UMASS/AMHERST 312066 0333 3292 9 ®&m:s ; Uniting, 359 Drones, Bees Casting Out, 249, 348 Drones in February, 69 Drone-comb in Super, 180 Dysentery in Bees, 70 Echoes from the Hives, 39, GS, 79, 98, 128, 158, 198, 207, 217, 227, 236, 240, 254, 289, 297, 32S, 408, 525 Editorial Discretion, Need of, 171 Editorials :— The Bee Industry, 61; " Muzzling the Bees," 81 ; Unprincipled Advertisers, 101 ; Australian Honey, 101, 151 ; County Associations and Foul Brood, 161 ; Editorial Discretion, 171 ; The Work of Bee Association, 221 ; Golden Profits from Bee-Keeping, 271 ; Light v. Dark Honey, 321 ; Management of Bee Associa- tions, 341 ; Providing for " Shows to Come," 351 : Send- ing Honey to Shows, 371; Cheap Carriage for Honey, 391, 402; English v. Foreign Honey, 411 ; Homes of the Honey Bee, 441, 481 ; Sparing the Editors, 471; "Royal ' Show of 1897, 501 ; A Parting Word for 1S96, 521 Eggs, Queens Duplicating in Single Cells, 298 „ Failing to Hatch, 390 Exhibitors' Difficulties, 345 Ekes, 44, 165 Entrance, What is a Large, 97 Enlarging Brood Nests, 127 Errors in Teaching, 374 Excluder, Zinc, 56, 66, 77, 140, 164 Experts and Foul Brood, 194,326, 337, 346, 393 ,, „ Antiseptics, 369 Experts and the B.B.K.A., 470 Experts' Certificates, 480 ; first class. 00; second class,; 459 ; for South Africa, 450 examinations for, 490 ; and foul brood leaflet, 393 Expert Help Wanted, 279, 286, 306 ; Experiences. 46, 205 Experiments in the Use of Comb Foundation, 211 Experientia Docet, 443 Experiences of a Practical Bee- Keeper, 366 Explanation, an, 425 Extracting and Grading Honey, 2S6, 353, 354 Extracting from Brood Cham- bers, 348 ; Old Combs or New for, 35, 43, 78; Shallow- frames for, 20 Extracting Wax, 437 Extracted HONEY, 3; Air Bubbles in, 398 ; New Combs for, 67 ; V Sections for Profit- able Working, 10S Extractors, 75, 249, 293 ; for Loose Combs, 350 ; Diameter of Cylinder for, 296 Eucalyptus Bloom, 41 Eyesight of the Bee, 417 Fertile Worker, Suspected, 109 „ ,, in Hive, 29S Fertilising Queens by Selected Drones, 39 Feeding Bees :— S6, 130, 140 ; Open-air, 49, 292, 303 ; Spring, 113, 130 ; Under Floor-boards, 136, 146 ; with Dry Sugar, 130 ; in May, 189 ; for Winter, 380 ; Driven Bees in Autumn, 398 ; Driven Stocks, 385 Feeders for Bees, 470 Feeder, Cheap Spring, 106 Flowers and London Toilers, 235 ,, of January, 36 Food Supplies, 440 Foreign Queens by Post, 470 Foul Brood :— Historical Retro- spect, 73 ; Nature and Life History of, 83 ; Method of Treatment, 92 ; Abnormal Case of, 232 ; After Twelve Years, 399 ; and its Treat- ment, 31, 72, 83, 92 ; and Open-air Feeding, 292 ; a Sug- gestion re, 421 ; at Heathfield, 177 ; Bad Case of, 209 ; Bacillus, 60, 84 ; Bill for Prevention of, 201, 216 ; Cause, and Means of Propagation of, 85 ; Compul- sory Powers, 136 ; Combs In- fected with, 301 ; County Asso- ciations and, 161, 174 ; Curing, 177, 324 ; Dealing with, 17, 136, 316, 364, 430 ; Experts and, 194, 326, 337, 346 ; Govern- ment Returns and, 70 ; Hard- ship, 177, 267 ; Hilbert's Cure for, 107 ; in Skeps, 255 ; in Driven Stocks, 348 ; Leaflet, 326, 393 ; Preventives, 306 ; Queenless Colony and, 256 ; Statistics, 315, 326 ; Suspected, 180, 279. 3^8, 418 ; Samples, 193 ; Troubles, 268 ; Treat- ment of, 266, 273, 279, 420 Foul - broody Hives. Fertile Worker in, 187 ; Using Sec- tions from, 10S ; Using Combs from, 40 Foundation, Coloured, 327 ; Bees Refusing, 14, 143, 155, 165, 175, 264. 427, 480; Drone-cell, 4f 0 ; Experiments with, 211 ; Flat-bottomed, 155, 184,195; for Extracting Combs, 49; for Swarms, Full Sheets of, 209 ; for Winter Fixing, 380 ; Super, 134; the "Weed," 202, 214, 225, 227 ; Cutting to Proper Size. 226 ; Use and Non-use of, 68 ; With Odd-sized Cells, 257 ; Whom to Get it From, 175 Frames, Broad-shouldered, 137 ; to Brood-nest, Adding, 130 ; Glass Covers for, 469, 472 ; in Hives, Odd-sized, 199 ; Oil- cloth Covering for, 310 ; Space Below, 209 ; Wiring, &c, 38 Frame - hives, Working Skeps Above, 157, 196 ; Without' Frames, 160, 16S ; Transferring Bees to, 150, ISO, 199, 279 ; Working, 199 Free Seeds of Bee Plants, 494 Fuel for Smoker, 140, 177, 234 Glazing Sections, 50, 303 Girders for Section Racks, 137 Glass Covers for Frames, 4G9, -172 Good and Poor Pasturage, 483 Good-bye and a Retrospect, 4SG Good Honey District, S6 Grating of Nails for Hive Entrance, 29 Granulation, Preventing, 70 Granulated Honey for Exhibi- tion, 90 Grumbles, 26 "Guide Book,' *96, 302 340 IV INDEX TO VOLUME XXIV. Handy Home Device, 184 Harvest Home, 403 Hatching Queens, Handling Combs containing, 69 Have Bees Human Sympathies, 396 Hav-chaff for Winter Packing, 469 Heating Hives with Paraffin Stove for Rapid Feeding, 479 Heather, Preparing for, 6 ; Moving to the, 34, 240 ; Har- vest, 197 ; Season in 1896, 293 ; Honey Crop, 361 ; Honey in Sussex. 370 ; Honey in Surrey, 431 ; Honey, Colour of, 439 Hedgehog and Bee, 317 Helping the Shows, 291 Hive, Cheap A, 25 ; Making, 2o, 408, 426 ; Dimensions of the W.B.C., 107, 170, 270; W.B.C., The, 497 ; Bird's Nest in, 195 Hives, 56, 157 ; Ants in, 69 ; Aspect for, 416 ; Buying Second-hand, 80 ; Best mater- ials for, 494 ; Dealing with Neglected, 360 ; Double- queened, 479 ; Disinfecting, 186, 229 ; for Winter Packing, 146, 401 ; for the Moors, Preparation of, 197 ; Home-made, 140 ; in November, Disturbing, 458 ; Interior Surface of, 518 ; in February, Examining, 60 ; large v. Small, 117 ; Labels, 249, 275 ; Non-swarming, 67 ; Numbering, 156, 457 ; Odd- sized Frames in, 199 ; Obser- vatory, 249, 268; Parasites in, 189 ; Price of, 320 ; Quadruple, 350 ; Red Spiders in, 160 : Temperature for Examining, 181 ; Uses of a Record-book for, 156 ; Uniting in Double- stocked, 80; Uniformity in, 276 ; Unworkable, 317 ; Venti- lating, 229; "Wells," 79, 89, 90, 138, 209, 126, 237; with Outer Cases, Single-walled, 38; Yellow Deal as Material for, 488 Honey, 33 ; Artificial, 450 ; Aus- tralian, 101, 151 ; and its Uses, 155 ; and Syrup, 4ss ; at Half • Rates, Sending, 267 ; at Maerdy, Adulterated, 33S ; as Bee- food, 368 ; Buying and Selling, 332 ; by Rail, Sending, 425; Black Specks in, 377; Bottle, Taylor's, 185; Bass- wood, 500; British and Foreign, CI ; Chemical Properties of, 79 ; Cheap Rates by Rail, for, 371, 391, 437, 457 ; Chilian, 494; Care in Storing, 253 ; "Owner's Risk," Rate for, 468 ; Confec- tionery, American, 408 ; Dale, 180; District, A Good, 86: Dealing with Broken Comb, 238; Dark, 259,328, 340. 360; Extracting, Thick, 286; Early, 195 ; Extending the Use of, 142 ; Experiments in Heating, 42; Extracted, 3, 67, 78 ; Eng- lish and Foreign, 402, 404, ill; Effect of Soil on Colour of, :',c>r,\ Effect of Elevation on Quality of, 336; Frames of Thick, Un- sealed, 5on: for Exhibition, Granulated, 90 ; for Showing, Early, 192; from Willows, 1 17, 167 ; from one Hive, Varieties of, 307 : Fermenting, 298, 140 ; Fair, Hereford, ::■ • ; Granu- lated, 3, 60,281 ; ".'radii Heather, 184 ; Harvest Varia- tion in, 418, 137 ; Ear 279 ; House'. Ant:- h Imports, 18, 63, 105, I 232, 289, 322, 412, 172, 5011 ; Imports for tin year 1895, :;i ; Influence of Eucalyptus on, 41 ; in an Electric "Light Globe, 59 ; Transit, Milk Churns for, 64, 77 ; Store Combs, 480 ; a House Roof, 218 : Brood-nest, 410 ; Section-crates, Exhibit- ing, 430; Light v. Dark, 321, 331, 336, 337; Loss of, 466; Minorcan, 7 ; Melting Granu- lated, 127, 311 ; Market, Creating a, 241 ; Manufac- tured, 425; not Granulated, 60 ; of '96 for Next Year's Show, 400; Points for Judg- ing, 1, 2, 105; Plant, New Zealand Flax as a, 70; Price of British, 491 ; Production, 41, 173, 290; Ripening, 310; Ripeners, 30, 219 ; Returns in California, 163 ; Removing surplus, 124. 141, 175, 296; Storing Old Combs for, 10, 51 ; Section, 46 ; Samples, 70, 320, 340, 360, 440, 480 ; Selling, 214, 455, 460, 477; Selling Small Lots of, 445 ; Sweets, Recipes for, 400; Season, 241; Strain- ing, 296 ; Tall Glass Vases for, 375 ; to Shows, Sending, 371, 377; Trophies at the "Royal," 381 ; Vinegar, 101, 360 ; Vine- gar, American Recipe for, 379 ; Waxed Paper for Wrapping, 479 ;' Without Bees, 408 ; What is Pure, 75, 106 Homocea for Bee Stings, 80 " Homes of the Honey Bee," 441, 481, 485, 512, 522 How to Make Wax, 423 Humble-bees, 37, 47, 497 Humble Dumbledon, the, 29 Illustrations, The Value of, 323, 346 Immediate Replies, Fees for, 439 Imported Foreign Queens, 477 Insects that bring luck, 319 Increase. Natural and Artifi- cial, 132 In Clover, 349 Isle of Man as a Bee Country, 393 Jottings. Bee, 87 John Huckle Memorial Fund, 261, 275, 303, 433 Judging Honey, Points for, 1, 2, 105 Keeping up Prices, 455 Lace Paper for Sections, 470 Lamentations of a Cornish Mother Bee, 90 Laureate and Bee Keeping, The, 477 Late Fertilisation, 376 Laying Workers, 33 Lectures on Bee-keeping, 30, 48, 127, 377, 406 Leaflet, Foul-brbod, 326 Length of the Bee's Tongue, 459 Ligurian Bees, 12 „ Queen east out, 338 ,, Queens, Buying, 31(1 Lifts, Calico Covers in lieu of, 184 Little People, The, 49 " LOBDSWOOD " :— The Humble Dumbledore, 29; Flowers of January, 86; some July days, 294 ; Harvest Home, 404 ; Aspect for Hives, 416; Wax, 423; Spare the Editors, 124 ; an ^Explanation, 125 ; Was Extracting, 437; More July days, 456 ; Recollections of the Past, 447 ; Bees and Cot- tagers, 475 ; A May Morning, 495 ; December Days and the Bees, 514. Ludlow Chrysanthemum and Fruit Society, 464 Manipulating Bees, 146, 154, 166, 177 Manipulate Bees, How and when to, 94, 137 Making dark Honey light, 470 May Morning, A, 495 Mead, 360 Measuring " Spoonsfuls," 496 Metal Ends, The W. B. C, 226, 231, 517 Moving Bees, 400 ,, from roof, 406 ,, Sleeps 300 yards, 410 Medicated Bee-food, 50, 350, 390, 407 " Memories," 516 Meteorological Summary, 80, 126 Milk-churns for Honey in Tran- sit, 64, 77 Misquotation as to Standard- size Hive, 57 More July Days, 456 Mouldy Store-combs, 110 Nadirs and Ekes, Use of, 44, 66 Naphthaline, 289 ; Overdosing with, 219 ; Using improper, 270 Naphthol Beta Solution, 317, 517 ; Measuring, 348 ; Tem- perature at which it Volati- lises, 388 Native Bees of Ceylon, 99 Natural and Artificial increase, 132 Non-sectional Super, What is a, 345, 370 "Notes by the Way," 1, 23, 43, 63, 86, 116, 143, 163, 183, 225, 263, 284. 303 Notes and Queries, 204 Notes from Central Oxon, 244 ; from Manchester, 305, 358 ; from Devon, 365 ; from the West, 436, 477 ; from Cumber- land, 465 Notes, Northern, 76 ,, Some general, 316 "Notandaetlnquirenda," 3, 25, 56, 65, US, 164 Not a Bee-keeper, 187 Novelties for 1896, 167, 185 Novel Bee-smoker, 115. 189 Novices Queries, a, 289 Nuclei, 91, 107, 125, 137, 152, 160, 207, 286, 309 Nucleus Hives, the best size for, 525 Numbering Hives, 156, 457 Nurse-bees, 339 Number of Frames for Brood- chamber, 138 Obituary :— Mr. F. Meggy, 32 ; a Veteran Bee-keeper, 03 ; Mr. Baldensperger, 78; Mr. Walter Martin, 352 ; Mr. Allen Pringle, 355 ; Rev. Robert Sanders, 402 ; a Cumberland Naturalist, 497 Observatory Hives, 254 ,, ,, arranging, 268 ,, Wintering Bees in, 408 Oddments, 345 oilcloth Covering for Frame?, 310 Old Combs for Honey Storing, 10, 51, 75 Old Combs or New for Extract- ing 35, 78 Old Combs or New for Breeding, 57 Open-air Demonstration, 216 ,, feeding, 303 Our Library Table, 254 Over-crowding, 314 ; Parasites on Bees, 199, 408 ,, in Hives, 189 Pasturage, Good and Poor, 483 Patent Split Sections, 480 Pettegrew, the late A., 517 Perforated Zinc for Secti dividers, 140 Points for Judging Honey, 1 105 Please Tell me Why, 265 Pollen, 55 ; and its Uses, 148, 149 ; Why Bees Store, 148 ; in Sections, 14S ; a Bee Food, 149 ; Early, 47 ; and Propolis not the Same, 149; Combs, 370 Porches, the Utility of, 525 Porter Spring Escape, The, 104, 119 Postage of Correspondence, 11 Presentation to Captain Camp- bell, 79 Prices of Sugar, 492 Propolis, 55 Providing for " Shows to Come," 351 Proposed Joint Association for Kent and Surrey, 412, 421, 433 Puzzling, Difficulty, a, 135 Queens, Balling, 129, 184, 194, 227 ; Breeding Late in Autumn, 310 ; Begin to Lay, Age at which, 128, 206 ; Buying Li- gurian, 370 ; By Post, Foreign, 470; Deposing Good, 307 ; De- posing Unsatisfactory, 218 ; Direct from Abroad, Carnio- lans, 348 ; Duplicating Eggs in Single Cells, 298; Early and Late Reared, 379, 385; Ex- changing Virgin, 51 ; From Italy, Italian, 447 ; Fertilising, 39, Handling Combs Contain- ing Hatching, 69 ; Introducing, 246, 310, 346 ; Is the Removal of Ekes in Spring Dangerous to, 165 ; Mating, 169 ; Novices and Renewing, 218 ; Rearing, 146 ; Replacing Aged, 339 : Superseding, 519 ; Securing Young, 219; Taken to South Africa, 416 ; Age of, 190, 268, 359, Damaged or Worn-out, 186 Queen-Bee, The, 174 Queen, Cast Out, 10, 269 ; Cells Sealed in March, 120 ; Cutting Out, 219, 239 ; Swarms build- ing, 276; Destruction of, 393, 405; Cell, Worker Bee in Sealed, 237, Protector, 370; Excluders, 66, 77, 130, 164, 307 ; From her Escort, Removing, 497 ; Sus- pected Loss of, 295, 380; Turned out, 200, 229, 320 ; In- troduction into Skeps, 308, 309 ; Late Fertilisation of, 376 ; Number of Eggs Laid by a, 519 Queen-Raising by Artificial In- cubation, 364 ; Rearing, 137, 199, 146, 249, 291, 315, 316, 327, 345, 517 Queen-wasps and Bee-stings, 15 Queenless Colony and Foul Brood, 266 ,. Broodless but not, 366, 386 Broodless and, 386 Stocks, Dealing with, 426 INDEX TO VOLUME XXIV. Queenlessness, Suspected, 148, 305, 398, 407 Queries, A Novice's, 289 „ A Cottager's, 368 ,, to Bee - appliance Makers, 235 ,, A Large Order in, 490 „ A Beginner's, 130, 397, 479 Question for Our Readers, A, 2G6 Quietness in Manipulating, 177 Quilts, 74 Races of Bees, 12 Raw Sugar for Bee-syrup, 147 Recall of the Exile, 7 Record Honey-gathering, A, 378 Recollections of the Past, 447 Red Spiders in Hives, 160 Renewing Queens, Novices and, 218 Report, A Lady Bee-keeper's, 136 Re-nueening Stocks, 160,180, 187, 247, 350 " Robbing," 48 Royal Agricultural Society, 261 ,, Counties Society, 243 " Royal " Show, At the, 267 ,, Show of 1897, 461 ,, „ ,, Honey Trophies at, 381 ,, ,, ,, A sugges- tion for, 435, 444 „ Bee-Keepers' Society (a suggestion), 483 Russian Apiculture, 464 Sad end of a Bee - keeper in Rhodesia, 268 Saving Honey of '96 for next Year's Show, 400 Salicylic Acid Solution, 410 Saying Good-bye, 478 Scottish Bee - keepers' Associa- tion, Reviving the, 204 Scottish Bee-keepers' Associa- tion, Meeting in Glasgow, 261, 285 Scottish Bee-keepers' Associa- tion, an Apology and an Appeal, 176 Scottish County Conncils and Technical Instruction in Bee- keeping, 202 Scotchman's Appeal to Bee- keepers of Scotland, 263 Season in Switzerland, 294 ,, Ireland. 337 „ Argyleshire, 326 Kelso, N.B., 406 the, 182 Seasonable Questions, 128, 148, 169, 256, 376 ,, Hint, a, 253 Sections .-—Bees not Working in, 238, 275, 293 ; Comb-level- ler for, 186 ; Damaged by Mice, 90 ; Drawn-out Combs for, 158 ; from Foul Broody Hives, 108 ; for Showing, 306 ; Glazing, 50, 303 ; Getting Bees to Clear, 397 ; How to Utilise Unfinished, 158 ; Lace Paper for, 470 ; Put- ting on, 235 ; Pollen in, 14S ; Packing, 253: Patent Split, 480 ; Racks, Girders for, 137 ; Refusing to Enter, 255, 305, 307 ; Use and Non - use of Foundation in, 68 ; V. Ex- tracted Honey for Profitable Working, 108 ; Working, 268 I Sending Honey to Shows, 371, 377 „ Bees by Goods Train, ' 380 Self-hivers, 75, 88 Shelter for Bee Location, 10 Shallow-frames for Extracting, 20 Shallow-frame Supers .-—Clean- ing, 118 ; Removing, 124 ; Difficulty with, 124 ; Clearing, 164 Showing? Should Tall Glasses be allowed in, 375 Simmins, Mr. S. : — on Wind and Weather as affecting Bees and Honey Production, 9, IS ; on Old Combs or New for Ex- tracting, 25. 57, 78 : on Pre- vention of Swarming, 27 ; on Queen Excluders, 66 ; Comb- attachments, 8S ; Honey from Willows, 147 ; Foul Brood at Heathfield, 177 Shows. The "Royal" at Leicester, 3L, 100, 151, 242, 251, 261, 267; the "Royal" Counties at Eastbourne, 151, 195, 243, 254 ; St. Albans, 126, 223 ; York, 232 ; St. Ives, Cornwall, 243 ; Brent- wood, 244 , Ramsgate, 272 ; Windsor, 272 ; Blankney, 313 ; Helsby, 313 ; Henbury, 313 ; Chester, 323, 334 ; St. Ives, Hunts, 333 ; Kingsbridge, Devon, 333 ; Neston, Wilts, 333 ; Leicester, 322 ; Delapre Park, Northants, 322 ; Dun- combe Park, Yorks, 323 ; Shrewsbury, 342; Strathpeffer, 344; Perth, 374; Marlow, 344; Loughboro", 883; Lytham, Lanes, 344 ; Wotton-under- Edge, 383 ; Biggar, 352 ; Gosport, Cumberland, 383 ; Sunderland, 353 ; Birkenhead, 403 ; Penicuik, 362 ; Jedburgh, 412 ; Dunfermline, 363 ; Rutherglen, 453 ; Castle Douglas, 363 ; Derby, 373 ; Moorgreen, 373 ; Welling- borough, 472. Shows, Helping, the, 291 ,, the Coming, 131, 151 ,, Schedules, 247 Skeppists and Frame Hives, 356 Skeps in Autumn, Dealing with, 358 Skeps : Moving, 410 ; Uniting in, 358 ; Queen introduction with, 36S ; Price of Stocked, 492 ; Above Frame Hives, Working, 196 Skep, making Cane for, 279 " " Soliloquiuni Pueri," 519 Smokers, 74 Novel, 115, 189, 283 „ Fuel for. 146, 179, 234 „ Alight, Keeping, 196 Solar Wax Extractor— How to Make it, 387 Song of the Bee, 128 Something Like a Yield per Hive, 163 Some Items of my Inquiring- Experience, 404 Some July Days, 294 South Africa : A Line from, 7 ,, „ Enemies of bees in, 274, 376 ,, ,. Taking Queens to, 416 ,, „ Experts' Certi- ficates for Bee- Keepers in, 450 ,, ,, Stray Swarms in, 444 Sparing the Editors, 424, 435, 446, 461, 471, 475 Specific Gravity, 70 Spreading Brood, 113, 137, 145 Spring Syrup, 140 „ Cleansing Flight, 459 Stray Bees at Nottingham, 235 Supers Left on for Winter, 458 Stocks: Increasing, 120. 189, 255, 278, 311 ; Short of Food, Giving Sections to, 108 ; Helping Weak, 199 ; Doubling, 248 ; Dealing with Diseased, 368, 428, 475 ; Selling Diseased, 457 Stock Hive, Space Below Frames in, 209 Super Clearers, 75, 290 Easily Made, 433 Supering, 213 Supers, Bees Refusing to Work in, 3J9 Successful Start, A, 335 ,, Bee -Keeping under Difficulties, 24 Superstition about Bees, 396 Surplus Chambers, 100 ,, Space below Frames in, 49, 130 Surplus Chambers, Brood in, 259 Surplus Honey, Removing, 124, 141, 175, 296 Surplus, Old versus New Combs for Storing, 75, 87 Swarm-catchers,, 247 ; Hole's, 65, 90 ; Taylor's, 140, 185 ; Meadows', 167 Swarms : Artificial, 20, 127, 196, 277, 296 ; at the Heather, 279 ; building Queen-cells, 276 ; Claiming, 207 ; Smothered in Transit, 259 ; dealing with Vagrant, 304 ; Early, 10, 168, 192, 195, 208 ; for Comb-honey, 207 ; Full Sheets of Founda- tion for, 209 ; Hiving, 38, 317 ; in Nottingham Park, 195 ; in Derbyshire and Cumberland, 196 ; Nucleus, 268 ; Natural v. Artificial, 356 ; or Casts Returning, 229 ; Returning, 170; 249 ; Runaway, 209 ; Se- curing and Managing, 488, 499 Swarming : Prevention of, 4, 5, 6, 10, 23, 27, 36, 43, 44, 45, 47, 56, 58, 66, 67, 87, 97, 105, 132, 209, 219, 479, 518 ; its Cause and Prevention, 394, 524 ; the Incipient Stages of, 167 ; from Skeps, Artificial, 180 ; in Scot- land, Early, 196, 216 ; Year's, A, 205 ; Vagaries, 206, 237, 266 ; Uniting Nucleus Colonies and, 207; from "Wells" Hives, 254 ; and Young Queens, 298 ; Artificial, 20, 127, 133, 196, 277, 296, 330, 356, 507 ; is Con- ducted, How, 347 ; Early, 14, 168, 169, 192, 195, 208 Syrup Making. 320 „ " Cosy," 366 Taking Wasps' Nest for Exhibi- tion, 279, 39S, 482 Teaching Bee - keeping in Schools, 97 Technical Instruction in Bee- keeping, 106, 202 ; in York- shire, 325 ; under County Council Auspices, 275 ; in Cornwall, 4S1 Temperature for Examining Hives, 181 Testimonial to Mr. J. Martin, 477 Time Occupied in Developing a Worker, 77 Tithymale, 23 Trade Catalogues Received, 149, 179, 189, 208, 228 Transparent Window Bills, 306 Transferring Bees, 20, 130, 246, 259 ; a Lady's Experience of, 438 ; to Frame Hives, 80 ; from Lard Bucket, 138 ; Combs from Large Frames to Standards, 80 ; Combs in March, 89 ; from Skeps, 276, 279, 310; in Autumn, 368 ; Stocks to New Hives, 100, 320; Themselves to Frame Hives, Bees, 199 Trigona Carbonaria, 13 Unequal Seasons, 311 Unfinished Sections, How to Utilise, 158 Uniting, 377, 519 ; Queenless Bees, 488 ; Nucleus Colonies after Swarming, 207 ; in Double - stocked Hives, 80 ; Driven Bees, 255, 358, 359; in Skeps, 358 Uniformity in Hives, 276 Unprincipled Advertisers, 101 Useful Hints : Size of Brood- chambers, 11 ; Introducing New Blood, 51; Old Brood - combs for Honey-storing, 51 ; Comb -building by Nuclei, 91 ; Californian Honey Plants, 92 ; Removing Surplus, 141 ; Ex- tending the Use of Honey, 142 ; Bees Refusing Founda- tion, 143 ; Temperature for Examining Hives, 181 ; Early Swarms, 192 ; Bees and Fruit - crops, 192; Foul Brood Samples, 193 ; the " W.B.C. " Metal- end, 231 ; Creating a Honey Market, 241 ; "To Correspon- dents," 241 ; Granulation of Honey, 281 ; Temperature fo r Keeping Honey Liquid, 282 ; Dividing Stocks for Increase, 311 ; Melting Granulated Honey, 311 ; Light and Dark Honey, 331 ; Varieties, of Heather, 361 ; Wax Extracting, 331 ; Packing Hives for Winter, 401 ; Spare the Editors, 461 ; Prices of British Honey, 491 ; Buying Stocks of Bees, 492; Untimely Bee-manipulations, 511 Utilising Empty Combs, 318 Vagaries of Unruly Swarms, 265 Vagrant Swarms, Dealing with, 304 Variation of Honey Harvest, 437 Ventilation in Winter, Free, 415 Ventilating Hives, 229 Verify your Quotations, 16 Varieties of Heather for Honey- Producing, 290 Varieties of Honey from One Hive, 307 Vinegar, 101, 360, 379 Virgin Queens, Exchanging, 6t Visitors to Dairy Show, 366, 3S6 Wanted, 200 Shillings, 202 Warning, A, 324 Wasps, Queen, 15 „ Nests, Destroying, 270 ,, ,, for Exhibition, 279, 39S, 482 Wax, 3, 33, 355, 370, 423. 449, 470 ; Imports, 20 ; Selling Adulterated, 99; in Comb Foundation, Purity of, 199 ; Moth, 219, 397 Wax Exractors and Carbolic Cloth, 256 Wax Extractors, Meadows' New, 167 Wax Extractors, The Solar. 387 „ Extracting, 381, 437, 515 ,, Rendering, 419, 428 ,, at the Dairy Show, 46S Waxed Paper for Wrapping Honey, 479 Weight of Honey Gathered Daily >by a Colony of Bees, 378 Weather, 11, 51, 141, 181, 231, 281, 311, 331, 361, 381, 401 Vl INDEX TO VOLUME XXIV. Weather, in North Wales, 40 ,, in Yorkshire, 89 Reports, 30, 59, 99, 147, 187, 228, 278, 367, 407, 496 Weather Reports for 1895. 30 Weak Stocks, Adding Swarms to, 30 *' Weed " Foundation, The, 202, 225, 227 Wells, Mr., His Report for 1895, 6 ; for 1896, 454 ; His Wax Cake 36 The " Wells " System, 76, 79, 90, 217, 380 "Wells" Hives, 90, 209, 237; Beginners and, 79, 326 ; Stock- ing, 255 ; Queen cast out of, 269 ; Working, 138 ; and Their Management, 277; Swarming from, 254 ; Loss of Queens in, 427 ; and Methods, 458 ; Popu- lating Advantageously, 488 ; Dummy, Size of Holes in, 209 ; Bees in, 521 Wind and Weather and Honey Production, 9, 18 Winter, Amount of Food for, 388,- 390, 440; After the, 91; Caring for- Bees in, 417 ; Con- tracting for, 407 ; Free Venti- lation in, 415; Fixing Frames for, 380 ; Feeding Bees up for, 380; Necessities, 334; Packing Hives for, 146, 401 ; Packing, Hay Chaff for, 469 ; Protecting Skeps in, 439 Wintering Bees in Observa- tory Hives, 408; in Attic v. Cellar, 424; Small Lots of Driven, 436; in " W.B.C." Hives, 479 ; in Skeps, 469 Wiring Frames, 38 Willow Honey, 167 Wm. Woodley, Mr. :— On Judg- ing Honey, 1 ; Preventing Swarming, 23, 43 ; Old Brood- Combs for Storing Honey, 43, 64, 86 ; on Bees Refusing Foundation, 44 ; Winter Pack- ing, 64 ; Feeding, 86 ; Wind- Breaks, 86 ; on Foul Brood, 116 ; on House Apiaries, 144 ; Carbolised Cloths, 144 ; Early Swarms, 183 ; Swarm-Catchers, 183 ; Super Clearers and Storing Honey, 253; Selling Honey, 284 ; Glazing Sections, 284, 303 ; Suggestions for the " Royal " of '97, 435, 444 ; the Dairy #how, 474 Work for the Coming Season, 103 ,, of Bee Associations from County Council's Point of View, 221 Worker Bee in Sealed Queen Cell, 237 • ,, Combs, Securing the Building of, 256 Word to Bee-keepers, A, 216 Working Two Stocks in One Super, 148 " Ye Olden Bee-keeper," 8, 17 Yellow Deal for Hive Making, 488 Zinc Covering for Hive Roofs, 480 ILLUSTRATIONS. A Cheap HiVe, 25 Wiring Frames, 39 Bombus lerrestris, 48 H. W. Brice's Wax-tester, 55 Foul Brood Comb, 84, 301 Disease Germs, 85 Queen Drone and Worker Bees, 97 Porter's Spring Escape for Windows, A Novel Bee-Smoker, 115 104 Design in Honey Comb, 147 Meadows' Swarm-Catchers, 167, 185 ,, Wax-Extractor, 167, 168 Taylor's Swarm-Catches, 185 ,, Cone-Escape, 185 New Honey Bottle, 185 Diagrams of Comb Foundation, 212 " W. B. C." iMetal End, 231 Honey Extractor, 287 Foul Brood Comb, 84, 301 Uncapping Combs, 354 Heathers (Erica), 361, 362 Bee-Parasite (Braula Cueca), 408 Home-made Super-Clearer, 434 Mr.W. Broughton Carr's Apiary in Kent, 485 Mr. John Walton's Apiary, Weston, 505 Dr. Percy Sharp's Apiary, Brant Broughton, 523 Printed by Wyman & Sons, Limited, Great Queen-street, London, W.C. The British Bee Journal. No. 706. Vol. XXIV. N.S. 314.] JANUARY 2, 1896. [Published Weekly ifortal, Ifcrfea, kt BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIA- TION. ELECTION OF COUNCIL FOR 1896. Attention is invited to the fact that the election of fifteen members, to serve upon the Council for 1896, will take place early in the year. Candidates for election on the Council must be nominated by two members, upon a printed nomination paper, which Avill be supplied, along with full particulars, on addressing " The Chairman B.B.K.A., 17, King William-street, Strand, W.C." [A correspondent — who is indefatigable in his efforts to promote the good of County Bee-Associations — writes us suggesting the advisability of having all " annual statements of account " framed on one uniform principle. But, while there is much force in the idea, we need do no more here than ask for its con- sideration by those most concerned, and await their views —Eds.] tymxBpxihwt The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed b>/ correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents arc, requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate jrieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. NOTES BY THE WAY. [2353.] Once again we hail the New Year and a new volume of our Journal. How short a time it seems since the first number of Vol. XXIII. came out ! And yet since then pome of our leaders have fallen in the fight. Some who were then beloved and revered as living; workers in the craft have now passed to " that bourne from whence no traveller returns.'' Langstroth, De Planta, Bastian, amongst those at a distance ; and John Huckle, of the Parent Bee-keepers' Associa- tion, with others of less note and prominence here at home have gone from among us. Yet, notwithstanding the thinning of our ranks by death and by the falling away for various reasons, it is gratifying to know that the cir- culation of our Journal is steadily increasing. I think the impartial critic, when he reviews the B J. for 1895 in comparison with preced- ing volumes, will admit that the interest of the pursuit, has not been allowed to flag ; that the multitudinous mass of items connected with bee-keeping enclosed between its covers con- tains many things helpful to the master in the craft as well as the 'prentice hand who has just joined the ranks. Its pages are ever open to the discussion of topics pertaining to bees and bee-culture, and all questions tending to the furtherance of the craft and its successful adoption as a hobby or as a means of adding to one's income, has received every consideration and help at the hands of our Editors. The busy little insect which it is our privilege to cultivate holds a unique position in the economy of nature as a producer of one of the greatest delicacies that has graced the table of mankind since the creation. Then, as the only producer of wax, until quite recent years, the bee gave to man the chief means of artificial light in wax for candles. Later investigations, too, have proved its value as a fertilising agent in the production of seed for the perpetuation of the life of the tree or plant. The dissemination of this knowledge will tend to raise our pur- suit into a more prominent position of useful- ness, not only for the health-giving labour or profit in attending to the work of the apiary, but as a general benefit to the whole com- munity ; and we shall hear very little of the farmer who thought that, by cutting his clover before it came into bloom, he should thereby prevent the bees stealing the sweetness from his hay. Points for Judging Honey. — I am glad this subject has cropped up again. It tends to educate not only new exhibitors but also new judges. In 2350 (p. 523) I notice Mr. C. N. White speaks of competitors starting fair by exhibiting in bottles of same style and shape, and sections in cases of similar pattern. This I think should only apply in any special class, and it should be made as plain to the exhibi- tors in schedule as " plain English" can make it. In my wide experience as a " showman " ' during the past fifteen years, I could give THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 2, 1896. many seeming glaring inconsistencies in judging honey, but 1 never protest unless present to weigh the points personally, as an absentee exhibitor cannot, from any written description of the exhibits by friends who may attend, determine for himself if he considers his exhibits have received merited award. The "get up" of an exhibit ought certainly to count. I think it has at two recent dairy shows. At one, the bottles containing the prize honey cost (I was told) 9d. each ! Beautiful specimens of the glass-blowers' art they were, and at the last show the prize honey was put up in a dozen glass vases and tied with the "blue ribbon" even before the red card was added to complete the tri-colour, red, white, and blue. If we restrict exhibitors to one particular shaped vessel in which to stage their honey, we shall prevent, instead of encourage, progress. What Mr. White says of ripe honey being of different density is, I believe, perfectly true (owing to the source from which the bee gathers it), but for the exhibitors' ingenuity to produce that density — if density is imparted to honey arti- fically — I question the probability of tbat honey receiving any award. Heating to a suffi- cient temperature to clarify and thicken honey, however carefully done, will invariably impart a " cooked " flavour, perceptible to any judge with only a moderately acute sense of taste, and denude the sample of one of its finest properties, i.e., its aroma. With sections— or, indeed, comb-honey in any form — artificial improvement cannot strive for the mastery ; then it is left to the busy bee and her human guide, if I may be allowed to introduce the genus homo as of any assistance in the produc- tion of the best comb honey. I may mention here that my exhibits of comb honey awarded V.H.C. in the open class at St. Ives, curiously enough took first at the Dairy Show. I had one crate only of that honey all through the season. I endorse what Mr. White says as to thick cappings ; I have proved that fairly thickly- capped honey keeps best longest. With a thin capping honey soon deteriorates, and soon the face of the comb is as an April day, decked with dewdrops, or with " Tears, idle tears,1' which spoil the appearance, imparts a smoky flavour, and makes the article unsale- able. Mr. White's idea of making imperative the sending of exhibits in a certain style — travelling crates — would minimise the work of repacking, and the only objection I can see to its adoption is the cost. Supposing an exhibit is sold at the show (no unusual occurrence), the crate would possibly be lost to the owner if the purchaser required the honey sent on at the close of the show, seeing that the " empty " wou;d probably be lost sight of. This might lead to a lot of correspondence, and some ill-will arise over the lost travelling- crate. I myself — though objecting to any enforcement of style— would favour any endeavour to the imperative adoption of using a suitable packing-case for each exhibit. Grocers' boxes of many sizes and shapes are now so cheap, that no excuse can lie on that head, and a 3d. roll of oak paper, or even mahogany pattern if preferred, will, with a pot of paste, cover up the flaming advertising announcement on the outsides of these boxes. This would be a great help for those who have to see to the re-packing. Then certain members of the committee ought to lend a helping hand in the " packing-up " after the show is over. With a guiding hand at the close, it is marvellous how quickly the tables may be cleared. — W. Woodley, Bcedon, Neivbury. POINTS FOR JUDGING HONEY. [2354.] That some uniformity in the matter of judging honey, &c, is necessary few ex- hibitors will deny. At the great shows the judging is, no doubt, good ; but at how many of the smaller shows, where the duties are necessarily undertaken by persons who have little knowledge of bees, are the awards satis- factory ? As an exhibitor of many years' standing, and one who has been called upon to judge at county and smaller shows, I beg to add my quota to the discussion, and to submit the '" tables," with scales of points, which I adopt in judging. The first time that I was asked to judge was at one of our best county shows, and my anxiety, and the fear that I might not be able to arrive at a correct judgment, led me to read all I could find bearing upon the matter. I referred to several volumes of the B.B J. and Record, to " Cheshire,'' and finally I studied that excellent little pamphlet, " Honey Judging,'' by the Bev. J. Lingen Seager, M. A., and which is published by the B.B.K.A. This pamphlet should be in the hands of every judge and exhibitor ; and, although the writer failed in getting the B.B.K.A. to publish a code for the guidance of judges, I trust this discussion will be of benefit to exhibitors and judges, and I hope that a few of the latter will follow Mr. White's example, and give the readers of the B.B.J, the benefit of their ex- perience. In judging honey in the comb, I adopt the following table : Allowing ten points for each as enumerated : — 1. Colour of honey. 2. Colour of cappings. 3. Sealing, evenness and uniformity. 4. Weight and finish. 5. Flavour (if found necessary). Deduct for pop-holes &c. In colour, most of the exhibits in any one show (excepting the open class perhaps) will be found pretty nearly alike. Some will lose points owing to a lack of uniformity, either in the same or in different sections or frames. In the colour of the cornb and the cappings, slight differences will be seen, causing some among the best to lose h or | point. Sealing, and evenness of the same, will cause another variation in points, whilst in weight and Jan. 2, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. general finish, the best will only obtain full marks, and they will have few, if any, deducted for pop-holes. Flavour is left till the last, and will not be resorted to, unless absolutely necessary. All honey should be protected so that whilst its good points may be seen, it will be impossible for robber-bees to get at. Sections should be made as presentalDle as possible, and nothing looks nicer than a narrow lace edging, but as the work of the bees only is judged. I give no points for decoration. Extracted Honey. — 1. Colour. 2. Consis- tency (ripeness). 3. Aroma. 4. Flavour. Ten points for each. Deduct for pollen, wax, &c. Run honey varies very much in colour, so much, in fact, that some schedules have separate classes for light and dark. Where there is only one class, the colour will, no doubt, be judged relatively, that coming near- est to the judge's ideal receiving most marks. In awarding marks for consistency, care will have to be exercised in seeing that the tem- perature of the air within the tent affects all the exhibits alike. Some of the bottles will be found fuller than others, and if the con- sistency be judged by the objectionable practice of turning the bottles upside down, a very erroneous conclusion will be arrived at. In deciding upon the aroma, I always open different bottles to those which are tested for consistency, as many of the delicate aromas are lost when the honey is exposed to the air. The sense of taste will be exercised to the full in judging a numerous entry of run honey. The presence of pollen grains, bits of wax, &c., will lead to a loss of marks. In a local or county competition, the county label might with advantage be used on both sections and bottles, but in the open classes I am strongly of opinion that no label of any kind should be allowed, a small ticket inscribed with the number only being firmly fixed on every exhibit. Granulated Honey. — 1. Colour and granu- lation ; 2 . Aroma ; 3. Flavour — Ten points each. Deductions — As before. The best run honey -will form the best granulated, and it should be allowed to granu- late in the bottles. Clover honey forms small granules, and produces fine samples for exhibi- tion. Spring honey does not set well, the grains are large, and the samples are over- charged with moisture. Unripe honey will not make good granulated honey. Bees. — 1. Queen, 10 points ; 2. Workers, 10 points ; 3. Drones (if in season), 10 points. Frames of comb — (a) Brood, 4 points ; (6) Food, 3 points ; (c) Condition, 3 points. Deductions. " For the best stock of bees to be exhibited with their queen," &c. Such is generally the wording of the schedule, and as most of the shows are held when drones are in season, a few should always be in the obser- vatory hive ; a stock of bees at such season being, of course, incomplete without drones. Some associations give separate prizes for English and for foreign bees, and when this is the case the work of the judge is simplified, but where the wording of the schedule is indefinite, the judge will no doubt award most points to those bees which approach nearest to a pure race. The frame or frames should contain food and brood, sealed and unsealed, and the comb should not be black with age. The presence of crushed bees, want of space for the bees to move freely on the face of the comb, &c, will lead to loss of marks, whilst the slightest indication of foul brood will disqualify. Wax — 1. Colour ; 2. Aroma, 10 points each. Deductions as before. This is not an easy class to judge. Wax varies as much in colour as honey does, and the lightest in colour is not always the purest or the best. Wax should be exhibited in one cake, as many small pieces are invariably missing at the close of the show. The presence of debris, scraping of the cake, and extreme brittleness will lead to deductions. — Gwenyn, Derby, December 28. NOTANDA ET INQUIRENDA. [2355.] The many calls made upon my time by the present season — pleasant in every respect except the weather — prevent me from doing more just now than send the following acknowledgments of answers to my " Notes and Queries " kindly furnished by other corre- spondents. Stings.— Mr. W. T. Eeid (2314, p. 485) mentions a remedy of which I have heard before. I have never tried it, as I find my own nostrum effectual after considerable expe- rience, and I don't care to risk the three days' inconvenience if the application of the cold key should fail. But the first time I am stung on the face or some other inaccessible part, I will try the remedy kindly mentioned. It evidently acts in the same way as "cupping." I have lately read somewhere of a man who, when bitten in the finger by a deadly snake, saved his life by having the presence of mind and courage to instantly chop off the finger, before the fatal venom had had time to spread through the circulation. Rather an extreme preventive, but, if there is any truth in the story, preferable to losing one's life ! Drivings. — I am much obliged to Mr. Simmins (2343, p. 518), and also to "A Worker " (2347, p. 522), for so kindly taking up my inquiries and replying to them in their several ways. If we could all be experts of the standing of Mr. S., doubtless " driving " would be the child's play he and others make of it. But I wrote expressly bearing in view two circum- stances, viz., 1. That there must be many who have to stock their hives to start with by help of driven bees, who have to tackle " driving '' upon book knowledge only, and who may find the singular and unpleasant variation in the behaviour of bees which is my constant expe- THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 2, 1896. rience, not only in " driving " merely, but in all handling. Some hybrids I have are as quiet and harmless as can well be, compared with my black stocks. I still cannot help thinking that for some reason these latter, or some of them, are "Tartars." At any rate, I am relieved to find I do not stand quite alone in my expe- rience; and I hope others still may be encouraged to relate their real experiences. 2. That even supposing the trouble is entirely due to our own clumsiness, it would be better to insert in the books a warning to the tyro as to possible disastrous consequences, so as to put him a little on his guard. Of course, it is better to see " driving " properly done ; but supposing you cannot 1 Swarm Prevention. — I am also much indebted to Mr. S., for taking so much trouble to resolve my difficulties. I have carefully and gratefully noted his hints. I quite understand the principle and bearing of his suggestions for swarm preventing, and will keep them carefully in mind. I must note the exact time of trouble with wasps in this neighbourhood. I believe it is earlier than he supposes. But I will make sure about this next year. I am relieved to find mice are only dangerous in the autumn. Just now we are trapping them in my garden at the rate of several a day. With regard to a large entrance causing trouble in handling, have the bees referred to on page 519 a way of pouring out of the front entrance and " coming for you " when you touch the hive from the rear ? Because this is a playful habit mine have, when they possess any stores to protect. It very much resembles their liveliness when " driven." It will be said, perhaps, " why not re-queen them and get a milder strain ? " "Well ! They are such splendid honey gatherers and section cappers, that I hesitate to do so. But they really are sometimes " a caution." The great objection that remains — in my case — to the nadir plan is the expense. In hives of the pattern I have it means a double set of brood- chambers, with porches, &c. ; it means twice as many brood- frames ; it means great laboitr, and disturbance of the bees for the indispensable occasional examination of the under-chambers. Last year I gave it a thoroughly fair trial. It did not prevent swarming, it gave me drone comb, it gave me a heap of trouble. This year I wish, in preference, to try some simple plan of giving shade to each separate hive, as needed, during the heat of the day. Possibly I may be enabled to adopt some combination of both expedients. In any case, I am really very thankful for any kind hints in assistance, and especially to the Editors of the B.B.J, for allowing me to air my apicultural grievances in their columns. To them, and to my brethren of the craft, readers, as all such ought to be$ of the B.B.J. , if not also of the Record (as I am), I offer my heartiest good wishes, both for the passing Season and the coming year, in which may we all prosper to our very hearts' content. -Self Taught, December 28, 1895. STILL MORE CHESTNUTS. [2356.] Effects of Stings. — I wish some of our medical bee-keeping friends would explain to us the causes of the different effects produced by these dis igreeable, but all the same useful and necessary, corollaries of the pursuit of our craft. With me a sting— anywhere but on the soft parts near the eyes — has absolutely no effect beyond the first warm prick — something, I should imagine, like an injection of concen- trated fuel from the infernal regions ! This lasts— the sting, of course, being promptly extracted — about half a minute, after which I am perfectly insensible that I have been the object of such warm attachment. Should I be stung on the more vulnerable part before mentioned, the pain continues for half-an-hour, hot scalding tears running down the face, and excruciating pain which puts me hors de combat for the while ; but at the expiration of the aforesaid half-hour "Richard is himself again," and no more afraid of the bees and their stings than of flies. I remember, however, in my novitiate days a stinging of a more formidable nature. I had then an out-apiary in Cheshire and would sometimes take a holiday and spend it with my pets. Among the hives was a swarm which had been put on foundation a few days before removal. About a fortnight later, enjoying a pleasant morning with my bees in the country, I was examining this hive, when on removing the first frame I dragged two or three others along with it. The foundation had only been drawn out at the tops, while underneath it was all fastened together, and " slants," " brace-combs," and all manner of devices in wax had been constructed by the baes. Oh ! I did have a lively time I assure you, and as I always manipulate with shirt sleeves rolled up, my arms received a fair share of 'attention ; but my face — well, I met several of my friends wheu I was nearing home that morning and they actually didn't know me until I addressed them, and then their natural inquiry was if I had "turned prize-fighter." And well they might. I must have had over 100 stings. One eye had quite " shut up," and with the other I could just see through an opening of about one-eighth of an inch ; a nose equal, in siza to the normal breadth of the face, and a face that felt as though it reached out into infinite space ; while ears, neck, and back of the head were all aches and tingles. The tortures inflicted by Prospero on Caliban could not have equalled mine. One poetaster of my acquaintance dashed off the following impromptu : — " There was a young man of Birch Fold, With his bees he was rather too bold ; But (his bee-veil all scorning) they gave him ' a warming ; ' And now— there's some hives to be sold." Jan. 2, 1896.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. But the hives were not sold, and in thirty- six hours every vestige of the catastrophe had vanished. What remedies did I apply ? None. I got the stings out with assistance, and, as I always do, adopted the philosophic dictum of " grin and bide." But I do know of instances which, instead of being food for mirth, have been fraught with anxious fears. One party could never venture out in the garden on very hot days without being stung, even when far away from the hives, and the •consequences were serious in the extreme. Swelling of the parts immediately affected, accompanied by choking sensations at the throat, pain in the bowels, a rash — resembling big blisters — all over the body, and shooting pains in the head. The sufferer had to retire to bed, and the consequences were felt for days. This brings me to the point whence I started, and caused your readers to be troubled with this note. Cannot the matter be taken up by our medical members, and the search-light of modern science thrown on it ? It is our duty to leave no part of our subject untouched which eeerns to call for further investigation. " This is a marvel that runs at large, Take it — you're welcome — no extra charge." It is very common to hear, our lecturers in bee-tents speaking lightly of stings and their effects, and assuring their hearers "they never get stung,'' and "there is absolutely no danger if you go about it the right way." Yes, that is just whei'e it is ; doing it " the right way," and before this "way" is learnt by many they must mike up their minds to be stung. Of course there are "born" bee- keepers, and such seem to overcome all difficulties and master the intricacies of the craft by inspiration. But to all beginners I say you will certainly have a few stings at commencement, and however clever you may be you can never avoid them altogether. I heard an amusing instance which lately occurred at an exhibition : — One of the manipulators was going round the tent with a frame of comb showing the bees, larva?, &c, to the visitors. "And do you never get stung ! and is there no danger ? " enquired a lady in the crowd. " Never, and there is nothing to be afraid of,'' replied the tyro. The words were scarcely out of his mouth, than he gave vent to a sudden shout of pain, and letting go one end of the frame he made a sudden grab at his trousers' leg ! " But they will keep getting up my legs ! " he said. As described to me, it was very laughable indeed, and I believe the crowd enjoyed the fun more than the "lectures" they had paid to hear. I could call to mind similar amusing instances spread over several years' experience but". I have already dwelt long enough on this point. Bee Statistics. — I think efforts should be made to tabulate returns all over the country of honey produced, number of hives kept, systems, prevalence of foul brood, &c. In a Blue Book on Agriculture in Ireland, 1894, there is an interesting account of the produc- tion of honey there during 1893, and a com- parative table of results from the years 1885 to 1893. I give the first and last years : — 1885 : — Frame-hives. Other Systems. lb. lb. lb. Run honey .. 46,196 .. 141,285 Sections 59,218 .. 55,598 1S93 : Total .._ 105,414 Run honey . . 40,900 Sections 91,413 Total .... 