second Prize, 10s. ; third Prize, 5s. Class 10. — For the best Exhibit of Run or Extracted Honey in jars, not exceeding 2 lbs. each, the gross weight to approximate 24 lbs. First Prize, 30s. ; second Prize, 20s. ; third Prize, 10s. ; fourth Prize, 5s. Class 17. — For the best Exhibit of Heather Honey (Comb or Extracted), the gross weight to approximate 12 lbs. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 10s. ; third Prize, 5s. Class 18. — For the best Exhibit of Granulated Honey in jars, not exceeding 2 lbs. each, the gross weight to approximate 12 lbs. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 10s. ; third Prize, 5s. Class 19. — For the best Exhibit of Comb and Ex- tracted Honey, in any form, staged on space 4 ft. by 4 ft., height not to exceed 5 ft. above the table. The gross weight of each kind to be stated. First Prize, GOs.; second Prize, 40s. ; third Prize, 20s. The Exhibits in this class to be staged by the Exhibitor. [A Silver Medal, independently of Money Prizes, will be given for the Exhibit most tastefully arranged.] Class 20. — For the best plan and design for an Apiary of 50 Hives on two or more acres of land, to include a suitable building for extracting and general work. The design to show arrangements for growing Honey- and Pollen-producing plants, attention being given to the value of the crops for other purposes. First Prize, 40s. and Silver Medal ; second Prize, 20s. and Bronze Medal. Class 21. — For the best Diagrams suitable for a Lecture on Bee-keeping, or Technical Lessons in Rural Schools. First Prize, 40s. and Silver Medal; second I'rize, 20s. and Bronze Medal. Class 22. — For the most interesting and instructive Exhibit of any kind connected with Bee-culture not mentioned in the foregoing Classes. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 10s. ; third Prize, 5s. The Council reserve to themselves the right to publish for Educational purposes any Exhibit entered in Class 20 and 21. London : Printed by STRANnKWATa k Sons, at their Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.O., in the Parish of St. Giles's-in-the Tielrti, i» the County of Middlesex; and Published for the Proprietor by Kent & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, in same county.— Jan. 24, 1889. —^ Communications to the Editor to be addressed • Stranqeways' Pbintino Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 345. Vol. XYIL] JANUARY 31, 1889. [Published Weekly.] ARTIFICIAL HEAT AS APPLIED TO BEES. Dangerous ground is this for the novice to tres- pass upon without some reliable guide to go by. It may be asked, If plants benefit so much by it, why should not bees, that depend so greatly upon warmth for their existence aud power to work ? But it must be remembered that plants are stationary, and are never changed directly from a hot chamber to the cold outer air. What would be the use of warming up a stock of bees in winter, when there is nothing for them to do outside '? as they will certainly fly if once roused to undue activity, while the loss of life would be simply enormous. Better far let them rest in that condi- tion of semi-hiberuation, or perfect rest, so essential for their well-being at this season, and conservation of power, in readiness for the busy time to come. Doubtless there are many who give the subject of artificial heat their serious consideration, but the ' how and when' to apply it have been the sium- bling-blocks lying in the road of not a few who have attempted it. For the sake of experiment we have had bees breeding and flying freely (in a greenhouse) in mid-winter ; carrying in artificial pollen as merrily as the natural article is loaded home in summer; but such bees have been of little use during the ensuing season. Protection at all times is, of course, absolutely necessary ; and as a matter of fact artificial heat, applied at the right time and in an economical manner, must be of benefit to the bees, and bring greater profit to the master. We have already stated that it is useless to warm up the hive while outside it is still winter ; neither would it be of any advantage in autumn after the season is past, and bees should be preparing for rest; but a partial application by the means of heated bricks or hot-water bottles, placed over the supers at night or during cool days, will give results that handsomely repay for all the trouble taken. We have yet to consider the means that will force on the brood-nest at the earliest possible date, and thus ensure that the bees will be more than ready for the supers, with the first honey-flow, however early it may come. To do this, let heat be applied to the stock hive not earlier than the beginning of March, just as the bees are being roused into activity by the returning warmth of the sun. The most simple and really inexpensive way is to place new stable manure around the hives in sufficient quantity to heat, leaving the front partly uncovered, that the entrance is not smothered ; or a tunnel may be arranged before it. By this means we have had stocks working freely in the supers at the end of April, while others not so treated were a full month behind. The one disadvantage is, that the moist heat will destroy the paint and rot the wood of the hive, but to some extent this can be avoided by placing slates around the hive before putting on the manure. However, the best result can only be obtained when the straw is packed close to the body of the hive, and we have seriously considered the advisability of having a stand built of bricks ' that will also do for the forcing hive for the two or three months previous to the honey season. It is possible such a hive would be best for all seasons, being cool in summer and warm in winter, especi- ally as in the latter season the earth can be thrown up around it for greater protection. Cost is by no means a serious item, but the weight of such hives ■ is where we have seen a difficulty. Our experiments have shown us conclusively that artificial heat should be a great factor in the management of our bees ; but, as we have en- deavoured to show, it may be applied only at just the right time, or, instead of the greatest good, only harm will follow. The manure always has a further use, but where hot-water pipes are already in use, and the situa- tion is convenient, it is possible that another set of pipes could be arranged to heat a number of hives at very little additional cost for the few months it would be needed ; but whether it will ever pay to arrange a complete apparatus expressly for a large number of bees we must leave the future to decide. We do know, however, that often during an otherwise good flow of honey, the nights are so cool that not half the work is done at comb-building that is desirable, while if the hive could then be kept as warm as during the day, the ripening process would go on more rapidly, and more cell-room be ready for the next day's gather- ing, which would be an increased quantity, seeing so many more labourers are then at liberty to forage, and evei*y advantage is take,n of ' present opportunities.' 50 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 31, 1889. USEFUL HINTS. Weather. — During the last fortnight the weather has been mild and damp, with frequent mists, and an almost total absence of sunshine. Saturday, the 19th inst., was, however, an exception — -a day of bright sun- shine, the thermometer standing at 50° in the open air, and the bees flying freely — the first flight ours had en- joyed for six weeks at least. Early Bee Flights. — As an earnest of the coming spring it was pleasant to hear the murmuring hum and to witness the busy work of our bees in carrying out refuse and dead bees from the hives, which is always the first spring work, except, perhaps, a little robbing. Chilled Bees. — After a severe frost, if only lasting a few days, the outside bees of the cluster become chilled, and, falling on the floor-board, unable to regain their position, thus perish. This is more often the case when a frost sets in sud- denly after bright, warm weather, and these dead bees, when lying beneath the alighting -board, haviug been carried out on the first warm day, are often mistaken for bees which, having been chilled during the flight, were unable to reach the hive. Bees, too, after long confinement, when attempting a feeble flight with swollen abdomen, fall und perish, but in these early flights few healthy bees perish from chill, since they are careful to remain at home until the temperature and sunshine entice them forth. After a long continuauce of damp and fog, colder and more bracing weather, even a sharp frost for a time, would be conducive to the health of man and bees. Buood Chambers. — In the restricted brood-chambers described in our last ' Hints ' (p. 27) the distance of frames from centre to centre, instead of 1A inch, would be better if kept at 1 j, or at most at If inch, which may readily be effected by the use of the ' Carr metal ends.' Since the cliamber is limited to worker-brood solely, combs 1 inch thick will be sufficiently wide, and a clear space of a quarter of an inch, or § inch, between the brood-combs, will be enough for all the purposes of brooding and nursing bees. The circular or globular form of the cluster, preferred by the bees, is no doubt the best, but the teu-frame British Standard hive, which is about 15 inches square by 9 inches deep, does not fully allow of this shape at all times. In this hive bees winter well by enlarging and diminishing the diameter of the cluster according to the temperature, but free bee-passage through, or above, the combs must be provided. Such a hive, stocked with a colony of average strength, will require no contraction by division-boards for wintering. But for summer work with this hive, in our opinion, a queen-excluding honey-board will become a necessity for pure honey storage, whether in sections as comb honey, or in shallow or full-sized frames for extracting. A pro- lific queen in a small and shallow brood-chamber will endeavour to extend the brood-nest vertically as well as laterally, and especially will she do this in weather in which breeding obtains the ascendency over honey storage. At such periods, and under such circumstances, all our experience goes to prove that supers will be con- verted into brood-chambers, partially at least, and the queen will gratify her propensity for depositing eggs in the newly-built super combs, in preference to doing so in a lateral direction, and in a lower temperature in the brood-chamber below. Hence the necessity for checking the queen's excelsior desire by the »se of tbe excluding honey-board, and thus an approximation to that great desideratum, a brood- chamber filled with brood only, will be attained. The next desideratum, then, is a honey-board, so constructed, and with perforations of a size so nicely calculated, and proved by actual trial, through which the bees can pass to and fr», with the greatest possible freedom, but through which a queen cannot obtain an entrance to the supers. Why, therefore, 'J. B. R.' (1966, p. 46) should desig- nate the endeavour to supply such a honey-board as ' a new fad ' we are at a loss to discover. Excluder-zinc has not been used in England simply because, having been tried in past years, it was not found to be a success. A sheet of the perforated zinc, having circular perfora- tions well-nigh too small for a worker-bee to squeeze its body through, was laid on the frames, and when num- bers of bees, having with difficulty ascended into the supers, were unable to find their way back, and so perished, the idea of preventing the passage of the queen into the supers was discarded as impracticable. Not so with our American brethren, who imported the zinc- excluder primarily from this country, and when they found that it did not answer their purpose improved it, by experiment, altering the size and shape of the per- forations, and inventing the ' slatted-queen-excluding honey-board.' And now they have, in their own country, manufactories of the improved excluder-zinc, which is used with perfect success in many of their largest and most successful apiaries. The building of brace-combs, between honey-boards, frames, and sections, is another bugbear put forward as a deterrent, but which may be dismissed in few words. The excluding-board, to which ' J. B. 11.,' quoted above, refers, is described in the Adriser, of July last, as having a bee-space on both sides of it, and these are the only spaces in which brace-combs can be built. Granting, therefore, for the sake of argument, that brace-combs are built in these shallow spaces of a quarter of an inch, we fail to see that they are very objectionable. After driving down the bees by the application of the carbolised cloth or by smoke, a thin-bladed knife is easily passed beneath the hone3--board, and a slight twist will separate the attachments. But a little practice and ingenuity in the use of the excluder will do away altogether with the building of brace-combs. We notice in the Record, just to hand, a letter from Mr. Wilcock, of Doncastei-, who after describing his successful use of shallow-framed supers for obtaining extracted honey during the last nine years, adds : — ' I may also mention that I work excluder zinc under these crates, keeping the queen where she ought to be.' He tells us also that on his first trial of the shallow-framed crates over excluder zinc, nine years ago, that ' It was really astonishing to see how quickly the bee3 filled them. In one or two instances I have actually taken thirty pounds of honey in eight days from one surplus box. . . . Imagine my agreeable surprise when I lifted the quilt of the first to find the frames choke-full of splendid honey, all sealed over, and as solid-looking as a stone wall, while the combs were as white as ivory. I quickly changed full frames for empty ones, and in ten days the new combs were all filled out again with honey. In a good season I have taken from eighty to one hundred pounds of honey from one of these chambers.' We consider this most important testimony in favour, not only of shallow super-frames, but of the usefulness of excluding honey-boards. If Mr. Wilcock should, by chance, read these lines, he will confer on the readers of the IS. B.J. a great favour by describing his manner of using the excluder zinc, and the size and shape of the perforations. We are convinced that the use of these honey-boards is no ' new fad,' but that they are ' come to stay,' and to improve greatly the quality of extracted and comb- honey. No doubt attempts, from various methods, have been made to ' write them down,' but apiarists as well as others should 'prove all things, and hold fast that which is good.' So numerous and rapid have been the apiarian inventions and improvements of the last few years, and so great the competition amongst appliance-dealers, that no sooner is any novelty brought under the notice of the bee-keeping public than the cry arises that the inventor January 31, 1889.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 51 ' has an axe to grind,' or, in plain English, an attempt is being made to foist upon the credulous some worthless 'fad for the purpose of filling the pocket of the pro- jector. No doubt many novelties of this class have been ' pushed,' but in reality numerous and useful inventions by experienced and practical men, dealers and amateurs alike, have been placed before the public, worthy of the patronage of nil bee-keepers. All, therefore, are not to be condemned simply because they are novelties. As instances in point, we may mention the great improve- ment in sections introduced during the last two or three years. The One-pound Sections of Lee and Howard — 4\ x 4j x 2 in., which are worthy of being considered the standard size, and indeed have virtually become so — may be recommended to all. In these sections full sheets of foundation are inserted during the process of putting together, or folding, with the greatest possible rapidity and ease. In our own apiary we prefer them before others, and confidently recommend them. Two-pound sections have been neglected of late years, but we antici- pate a greater denrmd for them in f ut ire. Our pre- ference is for the 5j x (j| x 2 in. as the most useful size, and worthy of being adopted as a standard. Further, we advise the use of new sections, as those which have been already in use, even when unfilled, become soiled, and in such the appearance of the beauti- fully white newly-built and sealed comb is spoiled by the dingy look of its encasement. The price of sections is so low that it is bad policy to spoil the appearance of a one or two-pound section of fine comb-honey in order to save the expense of a halfpenny or penny case. Examination of Colonies should be, for the pre- sent, as cursory as possible. If there be any doubt as regards a short supply of food, or dysentery, let the quilt be gently raised, aud if the upper cells of the combs are found empty, place over the cluster of bees a 2-lb. cake of soft candy, and cover up as warmly as possible. If necessary, on a very rearm day hives may be con- tracted by closing up division-boards, but no thorough examination, by the withdrawal of frames, or searching for queens, is admissible at this early period. Had cases of dysentery of course form an exception. For the treatment of such refer back to former ' Hints.' Robbing must be guarded against. On Saturday, the 26th inst., the sun shone out brilliantly and the air was full of bees, wdien we noticed several decided at- tempts at robbing, and slaughter had begun. This was soon checked by the application of the carbolised feather to the entrances of the attacked and attacking colonies. During these first spring nights the bees seem to be somewhat confused, and often enter the wrong hives, apparently not having sufficiently marked their own locality after their winter's rest. This often leads to robbing, and a weak stock may be de- stroyed by its strong neighbour in the course of an hour or two. Mice. — "We had a curious experience the other day when visiting an apiary. The day being fine, aud the bees flying', we noticed a skep at which a few bees were making a decided set, evidently with the desire of rob- bing, but seemed afraid to enter, although there was no appearance of a defending bee. On removing the hive- cover and a piece of carpet which covered the feed-hole, peering through the hole we discovered a mouse climb- ing between two of the combs, and immediately closed the hole and the entrance. The services of a fox-terrier were called into requisi- tion, and the hive was carried into an adjoining field and turned up, when out jumped no less than five large field- mice, with which the terrier soon made short work. There were no surviving bees, but several pounds of honey, upon which the mice regaled themselves, were left. A most comfortable nest had been built out of the cjrpet covering the feed-hole, and suspended midway between the combs of the hive, a part of which had been nibbled to pieces and the remains covered the floor- board to the depth of several inches. English v. 