132,313 196,S83 = 302,297 81,685 34,365 116,050=248,303 The year 1887, with a grand total of 459,386, was the best ; 1892^, with 192,457, the worst. Figures are also given of the quantity of wax produced and the number of stocks brought through the winter 1893-94. Why can't we get similar returns for England, Scotland, and Wales 1 I know it is difficult, for I have tried ; but I would suggest that local hon. secretaries be provided with a number of printed forms, which they should get filled up by their members and others. Of course many foolish people tell " bee stories,'' and publish results which we know are exaggerated, but watchful and candid local hon. secretaries can do much to check this absurd practice. — Fred. H. Taylor, Birch Fold Cottage, Old Hall-lane, Fallowfield. PKEVENTION OF SWAKMING. [2357.] Re the above appearing on pages 496 and 506, what a good thing it would be for away-from-home bee-keepers if the plan there laid down would work out as bright in practice as it does in theory ? I have, I may say, given the system a good and fair trial, and should be very pleased to award Mr. Simmins all the praise if the benefit had been mine ; but I am sorry to say that with me it turned out a failure. I tried, first of all, a "combination" hive, and worked according to the " book " to the letter ; but, curiously enough, that hive was a record swartner. An isolated case, I know, but it stood for one. Since then I have tried two hives with the full- size chamber below, and with frames fitted with " starters " only. I have had these two in use now for six or seven years, and am heartily sick of them. The keeping of these lower frames clear of comb is a complete nuisance. It matters little whether we place these frames there expressly for comb-building or only as a " safety valve ," the bees will build comb there, and there first, too, even with fully-built combs in the supers. But why should we expect otherwise 1 It is per- fectly in accord with their nature to continue their combs downwards, and quite unnatural to work comb-building above the brood-nest. The theory of heat and cold as a factor in regulating comb-building I cannot accept, be- THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 2, 1896. cause, of course, the lower part of the hive is cooler than the upper portion. Yet I have had many instances of persistent comb-build- ing in the empty frames below with supers unentered. Besides, where shall we find a place in the hive at the swarming season too cool for comb-building, when bees will actually build comb in the hive porch, or under the floor-board if need be ? It seems to me that the bees first aim (if they have any aim), when commencing to extend their domains, is to fill up the gaps between the entrance and brood- nest. At all events, that is my experience, and so far I have about as much swarming from my two hives managed on the non- swarming plan as any of the rest, and, in addi- tion, the attention required by the " non- swarmers '' has been two to one compared with the others. I should imagine with the sliding chambers, as in the " Conqueror '' hive, the labour in attending to the lower combs is lessened ; but even then it must entail a lot of disturbance. I know of two or three hives (?) that appear to be the perfection of swarm- preventers, but these are bee-homes under the weather tiling of old buildings ! They rarely swarm from these. — Bee Cycle, Sussex, December 28. MR. WELLS' REPORT FOR !95. [2358.] The recent publication of what may be called Mr. Wells' annual report will doubt- less revive the controversy never altogether at rest — if we may judge from the very general discussion on the subject— as to the value of double-queened hives. Unless I am greatly mistaken, one of the main advantages claimed for the principle is the comparative safety with which hives con- taining twin stocks will pass the winter, owing to diminished consumption of stores and the resulting earlier date at which the stocks are in prime order for the work of the opening year. Curiously enough some natural history litera- ture that has recently come into my hands points to the fact that this very claim in favour of double and treble colonies was made as early as the thirteenth year of the present century, and then proved by exhaustive experiments to be based upon a sound foundation, although Sir William Jardine, writing in 1850 on the subject, takes occasion to doubt — as do many bee-keepers with whom I have come in contact— the possibility of a double colony of bees consuming no more stores, or even less stores, than a single stock. Facts are, how- ever, stubborn things, and I see no reason why we should doubt the record of M. Galieu, a'Swiss clergyman, author of "Le Conservateur des Abeilles." After expressing his wonder that such an apparent impossibility should exist, as the consumption by 20,000 bees of no more weight of stores than that by 10,000 bees, M. Calieu gives a table of the loss of weight of thirty-six hives under experiment from September 20, 1813, to March 31, 1814. The greatest loss in weight was equal to 19 lb. and the least loss to 8 lb., but of the thirty-six hives, the doubled stocks (or trebled in some instances) of which there were six, all stand at the foot of the list as regards loss of weight, and none are so high as the average consump- tion of all the hives. These hives were not, of course, doubly queened, but as the argument is in favour of uniting very freely in the autumn, to gain enormous stocks for successful wintering, it should give pause to some of those gentlemen who have failed to find out this conspicuous advantage in the " Wells system." — J. W. Jacomb - Hood, The Avenue, Surbiton. December 29. HOUSE APIARIES AND PREVENTION OF SWARMING. [2359.] Referring to the frequent mention of house apiaries in your valuable paper of late, I send you a rough sketch of the bee-house I have had in use for the last eight years. As shown, the house stands due north and south, and the hives — twenty-eight in number — are all of same size for tiering up, arranged in two tiers, seven in each row, running the full length of two sides of the house. A Avindow in one end enables me to see at a glance how matters stand Avith the bees, and I find it a long way better than using single or double- stock houses or hives on outside stands. During the eight years I have had this house only one SAvarm has issued from all the stocks kept in it. Any farther information your readers may desire regarding it, I Avill be pleased to supply. — H. Wilcox, Talywain, near Pontypool, Mon. [With the sketch sent by our correspondent before us — in which fourteen hives are shown in two rows of seven each, the hives in upper ioav being directly over those in loAver one — we are curious to know Iioav the stands are arranged so that the hives may be supported and storeyfied, or tiered-up. Perhaps our correspondent will kindly explain this point. — Eds.] PREPARING BEES FOR THE HEATHER. [2360.] In reply to your correspondent, " A Beginner " (322, p. 495), and to our Scotch friend (345, p. 519), I must first confess my entire unacquaintance with bees in southern districts. Some years, to my sorrow, the bees took a delight in swarming at the heather. In 1888 I tried the plan described by "Not too Young to Learn," except putting a rack of sections instead of shallow-frames underneath the brood-chamber. The first two years being fair bee seasons, it led me to think I had hit on a plan that Avas going to be a success ; but Jan. 2, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL, in 1891 three of my best hives worked on that system all swarmed, one at home, the other two at the heather ; these being the only- hives that swarmed out of eighteen stocks. In 1892 I again tried it with two hives, but both swarmed. In 1893 I worked three hives on the same plan, and two of the three swarmed at the heather. I accordingly gave it up as a bad bargain which yielded me nothing but a lot of soiled empty sections. I may say that these hives always had two racks of sections over brood-nests. In 1894 I had eighteen hives at the heather ; of these one swarmed and another sent out a virgin swarm. The heather season of 1895 ha? been one of the best with me since I started the modern system of bee-keeping, not one swarm leaving. — George Roch ester, Black Hill, co. Durham, December 28. KECALL OF THE EXILE. BRINGING BACX THE BEES. [2361,] Florists sometimes complain that bees do them much mischief, and owing to the presence of apiaries in the vicinity of seed growers, seeds are unreliable — that is to say, varieties result by crossing. Not long since a well-known florist in Kent banished every hive, forbidding his men to keep bees, and bestow- ing anything but blessings on members of the K.B.K.A. in the neighbourhood. The same florist has since found that his seeds are insufficiently fertilised, and is now negotiating for the location of a hive of bees on the very spot from which he so recently banished them. Verb. sap. — A Kent Bee-Keeper. BEE NOTES FROM SUSSEX. [2362.] I see that in the second paragraph of my last commucation (2341, p. 516), and in the fourth line, the numbers " five and six " should have been " four and five." I have numbered the hives, and must have inad- vertently quoted from the wrong set of numbers. I also omitted to state that the fifty combs remaining on hand are the surplus after filling up the whole nine hives with drawn-out frames of brood comb, old and new. Eight hives have ten brood combs each ; one has only six. The melted-down wax was derived from drone and broken combs, cappings, brace combs, and odd scraps. Next year, with such a stock of built-out combs ready to hand, and no more halving for increase, or experimenting to do, I am looking forward to a grand yield. I should like to say that I have been per- fectly successful in making two lots of 7 lb. each of soft candy. Given in glass-bottomed boxes turned upside down over the feed-holes in quilts, one is enabled to see at a glance the condition of the larder. The weather here has been very trying lately for the bees. Much rain has fallen, there has been little or no sunshine for some weeks, and it is very damp, raw, and chilly, keeping the bees strictly indoors. May the New Year prove more propitious. — W. R. N Sussex, December 28, 1895. A LINE FROM SOUTH AFRICA. [2363.] By reading your very useful and in- teresting B.B. Journal, I see there are many useful and valuable hints and instructions which we bee-keepers in South Africa can take note of. We have also received bees, also queen bees in splendid order. They were splendidly packed by your contributor, Mr. W. B. Webster, of Berkshire, England. We intend holding a honey show at our coming Port Elizabeth Agricultural Show in April, 1896. We hope to be successful with it. We intend showing both American and English hives. I see in your B.B. Journal a great many advertisements of different styles of hives, also many new and useful appliances in bee-arrangements. I would be glad if some of your advertisers would send me a few of their price-lists or pamphlets for distribu- tion, as many of our farmers have commenced bee-keeping. At present it is only in its infancy, and I believe it will become a general thing. The reading of your B.B. Journal has so aroused interest among our bee-keepers here, that they also want honey shows, espe- cially after reading of the "Royal" show in your issue of June 20. To read of 11,000 visitors at 2s. 6d., and the next day 20,000 at Is. make3 one cry, " Bravo, British Bee- keepers ! ;' May Africa follow in your steps ! Any papers, price-lists, or pamphlets will be thankfully received if addressed to Mr. J. Sterling, care of Messrs. Dreyfus & Co., Port Elizabeth. Advertise in South Africa, it will do no harm, but most likely will do much good. Wishing you and our many brother bee-keepers a Merry Christmas and the Com- pliments of the Season. — Bee-King, Port Elisabeth, Cape of Good Hope, December 1, 1895. MINORCAN HONEY. [2364.] Allow me to say, in answer to A. Beille's questions (3307, p. 482) that we obtain our honey- bottles from Paris, and that by buying a large quantity (6,000 or 8,000 at a time, for instance, of various sizes), he can get them quite cheap. As to the contents of our samples, let me explain again that a small part of our (sainfoin) honey is obtained from the thistle and some aromatic herbs with which our island abounds. Next season I will try and find out from what plant quince aroma is THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 1896. obtained— an aroma I had never noticed till A. Beille mentioned it. Our pound is smaller than yours. Fourteen English ounces are supposed to be equivalent to sixteen of ours, and our pound only contains twelve ounces. But one can from the catalogue choose the number in kilos nearest the English pound, and the price would not probably differ much. If I remember right, our samples cost some two shillings per dozen. That our honey is sweeter than yours is natural enough. The same may be said of Spanish wines ; they contain more sugar, and are more alcoholic, than even the French wines, so they have to come to Spain to better their article. When my son was in London he bought some samples of honey. The sec- tions were beautiful to look at ; the extracted very white honey bought in Paris was also very fine. But they seemed to us somewhat insipid ! As the proverb says, contra gustos no hay disputa — it's useless to dispute about tastes. At any rate, our honey is now rapidly coagulating with the cold weather, and may not be marketable on that account. My thanks to you, Messrs. Editors, just the same. We shall be glad to have some English house try next spring's honey— for spring will soon be upon us — and will offer it at reasonable prices, such as A. Beille mentions. Let the market have a taste of it— that's all we can do from this rocky Patmos of ours. I will conclude by wishing you and your numerous readers the Compliments of the Season. — Editor Revista, Mahon, Minorca, December 17, 1895. DRIVING BEES. 'L2365.J Referring to Mr. R. Williams' letter (2351, p. 524), I should like to know whether his plan of driving secures him from the viciousness of queenless stocks On only two occasions last autumn I experienced bad treatment, and in both cases the skeps were queenless — by far the fiercest of the two lots was a weak lot that had evidently been with- out a queen for some time.— D. R. Iven, December 27. YE OLDEN BEE-KEEPER. (Continued from page 506.) [2366.] I am afraid Ye Olden Bee-keeper, like some people in our own times, did not always practice what he preached. This opinion is based upon the following consideration. In the first place, he asserts, with the confidence of one who knows whereof he speaks, that a swarm is invariably headed by a young queen. But mark the following, copied verbatim from my ancient oracle : " When the swarm is settled in the hive, take the king or queen (call him which you please) gently by the wings, and crop off the ends of his wings, for whilst the king stays within the bees will not depart." And note also that this device was manifestly not suggested with a view to the prevention of swarming, but to force the bees to stop in their new home. Now, had those responsible for this piece of advice been in the habit of putting it into practice, it is a little remarkable that sooner or later they should not have discovered a slight error in the former assertion. One cannot help wondering also, whether it was really a matter of actual experience that warranted the following recommendation, and if so, what the inventor of "apifuge" has to say to it ? — but here it is : — " To Prevent Stings. — Torrefy fenegric meal, and pour on it juyce of mallows and oyle, and make as thick as honey. Anoint your face and all the naked parts of your body very well." While on the subject of stings, I may inform readers of the B.B.J, that they may with perfect impunity investigate the domestic arrangements of the vespidas, if only they take the precaution to hold in one hand a sprig of wild mallow ! At least so my oracle says . And surely if this holds good for wasps and hornets, it should be equally efficacious with a hive of angry bees. At any rate, there is a simplicity a\)out this piece of advice lacking in the recipe following it, which informs you that you may secure immunity for your cattle from the attacks of stinging creatures by " smearing them all .over with lion's fat ! '' Personally, I should have most faith in the following (also recommended to the bee- keeper as a preventive of stings), and this not only by reason of my own experience of the pacificatory effects of the judicious application the modern smoker, but because 1 do not believe that by the close of the operation the bees would have enough life left in them to sting, or anything else : — " Make smoke in a pot, and let it enter the small door of the hive for about half an hour, and so you have done your work for that business." By-the-way, there is a curious appendix to the foregoing : — " Likewise you shall root out the nests and cells of the droanes, if you mingle barlej'-meal with the smoke." Can any one kindly throw a little light upon the meaning of this somewhat obscure pas- sage ? Thunder. — It is well known that bees object to thunder, and are hindered in their work by stormy weather. But if he suffer from these evils, it is, it seems, the bee-keeper's own fault. " Tinkling of bells (be it far from superstition) is a most present remedy for noise in the clouds and cruel hail." It is explained that the exhalations are thus driven upwards to the third region. But there are other methods of keeping off a storm. " The ,skio of a river-horse or sea- Jan. 2, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. calf hung in the four corners of a garden will drive it away." And, if these articles are not ready to hand, "a hedg-toad shut up in an earthen pot " will have the desired effect. Spring Cleaning. — This was de rigueur in the apiary in the olden days, and, moreover, willy-nilly, as soon as the winter days were gone, the inmates of the hive were compelled to " go forth to their work and to their labour until the evening," after this fashion : — " When ten daies of the spring are past, you shall drive them forth to seek their meat, with smoke, and you shall cleanse and purge their hives, turning them up and down, for the smell of filth makes them sluggish, and spiders' webs hinder them." — Gerard W. Bancks, Green-street Green, Dartford. {To be continued.) WIND AND WEATHER. AS AFFECTING BEES AND HONEY PRODUCTION. T2367.] What is embodied in the above head- ing must always be an important subject to the bee-keeper during the season that he expects his little labourers to gather in the harvest ; and to myself in particular, it has been a fascinating study. But how many are there who consider that the state of the weather depends entirely upon the periodical direction of the winds ? Many know that certain winds mean fine or wet weather, as the case may be, for the time being ; but I wish to particularly point out that prevailing winds (exclusive of actual gales) stay with us for lengthened periods — averaging some forty days. Our climate is considered changeable ; and yet it is a rule that the weather experienced is the same every time with the respective peri- odical winds ; and it will be found that certain winds prevail for periods extending from not less than twenty to sixty days. One can hardly say that there is a variation, unless it be in the duplication of periods, sometimes happening ; because we get the twenty days from S.E. ; forty days from E.N.E. with second and occasionally third periods following, with rarely less than forty from the W. with its usual and constant variations from S.W. to N.W. An easterly wind in winter gives us our only periods of long - continued cold ; in summer our driest and longest periods of heat ; our best and most permanent honey weather. With the wind from the west in winter it is generally mild, with changeable weather. In summer the same wind is always cool and with such variable weather that honey- produc- tion is almost at a standstill, and should it remain in that direction for a second term, as too often happens, the season is practically a failure. The soft winds of the west may be a grateful change during winter, but so far as honey- yielding is concerned during the summer months, they are a delusion, for no sooner doe3 the wind settle there than we get those chilly showers so destructive to the honey- secreting glands of flowers. Every one will remember the remarkably dry season experienced three yeari since. An easterly wind prevailed for what may be con- sidered as three consecutive periods. In July came a change to westerly winds, and a term of cool wet weather followed for the usual period. The double period of excessively cold weather experienced at the latter part of last winter was, as usual, in connection with an east wind, and its fine clear weather. It is the rale for our south-eastern counties to be visited by dry, fine weather in the spr'mg. The shortest of these periods is three weeks ; though generally of much longer duration. Speaking broadly, bur prevailing winds come from the east and west. On the eastern side, the more points to north, the cooler the weather experienced ; the farther south the warmer it is ; but the weather will not continue so long settled as from due east. A southerly wind and a clear sky, we are told, denote fine weather. Now, a due southerly wind in this district is of extremely rare occurrence, so that- our south-easterly wind, with its three weeks of fair weather, is the verification we have of this old saying. We seldom have the wind standing at due west. South-west, with cool winds and showers in summer ; temperate in winter, frequently veering to north-west for a few hours at a time, with bright sunshine. From the latter quarter, white frost in winter and spring, the wind seldom remaining there above two or three days at a time, hence the ex- pression, " Three white frosts and then ram," as it almost invariably drops back to the rainy quarter. With the summer well advanced we do, once in several years, get a good honey season with a settled north-west wind. Though rare, the advent of such a period is not soon forgotten by the honey-producer. Thus, with what may be called a westerly wind, we get all those variations of temperature that have made our isles famous for the changeable cha- racter of the weather ; and all of which changes it is possible to experience within twelve hours. On the contrary, to whatever point in the east the vane may be brought to bear, the wind from that quarter is usually so unvarying that it will scarcely shift either way for many days in succession, and the indicator might almost be glued in position, so im- movable does it appear. Such is the character of the weather then experienced ; with the exception of a slightly varying velocity of the wind, and the only settled weather we can rely upon is that from this direction. A due north wind we seldom have, but whether occurring in summer or winter, it is usually a dull dry time ; and in the former season, a honeyless period. E.N.E. winds at mid-winter, though usually dry, do not bring 10 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 2, 1896. us such clear skies as we have later with an E.S.E. direction. No reliable forecast of the weather can be made from the action of the bees themselves, but the bee-keeper's manipulations may be largely aided by his careful observation of the direction of the wind, in connection with the season of the year, and having regard to the length of time it has already prevailed in a certain quarter. Where supers have been on in early summer, and freely worked during an easterly, or south-easterly period ; upon the change of the wind to W.S.W., it has gone there to stay with its cool, changeable term of not less than forty days, and in this district it is useless to leave the surplus chambers on the hive as another period of heat will not, as a rule, occur until August, and may occasionally be delayed until September. The month of July is nearly always very wet, and we are told that with rain on St. Swithin's day we are sure to have forty days to follow, with more or less wet every day. As a matter of fact this is our period of summer rain, and no matter how dry the rest of the year may have been, we can nearly always rely upon heavy rains commencing towards the middle of July ; the wind at this time being south-west. Over a term of many years I have noticed only one very dry July, and that was when a good honey period of three weeks duration occurred, with the wind at south-east, a rare event for this month.— Saml. Simmins. (Conclusion next Week.) PREVENTING SWARMING. [2368.] If your correspondent, "A Worker " (2347, p. 522), will write to me, I will give him lull particulars of the lower- chamber, or nadir, plan of preventing swarming. I have had some experience of that plan, and my method of working it is the best I have yet met with. — H. Seamark, the Apiary, Willing- ham, Cambs. Queries ami Jt^Ites. [1405.] Old Combs for Honey Storing. — In a well-known dealer's catalogue I read : " Honey extracted from cells that [have been used by the queen will not equal that stored in cells kept expressly for marketable honey." On the other hand, Simmin's " Modern Bee Farm " says that l; old combs are the most, valuable stock-in-trade of the bee-keeper working for extracted honey ; " in other words, advises the use of such in surplus chambers. I have several old combs which I wish to use, and shall be glad of advice on the following points : — 1. Is there any appreciable difference between honey stored in the two ways men- tioned, and if so, is it such as to affect its market value 1 2. Can you tell me how to remove mouldy pollen from a few cells in some of my combs ?— E. W., Boston, December, 1895. P.S. — Many thanks for the directions for melting candied sections. The plan succeeded admirably. Reply. — 1. We strongly advise the use of combs for storing purposes which have never been contaminated by brood-rearing. That honey stored in old brood-combs will be dete- riorated in quality, we have no doubt whatever. 2. Mouldy pollen, especially if hard, can only be got rid of by pulling it away down to the mid-rib of the comb. [1406. | Soiled Combs and Early Swarms. — I have just lost two of my stocks of bees from dysentery, and as some of the combs (which contain a fair quantity of sealed honey), are soiled by the usual dysenteric " spottings,'' I should be glad of your advice (1) whether it is safe to use these combs for other hives ; also if those not soiled at all are fit to use again? (2) As to methods of preventing swarming recently appearing in the B.B.J., I should be very glad if you will recommend me some plan of ensuring early swarms, for I have kept bees now for some years, and cannot get them to swarm early ; of course, all my bees are in frame hives.— F. A. Cooke, Wolverhampton, December 27. '* Reply. — 1. Combs fro m the hives, in question — if badly "spotted" — are best melted down. Those not soiled [may be used again quite safely. 2. Early swarms depend so largely upon seasons, districts, and method of management, that nothing can be said to promote it more effectually than gentle and judicious stimulation by ^feeding early with Hour-candy cake. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. All queries fonvarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. Letters or queries ashing for addresses of manufac- turers or correspondents, 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 jood of bee-keepers, and not for advertisements. We wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is nscessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of iisue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt of their communica- tions. W. H. S. (Sparkbrook). — Back numbers of B.J. can always be had at this office. W. Harrison (Upper Norwood). — Queen Cast Out. — 1. We should suppose the queen received to be a newly-hatched virgin. The cause of her death can best be decided by examining the comb3 to see if the stock is now queenless. There may be another virgin queen in the hive. 2. The two lots couid be joined by allowing a small passage over frames, but there must be only one queen if this is to be done safely. Jan. 9, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 11 (MtfarM, Jfcrtiis, fct USEFUL HINTS. 1896. — Our first words of the New Year in the particular column appro- priated to " Hints " bring to mind several things ; one being the frequency with which the aforesaid hints have been " crowded out '' of late by the numerous and very interesting items which have filled to overflowing our correspondence department. Seeing how much cause for gratification to ourselves there is in this happy condition of things, it is not for us to complain, and we have, let us hope, sufficient modesty to believe that readers are not wearying for any- thing we may have to say by way of "editorials" at this season. It may, there- fore, be taken for granted that the satis- faction is mutual. Then Ave must not miss the oppor- tunity of wishing all possible good to Bee Journal readers in the year just begun, and may it yield for them better than the old. Its first few days? have, however, been full enough of portent to make men wonder how 1896 will end! We, therefore, in all sincerity, repeat, may it bring nothing but good. Weather. — With January here, and winter weather practically not yet begun, bees will require exceptional watching in view of the hard frosts that may be still to come. Stores will have been rapidly diminishing for some time joast, and where the few sealed combs of food still remaining are far apart there is always risk of " starvation with plenty near at hand," as the phrase goes. This makes it essentially necessary that stocks be not left entirely alone, unlooked at and uncared for during such exceptionally open weather as has hitherto prevailed. It will not be need- ful to go over all hives, nor do more than " lift " a few to get at some approximate idea of their weight, and any doubtful ones have their coverings raised in order to see how and where the bees are clustering. This known, a cake of soft candy placed just over the bees will generally be availed of by them, and, once taken to, the food supply can be maintained by renewing the cakes as needed. Thus the bees will be made safe so far as food, even in the hardest frosts. Some strong, well-stored stocks will, no doubt, have already started brood-rearing, and when this is judged to be the case every means should be taken to guard against extreme cold in the early spring months. Postage of Correspondence. — The men- tion of this matter above affords au opportunity for saying a word to our correspondents regarding the scores of postage-stamps literally thrown away in forwarding communications for our liter- ary department. We therefore ask them to bear in mind that " press copy " is charged at book rate, i.e., a halfpenny stamp covers postage below two ounces in weight. Whereas at present l|d. and sometimes 2d. in stamps is in most cases put on, where a halfpenny would suffice. In saying this we must explain that the letter must be left open at the ends, and have the words " press copy only " written below or over the stamp. To our regular contributors— or those who care to become such — we will be very pleased to forward addressed wrappers ready stamped for post, on application. Size op Brood Chambers. — A good deal of discussion has of late taken place among American apiculturists as to the sise of brood-chambers for obtaining best results in honey production. Some con- tend that very large hives lessen the chances of success in the desired direc- tion, and vice versa. Among the latter may be named the Messrs. Dadant, so well known as large producers of comb- foundation, but who are also extensive bee-keepers. The predilection of these gentlemen may, however, arise from the fact of Mr. Dadant, senior, having ac- quired his early bee-experiences in France, and to the general use of large hives on the Continent. On the contrary, the English idea has always been in favour of a moderate sized brood- chamber, small compared with those of Germany, France, and Switzerland. This preference may have been caused by the less prolific nature of our native bee in comparison with the ligurian, or other foreign races. But what we desire to draw attention to here is the fact that a well-known American bee-keeper — as reported in our pages some months ago — 12 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 9, 189G. gives, as a result of his forty-five years' experience, during -which time he " has tried and tested more styles and sizes of hives than any other bee- man he knew of ; " and comes to the conclusion that the best size of brood-chamber for honey production is one of ten frames, 134- in. by 8f in. Seeing, then, how small is the difference between this and a brood- chamber of ten frames 11 in. by 8| in., it shows a remarkable agreement with the British idea as to which yields the best all-round results, and that there is less variation in the requirements of countries situated far apart than most people suppose, so far as bee-craft. We must defer remainder of "Hints" till next week. ABOUT OUR BEES. Br Henry W. Brice. (Continual from p%cje 508, Vol. xxiii.) (IV.) RACES OF BEES. While much of interesting matter might be written on the various races of bees, a passing reference to those varieties which are least known or cultivated will suffice, seeing that British bee-keepers concern themselves only about three or — at most — four kinds of bees for general use in this country. These may be classed as the black, or common native bee, sometimes called the German bee ; the Car- niolan, so called from the district (Carniola, in Austria), from whence it comes ; and the Ligurian, or Italian Alp bee. Taking them in the order named, we have first — The Black or Native Bee. — To speak cor- rectly, this should be called a brown bee, for the black bee, as known in this country a few generations ago, is very rare indeed, and promises to be ere long a thing of the past. Some bee-keepers claim to still have it in their apiaries, but all specimens yet seen by myself have been unmistakably hybridised or crossed by one or other of the foreign varieties. There are, however, good reasons for sup- posing that the old black bee, in its pure state, was for all-round good qualities very hard to beat. The four main points by which a bee should be judged are (a) working powers ; (b) good temper ; (c) prolificness without inclination to swarm ; and (d) hardi- hood, or good wintering qualities. On most of these points, the nearer we get back to the old native bee the closer are we to securing generally satisfactory results. Carniolans. — The gentleness of these bees dining manipulation has earned for them the title of " the ladies' bee," and certainly when judged by the pure strain — as received in this country from its native habitat — it is particu- larly easy to handle, besides being very prolific and hardy. Having said this, I know of no other good quality they possess. Swarming is their bane. No sooner do they get fairly strong in numbers, and honey begins to come in, than out they come — prime swarm, first, second, third, and fourth casts, which means good-bye to any chance of a surplus from them. On account of their good temper and rapidity of increase, Carniolan bees have been imported largely into this country to the detri- ment of our own variety. The Carniolan is distinguishable from the black bee by rows of greyish white hairs forming light-coloured bands at the several segments of the abdomen. Ligurians. — These were first introduced into this country some forty years ago. The ligurian is more attractive in appearance than either of the above-mentioned bees. It possesses many excellent qualities ; in fact, I look to it as the base from which, by careful selection and crossing with our own bees, the most desirable attributes may be obtained. In securing really good results, however, much difficulty is experienced in procuring really first-class queens from breeders in the Italian and Swiss Alps. The percentage of mothers which turn out wholly satisfactory for the purpose is very small indeed. In fact, to send for a single queen on the chance of receiving value for the trouble and outlay is not worth doing. The ligurian bee is ^distinguished by the more or less yellow colour of the several segments into which the abdomen is divided, the queen sometimes having as many as five of these coloured bands. Her legs are also of a brownish yellow colour. The workers are generally "three-banded," and the drone is distinguished by the bronzy golden colour of its abdomen. The ligurian bee was a few years ago credited by some with the possession of a longer tongue than that of the ordinary brown bee, but this fallacy has now nearly died out. Beyond all question, however, they are more gentle in character, and in my opinion the best strains of Italians are better honey- gatherers than our own bees, but the difference in strain so far as this latter point is very marked indeed. Ligurian queens are more prolific than ours. They are fairly good winterers after becoming acclimatised. When swarming, ligurians have a very objectionable habit of breaking up into small clusters, and spreading themselves out over the ground, rendering hiving difficult at times. When first received from Italy these bees are sometimes infested with the parasite known as the blind louse (Braula creca). I have found as many as seven of these objectionable parasites on a single queen. But for the fact that this bee-pest does not thrive in this country it might become a serious trouble to the bee-keeper. Pure queens of Jan. 9, 189G.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 13 this variety differ a good deal in colour, some being almost bright yellow, while others are so much darker as to be called "leather- coloured.'' This makes it difficult to base an opinion as to the purity of queens upon their colour. Except for mere prettiness, this point is of no importance in a queen ; so long as her progeny is distinctly marked we may be satisfied that the queen is pure bred. Ligurians are less subject to " robbing " than any other race, so determined are they in protecting their stores from pillage by robber bees. Cyprians and Syrians. — Of these two races I have no good word to say, good honey- gatherers though they undoubtedly are, and prolific, too, beyond all question. Inveterate swarmers, and very bad winterers to boot, their worst point, however, is uncertain temper. Once they start stinging, at least one-third of the colony takes the business in hand, and will persistently follow the unfor- tunate object of their fury for quite long distances away from their hive, and even indoors if they can find a way therein through crack, cranny, or keyhole, making the apiary for days after a place to be avoided. Admit- tedly the prettiest bee known, they are cer- tainly at times the most vicious of any variety under cultivation, and, after trial, I promptly discarded them on this account. Among the many other races of bees, which from various causes are found unsuitable for cultivation as honey-producers, may be men- tioned : Apis dorsata, the giant bee of India. Many attempts have been made to domesticate these bees, all ending in failure. They are a migratory race, building their combs during the fine season under boughs of trees ; staying for a time, and then off to fresh pastures. When the wet season has set in they are found in hollow trees and holes in rocks, waiting for the return of finer weather to repeat tteir alfresco operations. Apis fasciata, the Egyp- tian bee, is indigenous both to Asia Minor and North Africa. In 1868, it was tried in England, but failed ignominiously. Exces- sively vicious, enormous swarmers, and queen- rearers extraordinary — 300 queens at a time having been recorded from a single hive. Apis Indica, a small black bee found in the East Indies, very subject to the ravages of moths, and produces but little surplus honey. Triyona carbonaria, a genus of social bees of which little was known among bee-keepers here until recently, when our senior Editor, Mr. Cowan, had sent to him a stock of these tiny bee3 from Australia, which were ex- hibited to a delighted audience at the con- versazione of the B.B.K.A. held on October 10, 1895 (for full description see B.B.J., October 31, 1895). These bees are natives of Australia, and, though possessing great interest for the naturalist, are incapable of rendering any service as honey gatherers. Hybrid Bees. — Having considered all the varieties of bees likely to be of service and also capable of domestication, the question naturally arises which is most fitted to render the best all-round results to those who cultivate bees for profit 1 In deciding this question for ourselves, each must take into account the special circumstances of his own case. In doing this, constitutional infirmities, aptitude for bee- work, time at disposal, location, with any other points likely to influence us, must all be considered. In all vocations some persons are pre-eminently suited for the work, while others will inevitably bungle if they try it. This is most true with regard to bee- keeping, because, let folks say what they please, bees will at times sting, and, if this is a very serious drawback, a bee must be chosen whic is least likely to assail the manipulator. Carnio- lans or Ligurians are the bees for such a bee- keeper, who must put up with the disadvan- tages above mentioned. Personally, I may say that no pure race of bees have ever given me entire satisfaction, -and after trying many kinds, I have come to the conclusion that care- fully-bred hybrid bees, resulting from a cross between selected ligurians and blacks, realise more completely and fully my idea of what a bee should be able to do for its keeper than any other. Some, I know, are prejudiced against hybrids as being noted for viciousness ; but in most cases these vicious bees have, more or less, traces of the Cyprian, Syrian, and, may be, Egyptian blood in them. Another thing which helps to produce a cross-grained bee is "in-and-in breeding," which I consider tends to loss of temper and deterioration of working qualities. To such an extent has this been permitted that many hives in this country are occupied by bees possessing a maximum of bad characteristics — including disease — with hardly a good feature to relieve the monotony. Of course all first crosses will not be equally good-tempered, but when the method I have already laid before my readers is more generally adopted and appreciated, vicious bees will be the exception, and not the rule. The introduction of fresh blood into our apiaries is one of the first principles con- ducing to success, and if practised with care and intelligence good results are sure to follow. A great deal was said of the cross between Cyprians and Carniolans, but my experience of this cross was disappointing in the extreme. Swarming was developed in a high degree and of five queens reared in this way in 1892 not one survived the following winter. Another cross I tried was between blacks and Cyprians, the result being the most truly vicious bees I have come across. They not only stung the operator, but smoker, quilt, hive, trees, and everything that was within reach was pierced by their stings. This cross brought about the only really bad case of robbing I ever had. — Thornton Heath, Surrey. (To be continued). H THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 9, 1896. (tymitytmfam. The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice %vill be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to -write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. *<* In order to facilitate reference, Correspo?idents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. BEES KEFUSING FOUNDATION. A SERIOUS QUESTION FOR BEE-KEEPERS. [2369.] Would you kindly allow me space in your journal to refer to a grievance that has caused bee-keepers in this neighbourhood a serious loss for the last two seasons 1 I allude to contaminated, if not adulterated, super foundation. In 1894, for the first time, I found the super foundation made by a certain dealer (who up to then had supplied founda- tion in every way satisfactory) refused whole- sale by my bees. On making inquiries, I found that all who used this particular founda- tion had the same complaint. Not believing it to be adulterated, I asked the advice of a well-known member of the Irish B.K.A., who thought that probably the use of soap, or some similar lubricant, in making was the cause of the trouble. Thinking, if this was so, it could be easily remedied, I wrote to the dealer from whom it was obtained, pointing out the refusal of the bees to work on it, and the probable cause of this refusal, asking him to replace all remaining on hand with pure foundation for use in 1895. He agreed to this, but denied the use of soap or any objec- tionable matter in its manufacture. In good faith, I again used the same maker's founda- tion during 1895, and, with some difficulty, persuaded my several bee-friends to do the same, with the result that I myself took off over 600 sections fitted with sheets of this foundation entirely refused, and not even touched by the bees. Many others, completely drawn out, filled, and sealed on one side, the other side being untouched. Some sheets were torn into holes, several of the sheets had become of a pale cream colour, others a bright orange, &c. I have kept a few specimens to send to anyone who cares to see them. At one time I had about 1,500 sections on, and was about to put on hundreds more, having at the time over thirty splendid stocks of bees. Some hives had then eighty-four sections on each. Finding that the foundation was again being refused, though honey was plentiful at the time, it became clear where the fault lay, and I proved it by getting some super foundation from Dublin later on, and using it alongside the other. This continued off and on until late in September, during which month I used the Dublin founda- tion beside the other, with the result that' though the season became very unfavour- able, the Dublin foundation was at once more or less drawn out, and some filled with beautifully - finished comb honey, and this beside the English foundation that had been on for months untouched. My experience is that, no matter how poor a season may be, bees well up in sections fitted with pure foundation with more or less honey coming in, will draw out every sheet of foundation uniformly ; and 1 assert that at the end of a season, if there should remain any sheet of foundation untouched, it is contaminated in some way, and if many sheets are refused j am satisfied that the foundation is impure. Bee-keepers, as a rule, have so little knowledge of the purity, or otherwise, of foundation that they take what is sold to them in good faith, trusting to honesty and principle in business. It would be interesting to know how many bee-keepers are there in England who, in '94 and '95 got their share of this same super foundation, and put the blame of its being refused by the bees on the season, instead of on the dealer who supplied it. I consider that, during the last two seasons, I lost about the value of 1/2*00 sections from this cause alone. A working gardener near here, who makes and furnishes his own hives (numbering twenty-six), and who used this foundation, is much to be pitied. He had over 300 sections on this year, and I saw piles of section racks taken off empty through same cause. This man used to get from forty-two to eighty-four per hive before using it. Another who has seven hives, to my own knowledge, took off this season and last every single section empty just as put on, not getting one single sec- tion of honey during the two years. It needs no saying how seriously this matter touches every bee-keeper in the kingdom. I have more .than once found that some dealers forget at times how completely bee-keepers depend upon them for sending on proper materials for bee-use. Among such causes of complaint I cannot help mentioning a dealer who supplies divisible super boxes so made that if full sheets of foundation are used the bees cannot possibly finish the outside section at each end, thereby ensuring six unfinished sections in each set of three boxes. Out of about 1,500 sections put on this season, I had between 700 and 800 saleable ones, though for years past I never got such a low price for section honey nor found sales so slow. Still I have sold over £23 worth of honey, and have still some on the market. I used to have the finest section honey in Ireland, and get the highest price (10s. per dozen) until this year, when I had to sell at 8s. per dozen. This is very disappointing while one has a large number of hives. — T. Kirwan. Co. Galway, January 1, 1896. P.8. — The Congested Districts Board are very successfully extending bee-keeping in certain districts of Ireland, and , their repre- Jan. 9, 189G.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 15 sentative, Mr. O'Bryen, everywhere I go seems to have made hosts of friends among bee- keepers. Their interests in his hands leave nothing wanting. — T. K. [The importance of avoiding such faults in foundation-making as are complained of in the above communication must be so obvious that we trust it will not be lost on any dealers to whom the remarks of our correspondent justly apply. — Eds.] BEE-KEEPING IN IRELAND. ITS FUTURE IX THE CO. KILKENNY. [2370.] My purpose in writing is to givesomc more '-JNotes" on bee-keeping in this county. I have been working frame hive3 for eight years with more or less success each year. A few others here besides myself are working on the modern system, but my neighbours don't make much progress. They do no doubt like to have nice sections, such as I have myself, but they also like me to do the work for them, but that I cannot do, having fifteen stocks of my own to cater for, and having only my leisure hours to do it in. BeiDg a public servant, I can do little more for others than give advice. The country around here is fairly good for honey-gathering, although we have few honey-producing plants, except such as grow spontaneously ; but with fine weather a good average crop can be secured, notwith- standing the fact that Ireland is remarkable for the humidity of it3 climate. From the accounts I read in the Bee Journal of the different honey-plants grown in England, I conclude that Irish bee-keepers can never be quite so successful in the craft as are our Eng- lish friends. The farmers of Ireland, so far as I know, do not sow white clover or sainfoin in their meadows as the English farmer does. White clover seems to be indigenous to this country, for a field planted with red clover, and not broken up for some time, will produce white clover in abundance. Most pasture- lands here also seem to produce the plant spontaneously, as do the roadsides and rail- way embankments. What seems to be most wanted in the county is a bee-keepers' association of some sort. I have exhibited clover honey of the finest quality at the local honey show here for the past seven years, yet nothing has come of it in the shape of an association. The first year I exhibited no prizes were offered, but every year since the late Earl of Bessborough offered prizes for honey, and his successor has kindly continued the donation this year. The Iverk Farmers' Society is now in a flourishing condition, its annual show being held in Bessborough Park, and if a few addi- tional classes for honey and bee-appliances were added to its schedule, it would, I am sure, give an impetus to bee-keeping in the locality ; while the sum required for the purpose would only be small, bearing in mind ViscouDt Duncannon's prizes, which 1 am sure will be continued. Bee-keeping is inseparably a part of agriculture, and as such the Iverk Farmers' Society would do well to take some interest in it. If Colonel II. V. Stewart (president of the society) could be put in communication with Henry Chenevix, Esq., honorary secretary of the Irish Bee-keepers' Association, we might probably perhaps have the bee-tent at the show next year. Most of the local gentry are already favourably impressed with bee-keeping, and if an effort is made to put the industry on a proper footing it would, I feel sure, succeed. One paragraph in the report of the Irish B.K.A. says : — " Persons who believe that lectures on modem bee-keeping could be given with advantage in their neighbourhood are requested to communicate early in the year, if possible, with Henry Chenevix, Esq., hon. sec, 15, Morehampton-road, Dublin." This reduces the matter to the query, Who will do it? The Irish Bee- keepers' Association could do quite as much good work for the labourer and cottager here as in the congested districts of Ireland, and, perhaps — outside of the Bess- borough estate — such help is almost as much needed in these times of agriculture depres- sion. Some years ago the libourer and cottager were receiving at the rate of from 55s. to 60s. per cwt. for their little pig ; now they cannot get more than half that amount. 1 believe the Irish B.K.A. have very few members in this county ; but they had their bee-tent in Kilkenny at the Eoyal Agricultural Show about 1881 or 1882, but since that time practically little or nothing known of that body down here. I ask the question — How is this ? — M. K, Piltown, co. Kilkenny, Decem- ber 13, 1895. BE QUEEN WASPS AND BEE STINGS. [2371.] I think I may safely claim that we have killed the first queen wasp for '96. She was observed flying in my garden on January 2, which was a warm, sultry day ; and was promptly caught and despatched by my groom. Your correspondent F. H. Taylor (2356, p. 4) asks if some of the medical bee-keepers would explain the causes of the different effects of bee-stings, in different parts of the body, and in different people. Last spring I sent you what I believe to be the most accurate description of the constitutional effects of bee- stiogs yet given. On looking the matter up in Quain's Dictionary of Medicine, I read that : — " The severity of the sensation, and of the local and constitutional effects of stinging depends, not only on the quality and quantity of the irritant, but also on indi- vidual susceptibility — and the greatest differ- ence is observable amongst individuals, and even in the same individual, at different times. There seems, however, reason to believe that the system becomes more resistant to the 16 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 9, 1896. effects after repeated stingings, as is seen amongst bee-keepers. Some variations in the violence of the poison occurs with the season of the year." As regards the increased effect produced when the sting is . inflicted on the face, mouth, eyelids, or other very sensitive part, the cause of such increased effect lies in the fact that in such parts the skin is thinner (than on the hands for instance) and there is a more plentiful supply of fine nerves and blood-vessels, and, moreover, a greater abundance of loose cellular tissue beneath the skin. From the above it would appear that individual susceptibility and custom (or non- custom as the case may be) are the most important factors in determining the effect likely to be produced. Moreover, I am of opinion that a very susceptible person may^ become proof against the effects of stings, but that such immunity may toear off, should he not receive occasional inoculations. Personally, I always find the first stings of the season the worst to bear, and produce the greatest swelling, though never but once have I experienced any constitutional symptoms ; and on that occasion I was at a loss whether to ascribe such symptoms to a special virulence on the part of the poison, as the quantity was not great (only five stings) or to some slight departure from health, and therefore resisting power, in the subject. — Percy Sharp, L.R.C.P., M.R.O.S.,L.S.A., Brant, Broughtqn, January 6. DRIVING VICIOUS BEES. a beginner's experience. [2372.] For the benefit of " Self Taught " (2354), I wish to give my experience in driving a vicious stock last September. I went up to the said stock with all the sangfroid to be expected from a novice who had only driven one or two stocks previously, and gave a dozen puffs of smoke in at the entrance, then stuffed the hole up, and made ready to lift the skep from its floor-board. All this occupied about five minutes. I then lifted the skep, but dropped it again like — shall I say — a hot potato ! for the bees gave me what some people term " beans." They " came for me '' all over — head, legs, and arms. Nothing daunted, however, I strengthened my armour and " went for them " again. Having previously seen that my smoker gave out a. good volume of smoke, I reciprocated their kind attention, and in return gave them "beans" in the shape of some good puffs of smoke. I then stopped the entrance-hole, waited about five minutes, and then lifted them up again, and, lo and behold ! the affrighted bees ran up helter- skelter into the skep placed above to receive them, as though thankful to me for offering them a means of escape. I have them now in a Price's night-light lox, which latter is put inside a cube-sugar box with paper to keep them warm. These bees are not at all vicious now, but I may tell you the results of the " beans " they gave me were visible to all beholders, short- sighted or otherwise for quite a week. My arms also swelled up to twice the size, but beyond this I felt none the worse for my " driving " exploit. I have six stocks packed for winter and will let you know next year how I get on with them. I think if bees are a bit vicious they should have given them a good dose of smoke and five minutes to consider it. This done, they will usually arrive at a unanimous agree- ment that they might be in better quarters, and will thank you tor helping them out of a fix by offering them this desideratum. — E. Parsons, New Cubbington, Warwick. BEE-KEEPING STATISTICS. [2373.] I was much interested by a para- graph in last week's Journal occurring in Mr. Taylor's article "Still More Chestnuts" (page 4), in which he dealt with the matter of statistics connected with apiculture. I quite agree with him as to the usefulness of this information. Statistics showing the position and progress of any art or craft, cannot fail to prove of great value to those interested, and the fuller in detail the more useful, mani- festly. It was with much surprise £ learned from the article mentioned that such statistics are not published by the Board of Agriculture, in view of the fact that in England the bee- keeping industry is fast becoming an important one, whilst in Ireland, where it is but a small item, comparatively, the fullest details are published. Statistics of bee-keeping in this country are required by the Board of Agriculture, and are furnished (which may not be generally known) by that efficient body the Royal Irish Con- stabulary ; a constable in every district throughout the country being appointed in turn each summer to take the agricultural statistics, and apiculture — being a kindred branch of the same and apparently considered of importance — is also dealt with in detail. It is a regrettable fact that the bee-industry in this country does not prove a more lucrative one, especially just now, when the inhabitants are suffering so much from agricultural depression, but unfortunately one of the main causes of the failure — climate — in the one all-important industry would prove a hindrance to success to any great extent in the other. Indeed my humble experience which, although practical, extends over but a few years, has brought me to the conclusion that the uncertainties of our climate is the one great barrier to a marked success here ; all other conditions but those which are due to nature we can alter by some means or other of course. However, grumbling at the unalter- Jan. 9, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 17 able laws of nature will not benefit the cause of our craft, or any other,'it is clear ; nevertheless, many of us feel betimes a spirit of discontent rising within us when we ponder over all the energies of mind and body expended on a project rendered fruitless, almost, owing to the influence of one factor over which we can have no control. From accounts published from time to time in the Bee Journal, it seems clear that climatic conditions are much more favourable to bee-keeping in England, and notably in the south — though climate brings disappointment there, too, at times — than they are in this country, where the tiuest white or Dutch clover is often valueless to our little labourers, owing to wet or cool summer days and nights. I read with much interest the reports furnished by your correspondents of their bee-doings, and am indeed amazed at the amount of surplus which has been taken in some instances, particularly in Mr. Wells's case, and in that of others following his system, the amount of wax taken by Mr. Wells appears to me to be even more remarkable than his honey produce ; and the very small item of expenditure — especially last season's £4 Is. 9d. — employed by him is also very surprising. Indeed, I think the fact that such results are attainable in our British climate, where the summers are short and cool comparatively, speaks volumes for the systems and management in vogue, and I trust our Editors may often be enabled to publish such gratifying reports, as they must be a stimulus to many of us in the ranks, and serve to raise enthusiasm in our cause. I trust 1 have not trespassed too much upon your valuable space — that is, provided you consider the above worth placing before your readers, in which case I might find time occasionally to send other small contributions to our Journal. Wishing all bee-keepers a Prosperous New Year. — Sea Bee, co. Louth, January 4, 1896. DEALING WITH FOUL BROOD. [2374.] You may remember my writing you respecting the treatment of some dozen stocks of bees affected Avith foul brood belonging to members of our association, stating how I was going to proceed in trying to affect a cure, and soliciting your opinion on the same ; as you wished to be informed of the result I have pleasure in sending it. After the bees had ceased flying for the day I got a skep and cheese cloth, shook the bees from frames of two hives . (selecting the youngest queen). I run bees into the skep, tied cheese cloth over them and deposited skep in a cold outhouse. We next burnt the frames, quilts, and all locse things about the hives, and left them for the owner to disinfect pre- paratory to returning the bees. This I did two days later, putting them on new frames and full sheets of foundation. I found a lot of bees dead on untying the skep, owing, as I thought, to the weather being very hot at .the time. I had put them in the coldest place and asked the owner to syringe the skep3 the next day, and as the cheese cloth was very coarse, I am not sure it was the heat, but cannot suggest a cause for so many bees dying. The bees were fed with medicated syrup, and built out from nine to eleven frames each, and reared a fine lot of healthy brood. When packed for winter they were in the best of condition, with. plenty of stores, brood, and bees. Several members of our association are trying the medicated food used above, without destroying the combs, with what result cannot be told until the spring, when I shall be pleased to report on it more fully, after the bees have been examined. — J. Martin, Expert, Bristol B.K.A. "VERIFY" YOUR QUOTATIONS." [2375.] In my last "Chestnuts" (page 5), through a printer's error, the couplet 1 quoted from " The One Hoss Shay," by 0. Wendell Holmes, falls quite away from the mark. It should read : — " This is a moral that runs at; large, Take it — you're welcome — no extra charge." The substitution of " marvel " for moral altogether destroying the appositeness of the quotation. So, lest " A Critic " should be first to point this out, will you kindly insert this correction ?— Fred. H. Taylor. YE OLDEN BEE-KEEPER {Concluded from page 9.) [2376.] If any reader of the B.B.J, can help me to identify a green herb called Tithymal I shall be much obliged to him. I mean the particular species which was known in mediaeval times by that name. I do not seek this information from mere idle curiosity but because I want to go and root up any that may be lurking, possibly dis- guised under a modern sobriquet, in the vicinity of my apiary. I am seized with this desire because (accord- ing to apiarian authorities in the olden days) it is a deadly herb and responsible for about all the diseases incident to bee life. The scourge shall overtake them if " they feed on tithymal or taste the juyce of it." Of course, it is some consolation to learn that its deadly effects may, to some extent, be counteracted with the " shell of a pomegranate pounded and mingled with honey and sharp wine." But while submitting this treatment my oracle insists that " if any grow thereabouts it must be pulled up by the roots.'' There is another matter about which I should be glad of some information. Bees, I 18 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 9, 1896. find, in the olden days suffered from a mys- terious complaint called the "dark sight" ; which, by the way, might be cured with the fumes of origanum. What is the " dark sight ? " Enemies.— Ants were regarded as enemies by ye olden bee-keeper. But, " they shall not," he says, " come near a beehive of honey if you put white wool about it, or enclose it in potter's earth." Neither of these protective measures com- mend themselves to me. I should prefer the following as being simpler. " Ants may be driven away with the heart of an owl." But there are other methods. You may "stop their holes with sea-mud." "Water mingled with unburnt brick " also " is a great enemy to them." The heart of a bat, too, or the smoke of a sheath fish will " hinder them from coming forth." Our harmless little friend, braula ewea, was looked upon with suspicion, but he had a different name in those days. Various plans were recommended with a view to his extermi- nation— e g., " you may cure them with a wild fig, burnt to a smoke." But wild figs have proved futile, and he is still to the fore. Personally, I have never plotted against his life. I cannot help think- ing that he plays the part of the judicious leech, and that his special mission is to regulate any phlethoric tendency, engendered by a sedentary life, inimicable to the health of her majesty, and other favoured inmates of the hive. Bee Pasturage. — To judge from old bee- books, one would imagine that a very radical change must have come about during the last two or three centuries in the flora of this country, or that the habits of Apis mellifica have undergone considerable modification. I gather from British bee-keepers' guide books contemporary with the age, that in the time of the commonwealth the bees of Great Britain ignored the clovers, and turned up their noses at the rosacea?. They frequented, it is true, the shrub cytisus, but as a rule they appear to have condescended to nothing less aromatic than thyme, sage, and savory. Is it possible that these authorities can have relied for this information less upon actual apiarian expe- rience than upon the works of those who wrote of sunnier climes % This idea appears to me to be favoured by the following passage: — "The best time to take .honey and. combs is when the Pleiades rise — that is, according to the Roman account, about the beginning of May. The second time to take them is at the beginning of autumn. The third time is when the Pleiades set — that is, about October. But there is no set daies for this, but as the combs are in perfection, for if you take the honey forth before the combs be completed the bees will not endure it, and they leave working for thirst." Speaking ef this country generally, I fear bee-keepers will not find many combs "in perfection " by the beginning of May ; while it certainly seems to me that October is a trifle late for " taking the honey forth." Feeding. — " When the bees are young you must set them meat in basins, honey, wine, wherein is thyme and savory, full of flowers that they may not be suffocated. Others bruise raisins and mingle thyme to it, and make lumps, and with these they feed the swarms very well.'' Instructions are given for both summer and winter feeding. At any rate, our old friend was not behind the modern bee-keeper in his appreciation of the importance of a liberal commissariat. This is abundantly manifest in his directions for the management, not only of the apiary, but of beast and bird, the oxen and asses, the he- goats and she-goats, the hogs and the hens. And this system of high feeding seems to have been extended also to the culture of the herbs of his garden. This is how he set to work to produce fine cucumbers : — " You shall soak your cucumber seed in man's blood. The man must be a young and yellow-haired one, for his blood hath in it more hot and effectual virture." — Gerard W. Bancks, Green-street Green, Dartford. HONEY IMPORTS. The total value of honey imported into the United Kingdom during the month of Novem- ber, 1895, was £1,762. — From a return furnished by the Statistical Office, H.M. Customs. WIND AND WEATHER. AS AFFECTING BEES AND HONEY PRODUCTION, (Concluded from page 10.) The periods of easterly winds return at certain seasons of the year, if not with exact regularity as to date. " As the days lengthen will the cold strengthen" I have found quite true, as it is the rule for easterly winds to prevail from the latter half of winter. The later their first appearance is delayed towards spring the less of real winter we have ; and when they do not come on until March is well advanced, we have a long dry spring and warm sunshine. These winds always leave us not later than July, and always return at least once more towards autumn. If we get them as early as July, as in the year mentioned, the wet season comes earlier. August is the month for the almost unvarying return of these fine spells of east wind, and their period of duration at this time, being always from the S.E., is three weeks. But if we miss this genial spell of fine weather in that month, it is sure to come in September, and never later. As a rule, after its termination no further prolonged fine weather occurs until the new year, and for the Jan. 9, 1-89C] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 19 rest of the old year the short spells of cold weather and cool, fine days occur with westerly winds, while veering for a few hours or days to N.W. A peculiarity with our east winds is the fact that early in the year their direction is E.N.E., towards summer E.S.E., and upon their return at the latter part of summer nearly always S.E. Occasionally worm days may raise the hopes of the bee-keeper, but no permanent benefit will be experienced until the usual term of at least forty days'has passed. Some people place a lot of faith in the moon's changes, and I once came across a tabulated scale showing that if those changes take place between certain hours, while the wind at the time is from certain directions, the weather for the next week will be according to the rules laid down. If the moon changed near mid- night the finer was the weather to be ; if near mid-day the more unsettled. The moon is evidently changing all the time, and I do not see what effect the various phases have. For years I conscientiously studied the table in relation to the weather experienced, and had to confess that I was unable to confirm the author's predictions. If the new moon lies on her back she is supposed to have her lap held open to receive copious rains, and I must say the saying generally receives practical confirmation in this respect. On the other hand, if on its appear- ance the moon is upright it is supposed to indicate fair weather. I suppose most of my readers have heard that " where the wind is when the sun crosses the line in March, there it will remain for the next .three months." Whether there is any connection here is open to doubt. It is the usual time for the period of east wind which lasts for many weeks ; and even if the vane on that day shows variations all the way from north to south on the western side or if it stands at any one point in that direction, it is almost sure to veer to east within a few days for the usual spring period. A warm, breathless day after a period of bad weather may be taken as an indication that the long desired change of wind is at last occurring. A severe gale, too, is often the forerunner of a change of wind and of tempera- ture. Terrific winds, from whatever quarter they may come, strange to say, last three days and seldom longer. To provide against acci- dents at such times it is advisable to have hive covers always weighted. The greatest safe- guard to the stock itself, if as it should be, is its own weight, providing it is not on long legs. During an easterly period of wind in May, a three days' term of very high winds will in- variably occur, but in this case there is no change to follow, unless it be a greater degree of heat. Naturally we are subject to gales at any time while the wind is from the west, but it is not comforting to know that it is the ex- ception for us to escape a three days' blizzard during the period of an easterly wind in winter, something quite unlike our usual cold winds, and almost freezing the marrow in one's bones. As a warning in relation to the brood-nest in spring, the apiarist will do well to remember that after a hail-storm a frost occurs at night, from the fact that the wind veers to N.W. while such storms are about. The foregoing statements are based upon many years' careful observation, showing that there is a great deal more method in weather changes than is usually supposed ; and while the same conclusions may not be correct in detail for all parts of the country, it will generally be found that certain winds prevai for lengthened periods, and that no decided change in the current weather will be expe- rienced until it is time for such periods to terminate. — Saml. Simmins. (fumes and Jjkjjlies. [1407.] Bees Deserting Swarmed Hive. — My only hive gave me on June 23 last a rack of 21 1-lb sections well filled, and four days afterwards sent off a fine swarm, which I now have. A week afterwards I examined the parent hive and found it well stocked with bees and plenty of honey. Three weeks later I went away for a fortnight, and on returningl saw r jbbing had taken place. A little carbolic acid was at once put on alighting board, and next evening, on examining the hive, I found it completely empty of bees but with plenty of honey. Of the nine frames all the outer ones were quite full, the centre ones being well filled about four inches down. A few cells contained dead drones, not more than a dozen. The robbing could not have been going on very long, as not more than a pound of honey had been taken, judging by the empty cells. When I first noticed it I found bees coming from the old stock hive into the one in which I had placed the swarm. I should be very pleased if you could throw any light on the subject. — Jno. T. Corbett, Woodstock, January 1. Reply. — There is little doubt ' that the young queen hatched in the parent hive has been lost on one of her mating excursions. The bees, finding themselves queenless— and without the means of raising one — have evi- dently joined their old queen and bees of the swarm. [1408.] Shelter for Bee Location. — I own four stocks of bees in frame-hive3 and six in flat-topped skeps, and, having changed my residence last Michaelmas, have as yet left the bees behind. I have done this because the large garden here lies rather high and is un- sheltered by trees other than very low fences, and without higher ground on either side. 20 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 9, 189G. There certainly is a north hedge, but that position is unsuitable for other reasons. I therefore ask, is it necessary to erect some shelter for the hives against cold winds ? If so, would a 4-ft. or 5-ft. fence of upright boards or wreathed thorns on the north side of the row (leaving just room to walk behind the hives) be a good plan ? My straw hives have not straw caps or " hackles " to protect them, but only sacking-covers and milk-pan over all. — North Dorset, January 1. Reply. — What is wanted in such a situa- tion is shelter from high winds for the bees when returning home heavily laden in the spring-time. If the prevailing wind is from the north, a " wreathed thorn " fence 5-ft. high would be most serviceable for the pur- pose. Referring to the skeps, a milk-pan cover is far better than a straw hackle in an exposed situation. [1409.] Transferring Bees. " Wells " Dtinimy Shallow-frames for Extracting. — 1. What would be the best month to put two strong skeps of bees on a "Wells" hive for working down into the latter ? 2. Does a " Wells " perforated dummy require the same thickness all round as a standard frame, viz., \ in. wide ? Would a perforated board h in. thick fixed in centre of brood chamber answer as well 1 3. Would perforated zinc do harm to bees ; if so, what harm 1 4. What are the advantages of shallow-frames for extracting ? Would not standard frames answer better if wired? — E. G. Parsons, Stoke Golding. Reply. — 1. End of April if bees are so numerous as to fairly well fill the skeps. 2. The " Wells " perforated dummy is made ^ thick, not •£. 3. Zinc is harmful for use in hives during winter, because of probable oxy- disation of the metal through moisture. 4. It would occupy too much space to detail what we consider the advantages of shallow-frames for storing surplus, but that they are ad- vantageous is generally admitted. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufac- turers or correspondents, 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 food 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 the date of iisue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt of their communica- tions. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. " Whatfor " (Watford). — 1. Ridding Hives of Ants, &c. — The plan of inserting hive legs in water — for protection against ants, ear- wigs, and such like pests — has many dis- advantages, and is generally discarded after trial. We should prefer tying a band of oakum or of " cotton- waste " round each leg, and occasionally saturating the band with coal tar or with paraffin. This will keep the intruders off during the season when they become troublesome. 2. Barring Hive Entrance with Grating of Nails. — It will never do to drive wire nails through floor- board from beneath at jin. apart in order to keep out mice, snails, &c. The entrance must on no account be obstructed as pro- posed, and if entrance is made no more than | in. high (as it should be), it is quite pro- tection enough for the bees against the trouble feared. For guarding against " robbers,'' a pair of simple sliding doorways answers as well as anything we know of. 3. Cane-Sugar for Bee-food. — As analysis is out of the question, reliance must be placed on the guarantee of the seller. F. W. Astbury (Wellington). — 1. Making Artificial Swarms. — The proper method of making an artificial swarm under the cir- cumstances named is to remove the queen and the one comb of brood on which she is found, into a new hive, having its frames fitted with full sheets of brood-foundation, and setting this new hive on the old stand. The old, or parent hive, is then removed to a new stand to raise a queen from eggs or brood left therein. Your proposed plan might succeed, but seeing it is less safe and satisfactory than the one given above, there is no reason for adopting it. 2. Honey Plants. — White clover, sainfoin, heather, fruit bloom of all kinds, and lime blossoms form the main sources from which honey is gathered. Then come the various trifoliums, mignonette, borage, white arabis, lirnnan- thus douglasii, melilotus leucantha, Chapman honey plant, giant balsams, and many others of greater or less honey value. Thos. Pritchard (Bucknell Station). — 1. The section of heather honey reached here in good time, and was much appreciated by those for whom it was intended. It is genuine "hill heather'' honey, and the quality we consider very good indeed. 2. Referring to the samples of sand-coating, we will have much pleasure in showing them on the occasion of the Annual Meeting of the B.B.K.A. 3. No special certificate follows the F.B. examination, but the star to name in future reports of the B.B.K.A. is a per- manent endorsement of the certificate. S. Hap. borne (Birmingham). — Hive Making. — Full particulars, with illustrations, for making the " W. B. C." hive, appeared in B.J. for February 1 and 8, 1894, and will be sent post-free for 2M. in stamps. W. Loveday (Harlow).— Wax Imports. — We will endeavour to obtain the information desired, and, if successful, will publish it. Jan. 16, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 21 ifcrrial, Inertias, fat BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The monthly meeting of the Council was held on Friday, the 10th inst., at 105, Jermyn- street, W., at 4 o'clock. Present — T. W. Cowan (chairman), Major Fair, Messrs. R. T. Andrews, W. Broughton-Carr, Cecil Hooper, E. 1). Till, and J. M. Hooker (ex-officio)). Mr. H. Jonas (vice-chairman) and H. W. Brice attended committee meetings at 17, King William-street, but were unable to be present at the Council meeting. Letters expressing regret for absence were received from the Revs. G. W. Buncks and W. E. Burkitt, Messrs. W. O'B. Glennie (treasurer), Jesse Garratt, W. H. Harris, J. H. New, and A. G. Pugh. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The special committee appointed to con- sider the applications received in response to the advertisement for a secretary to the Association in the room of the late Mr. Huckle, reported that there had been twenty- five candidates for the vacant post. Of these several were considered fully competent to fulfil the duties required of them, but after full consideration they unanimously decided to recommend Mr. Edwin H. Young for the appointment. After considering the various reasons for this preference, the recommenda- tion of the committee was confirmed by the Council nem. con. The special committee were requested to arrange a meeting with the newly-appointed secretary in a few days and initiate him into the duties of the office. The statement of accounts to December 31 was next read — including a recommendation of the finance committee as to several accounts — payment of which was agreed to. The Chairman stated that the sub -com- mittee appointed at the conference held on December 13 — reported in B.J. of the 19th of that month— had met at the Euston Hotel, London, on the 8th inst., and, after several hours consideration and discussion, had framed certain suggestions with regard to the pro- posed foul-brood legislation. On the following day the sub-committee waited upon Mr. T. H. Elliott, Permanent Sec- retary to the Board of Agriculture, at the offices, Whitehall, between whom and the sub-committee the matter was discussed at some length. As a result of the interview it was arranged that a meeting of the joint- committee be held in the "Council-room " at 12, Hanover-square, London, at two o'clock on Friday, January 31. Letters were read (1) from the Durham College of Science, approving of the action of the B.B.K.A. with regard to foul brood ; (2) from the hon. sec. Yorks B.K.A., explaining the position in reference to affiliation with the B.B.K.A., and the reasons for non-compliance with the required conditions ; (3) from the East Riding (Yorks) B.K. A., hoping to become affiliated with the parent body ; (4) from the University College, Wales, referring to exami- nations for women candidates for experts' certificates in bee-keeping ; (5) from the " Bath and West " Agricultural Society, regarding the location for honey and bee- appliances in the show ground at St. Albans. The correspondence also included communi- cations from the Hants and Isle of Wight, and the Lanes, and Cheshire B.K. Associa- tions, all of which were considered and duly dealt with. The Chairman gave notice of motion for amending certain of the rules of the association bearing upon the status of officials of the Asso- ciation to be brought before the annual meeting to be held in March next. A unanimous vote of thanks was passed to Miss L. M. Carr, of the Bee Journal office, for temporarily undertaking the duties of secretary at the request of the Council, and for the satisfactory manner in which the work had been done since the death of Mr. Huckle. The Council then adjourned till Friday, February 14, at 4 p.m. Mr. F. Tunbridge, Broomfield, Chelmsford, was elected a member of the Association. DERBYSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of this Association was held on Friday, the 10th inst., at the Y.M.C.A., St. Peter's Churchyard, Derby, Alderman Barber, J.P., presiding. The hon. sec. (Mr. F. Walker) read the 15th annual report, which, after noting the past honey season, went on to say : — The Agricultural Society had again contributed X'10 to the prize list at the annual show, and the thanks of the Association were due to them in consequence, as well as to the various tradespeople who had offered prizes. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, referred to the resignation of the secretaryship by Mr. Atkins, who for so many years had worked hard in the interests of the society, but he was pleased to think that in Mr. Walker they had an admirable successor. The Chairman also announced that the County Council grant had this year been increased to .£50, and he hoped that the lectures which were given under its auspices would jjrove a great stimulus to bee-keeping throughout the county. The motion was agreed to. The report of the sub-committee appointed to dispense, the County Council grant was adopted, as was the detailed balance-sheet. The Duke of Devonshire was re-elected presi- dent. The vice-presidents were also re- elected, with the addition of Lord Burton, and 23 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 16, 1896. Messrs. Bemrose, M.P,, Gretton, M.P., and Drage, M.P. Alderman Barber was again appointed chairman, it being announced that he was about to offer a five-guinea Challenge Cup to be competed for at the next annual show, whilst the hon. sec. stated that he should have pleasure in offering a stock of bees in hive. Dr. Copestake was re-appointed treasurer, and Mr. F. Walker hon. secretary, whilst the Management Committee was also elected. — Communicated. IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The Committee met on the 9th inst. Pres- ent— Captain Millner (in the chair), Mr. Read, Mr. O'Bryen, and Mr. Chenevix (hon. sec. 15, Morehampton-road, Dublin). A sub-Com- mittee Avas appointed to draw up the annual report, which will be issued about the end of March. It was resolved to draw the attention of members to the prizes offered by the Royal Dublin Society for honey at the Spring Show. BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. APPOINTMENT OF SECRETARY. In announcing the appointment of a gentle- man to succeed the late Mr. John Huckle as Secretary of the British Bee-keepers' Associa- tion, we cannot quite help sharing in the more or less of personal disappointment which will, no doubt, be felt at the result. This feeling on our part is but natural, in view of our excep- tional opportunities of becoming personally acquainted with the merits of many of the candidates ; and for the applicants themselves that some disappointment will arise goes without saying. For the Council of the Association, how- ever, it cannot be otherwise than gratifying to find so many capable and altogether excellent candidates placing the necessary time and services at their disposal. It is moreover obvious that the salary offered was not largely the inducement ; and, so when gentlemen of education, culture, and high .scientific attain- ments are included — among others well ex- perienced as experts in bee-keeping and in association work — it becomes clear that the Avork was regarded by many as not only congenial but very much in the light of a labour of love. Having said this much, we do not doubt that the decision of the Council will be accep- ted as a correct one, even by unsuccessful candidates themselves, bearing in mind the exceptional advantages claimed for Mr. Edwin H. Young. In order to properly appraise these advantages, it may be explained that Mr. Young has been for some years — and will still continue to be — assistant to his brother, Mr. Wm, C. Young, well known as the secre- tary of the British Dairy Farmers' Association, which, as our readers know, holds its annual show at the Agricultural Hall, London. The " Dairy Farmers " are now located in the fine suite of offices, No. 12, Hanover- square, W., until recently occupied by the Royal Agricultural ^Society, the latter body having now moved into the adjoining building. No. 12, Hanover-square, then, will henceforth be the Loudon address of the B.B.K.A., and the new secretary may, after commencing his duties, be seen there daily during office hours. The many interests common to dairy- farmers and bee-keepers, so far as the work of their respective associations, will be obvious to all, while the experience gained by Mr. Young in exactly similar work to that now required of him, including the management of large exhibitions, should eminently fit him for a post in which organising powers are necessary. To say that the new secretary has been for over ten years a practical and successful bee- keeper, only adds one more to the many advantages which point to him as the right man in the right place. It is, therefore, Ave think, not too much to hope that the members of the B.B.K.A., and of county associations generally, in congratulating Mr. Young on his appointment will in the future have cause to congratulate the council of the Association in being enabled to fill the vacant office in a manner likely to give all-round satisfaction ; Avhich satisfaction, we may add on the part of those concerned, is rendered more complete by the fact of the appointment being so entirely "open" and the list of candidates secured, entirely and solely from the advertisement Avhich appeared in our pages. HONEY IMPORTS. The total value of honey imported into the United Kingdom during the month of December, 1895, was £3,098. — From a return furnished to the British Bee Journal by the Statistical Office, H.M. Customs. As showing the fluctuation in value of the honey imported into the United Kingdom during the past year, we append the monthly returns for 1895, furnished to us by H.M. Statistical office, as under : — ■ January ... February March ... April May June July August ... September October November December £522 930 2,975 2,729 3,263 9,926 5,550 5,159 3,578 1,780 1,762 3,098 Total for the year £41,302 Jan. 16, 1896. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. ^xmpix&tut The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily .for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. Communications relating to the literary departmsnt, reports of Associations, Shows, Meltings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, &c, must be addressed only to " The Editors of the 'British Bee Journal,' 17, King William- street, Strand, London, W.C' All business communi- cations relating to Advertisements, die., must bs addressed to "The Manager, ' British Bea Journal' Ofice, 17, King William-street, Strand, London, W.C." (see 1st pane of advertisements). %* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, null oblige by mentioning the number oftheletter, as well as thepsLQC on which it appears. NOTES BY THE WAY. [2377.] The weather continues open and mild, quite iu contrast to last January. The barometer has nearly touched 31 in. during the last few days, but the dull foggy weather has kept the bees quiet, and we have seen but few out since the 31st December, when the apiary was in a merry hum with thousands of bees on the wing. 1 removed covers of hives, spread out the wrap3 for an airing, and even transferred a few frames of food from the over- stocked to those getting short of stores, and so saved candy for the present. I am always glad to read the encouraging reports of our bee-keeping friends, but we seldom find anything debited for time spent in producing these favourable results. Excep- tions occur, of course, but generally speaking — and to most people — '• time is money.'' Those who have spare time are, I suppose, entitled to represent their gros3 profits on the year's working of their apiaries, but those not so situated ought certainly to charge the value of the time to the debit account. Then the item wax is often credited at full market value; possibly the bulk of it may have been founda- tion made from the bee-keeper's own wax in previous years ; if so, the weight of foundation used in making the combs ought to be deducted from the cake of wax. While on the subject of wax, I may add there are few of us who can ever hops to equal that " cake of wax " mentioned on p. 516 of B.J. for '95 by our friend Mr. Wells. I myself must own that either my method of extraction, or the wax-secreting proclivities of my bees, are sadly deficient, as I imagine that by melting up the combs in fifty of my hives, I should not get 85 lb. of wax from the whole ! How Mr. Wells does it, and where the wax comes from, is a mystery to me. In saying this, however, I in nowise cast a doubt on Mr. Wells' figures. A good device for outdoor feeding is given in the Bee-keepers' Bevieiv (American). One cask to hold the syrup, which is allowed to drip from a tap into an inclined shallow trough, and the bees feed from this trough. Then at the other end of trough is another cask into which any surplus syrup not cleared up by the bees may run ; this receptacle being covered with wire-cloth to prevent bees getting drowned. The writer suggests that medicated syrup could be given to the bees by this method — in fact,' to all the bees in the vicinity. Some of our readers desire to prevent swarming, and are eager for any wrinkle that will help them in that line, while others are anxious to get early swarms. The first- named are evidently fully stocked with hives, while the latter desire increase. Now I well remember Mr. Simmins' articles advocating comb-buildiDg below — or with combination hives in front, of the brood-nest. I tried this plan at the time with some hive?, but it did not succeed in my ca?e, as about 75 per cent, of the hives on which the system was tried swarmed that season, consequently I have not troubled to give it a second trial. During the last two or three seasons I have not had more swarms than I required. Nor do I lose swarms from the fact of my home -apiary being under constant supervision the season through, and a watcher for swarms being employed at my out-apiary. I have no wish to entirely prevent swarming myself, though by judicious management swarming may be reduced to a minimum, as most practical bee-keepers know. Those who want early swarms should gain first an accurate knowledge of the bee-flora of their district. Some districts are provided with early forage, while places not far distant may be a week or a fortnight later ; then the early swarm sent to the early district would do well, whereas the early swarm sent to a later district, so far as pasturage, would not make progress, and by the time the honey-flow came on many of the bees constituting the swarm would have died off or been lost in foraging, thus the de- pleted population would store honey less rapidly than if income had started imme- diately on their arrival. Therefore I consider it lost labour to feed stocks and incite the bees to early breeding, excep" for early districts. — W. Woodlev, Beedon, Newbury. TITHYMA.LE (LA.T., TITHYMALUS). [2378.] Your correspondent, the Eev. G. W. Bancks, in concluding his interesting letters on " Ye Olden Bee-keeper," asks, on page 17, for in- formation as to " a green herb called Tithymal." This plant belongs to the extensive genus Euphorbia (the Euphorbium of Pliny), which appears to be indigenous to all parts of the world where plant life exists. Sir Joseph Hooker names ten English species. It is also mentioned by Benfcham, Lindley, &c. The latter author, in 1845, enumerated 191 genera, and estimated the known species, described and undescribed, at 2,500, but these have been increased since then. Most of those 24 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 16, 1896. enumerated are tropical, but there are now- some fifteen well-known English species, passing under various names, as " spurge," " devil's milk," &c, which grow wild on dry wastes and in hedge-rows. There are also several varieties under cultivation. Many of the tribe are poisonous, the special seat of the virus being contained in the milky exudation from the stems of the plant. E. Hiberna, long indigenous to our islands and formerly well known as a medicine, has apparently quite disappeared, giving place, no doubt, to newer varieties. Concerning the particular spscies in the mind of "Ye Olden Bee-keeper" it is impossible to say. The natives of Africa smeared their arrows with the juice of Euphor- bia heptagona, E. virosa, and E. cereiformis, the Brazilian Indians using E. cotinifolia for the same purpose. So there can be no doubt as to the poisonous nature of some of the species. — H. W. Brice, Thornton Heath. In reply to the Bev. G. Bancks' query on page 17 in last issue, the plant called Tithymal in his curious old book is no doubt Tithymalus, now known as Euphorbia, a spurge or milk- wort. It is a small edition of the Euphorbia or Caper, the seeds of which are served with boiled mutton as " caper sauce." — F. V. Hadlow, Buxted, Essex, January 10. A BEGINNER'S EXPERIENCES. SUCCESSFUL BEE-KEEPING UNDER DIFFI- CULTIES. [2379.] Trusting you will find room in your valuable and much-esteemed Bee Journal for another responae to your call for " Expe- riences by Young Beginners in the art of Bee- keeping,'' I send you the following : — The way I was led to adopt it as a hobby is this — Early in 1894 I read in a copy of Answers a paragraph entitled " Bees in queer places," and, thinking I should like to keep a hive of them, decided to get one and make a trial. I had previously been obliged to give up a very nice garden, and wanted something to fill up spare tune. Bug the great difficulty was, where shall I put the hive when I get it ? which I settled thus :— There being a srare back-room upstairs, I had the offtir of the use of that "'if I cou'd keep the bees out- side the window," which offer I accepted. By way of start I obtained a piece of angle-iron for a girder ; this I fixed on the window - sill across the angle formed by the house and back addition thereto, into the wall of which I cut a hole and cemented the other end. I made and bolted on to this a board 3 ft. 6 in. square, on which I set the hive, facing soutb. So you see I have to manipulate from the open window, which is very awkward, especially when moving the bees into a clean hive. However, I soon got bufficiently used to them to dispense with gloves, and sometime? did without veil when operating. I waited until June, and then bought a swarm of bees with queen from Cambridge, and on their arrival my first difficulty was how to get them into the hive. I feared to throw them down in front out of doors, in case the neighbours got stung (the back yard being so very small) or the bees flew away. So I bored a hole in the swarm- box and connected it to the hive with a f -in. glass tube (which I now think was too small), and tried to drive them into the hive with smoke, expecting thus to save all bother and see the queen. But no, they would not budge, so I gave that up. My next dodge was to request all the ladies of the house to retire to rest, fix a sheet across the chimney, put the hive in position, and shoot the bees out of their travelling- box on to the kitchen table in front of it ; then there was some fun ! The bees had been fed with syrup, were very good-tempered, and the kitchen being nice and warm, they apparently did not; care whether they entered the hive or not, so they just stayed out enjoying themselves. This was Saturday, about midnight, and it was 8 a.m. before I had the kitchen clear of bee3. Soon after that I carried the hive upstairs to its place outside the window, where it has re- mained ever since. 1 did not take any honey from them in 1894, although I might have done, had I known what I do now. But in 1895, after coming nicely through the winter, they yielded me half a hundredweight of good honey — viz., thirty-three well-finished 1-lb. sections, and the rest extracted from brood- nest, which latter was completely choked up with it. After that I found the colony queen- less, so had to buy and introduce a new queen, which I did successfully in September last. I had no trouble in selling my honey at Is. per pound, and sections at Is. each. I also ex- hibited some in the comb at our local Horti- cultural Show at Plaistow (not for competition, as I was the only exhibitor of anything of the kind), was awarded certificate and H.C. So this year, if time allows, I am hoping to make and show an observatory hive stocked with bees, in order to bring bee-keeping more to the front, as mine has created great interest in this neighbourhood. Thus ends histiry of hive No. 1 for the present. During the autumn of 1895 I wanted to increas9 the number of my hives, but the same old difficulty of where to put them again cropped up. However, I got permission to have one or more, "if 1 could find room,'' at the house of an old friend, about three minute i' walk from where No. 1 hive ij located. Here I had again to resort to rnake- shif j tactics, as there was not a single foot of room on the ground for bee-hives. The result was my making another platform (10 by 4 ft.) over the slanting roof of kitchen, at 10 ft. above the ground, and a 12-ft. ladder to get up and down with. When completed, there was room on it for three hives, one of which (a nice strong stock) is already in position, and the Jan. 16, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 25 others will, I hope, soon follow. Being in the building trade, and able to use a few carpenters' tools, I make most of my hives and fittings myself. And so, not having read anything quite like this in the last two years, either in our B.J. or Record, I thought it might be interesting and encouraging to others — having bricks and mortar and London on all sides of them — to start bee-keeping. — W. C. Stonard, Plaistoiv, January 9 {within five miles of the G.P.O.) A CHEAP HIVE, AS MADE AND USED BT A WARWICKSHIRE BEE-KEEPER. [2380.] The writer, after trying several kinds of hives, has come to the conclusion that for a good substantial hive, suitable for doubling and wintering, the following cannot be beaten, taking into consideration the small outlay : — I first procure from mv grocer a bacon-box (cost, one shilling^. Standing it on end, I sweep out all salt ; then, after drawing nails, knock out the top and place it at the back B as in sketch, and nail in position. Draw lines from C to D on both sides the box, and saw off top pieces, which come in for firewood. Next take the lid— which B has taken the place of — and nail it together by means of two strips of wood about three inches wide. This makes a very good roof, C D. Should you prefer the roof to project a little, insert an extra piece of wood of similar thickness about six inches wide before nailing together. To make this joint waterproof, take a sheet of brown paper, give it a coat of paint on each side, and while wet place it on, fastening; it down with tacks, using small bits of cardboard or gun-wads to prevent the tacks from tearing the paper. VVhen dry, give it another coat of paint, using plenty of oil, as the paper will absorb it all, but it will be as tough as leather. Two roof-hinges are fixed at the top, E F, the roof being fastened down at G with a small hook. This completes a good sound outer-case at a cost of about Is. 6d. For the hive body or brood-chamber I use 9 in. by | in. board for back and front, and plane the same size timber down to 8| for the sides, so that the frame tops are flush with the front and back when placed in position ; cut out an entrance about 6 in. by 4 in. and make a similar hole in the outer-casing at front to correspond. Next nail on the floor-board, leaving about L} in. projection in front, which keeps it away from the outer-case, placing over the cavity a strip of wood on two small blocks so that the bees cannot gain access to the space between hive and outer-case. Set the whole on four bricks and rear a piece of timber against the front for an alighting board ; or it may be nailed in a slanting position and a porch added if preferred. Bore two holes at I J about 1 in. in diameter and nail perforated zinc over ventilators, place the hive-body on two strips of wood opposite the outer entrance, and nail in position. There will be about 3 in. to spare on either side, which may be filled in with cork du*t, and then we have a perfect frame-hive suitable for any purpose whatever at an outlay of about 2s. 6d. or 3s. I can strorgly recommend the above, as I have similar hives in use at the present time. Three bacon-boxes will supply timber to make two hives throughout similar to abov e, but I prefer to use new timber for the hive bodies.— F. A. Goodall, HM.P.LA, Tami Valley, Tamworth. NOT AND A ET INQUIEENDA. DRIVING BEES. [2381.] Once more I return to the charge. Driving. — I have been much interested in Mr. E. Parsons' amusing; letter [2372, p. 16], for the simple but sufficient reason that his experience exactly reproduces my own. I, too, was so taken aback by tbe firbt furious and utterly unexpected onset made upon me by the bees when driving, that I dropped my skep, overturned the pail, and smashed up several of the combs. Needless to say, every one present precipitately made themselves scarce in less time than it takes to write it. When matters had calmed down a little, one's armour had been strengthened, and two smokers had been got ready, I ventured back ; but then, as since, I found the first outbreak the worst, and had little trouble afterwards. It has always been when turning the skep over. Once the upper receiver fixed, and the beating began, not a bee would take wing. I have never, however, stopped up the entrance, having had no trouble beforehand. Latterly, I have used the carbolic cloths, very much as " A Worker " (2347, p. 522) describes ; but just on those very occasions there was no need for them. Mr. E. Parsons begs the whole question, however, in one respect, when he says, " If bees are a bit vicious, they should have given them a good dose of smoke, and five minutes to consider it." But my difficulty all along has been that it is impossible to tell how the b,ees are going to behave until you turn over 26 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 16, 1896. the skep ; and no amount of smoke will quell their vicious attack then, until the flying bees have exhausted their energy or ill-temper. It has been the glorious uncertainty as to what was about to happen at the moment when turning over the skep that I have found so trying. Whether not a bee would stir, or in an instant I should be covered with a cloud of infuriated and persistent enemies, trying every joint in my harness, sometimes finding a weak place, and then letting me know it with melancholy results better imagined than de- scribed. Since reading Mr. Brice's most interesting article, I have carefully examined some stray specimens, and believe my bees, or some of them, to be pure black. Perhaps this may account for some of their erratic peculiarities. — Self Taught, January 13, 1896. DRIVING BEES. a beginner's experience. [2382.] Having read with great interest the reports of fellow bee-men and the invitation from our worthy Editors, I have much pleasure in sending you my first year's ex- perience in this most interesting craft. I started the year with three stocks, two skep? and one in frame-hive, but during the heavy gales of March, 1895, the latter was blown over, and when examined afterwards the combs were found broken away and the queen killed, so I lost that stock. However, I bought four more skep? as a bargain for 10s. 6d. This gave me six strong stocks, all in skeps, two of which sent out one swarm each. I put the swarms into new frame-hives, and, beiDg fine weather, I let them take their chance without any feeding. The first swarm gave me seventeen finished sections and four frames of honey, which I gave to driven 'lots of bees in the autumn. Some of the sections I showed at our local show, and took second prize for them (quite satisfying my first attempt). From the other swarm I got five frames of honey, which were also given to driven lots. Wishing to have more of my stocks in frame-hives, I resolved to drive several of my skeps ; the first one gave me no trouble at all, but the bees of the second were of a different mind as regards parting with their hard-earned store of honey, and they " sat on me '' with a vengeance ! But I stuck to my job, although literally covered with bees, and I got twenty or thirty stings. But a little carbolic acid applied to each sting soon stopped the pain and swelling. I have driven over forty stocks since, but have only met with two vicious lots out of the whole. I first saw bees driven several years ago at the Bath and West Show at Gloucester, and with this insight, and reading and following your acceptable journal, I got on well with driving. Being a bootmaker, I have spare time at night, and, being a handy man, I make all my own hives. I have just made an eight- frame observatory hive, with the frames arranged in pairs, two combs hanging side by side. I am told that bees will only work between the frames, and not on the outside \ because of the glass. Of course, the sides of the hive close with folding doors, which will make it perfectly dark. Do you think this is the case ? If so, should I take the hive apart, and reduce the width to one frame ? — A. Collett, Wethercote, Gloucester, January 11. [An observatory hive, in the general accept- ance of the term, is intended only for use at shows ; and for this purpose all comb3 must be visible on both sides. If this should not be what is wantel please write us agam. — E ds. ] GRUMBLES. [2383.] I am sorry to occupy the position of being the only grumbler among your numerous correspondents, who all seemed so pleased and give the B.J. and its Editors no end of praise and flattery, but I am really afraid of your getting puffed up and conceited as the outcome of the complimentary letters you are daily receiving. You talk of every subscriber endeavouring to get another and thus increase readers 100 per cent. No doubt that would be a very good thing, but don't you think the way to reach that very desirable end would be by making the B.B. Journal a little more interesting and instructive ? Just take a look through the last five or six issues, and see how much instructive matter they contain ! A great portion of them have been taken up with Foul Brood ; beginners' experiences ; mishaps, and things which are entirely devoid of interest to at least three-fourths of your intelligent readers. The contributions of Messrs. Woodley, Brice, and one or two others are certainly in- teresting, but these are the only things worth reading. One cannot conscientiously recom- mend one's friends to become subscribers, especially if they be cottagers, as I question very much if it is really worth the price. Now, as flowers and fruit are very closely connected with bee-keeping, and every cottager is enthu- siastic on these (subjects, could a page or two not be devoted to them every week, or once a month ? Then another page might be devoted to " The Household." Recipes might be given as to the use of honey and wax. There are a hundred different ways in which honey may be made use of in the shape of beverages, cakes, confections, medicines, &c. Wax is also an exceedingly useful thing in a household. Why do we never see these things men- tioned in the Journal ? I am sure if these things were looked to the readers would be increased amazingly. When I am in the way of grumbling I may also have a dig at the manufacturers. Why will they not make the sheets of super foundation the right size 1 When cutting them up to full size section Jan. 1C, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 27 sheets there is always a trimming wasted. And really I don't understand why bottles are so dear ! I am sure it would pay a manufacturer to make good screw-cap bottles at 12s. per gross as he would have such a sale of them. Now, Messrs. Editors, I do not make these remarks with the view of disparaging the Journal — quite the contrary ; but I have been comparing notes with some of my bee-keeping friends who declare they are thinking of stopping it, which intelligence has made me sad. Being an ardent bee-keeper myself I should like to see the industry becoming more popular and would also like to see the Journal become so interesting that it would be indispensable to all the rural inhabitants of these islands. — An Ayrshire Bee-keeper. [Having, with due meekness, we hope, printed the above without ourselves emitting so much as a single "grumble," — as becomes those properly thankful to any candid friend who, in the goodness of his heart, strives to prevent them from " getting too puffed up and con- ceited " — we will endeavour to find out where and how we can mend our ways in the desired direction. But — if without any conceit we may claim a " but " — we ask, does it never occur to our friend that it is just possible that some might object to such (to our friend), desirable subjects as "flowers and fruit " being included in their contents of the Bee Journal — to say nothing of the pages he desires to see every week " devoted to The Household," and directions for the making of " beverages, cakes, confection, and medicines " ? Again — if permitted to put another question — we might ask, what is there to hinder our Ayrshire friend from ventilating his grievances against foundation makers, and screw-cap bottle dealers, too, in our pages if he chooses to do so ? Surely we cannot be supposed to anticipate any reader's special grievances, and write leading articles to secure him a remedy, if we don't know in what the grievance consists ! We rather fear that any endeavour on our part to do away with our correspondent's " grumbles," would only illustrate the fable of the man and the ass. But, apart from this, Ave have as desired " taken a look through the last few issues " to " see how much instructive matter they contain ? " and have arrived at the conclusion that if each of the several issues does not contain a pennyworth of such instructive matter as most bee-keepers expect from it, we may be sorry, but, even at the risk of losing the several pennies at stake, and of making our Ayrshire friend feel " sad," we must decline to " go further and (perhaps) fare worse." — Eds.] BEE NOTES FROM SUSSEX* [2384.] The very next day after the date of my last communication (2362, page 7, Decem- ber 28, 1895), temperature rose, the sun at last reappeared, and for two or three days the bees had a rare time of it. Caution was necessary in walking near the hives— not that they showed the least propensity to sting, but because they were darting about in such num- bers, and in so frolicsome a humour that in sheer exuberance of spirits they cannoned recklessly against the passer-by. With the new year, the weather changed back again, and I doubt whether the bees have flown on any day in 1896 as yet. Until yesterday temperature has been low, with a chill east wind, overclouded skies, and a very raw general effect. The writer is enjoying (as best he may) a severe chest cold. What the bees may be experiencing is a matter of conjecture, as they have retired out of sight, probably nursing patches of brood at lower ends of combs. The feature of the unusually dull weather has undoubtedly been the extraordinarily high readings of the thermometer. My " Admiral Fitzroy " is marked up to 31 deg. only, and I really thought the mercury was going to the top of the tube ! On January 9 it registered full 30"8, and we are not 20 ft. above sea level — if that. It is the highest reading I have noticed. — ■ W. R. N, Sussex, January 13, 1896. BEE-KEEPING IN IRELAND. [2385.] With reference to the letter of " M. K." (2370, p. 15), I wish first to state that we gave lectures in our bee-tent at Kilkenny so recently as 1892, in connection with the Dog Show. I do not, however, wish to attribute too much importance to this fact, and I quite agree with " M. K.'' in wishing that the bee- keepers of co. Kilkenny would avail themselves more largely of the advantages offered by our association. Perhaps some public-spirited bee- keeper would work with us as district hon. secretary for the county, or part of it? — Henry Chenevix, Hon. Sec. Irish B.K.A., 15, Morehampton-road, Dublin, January 11. PREVENTION OF SWARMING. [2386.] In remarking upon this subject in your issue of December 26, "A Worker" (No. 2347), appears to have stumbled into several errors. He speaks of my lower chamber not being added until the second super is placed in position. This, however, has not been my own practice, and has been simply an alternative and temporary measure. I have sometimes offered those who thought they could not get the bees to work in the supers while the empty chamber was pre- viously in position. This point should be quite clear, if he will only be good enough to refer to page 506, second paragraph. As a matter of fact there is no difficulty, judging by the mass of evidence before me, in getting work done above the stock, while unlimited space exists immediately and permanently below. 