'Biutish.' — A correspondent, Mr. Ruchau of Dalkeith, writes asking us to prove our statement (in last ' Hints,' page 27) that ' small brood-chambers and the storifying system are pre-eminentlv English;' or to say if we meant ' British' instead of ' English ;' to which we reply that the mention made, in the same article, of the ' Stewarton' as the most perfect type of a storifying hive, is sufficient evidence that we used the word ' English ' in its broader sense — including English, Scotch, and Welsh— which is the general acceptation of the word in Continental Europe. If our friend, how- ever, prefers it, we have not the slightest objection to the use of the term ' British,' which implies the same, if only he will keep clear of that abomination ' Britisher,' in common use on the Transatlantic continent. Tits.— One word more to say— Beware of the ' Tits.' These pretty little pests are very busy in our apiary whenever the bees are flying; and on the alighting- board fragments of dismembered bees are frequently to be seen. So epicurean are the taste3 of the tits that they much prefer the living to the dead bees. Bke-Keeping in Ireland.— Makers of bee-hives with moveable frames by which portions of the comb can be removed, will find a good advertisement in the recently issued Agricultural Statistics for Ireland. The Registrar-General states that in the whole island there were 28,500 swarms at work, of which DISS, or nearly one-third, were kept in ' hives having moveable frames/ and 19,434 in other hives. The quantity of honey pro- duced was 459,386 lbs., or an average of 16 lbs. per hive, an amount which probably exceeds what the uninitiated would consider possible. But of this total yield nearly half was gained from the new-fashioned hives, so that while, the average store of a swarm kept in one of them was 23 lbs., that of a swarm living in the less commodious dwelling was only 13 lbs. It is curious to note that in Connaught, where there are le.-s than one-fourth the number of swarms to be found in each of the other three provinces, the yield of honey per hive is consider- ably greater. Evidently the struggle for bee existence is less keen, for while an Ulster swarm will collect 22 lbs. a Connaught swarm will amass no less than 29 lbs. But the most productive hives in Ireland are to be found in Kildare, where 218 of the ' moveable frame ' type pro- duced an average yield of 37 lbs. of honey for each swarm. — Daily News. dEorrcspanticiicc. The Editor docs not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed by his correspondents. No attention will be taken of anonymous com- mnnications, and correspondents are requested to wiite on one tide of the paper only, and gice their fall names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustrations should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Boohs for Review, Ac, mast be addressed only to 'The Ed. tor of the "British Bea Journal," c/o Messrs. Strangewtys and Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, iV.C All business communications relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J. Hdckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see liit-i )'i-)c nf Ad e,".rtiseinent.<.) %* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking oj any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. JOTTINGS BY WOODLEIGH ON A MEDLEY OF SUBJECTS. [1969.1 AVe bee-keepers are all to indebted to Mr, 'Useful Hints' for the many hints he is constantly giving in U.D.J, that one fuels sorry to take exception to any one of them, but I trust few, if any, bee-keepers have taken his advice re Carson's black paint for hive- cover.- If I mistake not, it is a kind of refined gis-tar, 52 THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 31, 1889. one of the very worst substances that can be applied to roofs of hives, on account of the great amount of heat it absorbs in hot weather. Take as an instance my own apiary, which is situated in an exposed place, especially from a south-west and due west aspect, with the conse- quence that I have been obliged to make an artificial wind-break, i.e. bavins of underwood stood endways, and bound to fence with strong- galvanised wire. The heat confined by this fence on a hot summer's day, coupled with the radiated heat from a sandy soil, and added to the absorbed heat of a tarred roof, would melt the toughest combs into a veritable hodge-podge in the bottom of the hive. E.vperto crede. Enamel cloth is still a stranger in my apiary. I have no impervious quilts, except the imperviousness given them by the bees propolising them, and I have been fairly successful in wintering hitherto. What lessons the present winter season may teach us as regards bees wintering on artificial food, I will not pretend to prognosticate at present. The mild, open weather so far has been very beneficial to the health of the bees, by giving them many opportunities of taking cleansing flights, though, on the other hand, there has undoubtedly been a large demand made on the stores by the constant activity of the bees, when, in an ordinary season, they would have been in a state of semi -hibernation, therefore it behoves bee- keepers to see that stores do not run short. A cake of candy can be given to the colony at any time, with but slight disturbance. We hear from all parts of losses by starvation even now. What it will be in three months' time no one can calculate. Eeally, it is sad indeed to think of bee-keepers allowing their bees to starve when good sugar can be bought at 2d. to 2hd. per lb., and in some instances the supineness of bee-keepers who pretend to feed is lamentable. One will give a handful of sugar on the stool by simply lifting up one side of the hive, and placing the sugar on the stool, and then leave the bees to do the best they can with it ; another mixes up a compound of beer and brown sugar, and feeds in a small plate, or in a wood trough, made by cutting a piece of elder-wood with a knot at each end, and then cutting- one side of it off till the pith is reached, when it is scooped out and a trough formed capable of holding about two tablespoonf uls ; and if one venture to put them in the way of feeding iu the proper way, they often resent any interference with their old st}'le, and retort, ' Ah, this is how my father, or grandfather, always fed his bees, and they always done very well, and I shan't bother myself with bottles of stuff atop, as 'twill sure to run down faster than the bees can eat it, and then they will be drowned, or all stuck together ! ' Or another, who prides himself on being more canny than ordinary, will say, ' Ah, that accounts for you having such a lot of honey every year, if you feed your bees with so much sugar, as it stands to reason if the bees don't want to eat it all, it goes to make up the pot of honey!' It is futile to reason with them, or to tell them that a modern bee-keeper at beginning of the honey- harvest, by good management and judicious feeding iu spring, fills his hive with bees and brood, and not a square inch of stored S}'rup or old honey is wanted in the hive, but only combs of brood, teeming with hatching bees, ready to take the field and garner up a store of honey for the bee-keeper, and stores for the uses of the colony in the future. The little matters of wide entrances and impervious quilts are cropping up again, I notice, in recent numbers of our Journal. Do not the enlightened writers remem- ber that it is to such pioneers of the craft as Mr. Abbott that we are many of us indebted for the mere elements of the cult ? Well do I remember the letters that appeared in the English Mechanic from the pen of Mr. Abbott before the Bee Journal was even thought of. The hives of the late Mi'. Woodbury had impervious wood crown-boards, with fixed entrances, and also bow the bees of that day managed to exist — aye, and in a state of health too. Is it not recorded in the annals of the E. Mechanic how one (a Mr. Fox) contrived a won- derful glass super on the up-grade principle, with a winch and rack-and-pinion arrangement, so that it could be raised higher every day, or at least as often as required, according to the income of honey and the comb-building done by the bees. Then came the days of ' Bee Journalism,' and for a long time the impervious wooden crown-boards held their own against the persis- tent attack of various writers in the pages of the B.B.J., the bees still living on much as they had in former ages prior to frame-hives, adapting themselves to the various nondescript habitations the ingenuity of man had con- trived or devised as suitable vehicles by which their stores might be shared, and in some cases plundered ; but a change was coming, surely though gradually, and the minority was increased till it grew into a vast majo- rity in favour of pervious or porous quilts in place of the wooden crown-boards ; the porous quilts were devised to admit the gradual though imperceptible passage of any deleterious gases or moisture emanating from the cluster of bees, and for several years we found our bees wintering well, coming out in the spring in good form and condi- tion, i.e., perfectly healthy. One was inclined to think that the ultima Thule was reached, but, no ; persistent, ever- present change was at hand, the inventive faculty of the nineteenth century was on the alert with some new thing to take the place of the old, and a new and totally different material was brought into use to conduce to the health and happiness of our busy bees. Erstwhile it was pervious, now it is impervious quilts ; the pervious was to allow the passage of moisture, so that the colony of bees should not reek in their condensed breath. The impervious is intended to fill the same laudable design ; if it does so or not I am not able to decide, as I have not began to use it, though in years gone by I have had glass crown-boards or covers to the hives as experi- ments, with loose chaff over the top several inches thick, and even in a glass hive with only an entrance of 1 inch by \ inch high, the bees came out second to none in the apiary. I may add I have still a few hives with the wood crown-boards and the openings covered with glass, in which bees have wintered successfully for the past decade without a single loss, and without throwing a swarm in one instance in all the ten years, though they have been allowed the whole twelve frames the hive contains to winter on, year after year, and no bothering about requeening on my part ; the hive in question has been worked entirely on the let-alone principle, and all I have had to do year after year has been to take off the surplus. Even in the last never-to-be-forgotten year of three eights I had a little surplus from it, and last autumn was the first time I ever put a feeder on the hive to eke out winter stores ; yet even in a hive containing twelve frames, with space above frames under the crown-board, bees have managed to exist in health, and I trust in comparative comfort. What an enigma to our under- standing is the adaptability of many and varied forms of life ! With all our artificial bee-fixings the Apis mellijica manages to exist, and to all appearances fills its place in the economy of nature in the recurring seasons, as it did when the patriarch counselled his sons to take a little honey as a present to the governor of Egypt. Situation of hives, i.e., the height of hives from the ground, has attracted some notice lately, and I was very pleased to see the familiar signature of Mr. Simmins once more in the pages of the B.B.J. I may say that the bulk of my hives are ten to twelve inches from the ground on legs. I have a few skeps placed near the ground only a brick edgewise between the ground and the floor-board (or slab of wood) ; now these hives have been in that position four years, and others in same rank on legs a foot long side by side under exactly the same treatment, and I have not been able to notice any January 31, 1889.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 53 difference as regards the earliness of swarming- or super- ing condition. Each of my hives has a sloping board from the ground to the alighting-board of the hive, and I like some good wide ones, — the width of the hive is a good size. Do you ask why ? Well, in the first place, to give the young bees a promenade in the sunshine, secondly, to form a good space for the older bees who are foraging for honey, pollen, or water to alight on ; thirdly, to form a veritable Jacob's ladder by which the aged bees, worn with hard labour and heavy burdens, may reach their dulce domum ; fourthly, to form a wind- break underneath the hive ; this is especially important where hives are placed in front of walls, the wind striking on the wall comes out under the hives with force enough to carry any loaded and partially benumbed bees that may try to make a landing during the gust, to the ground to perish in great numbers. I have noticed many times quantities of bees crawling about on the ground by the side of hives where the hive has stood in a very exposed place, even with the sloping board : this generally happens when the wind strikes sideways to the hive. My opinion is that with a supple back the bee-keeper should have his hives raised about ten inches on a cinder and sawdust foundation, with sloping boards reaching from ground to alighting-board, the alighting- board to slope at a different angle to the lean-to board. The bee-keeper who is a martyr to backache must arrange his hives to suit his stooping capabilities, and his bees must put up with the extra work of carrying their stores into his arms. No doubt many will perish in the attempt, especially in the early spring during cold, stormy weather, and so the bee-keeper will have to accept a lighter super or a few pounds less honey than his more fortunate friend with the back that does not ache at trifles. Glad to see your first communication, Mrs.L. Harrison, to the B.B.J., both yours and Mrs. Chaddock's names are familiar as household words to me through Gleanings, which a kind friend sends me regularly. I feel sure you will make many friends in the old country ; and I trust our lady bee-keepers in England may be induced to pen their experiences in the craft after the style of your friend Mrs. Chaddock, whose letters to Gleanings are always the first ear of corn I rub out to get at the golden grain. — Woodleigh. A REAL OJRIGINAL. A BRIEF SKETCH OF HER DOINGS AMONGST BEES, ( Continued from page 45.) [1070.] ' Now, Mrs. W., I am here again.' ' I see you are, sir.' ' Any swarms yet ?' ' No, and not likely such weather as this. There'll be neither swarms nor honey this year if we don't get some better weather.' ' Oh, we must have patience, Mrs. VY. ! ' ' Yes, that's what you said tother day, but it's — well, I suppose we can't alter things.' Being invited to a seat, and anxious to learn still more before leaving the village, I opened out by ad- vancing a few suggestions I thought might be useful. They being well received, and remarked upon, I was made to understand the head was not full, but was quite ready to store more knowledge, so many were the questions and answers. Here I took the opportunity of asking more minute particulars. ' You will, I hope, excuse me, Mrs. W., if I ask you a few questions. I feel so interested in your bee-garden, and should be glad to know all I can about it for my note- book.' ' You'd have a nice book full, sir, if I told you all my doings with my bees.' ' I am quite sure I should, Mrs. W. How long have you kept bees?' ' I can't tell you, I don't bear it in mind, but soon after I was married ; but then, you know, my father had bees when I was a child, and my grandfather kept bees, so I've been among 'urn all my life; but not among such a lot as mine, you know.' ' I suppose, then, your grandfather's