28 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 16, 1896. Our friend from Long Eaton does not appear to understand the difference between a nadir and an eke, or the manner of their application, for, while really showing the uses of an " eke," as seen by hia reference to the extension of the breeding combs, he repeatedly applies the word " nadir." These terms are almost as obsolete as the processes to which they once respectively applied, and we do not now call the lower chamber of any tier of any style of modern hives either an eke or a nadir. An eke was generally a rim or lower part cut from a skep, and placed under a stock in a similar hive, thus raising it several inches and allowing the original brood combs to be fully extended to the floor (or the usual bee-space therefrom), and in that condition of completion they remained until the stock was finally broken up — it might be for months or years. This gave a larger brood-nest, a more populous, but still crowded hive, and more room for storage in the upper portion of the combs. No attempt, however, was made at prevention of swarmiog, as the process was in no way adapted to that perpose. A. "nadir" is something quite different to the " eke." As already seen, the latter addi- tion to skeps accommodated brood only, while the nadir was a distinct compartment placed under the original stock, and separated from it by a perforated board, so that the brood- combs could not be further extended. And now it should b9 particularly noted that in such nadir the bees were expected to build nothing but new and solid combs of honey, while no supering was carried on above the stock-combs. I am not aware that this process of nadiring was ever claimed ai a prevention of swarming. The author of "£70 a Year from my Bees,'' the only writer of any note in connection with this subject, claimed that his success was attained, first, by his special treatment in hiving swarms, and, secondly, by the said plan of using a " nadir " for the storage of new honey-combs. In 1878, I exhibited a bar-frame hive at the South Kensington Show, and for which I was awarded a special prize. A sectional surplus chamber was arranged under the stock hive, with a slotted adapting-board between ; but I did not claim that this arrangement had any connection with the question of preventing swarming. One of my present adaptations provide for starting sections in a crate arranged under the stock, and without waiting for completion, as with the original nadir, they are raised above, being replacedby another set, afterwards to be treated in the same manner. This is an improvement upon the Kensington hive ; but neither do I claim that this arrangement is so satisfactory as that which provides the empty chamber shall always remain under the stock, with no adapter between, and wherein little or no comb need be allowed, while wax-working goes on satisfactory in the sections above. I was under the impression I had already clearly explained the utility of my non- swarming chamber ; that it placed the bee3 in the position of having an immense brood- chamber which is never filled ; that it assists ventilation ; and gives the equivalent of shade, one of the most essential items for ensuring constant work. I am, too, so satisfied as to the advantages of a large entrance that, instead of only \\ in. deep, I shall make them quite 2 in. deep in future. If it may avoid farther misunderstanding, at the risk of repetition, allow me to say that the non-swarming chamber is not to be filled up with combs of brood, as in the ancient eke, and wherein the original comb3 were extended in unbroken formation ; neither is it to be made the receptacle for new and solid combs of honey, the legitimate use of the nadir. Our friend, it will be observed, suggest? that " comb-building is the real value of a nadir." I have already shown the use of a nadir, and he will see we are thoroughly agreed as to that expression, though certainly not as to his own meaning — that the nadir is one and the same thing as my non-swarming chamber. The two are entirely distinct, and until my system was published no attempt had been made to keep the same, or any empty chamber always in that condition, under the stock hive. After showing the value of comb-building, almost in the same breath, our Long Eaton friend tells us the modern apiarist tries by foundation and extracting to save all comb- building he can. I regret that this contradic- tion of himself is equalled by his strange distortion of plain statements. In fact, had he been thoroughly conversant with his subject, he would not have filled my non- swarming chamber with ombed frames, nor considered it a place wherein the bies are to build what comb they like. Notwithstanding his attempt to show that comb-building is undesirable, he will not be supported by the majority of bee-masters, who know that rapid wax-working in the supers is the best evidence of prosperity, and of a profitable incoming of honey. By the way, we are agreed as to the value of foundation, but is he sure that comb-building, in respect of actual labour, is lessened by its use 1 Does it not rather save time solely because thousands can work on a given base instead of tens in establishing a foundation ? As a matter of fact, a great deal more labour is expended in working a comb from a hardened base than in creating an entirely new comb from virgin wax ; while more material is, of course, consumed in establishing semi-artificial combs. Consequently, by using foundation we save neither material nor labour, but gain time and better-shaped combs* " A Worker " may rest assured, and may readily prove to his own entire satisfaction, that it is neither comb-building nor vacant cells to store honey in that will alone prevent swarming. Had these conditions established the great Jan. 16, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 29 desideratum, we should not have heard of so many vain attempts in the past to prevent bees leaving the hive while the combs in the supers were in full progress. He will find the reason of swarming rather in the natural desire being encouraged, first and foremost, by the completion and crowding of the brood- nest ; while the secondary conditions are want of judicious ventilation, old queens, irregular combs, a superfluity of drones, and last, but not least, the use of queen excluders. The system of prevention, inaugurated by myself, has stood the test of ten years' trial, and appears to have come to stay, its sim- plicity, when understandingly applied, being its greatest recommendation. Criticism based on incomplete evidence and defective observa- tion is seldom helpful or profitable, but, nevertheless, I thank my Long Eaton critic for giving me this opportunity of referring to some of the many misconceptions that have existed in relation to this system. — S. Simmins. P.S. — Since writing the above I have noticed the remarks of " Bee Cycle " in your issue of January 2 (No. 2357). The experi- ence of that writer is so contrary to my own and the opinions of many independent wit- nesses (as based on practical demonstration of the facts I hive presented) that I can only imagine the hive entrances were too small, and the experiments perhaps conducted with what to myself is an abomination — queen excluder zinc. With a large entrance, and honey in the fields, I know of nothing but the above-mentioned impediments that will keep the bees from working above in preference to below the stock, providing full sheets of foundation are used in the sections. The question of heat and cold as applied by ventilation at one part and warmth at another, for inducing the bees to build comb where wanted, is not merely a theory, but an ac- cepted fact though my nameless critic may not have arrived at that conclusion himself. I am quite willing to admitithat bees, if crowded out, will build almost anywhere, but if a bee-owner cannot direct, or does not employ such avail- able forces as will assist him in directing the energies of his bees into the right channel, is he worthy of the name of bee-master 1 I should say not. — S. S. THE HUMBLE DUMBLEDORE. [2387.] Let me say a word on behalf of the poor and despised humble-bee . Poor through no fault of his own, for never did a hive-bee work so hard ; and despised he must be, for who ever found his home and did not try to destroy it ? Of the different species — near a hundred — and their life history I will tell you something at a future time. Their very names bring back to mind the lovely English country where I have sought them — the great forests and high hills, the southern downs and rich Gloucestershire meadows. I love them so well that I could even tell the species by their song, as you may the birds by their song, or the butterflies by their flight, or the flowers by their scent. To bring them back to memory dear, in these dull wintry days, all bee-keepers should read the books of Richard Jefferies, such as " The Open Air," " Field and Hedgerow," " The Life of the Fields.'' From the matchless " Pageant of Summer," in the last-named book, I give the following extract : — " Each kind is repeated a hundred times, the foxtails are succeeded by foxtails, the narrow blades by narrow blades, but ne\er became monotonous ; sorrel stands by sorrel, and daisy flowers by daisy. This bed of veronica at the foot of the ancient apple has a whole handful of flowers, and yet they do not weary the eye. Oak follows oak and elm ranks with elm, but the woodlands are pleasant ; however many times reduplicated, their beauty only increases. So, too, the summer days ; the sun rises on the same grasses and green hedges, there is the same blue sky, but did we ever have enough of them ? No, not in a hundred years ! There seems always a depth somewhere unexplored, a thicket that has not been seen through, a corner full of ferns, a quaint old hollow tree which may give us something. Bees go by me as I stand under the apple, but they pass on, for the most part bound on a long journey across to the clover fields or up to the thyme lands ; only a few go down into the mowing- grass. The hive bees are the mo3t impatient of insects ; they cannot bear to entangle their wings beating against grasses or boughs. Not one will enter a hedge. They like an open and level surface, places cropped by sheep, the sward by the roadside, fields of clover where the flower is not deep under grass.*' It is the patient humble-bee that goes down into the forest of the mowing-grass. If entangled, the humble-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. He knows no skep ; no cunning work in glass receives his labour ; no artificial saccharine aids him 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 upon 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 may escape the frost. No one cares for the humble-bee. But down to the flowering nettle in the mossy- sided ditch, up into the tall elm, winding in and out and round the branched buttercups, 30 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 16, 1896. along the 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. — Lordswood. KENT BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. On Thursday, January 16, the K.B.K.A. hold their annual meeting at 115, Jermyn- street, at 4 p.m. It is hoped that members will attend in good numbers this Thursday evening, and that among them some will be found to volunteer for the office of honorary secretary, rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr. Garratt. SURREY BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The first annual general meeting of the members of the association will be held in the County Hall, Kingston-on-Thames (Kingston or Surbiton Stations) on Saturday, February 15, at 4 p.m. The presence of Surrey bee- keepers is particularly requested. WEATHER REPORT. Westbourne, Sussex, December, 1895. Rainfall, 3-20 in. Heaviest fall, '72 on 16th. Rain fell on 20 days. Above average, 0*72. Maximum Tempera- ture, 52° on 5th. Minimum Tempera- ture, 26° on 11th. Minimum on Grass, 23° on 8th. Frosty Nights, 17. Sunshine, 51 '4 hours. Brightest Day, 13th, 7 hours. Sunless Days, 18. Below Average, 7 '8 hours. Mn. Maximum, 42-2°. Mn. Minimum, 33'4°. Mean Temperature, 37-8°. Maximum Barometer, 30-29° on 28th. Minimum Barometer, 28-93° on 16th. L. B. BlRKETT. WEATHER REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1895. Westbourne, Sussex. Rainfall, 29 "34 in. Heaviest fall, 1-39 in. on July 18. Rain fell on 163 days. Below average, 0-25 in. Max. Temperature, 76° on June 24. Min. Temperature, 13° on February 7. Minimum on grass, 5° on February 7. Frosty nights, 94. Sunshine, 1982-7 hrs. Brightest Day, June 20, 14*5 hours. Sunless Days, 58. Above average, 157-4 hours. Mean Temperature, 46-7°. Below average, 0'9o. Maximum Barometer, 30-61° on May 2 Minimum Barometer, 28-63° on Jan. 14. L. B. BlRKETT. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufac- turers or correspondents, 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 food 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 the date of issue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt of their communica- tions. All queries fonoarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. C. Marks (Kingsbridge). — Honey Eipeners. — 1. These are only required when the surplus honey taken is of such thin consistency as to make it certain that it would ferment, and - become unfit for table use. The actual ripening consists in keeping the honey in a warm room for some time, when the denser or thicker portion falls to the bottom of the ripener, and is then drawn off. The thin, or unripe, honey is generally used in syrup- making for bee-food. 2. In reply to query, " When is honey ripe ? " the best simple definition we can offer is that honey to be " ripe " must be of a good, thick consistency. On the other hand, unripe honey is always thin. 3. Honey should not be removed from the hive or extracted while unripe. E. W. Killick (Rosherville). — The comb sent being old and all crushed up, we can find no trace of foul brood in it. In view, however, of the risk, we should disinfect the hives before using. We regret the above letter got mislaid, hence delay. C. Barker (Winton). — Candy Makiny.-— Moist sugar is unsuitable for making bee- candy cakes, and is very likely to have caused the symptoms of dysentery you com- plain of. Refined cane sugar crystals is what should be used. Frank Dodworth. — 1. The secretary of the D.B.K.A. is Mr. F. Walker, Cattle Market, Derby. 2. The book will be advertised when ready, and no time is now being lost with it. Joiner D. 0. (Deddington). — 1. Yes. 2. Observatory hives are not needed except for show purposes. 3. The " W.B.C." hive is fitted with standard frames, but there is no such thing as a *' standard hive." Jenny Brewster. — Many thanks for reply to Mr. Bancks re Tithymal. It will be seen that the query is answered on p. 23. Tyro (North Devon). — Lecture on Bee-keeping. — Mr. Desborough's lecture on bee-keeping written some years ago, may be had from this office for 2|d. in stamps. Maud (Ewell). — Adding Swarms to Weak Stocks. — Before adding swarms as proposed, it should be ascertained if the weak stock is healthy. If not, it is useless uniting a swarm to it. Hives should always be cleaned well before using. Jan. 23, 1896.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 31 (Mfaral, ^jLtrtkm, kt USEFUL HINTS. "Royal" Show at Leicester. — The receipt of an advance copy of the prize schedule of the "Royal" Show enables us to offer a hint to readers — who still hold good honey of '95 in stock — as to the advisability of reserving a sufficient quantity of their best samples for staging in competition at the earlier shows for 1896. Judging from the tardy advances thus far made by that keen enemy of active bee-work in spring, king frost, we must be prepared for a lengthened stay when he does favour us. This, of course, means a loss of early honey, and a consequent bareness of the show-tables in June. It becomes, therefore, worth bearing in mind that classes are provided for honey gathered in any year prior to 1896, both in the comb and extracted; the latter having also separate classes for liquid and granulated samples. These advantages make us hope that a goodly show will be made at the " Royal " at Leicester and the " Bath and West " at St. Albans, both of which exhibitions take place in June next. We have reason to suppose that there is some specially good honey of last season's gathering somewhere, and in the interests of all it should be seen at one or both the above important shows. Foul Brood and its Treatji^nt. — We have also received a copy of the quarterly "Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society," which contains an important paper upon The Nature and Treatment of Foul Brood, written at the request of the editor of the Society's journal by Mr. T. W. Cowan, senior editor of the B.B.J. We hope ere long to be enabled to reprint this paper in these columns, and thus put readers in possession of some valuable and indisputable facts connected with the subject. Honey Imports for 1895. — The table on page 22 of our last issue, giving the total value of the honey imported in- to the United Kingdom during the twelve months ending December 31, affords food for reflection to the British bee-keeper from whatever side of the sub- ject it is considered. In the first place the total value is less by more than twenty thousand pounds sterling, than the notably large imports of 1892. Still £41,302 (the sum reached last year), is an increase on the imports of '93 and '94 — the amounts in those years being £29,087 and £33,507 respectively — and large enough to show that there exists a demand for the product when the supply is reliable and continuous. The point for British bee- keepers to consider is how far they can make the supply of home-grown honey reliable and continuous. We are very pleased to note that the value of organi- zation is being made so prominent a question just now in this country in con- nexion with the agricultural interest ; and there is no reason why the principle should not be extended to its, no doubt, small sister industry of apiculture. As a matter of fact our bee-keeping friends in America have already made a move in this direction, the further development of which we shall watch with attention and much interest, and duly report upon. In these days of keen competition, every pursuit wherein more or less large numbers of the community are engaged, will sooner or later be forced to co- operate or organize, in order to secure the full benefits of all that united effort can confer. None can afford to work single-handed nowadays ; it therefore becomes important that bee-keepers in this country should bear in mind — when considering the question of how to extend the sale of their produce — how absolutely necessary it is to devote some effort towards making the supply of British honey "reliable and continuous." We would also add, " let it be as mode- rate in price as is compatible with paying profit* so that the retailer may not have it to say with such frequent truth as is now the case, " I must go to the foreign market or be minus my supply." County Councils and Bee-keeping. — It is very encouraging to note an exten- sion of Technical Instruction so far as bee-keeping in Yorkshire ; and we invite the attention of readers dwelling in the North Riding to the advertisement in our present issue referring to the pioneer lectures proposed to be given throughout the Riding during February and March next. Local secretaries of bee-associa- tions should at once take the matter up in order to show that the efforts of the Technical Instruction Committee are ap- 32 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 23, 1896. predated by the persons for whose ad- vantage the lectures will be given. For particulars see advertisement. Board of Agriculture Leaflets. — It is known that the Board of Agriculture have intimated their willingness to have printed for free distribution a leaflet on the subject of "Foul Brood Among Bees," so soon as a suitable pamphlet has been prepared by the Council of the British Bee-Keepers' Association, and approved by the Board. We only mention this matter now in order to re- vert to an announcement in Gleanings for January 1, to the effect that the American State Board of Agriculture are about preparing a book on bee- keeping of 120 pages for free distribu- tion ! One wonders what our Board of Agriculture would say if a book of such dimensions had been asked for ? DEATH OF MR. F. H. MEGGY. We learn with deep regret of the sudden death of Mr. F. H. Meggy, for many years hon. sec. of the Essex Bee-keepers' Associa- tion, and representative of that county on the Council of the B.B.K.A. Mr. Meggy, who was senior proprietor of the Essex County Chronicle, had not suffered from any particular illness previous to his death, which occurred quite suddenly at the Chelmsford Club on the evening of Thursday, the 10th inst. The cause of death was heart diseaee. Referring to the sad event, the county paper says : — The news of Mr. Meggy's death caused considerable sensation in Chelmsford, and much sjmpathy is felt for his family — two sons and two daughters. The eldest son, Mr. Douglas Meggy, is at Oxford, preparing to take Holy Orders. The deceased, who was 53 or 54 years of age, was the second son of the late Mr. George Meggy, who pre- ceded him in the proprietorship of the Chronicle, and he has been long and honour- ably connected with the Essex Pies?, while personally he was' well known and much liked. He took an interest in, and was pro- minently associated with, several public insti- tutions and movements. He was a prominent Freemason, the honorary secretary of the Essex Beekeepers' Association, a member of the Institute of Journalists, and the Chelms- ford Sette of Odde Volumes, and in all these and various ottnr literary, scientific, and artistic subjects he ever exhibited a lively interest. Bee-keepers mainly knew Mr. Meggy as the active — and it may be said the moving — spirit of the Essex B.K.A., which will feel his loss very much. His interest in the Associa- tion never flagged, and his position in the county enabled him to secure for it an amount of influential suppo rt which few could hope to obtain. We feel that bee-keepers generally will join us in offering our sincere sympathy with the deceased gentleman's family in their sudden bereavement. ABOUT OUR BEES. BY HENRY W. BRICE. {Continued from page 15). V. BEE PRODUCT. Honey. — This is the primary product of our hives, and is collected by the bees from the nectaries of various flowers and blossoms. In its crude liquid-form honey is called nectar, and in this state is thin, watery, and of a somewhat insipid flavour. In the operation of gathering this liquid it is temporarily swal- lowed by the bee, being passed by means of its proboscis into a receptacle known as the honey sac, or first stomach. Here an important change takes place in its constituent parts, the water which forms so large a portion of the raw material being to a great extent auto- matically separated during the time the bee is on the wing, or preparatory to its being stored in the comb ; where it is again further manipulated by the workers, ripened, acidified, and finally capped over in the cells as the perfected article. Honey is fairly constant in its ultimate composition, and consists of two kinds of elaborated — what, for want of a better term, we call — sugars, known by distinguishing names of dextrose and levulose, with water in a varying degree ; the said variation being due to existing conditions of the flora, temperature, and district. Minute quantities of formic acid and other by-products are also added by the bees, including a small quantity of pollen, &c. The amount of nectar secreted by flowers varies considerably, and is also largely dependent upon climatic changes and atmospheric conditions. Much depends, too, upon the nature of the soil, direction of the wind, &c. Indeed, I know of no product in the agricultural world upon which so many things have a bearing for good or bad as the secrerion of nectar by flowers. But very few of these things enter into the ordinary bee- man's cilculatioas, though they have much to do with the variation in district results, when taking an average of results for con- current seasons. Elaborate calculations have been made to show how many visits a bee makes in collect- ing a given quantity of honey ; but in these calculations it is never taken into account whether or not the bee brings in the same quantity at every journey. A cloud across Jan. 23, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 33 the sun 'will bring home thousands of half- loaded bees. Again, an extra load of pollen will no doubt have something to do with the matter, for a bee will only carry a certain weight, whether inside or out. Besides, I doubt if all bees have the same carrying capacity. The essentials of a first-class honey may be stated as follows: — Flavour, aroma., density, and colour. A honey good in these four points will hold its own anywhere. Clearness or brilliancy (except for exhibition purposes) are minor points, in most cases due to the manner in which it is extracted and put up. (Quality of grain or granulation is often beyond the bee-keeper's control, but much may be done to improve this by careful and thoughtful handling. Honey (known from time immemorial) was used up to the fifteenth century instead of sugar, large quantities being used for the manufacture of mead aud metheglin long before beer was known in this country. Bees-wax. — As bee-keepers know, this is a solid, fatty substance secreted by the bees and exuded by special glands which find a vent retween the ventral plates on the underside of the abdomen of the bee through receptacles known as wax-pockets. These pockets may be seen on pressing the abdomen so as to cause its extension. The laminae of wax being plainly observable between the several segments. A merely vegetable product analagous to bees-wax in nearly every respect is, however, found existing in many plants, such as tbe Myrica cerifera augudifolia, or wax tree of Louisiana, and the Myrica cerifera lati/olia— the fruit or berries of the above are bruised and boiled in water, when the wax separates and becomes hard on cooling. Wax is also obtained from the leaves and stems of Ceroxylon by the same process. The glossy- varnish on the leaves of many other plants, and trees is of a. similar nature. Wax thus produced has no doubt the same composition chemically as bees- wax. The specific gravity of bees-wax is about 96°, the melting point being from 146 to 150° Fahr. It is insoluble in water, but at high temperatures is converted into vapour. It combines readily with other vegetable and animal fats and oils when heated. It was considered by the ancients that bees collected wax, but Tnorley in 1744 seems to be the first apiarist who noticed the lamina; of wax on the ventral plates of the honey bee, and Wildman, Huber, Hunter, and others in 1792 were aware of the same fact, and that wax was formed from honey. The wax-secreting glands were riot known untd quite recently, when Holtz described them in 1878. Latreille and Blanchard also pointed out that the trans- parent surfaces immediately covering these glands were made up of outer and inner layers (the epidermis and hypodermis) between which the secretion is passed by infiltra- tion. Wax is secreted by the bees entirely within the hive, and at a temperature of not less than 86 deg. Fahr., which heat is pro- duced by the close clustering of the bees. The late Dr. [de Planta found that a considerable quantity of saliva entered into the composition of bees-wax, and this forms one difference between it and the vegetable wax before mentioned. Hehner, in "The Chemistry of the Hive," points out another difference between bees-wax and other fats ; the former containing no glycerine. He also says : — "If wax be boiled in alcohol, cerotic acid dis- solves out, while the residue myricine remains. '' In rendering wax in water containing lime or other chemical bases this cerotic acid combines therewith, and forms a secondary product seen under a cake of wax on cooling. It is dirty grey in colour, of a spongy nature, and having to be scraped or cut away, entails a clear loss of so much wax, whilst at the same time lowering the quality of the sample. Clean rain— or, preferably, distilled — water should always be used in melting wax. Acids, such as vinegar (acetic acid), sulphuric, nitric, &c, to combine with the lime, &c, in hard water. It, however, requires a knowledge of chemistry to enable one to purify water by means of reagents, and I cannot advise their use by unskilled persons, when distilled water may be bought at any chemist's shop for a few halfpence per gallon. — Thornton Heath. (To he continued). prm\pmU\\ct The Editors do not hold tJiemselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will lie taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper ority am gire their real names and addresses, not necessarily foi publication, tint as a guarantee of good faith, lllustra, tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. M e do not undertake to return rejected communications. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Querms, Books for Review, &c.,must be addressed only to " Th a Editors of the ' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William- street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi- cations relating to Advertisements, &c, must be address'i to "The Manager, ' British Bee Journal' Office, 17, King William-street, Strand, London, W.C." (see l»t pane of advertisements ) *..* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, ■will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, asieell as the page on which it appears. LAYING WORKERS. [2388.] With the thermometer 6 deg. below zero this morning (January 3) — I suppose you would call it 38 deg. of frost — it warms my heart to receive the cordial greeting of Mr. Brice on page 515. Heres wishing health and happiness to him and all the B.B.J. family. Just this minute I cannot lay my hands on ' tbe number of the Journal to which he 34 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 23, 1896. refers, an 1 I'm a little afraid I may have been careless ia my statements. If I intimated that eggs in qneen-eells were in general proof of the presence of laying workers, any novice would know there was at least a misstate- ment. Equally it would be a misstatement to say that a plurality of eggs was invariably a sign of a laying worker ; For, as Mr. Biice says, a queen with insufficient bees will often duplicate or triplicate eggs in a cell. Now I'll try to give what I ought to have said, if I didn't say it. And there is, of course, the possibility of mistake on the part of one whose observations are generally made in the rush of work, with usually no notes taken, and only memory to depend on. I think I have seen cases in which laying workers were present, and yet no eggs were in queen cells, for I can remember being very much puzzled to decide whether laying workers were present or not. But, as a rule, laying workers will have eggs in queen-cells. I don't know for certain, but I think I have seen as many as ten or a dozen eggs in a single queen-cell. I do not remember that I ever saw more than one egg in a queen cell unless laying workers were present ; so, if a queen cell is found with more than one egg in it, it would at least point strongly in that direction. Now and then I have seen a single egg in a queen-cell, with neither eggs nor brood to be found elsewhere in the hive. I should set that down as nearly certain proof of the presence of laying workers. A rare exception to the rule I once found after this wise : — A colony with a good queen swarmed. She was a clipped queen, and the swarm returned. I took away some brood, two or three eombs perhaps, and the colony swarmed out again next day. This performance was repeated, more brood being taken out after each act of swarming, daily, until nothing but frames of foundation were left in the brood chamber. In spite of that, those bees had I suppose " gob their blood up," by my daily attempts to b.iffle them, and out they came, leaving the empty foundation except one small queen-cell cup with an egg in it. I must mention that a super of honey was left on all the while. If I had taken off the super I think they would have given it up. Again, I once had a queen, raised in a weak nucleus, that laid only two or three eggs, one of them being in a queen- cell. In reply to a question of Mr. Brice, I cannot recall more than one case in which I saw a worker in the act of laying, although my assistant insists that I called her attention to it in more than one case. Whether one or more, I think the worker laid not in a queen- cell but in a worker-cell, and I never paid any attention to what became of it. From what I have read lately, I suppose that instead of a single laying worker in a hive there are many, perhaps a majority. — C. C. Miller, Marengo, lll.f January 3, 1896, MOVING BEES TO HEATHER. [2389.] Although late in the day, I should be glad to give my experience of sending bees to the heather, in reply to " A Beginner," B.J. December (p. 495). I send my bees every year to the moors, although it is a distance of eighteen miles, and expensive, as they have to travel by road ; but as the honey flow here is uncertain, the cost of feeding up with sugar in the autumn, is often so con- siderable as to almost exceed the transit to the heather, and is never so satisfactory and much more trouble. The honey flow is over by the middle of July, as a rule, when I at once examine every frame in every hive, and cut out the queen-cells if not working for nuclei — making sure there are no signs of foul brood or any other disease, and sweep the floor boards clean. The last week in July or first in August is the time for the heather here, for it is not the first kind that comes out " bell heather " from which the honey is made, but "brig'' — the small flowered one in long spikes — and it is not advisable to send the bees until the latter is just beginning to flower, of which anyone from the neighbourhood, or the people at the place where the hives stand, would let you know. As there is generally a fortnight between the end of the honey flow and time for the moors, if my colonies are very un- even, I take some frames of honey from those that have more than enough, uncap, and give them to the weak colonies, and if I have any requiring re - queening I kill the old queens and unite the old colonies and nucleus swarms that I have raised, and this plan has always answered ; so that I send every colooy to the heather, good, bad, or indifferent, and only one year out of the ten in which I have sent bees have I lost a colony at the moors. "Beginner" is right though about the result per hive being uncertain ; it is, but, as a rule, unless a very bad season for heather (as '94), every colony will make enough to winter upon, and if not, upon examination when they return, I again equalise the stores, and never leave less to winter each colony upon, than 20 lb., which generally lasts until beginning of March. I never contract the brood chambers, and have never known my bees to swarm whilst at the heather ; but then, a few days before sending away, I extract every bit of honey out of the supers, and if there are any frames full in the brood chamber, without any signs of brood, they are extracted too, so the queen has plenty of room to go on laying. It is necessary to extract foranother reason, too— viz., that the harvest from the moors may be pure heather honey, and not mixed. One thing I have learnt from experience ; to always put two cakes of candy in each hive before sending off, as in [case of bad weather and bad season the bees do not die of hunger, Jan. 23, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 35 which one often sees, alas ! when paying a visit to see how the bees are getting on at the moors after they have been up about a fort- night. It is of the Yorkshire moors I write. No doubt; the time for the heather to bloom may be rather earlier in the south. Should there be absolutely no forage between the clover and heather harvest, then a little dry sugar feeding is advisable, but it is unwise to extract so closely as to need this. — G. W. W., Malton, Yorkshire. OLD COMBS OR NEW FOB EXTRACTING ? [2390.] Occasionally the question has been raised whether combs that have been bred in, or those that are new and kept free from other deposits, are best fr securing extracted honey. From the time when I first possessed an extractor, I became impressed with the enor- mous advantages possessed by tough breeding combs as compared with quite new combs ; and to this day I have had no cause to alter that opinion. One dees not want "old," worthless combs for either breeding or soring, but the strength of the combs which have been through the brood chambers gives us a dis- tinct advantage in rapid handling throughout, while they can be emptied cleaDer than new brittle combs. I may say, in passing, that drone cells are far ahead of worker. for extract- ing ; while, of course, wiring is necessary if we hope to get the best results, from new combs in particular. Eesides the time saved in handling tough combs, they have a distinct advantage in that they may be stored more satisfactorily, and will remain in a good state of preservation for a number cf years. No one working for extracted honey on a large scale can afford to use only new combs. Why ? He finds they require renewing too frequently, and this is objectionable where wiring has to be carried out, and wasteful because deterioration cf wax is a distinct loss. He is troubled with more breakages, or, as an alternative, dees not get the cells clean, and loses time by the slower motion required. By storing these when emptied they lose the essential oils so necessary for their preserva- tion, the wax perishes, and the combs rapidly deprechte. Tough combs which have been bred in have the wax protected in such a manner ! hat this loss and depreciation is less evident. Finally, to come to the supposed reason ■why new combs are preferred by some bee- keeper?, it appears that an impression is abroad to the effect that honey must be cleaner and brighter from these. In practice, how- ever, I have not found any difference between that from new and so-called old combs. One comb is as clean as the other for all practical purposes, but if the respective combs are to be mashed up, with their contents, of course one's preference would be for the new combs ; and only under this condition of securing honey should I find any advantage in using new combs. With foundation so cheap as it is, that might be found the best plan after all, dispensing with wiring, storage, and depre- ciation of the bee-keepers' stock in wax. — S. Simmins. A COUNTY BEE-CENSUS. [2391.] I have much pleasure in replying to your note asking for particulars of our attempt to attempt to obtain a census of the bee-keepers in the county. It was while en- deavour to get information as to the spread of foul brood iu 1894 that the want of a reliable list of bee-keepers in the county was forcibly brought home to the minds of the committee of the Essex Bee-keepers' Association, and in the spring of 1895, having concerted a plan with our hon. sec, I undertook to try to obtain a bee-census of the county. The plan is a- simple one : — A printed form ruled in columns for names, addresses, and description of hives has been sent, with a polite letter of request and a stamped envelope for reply to the head master or head mistress of every parish school in the county, asking them to get the information from the children, fill up the form and return it. The returned forms were cast up, tabulated, and indexed, then put away in alphabetical order for reference. The sixpenny map of the parish boundaries of Essex has been found useful, an index number corresponding to the number on the forms, and on the table of results, has been placed within each parish, and all parishes from which we have had returns have been coloured, thus showing at a glance where we have still to strive. The table of returns is made out thus : — a e g 1 0J rfi - 2 5 o 0} %2, >> £ £-5 - > o 01 Remarks. o o o5 6 «3 PH 'A B and on making it up on December 31, I found we had obtained the following results : — There are 403 parishes to which requests have been sent. 191 have sent replies, with 1,329 names of bee-keepers who hold 1,499 bar-frame hives, and 2,285 skeps of bees. 340 of the bee-keepers were returned a^i " stocks unknown." They, at the same average, may be estimated to have 1,309 stocks of bees, which would make -5,084 stocks 36 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 23, 1896. in the 191 parishes. If we estimate the whole of the county by the same average (and the returns sent iu have come from all parts of the county), there would be an estimated result of 2,804 bee-keepers holding 10,727 hives and skeps. I am now getting ready to send a " second application " to those who have not replied, and I earnestly trust that it may succeed in bringing in most of the missing ones. I have found very varying degrees of willingness to assist in this endeavour on the p.trt of the school teachers and we are very grateful to all those who have taken care and trouble ia answering. The results thus far obtained have much surprised many members of our association, and have put us in a fir better position to do the work for which the association wa? founded. Should there be any other points in con- nection with this that occur to you I shall be pleased to answer them. — Thos. J. "Weston, Wichham Lodge, Wickham Bishops, Essex. MR. G. WELLS'S ':WAX CAKE" FOR 1895. [2392.] My offer of bee-seeds and plants free (on p. 516 of B.J. for December 26) brought me so many applications that I could not "fill" orders so fast as some desired, but my stock is not yet run out, so all will be supplied in time. I have also received many letters expressing sympathy for me in my foul brood trouble, and in here thanking the writers, hope I shall soon be able to tell them how I have rid my bees cf the disease. In 2377 (p. 23), our friend, Mr. Woodley, refers to my cake of beeswax for 1895, and is apparently mystified as to how I got it. Well, in a previous number of B.B J. I gave full particulars of my wax extractor, and its use by myself. Reference to the same will save my repeating the information then given. I hope it will be enough to say that I gave the weight correctly, and I will gladly give the dimensions if that will help in any way to understand it. The cake is 27 in. long, 17 in. wide, and 6 in. deep, and, as I have said, I shall be very pleased to show it to any one who might wish to see it. — G. AVells, Ayles- ford, Kent, January 20, 1896. PREVENTING SWARMING. [2393.] Since you inserted my letter (2368, p. 10), many applications have reached me asking for particulars of the method of pre- venting swarming I mentioned in it. I have answered a good many of the letters, but as writing is not quite in my line, it might be as well if you would allow me to say in your Journal for the benefit of all who want to put the plan in practice. The point I want to impress on readers ia that if we give bees room to build combs below the brood-nest they will lower, or carry downward, the said brood-nest, and stoie honey in the upper portion previously occu- pied with brood. I have tried this plan, but it never prevented swarming with me, and I was obliged to try something else, which I did as under : — I fix below the floor-board a non-swarming chamber, consisting of a sliding drawee fitted, not with frames of comb, but what are practically wooden dummied | in. thick, and having a g in. bee-space all round. The back of the chamber or drawer has a square of small-hole perforated zinc in it covered with a shutter. When the weather is very hot this shutter is removed, and the bees thus get a current of cool air below, which causes them to ascend higher into the upper surplus chambers. Of course, there is no room for comb-budding in the non- svvarming clumber, as the dummies are only spaced at the usud distance apart. I hare never yet had a single swarm from a hive fitted as above, and until some one ha* tried it and failed, I rnusG keep my opiaion that it is a sure pi .in of stopping swarms from couiiag off. — H. Seamark, (J-xmbs , January 19. FLOWERS OF JANUARY. [2394] January 19, a mo3t lovely day. I went a long walk this morning and could find only three flowers,groundsel, barren-strawberry, and a daisy. The bees from my sixtesn hives were disporting themselves in the delicious sunlight. How glad they must be to unturl their sails to the warm breeze and feel their feet on the petals of a sweetscented flower ! There is nothing in the fields for ttiem I know, but in our gardens many things have flowered with unusual freedom — owing to the mild open weather. A bed 16 ft. by 4 of tne Bath variety of the Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) has many thousand blossoms — wide open cups against the dark brown earth-sprexd. A few sprays gathered, or even a few flowers set in damp moss, of the Japan allspice ((JhimorMTitlius fragrant) will fill a room with fragrance. Showers of blotsom are on the yellow winter jessamine (jasminumnudiflor um), and tufts of scarlet — rrange scarlet — apple blossom on Syrus japonica, right away from any protecting wall. What a lot of lovely things we have from the celestial empire ; these, with lilacs and laburnums, hardy bamboos and gorgeous lilies ! One or two buds of winter aconite (Eran- this hyemalis), sweet smelling Daphne Mezereutn rosy-lavender and white, crocus imperati, hardy cyclamen— these are nearly all that flower naturally at this season. There are many others, however, that have stray blossoms — snapdragon, stenactis, pansies, violets, primroses, polyanthus (quite a show), Jan. 23, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL, 37 double daisies, rhododendron, hybrid pinks, geums coccineum and muriaturn, saxifrage, burseriana, &c. The market is already gay ■with narcissi and daffodils, freesias and anemonies from the Scilly Isles, and south of France ; so that here, close to a great town, winter has been reduced to two months or a little more. The odour of a bunch of jonquils which is borne to me as I write, tells plainly that already the year is opening its great wide arms.— Lordswood. HUMBLE-BEES. [2395.] Referring to your last issue (page 29), I am glad to see that the poor, despised humble-bee — the " lazy drone " of the days before we became acquainted with the male honey bee — has received notice in the B.B.J. Personally, I owe a great deal to it, for it was in finding and taking a nest of the not very common Bombus sylvarum under a furze-bush some years ago that I was first led to take an interest in all bees, our honey-gatherer in- c'uded. Apart from the delightful recollections, so graphically described by your correspondent last week, that the thought of the humble-bee brings back to us, especially at this gloomy season of the year, when the pleasant attri- butes of summer seem so distant, there are points connected with its life history that cannot fail to be of interest to the intelligent bee-keeper. The humble-bee (of which there are fifteen British species) is the closest relative that the honey-bee possesses in this country. This fact should be of great importance to the scientific admirer of the latter insect, for many of its extraordinary instincts may be seen developed in a somewhat modified and im- perfect degree in the humble-bee. To the evolutionist the comparison between the two insects has additional attractions, for he observes habits gradually forming in the Bombi which have been elaborated with such wonderful effect in the genus Apis as to totally eclipse its progenitors in point of intelligence and utility. If you will be good enough to allow me a little of your valuable space, I should like to compare in various ways three distinct kinds of bees, viz. : — 1. The " solitary bee3 " which do not live in colonies, of which there are about 185 species indigenous to Britain. One of the commonest of these bees is the Audrena fulva which, clothed in its lovely scarlet jacket, is so con- spicuous as it rifles our currant blossoms in the early spring. 2. The " semi-social bees," the humble-bees, which dwell in colonies and have workers during a part of the year only. 3. The true social bee, the honey-bee, which lives in the hive all the year round. REARING THE YOUNG. Andrena. — The larva, having its portion of food placed ready for it before its birth, develops into a perfect bee without the aid of nursing or of artificial warmth of any kind. Bombus, lower division, Pouch-makers. — Food in the shape of pollen is given by its being dropped from the posterior tibia? of the workers into pouches or pockets of wax made at the side of a lump of wax-covered larva?. The brood requires warmth and a certain amount of nursing for its proper development, although several hours' exposure on an ordinary summer's day is not necessarily harmful to it. Bombus, higher division, Pollen-storers. — ■ In feeding, these bees differ from the pouch- makers in having the food supplied from the mouths of the workers through apertures temporarily made in the coating of wax which covers them. Apis. — Each grub is carefully nursed and tended. The temperature of the brood-nest is maintained with the utmost care, a short exposure of the immature bee being often attended with fatal results. PRODUCTION OF STERILE FEMALES (WORKERS). Andrena has none. Bombus. — The first eggs laid produce the workers, which are sterile only so long as the egg-laying powers of the queen-mother are on the increase. When fertile they can only as a rule produce males. With the Pouch- makers they number 30 to 100, according to the species ; with the polleu-storers, 50 to 250. Apis (mellifica). — Workers number 20,000 to 30,000 ; when nArmally formed, always sterile. POLLEN FROM THE FIELDS DEPOSITED by Andrcni in a pellet on which the egg will be laid. By Bombus, Pouch-maker, in a pouch at the side of a. group of wax-covered larvie. By Bombus, Pollen-storer, in cells for storage ready for future use, either in old cocoon-cells or in specially-prepared waxen cells. By Apis always in waxen cells for storage until require!. — F. W. L. Sladen, Hippie Court, near Dover, January 18, 1896. {Conclusion in our next.) BIRDS AND BEES. BIRD SANCTUARIES IN NEW ZEALAND. In the Naturalist columns of The Field. appears an article on the above from which we quote a passage possessing interest to bee- keepers as touching the question of birds and bees. We cannot however agree with the deduction made in Mr. Boscawen's report, seeing how amply such birds as feed upon bees are guarded by nature with the means 38 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 23, 1896. of avoiding damage to themselves in seeking food. The article reads as under : — "There is a hint in this passage of the dangers that threaten these native birds even in the sanctuary. The Maoris also state that some of the honey-eaters and other small native birds have diminished very much ia number since bees made their appearance on the island. Mr. Boscawen, the officer already quoted, thinks that the birds are stung by the bees, and so killed. He writes : — " ' Closeby my camp was a nest of young bell birds (korimako of the Maori), and I watched the old ones feed them ; and it is my idea that the birds do not get killed by the bees when on the flowers looking for honey, but when seeking for food for their young, as I frequently saw one of the old birds catch a fly :iud take it to the nest. If there had been bees on the island and it happened to have been one, the bird would have been stung and would have died, and so would its young. The old birds do not feed their young on honey, but on insects; and I believe the general idea is that the birds while seeking honey thrust their tongues into the flower, and, if there is a bee there, get stung. So some of them may, but I think only on the puriri, it being about the only flower in the bush up here that would hide a bee.' " (Queries mut Holies. [1410.] Single v. Walled Hives and Hives with Outer Cases. — 1. Is it conclusively proved whether a single-walled or double-walled hive is the best under all circumstances ? 2. Will bees wintered in the open in single-walled hives of f-in. thick wood be likely to winter as safely and be in as strong condition in early spring as those wintered in double- cased hives ? Asa comparatively young bee- keeper with single-walled hives, I don't want to go to the expense and labour of double- walled ones if the former will give as good results generally. You will notice that 1 am located in East Yorkshire. Opinion seems to be divided ; but I should like to be settled upon the matter, so that in future all my hives may be of one kind, which, as you are no doubt aware, is of great advantage. — E. Y. B. K., Howden, Yorks., January 17. Keply. — The question put to us in the above is a " poser." In fact, it is rather like asking whether Brown-Smith's first-born really is the finest baby that ever lived, as Brown-Smith fondly asserts it to be ? Anyway, we can go no further than declare it con- clusively proved to the Editors of this Journal that light, portable brood-chambers and surplus-boxes, with a loose outer-case, capable of contraction and expansion, is the best type of hive for use in this country. It is, however, quite distinct from the u double-walled hive'' as the term is generally understood. No doubt a cottager, or one to whom every shilling; expended is of considerable importance, will do wisely to adopt a cheaper form, unless he has ingenuity enough to carry out say the '■ bacon- box" plan well described on page 25 last week. We may also aid that — so far as our exceptional means of acquiring information on the subject enables us to judge — a very large number of those well qualitied to express an opinion agree with us. But we none the less admit that bee-keepers who entertain different views are perfectly right in main- taining whatever preference they may have in an opposite direction. Our preference is the outcome of a long and somewhat costly experience, after making trials of most types of hives for which special advantages are claimed. Bearing ia mind therefore the enor- mous benefit — besides comfort and convenience in working — derived from uniformity or inter- changeability in all hives and appliances used, we offer the benefit of our experience to readers just for what it is worth and no more. [1411.] Wiring Frames. — Hiving Swarms. — I notice in the book I have on bees that the comb foundation is said to be fixed by means of wire to the frames. 1. Kindly inform me, through the medium of your much- appreciated B.B.J., whether it is necessary to have wire both sides of the comb. 2. I have made a hive with the floor- board fixed to the walls so that it is impossible to raise the entrance. It is, of course, sufficiently high to allow the bees to pass in and out in the ordi- nary course. Will this be a difficulty in the way of hiving a swarm. — H. E., Birmingham, January 14. Keply.— 1. The sketch here shown (fig. 1) will explain the method known as " upright wiring, " which is a simple one, and quite effective when properly done. The modus — as described in a former issue of B.J. — being as follows : — Fine tinned wire (No. 30) is used, and we will suppose our frame to have its top-bar Fig. 1. sawn through— as nearly all frames are now sent out so. Five three-eighth-inch tacks are driven — not quite close home — along the front side of top bar as shown in the cut, five holes being bored through the exact centre of bottom rail, opposite the tacks above. A turn or two Jan. 23, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 39 Fig. 2. of the wire is then passed round the first tack on the left, and the tack being driven home, the wire is secured. Fig. 1 will explain how the wire is passed round the tack-heads, through the divided top-bar and the holes in bottom rails, and finally secured round a tack, driven in the side bar on the right. The frame thus wired is ready for the foundation, and to assist in this a "block" (Fig. 2) is necessary. This is a piece of board rather less than half- inch thick, and small enough to fit easily within a standard frame. On one side of the board are nailed two strips of wood, ten inches long, so that the top and bottom rails of the frame will rest on these strips, while the board fills up the frame and allows the foundation to lie on it in proper position for wiring. A small screw- driver is inserted in the " saw-cut " and turned half round, thus parting the frame to allow of the sheet of foundation being slipped in behind the wires, which lie upon the front surface of the foundation when placed on the block. Some such tool as the " Woiblet spur embedder " (Fig. 3) is used to embed the wires into the foundation, the wheel being heated Fig. 3. sufficiently to melt the wax as it passes over the wire and forces the latter into the founda- tion. If the top bar of frame has no saw-cut, holes are bored through it, as in bottom rail, and the wires passed through them. Though many experienced hands aver that no trouble results from the above method, some object to it because the strain on the light bottom rail, often used in frame-making, is so great as to cause it to bend upwards, and by thus increasing the space below the combs, brace combs are sometimes built between the several stories of surplus chambers. The second method (Fig. 4) is an American one, and in it the strain falls wholly on the Fig. 4. side bars, through which four fine wire nails are driven, at the points 1, 2, 3, and 4. The points of these nails are then bent hook-form with a pair of pliers, and the wire, first fastened on No.l, is passed round back to the hook from which it started. The fifth stretch of the wird passes from 1 below the bottom stretch at 5, and is fastened off at 2. 2. Floor-boards should never be " fixed " in the manner described, but it should not cause very much difficulty in hiving the swarm if the entrance is |- in. or more in height. Should it be less than this, we should look out for the queen when bees were thrown out in front, and see that she enters the hive. This done, the swarm will follow in due course, even if the bees cluster outside for an hour or more. [1412.] Moving Bees from Wall of House. — I am a novice, and should be glad to know what you would advise under the following circumstances : A swarm of bees went through a wall of a house and settled in the cavity between the boards and the ceiling. This occurred two years ago. How can I get them out ? They can be reached by taking a floor- ing board up, but I am at a loss how to proceed then. When would be the best time to start? — H. J. Skelding, Treforest. Reply. — Bees located in the position des- cribed require some management to get them successfully into a frame-hive. Many accounts have appeared in our pages, to which our cor- respondent might refer. The task is, however, so difficult for a " novice," that we should certainly advise obtaining the assistance of a practised hand if such help is obtainable. April or May would be the best time for the operation. [1413.] Confining Bees. — Is it advisable to shut the doors of bee-hives with perforated zinc? Owing to the unusually mild weather my bees are coming out in hundreds, and most of them get chilled and settle on bushes, cabbages, &c, and there die, to be eaten up by blue tits, which collect in numbers. — E. M. N., Kintore, N.B., January 17. Reply. — Hive entrances must on no account be closed to confine the bees, but there is no objection to shading them from the bright sun by boards as stated, so long as the boards are so fixed as to cause no obstruction to the bees entering the hive as usual. The fact of bees coming out in such numbers to be chilled outside, indicates restlessness that is not natural. Have they sufficient food? At any rate if the mischief continue we should take the first opportunity to glance below quilts and see how matters stand. [1414.] Fertilising Queens by Selected Drones. — Is it possible to get queens mated by selected drones 1 Or do you know any book on the subject ? I tried last season to raise a few pure mated Italians as early as the last week in April, and, in order to attain this desired end, had plenty of Italian drones flying as late as the middle of September, 40 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 23, 1896. ■while all my native drones had been killed. In spite of all my trouble, however, the queens met natives from somewhere. Can this niatiog by selected drones only be done by queen- raisers, or is it within reach of amateurs ? The bees in this district are fast becoming hybrids, as one can see at driving time, almost every skep having its inmates going up into the empty skep marked with the yellow bands. No doubt I am one of the offenders, if it be an offence, to cause such inroads of the foreign blood, but I think the bees are no worse for it. Anyway, I have not heard any complaint made, and cannot find any fault with hybrids myself. But it would be advan- tageous to have one's queens mitei with selected drone3 from stocks known to be gooi honey-gatherers. I visited a friend last Sep- tember, and he had a stock with hundreds of drones flying at that date. Not a queenles3 lot, either, but a good, prosperous stock of natives. I find Italian queens choose native drones and vice versa, if there are any within three or four miles. — 0. Knight, Epncy, Glos., January 13. Reply. — We know of no book published on the subject. Several attempts have, however, been made to secure fertilisation of queens by selected drones — -some even going so far as to think it could be accomplished by providing roomy cages for " mating " in confinement — - but nothing satisfactory has resulted, and the attempts have been given up. All that can be hoped for is in the line followed by your- self, i.e., having only the desired drones on the wing when the young queens are taking their first flight. Persoaally, we have, at infinite pains, got the particular drones hatched out " very early,'' but some cottager, with his small skeps, in warm, sunny corners, would have drones on the wing before us, and our efforts went for nothing. We do not agree with the notion that queens seek or prefer alien drones for mating with ; the pro- bability is that the long flights taken by both drones and queens during the marital season accounts for or explains the result stated. [1415.] The Weather in North Wales— Moving Bees. — Just to show how mild the weather is here, I may tell you snowdrops and primroses have been seen in bloom, and to-day a sparrow's nest, with four eggs in, was found in the roof of an outhouse. I broke one of the eggs, and found it quite fresh ; in fact, I saw the old bird fly off, or would not have noticed the nest. I consider this very unusual for January. I also notice my bees buzzing about as if it was April. Quite a contrast to January, '95. When is the best time to remove bees ? I have my hive3 in a yard by the house, but find the fowls kill a great many of them, so I am anxious to locate them in a garden a quarter of a mile off. — S. Corey, fihuddlan, N. Wales, January 20. Reply. — Bees should be moved, if possible, after a long spell of confinement to their hives through cold ; but winter time is generally a safe time so far as avoiding loss of bees through their failing to find the hive. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufac- turers or correspondents, 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 food 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 the date of iisue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt of their communica- tions. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. Robert Boyle (New Southgate). — Bees Thrown Out. — -It is not at all uncommon to see a score or two dead bees thrown out of a hive in January, and need cause no alarm. Should there be any doubt as to sufficient supplies within the hive, take the first op- portunity to slip a cake of candy on the top of the frames. Nothing beyond this should be done for several weeks to come. G. T. Thomson (Blackheath). — Using Combs from Foul-Broody Hives. — If the stock was so slightly affected with the disease as stated, and the "beautifully clean combs" are perfectly dry so far as honey, we should certainly risk using them again in surplus chambers, after syringing well with a solution of soluble phenyle, and allowing them to dry before using. Robert Ness (Sproxton). — We are especially gratified (under all the circumstances) at the receipt of your congratulatory note re appointment of Secretary to the B.B.K.A., and will put your ommunication before the Council. T. N. Cheeseman (Doncaster). — Moving Bees Ten Yards. — We should take first oppor- tunity, after a few weeks' confinement to the hives by cold weather, for moving the hives. The fact of changing the position in the open to a bee-house will of itself so mark the change that the bees will at once notice it, and little or no loss will *#* Errata. — Our correspondent " Lords- wood" writes us as under : — a correction. '• Please state in this week's issue of B.J. that the last paragraph of ' The Humble Dumble- dore ' in last issue should have been in in- verted commas — the whole being an extract from Jefferies's 'Pageant of Summer.' If the mistake was mine I apologise. — Yours faithfully, Lordswood." After examining the " copy," we are very pleased to acquit our esteemed correspondent of any blame, the MS. being plainly " quoted " in the usual way. An apology is, therefore, due from ourselves on behalf of the usual " reader," and is freely offered. — Eds. Jan. 30, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 41 (Mfcrrai ftofixa, &t EUCALYPTUS BLOOM, AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE PRODUCTION OF HONEY. Our esteemed correspondent Mr. F. McConnel, of Blackyett, Ecclefecban, sends us a report of a valuable and interesting paper on the Eucalyptus and its influence on the production of honey of Australia, read before the Royal Geographical Society of Brisbane, in September last, by his nephew, Mr. D. R. McConnel, secretary of the Technical College of that place. The paper is of much value to bee-keepers as deciding several points on which opinions vary. Slightly abridged, it reads a? follows : — ■ " Perhaps in no part of the world is the native flora characterised by so general and abundant a secretion of honey as in Australia, and at the same time by such capricious ap- pearance of its blossom. The former feature is remarkable, because the honey-gathering insects are comparatively few, and the native apid* rare, for the most part, too insignificant in size to fulfil the function of floral fertilisa- tion. Probably in the case of flowering trees this arrangement is partly secured by the crowds of honey-sucking parrots and other birds, which scream and chatter among the laden boughs, and completed by the honey- eating beetles, of which there are great numbers. The uncertainty of the times of blossoming, on the other hand, is a feature more remarkable than the first, and extremely disconcerting to the apiarist. In Australia, at any rate in Southern Queensland, it is almost an abnormality for eucalypts to blossom in successive years, or within weeks, or even months, of the preceding time of flowering ; .while they will occasionally, though rarely, blossom twice in the same year — i.e., during the twelve months from winter to winter. Comparing season with season, it seems that most eucalypts would blossom normally every other year ; but, through an ages-long expe- rience of our variable climate, they have developed an excesuve, one might almost say prescient, sensitiveness to meteorological con- ditions. They are guilty of no temerarious lavishness in. their arrangements for continuing their species. In wet seasons they will scarcely blossom at all, even for two or three years. In dry seasons they will blossom year after year until the next wet period. Indeed, it may b3 said that the hotter and drier the season the more abundantly they flower. But the very shoots of these trees seem to wait until the last moment to decide whether they shall become tufts of new leaves or bunches of boney-laden blossom ; and if by any chance they have been deceived by appearances of drought into the f^rma^ion of the latter, they possess the power, even after the flower-buds are apparently fully formed, of remaining month after month unopened. I have seen a grey gn m (Eu. Saligna) in my stable-yard with flower-buds that hung for thirteen months without any apparent external change until they finally burst into blossom at the end of that long time of waiting. This was during the flood year of 1893. Incredible as it may be thought, I believe that careful comparative observations continued through a number of years would give data upon which fairly reliable forecasts of coming seasons could be made. For example, the last two years, reckoned from May to May, have been an unusual period of intermittent rainfall, and therefore of unusual suitability to agriculturists in general. During that time the eucalypts have occupied themselves in extending their leaf growth ; but as early as April this year almost every kind of eucalypt might have been observed to be developing extraordinary masses of flower-buds, and if the season should prove dry throughout, though not an unmixed blessing to the community in general, it will bring a wealth of harvest to the hives. Besides the irregularity of seasons referred to, eucalypts vary exceedingly in the normal time of flowering according to the individual kinds. Eu. Maculata (spotted gum) flowers usually in midwinter ; Tereticornis (blue gum) about August ; Crebra (red ironbark) about September ; Melano-phloia (silver- leaved iron- bark) early in December ; Sidero-phloia (gray iron-bark) sometimes in December, oftener later ; C<">ryrubosa (bloodwood), usually the latest, about March ; and so on through the numerous kinds of the species. But the blossoming of individuals fluctuates according to their distance from the coast, or position north and south. Perhaps of all the sorts in Southern Queensland, Tereiicornis (blue, gum) and Coiymbosa (bloodwood) are the most constant as to the flowering time of year. It is evident then that, were it not for their irregularity in blossoming, eucalypts would provide an almost unequalled succession of honey flow throughout the year. However, the varieties do not grow so near as to provide this continuity in one locality ; although so many are the different kinds that hardly any wooded district could be without something approaching it. The yield of honey from most varieiies is enormous. The quantity of nectar compensates the bee-keeper to some extent for the irregularity of blossoming. But it is not safe for him to depend upon eucalypts alone ; and there are other trees and shrubs which give an equally good and in some cases a better quality of boney. They belong for the most part, like the eucalypts, to the Myr- taceous order (and I cannot help regretting that in a late enumeration of the products of this order, made, as published, by a dis- tinguished botanist of this city, mention was omitted of a product so valuable and dis- tinctive as its yield of honey). Most of the THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 30, 1896. tea-trees are very rich in honey, the finest quality being obtained from those that beautify the river beds and watercourses — the red bottlebrush or river myrtle (Callistemon lanceolatus), and others. The paper-barked tea-trees (Melaleuca leucadendron, et var.), and other swamp varieties have abundance of honey, but of a rank, objectionable flavour and smell, and dark in colour. All the Ango- phoras (apple-trees and sugary gums) are good noney yielders, the so-called " sugary gum " (Angophora lanceolata) having a peculiarly luscious, thick, though dark, honey. The Tristanias are also most valuable honey-pro- ducers, especially the " swamp mahogany '' (Tristania suavolens), which has a delicate honey of delicious, peachy flavour and aroma, perhaps the finest to be found in the colony. The plants mentioned all flower annually, mostly in the spring and early summer, and prefer moisture to drought, with the exception of the Angophoras, which share the irregularity of the eucalypts, to which they are most nearly allied. There are, besides, great numbers of flowering shrubs and trees in scrubs which also blossom annually, and yield honey of fine flavoursand colours. So reliable are scrub flowers for a yearly yield that no bee-keeper is wise to select a locality for his apiary where his bees cannot easily reach them. The marshes and swamps on the coast are covered with honey plants, including a number of varieties of tea- trees and grass-trees, and the mangrove. But the honey gathered from such localities near the sea is very strong, saltry, and dark, and I am particular in mentioning these facts because eucalyptus honey is often credited with flavours derived from inferior sources. The results of a harvest and the market value of a season's take will be much modified by the presence of honeys other than from eucalypts. Among the eucalypts themselves, the quality and quantity vary very much with the tree. The product of the blue-gum ( Tereticornis) has a delightful musky-perfume, very dis- tinguishable among the hives on a warm spring evening, and a pale amber colour ; but as it blossoms in late winter or early spring the bees can seldom take full advantage of it for storing. In my experience the brightest and finest eucalyptus honey of Southern Queens- land comes from the ironbarks, particularly the grey ironbarks (Siderophloia), and the broad-leaved or silver-leived ironbark (Melanophloia), which is a stunted, crooked tree, and therefore seldom cut for timber. The bees seem to prefer the latter ; I have seen them leave the gray ironbark almost un- touched when both were in full blossom at the same time. The honey of the blackbutt (Eu. Pilularis) has the most unusual characteristic of not candying, even if kept for several years, probably on account of its extreme density, which gives it a jelly-like consistence, and makes it difficult to be extracted from the combs. In none of the honeys of the eucalypts, so far as I have tasted them, is there the slightest suggestion of the flavour of the oil secreted by the leaves. It is doubtful that in any of the species the oil is secreted with the honey ; so that the reputed excellence of this kind of honey for medicinal purposes is probably no greater than that of any other honey, and rests on no other basis than the general emollient and nourishing properties of the article from whatever source. The much- talked of and much-deprecated " eucalyptus flavour " seems to have originated in one of those commercial tricks which do so much damage to the interests of honest traders and producers. It will be remembered that a certain savant of a chemist travelling in Tasmania some years ago brought before the French public the extraordinary virtues of the eucalyptus honey he had found in that island, dark in colour, and gathered, as he stated, by black bees about half the size of the European insect. The story went the round of the newspapers, and it appears that some persons in Sydney pricked their long ears at the prospective profits of the new trade, and, purchasing a quantity of so-called " blacks' " honey, gathered sometimes on the Clarence River in large quantities by natives, and shipped to Sydney in casks, poured eucalyptus oil into it until they thought it had enough of the smell and flavour of that extract, and sent it off to London. About that time there appeared in the British Bee Journal some paragraphs about the horrible "eucalyptus" smell of the new Australian honey, which threatened to stink visitors out of the agri- cultural show where it was exhibited. The British Bee Journal is or was at that time (1891) edited by Mr. Thomas W. Cowan, F.L.S., F.G.S., &c, &c, a distinguished scientist, who had made a hobby of micros- copes and bees, a member of the famous family of paper manufacturers in Edinburgh. An uncle of mine, also with a hobby for bees, was a personal friend of Mr. Cowan's, and had written to him on the prospects of a market for his Australian nephew's honey. Mr. Cowan's reply is in my possession, in which he assures my uncle that " if his nephew's honey is no better than the Australian honey he had seen and tasted he (the nephew) would have a difficulty in dis- posing of it.'' Mr. Cowan mentioned at the same time that Australian honey fetched from 25s. to 30s. per cwt,, and was bought by EXPERIMENTS IN HEATING HONEY. After carrying out a series of tests with a view of ascertaining to what temperature granulated honey could be raised in melting without deterioration, a report has been issued by the Hon. R. L. Taylor, Superin- tendent of the Michigan State Experi- mental Apiary. Honey of known good quality was heated in a vessel immersed in Jan. 30, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 43 hot water up to the four temperatures respec- tively, ranging from 145 clegs., 165 degs., 185 degs., and finally to 200 degs. Fahr., at which several temperature tests were made, and as a result, Mr. Taylor says, as recorded in the Bee-Keepers' Review : — "Alter going above 165 degs. the honey rapidly deteriorates both in colour and flavour. The difference between the second and third is twice as great as between the first and second ; that between the third and fourth twice as great as that between the second and third ; and that between the fourth and fifth shows even a more rapid rate of deterioration, though the temperature was raised but a trifle, showing that simply the continuance of an unwonted temperature causes injury. It is quite likely that the continuance of a tem- perature so low as 145 degs. would prove injurious. The rate of deterioration in colour corresponds well with that in flavour. The third sample would still be classed as white honey, while the fourth is quite light amber, and the last just a good amber. " In the absence of evidence that honeys from different sources can safely endure different degrees of temperature, we may assume that honey should not be subjected to a temperature above 165 degs., and at a tem- perature so high as that for only the shortest possible time." KENT BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of this association was held on Thursday, January 16, 1896, at the rooms of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Jermyn-street, W., the Rev. T. S. Curteis occupying the chair. The annual report was read, and, together with the balance-sheet, received and adopted, the thanks of the association being given to the council and officers and local honorary secretaries for their services during the year 1895. J. A. Miller, Esq., of Bifrons, Canter- bury, was elected president for the ensuing j ear. The council for 1896 was also duly elected, the names of Mr. J. M. Hooker and Mr. H. W. Brice being added ; the Rev. T. S. Curteis and Mr. H. F. Witherby retiring. The office of hon. sec. to the association being rendered vacant owing to the resignation of Mr. Garratt, it became necessary to appoint a successor. No candidate having offered himself for the office, Mr. H. W. Brice, who is now the owner of a large apiary in West Kent, was, after some pressure, induced to undertake the office. Mr. J. M. Hooker was reappointed repre- sentative of the association on the Council of the British Bee-keepers' Association. The drawing for prizes awarded to cottager members of the association then took place, Mr. Charles Andrews (Smeeth) winning the first prize (a bar-frame hive), G. Collins (Ken- nington), G. Vouseden (Hawkhurst), R. Wood (Mole Ash), and Mrs. Belsey (Tong, Sitting- bourne), each winning one of the four other prizes awarded. The usual vote of thanks to the chairman brought the proceeding to a close. It is requested that all future communi- cations be sent and subscriptions paid to H.W. Brice, hon. sec. K.B.K.A., The Apiary, Thornton Heath. tyaxxwpnkMt The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for t opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only ana give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith, lllustra tions should be drawn on separate pi,eces of paper. » e do not undertake to return rejected communications. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Remew, dsc, must be addressed only to " The Editors of the ' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William- street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi- cations relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to "The Manager, ' British Bee Journal' Office, 17, King William-street, Strand, London, W.C." (see 1st page of advertisements ). "NOTES BY THE WAY." [2396.] What can I say of the weather this week ? It is unseasonable, abnormally mild for the last week in January, and we have had practically no winter yet. But even, with no frosts since last October worth mentioning, I cannot say the winter is over ; yet the snow- drops and white arabis are in bloom, and the bees begin to visit the watering-places, showing that breeding has begun. Our parish clerk to-day told me that fifty-one jears ago it was so mild that the white thorn was out in green leaf in February of that year, but that in the following March there was three weeks of con- tinuous frost, a frost so hard that the farmers could not plough the ground. Possibly we may get a taste of similar weather before the fruit trees blossom. Preventing Swarming.— Will Mr. Seamark kindly give dimensions of his non-swarming chamber below the brood-nest? I mean the size and depth of dummies ; and do the bees from the hive pass through the box of dummies to the entrance, or is the entrance in the hive above the bottom box 1 and also, when the shutter is opened at the back to give air, do the bees use this exit as well as the usual entrance ? * Old Brood Combs for Honey Storing or " Extracting."— -On this point I can most certainly endorse Mr. Simmins' contention '[We may here explain that owing to some vagueness in the MS. the non-swarming chamber (referred to in 2393 page 36) was stated to be fixed " below the floor- board." We now learn however from Mr. Seamark that the "chamber" is placed on the floor-board, below the brood-combs.— Eds. ]| 44 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 30, 1896. (2390) that honey extracted from combs in which brood has been raised in previous years will be equal in every respect to honey stored in the same super in combs built from founda- tion or natural-built combs from "starters" only. I should expect to get as clear water from clear port-wine bottles as from ginger- wine bottles, which are generally made of white glass. The old combs will bear the force of extractor far better than the new comb, unless the new comb is built on founda- tion with a wood base, then, when we attain to that desideratum, we shall not require any wire-netting over the front of the cages in the extractor, or at least only a very wide mesh. Eeferring to the recent correspondence on super foundation, I have been asked could I account for the bees refusing to work it out 1 Sometimes the number of sections refused in one rack would be three or four or more. I can give no reason, unless the wax was milled loo cold, and was thus rendered very hard, though one would think that the high temperature over a strong colony of bees would soften the wax, so that the bees could either work it cut or build on it. I feel pretty sure, however, it is not the hardness of the wax but the lubri- cant used to make it pass freely through the machine that disgusts the bees, and accounts for their objection to the foundation. I had quite a number of sections myself refused by my bees last season, together with a few in which they built out one side and sealed it perfectly, leaving the other side untouched, and this among sections of first-class honey gathered in the height of the season. Our manufacturers are reticent as to their modus operandi, being, peihaps, unwilling to reveal trade secrets, and so help on their com- petitor over the way. To us bee-keepers, however, the publication of their methods would be no more than interesting reading, and I opine the majority of bee-keepers do not care a fig how foundation is made so that it is used by the bees in every sect'on in every crate. Carefully - conducted experiments on super comb-foundations of different makers, carried out by the Hon. R. L. Taylor, at the Experimental Apiary at Michigan, U.S.A., during 1895, goes to prove that the quality of the wax itself has a great deal to do with the usefulness of foundation to the bee-keeper. The samples were obtained from the various manufacturers without their knowing that any test was to be applied to them. The founda- tion was used in alternate rows of sections all through each crate, which held twenty-four sections, and the heaviest weight of honey came from what is known in the States as " Given " foundation. The result of the experiment was that Mr. Taylor considered the superior quality of the wax in this particular make of foundation among the samples tested gave it the lead in the experiment. The question therefore arises how far the recent endeavour to improve our wax by adding chemicals to it to clarify it in the extraction process may be accountable for the brittleness or hardness of the product, and this may be one of the causes of its rejection by the bees. Mr. Brice thinks that even the water in which it is extracted from the combs acts on it. How much more strong chemical acids ?— W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury. PREVENTION OF SWARMING. THE USE OF " NADIRS " AND " EKES.'' [2397.] I think your correspondent Mr. Simmins has ''stumbled into error" over my letter (2347, p. 522 of B.J. for Dec 26). I would therefore remind him : 1. That not a word is said therein about eke or extension of combs. I referred to a " nadir," and to a nadir only. 2. The terms "eke" and "nadir" are not obsolete, but are still used, articles named thus being offered for sale by manufacturers of modern appliances. The B.B.J, for 1895 also refers to these articles. 3. The term nadir signifies a chamber below the brood-nest, just as a chamber above brood-nest is called a super. The " Simmins'" non-swarming chamber being below brood-nest is to all intents a nadir, irrespective of its purpose. 4. I have followed very closely the correspondence on this subject during 1895, and it seems that all are more or less troubled with comb-building, and some with brood, irrespective of their success as regards non-swarming. One point worthy of notice is that the " Conqueror " hive is not heard of in the discussion. It is merely twisting my words away from their true meaning to sty that I "showed the value of comb-building." I assert that I am supported by first-class experts in saying that comb-building i3 undesirable, this argument being constantly used in lectures in favour of the modern system. The re-use of comb and the use of foundation, places the question of comb-building in the bands of the bee-master, for every 1 lb. of wax thus saved he gains 13 lb. of honey. I cannot accept Mr. Simmins' argument that " by usiDg foundation we save neither material nor labour," pre- ferring to follow the teaching of the "Guide Book," which pays : " It takes 13 lb. of honey to produce 1 lb. of wax," so that the " bee- keeper who uses foundation largely has an immense advantage over one who does not." Add to this testimony the advantage of "wiring,'' and you leave comb produced from starters in the shade altogether. Nor is the " Guide Book " less clear on the question of extracting. It says : " When we bear in mind that bees consume about 13 lb. of honey to produce 1 lb. of wax, we can realise the advan- tages of a machine which enables us to give bees empty combs and thus save them the labour of comb-building." Possibly we may get new light on this subject in the promised new edition of Mr. Cowan's book. Doe 3 Mr. S. refer to sections when depre- cating the us? of excluder, or does his con- Jan. 30, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 45 demnatioa of the " fad " extend to shallow- frames also ? I accepted it as a known fact that an " excluder," is the best article for placing the queen under the control of the bee-master. I take it the five points of the " Simmins' " systemare — strong stocks early ; young queens ; abundant ventilation ; room below the brood nest, and, last but not least, no excluder. I will conclude by repeating to readers the simple question I asked at first, but which has not been answered, " Of what practical value is a nadir ? " (a) Will it give room early in the year without loss of heat in brood-nest 1 (b) is it the best place to build what comb we want, especially drone comb 1 (c) Is it useful for scoring honey with excluder on, and make an entrance into brood nest by placing the latter close to front wall of " W. B. C." hive ? (d) Will it assist in preventing swarming even with cotnbed-frames in hive, especially if ventilation is arranged for ? "Self-Taught" (238, page 251) has also made a mistake in reference to carbolic cloth*, please refer to 2347, page 522. — A. Worker, Long Eaton, January 27. doubted advantage of one uniform size of frame, which we hold it to be of the utmost importance to keep unchanged. — Eds.] PREVENT LON OF SWARMING. TAKING A LESSON FROM THE BEES. [2398.] Referring to the above in B.B.J. (pages 5 and 6, Jan. 2), as "Bee-Cycle " wishes to prevent swarming, could he not take a lesson from the swarm preventers he speaks of, viz., bee-homes in old buildings ? As 1 once heartily wished for the same thing myself, I set about to try and tind means of bringing it about, and am happy to say that up to the present 1 have succeeded, the desired result being safely realised by my making; larger hives (of course my friends laughed at me, but to err is human). My hives hold not less than twelve frames 20 in. long, by 8h deep. I know that this will rouse the '• standard'1 devotee. A few nights ago, however, I attended a meeting when the secretary of the Association read a paper on " Profitable Bee- keeping," and he twice over said that the •'standard sized hive" was too small. This gentleman was one of my chief tormentors years ago about my " dog kennels," as he called them. So far this has worked in practice, and several friends have adopted the same sizei hive with good results. — Wm. Hall, Harden, Yorlcs. [Without entering into the question raised by our correspondent, we would ask what is the sizs of the so-called "Standard Hive?" No hive so named goes forth with the authority of the British Bee-keepers' Asso- ciation, as is the case with the Standard frame. On the contriry, bee-keepers may make their hives to hold ten or twenty or forty frames ; in fact, as large or as small as they deem best ; but this in no way interferes with the un- BEES IN HAMPSHIRE. [2399.] Not seeing any report from this part of Hants, I send you a line recording my bee-doings of 1895. I started the year with forty-five stocks in frame-hives ; got few swarms, but tier upon tier of sections and shallow-frames. My best single-queen hive yielded sixty-three well-filled sections, and about 40 lb. of extracted ; 103 lb. in all. I got altogether about half a ton of honey, and had little trouble in selling single sections at Is., or 10s. per dozen. Extracted honey brought me 10s. per dozen 1-lb. jars. I have not kept account, but it pays me well. My better half also finds the honey-room very handy, and its contents good for the bairns ; they all like it, but are not fond of bees, so have all the work to do myself. I have now forty-eight stocks, all in grand condition, and, if the season of '96 is going to beat '95, 1 shall have some work to do. Being away from home working from 6 a.m. till 5 p.m., I get some one to hive any swarms that come off during the day, and I fix them up in the evening after returning. We don't know foul brood around here, and don't want to. I lost three swarms on one very hot Sunday ; they all made straight for our Cathedral, and located themselves under the roof. The workmen tell me that eight swarms went in at different parts of the roof of the venerable edifice. No doubt there is some good honey there, but it is far out of reach. In every case my hybrid Carniolans gave most honey, but did not seal it so well as did our natives. Last Sunday was as warm as some days in May, and the merry hum made one think of ordering appliances, &c. We may, however, have winter yet, and those wbose bees are short of stores had better be on tbe watch, for food is fast shrinking now. Most of mine had 20 lb. each when packed in autumn, and on taking a peep at some, of my hives the other day I found it going fast this mild weather. Some stocks had patches of sealed brood as broad as my hand. I am sending you a sample of my honey for your opinion as to quality, if you will kindly report thereon. I have got one or two subscribers for our Journal, but for cottagers it is rather too expensive. For myself, I get my B.J. on Fridays, and sometimes I find it hid away till I have finished my tea. You will guess by whom ! " Tea first, bees after," says the good wife. I should like to see something done to meet the cottagers' pocket. I mike most of my own hives during the long evenings, but all are not able to do this, and to buy every- thing is bevond the cottagers' means, who find it rather difficult to make both ends meet. 46 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 30, 1896. I killed my first queen-wasp on Sunday last. After keeping bees for thiity-five years I am not losing interest in them yet, although I get a sting at times. I drove a good many skeps last year with success, and fancy when stings come in confidence is at low ebb. All readers here value the contributions of Messrs. Woodley, Brice, John Walton, ''Lords- wood, " and others very much. I found recently a rack of sections on one of my hives which had been entirely overlooked and forgotten. They were quite fresb, and not a bit candied. Thus I have taken off my first rack of sections for 1896 in January ! Wish- ing to all a happy New Year. — F. Mower, Box Grove Apiary, Winchester. [Sample of honey received is a very good one. Referring to cost per year for Bee Journal, we would remind our correspondents, friends, and those who do not care to pay so high a subscription a* 6s. 6d. per annum that our. monthly, the Record, can be had — by ordering beforehand — from any railway book- stall at 2s. per annum, or 2d. per copy. — Eds.] DRIVING BEES. AN EXPERT'S EXPERIENCE. [2400.] I have been much interested, while reading the experience of your various corres- pondents in bee-driving, and well remember my own first attempt at "driving,'' when I followed the " close method," i.e., a sheet tied closely round the junction of the two skeps. Long experience, however, makes the thing so easy, that I now often drive bees without even using driving-irons. I simply turn up the stock to be driven, push my knife between the full and empty skeps at the junction to hold them together, and hold the empty one in position with one hand, while rapping the full one with the other. The thing to bear in mind is never let the bees get the upper hand for a moment. With a good smoker and proj)er fuel this is easily done. With several skeps to operate on, I begin by blowing a few puffs of smoke in at every hive and give each a few smart raps on the sides with my hand. Never fail to do this. Then run your knife round the skep to disconnect it from the floor-board, giving more smoke to each as loosened. When all have been served in this way, on turning up the first skep, lay over the combs a cloth on which a few drops of carbolic acid bas been sprinkled. Leave this on while fixing the skeps firmly together, then withdraw the cloth so as to uncover about three parts of the comb, and the bees will usually begin to run up at once into the empty skep. The driving should always be done if possible some little way off where the skeps are located, and iu a shady corner if there happens to be one handy. I could describe many humorous incidents of my driving expeditions, if space allowed. One bee-keeper, whose condemned skeps I " took " for several years, got it into his head that the smoke I used damaged his honey, and would only consent to my having the bees if I could take them without smoke. In vain I argued, and at last had to do the best I could with the help of the carbolic cloth. But I got the bees, nevertheless, and that by simply stopping the entrance with my cloth while I rapped the skep with my hand for a few minutes to frighten the bees, then turned the skep up, and "fixed" in the usual way for driving. — J. Martin, Expert B.B.K.A. SECTION HONEY. [2401.] A friend who is fond of honey, though not a bee-keeper, told me a few days ago that he would never buy section*, having more than a strong suspicion that they con- tained very often syrup, and not honey. He suggested that the price of sugar, com- pared with the selling price of honey, might be a temptation to some persons, particularly in a bad season ; but is there no fear of the sections becoming affected by the summer- feeding recommended in B.B. " Guide Book " ? Even diluted honey may not always be avail- able. I have certainly tasted some sections which were rather a fraud on our native bee. — Henuist, January 25. [The " summer feeding " recommended in the " Guide Book " should lead to no such fraud as our correspondent fears, seeing that the risk of sugar syrup being stored in surplus chambers is distinctly guarded against. When advising the feeding of swarms, the "Guide Book" instructions read thus: — "Swarms, unless they have partially filled sections on them, should always be fed," &c. (The italics are ours.) Again, in cases of feeding during scarcity of income in summer, it is advised to feed with honey, so as to "run no risk of having syrup stored instead of honey.'' We should, indeed, be sorry to think there was any uncertainty as to the views of the author of the " Guide Book " on this matter, apart from our known views on the fraudulent practice (now happily rare) of giving sugar syrup to bees while surplus chambers are on the hives. — Eds.] FOUL BROOD. [2402.] If this subject is not already thread- bare, I should like to ask if any carefully- conducted bacteriological examinations have recently been made with a view to deter- mining the following points : — (a) The life history of the bacillus ; (b) the tissues invaded by it, and if several, which most so ; (c) what germicides have been used, the strength of each, and method of use ? If I were troubled with foul brood in my hive3 I should proceed by first of all examining the parts of a bee microscopically and by frozen sections, as we do in human pathology. Jan. 30, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 47 I would then give the stock of bees a syrup containing a solution of a strong germicide, tasteless and colourless, and test weekly the parts affected by microscopic sections. For this purpose I would have a small nucleus stock to work with, give them very little natural stores, and by patient observation would ascertain what germicide, if any, would most quickly destroy these germs in the bees. My impression is that salicylates of soda and borax and salicylic acid are far too weak in germicidal action, and it may be that bee3 can consume very strong germicidal poisons with- out harm, just as we find maggots will thrive in a heap of wheat saturated in a strong solution of strychnine. Of course no honey should be used from the experimental hives. — B. Walker, Kirkby- Stephen, January 22. [We miy again refer to the above in our next issue, and in the meantime would l-epeat what has been stated over and over again in our columns, viz., that no "germicide" or chemical agent at present known i? sufficiently powerful to destroy the s})ores of foul brood without at the same time destroying the bees. It is also well known to those who follow the teachings of this journal, that the foul-brood bacillus is, in its active stage, comparatively easy to deal with, so far as preventing infection, by means of several simple preventives. The real trouble arises when the spore condition is reached, it being proved indisputably that boiling — unless continued for some time — will not destrov the vitality of these. — Eds.] PREVENTING SWARMING. [2403.] While thanking Mr. H. Seamark for his letter (2393, p. 36) upon the above subject, if he would kindly give a little more information by answering the following ques- tions, it would, I am sure, be esteemed by many bee-keepers : — 1. What are the dimen- sions of " drawer '' used, more especially the depth ? 2. Has the drawer an opening for the flight of bees in addition to the one in front of hive 1 3. How is the drawer connected with brood-nest % Is the floor board over drawer quite open, or do the bees pass to and fro by slots % — L. W., Lowestoft, January 25. BRITISH COLUMBIA. THE PROSPECTS OF BEE-KEEPING IX THE COLONY. [2404.] Will any reader of the B.B.J. kindly say what prospect of keeping bees and what is the price of honey in the above-named colony ? The inquirer would be glad of any information on the subject, as he thinks about going there, and wishes to add to his income by bee-keeping. I am a large bee-keeper in England. The Editor has my address.