bees would come to your father, and your father's to you.' ' Y'es, but my mother had iny father's bees after he died, and when she died I took 'urn, and put mine and all together.' ' Do you remember at any time during your father's life if he was without bees V ' Yes, I do ; but only once : when I was a girl, they all died, and he could never make it out, and he went and bought three lots from a man in the next village. We have never been without bees since.' ' Do you ever remember having a strange swarm come to you ?' ' No, but I know I've lost a many. They get up, and away they go ; and I know I can't run after them. They come out four or five together, sometimes, and then I am a bit bothered. Last year, in June, I had either six or seven. All went in a heap together, and I didn't know what to do for the best, so I got a tub, as you see in the garden, and put 'um in.' (The tub here mentioned is a sugar- cask, about 3 ft. high, wrapped round with hay-bands, a hole cut in the top for supering, but it does not appear to contain such a strong colony as I should have ex- pected. Very probably some of the swarms turned out again and escaped after being tubbed, for I learnt when examined at evening there were seen to be three separate clusters in the tub.) ' I noticed your bees throughout are so very regular in colour, and this made me ask the question about strange swarms coming to you. Have you at any time noticed bees differently marked ? ' ' No ; mine are the same old sort we have always had. I once had three hives, but -where they came from, and how they came to turn out as they did, I never could make out. They were as vicious as vicious. I couldn't go near 'um but they would sting me. I tried 'um till I was out of all patience, and I thought to myself, I won't have you about any longer, and I then and there took 'um up and finished 'um off, and I have never beeu bothered with suchlike things since, and I hope I never shall again. They were nasty little black-tailed uns, a lot smaller than the others, and regular bad uns. I don't stand about stings, but I didn't care to have 'um always at me without any notice. Now, sir, how would you account for that ? Most likely you can tell me, as you know so much.' ' Well, Mrs. W., I am afraid I know so little,— so little indeed as not to be able to account for the appearance of these three stocks of little black-tailed ones, unless you were, during the previous year, favoured with a strange swarm from the woods or elsewhere, and that the swarm the following year gave you two swarms.' ' Well, it may be so, but I don't think so. I never see 'um come, and I'm always about in the garden, and should have noticed them come. Besides, how came it that them three stocks as stood together were all alike, and as bad as one another ? I'm not so sure about the swarms, and if the two came from the one, and I don't remember if the one did swarm at all, I don't think I should have stood the swarm against the old stock : that's not my plan.' ' It certainly was a rather singular case, but from the fact of your bees before and since being so good-tempered, and are evidently of one pure race of our old English bees, leads me to conclude, as before remarked, that the black-tailed vicious bees were strangers. However, you did a wise thing to be rid of them, and your way of doing it was the most sure, and you are fortunate not to have a traee of them left.' ' You may be right, but excuse me, sir, don't ycu 54 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 31, 1889. think bees have a way of telling one another what's going on, and them three stocks as stood together done so, as they were all alike for bad temper ? ' ' Yes, bees have some means of communicating to their fellow-workers in and about their own hive, but they do not hold that kindly intercourse with strangers outside, as, from your argument, you appear to think.' ' Well, you know, sir, when bees are out at work in the fields they are friendly enough with one another ; you don't see them fighting, or anything.' 'Quite true, Mrs. W., it's a fair field for all then, there is no particular ownership, and all are too intent on getting as much as they can to waste time squabbling ; but when at home they are a bit different, as you pro- bably know from experience.' ' Yes, I do that, and specially when I'm taking the honey ; but my bees are very quiet as a rule, and though I've so many, and close to them school children, I don't hear of the bees stinging any — I wish they did sometimes — and they wouldn't bat 'um about as they do ; they kill thousands, poor things, as they come home ladened.' Being myself here a little ladened, I took leave of my friend for the purpose of unloading whilst all was fresh to memory. The following evening I called to know how things had gone on during the day. I could see all was not quite serene. ' No swarms to-day, I guess, Mrs. W. ? ' ' No, sir ; I don't know what's come to my bees this year ; never so late before as I remember.' ' Oh, you must have patience, they will swarm when they are ready.' ' I expect so, but I wish they'd soon git ready ; they're wasting my time and their own too ; the season will be gone before they come out; I shall have no honey to take this year. I have heard there is a way of making swarms, but I have never seen bow to do it, and maybe I should be a bad hand at it. You'll excuse me, sir, now how do you do it? You'll think I ask a lot of ques- tions.' ' I fear, Mrs. W., that I am the troublesome questioner ; I promise you not to complain of you if you give me a like promise.' After giving full particulars of making artificial swarms, and advising a trial, and a promise to perform the work, my offer was declined with thanks, with a closer, — ' It might answer, but I've no faith in it, and besides it might cause robbing and disturb the lot. I am much obliged to you, sir, all the same, for telling me all about this making swarms ; you see there would be much to consider, and if the queen didn't settle, and took off, where should I be ? No, I sha'n't trouble that how ; they may take their chance ; 1 must have patience as you say.' ' Yes, Mrs. W., patience ; bee-keepers need plenty.' ' Ah, they do, specially swarming time, and when- you're waiting till they fill their hives; but it looks to me as though there won't be a deal to wait for if the weather don't change, so as they can swarm.' ' I should like to advise your supering all strong stocks at once, Mrs. W. ; that would, in a measure, check swarming, the risk of losing them, and so secure your honey early for the market, when there's a better chance of making a good price.' ' Yes, that's all very well, but there's no good putting supers on if the bees can't get out to gather anything ; and as to a market and getting a better price, I stand need of that, sure enough, to look at all my expenses.' ' Do you find a fairlv good morket for your honey, Mrs. W.P' ' No, only a very mean 'un. I go trapesing about calling at different houses, sometimes I have a middling good day, and sometimes a bad 'un. I have several regular customers who always take of me every year.' ' About what price do you make of your run honey P' ' Well, sir, you know, my honey is generally very good, but I don't often get more than lOrf. to Is. ; if they get comb as well as run I put the two together and charge Is.' ' You must get a large quantity of honey, Mrs. W. ; about how much do you get ? ' ' That depends on the season, sir, sometimes more and sometimes less.' ' Well, about how much, on an average, per hive ? ' ' I really can't tell you, I don't bear it in mind ; I don't take any account of what I sell, and I keep spend- ing the money as I get it.' ' Not quite all, I guess, Mrs. W., you have not lived all these years amongst bees, and not learnt from them how to store up ? ' ' You said store up ; look how I have to work, and my time and expenses going to sell the honey after I've got it; but I shan't be troubled much this 3'ear if the weather doesn't soon come better. Now what's your opinion, sir, about the price good honey ought to fetch ; you ought to know a paying price.' ' Well, Mrs. W., I think good honey ought to sell for not less than 9(7. per pound, but there are many who think 6(7., and even less, is a fair price.' ' What, so low as that, do they ? I had heard as folks do sell at them low prices, but it must be bad rubbish, and such folks ought never to keep bees, and it would serre 'um right if their bees didn't gather them any honey.' ' I really think it would, Mrs. W., serve them well right, and I wish I could give the bees the tip not to, it might make it better for those of us who like a fair price. I suppose you make use of all your drained combs and inferior honey by making mead, Mrs. W. ? ' ' Yes, sir, I usually make a nice lot of mead, and could sell it, as it was good ; but now nobody may sell mead without a license. I found that out myself, for an exciseman's wife as 1 was going to sell some to took the trouble to inquire of her husband, and he said, No, I musn't sell without a license ; and that's true, sir, if you didn't know it afore; so you ses we can't make up our expenses as we used to.' ' You have no difficulty in selling wax, I guess ? ' 'No, I haven't, but I don't get what I ought for it, considering the trouble and mess to get it nice, and mine's always good. You know, sir, I never waste any- thing, if I know, I turn all to account that I get out of a hive ; and I stand need to, for all my trouble and costs. I don't know how other folks do as don't, but I think they must lose, and maybe don't know it.' ' You are about right, Mrs. W. ; no doubt much more might be got out of a hive by following your plan ; and, in respect to mead-making very much more might be done in that way, and extended in making other light drinks from honey.' • Maybe you're right, sir, but then there's the license, you musn't leave that out ; I'm of the opiuion there shouldn't be a license for what's made from honey.' ' I quite agree with you, Mrs. AY. ; bee-keepers ought to be exempt fro a such charge, and, indeed, free from all interference, except when they murder their bees, then I think they should be brought to book.' ' I'm of a different opinion, sir, and I think them as let their bees pine to death deserve more to be brought to book, as you call it, tha'i those as finish 'um off, and don't keep 'um to pine to death.' ' Yes, Mrs. W.. to keep bees and let them weary out a starving existence is indeed cruel, and perhaps the more cruel of the two.' I'm sure it is, sir; depend on it, and you must own to that. Now I do attend to my bees and see they don't starve. I've only lost two out of my lot this year, one by robbers, t'other I don't think was from want, as I gave them the same as my other weak stocks, but they January 31, 1889.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 55 didn't take it, and 1 never could account for it nohow. I make my own sugar-cake, and I know it's good. I always give 'urn sugar-cake.' ' You have been very fortunate indeed, Mrs. W., and such facts speak well for the attention and care bestowed upon your bees ; I have not, to my knowledge, met with any like small death-rate.' ' Then you will give me a little praise, though I'm one of the old-fashioned bee-keepers ? ' ' Certainly, I give you very great praise, in fact your equal it has never been my good fortune to meet, and I doubt if any other bee-keeper in England has ; it has been a great pleasure to me to have found you, and I shall have many pleasant recollections of my visit, and your kindness in giving me the opportunity of learning so much from you.' ' You said learning so much, I think it's but little you'll learn from me that will do you any good, but you are welcome to what you get.' ' Thank you, Mrs. W., I shall look in again to see how swarming proceeds.' ' There'll not be much of that if the weather don't take up, and we have better weather so as bees can get out to work. I don't remember such a bad season as it is, I begin to feel concerned ; it's a very serious conse- quence to me, and there's no help for it.' ' No, Mrs. W., we must be content, we can't have always what we would wish, and it's well we cannot, or we might be less thankful than I fear we often are for the many favours ; remember last season, Mrs. W. Good day.' — R. R. Godfrey. ( To be continued.) BEES AS SUGAR TESTERS. [1971.] I have had my attention drawn to a para- graph in the Lancet of January 12th last, which I thought might be of interest to your readers, and therefore make no apology for occupying your valuable space with it : — 'Though to the human palate cane sugar, beetroot sugar, and saccharine, are pretty much alike, it is said that bees are much more discriminative. They will have nothing to do with either of the last-named two substances. Glycerine they will take only, however, it is said, if it be pure.'— Alfred Neighbour, 140 Regent Street, London, January 26th. BUYING AND MOVING BEES. [1972.1 A subscriber wants to know which is the best time of the year to purchase bees — fall or spring, and if they can be moved at any other time of the year, except when there is snow on the ground, so that they can be moved upon a sled. If bees are purchased in the fall there cannot possibly be any profit in the investment, except they can be sold at an advance until the following summer, and the risks are large. Veterans, who have grown old in the service, often lose many colonies during the winter. The seasons are so variable, and we have not the gift of knowing whether the coming winter will be very cold, moderate, or mild ; if we had we could advise more wisely. I have seen bees die during the winter when the con- ditions were favourable for their living. AVhen I took out the combs and examined everything connected with the hive carefully, I could not see any cause for their death. I simply knew that the bees were dead. Perhaps if there had been a coroner's jury, the verdict would have been ' heart disease.' When a colon}' of bees that belongs to a person who owns many colonies dies, the loss is trifling, for he can another season use the hive and comb. But when a person purchases colonies in the fall, and they perish during the winter, he may lose his combs by the moths before he can procure swarms to put into the hives. Occasionally, colonies are sold at sales for not more than the honey and hives are worth, then it would be safe enough to invest. In the spring a good, strong colony of bees promises to be a good investment. I have never seen a season but that, during some period of it, bees laid up stores for winter. It is true that a crop of honey cannot be de- pended on every season in most localities. Last year and this were partial failures, owing to the severe drought. Agriculturists and horticulturists have losses and failures in crops ; pigs and chickens die of cholera ; apples fail ; while corn, wheat, oats, and potatoes are not always sure. On the average, taking one year with another, three crops of honey out of five cau be depended upon. MOVING Bees. — Bee-keepers of 'ye olden time,' who used the gum, or box-hive, thought that the only time to move bees was during good sledding ; but this is a mistake, for they can be moved, with care, almost any time during the year. There are several points in favour of moving bees upon the snow where they are wintered out-of-doors. They can be lifted carefully and taken many miles when the sleighing is good, with so little jar that they will not find out that they are moved at all. A bee-keeper told me that when he started in the business he purchased a colony in a box-hive and moved them home in cold weather in a wagon over rough roads. The bees were shaken from the combs into a pile in the bottom of the hive. Many of them were numbed with cold and perished, for they could not crawl back where their stores were. Beginners in bee-culture have got into more scrapes in moving bees than in any other part of the business. Many people do things by halves, and when told that they must fasten up the hives so that no bees can get out, they will stick a wisp of hay into the entrance, saying, ' I guess that will do, and I will stuff some more around the hives when they are in the wagon,' and lift them in. I have known of a serious accident from a hive being knocked off through the jolting of a wagon over a rough road. A few nails wisely driven would have saved much loss. There is another difficult}' in moving bees even in December. They may be moved safely, and all go well until the first warm day when they are on the wing, when they will return to the place where their hive stood, un- less it has been moved more than a mile. One fall we moved hives together so as to protect them, and the first warm day I noticed bees flying wheie the hives had been. The night following there was a light snow, and the next day I gathered up handfuls of be- numbed bees that could not find their hive. AVhen bees go to work they run out and fly, apparently taking no note, of their surroundings. A new swarm always takes its bearings, and returns to the same place; if it only remains a few hours after hiving, and is moved after sunset, many will return to the place where the swarm was hived. AVhen bees are moved in the spring they are not so apt to return; it appears natural for them to mark their locality with the advent of a new season. When hives are moved it is well to put hay or grass against the en- trance, or