— Emigrant, January 24. EARLY POLLEN-CARRYING. [2405.] On Sunday last, the 19th inst., I saw several bees come home loaded with pollen. A neighbour of mine also observed the same in his apiary. We have a field of charlock near in bloom, the frost not having been severe enough to kill it. I have no doubt the pollen was from it. — E. C. R. White, Woodford Mills, near Salisbury, January 22. HUMBLE BEES. {Concluded from paye 37). COMPOSITION AND SHAPE OF HONEY CELLS. Andrena makes none. Bombus, Pouch-maker. — Honey cells rarely constructed, the honey being stored in the old cocoon-cells. Bombus, Pollen-storer. — Cylindrical cells of wax are constructed. When several of these are placed side by side they may sometimes take a rude hexagonal form. Cocoon- cells are also employed. Apis. — Cells are of wax, circular in form when commenced, afterwards hexagonal. Males and females with Andrena do not return to the nests in which they developed. Bombus. — Males remain two or three days and then leave the nest not to return again as a rule. Queens pass in and out of nest for several days (sometimes weeks) and then leave for good. Apis. — Males pas3 in and out of hive all their life (normally). Queen goes out once or twice and remains at home rest of life. LONGEVITY AND FERTILITY OF THE FEMALE SEX. Andrena. — Perfect female is worn out usually after three weeks of active life ; she lays on an average about half-a-dozen eggs. Bombus — Queen lives twelve to thirteen months (five months active) ; worker lives four to six weeks. Queen lays some 200 to 400 eggs. Apis. — Queen lives three or four years (very active the greater part of the time) ; worker lives two to eight months. Queen lays 1,500,000 eggs (Cheshire). By the observant, . instances such as these, of the curious intermediary position that the Bombi hold between the " solitary bees " and the "socials," might be multiplied ad lib. By studying them we can trace the early phases of the instincts of our honey gatherer, and possibly explain or assist in explaining not a few of the most remarkable of them. Amongst these latter the mysteries of the " royal jelly's " action may ba classed. Bombus rears both queens and workers as well a? Apis, but I have observed no excess of jeby-like matter surrounding the queen-larva? of the Bombi. What then produces the queen 1 Is there a difference between the eggs 1 With Apis it has long ago been proved that the queen 48 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 30, 1896. and worker eggs ar3 identical in every way. A few independent and careful experiments on the Bombi next summer by those interested in these matters should settle this question, as well as possibly throw light on several obscure details on bee-life. To me it is always a strange thiDg that intelligent and practical bee-keepers should care so little for the wild bees. What is worse some look on them with a jealous eye and would even destroy the nests, supposing from ignorance that they rob their bee3 of their honey. la the coming season let those who have carried on hostilities with the despised "humble dumbledore," alter their views and rather try to investigate through its wdd cousins the conditions that have produced the useful insest that has been specially given into our charge. To would-be observers, I may mention that Bombas agrorum (formerly named muscorum) , the common yellow carder bee, the nest of which is so commonly found in hay-fields and on grassy slopes, is one of the best examples of a pouch-makiDg humble-bee, and the irascible B. terrestris psithyrical form (formerly B. terrestris) — which is sketched balow, and is Bombus terrestris. known from the true terrestris, in that it has a tawny instead of a white tail — is a good species to study as a typical pollen-storer. B. lapidarius, a red-tailed species, abundant in the eastern counties, is also a good instance of the latter kind. Trigone, carbonaria, lately described in the B.B.J. , and the equally curious species of the genus Melipona, come between Bombus and Apis. By reading the account given, (p. 437, vol. xxiii.), this will at once become apparent. For instance, the combs are stated to be horizontal, the nest is enlarged in an upward direction, and the honey is stored in special (■ells which are outside of the nest proper ; in thc«e particulars the Trigona Jeans towards Bombus. On the other hand, the cells are hexagonal when completed. Propolis is men- tioned, a product not employed to my know- ledge by the Bombi, and the colony is spoken of as swarming, an act never undertaken by. any specie* of Bombus ; which details point to the Apis like nature of these little bees. I trust Mr. Cowan will let us know how his little colony has stood the winter, — W. L. Sladkn, Ripple Court, Dover. LECTURE ON BEE-KEEPING. On January 21, under the auspices of the Manchester and District Bee-keepers' Association, in conjunction with th^ Droylsden Technical Instruction Committee, a very successful lecture on bee-keeping was given by Mr. Hyde, of the M. and D.B.K.A., in the Educational Institute, Market-street, Droyls- den. Mr. Knowles, President of the Associa- tion, occupied the chair. The lecture was illustrated by lime-light views, the lantern being worked by Mr. Whittaker of the Manchester Photographical Association. After the lecture, votes of thanks were accorded to those who had assisted in making the meeting so thoroughly interesting and enjoyable.— P. J. Turner, hon. soc. Crofts Bank-road, Urms- ton, January 25. (ftories awl Holies. [1416.] Do Droneless Hives Swarm ? — Paring down Combs — Bobbing. — 1. Is it a settled fact in bee-keeping that no colonies will swarm, however populous, which are without drones ? 2. Some spare combs I have in hand ready for next season are rather out of shape — i.e., they project beyond the woodwork of the frame, bulge out in places, and are turned up at the bottom corners. This interferes with spacing, and gives the oppor- tunity for drone-comb being built. During this lastseison I had drone comb built on the top of worker cells — that is, worker comb was covered up and drone comb built right on tha face of worker cells. I wish, therefore, to know if I shall be right in shaving down the faces of any combs out of shape to a level surface even with the woodwork of the frames 1 and how can I best shave or cut them ? What sort of knife must be used ? Some ten days ago my bees had a nice fly, the day being fine and mild, and they enjoyed themselves ; but, on looking at the hives so late as four o'clock, I found the bees of one stock making constant journeys to another bive ten yards away. They were evidently cariying oil' the stores. The next day was cold, and continued so for some days, consequently all was quiet ; but on the 18th and 19th the bees again had a good fly, and I observed the same stock again rob- bing the same hive just as before, and con- tinued until darkness stopped them. The attacked stock have so far made no defence at all, aod seemed quite at home with their visitors. Both lots have naphthaline on floors, put in when made up for winter. Perhaps having the same scent may account for no defence. Both stocks have ample stores. Can 30U give me any idea why robbing should go on at this time of year, and how I can prevent it 1 It looks to me that to put carbolic cloths on in the present cold weather would kepp out Jan. 30, 189G.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. bees too long, as I notice they do not fly for much over a quarter to half a minute before they go back to the hive ; any stopping out longer get chilled, and never get back at all. Your kind replies will be esteemed. — Wi, C, Blackburn, January 20. Reply. — 1. We have never heard of a droneless colony swarming, and, personally, we are under no uncertainty as to its being a " settled fact '' that practically a natural swarm will never issue under such con- ditions. The only chance of an attempt at swarming that we can imagine possible would be caused by the effect of excitement on the bees when large numbers of drones from other hives are on the wing on a hot day. 2. Yes, quite right, and so long as the septum or midrib of the comb is in the centre of the frame, there need be no difficulty in paring down the cells to proper depth by using a knife sharpened to a keen but somewhat rough edge. 3. We rather fancy the robbed stock ■will be queenless, and should advise an early glance at the combs to settle the point. [1417.] Keeping Bees out of Conservatories. Open-air Feeding. — I have eight hives of bees, standing 3 ft. in front of a large disused con- servatory, the doors and parts of which fit badly, admitting bees by the score, and they die inside ! 1 . What can I place in the said conservatory to produce such a smell during spring and summer as to frighten the bees ? Carbolic acid is no use, as it will not evaporate, and I cannot be stoving the place constantly ; I am also neither able to stop all the cracks nor move the hives to another position. 2. In place of spring feeding in March by the usual method of giving candy or syrup inside the hive, how would it answer — provided weather was reasonably fine and open — to place a rapid (Canadian) type of feeder containing 10 lb. thick syrup in the orchard or near where the hives stand ; would the bees take it 1 If so, it would save disturbing the packing inside hives until warm weather ?— B. W., Kirkby Stephen. Reply. — 1. There is surely something inside the conservatory attractive to the bees, and if this be so no fumigating, not continuous, will keep them'outside. Any attempt to "frighten " bees is entirely futile, and so we cannot advise a remedy for the trouble other than covering the cracks, &c, with some bee-proof material . 2. Wholesale open-air feeding is not new by any means, but to be successfully carried out must be carefully done. Then the proximity of bees belonging to neighbours must be con- sidered. The main points to be borne in mind are, however, (1) to do the "feeding ''at a sufficient distance from the apiary to avoid " upset " among the hives ; (2) to only feed during the sunniest and warmest part of mild days ; (3) to give the food slightly warm and very thin, not " thick," as proposed ; (4) to remove the feeders each day when the stipulated feeding-t'tne has passed ; and (5) to medicate all food so given. It may be taken for granted that open-air feeding does not " pay " if the bees of neighbours are sufficiently close to make it a free- '"east. [1418.] Space below Frames in Surplus Chambers. — Brood Foundation foi Extracting Combs. — 1. What is the pripr distance between the frames of suri Ins chambers and those of the body-box 1 J ;i advisable to use brood (stock) foundation ) frames intended for extracting purposes 1 — " Drone," Tenbury, January 23. Reply.— 1. Anything above a bee-space is a disadvantage. Have the space as near f in. as possible. 2. Yes. THE "LITTLE PEOPLE." In " Good Hunting," written by Mr. Rud- yard Kipling, and published in the Pall Mall Gazette, July 29 and 30, 1895, there is a most graphic description of the wild bees of the Indian jungle, and how they compel all animals and man to keep at a respectful dis- tance. The hero of the tale is a wild boy of the woods, nourished when a babe by a she- wolf, and when he grows up he fights the wolves' battles. We can only print a very short paragraph of the story, which specially speaks of the bees, or, as they are termed, the " Little People." A letter in which we asked leave to print this extract followed the author to the United States. We have to thank him for kindly writing and granting us permission. " They sleep," said Kaa. " Hathi will not turn aside for the Striped One. Yet Hathi and the Striped One together turn aside for the dhole, and the dhole they say turns aside for nothing. And yet for whom do the Little People of the Rocks turn aside 1 Tell me, Master of the Jungle, who is the Master of the Jungle ? " "These," Mowgli whispered. "It is the Place of Death. Let us go." " Nay, look well, for they are asleep. It is as it was when I was not the length of thy arm." The split and weatherworn rocks of the gorge of the Waingunga had been used since the beginning of the Jungle by the Little People of the Rocks — the busy, furious, black, wild bees of India ; and, as Mowgli knew well, all trails turned off half a mile away from their country. For uncounted centuries the Little People had hived and swarmed from cleft to cleft and swarmed again, staining the white marble with stale honey, and made their combs tall and deep and black in the dark of the inner caves, and neither man nor beast nor fire nor water had ever touched them. The length of the gorge on both sides was hung as it were with black shimmery velvet curtains, and Mowgli sank as he looked, for those were the 50 THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Jan. 30, 1896. clotted millions of the sleeping' bees. There were other lumps and festoons and things like decayed tree-trunks studded on the face of the rock — the old comb of past years, or new cities built in the shadow of the windless gorge — and huge masses of spongy, rotten trash had rolled down and stuck among the trees and creepers that clung to the rock-face. As he listened he heard more than once the rustle and slide of a honey-loaded comb turn- ing over or falling away somewhere in the dark galleries ; then a booming of angry wings and the sullen drip, drip, drip, of the wasted honey, guttering along till it lipped over some ledge in the open and sluggishly trickled down on the twigs. There was a tiny little beach, not 5 ft. broad, on one side of the river, and that was piled high with the rubbish of uncounted years. There lay dead bees, drones, sweep- ings, stale combs, and wings of marauding moths and beetles that had strayed in after honey, all tumbled in smooth piles of the finest black dust. The mere sharp smell of it was enough to frighten anything that had no wing3, and knew what the Little People were. He had slipped down the tree-trunk, and headed like the wind in bare feet for the Bee Rocks, before the dholes saw what he would do. They gave one deep howl, and settled down to the long, lobbing canter that can, at the last, run down anything that lives. Mowgli knew their pack-pace to be much slower than that of the wolves, or he would never have risked a two-mile run in full sight. They were sure that the boy was theirs at last, and he was sure that he had them to play with as he pleased. All his trouble was to keep them sufficiently hot behind him to prevent them turning off too soon. He ran cleanly, evenly, and springily ; the tailless leader not five yards behind him, and the pack stringing out over perhaps a quarter of a mile of ground, crazy and blind with the rage of slaughter. So he kept his distance by ear, reserving his last effort for the rush across the Bee Rocks. The Little People had gone to sleep in the early twilight, for it was not the season of late blossoming flowers ; but as Mowgli's first foot- falls rang hollow on the hollow ground he heard a sound as though all the earth were humming. Then he ran as he had never run in his life below, spurned aside one — two — three of the piles of stones into the dark sweet-smelling gullies ; heard a roar like the roar of the sea in a cave, saw with the tail of his eye the air grow dark behind him, saw the current of the Waingunga far below and a flat, diamond-shaped head in the water ; leaped outward with all his strength, the tailless dhole snapping at his shoulder in mid- air, and dropped feet first to the safety of the river, breathless and triumphant. There was not a sting on his body, for the smell of the garlic had checked the Little People for just the few seconds that carried him across the rocks. When he rose Kaa's coils were steadying him, and things were bounding over the edge of the cliff — great lumps, it seemed, of clustered bees falling like plummets ; and as each lump touched water the bees flew upward and the body of a dhole whirled downstream. Overhead they could hear furious short yells that were drowned in a roar like thunder — the roar of the wings of the Little People of the Rocks. Some of the dholes, too, had fallen into the gullies that communicated with the underground caves, and there choked and fought and snapped among the tumbled honeycombs, and at last, borne up dead, on the heaving waves of bees beneath them, shot out of some hole in the river face, to roll over on the black rubbish heaps. There were dholes who had leaped short into the trees on the cliffs, and the bees blotted out their shapes ; but the greater number of them, maddened by the stings, had flung themselves into the river ; and, as Kaa said, the Waingunga was hungry water. Kaa held Mowgli fast till the boy had recovered his breath. "We may not stay here," he said. "The Little People are roused indeed. Come 1 " Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers, All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only oj personal interest will be answered in this column. C. Garrett (King's Lynn). — Having no personal knowledge of bee-keeping in the colony referred to, we regret our inability to assist you. It is, however, probable that the note of inquiry on another page may cause some helpful information to be forthcoming. Jno. Cundliff, Jun. — We are obliged for your amusing parody, but it is scarcely suitable for publication in our pages. Donald McGeachy (Oban).- Glazing Sections. Our contributor, Mr. Wm. Woodley, will send you a sample section ready glazed as a pattern, and 100 strips of the lace-paper used in glazing for Is., post free. This will be the best " lesson " in glazing sections you could have.' H. Wilcox (Talywain, Mon.). — We are obliged to our correspondent for fuither particulars regarding his house apiary men- tioned on page 6 of B.J. for January 2. The sketch received makes clear what we did not quite understand from first sketch sent. E. S. R. — Medicated Bee-food.— 1. Bees will take syrup medicated with naphthol beta just as freely as if not medicated at all. No need, therefore, to pour it in the combs as with phenolated syrup. 2. Comb sent is badly affected with foul brood. Replies to L. H. S., R. S. P., and H. Seamark in our next. Feb. 6, 1896.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 51 (HtfiforiaL $farti#8, &t. USEFUL HINTS. Weather. — Still no frost worth men- tioning ; on the contrary, early flowers are springing, and strong stocks of bees breeding nicely. Not that there is any- thing to be especially pleased at in this so far as the bees, beyond the indication it affords that such stocks are strong, and their queens safe. For the rest, it is yet too early, and the weather of the next three months too uncertain to say that we may not be wearying with anxiety for the safety of the tender larva? through a sudden spell of hard frost. Where extensive brood-rearing has been induced by abnormal mildness very early in the year, it generally augurs an anxious time for the bee-keeper during April and May. The probability of such untoward conditions arising is, of course, minimised where no early feeding has been necessary ; but we mustcaution those anxious to begin stimulating, not to do so in cases where stores are known to be fairly plentiful. This caution is espe- cially needed in the case of hives not too strong, but known to have very prolific queens. Introducing New Blood Among Bees. — The value or otherwise of introducing from time to time new blood among the bees in old-established apiaries has been discussed in past numbers of the B.J. But it is not quite clearly established as a valuable and important item in good management with those desiring to keep their bees up to "full points " in honey production. We say this in view of the frequency with which some apiaries, long established, become less profitable after the lapse of years ; and it will generally be found that in such cases the special feature in bee - management with which we are now dealing is never taken into account at all. Personally, we attach considerable value to the practice of introducing new blood among bees ; when it can be done with perfect safety, so far as the risk of infection from foul brood. For many years, when located in the north, we regularly, each autumn, introduced more or less young queens from a distance among our bees with excellent effect. In those days driven bees could be had for the asking and driving, and the experienced bee-keeper had little diffi- culty in securing young queens bred during the same summer, by reason of the cottager skeppist so frequently " taking up " swarmed stocks for the honey. In these later days it is less easy, we admit, to get what we want in this way, but a custom could be esta- blished among bee-keepers located a few miles apart in the way of Exchanging Virgin Queens, and thus introducing new blood with perfect safety from risk of infection. During the swarming season surplus virgin queens and rip3 queen-cells are not seldom quite plentiful in apiaries where a dozen or so stocks are kept, and with a little pre-arrangement could be " exchanged," just as amateur gardeners do with plants. Not only would this be interesting and helpful work for friendly bee-men, but it affords good practice in queen introduction. As to the question of the value of the introduction of new blood, there is no reason to suppose it would not be as valuable among bees as it is found to bj with all kinds of stock-raising. Old Brood-combs for Honey Storing. — As a rule — and for obvious reasons — we avoid, whenever possible, making comments on the opinions expressed in our pages by correspondents whom we regard as regular contributors. We also, in a measure, act thus because readers are every week informed, in a paragraph at the head of the correspondence column, that the Editors do not hold themselves responsible for any opinions expressed therein. But we cannot very well avoid saying a word here with regard to a paragraph in a communica- tion which appeared in our issue of January 23 (2390, p. 35). In this the writer (Mr. S. Simmins) deals with the reply made to a query in B.J. of January 2 (1405, p. 10) wherein we express our very decided opinion that " honey stored in old brood-combs will be deteriorated in quality " compared with that stored in combs uncon- taminated by what some consider the rather objectionable larval contents of cells in which successive generations of bees have been reared* Tc this Mr. S<- 52 THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 6, 1896. took exception, and we were rather sur- prised to see his opinion " endorsed " last week by our correspondent Mr. W. Woodley in " Notes by the Way " (2396, p. 43). However, in order that our readers may labour under no con- fusion or uncertainty as to the opinions of the Editors of this journal on the point at issue, we now desire to emphasise the views expressed in the reply given on page 10, and here reiterate them to the letter. It would be little less than hypocrisy to say that we do not imagine some value will be attached to the long expe- rience both Editors of this journal have had in producing, exhibiting, and judg- ing honey ; or that we do not esteem very highly the apparent confidence placed in our opinion from the rather extensive " practice " in judging we are honoured with. In this way, then, we would, in the most friendly way, remind some who differ from us that it is a well- known dictum in jurisprudence that evidence must be weighed according to the amount of knowledge possessed by those tendering it. Judged by this standard, we do not know exactly how to appraise the opinion of bee-keepers who, " in practice," have " not found any difference " between honey stored in old brood-combs and that extracted from clean, white, virgin combs. Those who think thus, may not have paid particular attention to the production of high-class extracted honey for show as well as sale purposes. We have done so ; in fact, during our exhibiting days, it was our speciality, and we still claim to know what constitutes a good sample. There may be a measure of appropriate- ness in these observations appearing in this column ; anyway we venture to deem it a " useful hint " to readers in advising them to bear our words in mind when working for extracted honey — especially that for exhibition. They will gain "points" in the eyes of any com- petent judge by doing so. BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. It is particularly requested that from this date all communications intended for the British Bee-Keepers' Association should be addressed to the Secretary, Edwin H. Young, 12, Hanover-square, London, W. MEETING OF JOINT-COMMITTEE OF MEMBERS OF B.B.K.A. AND COUNTY COUNCIL DELEGATES. A meeting was held on January 31, 1896, at 2.30, in the " Council Room " at No. 12, Hanover-square, W., when the following gentlemen were present : — Thos. W. Cowan (chairman), Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh, R. T. Andrews, H. W. Brice, W. Broughton Carr, Major Fair, J. Garratt, W. H. Harris, C. Hooper, W. Lees McClure, Walter Martin, J. H. ftew, Montague Sharp, E. D. Till, Wm. Welch, J. M. Hooker (ex officio), and E. H. Young, Secretary. The Chairman opened the proceedings by reading the report of the Sub-Committee appointed by the Joint-Committee of the British Bee-keepers' Association and County Council delegates. The Chairman prefaced his remarks by ex- pressing his regret that since their last meeting a gentleman who took an active interest in the subject before them, Mr. Meggy, of Chelmsford, had died suddenly, his decease occurring about ten days ago. He was sure they would all feel the loss of so valuable a member. The Sub-Committee, having met on the 8th inst., and prepared their report, together with a draft embodying the salient points of a Bill they thought it desirable should be introduced into Parliament, had, on the following day, sought and obtained an interview with Mr. Elliott, the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture, who asked for some time to con- sider their proposals. Accordingly, the Sub- Committee met the Secretary of the Board again to-day. There were present besides Mr. Elliott and Major Tennant, of the Board of Agriculture, Mr. Carr, Mr. Harris, Mr. Till, and myself, of the B.B.K.A. ; Mr. W. Martin, Lindsey Division, Lincolnshire C.C. ; Mr. Welch, Surrey C.C. ; and Mr. Lees McClure, Lancashire C.C. Mr. Elliott, whilst quite in sympathy with them in wishing for legislation against foul brood for the benefit of bee- keepers and bee-keeping — which he regarded as an important industry— thought that they should first try to make the House of Commons better acquainted with the subject, and for that purpose should endeavour to obtain the intro- duction of a tentative measure by some private member, so that the matter could be discussed in the House. He further suggested that, instead of the penalty in clause 5, the Act should be put in force at the instance of two or three bee-keepers, instead of a single person. He pointed out that, in his view, instead of the Board of Agriculture being the authority to enforce the measure it would be far better for the County Councils to do so. Mr. Elliott also recommended that the Bill should be an adoptive measure and not compulsory j this he thought would give it a better chance of success : adding that these were the views of his Department to-day, but that they might change at any time, and he only spoke for the present. Feb. 6, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 53 He told the Sub-Committee, moreover, that he had consulted Mr. Long, the President of the Board, who, likewise, was in full smpathy with their objects, but could not duriDg the present session, undertake to bring in any Bill thereon; but that, if it were left to a private member to introduce, the Board would give any assistance in its power. He (the Chairman) had now given the Joint. Committee a full account of the proceedings up to date, and having the Sub-Committee's Report and Suggestions before them, it was their place now to consider and discuss the present stage of the question, and express their opinions as to future action. Mr. W. Lees McClure (Lancashire G.G.) thought Mr. Elliott's suggestion that two or three bee-keepers should be necessary — instead of one — to put the Act in force was a good one ; it was certainly not advisable that power be given to a single interested person — maybe not a bee-keeper at all — to vent his ill-feeling on a neighbour perhaps ; besides, such provi- sion would do away with the necessity for clause No. 5, under the head of offences. It would be quite easy for persons who did not like bees near them to make an unfounded complaint ; an evil which the proposed change would prevent. With regard to Mr. Elliott's views as to a tentative measure, he ventured to think that the best plan would be to go to the County Councils' Association, and ask that body to draft the Bill. They would thus be enabled to learn the feeling prevailing among County Councils throughout England on the subject. In reply to a remark of Mr. Welch, the Chairman said the proposal was that the Board of Agriculture should appoint different bodies having power to put the law in force, or that the County Councils should have that power. Mr. Harris was of opinion that the Act should be put in force at the instance of two or more bee-keepers or persons interested. It occurred to him that the clergyman of the parish would naturally be very much interested in his parishioners who kept bees, although he might not keep them himself, and he would be a very suitable person to join with cottagers or others in putting the law in force, the clause making it obligatory that there should be at least two complainants. Mr. Montagu Sharpe (Middlesex C.C.) said : He was unfortunately unable to be present at their first meeting, though asked to attend. However, he had made a short report to the Technical Education Committee of the Mid- dlesex County Council, of which he was chairman, on the question of obtaining a grant in favour of lectures and instruction in bee- keeping. The question now appeared to turn on the desirability of getting an Act of Parliament passed, and this had been referred to the committee, which dealt with the diseases of animals. While he would be glad to assist in any way that he possibly could, he thought it better to tell the meeting his views on the proposed legis- lation. For some years he had had a good deal to do with the regulations regarding swine fever, rabies, and pleuro-pneumonia, which latter disease was happily becoming less prevalent ; and it seemed to him that if any- thing could be done in the matter under con- sideration, there must be some alteration in the way they were going to work. To ask County Councils to give compensation for destruction of diseased hives was, he sub- mitted, the wrong way to go to work. With some experience of passing a Bill through the Houses of Parliament, he knew the difficulty of it, and ventured to suggest that the Act should certainly be made adoptive, so that its powers should be put in force by the Board of Agriculture at the request of any County Councils wishing to adopt it within their area. Under the Wild Birds Act, the Home Secre- tary had power to put in force certain regula- tions regarding particular birds and their eggs at the request of any of the various County Councils, and that measure was working very well. He thought their objects might be car- ried out much more simply than was proposed. If they turned to the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act of 1894 they would find pro- visions there dealing with the diseases of animals, which might be very well applied to the case of bees. He had gone through the Act, and found that in section 19 to 22 they had everything needed to enable them to carry out what was wanted. Besides, it would be better to ask for something extremely simple and based on the lines of preceding legislation, without all the details set forth in ,tne paper on the table. Why not ask for a Bill that would enable the Board of Agriculture to put in force certain powers that they already possessed, and further, go on to say that these be only applicable where the local authority has asked that they shall exist ? He knew that in many counties there would be oppo- sition immediately they were asked to spend money, and the Bill would consequently not pass ; whilst if the proposal were carried out in the way he had suggested (and the whole thing might be done in six lines or thereabouts) he believed there would be no opposition. He would also recommend that the Bill be presented first in the House of Lords, not in the Commons, after which it would secure a much better hearing in the Lower House. In conclusion, he would be very glad to assist and ask his committee to accept the Bill if they would make it adoptive, and frame it on the lines he had proposed. All that need be done was to ask that the powers which had already been sanctioned might be made to apply to foul brood. With thirty or forty county authori- ties to study and please, the less contentious the measure the greater probability of success. The Chairman observed that with regard to compensation, it was suggested that the Board of Agriculture should be asked to bear this expense, not County Councils. 51 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 6, 1896. Mr. Montagu Sharpe, in reply, said that animals -which had been slaughtered under the Contagious Diseases Act were valued and paid for out of the rates ; but it would raise immense opposition to ask for that to be done in the case of bees. Mr. Lees McClure said they did not want the County Councils to pay the conipemation; they wanted the Board of Agriculture to do it. The assistance of the County Councils was required to get the Bill through Parliament, the B.B.K.A. not having sufficient funds to bear that expense. The County Council can draft a Bill without any expense at all, but if the B.B.K.A. were to get the Bill drafted the cost would be prohibitive. Mr. Montagu Sharpe agreed that if they could get a member to take it up the cost would be very trifling. BeiDg himself a member of the County Councils' Association, he need hardly say that he would be very glad to render any help he could when the consideration of the matter came before them. The Chairman said that their principLtl reason for asking the aid of County Councils was because some of those bodies were already making grants in favour of bee-keepiog, and were consequently more interested in that industry than any other local authority, and desirous that their money should not be wasted. Part of the work of the Technical Instruction Committees was to spread a knowledge of bee- keeping with regard to foul brood. Mr. Welch feared the difficulty they would have to meet was that the Board of Agri- culture would not take up the position with regard to foul brood that it had adopted in respect of other offences. The Chairman remaiked that in a great many counties there were Borough Councils, and some of these would probably decline to take up a proposal of this sort if the Bill were made adoptive. There would be an instance of the county accepting it while the boroughs declined to do so. Mr. Martin (Lindsey division, Lincolnshire County Council) paid thev had a similar instance in his county of Lines, as regarded rabies. There was, he thought, great risk of some counties adopting the Act while boroughs in the same county would either dec'ine to do so or allow it to fall into disuse. Mr. Harris thought it was their duty to give special attention to the very string recommendations received from two quarters that the Bill should be made adoptive. He felt that half a loaf was better than no bread, and it was better to proceed on lines that experience advised. They would fail alto- gether by asking too much. Mr. McClure moved the adoption of the report of the sub-committee, and wished to lay special stress on the last paragraph of it, as follows : — " Without being pledged to any line of action, your sub-committee suggest re-appointment, with powers to confer with the County Councils' /Association, with the view of getting that body to draft and take charge of a measure on such lines as your joint-committee may generally sanction t at their meeting to-day." Mr. Martin seconded the resolution, ob- serving that adoptive Acts were frequently a dead letter. The Chairman supposed that the committee would have to suggest to the County Councils' Association what was wanted in their opinion. At any rate, the meeting had had definite advice from two quarters that it could not possibly ignore. He (the chairman) would be quite satisfied so long as they did not now pledge themselves as to whether the Act shou'd De adoptive or compulsory. Mr. Carr thought that if they were to look to the County Councils' Association as their sheet-anchor in this matter, it would be quite safe to leave the details in their hands. Mr. Till agreed, saying the whole sub- ject would go before the County Councils' Association, strengthened with the information obtained that day from Mr. Elliott, and it was not practicable to do more. Mr. Lees McClure said that if they laid their suggestions before the County Councils' Association, unpledged as they were to any particular course, that Association would make the Bill an adoptive one if they thought it right to do so. The resolution was carried unanimously. After an enquiry by Mr. Welch as to the number of County Councils who would be called on to help to defray the expenses being in- curred, the several representatives of theCounty Couocils present agreed to recommend to thtir Councils to make a pro rata contribution to defray incidental expenses connected with meetings and printing. Mr. Garratt supposed that the points raised by Mr. Sharp relative to the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act had been looked into. Probably they had been used as a guide iu forming the sub-committee's scheme. The Chairman advised that a report of that meeting should be sent to every member of the County Councils represented, and to ask their views 'on it ; also a copy to each member of the joint-committee. This was agreed to, and the proceedings closed. ABOUT OUR BEES. BY HENRY W. BRICE. (Continued from page, 33.) Many substances are usel to adulterate bees-wax, such a.3 paraffin-wax. ceresia or earth-wax, Japan-wax (black, yellow, red and white), caraauba-wax, spermaceti ; then there is the wax of an insect, called Coccus sinensis, stearine ; and other substances such as redn, &c. The melting point, however, of mo it of these products is lower than that of pure bees- wax, some liquifying at 90 degs. fahr. Much ingenuity has been expressed to find out Feb. 6, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 55 simple method for testing doubtful samples. But it is evident that any of the above adulterants if blended with the pure product.of the bee, would alter its constituency, both as to its tenacity, melting point, density, and specific gravity. To those versed in chem- istry, any of the above-named points may be taken upon which a test could b9 made, but to the uninitiated the task is not so easy. In my own experiment? on the subject I certainly prefer — whilst taking into consideration the general appearance of any given samp'e — the melting point, as affording a ready test with results sufficiently aceurata for ordinary pur- poses, and to this end I recent'y constructed a simple little apparatus (described iu the Bee- Keepers' Record for January last), and as shown in the illustration here given, which to a great extent explains itself. C is an ordinary self-opening 1 lb. tin with a round hole cut in the lid to take the glass te*t tube, B D, a metal guide with corresponding hole to that in the lid ; the tube slips ihrough this, and so retains its upright position ; E, a wad of cotton to raise up the tube from the bottom of the tin. A is a ther- mometer having a collar of cork or rubber, so that it may be suspended in the test tube. Three strong wire legs are necessary to be soldered to the tin so that a spirit lamp may be set below. The thermometer costs from 2s., and the spirit lamp Is., but beyond these two items the cost of the appliance is but trifling. The thermometer at least 200 degrees Fahr. registering clinical thermometer. The tin is filled three parts full with water, and the test tube also with the same liquid to within half an inch of the top. When the thermometer is placed in position, light the lamp. Koll the s-pecimen of wax to be tested into a ball, large ^oough to fit loosely when placed in the tube. The act of replacing the thermometer (tem- porarily removed to allow of inserting the bill of wax) carries the ball down below the bulb. Watch the scale of thermometer, and when the first globule of wax rises, at onse note the temperature. This will indicate within a degree or two the melting-point. By allow- ing the water in tube to heat slowly, accurate figures are obtained. Old or dirty wax, or that having undergone repeated meltings, will have its melting-point raised several degrees— never lowered. On the other hand, nearly all adulterants lower the melting - point in a marked degree. The production of wax by bees entails a large consumption of honey and poller^ er sugar equivalent? ; somp, T?;rit?r3 should register I prefer a self- declaring that 20 lb. of honey is necessary to produce 1 lb. of wax. In my opinion, half that amount is nearer the mark. The colour of wax is in no way dependent on that of the honey from which it is formed, but is due almost entirely to the pollen used, which forms an important element in its production. Pollen. — This is the fertilising dust-like element of plant life consisting of minute granules varying in size, which fill the cells of the anther, and enclosing a fluid containing molecuhr matter. The granules referred to are generally produced in forms yielding pollen chiefly of different shades of yellow, but from some plants pollen is gathered of all shades, from light grey to almost black, or from pale orange to dark brown or red. In no case, however, is it green. As the anther opens, pollen is available to the bees, and by them carried to the hive in the form of little pellets packed away in hollows formed in the outer surface of the hind legs of the worker hie. These hollows are known to bee-keepers as "pollen baskets.'' Pollen is largely used by the bees during the breeding season, and an early sunply is to them a desideratum, as affording nitrogenous food for the larva3. It is stored ia worker cells, and when not required for present use is frequently covered over with honey to exclude the air and so preserve it until wanted. Propolis. — This is a species of glutinous resin of aromatic odour, in colour from reddish brown to nearly black, collected (as Huber discovered) from the buds of plants, and carried home by bees in the pollen-baskets before mentioned. Its use is to stop all cracks and crannies within the hive, to fix down any loose parts, such as quilts, &c. The bees also seal up or cover over any foreign substance which they are unable to remove from the hive. It is never stored in the eel s as is honey and pollen, consequently it is col- lected just as wanted and only in such quantity as the necessity of the case demands. Tne main portion of this substance is collected at the close of the s ason apparently for tho purpose of making '• things " snug for the winter. At this time every aperture inside the hive by which air is admitted is hermeti- cally sealed with propolis, and in some countrif » the bees literally justify the derivation of th-i- word— pro (before) polls (a city) — by using it for the purpose of reducing the size of the hive entrance (when too large) in order to exclude enemies such as the death's-head moth. VI. — BEE APPLIANCES. This portion of my subject is a difficult one to deal with, inasmuch as there i3 sure to be some divergence of opinion as to the best form of appliance to use, whether hive or any of the smaller items constituting the bee-keeper's stock of bee-goods ; so let me at once say to those who care for my advice : Be content. with such appliances as you have trted and found to work well, ar*# do }*•$■ snt* afteP 56 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 6, 1896. every new thing brought out because it happens to be new. Make sure, first of all, that the new contrivance, if not better, is no worse than that you already have. Then get one and see how it works ; time enough after- wards to go to greater outlay. I do not intend to imply preference for any particular type of article dealt with, my object being to deal with broad principles which, after years of hard work, have commended themselves as essential to the best results. Hives. — A hive made to hold the movable Standard frame is undoubtedly the only one worthy of consideration. Good hives of this description are obtainable from most makers, and in deciding the class or type of hive to adopt, I should recommend the following points to be considered : In all cases make a personal inspection of the hive before deciding on the kind to order ; see that only well- seasoned pine is used ; that it is rigid and well put together, that it has an inner brood- chamber and outer-case ; that the brood- chamber will hold ten Standard frames and a dummy board, and that all its parts are inter- changeable. Whether the frames hang parallel or at right angles to the entrance is very much a question of use. I have worked both ways, and whilst five years ago I thought the parallel position was about perfect, I have proved to my own satisfaction that the right- angled method is far the best ; for not only do the bees winter with me better, but the danger, and a serious one too, of the space beneath the front frame, or may be the dummy board, beiDg during the winter blocked with dead bees, and the colony suffocated in consequence, is entirely avoided. I, therefore, advise either a hive in which the frames are hung at right angles or one in which the inner, or brood chamber, may be placed on floor-board with the frames in that position if desired. All hives should be capable of being tiered up to any extent. Hinged roofs I should not tolerate, preferring a light simple roof covered with zinc, unless the best seasoned pine is used. — Thornton Heath. (To be continued.) Errata.— The symbol at beginning of the third para- graph on page 33 should have been printed -9C, and at the end of the last paragraph, after the words " sul- phuric, nitric, &c.," the words "are sometimes used," were accidentally omitted.— H. W. B. WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE B.K.A. The annual social gathering of members and friends of the above association took place on January 30. About seventy sat down to tea. After tea the annual report was read and adopted. The after proceedings included an exhibition of lantern slides on '' Bees and Bee- keeping,'' which was most instructive and much appreciated. The rest of the evening was very pleasantly occupied in music, recitations, &c. We were sorry that, through illness, two of our most hardworking members Messrs. Brown and. Hulance, were unable to be present. — Communicated. HOWDENSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. On January 24, a meeting wa joined. Our association also includes among its members some very enthusiastic lady bee-keepers. We put a free copy of Bee Journal into the hands of members weekly, and the Record monthly. — G. Remmer, East Yorhs. dtoraspjjjutiitde. The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, dec., must be addressed only to " The Editors of the ' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William, street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi- cations relating to Advertisements, ice, must be addressed to "The Manager, ' British Bee Journal' Office, 17, King William- street, Strand, London, W.C." (see 1st page of advertisements). NOTANDA ET INQUIRENDA. is queen-excluder zinc necessary ? [2406.] I see I owe an apology to " A Worker '' (2397, p. 45), and tender it most sincerely. My last year's B.B.J, was being bound up when I wrote. I thought I had worked out the right reference from the letter of another ; but I was mistaken, and ought to have referred to the letter of Mr. Richard Williams (2351, p. 524). I am obliged to "A Worker" for pointing out the slip, which I regret. Swarm Prevention. — I shall look with much interest to the expressions of opinion which may be called forth by Mr. Simmins' open declaration of 'war against excluder zinc. Will he kindly tell us how he keeps the queen out of sections and shallow frames placed above the brood-nest in ordinary hives ? I tried doing without excluder zinc one year, and I shall never forget the misery of it ! When I came to take off sections and frames I certainly obtained a surprising return ; but Feb. G, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. I had to cut out and get rid of worker and drone grubs and even queen cells,' and it was a horrid mess. I could only use the honey from these spoiled combs — and they were many — to feed up the bees. On the other hand, the working with excluder zinc is clean and pleasant, and it will take a deal of persuasion to induce me to forego it, even if the yield is less, which I doubt, as, at any rate, none is spoiled, but every drop is available. I will this summer certainly give Mr. Sea- mark's plan (2393, p. 36), or a modification of it, a good trial ; for I cannot help thinking that, in combination with shading the hives, it will prove effectual. It does away with two great drawbacks, in my experience, to the chamber under brood-nest fitted with starters only, viz., 1. The impossibility, when the hives are tiered up, of lifting off the great superincumbent weight to see what the bees are doing in these lower chambers. 2. The terrible upset such examinations make in the hives. My bees invariably built brace combs between the tops of the frames with starters, and the lower bars of brood-combs. These, and the built-out starters, were partly occupied by brood (worker and drone), partly by honey. To separate the two stories was no joke ; when pulled asunder, the mess of grubs and honey and drowning and crushed bees was un- pleasant— to say the least ; and it was even more trying to replace the disjointed stories. I shall be glad to know how these two diffi- culties are to be overcome. To some extent they occur in all summer handlings of the surplus chambers of my hives, especially the Wells hive, and I thought of writing especially on this point later for information and advice. For I hope it is distinctly understood, that I bring forward these inquiries simply as a novice desirous of instruction. 1 do so because I feel sure hundreds must experience the same troubles, but either may not like to admit them (a common weakness), or may not have time to write about them, or may not possess the requisite facility of pen to describe them. In any case, the discussions which have already arisen have been interesting and profitable to myself, and I think must be so, in some degree, to others. With this plea, I once more subscribe myself as — Self Taught, January 31, 1896. OLD COMBS OR NEW FOR BREEDING ? [2407.] It is, I believe, generally admitted that for securing the largest population early in the season there is nothing like new combs. When full sheets of foundation were first introduced, nothing impressed me so much as to its value as the rapidity with which the brood-nest could be crammed with solid slabs of developing life towards the opening of the season, though I have since found that under certain conditions more brood can be secured in combs built without this artificial base, the great thing being to exclude pollen, and at the same time ensure that every cell is occu- pied by an egg as the building of the comb progresses. It certainly pays to remove from the brood- chamber such outside combs as are clogged with pollen and honey, allowing space for new combs to be built at the centre, and wholly occupied with brood, as soon as the weather is suitable for such development. Which does the queen prefer, old or new ? has sometimes been asked. But has the queen herself really any preference in the matter, apart from the instinctive desire of the workers ? Well, it amounts to about this — very early in the season the bees appear to prefef^to have their cluster and brood-nest in the old combs which of course are the warmer. At that time new combs are neglected, but these and foundation are freely used as soon as a genuinely progressive state is induced by a sufficient income and a higher temperature. Well preserved tough combs are better than new for wintering, and a stock in the former will always breed faster at the end of winter, and be generally in a more forward condition than those on the less protective combs. By " old combs " of course one does not mean those that are worn out ; for as soon as the wax shows signs of perishing, the bees will renew. such portions of combs before using them for any purpose. When storing breeding combs, if dampness is avoided, they will be available for many years' service, and will increase in value. I am quite aware, however, that some bee- keepers think they should be frequently replaced by foundation, but this is an expen- sive and needless practice and especially when wired into the frames ; rather than go to that fresh expense it is better to scrape the cells off down to the old base, when new tough combs can be secured on the foundation thus exposed. Both old and new combs, therefore, are valuable under certain conditions, and the bee-keeper can adapt those respective condi- tions to his own profit, or neglect them and experience a decided loss. — Samuel Simmins. A MISQUOTATION AS TO "STANDARD SIZE " HIVE. [2408.] Your correspondent, Mr. Wm. Hall (2938, p. 45), has misquoted the secretary named in his letter. Being myself the secre- tary referred to as having "twice over said that the standard-sized hive was too small," I have looked my paper over, but can find no mention of the standard hive. Now, what I said was : " First, the hive is of the greatest importance. By no means use a little hive ; a hive with ten standard frames and one box of 58 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 6, 1896. shallow frames, or one rack of twenty-one sec- tions, is a mere toy." (I was, of course, as- suming if no more were used.) " But by no means have a heavy, cumbersome hive ; I consider such are an abomination where we have to handle several of them. Have them as portable as possible. I think the most pro- fitable hive is the one that can be reduced and added, to at the will of (the bee-keeper." That is what I said about hives and frames ; never a word about a " standard hive." I should be pleased if your correspondent would give the readers of this Journal his average takes, and show us the superiority his " dog kennels" possess over other hives. Till that is done I shall still " laugh," and be happy in the en- joyment of my delusion. It may interest your readers to know that the 20 x 8J frame was tried here some years ago, with fifteen of such frames in a hive. — The Secretary H.B.K.A. PREVENTION OF SWARMING. [2409.] Referring to my communication of January 6, Mr. Simmins, in a postscript to '233(5 (p. 29) thinks I must have very small entrances to my hives. For his information, therefore, I may say that the entrances to the hives in question, that I have worked on the " non-swarming " system, always have been 14tt in. by i- in. Moreover, one hive has had a large hole in centre of floor board in addition. I hoped this discussion would have' drawn some reports from the successful ones using the "non-swarming hives" on Mr. Simmins's plan. Surely some one can give good accounts of the system, and perhaps show why myself and others fail with it ? I should be only too glad to know how to work the system success- fully, but I must do it somehow without having to lift entire brood-chambers and supers (some- times weighing 1 cwt.) constantly to cut out combs. This is the one part of the system that infuriates the bees if anything does. What about Mr. Simmins's latest form of hive, is,it any good for preventing swarming ? Tell us, ye that have used it. We want to know. We are also anxiously waiting for more information about Mr. Seamark's " non- swarmer ; " it looks like business, in that it give? abundant room and ventilation, but not room for objectionable comb-building below the brood-nest.v — Bee - Cycle, Sussex, February 4. BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATIONS AND THEIR YEARLY "STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS." [2410.] As our County Bee Associations are now holding their annual meetings, and an opportunity is thus offered for discussing alteration in procedure, would it not be well to take into consideration the advisability of having all yearly statements of receipts and expenditure framed on one uniform principle 1 I might be allowed to suggest, for instance something like the following form : — Dr. Subscriptions and donations : so many at 21s., 10s , 5s., 2s. 6d. &c. Other Receipts ... (Note : — The expenses of administration — which is a test of good management— ought to be seen at a glance.) Cr. Expert Work... Free Literature Cost of Show (less entries and show grants, showing net sum expended) Printing and Stationery Postages Secretarial Expenses Some of our friends who are professional accountants might help the associations to a simple form of book-keeping and tell us how to show the financial position on some uniform plan. — Enclosing my name and address, I sign myself A Committeeman. BEE NOTES FROM SUSSEX. [2411.] Since I last reported (2384, p. 27, on January 13) until January 29, we saw the sun but on one day, January 20, for the whole day, and on January 14 and 24 lor a few hours. Looking over the weather record I have this year begun to keep in Mr. Cowan's admirable " British Bee-keeperv Practical Notebook " day after day, one notes the recurrence of such significant epithets as " overclouded," " dull and misty," " showery and mild,1'" cold and dreary," " very damp," " clcse," " raw," &c. The features of this January will certainly be :— 1. The high barometrical readings"on 9th (30-8) and 30th (30-9). 2. The extremely small amount of sunshine (for these southern parts). 3. The general mildoess and calm concurrently with the high anticyclonic read- ings. Since January 8 (when I commenced notes) the barometer has only been below 30 degrees on 14th (29'4) and 15th (29 65). Since the 29th we have been eDJoying almost uninterrupted snnslvne, but with much colder weather and frosty night*. The bees have not been out collectively to any large extent, but have constantly taken individual flights. Yesterday and to-day I saw that some were bringing in pollen. Inside the hives thi s'rjnger colonies are very busy, even begin- ning comb in the half-emptied soft-candy feeding-boxes ! I am thinking out a scheme for utilising this wasted energy. In my garden laurustinus is now coming into profuse bloom ; fuchsias in sheltered nooks have not even lost their leaves ; snow- drops have been ten days in flower ; yellow crocuses are beginning to show their bright bead'' ; duffodils are well above ground ; F6b. G, 1890. ] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL 59 hyacinths, and crocuses of other colours than yellow, are just poking their tips out of the earth ; a primrose to be seen here and there ; but no arabis is yet in bloom with me, although plants of white alyssum which have survived since the autumn are trying hard to flower. The contrast with last winter is already very great. What is 1896 going to prove as a bee year ? — W. R. N., Sussex, February 2. HOW TO MAKE BEE-CANDY. FllOM A PRACTICAL SUGAR-BOILER'S POINT OF VIEW. [2412.] Many of our bee friends seem to get in trouble trying to make the candy required for bee-food smooth and soft in texture. What they require is a strong " fondant." To make this, the sugar being boiled for the pur- pose is brought down to what is called " large pearl," or fourth degree. Sugar passes through seven stages to arrive at the caramel or barley- sugar stage. If those who are unaccustomed to sugar- boiling, or those who find it troublesome, would take 1 lb. of broken white cane-sugar (beet sugar boils the same), add a good pinch of cream of tartar, put it in a small pan, pour over it a little cold water — just enough to wet the sugar well — let it stand beside the fire, and with an occasional stir it will dissolve. Next set it on a brisk fire and stir till it boils ; then skim ic. To tell when it is sufficiently boiled have a small basin of cold water at hand, dip the forefinger into the water, then at once into the boiling sugar, and then back quickly into the water. Don't fear for your finger, it will take no harm ; but if afraid, use a spoon. Do this every minute until — on pressing the finger and thumb together, and then drawing them apart gradually — a small thread of sugar will show ; try it again in two minutes, when the thread will draw out longer ; again in a minute or two, when on being worked up between thumb and finger it will form a small pearl ; after two minutes' more boiling it will form a pearl larger than a good-sized pea, and then — having reached the " large pearl'' stage — it is boiled enough. Either immerse the pan in cold water for a couple of minutes, or pour the contents into another pan (just herd is where some fail ; a large quantity of candy would retain sufficient heat t) carry it on into another "degree," which would harden it considerably). When off the fire commence to " grain " it by rubbing with a spoon somewhat quickly on the side of the pan ; this makes it gradually assume a creamy appearance. Continue the opsration until the mixture looks like creamy-white thick gruel. Mould this according to your requirements, and the re3ult will be a soft smooth candy as easily taken by the bees as would be the contents of an ordinary chocolate cream.—F. H., Dublin. WEATHER REPORT. Westbourne, Sussex, January, 189G. Rainfall, T17 in. Heaviest fall, "38 on 25th. Rain fell on 13 days. Below average, 137. Maximum Tempera- ture, 48° on 15tb. Minimum Tempera- ture, 27° on 30th. Minimum on Grass, 24° on 30th. Frosty Nights, 13. Sunshine, 52*6 hours. Brightest Day, 29tb, 6 3 hours. Sunless Days, 16. Below Average, 2 7 "9 hours. Mn. Maximum, 427°. Mn. Minimum, 34-5°. Mean Temperature, 38-6°. Maximum Barometer, 30-93° on 25th. Minimum Barometer, 29-03° on 18th. L. B. BlRKETT. dfcuws from the Him Somersham, Hunts, February 3. — Bees all flying yesterday carrying in water, shows breeding has commenced in earnest. Stocks seem to be very strong, thanks to our honey harvest of buckwheat of 1895. We have been troubled with a plague of mice this year which has played havoc with some of the skeps. But I introduced to our establishment a fine old "Tabby" which has reduced their numbers or they are taking notice to quit. — R. Brown. HONEY IN AN ELECTRIC LIGHT GLOBE. Under this title the Electrical Engineer of New York prints the following paragraph : — "For some time the electric light globe in Monument-square, New Brunswick, N.J., has been in disuse, and on December 24 Frank Boudinot, a lineman, went to repair it. When he got up to remove the globe he was attacked by a swarm of bees that had taken possession of the globe as a hive, and was severely stung before he could escape. Afterwards the bees were smoked out, and the globe was found to be more than half full of honey." We regret to state that our minor poet has broken out again. It is all Mr. Alfred Austin's fault this time — if he hadn't written those verses about Jameson's raid, our man would have kept quiet. However, the mis- chief is done now, and we publish the verses below, just to let our sympathising readers see what we have to put up with : — How doth the little Yankee bee Improve on Dr. Watts ! He never does a stroke of work, But plays at honey-pots. The other day some Yankee bees A vacant lamp-globe found ; " This is a hive," said they, " 'twill suit Us right down to the ground." GO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 6, 1896. So, thereupon they entered it, And made themselves at home ; And covered all the walls inside With wax and honey-comb. These Yankee bees held Irish views On landlords and on rent ; They took small thought of either when They took that tenement. " Now shall we," said those sinful bees, " Improve each hour so bright ; We'll gather honey all the day, And bring it home at night." They gathered honey all the day, They all brought home great lots ; No wonder ! for they stole it from The grocers' shops in pot3. But quarter-day at length came round, And so did Boudinot ; He fixed his ladder on the'ground, And up it he did go. . Then did the bees him sting so sore, He quailed from their attacks ; It struck him that he was no match, For these adepts at wax. The combatants gave over soon, Though neither owned defeat ; For, while they stung him to the quick, He beat — a swift retreat. So quickly downagain he came, And he was mighty wroth ; " Both honey and revenge are sweet," He said, " I'll have them both. " These Bs have made me C-D feel, They've made me pipe my I ; P-Q-liar pleasure will I take In dooming them to die. " To be or not to be ! '' he cried ; " The verb I'll conjugate ; Those bees will not be bees for long, With smoke I'll seal their fate." Then, in pursuance of the dire Design he had in view, He filled his pipe up to the brim With pungent ' ' honey-dew " ; And, lighting up,^he straight began To smoke his foes out fast ; And thus he changed each little " be " From present tense to past. Each bee became a was perforce (I hope you twig the joke), And all those wicked bees did end As my tale^ends — in smoke. — Lightning, January 23. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest tvill be answered in this column. L. H. S. (Ehtow).— First-class Expert's Cer-. tificate.—The lecture required to be delivered by candidates is (as stated on page 30 of B.B.K.A. Report) " a public extempore lecture." We may add that this is prac- tically a short address delivered before the Council of the B.B.K.A., who represent the "public." The "subject" on which the candidate speaks is handed to him at the time, not before. R. S. P. (Newark). — Honey not Granulated. — Honey received, though not yet granu- lated is certainly granulating. No doubt the temperature of room in which it has. been kept has helped to retard its becoming solid so soon as it would otherwise have done, but the weather conditions under which nectar is gathered have much to do with the variableness of honey granulation in different seasons. H. Seamark (Willingham). — We referred to the matter last week, and have no doubt the method of using the "sliding drawer '' (which term led us astray in pre- paring your letter for print), will now be well understood by readers. •B. Walker (Kirkby Stephen). — Foul Brood bacillus. — With regard to the points raised by our correspondent on page 16, we may say Dr. Lortet — a very eminent scientist — has proved by careful laboratory experi- ments (vide B.J. for January 8, 1891, page 16) that the bacillus exists in the digestive canal of the nurse-bee. Dr. Lortet's, paper is full and comprehensive, and may be had from this office for l|d. in stamps. Any further light our correspondent may be able to throw on the subject as a result of his own investigation we will be very glad to publish. W. Morris Fletcher (Ringwood). — Bees storing Candy. — Bees will store candy after reducing it to liquid form just as they do syrup. A 4-lb. cake of candy given now should last a stock till about April, but an occasional look should be taken, and if the cake has disappeared very quickly the supply may be renewed a week or two earlier. P. (Elgin). — Examining Hives in February. — If any particular anxiety exists as to condition, take advantage of the first warm day. There is no need to expose brood in seeing to condition of stores ; the outer combs will show how food stands. Barton (Ampthill). — Melting Granulated Honey. — The vessel containing granulated honey for melting must be placed in water and gradually heated to about 140 deg. Far. See page 42 of last week's B.J. for some useful particulars as to the care needed not to spoil flavour in the heating process. Feb. 13, 1896. THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 61 (fitfifffrial, Ifrrfes, &L THE BRITISH BEE-INDUSTRY, AND BRITISH V. FOREIGN HONEY. A Cheshire bee-keeper, who is also a reader of this Journal, some time ago kindly forwarded to us several "cuttings" from a leading newspaper in the North (Liverpool Daily Post), from which it appeared that some discussion had taken place between several correspondents with regard to the honey-producing capabilities of these islands, and the comparative merits of British v. foreign honey. The correspondence arose in the first instance from a leader dealing with a prospective development of the bee- industry connected with honey produc- tion in this country. The paper referred to, we suppose, took the line of not only advocating the encouragement of a deserving rural industry, but also up- held the superiority of the home-grown product compared with the foreign article. This evidently did not suit the views of a firm of produce brokers in the City, and caused the insertion of a letter in which the said firm, after referring to their sympathy with, and " profound faith" in, the British farmer, go on to say:— You may depend upon one absolute law — that we as a people will never waste our time in cultivating anything that the foreigner can produce more cheaply than ourselves. This brings us to the question of honey production, experiments in which have been well tried in our own district around the Cheshire hills ; but the very limited area on which wild flowers grow will always prevent satisfactory results. There are rnaDy thousands of small bee-keepers scattered throughout the country, but the insignificant quantity pro- duced by each prevents any economical organi- sation for collection and distribution. On the other hand, California possesses thousands of square miles of mountains and valleys clad in the early spring with wild clover, heather- blossom, and myriads of other honey-producing flowers, from which billions of bees suck their daily stores. We have visited the bee-farms amongst the mountains of California, and have seen thousands of hives crowded together, from which many tons of the finest honey are drawn. All the honey is extracted and packed on the spot, and there is absolutely nothing added to it. This letter called forth a rejoinder from " A Cheshire Bee-keeper," who wrote as under : — Messrs. 's letter on the above sub" ject is calculated to have a damaging effect upon British bee-keeping, and also to give a very wrong impression to the public as to English honey and its production. So far from British bee-keeping being of an experi- mental character, as indicated, there is ample evidence that the industry is a steadily in- creasing one of importance, production, and organisation. Old methods have given way to the latest and most scientific principles in vogue in any part of the world, and the excellence of the quality and the style of "get up'' of English honey, as turned out by the best apiaries, cannot be excelled by anything we get from abroad. The largest quantity of honey produced is not from hilly district?, but from pas- ture lands. Many counties in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales have their own associations affiliated with the Bee-keepers' Association, London, whose influence and publications are known in every part of the world where honey is produced ; and as to the pre-eminence of the home article over Californian and other foreign productions, it is attested by the fact that British honey is not only readily sold as gathered, but in the case of many bee-keepers .their entire output is bespoken early in the year at something like double the price of the foreign productions. The fact that the British Bee-keepers' Asso- ciation had an excellent exhibit from all parts of the British Isles at the Chicago World's Fair is also ample evidence as to the live nature of this industry. This was again answered by the firm just mentioned, who justified their ad- verse comments by observing that they were induced by the B.B.K.A. decrying the quality of foreign and extolling that of British honey. They then say : — The finest honey is always produced in the mountainous districts, and the delicate flavour of California honey is due to the heather, clover, and other flowers which abound there upon the hills. Narbonne honey obtains its high reputation from similar sources. Scotch bee-keepers often convey their hives of bees to the mountains during the heather blossom season. "Cheshire Bee-keeper'' states that the largest quantity of honey gathered in Britain is from the pasture lands. We are also of that opinion, because the bees have little choice, in consequence of our country being mostly under cultivation. If bees were gifted with human judgment and tender consciences, they would not rob the farmer of the clover honey, which would otherwise fatten his cattle. If we bring the argument to a finer point, it will be quite evident that if a hive of 50,000 bees gather 20 to 30 lb. of honey during the 62 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 13, 1896. season from a farmer's clover, it is no proof of economy or industry on the part of a bee- keeper, but it is as much a theft as though a poacher's dog were to bring hares from the farmer's fields. When all the British bees have done their best, we annually require the services of one thousand million bees to produce the Califor- nia n honey for the British market. Ifc will be observed that, in the above, our old friend the story about the robbery and injustice suffered by the farmer through the unrestrainable visits of the pilfering bee to his clover fields, — a fable we thought exploded long ago — is once more hauled forth apparently to prejudice the mind of the agriculturist against our busy little protege. This view, how- ever, fails to meet with endorsement even from non-bee-keeping editors, for the same paper in a final leader on the subject deals with this part of the case by observing that The suggestion that a bee-keeper is guilty of petty larceny, and that a consumer of British honey is an accessory after the fact, is exceedingly ingenious. Public morality has not, however, reached so high a plane as to furnish lovers of native honey Avith an accusing conscience because of apiarian felonies among the luscious clover. Botanical investigators, from the time of Linnseus onward, have accepted the doctrine that the industry of the bee ensures the per- petuation of the clover species, by fertilising the plants in the course of its search after their hidden sweets. On the doctrine that exchange is no robbery, they surely condone their exaction of tribute by the service they confer towards the propagation of the plant. On this point we go beyond our contem- porary, and unhesitatingly declare that instead of loss the farmer actually benefits — and that in no small degree — by the visits of the bee to his clover fields. The exudation of a liquid-sweet from the nectary of the flower is Nature's bait to entice to it an insect, without which visit the plant would inevitably die out. Moreover, the nectar of which the bee rifles the flower would, if un- gathered, be lost. A true case of "wasting its sweetness on the desert air." But the formation of seed as a result of fertilisation not only increases the weight of the hay, but adds con- siderably to its nutrient properties as food for cattle. There are also, in addition, one or two other points in the correspondence, points with which non-technical journals arc not supposed to be conversant, but which are worth notice here because of their having been specially dwelt upon by the " firm " referred to above as important to their " case." There are, first — the fact that any " heather " found blooming on the hills of California is practically of no value whatever as a honey plant ; more- over, not a trace of either the unmis- takable flavour or aroma which dis- tinguishes all heather honey is found in that coming from California. Secondly, the "wild clover," growing in thousands of square miles in that State exists, we think, only in the imagination of the writer. The "clover" known to bee- keepers as the chief of all honey plants, and the only variety known to possess the particular value claimed for the flower referred to, i.e., white Dutch clover, is nowhere seen growing wild in California, as stated, and only appears in the cool valleys, where it is sown and cultivated as with us. It would not grow at all in the fierce heat and dry soil of the Californian mountains. In a word, Californian honey is not " clover honey," and it is not " heather honey." The main crop is got from the wild mountain-sage, and from the numerous other wild flowers which abound there. Therefore, to make the statements to which wo take exception is to mislead, and the efforts of the British Bee-Keepers' Asso- ciation, and of the British Bee Journal, will, we trust, always be directed towards drawing the broad line we deem neces- sary, in order to distinguish British from foreign honey, so far as letting each stand or fall on its merits. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE B.K.A The annual meeting of the above association was held on February 1, in All Saints' school- rooms, Northampton. Amongst those present were Mr. and Mrs. Ball, Messrs. Atkins, Manning, J. B. Bultin, Astby St. Ledgers, Brayshaw, H. Manger, J. Adams, C. Slater, G. Page, 0. Orland, 0. H. Wright, J. Perry, T. G. Adams, &c. Letters explaining absence were received from Mr. A. L. Y. Morley, Mr. E. Nigel-Stewart, Mr. F. Collis, and others. Mr. W. L. Bird was voted to the chair, and called on the Secretary to read the report for the past year, which, under separate headings, dealt severally with the Season, Annual Show, Lectures, and Out- door Demonstrations, all of which features of the association's work were successful, and the general result very satis- factory. The report concludes by referring to Feb. 13, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 63 the affairs of the association generally as follows : — " The financial position of the association is a little better than it was a year back ; the subscription list having slightly increased, but further improvement is needed to enable the association to carry out its full programme. " It will be interesting to members to learn that 2,000 county honey labels have been sold, 80 copies of the Record distributed monthly to the members, and 9 copies of the British Bee Journal distributed weekly." The report and statement of accounts was adopted. The Hon. Treasurer (Mr. Atkins) then explained the accounts for the year 1895, showing a balance in hand of £9. 15s. 3d., besides an unexpended sum of £7 of the C.C grant, which latter sum will provide the costs of lectures already arranged for. The accounts were duly passed. The election of officers for the ensuing year then took place, the president (Mr. James Pender, M.P.) being re-elected, as were the bon. treasurer, Mr. G. E. Atkins ; hon. auditor, Mr. J. Francis ; and hon. sec, Mr. B. Hefford. Messrs. J. B. Truss, J. Perry, and W. L. Bird were appointed experts ; and the following the committee : — Mr. A. L. Y. Morley (chairman), Messrs. J. Francis, E. Ball, W. Manning, G. Page, 0. Orland, H. Collins, C. Cox, and C. Slater. A resolution that the N.B.K. A. become affiliated with the B.B.K.A., and a vote of thanks to the Central Association for the great trouble they were taking with regard to foul brood, were duly carried. After some further discussion on several subjects connected with the welfare of the association, the meeting closed with a hearty vote of thanks to the president and officials of the past year, and to the managers for the use of the school. — (Communicated.) IBISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The committee met on the 6fch inst. Present —Dr. Traill (in the chair), Mr. Gillies, Mr. Read, Captain Millner, Mr. O'Bryen, and Mr. Chenevix, hon. sec , 15, Morehampton-road, Dublin. The business transacted related chiefly to the facilities afforded to members for the transport of honey and to the report for 1895. Death of a Veteran Bee-Keeper. — We learn with deep regret that another well- known and highly-esteemed member of the B.B.K.A., in the person of Mr. T. F. Ward, died suddenly at his residence, Church House, Highgate, on the 6th inst., the cause of death being angina pectoris. Mr. Ward was a frequent contributor to our pages, and a warm and liberal supporter of the B.B.K.A., of which he was for many years a member. On behalf of the Association and of bee- keepers generally, we tender our sincere sympathy to his family. t HONEY IMPORTS. The total value of honey imported into the United Kingdom during the month of January, 1896, was £1,788. — From a return furnished to the Bee Journal by the Statistical Office, H.M. Customs. tyMmpmltixtt The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents wre requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, &c, must be addressed only to "The Editors of the 'British Bee Journal,' 17, King William- street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi- cations relating to Advertisements, (Sec, must be addressed to "The Manager, ' British Bee Journal' Office, 17, King William- street, Strand, London, W.C." (see 1st page of advertisements). NOTES BY THE WAY. [2413.] The month of February so far has brought no change in the mildness of the season. A few slight frosts have occurred, but sunshine has soon dispersed the keenness of the morning air, and revived the erstwhile sere landscape with the promise of an early spring. Birds, too, have commenced singing; nests being found containing eggs. Among the floral tributes of spring we have many speci- mens in full blossom ; then, to complete the picture, there is the merry hum of bees, busy rifling the early blossoms of their slender store of pollen. Walking among the hives to-day, I noticed the first dandelion in full bloom, with two bees gathering what they could find among its many petals. The winter of 1895 and 1896 has not been, so trying a one for bees as its predecessor of 1894-95 was, when the continued cold spell without a break to enable bees to part from the cluster to replenish the cupboard, caused the death of many colonies. These losses and failures, when the causes are discovered, ought to be our stepping-stones to successful winter- ing in the years to come. There is no doubt that the mild autumn of 1894 was one of the primary causes of the loss of many of the colonies that died out during the long frost of the early months of 1895. The mild weather at that time — with bees continually on the wing until well into the new year — induced breeding out of season, and then, when the frost set in and held on week after week, bees could not leave the cluster for food — of which, in some cases that came under my own observation, there was an abundance in the adjoining combs. I say it was too cold for the replenishing of the stores required for immediate consumption in the 64 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 13, 1896. brood nest, and the maternal instinct bound the colony to remain clustered to protect the brood ; consequently, colony and brood perished together. This is, of course, pre- ventable loss, and would have been averted by placing a cake of candy over the cluster, thus enabling the colony to sustain life till a supply was got from the outer frames of the hives. Year after year proves to me how good properly made soft candy is as a food for bees, and extended experience confirms the fact that the cake of candy is consumed by the bees before the honey gathered by themselves for winter stores. I don't know if this is the experience of bee-keepers generally. I can assert that it is mine. Winter packing plays an important part in the well-doing of a colony ; dryness being a sine qua non to successful wintering. Hive roofs ought to be rain-proof and well venti- lated, so that dampness after rain or mist may dry out rapidly, leaving the interior of roof dry. Our arch enemy, foul brood, belongs to the fungus family, and we all know that damp- ness is essential to all fungoidal growths ; therefore, by keeping our hives and colonies dry, we shall be helping to keep the disease in check. The plan of using an " tke '' under the hives during the winter months is, I think, a good one, as any bees that die off from old age or otherwise drop below the frames. Hives of the " Cowan'' or the " W. B. C." type are best adapted to tbi* system, the combination hive, especially those with fixed floor-boards, not being suitable for the insertion of " ekes." Strong colonies with youDg queens, and a large proportion of young (late summer bred) bees will winter well under almost any conditions, provided they have a good supply of food ; but the general run of colonies in an apiary cer- tainly repay for the extra attention bestowed on them in preparing and provisioning them in readiness before winter sets in. Referring to the use of old combs for the extractor, permit me to explain my position on this question when I stated that " 1 should expect to get as clear water from clean bottles of black glass {i.e., port wine bottles), as from white glass bottles." I had in my mind combs which had become black by age and use in the brood-nest before they were cut to size and transferred to shallow-frames. This I put in practice, tested year after year for some eight or ten years, and I have the old combs still awaiting another year's use for the same purpose— that is for supering. These combs do not look so white, are not so semi- transparent when filled ; yet I contend, with- out fear of contradiction, that the honey stored in these combs during 1896 will be as clear and as free from impurities as will the honey from new combs built out during the coming summer. I have never intended to assert that combs, used in the brood-nest and filled with honey when extracted, should be then used for the brood-nest and the extracting-box indiscrimi- nately, but that old combs when once used for the store or super department of the hive should be kept for that particular use, and when so used for extracting purposes only. Excluder Zinc. — 1 may again re-assert that I have no use for excluder zinc between brood- nest and crates of section, though I always use excluders when working for extracted honey in shallow frames. Do I have any sections spoiled with brood 1 Yes, a few, especially if the sections contain drone-size comb, but rarely with worker-size cells. To avoid the mess your correspondent " Self- Taught " experiences when taking off his supers, I would recommend him to have the top bars of brood frames l£ in. wide, ^ to f in. thick, spaced If in. centre to centre. In conclusion, may I be allowed to call attention to the annual meeting of the Berk- shire B.K.A. at the Abbey Hall, Reading, at 6.30 p.m, on February 26. Mr. E. Turner, of Newbury, has promised to read a paper on "The History and Nature of Foul Brood." Musical arrangements, collection of appliances, light refreshments, &c. All interested in bee-culture cordially invited, especially those who intend to become members. Bee-men of Berks, don't miss the opportunity ; rally to the support of your Executive in goodly numbers. — W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury. BEES IN HUNTS. A BAD BEGINNING WITH A GOOD ENDING. MILK- CHURNS FOR HONEY IN TRANSIT. [2414.] Having seen no reports from Hunts for a long time with the exception of your notice of the Dairy Show — according to which Hunts beat the other counties easily — I thought it might interest some readers to have a short account of my own bee-doings during '95. Our Hunts bee-keepers are to be congratulated on making so good a display and winning so many prizes at the above show. Though not an exhibitor myself, I think shows are very good things for bee-keepers, as they educate people in bee-keeping and create a demand for bee- products. I commenced the winter of 1894-5 with thirty-three bar-frame hives and five skeps, and owing to mismanagement — through not feeding up sufficiently in the autumn and the long frost which followed — I only managed to save nineteen frame-hives and none of the skeps (which latter I thought were well provisioned). In fact, I ought, to call myself " bee-muddler " instead of a bee-keeper, as 1 lost more stocks last winter than in the twenty years I have kept bees. The nineteen that managed to pull through were so weak that at May Day it seemed impossible for them to gather any surplus ; but by stimulative feed- ing, aided by the magnificent weather at the time, I got upwards of 1,200 lb. of honey, and have increased my stocks to thirty, all well provisioned for the winter. My best stock Feb. 13, 1896. j THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 65 gave me 120 lb. of surplus, and another over a hundred, the lot averaging nearly 65 lb. each, ihe best average I have had. I used sometimes to think it almost impossible for a stock of bees to gather over 100 lb. surplus honey, as I read iu the B.B.J, of some doing ; however, 1895 has set all my doubts at rest on that point. Some of my standard frames weighed 8 to 9 lb. each before extracting. I took the lot off, and extracted the whole of the contents and put the empty frames back again for the bees to char up, in less than two days, at the end of the honey-flow, and 1 much prefer this plan to messing about extracting all summer. It was a splendid lot of honey, and I had no difficulty in disposing of it at a fair price, one firm alone buying half a ton of it. I was not troubled much by swarms, having only two, and they, curiously enough, hived themselves in two of the aforesaid skeps that were ready combed, so that I got a nice surplus from them. I often wonder how it is that some bee-keepers are troubled so much by swarming ; I Dever am. I do not think 20 per cent, of my hives have swarmed during the last six years ; perhaps it is because I work for extracted honey only, and use all built-out combs in standard-frames for extracting. This gives the be:s plenty of room, and they stem to go up and commence work at once instead of swarmirig. I used to send my honey away in lever-lid tins holding \ cwt. each, but I don't like them; they require packing in sugar boxes and are difficult to empty, fspfcially when the honey is granulated. What I used last year for that pur- pose, and what I intend using again for honey in bulk, are railway " milk-churn?.'' They hold 2 cwt. or more each, are no trouble to fill or empty, require no packing (beyond a square of calico over the top before putting on the lid to keep the dust out), then tie the catch with a piece of string and seal it with wax. There is no necessity to label them " This side up,'' for they won't stand any other way up. i con- clude by hopiDg bee-keepers will have as good a year next year as they had last, aDd farmers (to which unfortunate class I belong) a better one. — Richard Few, Ncedingicorth, Hunts, February 7. NOTANDA ET INQUIRENDA. SWARM-CATCHERS. [2415.] Some weeks ago I undertook to give a few notes on the action of Hole's swarm- catchers, and here they are, for what they may be worth. Hole's Swarm-catchers. — One of these I placed last May on a hive which threatened swarming, with three immediate results. 1. The first day or two an enormous number (several hundreds) of drones were trapped. The first night the receiving-box was full of them. I wondered whether the bees had attempted to swarm, and had gone back into the hive, leaving drones and queen trapped in the receiver ; but I had no means of deciding this, as it was impossible for me to search through the mass of dead and dying drones for the queen ; and I had all I could do to clear them out before dark. No workers, however, were amongst the trapped drones. 2. The top life of the three or tour I had on (sections) was at once deserted by the bees for ten days or a fortnight. Evidently the loss of so many drones greatly reduced the heat in the hive ; and until the rapidly-growing popula- tion of workers once more evolved the necessary degree of warmth, the bees were compelled to restrict their operations. 3. When they returned to the topmost lift, their activity thenceforward was remarkable. They gave me about 80 lb. of honey ; 60 lb. in sections, and 20 lb. in shallow combs. Their industry was simply ceaseless ; and it was a great grief to me that I ultimately lost them altogether ; for when I took off the swarm-catcher towards the end of July they were much reduced. When I returned from my August holidays, before taking steps to re-queen them if neces- sary, I incautiously gave them a lift of shallow combs to clean up ; with the disastrous result that next morning honey, bees, and all, had been clean robbed out and cleared away by my other bees and by wasps. Nothing but the bare combs were left. Eheu ! fugaccs, &c. To return. By the time I could obtain a second swarm-catcher the occupied side of a half deserted " Wells " had swarmed, and I had lost the swarm, as I have hitherto always done, out here in the open country. I put on the swarm- catcher, nevertheless, to study effects. Again precisely the same results followed, but even in a more marked degree than in the first instance. Of course the bees necessarily were soon queenless, as the young virgin queen could not possibly get out to mate. I watched for her carefully in the trap, which Mr. Hole had now most obligingly fitted with a drop trap-door, minimising the nightly trouble of clearing it of drones ; but I could never dis- cover her. In the end the bees died off, as I was aAvay at the time when they should have been re-queened. But they yielded me, stored in both sides of the " Wells,'' to which they had access from their own side, quite 115 lb. of comb-honey. None of my other hives even approached these results. I am therefore clear about two points— 1 . Mr. Hole's swarm-catcher largely increases the honey return, whether because queenless bees work better than queened stocks, or because the drones are removed, or from whatever cause. 2. There is, however, a great danger of in- ducing cmeenlessness, and of the ultimate loss of stocks. Possibly, in more skilful hands than mine, and, above all, where there is time for more attention to be given, this drawback might easily be obviated. I can only give my own experience in the matter. I have only two faults to find with the swarm-catcher, and one of these may possibly 66 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 13, 1896. be sentimental, while the other is certainly remediable : — 1. The clearing out of the trapped drones every evening is an unpleasant, repulsive business ; and more than once I was severely stung by a stray worker wandering amongst them. 2. The little hanging bits of tin which form the " traps " are unsatisfactory. If a single one " sticks " from any cause (and they do stick), it may let out the whole swarm ; and when one does stick, it is almost impossible, when the "guards" are on duty, to set it right ■without taking off the whole concern. Again, the wires on which they are strung are not strong enough. Both mine broke before the end of the summer, apparently corroded through, and they must be set right before next season. This is a matter which it needs only a little ingenuity to get over, and I feel sure Mr. Hole will be able to contrive some effectual remedy before next spring. At my suggestion Mr. Hole very kindly fitted up my receiving boxes to hold about five standard and shallow frames, on which a swarm, if trapped during one's absence, might at once go to work at comb-building upon fitted foundation ; and this also makes the receiver handy as a comb-box -whenever not in use as a catcher. The adaptation can most easily be made at a trifling cost. In conclusion, the hinged plates appear to present little or no obstacle to the bees after the first few days. The self-hiver is a splendid drone trap, without preventing the entrance of a few stray drones into the hive. To any bee-keepers obliged to leave their hives un- attended for long intervals in the swarming season it must be simply invaluable. Next season I hope to use it myself again, when, with greater experience, I trust 1 then shall be enabled to report upon it still more favourably. — Self-Taught, February 4, 1896. PREVENTION OF SWARMING, AND THE USE OF OLD COMBS. [2416.] I have often felt myself impelled to take part in the discussions of different topics appearing from time to time in the B.B.J., and thus venture to say a word on the above subject because of having given the " non- swarming system " a fair trial this year. I may say that in 1894 I decided to try a hive on the plan of the " Conqueror," and had one made .in the autumn to take ten standard frames. A vigorous young queen and her stock of bees was transferred to it on the frames they occupied from an ordinary hive. Now, as the "Conqueror" hive opens at the back, and the two pirts — i.e., body-box and section-rack — are interchangeable, I removed the body-box tier from bottom, and replaced it with section-rack of hanging- frames, which latter was left underneath, and thus gave plenty of ventilation. The hive was then covered up all warm and snug for winter. Of the nine hive3 I closed the year 1894 with, this one wintered the best and commenced brood-rearing the soonest. Moreover, it did not swarm in '95. Judging, then, by one year's trial, it was a success. Clover honey in this district last year was a practical failure, but by the use of the extractor I managed to get about 1 cwt. from all my stocks, including about thirty sections of clover honey, twenty- one of which were taken from the "Conqueror." I was so pleased with this hive that I had three more made, into which I put swarms as they came. Referring to brace-combs, I have never yet had these built in any of my hives, being always careful to give a bee-space, and no more, below supers. Now, if " Self- Taught " (page 56) and. " Bee-Cycle " (page 58) will adopt this plan, they will, I think, never find it necessary to use excluder zinc ; and I can assure them it is very convenient and a great pleasure to be able to examine brood-nest without disturbing the upper stories. I have never troubled to shade my hives, though I believe it a means, along with chamber under brood-nest, of preventing swarming ; keeping stocks headed by young queens I also believe to be a great factor in prevention of swarms, as well as conducing to a more numerous colony of bees, and naturally a greater harvest of honey. I have four " Wells '' hives, and four single-queened stocks, two of the latter with single walls and two with dead- air space all round, and I find as a rule that, all things being equal, single-walled hives are much more given to swarming than those with a dead- air space. Another thing I am careful about, viz., plenty of covering winter and summer to keep the temperature as even as possible. I use a quilt of check cloth, that saddlers line harness with, over the frames, and like it best of anything yet tried ; over that a thick cushion of flocks, which retains the warmth well. A chaff cushion over all, 6 in. thick, completes my coverings. I am now going to have more hives of the "W. B. C." plan, so that I can work on the doubling or storifying plan, as is most convenient. i Old Combs. — 1 have tried to say a word in favour of Mr. Simmins' non- swarming hive, but I will have nothing to do with his old combs. I renew most of mine after the second or third season. My experience shows that when the bees have sufficient income the queen prefers new comb for breeding purposes. I have found, after inserting a sheet of foundation in centre of brood-nest, nearly every cell filled with eggs when the walls of cells were only drawn out £ in., while close by was a second- season comb with hundreds of vacant cells. I also fail to see that combs will be any the tougher on old foundation than new. Of course I may be wrong. — R. Ness, Hclmsley, North Yorks, February 4. THE NADIR.— QUEEN EXCLUDERS. [2417.] I notice that " A Worker " (2397, p. 44) is still inquiring for more information Feb. 13, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 67 about nadirs, and states that his former query- has not been answered. Possibly he has over- looked my own estimated value and detailed particulars of the legitimate uses of the nadir ; but, without repeating that description, the answer can be given in one short sentence to his query : " Of what practical value is a nadir 1 '' and the same reply will cover the whole of his other questions on page 45, next to the last paragraph. To use his own words " comb-building is the real value of a nadir,'' consequently the legitimate use of this receptacle, as separated from the stock by a perforated adapter, beiDg that of storing new honey-combs, it in no way aids in the prevention of swarming ; while, on the other hand, as soon as sufficient ventilation is supplied below the stock-combs to assist in tuppressing tbe swarming desire, the nadir is neglected, and nothing will then induce the bees to store or build therein. I do not find that I stated, nor did I intend to state, that my Long Eaton friend had men- tioned the word " eke," but with regard to the main points at issue I must leave the case to be decided by a more practical demonstra- tion of facts than appears to have occurred within his own experience, and may take the prominent points in detail as opportunity offers. As to excluder zinc, I may say it is not only unnecessary, but detrimental, whether working for comb or extracted honey, and that the bee- master does not need to rely upon that article to help him control the breeding of his queens. The first step to be taken in that direction is to maintain only such extra-strong colonies as ■will keep the queen in her place. Medium, or weak stocks, will never help their queens to develop the brood-nest to its full capacity before the first flow of honey occurs, and cannot crowd her down when that good time dofs come. Unfortunately, it is not the rule for extra- strong colonies to be owned by the honey-pro- ducer, hence the reason that excluder zinc is wanted by so many bee-keepers. — Saml. SlMMINS. [Regarding the use or non-use of excluder zinc for preventing queens entering surplus chambers, we trust that our correspondent's views on the subject will be understood and accepted by readers as being his individual opinion on the question, with which, of course, no one has any right to quarrel or object to. We say this in order to avoid further discus- sion on the subject just now in our pages. — Eds.] NON-SWARMING HIVES. [2418.] In perusing this week's Bee Journal I notice an inquiry from " Bee- Cycle, Sussex '' (2409, p. 58) re non-swarming hives, so give a few particulars of my last season's trial of same. I had a "Wells'' hive made with two sliding drawers, one under each brood-chamber, as follows : — Floor-board, with entrances cut therein ; on this a chamber divided in the centre, having two slots cut in top (which top is the floor-board of the brood- chamber) ; in this chamber two drawers are fitted, each holding nine shallow frames, and when closed leaves a bee-way of § in. at front to prevent crushing any bees. The drawers are almost skeleton ones, there being just sufficient wood to make them strong enough. I cannot say whether it really prevents swarm- ing, as none of my bees swarmed last year ; but please note one side contained Carniolans, which in '94 were a swarm, and gave a maiden swarm. I like the principle, and do not think it affects the " honey take," as this " Wells " hive gave me 70 lb. extracted, and my other hives nil. I, however, hope for a better season this year, with some clover honey included, which was minus last season, although my district is a fairly good one for it. Bees are having a good outing to-day, and are carrying in pollen. — R. H. Coltman, Buiion-on-Trent, February 9. NEW COMBS FOR EXTRACTED HONEY. [2419.] I can endorse what our Editors say in " Useful Hints," on p. 51, about honey being better for show purposes when stored in new combs. How is it that honey taken from sections is always of a better colour than that from frames ? Simply, as I think, that the sections are newly- built, while honey taken from frames is generally from old combs. Again, put sections filled with ready-built comb in a rack on a hive colony with others only filled with comb foundation, and a good judge will pick them out after they are filled. — Northants, February 10. P.S. — I enclose my name and address (not for publication) and I think I am not unknown to you as a successful exhibitor of honey. [Our correspondent is very well known to us in the capacity stated.— Eds.] PREVENTING SWARMING. [2420.] After dropping out of the ranks of active bee-keepers I did not intend to write again on this subject (or any other), but I cannot resist the challenge of "Bee-Cycle" (2409), as I have tried Mr. Simmins' plan for nine or ten years with hybrid Carniolans with two hives, and have only had three swarms. After the first two or three seasons I modified the plan somewhat, as the bees had too much drone brood in the eke (or front frames), and placing the starters |- in. apart was ineffec- tive. One hive was a combination hive, and instead of six starters in front I filled the two frames next the brood-nest with worker foundation, on the three frames next the 68 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 13, 1896. brood-nest with a whole, a half, and a quarter sheet respectively. The other was a tiering-up hive, under which I had ten or twelve starters for the three or four combs, of which I afterwards substituted two sheets of foundation with a half- sheet, one on both sides of them, so as to leave only the end frames for drone brood. After this modification the bees never worked out all the starters. Sometimes once, or possibly twice, in the season I overhauled the eke and the front fiames in the combination hive. As to venti- lation, I made a draught through the front frames in the combination hive by leaving a space uncovered by the quilt, and opening the floor-board £ in. at back. In the other hive I always put bits of sections under the eke to let the air in all round, and some- times left open the entrance of the hive proper as well as the entrance to the eke. For shading, the lid of a packing-case standing on two bricks (to let the air in at the bottom, and leaning against the top of the hive), sheltered the south-west side of the hive from the heat of the sun. With the frames in the eke end-on to the front, and those in the brood-nest the other way, there were no brace combs. There was never any trouble in getting the bees into the supers, using worked-out combs to begin with, and a couple of partly-stored sections from the previous years. Mr. Seamark's " non-s warmer " is on the Simmins principle, and would seem to be a step in advance ; but would it not be better to substitute two starters at each side for the outside dummies to leave space for drone brood and comb-building ? It is very satisfactory to again see the names of old contributors to the Journal. — T. F. L., Brondesbury, February 6. (ttritafs from the New Hedges, Tenby, February 7. — The weather has been extremely mild, with scarcely any interruption for gardening. I can count some two dozen various plants and shrubs about here in blossom, and, of not least im- portance, is a quantity of limnanthes from the beginning of December with innumerable buds awaiting a few good warm, sunny days to unfold their petals. For some six years I have not been without this valuable plant, and to have it blossoming at this season ready for the bees is far better than all the artificial pollen which, in my first year's experience of bee- keeping, I provided in the shape of pea-flour. A few crocuses are open, not a single snow- drop, and the winter aconite not yet appearing. In the severe frost, snow, and biting wind of last winter the aconite was robust and full of bloom. My bees are well. I left them with five and six, or more, frames of sealed honey, and on fine sunny days, when they are flying, I give them wet extracted combs to clean at a few yards' distance from their hives. On January 23 I saw, though not for the first time, large pellets of pollen carried in, and nearly all my ten stocks have commenced breeding. On Sunday, January 28, returning home from church, a fine lot of full-blown cat- kins on the common hazel gladdened the sight and the heart I do not now fear my bees obtaining sufficient natural pollen. I have been told that bees feeding on large areas of lavender succumb almost immediately. Is it a fact that they are poisoned or inebriated by the nectar ?