a board, so that they cannot run out and fly as they usually do. AVhen they bump their heads they will look for a reason, take notice of their surroundings, nad return to the same place. Tenant farmers usually move about the first of March, and many of them have a few bees, if they are not in hives of the latest fashion. March and April are very trying months on winged stock, and it is best that they be kept as quiet as possible. As the rends are usually rough and full of chuck-holes at this time of the year, it 56 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 31, 1889. would be well to move their bees in advance the last of winter, on the snow if possible. They should be pro- tected from winds, and from the inroads of stock, and then not be afraid of using straw and corn-fodder liber- ally. It would be better for the owner to do this moving at his leisure than when crowded with moving, seeding, &c, and much better for the bees, as they will be at home, having marked their location, at the time of their first spring flight. — Mrs. L. Harrison, Peoria, Ills. {Prairie Farmer.') CONTRACTING THE BROOD-NEST WITHOUT MECHANICAL CONTRIVANCES. [1973.] The history of nations, of the arts and sciences, goes to show that progress advances upon the waves of revolution. And so it is with our own peculiar occupation ; what to-day is considered an im- provement in appliance or management may to-morrow be entirely superseded by a far more economical inven- tion, while something long since discarded for the want of proper application, may now receive the finishing touch and be brought forth from oblivion, that but recently threatened to be total extinction. Great improvements have taken place in the manner of securing comb honey, and still greater improvements will follow; but for the present I will remark upon a few new features relating to the preparation and con- dition of the stock hive both before and after supering. The original way of allowing the bees the full capacity of the hive all the time had been almost discarded when my non-swarming plan came on the scene, and I found the benefits of contraction to be nil. Hitherto I had supposed, with others, and many still hold the same opinion, that unless the number of brood frames as well as the space were limited the bees would not readily work above. Nevertheless, under the non-swarming plan, with a doubled stock hive, and the bees having free access to all this additional space, no difficulty whatever has been experienced in getting them to work freely in the sec- tions. And why ? First because of the liberal use of comb already worked out, and next because the brood nest was practically limited, while the large amount of surplus room below did away with the necessity of using excluder zinc. But what are the advantages of limiting the size of the stock hive ? Its advocates (myself once among the number) are wont to claim that all the honey goes into the sections. But further consideration and experience have led me to look at the matter more seriously. True, all the honey stored does go into the sections, but that is not the point. The real question at issue is, whether more honey is secured, or better results obtained in the aggregate ? I do not for one moment propose to go back to the old plan of leaving the stock hive entirely undisturbed, but I do intend to show that while bee-keepers have been considering division-boards indispensable, and excluder- zinc an article of the greatest necessity, it is possible to secure every advantage offered by their use, and greater economy and profit, without their aid, by a judicious manipulation of the brood-chamber and sections. Now, take two hives in fair condition at the end of May ; crowd one in the usual way by removing several brood-combs, and closing up with division-boards at the time they are supered. A certain amount of honey will be the result, with a brood-nest containing practically no honey, but over-crowded with pollen, to the detri- ment of the queen and future population and prosperity of the hive, and feeding to be carried on after removal o'f the supers. No w, it is a well-known fact that bees gather honey (when it is to be obtained) in proportion to the amount of space, or empty cells, they may have on hand at the time of the greatest emergency. How important, there- fore, as is so well understood by all, in the case of working for extracted honey, to give the bees all possible storing space ' in the nick of time.' Has not the division- board contraction method, therefore, been a short-sighted policy ? I say most emphatically, It has ! For, let the brood-nest of the second hive be contracted by the new method as follows: — Supposing the hive to contain eleven frames (standard size), more or less full of brood at the time supers are to be put on, then remove all but the five best combs of brood. Arrange these near the centre, and on either side three quite empty combs. The bee-keeper will, in his experiment, soon notice the decided advantage the latter arrangement has over the contracted space of the other hive. For all practical purposes the brood-nest is limited at just the right time; the spare combs at the sides will keep the actual brood- nest clear of both honey and pollen all the season ; the population, therefore, is kept up to the highest standard throughout, while the surplus accommodation below gives no need for excluder-zinc. The spare combs ac- commodate the rush of honey during the day, to be ripened and carried above at night. Hence, acting upon the principle of giving the fullest accommodation to the bees at the time they most need, and are fully prepared to make use of it, there can be no question of the superiority of such a plan as compared with that of allowing them no storing space at all, except as they build it day by day. The plan has worked well even in such a season as '83, while I have found the greater space below to be not the least hindrance to getting the bees at work in the sections.— Saml. Simmins. BORGUE HONEY. 1 Nor bee that bends the purply bell Has half the sweetness in its cell Frae oot the sweetest tlooer.' [1074.] So sang a Galloway poet of an early sweet- heart. His language might have been modified in some degree had he but tasted the famous Borgue nectar ; it has lost none of its sweetness by the controversy that has raged in your columns — there j'et remain ' The brilliancy, The pleasant smack, consistency ; In brief, its wondrous excellency.' It will be in the recollection of your readers who are bee-keepers, and possibly of others, that in the spring or early summer of 1886, in consequence of a short com- munication I made to your 'Jottings by the Way' column, that a correspondent from the Urr district claimed that his region produced honey equal, to the famous Borgue product, and suggested that samples be sent to some friend of his to decide as to the merits. Although it was thoroughly well known throughout the Stewartry, and many other places far beyond its borders — possibly not at ' Fekin ' — particularly by connoisseurs of the table, that Borgue honey was facile princeps, I thought it might be interesting to have a more extended competition at Borgue Show, and to induce that I offered, through you, half-a-guinea to the first prize in the open competition for dropped honey, for three sea- sons. The increase in the value of the prize, and in particular the publicity given to the competition by your journal, had the desired effect, as exhibitors in the open class competed from Kirkcudbright, Twyuholm, Castle-Douglas, Dalbeattie, Beeswing, &c, in the Stewartry, as well as from Wigtownshire and Ayrshire. The result of the three years' competition was that Borgue honey each year took first and second prizes, no competitor from outside the parish ever getting a place on the prize list. I made careful inquiries as to the January 31, 1889.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 57 judging in 1886, and was told that the judge was most painstaking and careful ; that he did not know whose the samples were, nor what district from ; that a short leet of the eight best was made : that this leet was all Borgue honey. In 1887 the first prize was awarded to Mr. Wylie, Borgue village, hut his sample was dis- qualified by too late entry. Mr. Main, Blackcraig, was then first, followed by another Borgue sample, so that in 1887 Borgue was practically first, second, and third. This last season honey has generally been of compara- tively indifferent quality, but Borgue, as before, carried off both the honours. Opinions seem to differ in regard to the judging of honey. Mr. Win. Kaitt seems to think the less colour the better. Mr. Wm. M'Nally says of Borgue honey it should have a ' clear amber colour.' ' Cheshire's ' description of ideal honey, as given by ' A Stewartry Bee-Keeper ' in your issue of November 23, agrees with Mr. M'Nally. It is due to ' A Stewartry Bee-Keeper ' to acknowledge that the greatest excellence of Borgue honey is its pronounced flavour peculiarly pleasing to the palate — more marked when granulated or candied. To my mind no judging of 'run honey ' can be com- plete when it is not examined after crystallisation. Hun honey is usually consumed after it has candied, and the form of granulation it assumes and flavour it retains when set are all important with consumers, and will regulate value. I have before me seven samples of this year's Borgue (they are not up to the usual quality), and the first prize at Castle-Douglas. All are now candied. The Borgue samples vary in colour from a pale to an amber shade ; the amber-coloured have the richest and most pronounced flavour ; they have all a rough grain. The Castle-Douglas is the palest of all. Its granulation is smooth and lardy, and compared with the best Borgue samples the flavour is deficient. I enclose a bank draft for one guinea, which please send to the secretary of the Borgue Society, as the prize for the best answer to the query — ' To what is the peculiar excellence of Borgue honey due ? ' I had other points noted, but dare not occupy more space ; but rather ask your kind consideration for occupying so much in seeking to prove that ' there is such a place as Borgue,' and such a thing as the famous Borgue honey. — A. M'N. {Abridged from the ' Kirkcud- brightshire Advertiser '). QUILTS, BEES, &c. [1075.] In the article 1940, page 7, two or three subjects have been touched upon which I would desire to have cleared up. First, the use of impervious quilts (glazed cloth). I think it would be advisable for any one laying down the law on a subject to state where the bees are located, as, for instance, in North Wales, where I was during the last summer, I saw the evils resulting from its use, owing to the excessive damp and cold out- side. Every hive in the apiary was covered with it, with three layers of thick carpet or flannel over, but the interiors of the hives were streaming. In my own apiary I use a piece of coarse sacking, and over it, winter and summer, two layers of felt carpet, and my hives are always dry. I have found that even a third layer produces dampness. I may say my hives are all double-walled, the inner wall being 1 in. thick, and the outer case i in. thick, with 1 in. air-space between (not con- fined) all round. I gave up using cork-dust, as I found it a harbour for insects, besides being messy if loose, and liable to blow into the hive. I contract the entrances during winter and early spring to 1 in. I do not find my quilts troublesome owing to propolis, and I can remove them easily without jarring the bees. I use Abbott's bars placed at right angles to the entrance, as when I use them parallel (as in the Combination), I once nearly lost a stock owing to the accumulation of filth under the bars, which prevented the bees' egress. When parallel it is unnatural, as when bees are allowed to build for themselves they invariably build at right angles to the entrance, or nearly so ; and it seems to be a natural instinct on the part of the bees, as combs so placed could be kept better ventilated. Dealers are always inclined to advocate the use of bars parallel to the entrance, as hives of that description are made cheaper, and are therefore more advantageous to them. As far as roofs leaking, it would seem to me that if the hives were well kept in paint and putty, such a thing would be impossible. I may say my hive-roofs slope from front to rear, with wide eaves all round. The top is made of three pieces of wood, the joints being covered with two cleats, and the whole well painted. I have tried all shapes, but find the rain liable to drive in in most of the others. My own have wide plinths all round the bottoms of each part, so that rain cannot drive under. In article (1041), p. 9, although I quite agree with the writer as to the advisability of hives low down to the ground, yet I think he and others are going to the other extreme, and place them too low. With me, if I had the alighting-hoard down to the grouud, the rain splashes would go inside the hive ; besides, slugs would speedily crawl np, and mice get a foothold to gnaw a way in. The stands I use pretty generally are the 'Simplex,' and are not more than 9 inches from the ground, and are placed on stones an inch above the ground level. Another subject that I, as an amateur, would wish cleared up is, Which have proved hitherto on all counts the superior — Mr. Woodbury's Ligurians or Mr. Benton's Carniolans? Of course fresh blood from time to time is a necessity if strength and good qualities are desired ; but lots of amateurs I have spoken to seem to prefer the old Ligurians, first because they are a more distinct species, work well, and breed fast. It seems to me, to look at, there is very little difference between the so- called Carniolans and ordinary blacks, they are evi- dently a cross. All dealers praise them. Has any one tried the old-fashioned round-holed excluder-zinc as separators in a section crate ? A dealer whose list I have before me advocates it very strongly. If round-holed, why not the oblong ? Virgin queens (I notice under ' Useful Hints,' p. 3) are being sold in America. As they require nitrogenous food and warmth, would not travelling a distance affect them more than a fertile queen p Has any one tried taking drones from an apiary at a distance and introducing- them to their own hives? I have done so from six or seven miles away, but as there were drones in my own apiary I was not sure of success. As the good qualities seem more frequently handed on on the drone side, I decidedly think proper trials should be made the ensuing season with a view of discovering whether this can be done or no, and its utility. A subject to which I would draw the attention of the compilers of Modern Bee-Keeping, the measures given for the single wall hive are 14A in. from front to rear, and 15 or 15A in. sideways for ten bars, and this with- out allowing for dummies. 1 have found that if I give the full half-inch distance at the sides it would prevent the interchangeahility of bars, as bees would thicken the combs there, i.e., unless the combs were pared down. I only allow a quarter of an inch at the sides, and can change about the combs easily. My hives are ' Wood- bury,' measure 14^ in. square and 9 in. deep, and take ' Standard ' bars, and after years of experience I find them the simplest, most economical, and the best in every way. In most Guide-books the suggestion is made (especially to the novice) to use only half sheets of foundation, or otherwise to wire the frames, as, when whole sheets are used, the bees are liable to draw out the comb unevenly and at the base before they have fastened the sides and tops securely, with the result that 58 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [January 31, I860. the comb drops. I used to have lots of messes resulting from whole, aye, and half sheets dropping down, but now I rarely have anything of the sort. I may say I have tried nearly all the dodges, wedges, nails, &c, for fastening sheets in, but have gone back to the saw-cut. 1 have tried, as some suggest, using sheets of foundation a tight fit at the sides, but bees do not seem to take to it well. A plan that suggested itself to me years ago, and I have since always adopted, is to use a central guide of wax one-sixteenth of an inch thick, down the side bars of the frame, and in less than twenty-four hours the comb is well fixed all round, and cannot be shaken out, and if the sheets are a little narrow for the frame, instead of leaving a gap, as they sometimes do, the bees fill the space up with cells, and I find also they work the comb well down to the bottom bar. I invite discussion on these subjects. — A Jersey Bee-Keeper. COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS. [1976.] Having occupied a considerable portion of your valuable space, I had not intended to have tres- passed again upon your kindness on this subject ; but as several of your later correspondents appear to be under some little misapprehension as to our motive and object, I venture to endeavour to remove them, at least as far as I am myself concerned. I am sure we must all thank you, Mr. Editor, for the broad and kindly manner in which you dealt with the subject in your last issue, and also the Hon. and Rev. II. Bligh for his valuable contribution on p. 6. It appears to me that the great stumbling-block of the con- troversy are the words ex officio, and I quite agree witli your remark on county representatives being ex officio members of the central committee. But I have more than once pointed out that in the event of the British conceding the point of giving the counties a representa- tive on the Committee, it would be only fair that the Counties should bear their fair share of responsibility; and I believe they would be willing to do so. Now that the matter has been brought under discus- sion, and as it seems probable that some change will be proposed in the constitution of the British B.K.A., I do most earnestly hope that it will establish her upon a broad basis, that will enable her to rise to her proper position as the national Bee-keepers' Society of England. In order that I may not be charged with holding Utopian ideas which are impossible of being carried into practice, I will, with your permission, throw out one or two suggestions by which I think that this desirable end may be gained. My own opinion is that the British Association should be what may be termed a confederation of County Asso- ciations bound together with one object, that is to say, that the parent society shall for national purposes gather in all the various affiliated associations, but that for the purely local matters the latter shall have much the same powers they now possess, but shall be held responsible to the central body for its proper carrying out of that work. Now, how could this be carried out p It must be by representative means, and I would suggest that a body shall be created which shall consist of one or more repre- sentatives, or more correctly delegates from each county, which may be called the Council of the British B.K.A. This body need not meet but once, or at most twice a-year, when they shall have brought before them the general affairs of the British B.K.A. during the past, and decide on its future action, the carrying out of which shall be placed in the hands of an executive committee which may be drawn wholly from the Council, or part from present Committee and the remainder from the Council in such proportion as may be decided upon. There may be some difference of opinion as to what business shall be brought under the control of such a body, but I believe that the best plan would be to make them responsible for the whole of the business of the British Bee-keepers' Association, and that each county could then be fairly called upon to contribute its fair share towards the expenses of the same. By some such plan as this I believe the whole of the difficulty would be met; counties would have no objection to pay the expenses of their representatives to the council meetings, for they would be held responsible for its decisions, and in that case would take care that they had a voice in the matter. I think it would be found that the executive committee would be composed of most of the same gentlemen as the present committee, but they would possess far greater power and authority from the fact that they would speak in the voice of the whole of the bee-keepers' associations in this country. I have endeavoured to very briefly and roughly to sketch out what I believe to be a solution of the present state of things, trusting that it may help towards that desirable end. — A. D. Woodley, Donnington Road, Reading. [We offer no apology for having omitted some portions of our correspondent's communication, which are some- what beside the mark. We think that most of our readers will agree with us that to have a Supreme Council only meeting once or twice a-year, and dele- gating its functions to a sub or executive Committee, is a very ' Utopian idea,' indeed. As the time for placing motions upon the Agenda for the next General Meeting of the B.B.K.A. is now past we think that this correspondence should cease. — Ed.] EXCLUDER-ZINC (1066). [1977.] Somo years ago I bought five hives, with ex- cluder-zinc to separate sections from the brood-frames at the sides. Two of these hives had excluder-zinc on the top of the frames also. The result was great loss of bee-life. The poor bees had evidently injured them- selves in getting through, and were unable to get back again. 1 had at that time only English bees, which are larger than Ligurians. Probably the latter would take no harm. Since giving up excluder-zinc I have generally had a hundred pounds of sections per hive. I should think there would be more swarms where zinc is used, and less honey. There should be a bee-space between the tops of bar-frames and the excluder-zinc. At the beginning of this winter I cut up my excluder- zinc into strips, and placed it across the entrances of my hives from side to side. The bees get through it quite easily. They are all hybrids now, and are probably smaller than they are in summer, when coming home laden with honey. My bees are in perfect health, and there are plenty of them ; they have plenty of sealed stores, but are deficient of pollen. The hives are perfectly dry, which they never have been before with narrow entrances at this season. — Beeswing. COWAN HIVES. [1978.] For several years I have kept bees, and worked partly on the Cowan plan. I hope ' Useful Hints 'is not trying to condemn the Cowan hives as they have no legs. Mr. Cowan recommends strips of wood, six inches wide, under the floor-board, and then stand the hive on four bricks. I have seen the Comp- tons Lea apiary a great many times, and never seen a hive with legs eighteen inches high, as recommended by ' Useful Hints,' and during the summer I have seen the hives four or five storeys high ; I think if the legs would improve the bees that gentleman's hives would be eight or nine storeys high. During the summer up to the present time I have made my hives with strips of wood under the rloor'-board, and stand them on bricks ; I have January 31, 1880. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 50 never lost a colony of bees through the damp floor-board as my floor-boards are made of one-inch deal board. I find in some of my old hives the wet drives in between the hive and floor-board. The first frame-hive I bought was a double- walled 15s. hive, painted. In this hive the wet got through the roof the. first winter and hilled the bees. Bad luek, I thought, on frame-hives ; never mind, I don't give up with one black eye, so I thought I would make my own hives. Up to the present time I have about thirty colonies, most of them in frame-hives, the remainder in straw. The beginning of October I had a straw hive brought one evening ; this was a large hive, and no more than half full of comb, and no honey, so with the help of a rapid floor-board feeder, which is not recommended in the British Bee Journal to lift the hive, I gave them three pints of thick syrup at 8 p.m., and at 0 a.m. the next morning it was all cleaned out and ready for more. This rapid and late feeding is not recommended, but slow feeding at that late season is worse than useless. — Mm SrssEx, January 7. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- Cotters or queries ashing for addresses of manufacturers or correspon- dents, or loners appliances can be purchased, or replies giving such information, can only he inserted as advertisements. The space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We ivish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for its to go to press in advance of the date of issue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt of their communication. All queries foruardea' mill he attended to, and thoss only of personal inta-est u-ill be answered in this column. Leicestershire. — Consumption of Stores. — The strength of the colony has much to do with it. If placed directly over the cluster of an average colony, the cake will disappear in ten or fourteen days. James Fini.ay. — Observatory Hive. — Instructions how to make observatory hives will be found, among other places in previous volumes, in Vol. XI., pp. 210, 281 ; in Vol. XII., p. 82. We will bear in remembrance your request. "\V. S. — 1. Heather Honey Harvest. — We will endeavour to remember your desire for information, and en- deavour to gratify it, at the time you mention. Your mode of wintering lias, we have no doubt, proved very serviceable. — 2. Professor M'Lain's Recipe. — The instructions given should be closely observed. The food should be given warm, as you would feed with honey or syrup ; and the quantity in proportion to the strength, or weakness, of the stocks to be fed. Tom. — 1. Dampness of Hive. — Presuming the entrance is in the lower box, the dampness has almost the same effect on the bees as though the stock-box was itself only three inches above ground, as there is a constant change of air drawn from near the earth. 2. Situa- tion of Hives. — If not cramped for room, and the bees are not placed so as to deprive them of a direct flight, it should be a decided advantage to so place them, .'i. Removing Bees a Short Distance. — Yes, and destroy or alter the appearance of all former landmarks at once. 4. Painting Hives. — Paint answers in every respect, and is certainly much better than anything in the form of tar about a bee-hive. F. H. M. — Honey Imports. — The following tabular statement will furnish you with the value of honey imported into the United Kingdom during the year 1888 :— January . . . . £465 February . . . . 523 March . . . . 284 April 2,008 May 2,009 June 1.739 July 5,820 August . . £1,305 September .. 1,114 October .. 1,604 November. . .. .",,140 December . . .. 3,038 E. M. R. — Eacalyptic Honey from Northern Australia. — This honey is a little coarse in flavour, but would no doubt be very serviceable for medicinal uses. It can- not be said to be disagreeable, but it leaves a peculiar taste on the palate. We think there is little proba- bility of this eucalyptus honey being used for table purposes. Newport, Monmouth. — The bee forwarded was, as you surmise, a queen-bee. O. — Candy. — The bees will not be able to take the candy as you have made it. Somehow you must have devi- ated from the recipe. It evidently has been boiled too long. It should be softer. £28,609 business directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bnos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Koad, Bristol. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Bobtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hdtchinos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C. , 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Webster, W. B., Bintield, Berks. Woodley & Flood, 213 Donnington Boad, Beading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin, Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F., Laibach, Camiola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Sonthall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Begent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothard, G., Welwyn, Herts. COMB FOUNDATION MILLS. Godman, A., St. Albans. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Pearson, F., Stockton Heath, Warrington- ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 31, 1889. HOYAL AGRICULTURAL jSOCIETY OF ENGLAND. WINDSOR MEETING, 1889. PRIZE LIST FOR HIVES, HONEY, &c. To he obtained of J. HUCKLE, Sec. of the B. B. E. A., Eings Langley, Herts. Class 8. — For the best pair of Section Racks, com- pletely fitted for use and interchangeable, price not to exceed 'is. Qd. each. First Prize, 15s. ; second Prize, 10s. ; third Prize, 5s. Class 9. — For the best Feeder for slow stimulating' feeding. First Prize, 10s. ; second Prize, 5s. Class 10. — For the best Feeder for quick autumn feeding, capable of holding at least 5 lbs. of food at a time. First Prize, 10s. ; second Prize, 5s. Class 11. — For the best Smoker. First prize, 10s. second Prize, 5s. Class 12. — For Useful Inventions introduced since 1887. Special Prizes according to merit. Class 13. — For the best 12 Sections of Comb Honey, the gross weight to approximate 24 lbs. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 10s. ; third Prize, 5s. Class 14.— For the best 12 Sections of Comb Honey, the gross weight to approximate 12 lbs. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 10s. ; third Prize, 5s. Class 15. — For the best 6 Sections of Comb Honey, the gross weight to approximate G lbs. First Prize, 20s.; second Prize, 10s. ; third Prize, 5s. Class 1G. — For the best Exhibit of Run or Extracted Honey in jars, not exceeding 2 lbs. each, the gross weight to approximate 24 lbs. First Prize, 30s. ; second Prize, 20s. ; third Prize, 10s. ; fourth Prize, 5s. Class 17. — For the best ExJiibit of Heather Honey (Comb or Extracted), the gross weight to approximate 12 lbs. First Prize, 20s.; second Prizo, 10s.; third Prize, 5s. Class 18. — For the best Exhibit of Granulated Honey in jars, not exceeding 2 lbs. each, the gross weight to approximate 12 lbs. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 10s. ; third Prize, 5s. Class 19. — For the best Exhibit of Comb and Ex- tracted Honey, in any form, staged on space 4 ft. by 4 ft., height not to exceed 5 ft. above the table. The gross weight of each kind to be stated. First Prize, 60s. ; second Prize, 40s. ; third Prize, 20s. The Exhibits in this class to be staged by the Exhibitor. [A Silver Medal, independently of Money Prizes, will be given for the Exhibit most tastefully arranged.] Class 20. — For the best plan and design for an Apiary of 50 Hives on two or more acres of land, to include a suitable building for extracting and general work. The design to show arrangements for growing Honey- and Pollen-producing plants, attention being given to the value of the crops for other purposes. First Prize, 40s. and Silver Medal ; second Prize, 20s. and Bronze Medal. Class 21. — For the best Diagrams suitable for a Lecture on Bee-keeping, or Technical Lessons in Rural Schools. First Prize, 40s. and Silver Medal ; second Prize, 20s. and Bronze Medal. Class 22. — For the most interesting and instructive Exhibit of any kind connected with Bee-culture not mentioned in the foregoing Classes. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 10s. ; third Prize, 5s. The Council reserve to themselves the right to publish for Educational purposes any Exhibit entered in Class 20 and 21. Exhibits in Classes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 (sections excepted), must be manufactured by the Exhibitor. Exhibits in Class 1 and in Class 19 to be staged and repacked by the Exhibitor. Class 1. — For the best collection of Hives and Appliances, to consist of the following articles : — One Frame-hive, priced at 15s. ; one ditto, priced at 10s. (Note. — These Hives must be fitted with arrangements for Storifying.) One Observatory Hive; one Hive of Straw or other material, not entirely of wood, for ob- taining either Comb or Extracted Honey ; one pair of Section Crates fitted with Sections ; one Extractor, one slow stimulating Feeder, one rapid Feeder ; one Smoker or other Instrument for quieting Bees; one Veil, one Swarm Box for travelling, capable of being used as a Nucleus Hive; one Travelling Crate for Comb Honey; five other distinct articles not specified at the discretion of the Exhibitor. Each article to be priced separately. No articles must be added to the collection, nor any portion of the Exhibit removed during the Show. First Prize, 40s. ; second Prize, 30s. Class 2. — For the best Observatory Hive stocked with Foreign Bees and Queen. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 15s. ; third Prize, 10s. Class 3.— For the best and most complete Frame- hive for general use, unpainted. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 15s. ; third Prize, 10s. Class 4. — For the best and most complete Frame- hive for general use. The Hive shall consist of (1) a Floor-board on four short legs ; two Chambers or Body- boxes, equal in size, similar and interchangeable, both to have porches, with entrances not less than 12 in. wide, that can be contracted at pleasure, each chamber to be capable of holding at least ten Standard Frames, but only one set of Frames with strips of foundation fixed and two division-boards to be supplied. (2) One Case of 4i by 4J Sections, with foundation fixed and separators, of such size as to admit of its being placed inside the chamber. (3) A substantial Roof, sufficiently deep to cover a case of sections and afford ample pro- tection to the whole Hive, the price of each part, namely, stand and floor-board, body-box, case of sections, and roof, to be given separately, the whole not to exceed 15s., unpainted. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 15s. ; third Prize, 10s. Class 5. — For the best and most complete Frame Hive for general uses. The Hive shall consist of (1) one Chamber or body-box, containing ten Standard Frames having strips of foundation fixed, two division boards, entrance porch, and floor-board, the chamber capable of being used with a second of the same pattern. (2) One Case of twenty-one Sections, 4j by 4J, with foundation fixed and separators. (3) A Roof sufficiently deep to cover one case of sections at least, the price of each part, namely, floor-board, body-box, case of sec- tions, and roof to be given separately, the whole not to exceed 10s. 6d., unpainted. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 15s. ; third Prize, 10s. Class 6. — For the best Honey Extractor, price to be ,taken into consideration. First Prize, 15s.; second Prize, 10s. Class 7.— For the best Honey Extractor, price not to exceed 12s. 6cl. First Prize, 15s. ; second Prize, 10s. London : Printed by Strangeways & Sons, at their Printing Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C., in the Parish of St. Siles's-in-the Fields, in the County of Middlesex; and Published for the Proprietor by Keht & Co., 23 Paternoster Row, in the same county.— Jan. 31, 1889. Communications to the Editor to be addressed ' Stranqeways' Pkintino Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C. [No. 846. Vol. XVII.] FEBRUARY 7, 1889. [Published Weekly.] HOW TO MAKE AN OBSERVATORY HIV?].* One of the most interesting and instructive exhibits that can be shown either iu the private dwelling or the show-yard is an observatory hive well stocked with bees upon clean and regularly built combs : these latter should have a fair amount of brood in them. Numbers of people who will pass by an exhibit of honey or appliances will at once be attracted by living bees, especially when there is a chance of seeing the ' queen ;' the interest thus excited will often bo the means whereby another bee-keeper is added to the ranks. Many bee- keepers would like to have such an object in their living rooms, having the entrance and exit through, say, a window ; this in many cases can easily be arranged by an intelligent person. We will therefore give some simple instructions how to construct an observatory hive holding four frames, and also one to hold one frame commonly called an uuicomb observatory hive. This latter description is only of use where the bees have not to be confined for any great length of time, but where they have to be kept in the hive for weeks or months the four-comb hive must be used. The unicomb hive is usually kept for the simple purpose of showing the queen, attendant workers, comb, and brood, without any danger to the spectators of being stung, and owing to its limited capacity little scientific investigation can be carried on by its assistance. The bees are rarely seen in a strictly normal condition in so small a hive, and seldom is it safe to allow them to fly from it; but with the larger and more imposing four or more frame observatory hive the bees can be kept in it during the whole of the summer months, and allowed to fly, as with any ordinary frame-hive, though no surplus can be expected from such a colony. Construction of an Unicomb Observatory Hive. —The whole of the material can be cut from four cut stuff, which should be free from knots and nicely planed. The two sides should be first cut out to the following dimensions and shape : — 12 inches long by 2h broad at top ends, this latter size to be continued downwards to the opposite end for 0 inches ; the bottom ends must be 5j inches broad and tapered 3 inches to meet that por- tion of the sides that has been cut down to 2i inches. These two pieces must be clamped together and nicely finished off, that both may be exactly of the same size and shape. You thus have two sides 2A inches broad to within 3 inches of bottom, but splayed to 5£ inches * We have written the above article iu compliance with the request of a correspondent who is desirous to employ his leisure evenings in making au observatory hive. from this point downwards. Two grooves must now be cut out of the inside of each of these sides from the top or narrow end, and continued to just below where the splay commences. These grooves are for the two glass slides to slip in. A distance of 13 inch from the outsides of each of these sheets of glass being allowed when cutting grooves, thus providing a space of If inch between the insides when the glass is in position. _ A.t the top or narrow ends a piece must be cut out J inch wide by J inch deep for the lugs of the frame to rest on, and at the bottom or splayed end of one piece a g inch centre-bit hole should be bored for an entrance. A floor-board must now be cut out of the same stuff 17 x 5h inches. The two sides can now be nailed on to this board at a distance of 14j inches from each other, inside measurement, the splayed ends just fitting the width of the floor-board. You now have two uprights on a floor-board, these uprights having grooves in the inside edges to accommo- date the glass slides. Two pieces of the same stuff must now be cut to the following dimensions : — 14| x 3|, and through each, and equidistant from each other, are to be bored five 3-inch centre-bit holes. These two pieces are to be fitted and placed in position between the two uprights, to extend from the outside edge of floor to 1 inch above where the splay commences; they will each have to have their opposite edges bevelled to fit properly in their position. Over each of the five holes must be nailed pieces of wire cloth, forming ventilators to the bottom portion of the hive under the comb. Having nailed these in position, the glass can be cut out for the sides, and fitted into the grooves. The glass must be flush with the tops of the sides, and extend just below the top edges of the two wooden portions of sides in which are the ventilators. The cover is made from a piece of the same stuff 17 x 3|. The top side of this should be bevelled, and the underside fitted with fillets to shut right over and close to the ends and glass sides, making all bee-proof. The whole must he well glass- papered, sized, and varnished. Any kind of scentless wood can be used, and of course any description of plain ornamentation can be added. The frame of comb and bees are lowered down between the glass sides, and the lugs of the frame, which must be shortened, rest iu the two slots on top of ends of hive, the cover shutting all in snug and tight. The centre-bit hole in the bottom of one of the ends is used to run any more bees in which may be required to increase the population. To Construct a Four-framed Observatory Hive.—Theso hives are usually constructed to swing round on a pivot in centre of bottom of hive, and stand so that either side can be turned to the spectator without moving the stand. We wTill first describe the stand. This must be made hollow for just over half its length. It can be best managed by cutting out a slot from the inside, ami affixing a thin piece of wood over the slot. 1-in. stuff must be used, the slot being f in. deep. It is through this slot that the bees obtain access to the hive, thus 62 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [February 7, 1889. answering the purpose of an entrance. Exactly in the centre of the stand, a 1J in. centre-bit hole is made, and a piece of strong brass tube inserted, fitting into this hole perfectly tight, and further secured by means of screws. The tube must be flush with the top surface of the stand, and also flush with the underside in the slot mentioned before. The stand must be at least 6 in. broad, and extended to 9 in. in the centre. You thus have a stand with a tunnel running from one end, and having communication at its end through the brass tube at surface in centre. The bottom or thin piece of wood must not be fixed over the under side of the slot until the hive is finished. The bottom board of the hive is made from 1-in. stuff, cut to the following dimensions, 34 x 2h, this receiving the two sides and middle partition, which must be mortised into it for strength. Exactly in the centre of this bottom board, a centre-bit hole must be boied to correspond with the hole in the centre of the stand. Into this a piece of brass tube is fixed, of the exact size of the inside of the pieces of tube fixed in stand, flush with the upper surface of the floor-board, but long enough to come just below the bottom edge of the tube in the stand when floor-board is in position on stand. Into the bottom edge of this tube two holes are drilled, into which a piece of wire is fixed to act as stops, thus preventing the withdrawal of the tube fixed in floor-board when hive is in position. This is the hinge or pivot which allows the hive to be turned in any position without any danger of stopping up the entrance. The sides and middle partition are made of four cut stuff, and with- out the tenons at end must measure 17f x 2i. The piece used for the centre division must have a small archway cut in the tenoned end just where it partially covers the entrance in floor-board, and on each side two grooves are cut along its entire length at a distance of If in. from each other, measuring from their inside edges. The two ends must have corresponding grooves cut, but only on one side of each. These grooves are for the purpose of accommodating the glass slides. The bottom board must also have grooves cut to accommodate the bottom edges of the glass sides. Eight pieces of wood measuring 8| x If x \ must now be cut out and fixed equidistant from each other between each pair of grooves in sides and centre partition. These are for the lugs — which must beshortened — of the frames to rest upon, and form the inside surface of ends of hive. The tops of jeach of ends and centre partition must be braced together by means of narrow mouldings tenoned into each. The cover is made in the same manner as the unicomb hive, but should have a ventilator, to be used as occasion requires, in the centre. It is also advisable to make one in each end at top, as often a colony in an observatory hive is obliged to be disturbed, and so excited, when the rise in the temperature consequent on same would be very detrimental to the colony. The glass sides are each formed of two sheets of glass. The frames are placed in position by withdrawing the glass from one side. Ornamentation can be left to the maker's taste, but should always be very plain. This hive must be made of hard wood, as soft wood would not stand the strain at the tenons. Many of these hives are made with double glass sides, which are an improvement. Others are provided with shutters to keep out the light when not required for observation. All observatory hives must have an outside cover well lined with thick felt. It is quite possible for an amateur to construct an observatory hive. We saw one at Felton in North- umberland, made by an ex-sailor, which answered ad- mirably out-of-doors during the summer months. The bees must be removed into an ordinary frame-hive during early spring, late autumn, and winter. None but straight combs can be used. It is advisable that these should be prepared specially between separators. WHITE'S COTTAGER'S SIMPLICITY FEEDER. We have received from Mr. C. N. White, of Somer- sham, Hunts, a feeder, to which he has given the name of the ' Cottager's Simplicity Feeder.' The above illus- tration will explain its method of action. The bottle, which may be a large one, is placed on a piece of glass, which by means of grooves is slid to its position over the hole ; the glass is then withdrawn. The mouth of the bottle is covered with muslin. Mr. White has found this feeder very serviceable among the cottagers in his neighbourhood. THE WINTER, THE BEES, AND OTHER MATTERS. By Allen Pringle, Canada. However the weather may at present be in your islands, we have had here in Canada phenomenal weather so far up to the middle of January. While nominally it is winter, in reality we have had spring temperature nearly the whole time, since winter usually sets in about the first of November. Indeed, during the past nine months Nature seems to have been consider- ably out of joint in her weather dispensations. A very severe drouth, parching up the living green, prevailed from spring up to the middle of July in a large propor- tion of Ontario and some of the other provinces. The rains then commenced on the 18th of July, and con- tinued copiously right through to the winter season and right along to the present time, raining all day Oth inst. Succeeded at night by a terrific windstorm, which did much damage, accompanied in one or two of the neighbouring states with a great loss of life — 50 to 100 killed and many wounded. We do not wish our British cousins to get the impres- sion from all this that Canada is not a good place to live in, for I beg to assure them it is. Taking this province of Ontario (which is larger than the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland) as a starting- point, it would be very easy to get into a worse place, travelling to any point of the compass. The meteorological conditions are as a rule favourable here, and the freaks of weather through the past nine months, sketched above, are quite exceptional. But the weather has been 'gaun gite' of late in more countries than Canada, and the reader will please remem- ber that as regards the American tornadoes, one of which is referred to above, which are so destructive of life and property, we never have them in Canada. They are confined to the United States and the countries February 7, 1889.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. G3 south. This period of rain, rain, rain, which we have had of late we are calling English weather, for we have the impression —whether right or wrong — that there the rain takes a special delight in coming down both in season and out of season. THE BEES. How have they fared through all these vicissitudes ? And how has the Canadian bee-keeper come out, and our brethren south of us across the lines ? The answer to the first is, Not very well ; and to the second, They have ' come out of the little end of the horn.' Taking the whole country over, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Ottawa and the Saskatchewan, the honey crop has never been known to be so light per colony, as the past season. In many pkces, both in Canada and the States, the bee-keepers' returns for the season were nil; in others less than nothing, as the bees had to be fed both for summer and winter. In some localities there was a splendid crop, and in some larger areas a fair or moderate yield. But it's an ill wind that blows no good. Two good results will follow this general failure of the honey crop in America the past year or two. Prices, which had been going down to the non-paying point, are enhanced to something like a paying and profitable basis, and may remain so, should the producers exercise more judgment and discretion in future in selling, and a little more tact and activity in creating and developing a home market- That is the first good result; the second is, that the notion, widely prevalent amongst the uninformed, that honey — especially comb honey — can be artificially manu- factured without the intervention of the bees at all, is being dissipated, as it is found that none of this artificial product now makes its appearance. Now is the time, if any, in the scarcity, for the mythical sweet to ' ma- terialize.' The nefarious business would now, if ever, pay handsomely. Present Condition of Bees and the Prospects. — In Canada bees are mostly wintered in cellars, except amongst the ' old-timers,' who still cling to the 'old box hive,' and leave their bees standing out all winter on summer stands. The English reader may wonder wh}', in our usually severe Canadian winters, the bees so ex- posed do not die off. It is a m3rstery, but my explanation is this : In the first place, the extractor cannot reach them, and the consequence is, as the hives are usually large, there is an abundance of bees and of good, well- capped honey on hand in the fall with which to face the winter. As the after-swarms and weak colonies are ' taken up ' in the fall, only the strongest are left for winter. In the next place the tops of the hives and all openings except the entrance are hermetically sealed with propolis, thus preventing the upward escape of the heat. And finally, the stores are properly located in the hive, above and laterally surrounding the cluster, rendering access easy and conserving the heat. The naturally built combs in box-hives where no foundation or artificial guides have been inserted I have frequently noticed, in very old colonies which had braved many a hard winter, to converge more or less regularly from the four sides of the hive to the centre, when there, would be more or less of an open space left for clustering. These are, in my opinion, the chief reasons why the box-hive bees manage to get through a winter in the open air without special protection when the ther- mometer is perhaps half of the time for two or three months below zero. The present condition of the bees outside and in is apparently all right so far from inquiries in different directions. But the critical time is yet to come, and I anticipate considerable loss of bees before the first of May from two causes, one of them usual enough, the other special and unusual. The one is deficient stores; the other, granulated honey. Storage of winter stores usually follows a failure of the honey- crop, as the feeding is generally inadequately done. The comb honey of the past season has been granulating both inside the hives and in the store-rooms and shops to an extent never before known, at least, in my long ex- perience. I would like to know if this also lias occurred iu trans-Atlantic countries. Of course the bees cannot live on candied honey, and I fear fatal results in many places. In cases even where the apiarist was cognisant of the evil in the fall, and thought he had made all safe by removing the candied frames and substituting the normal ones, there is still danger, for the granulation has been going on even in warm cellars, while in lower tempera- tures it has no doubt been worse. Wherever there is any suspicion of the evil, whether in a Canadian or English yard, an examination ought to be made. In warm repositories a supply of water might do much good. This can be readily done by placing a piece of wet sponge in the entrance, when the bees, if iu need of water, will soon sip it up. — Sclby, Ontario, Canada, January loth. ASSOCIATIONS. BERKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The Annual Meeting of the above Association was held on Wednesday, the oOth ult., at the Victoria Cafe, Reading. The Rev. It. Errington, Vicar of Clewer, occupied the chair, and amongst those present, in addition to those at the previous meeting, were Messrs. Bunce, Harrison, Hallam (Theale), Bristow, Veysey (Sulhampstead), Alfred II dl, C. Prior (Woking- ham), Minchin (Ascot), Robbins (Wargrave), F. Woodley (Chilton), Fry (Caversham), Flood, Ward, Tabor, Dearlove, Attwood, Holden, Miller (Reading), &c, &c. After a few introductory remarks from the Chairman, the Hon. Secretary read the Annual Report. The Report stated that although the year 1888 has been one of the worst in living memory in regard to the honey harvest, it has been a most important and eventful one in the history of the Association, for in it several important departures have been made from the usual methods of working this and kindred associations. As regards membership, against a decrease of 28 iu 1887, we this year report an increase of 70 members, the membership now being considerably larger than at any previous period, while the subscriptions for the year amounted to 131. 8.5. 6d. in excess of those for 1887. Against a cash deficit of St. 7s. Gd. in 18S7, the receipts this year exceed the expenditure by 6/. 12s. 3d. The Committee refer with great satisfaction to the good work that has been accomplished at Abingdon and Maidenhead, also to the wide expanse of country having Newbury for its centre, that has been covered with district organizations. W. II. Dunn, Esq., of Templeton, Ilungerford, and Major-General P/avies, of Lowood, Maidenhead, have become "Vice-Presidents during the year. The Committee record the working out of the Honey Sales Scheme. A very artistic label has been designed for the special use of members ; a register has been com- menced, so that the produce of any particular honey may be identified, if desired; and agents have been appointed at Reading, Maidenhead, and Windsor. The fuller de- velopment of this scheme has only been delayed in con- sequence of the very bad harvest. The only show held during the year was in connexion with the Windsor District, which, in consequence of the bad honey season and the unfavourable weather at the time of the show, did not prove the success it would otherwise have been. The Expert has again made his spring visit to the apiaries in the county, calling this year upon every member of the Association. The Bee Tent has been 64 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. | February 7, 1889. taken to many of the various shows iu the ceunty, and has been the means of doing- good work for the Association. The Report congratulates the members on the result of the work of the Association during the past year, aud in its greatly improved position both in regard to its present standing and to its future prospects. Copies of the balance-sheet had been distributed, and it was consequently taken as read. The Chairman briefly proposed, and Mr. Cartland seconded, the adoption of the report aud balance-sheet, which was earned unanimously. The President (H.R.II. Princess Christian) and the Vice-President were re-elected, on the motion of the Chairman. The Chairman proposed the re-election of Mr. Cooper as Hon. Sec, which being seconded by Mr. Webster, was carried unanimously. Mr. Cooper said that he would have pleasure in acting again, and anticipated even greater success during the present year than in the past. The Hon. Treasurer (J. Simonds, Esq.) was re-elected on the proposition of the Rev. V. H. Moyle, seconded by Mr. Darby, and the Librarian (Mr. F. Cooksey) on the proposition of the Hon. Sec, seconded by Mr. Carter. Mr. Darby proposed Mr. A. D. Woodley as Assistaut Secretary and Expert. He did so on the understanding that Mr. Woodley accepted the office of Expert pro tern., the new rules providing for two offices. This being seconded by the Rev. V. H. Moyle, was carried unanimously. Messrs. Cooper and Carter, proposed by Mr. Cooksey and seconded by Mr. Turner, were elected County Repre- sentatives to attend the quarterly meetings of the B.B.K.A. The Hon. Sec. proposed the Committee for the year as follows: — Rev. D. O. Harrington (Burgh Held); Rev. R. Errington, Messrs. W. Carter, G. P. Cartland, W. S. Darby, Windsor; F. Cooksey, P. H. Turner, Reading; Albert Hill, Wokingham ; E. Church, P. Ilopson, A. Stradling (Newbury); Mrs. Porteuse (Ashampstead), and the Hon. District Secretaries. Mr. Ward seconded, and it was carried unanimously. Some slight alterations of the rules were made. This concluded the business of the Annual Meeting. At the conclusion of the business meeting Mr. T. B. Blow, F.L.S., gave an address on 'My Experiences among the American Bee-keepers.' The address was delivered with his usual fluency, and excited much interest. Mr. Turner proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Blow for his most interesting address, and remarked that, as that gentleman had stated that Professor Cook intended visiting England during the year, it would be a great pleasure if he was enabled to use his influence to induce that distinguished apiarian to pay them a visit, which was seconded by the Rev. V. H. Moyle. The resolution was adopted, and Mr. Blow briefly responded. LEICESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The Annual General Meeting of this Association was held on Saturday, January 26th, in the Mayor's Parlour, Old Town Hall, Leicester, at 2.30 p.m. The day was beautifully fine, but either apathy or despair, or perhaps both, had made such havoc with bee-keeping enthusi- asts that less than a score found courage to put in an appearance. Mr. Councillor Bowles was voted to the chair. The following report was read : — ■ On all sides, and in almost all honey-producing coun- ties, reports are current that for bee-keepers the season of 1888 has been the worst on record ; in fact, as far as honey-production has been concerned, a dead failure. Your committee regret that they cannot congratulate Leicestershire bee-keepers on being an exception to the general disaster. In 1880, at the Leicester Show, 1700 lbs. of honey were placed on the stage for competition in the four classes for honey ; in 1887, at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, 1500 lbs. were similarly staged ; but at the Leicester Show of 1888 only 68 lbs. were sent for exhibition. These facts speak for themselves, and leave no doubt that bee-keeping, both for pleasure and profit, has re- ceived a serious check. Numerous withdrawals from the subscription list testify to the discouragement the universal failure of the season has produced. As, how- ever, a second season so bad can hardly occur during the present generation, your committee hope the defec- tions will not be permanent. Tue Show at Leicester (honey classes excepted) was, as usual, a success; the exhibitions of bee-keeping appliances by Messrs. Meadows, Redshaw, and others, were complete and very attractive. The bee-tent, too, was well patronised. The silver medal of the British Bee-keepers' Association was not awarded. The bronze medal was awarded to Mr. W. P. Meadows, of Syston. The certificate fell to the lot of Mr. J. Cooper, of Belgrave, who was also the fortunate winner of the hive and bees drawn for according to Rule 8. The judge, Rev. E. Bartrum, D.D., of Wakes Colne Rectory, Halstead, Essex, was appointed by the British Bee-keepers' Association. The expert paid a spring visit, calling on 240 bee-keepers, and seeing 1400 hives. The funds did not admit of an autumnal visit. The annual show in 1880 will be held at Melton Mowbray. When on a previous occasion the show was held there, the exhibits were almost wholly from local sources, a state of things, in the interest of the Association, to be highly deprecated. Bee-keepers, therefore, in all parts of the county are earnestly requested to prevent its recurrence. At the general meeting in January, 1888, donations to the amount of nearly 'M. were paid on the spot, with a view to reduce the balance due to the treasurer. Not- withstanding this effort, the balance is again on the wrong side of the books. The expenses of the lectures aud of two new flags may be, however, cited as a set-off against this unsatisfactory state of affairs. Thanks are here tendered to the council of the Leicestershire Agricultural Society for their liberal grant ; to Mr. J. T. Ardron for his courteous assistance and attention to the wants of the Association at the show : Messrs. Meadows, Redshaw, Carter, J. Cooper, Day, Munday, Adkins, Rev. M. A. Thomson, Miss Chester, and Mrs. Ball, for their praiseworthy efforts in the interests of the Association. To Miss Cooper special thanks are given for the beautiful flowers with which the tables were decorated. No discussion arising, the routine business of election of committee and officers was proceeded with forth- with. Messrs. Bowles, Widdowson, Saunders, and Rev. A. M. Rendell were elected in place of Messrs. C. Foxon and Ward, resigned ; and Messrs. Bickley and Day, who have become ex officio members. The other members were re-elected. A letter from the auditor (Rev. A. M. Rendell), tendering his resignation, was read ; his resig- nation was accepted, and a special vote of thanks accorded to him for his past services. The Secretary was directed to ask Mr. J. Day, of Wymondham House, Oakham, to take the office of auditor. A favourable reply has since been received. Votes of thanks were accorded to the Leicestershire Agricultural Society for its liberal support, to Mr. Ardron for his courteous assistance, to the Mayor for the use of the room, to Messrs. Atkins, Munday (expert), Ball, and Mrs. Ball for their services. Gratuities were granted to the Secretary and hall-keeper as usual. Mr. W. P. Meadows then read an ' In Memoriam ' in respect of the death of Mr. William Raitt, of Blair- February 7, 1889.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 65 gowrie ; at the close of which the Secretary was directed to write a letter of condolence to Miss Kaitt, sister to Mr. Raitt. Mr. Meadows then read an admirable paper on 'Feeders and Feeding,' for which he was heartily thauked; the Rev. M. A. Thomson, who had also under- taken to read a paper, did not appear, owing to a mis- understanding with regard to the date of the meeting. In a conversation which followed it was suggested that at the next show bar-frame hives for manipulation should take the place of skeps. Lectures, too, were talked of, but nothing definite settled. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman, NOTTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of the Notts Bee-keepers' Asso- ciation was held on Saturday, the 26th ult., at the People's Hall, Ileathcote Street, Nottingham. Aid. Manning, J. P., presided, and among those also present were — the Rev. F. II. Slight, Woodborough ; Messrs. R. J. Turner, Radcliffe; W. F. Newman, Calverton; D. Burnham, F'lintham; G. Hayes and A. Q. Pugh, Beeston; J. Pollard, Woodborough; Frank II. K. Fisher, Farnsfield (lion, sec), &c. A letter had been received from the president of the Association (Viscount Newark, M.P.) regretting his inability to be present. The report of the committee, read by Mr. Fisher, ex- pressed satisfaction at the improvement in the position of the Association, as shown by the increased number of members, there being now 83 as compared with 62 in 1387. The increase had been chiefly among cottagers, evidencing that the Association was carrying out the chief object of its existence — the benefit of the cottage bee-keeper. The annual show of the Association was held at Sutton-in-Ashfield in connexion with the Sutton Horticultural Society's Show on July 23rd. Owing to the very bad season, however, there was but little com- petition. The silver and bronze medals of the British Bee-keepers' Association were offered for competition, the former being won by Mr. Silver, of Retford, who was also the winner in 1837, and the latter by Mr. A. Simpson, Mansfield Yvoodhouse. The judge appointed by the British Bee-keepers' Association was Mr. W. Martin, of Wainfleet, who, in addition to judging, examined four candidates for certificates as experts. It ■was gratifying to know that at this, the first examina- tion in Notts, all the candidates, Messrs. Fisher, Rawson, Silver, and Simpson, passed. The Secretary made a tour amongst the members as far as practicable in the autumn ; and now there were four of the members holding certi- ficates as experts it was thought the best thing that could be done would be to arrange for spring and autumn visits to all members who miglit wish it. The committee regretted that Mr. Fisher, the hon. secretary for the past two years, was unable, owing to other engagements, to retain the office. The balance-sheet showed receipts amounting to 257, 10s. 6jrf. After allowing for various items of expenditure, there remained a balance due to the treasurer of 2/. 16s. 'did. The Chairman congratulated the members upon the improved position of the Association. He had much pleasure in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. The Rev. F. G. Slight seconded the resolution, which was agreed to. On the proposal of Mr. D. Burnham thanks were accorded to the officers for their services during the past year. Mr. Newman moved the election of Mr. Fisher as a life member of the Association, in consideration of bis past efforts as secretary. The resolution was unani- mously adopted. Viscount Newark, M.P., was re-elected as president, with the Duke of Portland, Lord C. C. Bentinck, Mrs. Robertson, Mr. Aid. Turney, J. P., Mr. Aid. Manning, J. P., and Mr. Mansfield-Parkyns, as vice-presidents for the ensuing year. The committee having been appointed, Mr. A. G. Pugh was chosen as hon. sec. in place of Mr. fisher resigned, am! Mr. W. F. Newman was elected as treasurer. Mr. G. Hayes, of Beeston, consented to act as secretary for the Nottingham district. The drawing fur hives, &c, afterwards took place, the proceedings being brought to a close with a vote of thanks to the chairman. GLAMORGANSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The annual general meeting of the above Associa- tion was held at Cardiff on Thursday last, Jan. 24th, under the presidency of 0. F. Gooch, Es:i. There were present, among others, the Rev. L. Usk Jones, Messrs. Lascelles Carr, A. II. Sims, W. Gay, John Beer, E. J. Gibbins, W. H. Jenkins, W. Williams, E. C. Blackmore, A. Pettigrew, and B. 1'. Bavies, hon. sec. The hon. sec. read the report and balance-sheet for the year ending Dec. 31, 1333, which, considering the unfavour- ableness of the past season, was very satisfactory. The following gentlemen were elected ollicers for tho current year : — President, J . T. D. Llewellyn, Esq., Penllergare ; Treasurer, G. Abraham, Es., Dunflalk, In-hind, February 8. THE WINDSOR SHOW. [ 1990.] In reading over the Prize Schedule for above, I notice the compilers have made one important omission, viz., no class for ' British Beeswax.' That no encourage- ment is given for this article at such a representative meeting as the ' Windsor ' must be regretted by many. Seeing the many uses wax is put to, and its commercial value, I trust those who form the Committee, or have charge of the arrangements, will see that wax has its place among the other exhibits. I need only mention how attractive this class proved at the Crystal Palace show last year, when samples were sent from eighteen competitors, as a proof that if the hone}' classes lacked interest and competition, this made up for it. — John D. McNally, Springburn, Glasgow. CHEAP HONEY. [1991.] I am very pleased to see, in the amusing colloquial sketch entitled 'A Real Original,' in your issues of January 24th and .'list ult., a remark made which has often struck me, and which the B.B.K.A., and also appliance-dealers generally, would do well to consider : ' Only 6d. a pound for your honey after all your trouble and expense!' I was treated to a similar remark in conversation with a bee-keeper of the gentle persuasion, whose bees I drove last September. She informed me if no one drove her bees she sulphured them, and that she was always able to get a shilling a pound (and not pro- vide a receptacle) for the filthy sulphured production she called honey. (I won't describe how she rid the honey of the wax; you have only to think of the natives of Central Africa as described' by Dr. Schweinfurth.) The market is inundated with foreign run honey of doubtful quality (perhaps manufactured glucose), and the comb honey in sections has not nearly the same delicious flavour as good English. Yet we are in- formed by Mr. Simmins, in his Modern Bee Farm, and by others, that for run honey we must expect lower prices. I suppose bee-keepers have come to the conclusion, with 1888 staring them in the face, that in reckoning their profits they must take good years with the bad, and that on an average the profits (?) are not so very heavy. If the price of honey is to be lower still, where will the profits be, especially to the amateur ? If appliance-dealers wish to sell their hives, &e., would it not be almost wiser for them not to compete with amateurs in the sale of honey, or, at all events, not to under-price the only thing on which amateurs rely for profit, or rather for paying their necessarily high ex- penses ? — Jersey Bee-keeper. DEFENSIVE WORKS OF BEES. [1992.] Mr. Bertrand, in his otherwise instructive letter (1920), appears by mistake to have made me re- sponsible for the opinion expressed by a ' Renfrewshire Bee-keeper' nearly ten years ago, which opinion I simply quoted to show that the construction of defensive works was not peculiar to Minorcan bees. Unlike your corre- spondent, I have no fixed idea on the subject, and have not been so unwise as to express any ; hence, although inadvertently attacked, I do not feel that it is necessary to offer an v defence.— C. N. Abhott, Souihalt, December 20, 1888. TOLLEN. [1993.] In the early part of last summer, I found a hive queenless, nothing but drones in it, and a few robber-bees. The frames were one-third full of honey, the remainder a solid mass of pollen. I was advised to boil them down; however, instead of doing so, I tied them up in paper and put them in my honey-room. Recently, when looking into my hives, I found several B2 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [February 14, 1869. of them had no pollen, consequently no young brood, which I had expected would he there after such a mild winter. Therefore I gave each of these hives a frame of pollen, and the bees have been much brisker and happier- looking since they got it. The pollen is in beautiful condition, not mouldy, and not in the least hard. In future I shall keep all my good frames of pollen which the bees don't want at the time, as I now consider it quite as valuable as frames of honey after a season like last summer, and sealed syrup having no pollen in it. — Beeswing. SHALLOW SURPLUS CHAMBERS. [19f)4.] I am always anxious to freely give my ex- perience of matters appertaining to the good of my bee-keeping brethren. Now, in the first place, we do not all agree as to the use of excluder-zinc, but in no case has it ever failed with me. As I have already said, I worked these supers nine years ago, and have to-day the very self-same supers — never been altered in shape or way. The way I work it is this : — I allow \ of an inch between the top of the frames and the super, with the frames close down on the zinc, leaving \ inch space at ends of the shallow frames, no strips of wood to rest on top of frames. The zinc is the full size of the surplus box, nailed on the bottom ; and then take four strips J inch, placing them all round, and with a sharp stroke drive a pin through them both. Braco comb is quite foreign to me under the surplus chamber, but if there were any strips put, as one might say, to keep the zinc from warp- ing, you would find when you come to take them off at the end of the year, you would have to pass a thin knife under; and what does that mean? It means death to the very bees we are looking forward to for another season. None of that kind of tiling goes on with me. I once had it to do at a friend of mine, but since that day I would rather scheme and contrive an hour before using the knife. I as a rule always go in for simplicity, and have at this moment 100 of these shallow frames ready, I hope, for a good go in when the clouds roll by. The size of perforations in the excluder zinc used by me is j\ x XV — W. Willcock. GLASS SECTIONS. [1995.J As glass sections seem now to be coming to the front, and people talk of cutting up glass bottles to make them, I thought that something could be de- vised to save this trouble. I therefore cudgelled my brains, and wrote to Messrs. Brefiitt, Aire and Cakler Glass Company of Upper Thames Street, and requested them to make glass cylinders, open at each end, 2j in. radius, or 4j diameter. This they agreed to do, and •will no doubt advertise them. They will hold about one pound of honey-comb. — W. Ciiitty. EXCLUDER ZINC (107"). [1996.] I see 'Beeswing' has had trouble with his excluder zinc. If it is the proper size I fail to see the fault. 'Beeswing' says that the poor bees must have injured themselves with getting through when fnll. Well, if a bee could pass full, one would almost think that it could get back empty ; but I think it is hardly necessary to have excluders under sections, as they are, if properly managed, excluder enough. — W. Willcock. (Btlpts ixmn % Jito. Honeycott, Haices, North Yorkshire, February 11//*. — We are now having winter very severely here. Snow h ' s fallen to the depth of several inches, and with it frost has set in very keenly. Up to February 1st we had very mild weather, but little sun to entice bees out. I am not sorry for this, as I have often noticed that those that are least out in winter come out best in spring. I think they lose a lot when out in winter ; at least, this is my experience. I am wintering on various plans; some have an empty body placed under them, others have 2-iu. lifts under, others are without either. I am trying to find out which answers best. All my stocks are in frame-hives except two straw skeps. I have two hives made out of tree-stumps, which hold twenty or twenty-two frames each ; that is, when doubled. So far the tenants have done well in them. I may describe them at some future time. All my stocks are wintering well, and have abundant stores. Many hives are dead which belonged to those who refused to feed this autumn. Bees will be scarce here in spring. — John Whabton. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS & INQUIRERS- Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or correspon- dents, or where appliances can bo purchased, or replies giving such information, can only be inserted as advertisements. Toe space devoted to letters, queries, and replies, is meant for the general good .of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of tlw date of issue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt of their communication. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. Evehsley. — Castinysfrom Hires. — The crystals thrown from hives arc from the syrup. Whilst feeding last autumn we have experimented quite largely upon making syrup, and find that if the syrup is not brought to the boil, but only hot enough to thoroughly dissolve the sugar, there is very much less crystallisa- tion ; in fact, scarcely any. We have on several occasions noticed the, apparently, grease-spots outside hives, but have failed to find what it is. It is no doubt a form of faeces. No bad results have ever been experienced with a colony so acting. A rEEPLBXED One. — 1. Fixed Frame Hives. — There cannot be two opinions as to the superiority of the moveable over the fixed frame-hive. By using a fixed frame you are going back to the old straw skep system, in fact it is the same. With a fixed frame- hive you have scarcely any control over the colony, and must perforce run the bees strictly on the let- them-alone system, allowing them simply to shift for themselves, as our forefathers used to with the straw skep. 2. Extracting. — Each cage of the extractor must be of sufficient size to take one frame only of Association standard size. One full frame in each of the two cages of the extractor will be found quite heavy enough to extract at the same time. C. G. 1'. — Painting inside of Hives. — No harm will accrue from painting inside of hives, providing the paint is allowed to get thoroughly dry and scentless before the bees are put in. No advantage is gained by painting the inside as a preservative of the wood as the bees provide just as good a preservative when coating, as they always do, the inside with propolis. When an unhealthy colony has occupied a hive, it is advisable, after disinfecting, to paint the inside as a further preventative of infection. Dead Queen. — Received a dead queen, in a neatly scooped-out coffin, but without any accompanying letter to signify the desire of the sender. S. R. — Honeycomb Designs. — As the advertisement you refer to did not appear in our columns it would be prudent to decline the insertion of your letter ; it would be sure to cause an acrimonious correspondence which it is not desirable to invite. Geo. Bean. — Honey. — We are of opinion that the hone}' is genuine, and its appearance is very similar to some we have that has been heated. The flavour is very pleasant. February 14, 1889.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 83 J. B. S.- 1. Bitter Honey. — The flavour of the honey is the reverse of pleasant ; but we should think that such a flavour would not be imparted to it by the wild flowers mentioned. We rather think, as the season was so bad, and honey so scarce, that the bees must have resorted to some disagreeable and un- savoury sources. 2. Mooing Bees. — Your bees may he moved the distance at the time stated; but it would he desirable to place a bough or a piece of glass at the entrance, so that they may be induced to note the change of location. J. E. Roden. — You need not have any apprehensions of foul brood. The cells containing pollen have from dampness got somewhat mouldy. When dried, rub them with a soft brush, and spray with salicylic acid ; when required, the combs may be returned to the bees. Is the roof of your hive quite watertight ? Look to this, as we fear that the dampness proceeds from this cause. We shall be pleased by your carry- ing out your intention of forwarding -us occasional ' Echoes ' from your district. Inquireb. — Dead Queen and Bees. — We consider that the death of the bees, and consequently of the queen, was caused by the distance of the cluster from the stores ; and this being so, though these were plen- tiful, the bees were not able to avail themselves of them. We regret that your address has been mislaid. 0. — Sugar-cake. — The last sample of sugar-cake is a considerable improvement on that previously sent. It would be more serviceable if it were slightly softer, though the bees are evidently utilising it as it is. Refer to our directions for making candy in our editorial, ' Practical Work in the Apiary.' business ^Directory. HIVES AND OTHER APPLIANCES. Abbott Bkos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin Appleton, H. M., 256a Hotwell Road, Bristol. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Bubtt, E. J., Stroud Boad, Gloucester. Edey & Son, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Howabd, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Hutchinos, A. F., St. Mary Cray, Kent. Meadham, M., Huntington, Hereford. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothabd, G., Welwyn, Herts. Walton, E. C, 82 Emmanuel Street, Preston. Websteb, W. B., Binfleld, Berks. Woodley c& Flood, 26 Donnington Road, Beading. Wren & Son, 139 High Street, Lowestoft. HONEY MERCHANTS. Abbott Bbos., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howabd, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. FOREIGN BEES AND QUEENS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Benton, F, , Laibach, Carniola, Austria. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howabd, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. METAL ENDS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J., Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Godman, A., St. Albans. Meadows, W. P., Syston, Leicester. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. COMB FOUNDATION. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Baldwin, S. J. , Bromley, Kent. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. Edey & Sons, St. Neots. Howard, J. H., Holme, Peterborough. Neighbour & Sons, 149 Regent St. & 127 High Holborn. Stothabd, G., Weiwyn, Herts. COMB FOUNDATION MILLS. Godman, A., St. Albans. HONEY GLASS MERCHANTS. Abbott Bros., Southall, and Merchants' Quay, Dublin. Blow, T. B., Welwyn, Herts. A MODERN BEE-FARM; And its Economic Management. By S. SIMMINS, ROTTINGDEAN, BRIGHTON. Demy 8vo., 200 Pages. Reduced to 2s. 9d. Post Free. British Dee Journal. — ' This i3 a useful book for those intending to cultivate bees, more particularly for such as intend to make it a business.' American Bee Journal. — ' It covers the whole field of Api- culture, and is written in a terse and interesting manner.' Gleanings in Bee-culture (American). — ■■ The work con- tains 200 large pages, beautifully printed on a fine quality of paper. In plan it is excellent, each subject and its sub- head being distinctly separated by strong black head-lines, so that a novice can easily find such information as may be desired.' Bee-keepers' Becord. — *We have perused this book with a considerable amount of interest, mainly from the fact of its being the first attempt on the part of a really experienced man in the United Kingdom to face the problem "Will a Bee-farm Pay ?".... We cordially recommend the new bee book as being on the whole both a useful and reliable one. ' Live Stock Journal. — ' Other Journals must deal with this very intelligently written volume from its other sides. .... We never saw a bee-book which seemed better worth buying by those who wish to keep bees.' West Sussex Gazette. — ' It is all so very interesting, and plain, and practical.' ' Hvzeleioh Rectory, Dee. 3rd, 1887. ' The paper, letterpress, and plates, are most excellent. .... The treatise appears eminently a practical one, and such as can be " understanded by the people," which is more than can be said of many modern books on our pet subject. I trust you may have a large sale for it, which I do not doubt, as Mr. told me he had numerous appli- cations for your book. (Rev.) GEORGE RAYNOR.' 'Laibach, Carniola, Austria, Dee. 2nd, 1887. ' The new book came this morning. It is now midnight, and I have spent the whole day with it. You have indeed done well what few accomplish at all— made a book which is full of interest to every enthusiastic bee-master ; yet for the beginner a simple, pointed guide to success Since Langstroth's book nothing, except Cheshire's mag- nificent work, compares in interest or value to this. It has given me already more in value than the price of the work. 'FRANK BENTON.' One who has kept bees for a number of years, says : ' I have just finished reading your book (Modem Bee Farm) for the third time, and beg to thank you for the great treat it has been. As I happen to have thousands of acres of heather within easy distance, I am specially pleased with the chapters treating on working for heather honey.' ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 14, 1889. SOYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF 6NGLAND. WINDSOR MEETING, 1889. PRIZE LIST FOR HIVES, HONEY, &c. To be obtained of J. HUCKLE, Sec. of the B. B. K. A., Kings Langley, Herts. Exhibits in Classes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 (sections excepted), must be manufactured by the Exhibitor. Exhibits in Class 1 and in Class 19 to be staged and repacked by the Exhibitor. Class 1. — For the best collection of Hives and Appliances, to consist of the following articles: — One Frame-hive, priced at 15s. ; one ditto, priced at 10s. (Note. — These Hives must be fitted with arrangements for Storifying.) One Observatory Hive; one Hive of Straw or other material, not entirely of wood, for ob- taining either Comb or Extracted Honey ; one pair of Section Crates fitted with Sections ; one Extractor, one slow stimulating Feeder, one rapid Feeder ; one Smoker or other Instrument for quieting Bees; one Veil, one Swarm Box for travelling, capable of being used as a Nucleus Hive; one Travelling Crate for Comb Honey; live other distinct articles not specified at the discretion of the Exhibitor. E^ch article to be priced separately. No articles must be added to the collection, nor any portion of the Exhibit removed during the Show. First Prize, 40s. ; second Prize, 30s. Class 2. — For the best Observatory Hive stocked with Foreign Bees and Queen. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 15s.; third Prize, 10s. Class 3. — For the best and most complete Frame- hive for general use, unpainted. First Prize, 20s. ; second Prize, 15s. ; third Prize, 10s. Class 4. — For the best and most complete Frame- hive for general use. The Hive shall consist of (1) a Floor-board on four short legs; two Chambers or Body- boxes, equal in size, similar and interchangeable, both to have porches, with entrances not less than 12 in. wide, that can be contracted at pleasure, each chamber to be capable of holding at least ten Standard Frames, but only one set of Frames with strips of foundation fixed and two division-hoards to be supplied. (2) One Case of 4j by 4j Sections, with foundation fixed and separators, of such size as to admit of its being placed inside the chamber. (3) A substantial Hoof, sufficiently deep to cover a case of sections and afford ample pro- tection to the whole Hive, the price of each part, namely, stand and floor-board, body-box, case of sections, and roof, to be given separately, the whole not to exceed 15s., unpainted. First Prize, 10s. ; second Prize, 15s. ; third Prize, 10s. Class 5. — For the best and most complete Frame Hive for general uses. The Hive shall consist of (1) one Chambir or body-box, containing ten Standard Frames having strips of foundation fixed, two division boards, entrance porch, and floor-board, the chamber capable of being used with a second of the same pattern. (2) One Case of twenty-one Sections, 4|- by 4j, with foundation fixed and separators. (3) A Poof sufficiently deep to cover one case of sections at least, the price of each part, namely, floor-board, body-box, case of sec- tions, and roof to be given separately, the whole not to exceed 10s. 6