— J. Qtjartermain. Beemount, Stoke Prior, Worcestershire, February 10. — What a very warm day was yesterday ! How the little favourites revelled in the sunshine ! When going through the churchyard, after morning service, my ears were assailed by a very pleasing sound, re- minding me of swarming time. Upon looking round I discovered a grave flanked with about two dozen tulips, and working away at these were about a hundred bees. Several bees were also closely inspecting some newly-placed wreaths upon a grave near. Found pollen being taken in by four of my stocks during the afternoon. — Percy Leigh. Becleenham, Kent, February 10. — It may interest some of your readers to know that to- day (February 9), being with us a very fine and warm morning, I ventured to open my hive for the first time this year. The reason for my doing so was because my gardener told me that for the past week the bees had been flying a great deal, taking water, and cluster- ing on the alighting-board. (I am away from home each week-day, and had, therefore, not seen them myself.) The hive consists of a stock and swarm which I united last Sep- tember, and wintered on ten frames, which they covered very fully. I was pleased, on open- ing the hive, to find the bees covering the first eight, and partially the last two frames, and, to use a vulgarism, " as strong as houses." I found eggs, larva?, and a patch of sealed brood as large as the palm of your hand. There appeared, roughly speaking, to be about 8 lb. to 10 lb. of sealed stores remaining. Doubtless, with the mild winter we have had, most bee-keepers will find their stocks in this grand condition ; but I felt so pleased about it that 1 could not refrain from writing you my news. — Satisfied. (fiterks mi Unites. [1419.] The Use or Non-use of Foundation in Sections. — As I am about to order my few " wants '' for the coming bee-season, it has struck me, from last year's experience, that it Feb 13, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 69 would be better not to prepare sections with full sheets of super foundation, for the follow- ing reasons : — (a) It costs 3s. 9d. more per 100 sections ; (b) because some of the founda- tion (owing, I should think, to heat) doubles up or bends out of place ; (c) because it takes a considerable time to fix the thin foundation in ; and (d) chiefly because my bees seemed (instead of starting; at once to draw the founda- tion out) to gnaw it into a thousand pieces, and then start afresh ! Under such circum- stances, I fail to see any benefit in using super foundation, and 1 see a considerable loss. 1. Do you think it would be better to use foundation or not ? As I have had no expe- rience of working sections without foundation, I shall, of course, follow your advice. 2. Is the teaspoonful of cream of tartar essential in making candy (vide page 163 in " Guide Book''), as I have none by me ? — A Beginner, Hinckley, February 1. Reply. — Our correspondent formulates a rather formidable indictment against founda- tion in sections, and if his future experience yields him no better result, we should say — M Don't ! " or, at least, don't use more of it than is really necessary to ensure a straight start in comb-building. Bearing in mind, however, that we must all expend a little on our learning, we anticipate that a second trial will go some way towards proving something like the following with regard to his several complaints : — (a) If it did not pay to put full sheets of foundation in sections, experienced honey-prodacers would not use it so ; (b) when properly fixed, the sheets will not " doable up or bend out of place ; " (c) after a little practice the foundation is fixed very quickly ; and id) if we saw a sample of the foundation used it might help to explain the refusal of the bees to work on it ; such " gnawing up '' being — to say the least — not usual. It is quite possible that this season may be so much better for bees and honey than last, that failures in ;95 may be successes in '96. We therefore reply to Query 1, Try again ; and to No. 2 we answer, Yea ; adding that our correspondent will do well, as a rale, not to leave out ingredients recommended for such things as candy-making, because he does not happen to have any by him, seeing that such omission will generally " spoil the cake." [1420.] Handling Combs containing Hatch- ing Queens. — Shall be glad if you can tell me, through the medium of your valuable paper, whether it will kill the young queens in their cells if the combs should be turned upside down for any length of time 1 I fail to find any information on this subject in any of the bee papers or books ; but queen-cells are always spoken of as pointing downwards, and the young [queens will naturally emerge from the bottom. — A. T. Proctor, Great Wigston, Leicester, February 7. Reply. — It is quite possible that harm to the young larva? in queen-cells would follow if combs containing such were held " upside down for any length of time," but for the ordinary time occupied in inspecting a comb there need be no fear of damage. It is, how- ever, known to be very risky to shake a comb on which a queen-cell is hatching, the down- ward jerk necessary to shake the bees from a comb being apt to dislodge the larva? from its normal position, and to cause its death, or damage it so seriously as to render the hatch- ing queen useless to the bee-keeper. [1421.] Fowls and Bees. — Supplementary to my former inquiry, " Do fowls often attack bees ? " could I ventuie to place a few hives (for the sake of the sheltered 3ite) inside an enclo- sure of fifteen square rods or so wired off for six or eight hens ? At my late farm the hens from the barn-yard used to crowd into the walled court-yard where the hives stood without apparent injury. — North Dorset, Jan. 8. Reply. — We should anticipate no probable harm to fowls in such an enclosure as described if some slight protection were placed round the hives to keep the fowls from scratching close to them. When removing honey, too, it might be necessary to use some precautions for an hour or two if the bees got excited. [1422.] Anis in Hives — I removed here a few weeks ago, and find a number of ants' nests in the locality. Kindly advise me, through your valuable Journal, as to the best way to prevent the ants interfering with my bees. Is there any kind of hive-leg which would effectually prevent the ants from entering the hives ? or what is my best course ? 2. Is either pea-flour, candy, or dry sugar feeding equal to syrup for stimulating brood-raising in spring ? — James Weatherby, Doncaster, February 1. Reply. — 1. A band of tow or hemp, satu- rated with tar, tied round each leg will effectually stop ants from entering the hives. But we should take measures for destroying the nests, in addition to using preventives. 2. Flour-candy is the most suitable food for stimulating in early spring. Syrup later on. [1423.] Drones in February. — On the 3rd inst., the warmth and sunshine being almost like that of a summer day, I went out to have a look round my hives, and was sur- prised to find, from the whole of my ten hives, workers and drones flying about as strong and numerous as in June or July ; the latest swarms appearing strongest in bees. 1. Can you give me any information on the point of drones appearing at this time 1 2. Would you advise me to fesd on from now, trusting to good weather and a mild spring? We have been having very mild weather here, with bright sunshine. — Calder, Benfreivshire, N.B. Reply, — 1. We should strongly suspect queenlessness as the cause ; drones so early as beginning of February being entirely 70 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 13, 1896. abnormal. 2. If food is short, feeding is, of course, necessary ; but, with plenty of stores, no food is required. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. E. H. Hopkins (Green Hill). — Government Returns and Foul Brood. — A little reflec- tion will, we think, show our correspondent that there is really no analogy between the returns mentioned and the subject which exclusively affects bee-keepers. What bearing, we ask, can the increase or decrease of glanders among horses, or rabies among dogs, have upon the effect of compulsory powers for dealing with foul brood among bees 1 But apart from this, we feel quite sure that our correspondent would quickly change his views, and regard the matter from an entirely different standpoint, if he was himself in the unfortunate position of having his apiary ruined owing to the obstinacy of a neighbour — and there are many such — who would persist in keeping diseased hives, to spread infection every- where around. Referring to "paying the bill," we rather think a correspondent showed in our pages some time ago that the " bill " would not affect rates to the extent of " one-sixteenth of a penny in the pound.'' We hope to deal with this matter again and more fully shortly, for the purpose of showing some actual results of the working of the Con- tagious Diseases (Animals) Act, to which our correspondent refers. Archibald Smellib (Larkhall). — Dysentery in Bees. — 1. The only remedy for dysentery at this season is warm, well-made food, dry coverings, and a dry hive. Of course a warm, sunny day would have to be chosen on which the bees and combs could be quickly transferred from one hive to the other. 2. Bee sent is a worker, not a queen. J. Q. (New Hedges). — We regret very much the omission of the lady's name in issue of B.J. following presentation referred to, which arose from an inadvertence quite unintentional on our part. We will gladly repair the omission now if not considered too late. R. A. Lucas (Uppingham). — Help for Beginners. — We know of nothing more likely to be helpful than the visit of an expert to the hives, and getting from him a practical lesson in bee management. As soon in the spring as the weather becomes warm and settled is the best time. A. P. (Rutherglen) Specific Gravity. — No doubt you would see Mr. Brice's note at foot of his article on page 56, which explains the lapsus referred to. Much obliged for your correction. R. Chapman (Newton). — The honey sent has no very pronounced flavour, but we see no reason for doubting its purity. It is of good quality. We have no printed information as to candy-making other than what has appeared in our journals. John A. Carrington, Junr. (Bakewell). — 3rd class Exams, for Experts* Certificates. — Full information regarding these may be had from the Sec, B.B.K.A, Mr. E. H. Young, 12, Hanover-square, London, W. W. T. L. (Teignmouth).— New Zealand 1 lax as a Honey Plant. — From inquiries made we cannot think any success would att rnd the attempt to introduce the plant into this country. H. H. Hill (Bridport). — Starting Bee Associa- tions.— We have forwarded your letter to the Secretary of the B.B.K.A. who will no doubt reply to it. A Beginner (Winchfield, Hants) writes : — " I must thank you much for inserting the letter I sent about ' preparing bees for the heather' (2322, p. 495). The answers it has called forth in your pages have been without exception, very much to the point and have explained just what I desired to know." [We are glad to have been of service, but thanks are mainly due to our correspondents who furnished the information. — Eds.] " Run Honey.'' — Preventing Granulation. — This can only be done by keepingthe honey at aternperature of, say, 55° to 60°Fahr. Granu- lation, however, varies very much in differeat seasons, that gathered in some years keeping liquid for many months at a comparatively low temperature, while in others it will become solid in a few weeks after removal from the hives. Melting honey by heat no doubt takes away more or less of the full and delicate flavour, but if carefully done and not warmed beyond 150° Fahr. it suffers no great damage. It would, however, be folly to heat it while still liquid, as suggested, in order to retard or prevent granulation. " Doubtful One.'' — Honey Samples. — The honey sent is of very good quality, colour and aroma being excellent. The flavour, though rather lacking in distinctness, is good. If your own bees gather honey differing much from sample, the district must be either exceptionally good or the opposite, according to the way the difference lies. Joiner (Addlestone). — 1. Yes ; close up frames to proper distance on the first examination towards the end of March, disturbing the bees as little as possible. 2. Do not put on sections until you are certain that the bees are strong enough and honey is coming in ; then put on a rack of twenty-one sections, and when they are being sealed over raise the first one up and place another rack underneath it, always providing our above remarks apply. Feb. 20, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 71 (MiforiaL Ifartias, &t BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The monthly meeting of the Council was held at 105, Jermyn- street, on Friday, February 14. Present : — T. W. Cowan (chairman), Rev. G. W. Bancks, Messrs. H. W. Brice, W. Broughton Carr, Major Fair, W. H. Harris, J. H. New, E. D. Till, and J. M. Hooker (ex officio}. Edwin H. Young, secretary. Letters were read from the Hon. and Rev. H. Bligh, Rev. W. E. Burkitt, and Mr. A. G. Pugh, regretting their inability to attend. The minutes of the meeting held on January 10 were read and confirmed. New members were elected, as under : — Baines, T.,junr., 75, Fairfax-road, Hampstead. Baker, W. K., Towednack, Penzance. Benson, John, Midland Dairy Institute, Kingston Fields, Derby. Dawe, Miss Helen, Long Ashton, Bristol. Hole, Geo. Wm., Patcham, Sussex. Lane, W. C, Orwell, Royston. Northamptonshire B.K.A. ; hon. sec, Robt. Hefford, Boughton, near Northampton. Perry, John, Bridge-street, Banbury. Young, Edwin H, 12, Hanover-square, W. On behalf of the Finance Committee, Mr. Till presented the statement of accounts for the year 1895, which was adopted. The agreement with Mr. Young, the new secretary, was passed, and ordered to be signed by Mr. Cowan on behalf of the Council. The Chairman reported the result of the meetings of the Joint - Committee on the subject of foul brood among bees, stating that in an interview with the secretary to the Board of Agriculture, Mr. Elliott had suggested that it would be well to get a private member to introduce into the House of Commons an adoptive measure, to be put into force at the instance of two or three bee- keepers. The matter had now been referred back to the committee, to confer with the County Councils' Association, who would consider the question at a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee to be held on February 19, when he (the chairman) had promised to be present to represent the British Bee-Keepers' Association. Appointments were made of judges and stewards to officiate at the Royal Agricultural Society's Show at Leicester, and at the "Bath and West'' and Southern Counties Show at St. Albans during the coming summer. The draft annual report of the Council was considered, and it was resolved that its final revision be left in the hands of the chairman. It was decided to hold the annual meeting of members on Friday, March 13, at 4 p.m.; preceded at 3.15 p.m. by a meeting of the Council. Suggested alterations in the form of printing future annual reports were agreed to, and the meeting terminated. Nominations of members of the Association for election on the Council for the year 1896, must be made on the special forms provided for the purpose, and be received by the Secretary not later than Friday, February 28. The Annual General Meeting of members of the Association will be held at 105, Jermyn- street, S.W., on Friday, March 13, at 4 p.m. The Baroness Burdett-Coutts, President of the Association, in the chair. Notice of motions for this meeting must be received by the secretary on or before February 28. A conversazione will be held after the close of the General Meeting (about 6 p.m.). Mem- bers desirous of introducing subjects for discussion, or submitting new or improved appliances, are requested to communicate with the secretary as early as possible. The list of prizes for Bees, Hives, Honey, &c. offered for competition at the Royal Agri- cultural Society's Show, at Leicester, and at the Bath and West and Southern Counties Society's Show at St. Albans, are now ready, and can be had on application. The Secretary will be glad to receive sub- scriptions for the current year, which became due on January 1. — Edwin H. Young, /Secretary 12, Hanover- square, London, W. LINCOLNSHIRE B.K.A. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. A general meeting of the above association was held on Saturday, February 15, at 3 p.m. in the Guildhall, Lincoln, kindly lent for the occasion by the Mayor. The chair was taken by the Rt. Hon. Lord St. Vincent, and the minutes of the last general meeting having been read and confirmed, the secretary presented his report for the past year. The report showed continued increase in numbers and prosperity, fifty- six new members having joined, and there being a balance of over £20 in the treasurer's hands. The report also showed that two of the members had qualified as experts during the year, and that a number of lectures had been and were being given throughout the county, during the winter months. The County Council of the Lindsey Division continue their grant of £25 to the association in aid of technical instruction in bee-keeping. Grants had also been made by the association in augmentation of the prizes for honey at horticultural shows held in the county during the past year. The report was adopted. Several matters relating to the future management of the association then came up 72 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 20, 1896. for discussion, and among other things it was decided that a specimen copy of the Record be sent to every member of the association next month gratis. After the con- clusion of the formal business of the meeting, a lecture was delivered by Mr. F. J. Cribb (chief expert of the association) who chose for his subject " Foul Brood.'' The lecture was illustrated by limelight views showing spores, bacilli, and foul-broody comb ; and the lecturer gave a very complete and lucid account of this disease, embracing its history, causation, pro- pagation, symptoms and treatment. The proceedings terminated with the usual votes of thanks. About forty members were present, and on the conclusion of the more formal part of the meeting a considerable proportion of the members partook of refreshments specially provided, and a very enjoyable and satisfactory meeting was thus brought to a close. The rule of procedure at this general meet- ing was a new departure as regards the L.B.K.A. ; heretofore one (annual) general meeting only has been held, and always on the last day of the County Show, when business, and business only was the order of the day. It is thought that in view of the experiment having been so successful, the new arrange- ment and the development of the social side of the annual gathering will tend to unite bee- keepers, increase membership, and generally benefit the pursuit in the county. A well thought out programme, and special attention to the inclusion of something tending to make the evening pass pleasantly will make our annual meetings helpful in every way. — (Com- municated.) FOUL BROOD AND ITS TREATMENT. Written for the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England. BY THOS W. COWAN, F.L.S., F.G.S., ETC. (Reprinted by permission of the R.A.S.) Since the formation of the British Bee- keepers' Association, twenty-one years ago, the art of bee-keeping has made continued and steady progress. The Association was esta- blished for the purpose of advocating the more humane .treatment of the honey bee, and for bettering the condition of the cottagers of the country and of the rural population generally. Under its fostering care the pursuit has been raised from a mere amusement indulged in by a few amateurs or cottagers to an important industry, by means of which many persons have been able to add considerably to their incomes. It is safe to say that, owing to modern methods of management now prevailing, the amount of honey raised can be estimated at a hundred- weight for every pound produced twenty years ago. The Royal Agricultural Society has done much to encourage bee-keeping, and the bee department at its annual shows has uniformly attracted a considerable amount of public attention and interest. Amongst the minor industries connected with agriculture, there are few more interesting or more capable of profitable development than bee-keeping. In fact, it may be safely said that, if properly managed, few, if any, of our minor industries can be made so generally remunerative. In times of acute agricultural depression the attention of our small farmers, and indeed of all who derive their income from the land, must be turned to such minor industries or branches of petite culture in the same way as on the Continent, otherwise we shall be left behind in the race of competition. The imports of foreign honey into the United Kingdom are very considerable, some- times reaching the value of nine or ten thousand pounds sterling in one month. The imported article, as a rule, however, bears no comparison with the superior ^quality of the honey raised in this country ; ^but, as the former is frequently sold as British honey, a serious injury is inflicted on the British pro- ducer. Regarding the capacity of the United King- dom for honey production, there is pasturage at present for at least ten times as many hives as are now kept. Profitable as bee-keeping is with regard to the production of honey, the advantages which farmers derive from bees are much greater than is generally supposed. It is impossible to get perfect fruit and abundant orops with- out bees, consequently, the indirect profit of bee-keeping in regard to our crops far exceeds the value of the products of the hive. In other words, the indirect benefits resulting to the fruit-grower far outweigh the visible results. If bees have free access to white clover in bloom, not only is the flow of honey rapid, but the effect on the crops grown for seed is still more remarkable by way of in- creasing the abundance of the yield of seed, compared with what it would be if only few bees were kept in the vicinity. Regarding the fertilisation of fruit, it has been ascer- tained, by actual count, that twenty times more bees than other insects visit the bloom at the time of flowering. The benefits of bee-keeping, both direct and indirect, are admitted, and there is abundant evidence that it is capable of very great ex- pansion, there being vast tracts of country where good bee pasturage abounds, yet where no bees are kept at all. The only visible hindrance to a rapid expansion of the industry is the prevalence of a pestilential disease com- monly known as " foul brood," which is so rapidly spreading over the country as to make bee-keeping a hazardous occupation. The bee- pest referred to has, however, received a good deal of attention of late, having been brought by the public press prominently before the country, owing to the action taken by the British Bee-keepers' Association in introduc- ing the subject to the notice of the Board of Feb. 20, 1896.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. 73 Agriculture with a view to legislation, and to obtaining compulsory powers for dealing with it. The British Bee Journal and Bee- keepers' Record, the two journals exclusively devoted to the interests of bee-keepers, have also kept this question constantly before their readers by repeated references to it in leading articles, and by correspondence dealing with the subject. Foul , brood is terribly contagious ; more- over, stocks suffering from it are generally weak, and this induces bees from other hives to rob them of their honey. Thus the mischief spreads from hive to hive. It is also largely propagated by those who keep bees in straw skeps, the ignorant and the indifferent. Recently, the President of the Board of Agri- culture received favourably a deputation of the British1 Bee-keepers' Association, who were accompanied on the occasion by an influential gathering of members of Parliament in sym- pathy with the movement, and there is every prospect of bee-keeping being recognised and assisted by the Government, which will no doubt give it an impetus. But until some means are devised for stamping out the disease it is very desirable that those who keep bees should thoroughly understand the nature of foul brood, and know how to treat their stocks when attacked, and to prevent the disorder from spreading. HISTORICAL RETROSPECT. From the writings of ancient authors there seems to be no doubt that foul brood has been known for many centuries, probably since bees have been domesticated. Aristotle, after de- scribing the ravages of the wax moth as a disease, says : " A second disease is a sort of inactivity that attacks the bees ; the hive then contracts a bad smell." The inactivity of bees and bad smell are well known as indications of foul brood, and it is more than probable that it was by these outward signs only that disease was recognised by the ancients. We may also safely suppose that our forefathers, who lived thousands of years ago, examined the interior of their hives just as seldom as do our skeppists of the present day. Although Aristotle men- tions the facts of the disease, and says, " the bees are liable to become diseased when the flowers on which they work are attacked by blight,'' he suggests no remedy. Coming down to a later period, we find Schirach, in 1769, describing the disease and actually calling it " foul brood " — a " veritable pest.'' He suggested two causes which lead to it, viz., bad food, on which the larvie are fed ; and misplacement of the larvte, so that they are not able to develop. As a remedy he advises the combs to be removed and the bees allowed to fast for forty-eight hours, after which they can be introduced on to clean new combs, and fed on syrup prepared with sugar and wine, flavoured with nutmeg. Thus we have given us nearly 130 years ago a method of cure almost identical with what is by some claimed as new to-day. In 1790, Delia Bocca, in his Traite complet sur les abeilles, describes very minutely an epidemic of foul brood which destroyed the apiaries in the island of Syra in the years 1777 to 1780, and says, " Some pestilential blight had, without doubt, corrupted the honey and the dust from the anthers.'' He also l'ecom- mends starvation as a cure. Since that time many noted scientists and bee-keepers have experimented with the same disease, and various theories have been ad- vanced with respect to its origin, the favourite one being that the disease was propagated by the honey, and that if this were removed and the bees starved until they had consumed what they had taken into their stomachs, and started afresh, foul brood would be got rid of. However, the disease, even in the hands of the most experienced, broke out again, and, as an instance, it may be mentioned that Dr. Dzier- zon, of Carlsmarkt, in Silesia, who pursued this treatment, lost as many as 500 colonies through foul brood. Although Dzierzon, Berlepscb, Fischer, Lambrecht, Cech, and other leading men in Germany were for years investigating the disease, it was not until 1870 that a real ray of light began to shine upon the subject, and that scientists were able to show why the starvation method and other attempted cures had failed. We are indebted to Dr. Preuss, of Dirshau, in Prussia, for the first "light "just referred to. After examining foul brood microscopically, he at once pronounced it to be a germ disease, which he declared was due to the presence of a microbe known as " micrococcus." -He also said that if this could be destroyed the disease could be cured. Of course, this announcement of Dr. Preuss was received with some derision by bee- keepers, but Pastor Schonfeld determined upon experimenting for himself. He infected several hives, and, when foul brood in a virulent form had developed therein, he took a comb of rotten brood to the Physiological Institute at Breslau, and had it submitted to a microscopical examination by Dr. Cohn and Dr. Eidam. Dr. Cohn soon found the " micro- cocci '' of Preuss, and amongst these a number of rods, some singly and others connected together, which he at once pronounced to be- long to the genus Bacillus. Not only was this found subsequently to be correct, but it was also now understood that what were taken for micrococci were really the spores of bacilli. Many of our readers may remember that very little was known about bacteria and disease germs in 1870, so it is not surprising that Preuss should have mistaken for micrococci what we now know to be the spores of a bacillus. The discovery of Dr. Preuss led to experi- ments being carried out with various suggested remedies, and in 1873 Professor Boutleroff, of St. Petersburg, published the results of his treatment of tbe disease with phenol, in the proportion of 1 of pure phenol to 600 of honey. 74 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 20, 1896. Other? tried thymol, and in 1875 Hilbert — whose apiary was affected with foul brood in its worst form — published the results of his experiments with salicylic acid. He gave this a severe test, and, after many failures, eventually discovered a method by means of which he effectually got rid of the disease from his apiary. In 1883 the late Mr. Cheshire and Mr. Watson Cheyne conjointly carried out experi- ments at the laboratory of the latter gentle- man, and by their investigations confirmed the discovery of Dr. Cohn that the germ causing the disease was a bacillus, to which Mr. Cheshire gave the name of Bacillus alvei. In Germany it was known by the name of Bacilhis alveolaris. Since that time various experiments have been made and numerous remedies more or less effectual have had their advocates. But owing to carelessness, want of knowledge, and, in many cases, the impossibility of making people realise the infectious character of the disease — or the necessity for disinfection — foul brood, like a dark cloud, is spreading over the country. (To be continued.) ABOUT OUR BEES. BY HENRY W. BRICE. (Continued from page 56.) To resume the subject of Hives, I may say the entrance should in no case be less than 8 in. in width ; in fact, it is advantageous to be able to make the entrance as wide as the whole hive-front in the busy season. Simple slides for readily contracting the width of doorways are best. The floor-board shouldjbe detachable from the hive to allow of the latter beiDg slightly raised for ventilation in very hot weather, and for hiving swarms, &c. To those who make their own hives I would say — first purchase a good sample hive of the exact kind desired in the fiat as a pattern to work from, and accustom yourself to all the parts and their respective purposes before beginning to cut up your timber. I have, however, found it so easy to get machine- made body-boxes and surplus-chambers for shallow frames, moreover, so cheap (Is. 6d. to 2s. each) that, I have given up making them myself, just as I gave up home-made frames. Machine-made bee-goods are so perfectly accurate in cut and finish that amateur-made ones will, I fancy, soon be as scarce as home- made sections, &c. The standard frame already referred to as the only one that should be used in brood - chambers is 14 in. by 8| in. outside measure, with a top-bar 17 in. long. For surplus- chambers the shallow frame is to my mind by far the best, and is the same size as the standard, less 3 in. in depth — i.e.., 14 in. by h\ in. With regard to the use of distance guides as a means for spacing frames, I con- sider that, however efficiently older members of the craft may manage without the use of " helps " to space their frames correctly — or by the use of bell-staples, nails, and such like — the usefulness and neat convenience of the metal end, and especially the well-known tin " end" so largely used in this country, is un- doubted, while to the beginner it is an abso- lute necessity to good management. Quilts. — In my own practice I prefer common j ute carpeting for quilts, two thick- nesses for summer, with considerable additions for winter. Let the first quilt have a 4-in. feed-hole cut in it, rather on one side. A loose piece covers the same. The hole is cut on one side to enable the bee-keeper to spread the brood nest in early spring without the necessity for opening the hive or disturbing frames in any way. The method of carrying out this will be explained under its proper heading in due course. Some bee-keeper3 prefer a lighter material than jute carpeting as the first covering for frames, in order that bees may not be imprisoned or crushed between tops of frames and quilt when readjusting the latter. I think, however, that a little care in sliding on a quilt of comparatively heavy material like jute carpet is actually helpful in saving bees from harm, as they are pushed before the edge of quilt as it is being passed from back to front of the frame-tops, and the quilt of its own weight keeps the bees down when it is laid on. Smokers, &c. — A good bee-smoker is an indis- pensable appliance in every apiary. I emphasise the word good, because one of the greatest annoyances a bee-keeper has to contend with is a bad smoker, i.e., one that goes like a small furnace when not wanted to, and when most needed is found to have " gone out." Therefore, I say get a good smoker ; they are to be had, though in most of those sent out there is room for improvement. I do not advo- cate the use of a lot of smoke when manipu- lating bees under ordinary circumstances ; bee-keepers as a rule are, I think, too fond of giving a lot of smoke, some nearly suffocate their bees therewith, and at least upsetting the work of the hive for hours afterwards. Smoke in quantity is no doubt desirable at times, but very seldom; when, however, these occasions do occur, it needs to be given in quantity, and at short notice. Such material as fustian or cor- duroy, old sacking, &c, give out large quaa- tities of smoke, and generally of an offensive odour, I therefore use none of them, relying on coarse brown paper, or waste pieces of jute carpet. The carbolic cloth is also a useful adjunct in any apiary. In my hand, however, it is not so generally useful and effectual for subjugating bees as smoke, but as a preventer of bee-crushing in such opera- tions as placing surplus-chambers on hives and various supering manipulations it is most useful. By its use and the exercise of ordinary care not a single bee need be sacrificed. Feb. 20, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 75 Bee Veils, £c. — None but the foolhardy can afford to dispense with a veil, which should be on the hat ready for use, though not worn down over the face at all times. A simple, bottomless bag, of coarse black net, an elastic band run through the top to cause it to fit close round the hat is all that is wanted, if the bag is made deep enough for tucking under the coat when buttoned. Gloves may be used until the beginner gains confidence, but should be dispensed with as soon as possible after- wards. They cause clumsiness in operating, annoy the bees in use, and increase stinging not a little. These things being sufficient, in my mind, to determine any one to put up with a sting on the hand occasionally rather than use them. I should expect the most quiet bees to at once turn into little furies were I in such a nervous condition as to require the use of gloves. The sooner the bee-keeper who " works in gloves '' makes up his mind to discard them, the sooner, in my opinion, will he know what it is to manipulate a hive of bees without being stung. Cuffs or gauntlets, or any other means of preventing bees crawling up the sleeves of the operator are very useful ; personally, I simply turn back the cuffs of my coat until they fit tight to the arm. The Extractor. — This appliance is indispens- able in all apiaries where extracted honey is gathered in any quantity. A machine of cylindrical form should be chosen, not neces- sarily the most expensive, but a sound, durable article of up-to-date type, which with fair use will last a lifetime. Super-clearers. — Who of us a few years ago included these articles in our list of appliances ? It was felt that something was wanted for the purpose of easing down the time and trouble of removing surplus-honey, and now who could do without them ? None who desire peace and quietness among their bees. Think for a moment of the crude make- shifts used before the " Porter," " B-off," and escapes of that type became known. Why taking honey then was for most folks a thing for mature deliberation ; the careful closing up of all the windows and doors, &c, and seeing that our next door neighbours were all indoors before we ventured to operate. But now the whole thing is done almost without the bees being aware cf the fact that their stores have gone. The super-clearer, therefore, I regard as an absolute necessity in the apiary. Self-hirers. — The want of some method of preventing swarming, or of an appliance for catching or retaining swarms when the bees have resolved upon emigration, has been long felt, and much thought and time has been expended in the endeavour to secure one or both of these objects. So far, however, and although progress has been made, the questions are still unsolved in a quite satisfactory way. So far as swarm-catchers, there are (perhaps minor) defects to be overcome, and certain de- tails require perfecting before entire satisfac- tion is secured. FormyselfJ rather look to skilful management and the selection of our strains of bees to remove the swarming difficulty than to appliances for retaining swarms which may never issue. At the same time, I cannot but regard with some favour the advantage gained by an arrangement affixed to a hive during the swarming season, which will trap all the flying drones in the hive. The fact of it doing this will, in my experience, not only restrain the bees from swarming, but will add materially to the honey harvest in nine cases out of ten. The drones having been, however, got rid of, the appliance should be removed. A drone- less hive seldom swarms — certainly never under normal conditions, and ventilation and timely room also assist in preventing swarm- ing, but all this latter i3 included in what I have already referred to as " management." For the rest, the multiplication of appliances only adds to the expense. My advice is — have as little useless para- phernalia about the apiary as possible. After resolving upon the things really necessary, don't buy the commonest, because they are cheap. A good thing of its kind is always cheapest in the end. There are also a few other helps to success with which I shall hope to deal when we come to discuss the uses to which they are put. — Thornton Heath. tyaxxmpnkm. The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a gxtarantes of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. Communications relating to the literary department reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries Books for Review, &c, must be addressed only to " The Editors of the ' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William- street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi- cations relating to Advertisements, (Sec, must be addressed to "The Manager, ' British Bee Journal' Oj/ice, 17, King William-street, Strand, London, W.C." (see 1st page of advertisements). ■V* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, ■will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as welt as thepaqe on which it appears. "WHAT IS PUEE HONEY?" OLD VERSUS NEW COMBS FOR STORING SURPLUS. [2421.] With much pleasure have I noticed our Editors' recent refusal to entertain the notion that combs from which brood has hatched out are good enough for supering with when working for extracted honey. Let us not go backward in our craft. Time was when the miscellaneous product of the brood- combs from a skep, squeezed out and strained, was considered to be table honey. Then came frame-hives and the extractor. This was a great step up the ladder ; but still quantity 76 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 20, 1896. rather than quality was obtained by " doubling." In due time ignorance ceased to be " bliss ; " the day of supers, of shallow frames with combs as clean and bright as those of sections, dawned on us ; and as regards purity of product, bee-keeping probably reached its zenith. There can be little force in the argument that brood-hatch- ing makes the combs tougher, when most of your readers, like the present writer, must have extracted for years past from unsoiled combs with hardly one mishap. We welcome the editorial assurance that no honey can hope to compete, with full hope of success, at a show, under competent judges, with that from combs free from the taint of brood. But apart from that, if the question were put to the honey purchaser — and put it ought in fairness to be — " Will you have this man's honey from unsoiled super comb, or that man's from combs in which bee-grubs have been reared, and have lived and possibly died whilst carrying out their peculiar transforma- tions ? "—doubtless the producer who could guarantee pure honey from virgin comb would carry off the customer. Fancy may have something to do with it. But suppose I get my milk from a neighbour- ing farm, and that its quality is all one could reasonably expect — no complaints. Only one day it becomes known that, under pressure of work, the dairyman is in the habit of borrow- ing a neighbour's slop-pail when cans run short ! He assures me that the vessel in question is always well wiped out, and even polished. It may be so. I have no reason to doubt it ; but — all the same — I have done with that dairy. And so, for very similar reasons, none but " pure honey from virgin combs'' for— South Devon Enthusiast, February 17. THE "WELLS" SYSTEM. MY EXPERIENCE WITH IT IN 1895. [2422.] For the benefit of my brother-bee- keepers who may have tried the " Wells '' system and failed with it, as I did myself on the first trial, I would like to say how I at last got hold of the secret of making it a success. Well, I may be said to have followed the example of the great artist who, when asked what he mixed with his colours to make his paintings so successful, replied " brains." In this way I brought all I possessed of intelli- gent common sense to bear upon my manage- ment as I gained experience of the system. I feel quite sure Mr. Wells never intended that two strong stocks should be put in one hive to work side by side in one super. The system was devised to enable the bee-keeper to get the benefit of co-operation between two weak stocks, so that between them a harvest could be secured. We know that stocks which have from various causes — other than disease —dwindled down in winter, are generally use- less as surplus gatherers the following season because of not getting strong enough till the honey-flow was over. Now this is where the " Wells " system comes in to aid the bee-keeper. In my case I had in March, last year, twelve of my stocks which were decidedly weak in numbers that month, yet these twelve gave me 600 lb. of such fine honey that I fear I shall not soon see the like again for quality. They also stored in addition plenty of winter food for themselves. The bees were worked in hives each containing fourteen frames, and over each double compartment was placed one of my " equalisers " filled with soft candy in case of scarcity. I winter the bees in these " Wells " hives on twelve frames, to give the bees more space for clustering. When the " Wells " plan first came in vogue I made a hive to hold twenty-four frames ; put two strong stocks in it, and ex- pected to get a harvest from it to break the record. But it failed, for one side became queenless, and the result was no surplus at all. I then tried ten frames on each side of divider, but the bees swarmed and I lost the swarm. Now all this time I did not condemn the system. I felt that my method must be somewhere a bit faulty, and intended to make it a success, if possible. I therefore read up Mr. Wells's reports and his advice, as they appeared in your journals, and now, with a slight variation, have worked the system for two years, and been successful with it. The variation referred to is with regard to the ex- tension of brood-nests. I do not always give the additional fourteen shallow -frames to enlarge the brood-nests ; because, although your queens may be young, they are not always so prolific to need the extra breeding space, and when I see that the fourteen standard frames are sufficient for the two queens I do not give the extension as recommended by Mr. Wells. In conclusion, I have a lot to thank Mr. Wells and his system for, and feel sure if followed out, as I say, with intelligence, it will make the whole of the stocks in your apiary successful, because of getting a harvest from the weak stocks. One word I must add : Do not attempt to make your own " Wells " dividers. You may burn ninety-nine holes of right size, and the hundredth just large enough for the queens to pass ; then comes failure. Buy your perforated dummy from a good appliance manufacturer. Hive, too, if you can afford it ; everything fits so nicely and accurately. — Richard Brown, Flora Apiary, Somersham, February 14. NORTHERN NOTES. [2423.] All through January and what has gone of February the sweet hum of the bee has been heard almost every other day. Several days have felt like May, and Saturday last was more like June. Stores have been severely drawn upon, and I should like to sound a Feb. 20, 1896. THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 77 warning note. Examine every hive at once as to reserve of food. One of mine, I regret to say, was found " cruelly done to death." A splendid lot of bees was found quite dead, and not an ounce of honey in all of the nine frames. A peep into that hive a fortnight ago and prompt measures timely taken would have saved me the loss, and, what I regret more, the feeling of having shown cruelty to animals, which hangs on my mind. Breeding has begun in almost every hive, though on a very limited scale in most. The few flowers showing are crowded with a little army of bees, and they are seen in numbers along every ditch-side sipping up water. What a contrast to this time last year, when the earth was clothed in one mantle of white, and they were kept inside their hives for twelve long weeks. Forty-nine degrees of frost was registered the corresponding week, while now the thermometer has stood at 40 deg. and 50 deg. for several nights in succession. A query arises in my mind which the future must solve : Which season is most favourable to a good honey season ? or, rather, Which most favours a full force of bees when the season opens ? I confess to having grave doubts. Last spring I noted the curious fact of drones being retained in one of my hives all through winter. This year the same has happened, for on Saturday last one drone at least was flying freely at midday, and two fresh ones were thrown out dead. I noted with pleasure your paragraph in " Useful Hints " on the subject of new blood. It ought to receive far more attention than it has had in the past, and I trust your emphatic declaration will bring it to the front.— D. M. M., Banffshire, N.B., February 17. EXCLUDER-ZINC. "when found make a note of." [2424.] Since I made my debUt in your pages the old year has passed, and we are already well into the next, and soon bee-keepers will be busy with the work of another season. But before this I should bike to say a word or two of things which came under my notice during the past season — my first with the bees. Now as to taking advice when offered. I would warn all who are, like myself, inex- perienced in the craft, to diligently follow the advice given in the Journal and Record. I didn't do so, and consequently found myself in trouble when there ought to have been none. We were advised in the June Becord to " on no account omit using excluder-zinc between boxes and stock-hives, or the combs will most likely be found well occupied with brood where honey is wanted." I did omit the ex- cluder, and consequently found my super well filled with brood. Fortunately, I was not working for comb-honey, so the mischief was not so great as it might have been. But I do not think that I shall omit it even under section-racks in future. Time Occupied in Developing a Worker. — I was rather interested in Mr. Brice's remarks on page 374 re time occupied in developing a drone, as they greatly coincided with some experiences of my own with regard to workers during the j manipulations of the above-named super. On examining the hive one day towards the end of July, I found a large quantity of brood, and a medium number of eggs in the super, and also eggs in the brood-chamber. As there was no un- sealed brood down below, and the queen had been for a long time in the super, I con- cluded— being then unable to find her — that she had gone below ; so I put on an excluder to keep her down there. I examined the super two days afterwards, but found no eggs, only sealed and unsealed brood in large patches, so she was evidently in the brood chamber, and the eggs mu3t have been a day old when I first examined. No more eggs were laid in the super, as I verified by subse- quent examinations ; but when I examined the hive exactly three weeks after my first manipulation, expecting to find all the brood hatched in the super, as it was then twenty- two days from the time the eggs were laid, to my surprise I found that though much had hatched there were large patches still sealed, though nearly hatching. Upon this I closed the super, and did not look again for a week, when it was clear of brood. But it is evident that part of the brood took more than twenty-one days to develop, some probably nearly twenty- three. What this lengthened timers owing to I cannot say, unless it was the cold, rainy weather which prevailed when the brood was young. — E. Tiller, Thornton Heath, Surrey, February 15. "MILK-CHURNS" FOR HONEY BY RAIL. A LIGHT RAILWAY IN APIARIES. [2425.] I think Mr. R. Few's idea of using railway milk-churns (2414, p. 64) for the car- riage of honey an excellent one. I hope some appliance-maker will take the matter up, and supply us with a churn to hold 1 cwt., or a little more. I consider a 2 cwt. churn rather too heavy to handle conveniently. In any case it would be an advantage to have two sizes. The churns should be made very strong, and not too cheap. They would also be most convenient for keepiDg honey in for a time, and useful for putting in the copper should the honey require liquefying. I wonder if any English bee-keeper has tried a light railway in the apiary 1 Last year I constructed a wire one, to carry about 3 cwt., and found the saving of labour very great. It is raised eighteen inches from the ground, and forms a kind of continuous table through 78 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 20, 1896. the apiary, which is very useful. In a new extracting-house I am building, I intend to make the trucks run right into the house, thus saving all unnecessary labour. Last year was a good honey year with us, our best hive yielded well over 200 lb. And I need scarcely say this hive was worked with excluder zinc. We do not experience any trouble with swarms, except when we are working for sec- tions.— E. T. Shea, Southend, February 17. OLD COMBS OR NEW FOR EXTRACTING HONEY. [2426.] I have not the slightest wish to detract from the value of the opinions or practice of our esteemed Editors, or from that of any reader of the Journal who thinks he has cause to act contrary to my own ex- perience. Opposing forces hold together the universe, and do they not give us the best form of government 1 And so must we admit that varying experiences and friendly dis- cussions in the attempt to adjust real or apparent differences constitute the real life of the Journal. Well, as to the severe strictures od my article as above (2390, p. 35) contained in the editorial of February 6 last, I may first say that my notes on the subject were made many weeks prior to the reply to the query mentioned as being made in the issue of January 2 ; and it was only through pressure of other matters that the articles were not sent in during the summer of 1895. We have the candid, if somewhat absolute, opinion of the present Editors of the Journal as to the value of new combs for extracting, and I am perfectly satisfied that opinion is given in good faith ; but it is only fair to myself to publish an opinion expressed by a now deceased veteran of the craft, I refer to the late Mr. C. N. Abbott. At a local show, held where I then resided back in the seventies, the founder and for a long time Editor of this Journal, took up a jar of my honey, and a conversation occurred something like this : — Said our old friend, "That's nice, and remarkably clear ! " " Not bad for a novice," put in a non-bee-keeper. And what did our pioneer reply ? " He's no novice that can put honey up like that." I need hardly say that, in accordance with my own practice, the honey in question was extracted from combs that had been through the. brood-nest. Looking at another side of the question, however competent a judge may be, he is liable to err, while conscientiously fulfilling his duties. A very serious instance of this kind came under my notice, where a genuinely honest exhibitor was disqualified because his honey was so white and clear that the judges declared it was fed from sugar. Now, that bee-keeper was and is one of the most success- ful honey-producers I have heard of in this country, and he had no need to feed sugar to get his surplus-chambers filled. Well, I have had just such clear water- white honey. The purchasers of the comb- honey could not understand the delicate whiteness of the cappings. The extracted, when stored and granulated, would have a half to three-fourths of an inch of solid honey- sugar at the top, as white as any iceing on a cake. That honey, as clear as sparkling water before granulation, might possibly have shared the same fate as that before mentioned had it been exhibited. This, again, was extracted from so-called old combs ; and such honey I expect to have more of in the future by the same process. Looking at another aspect of this question, and referring to the query to which the said editorial draws attention, 1 find the quotation was given as follows : — " Simmins's ' Modern Bee Farm ' says that " old combs are the most valuable stock-in-trade of the bee - keeper working for extracted honey." On page 112 of that work, I find my words are : — " Surplus brood combs are the most valuable,'' &c. Again, on page 129: — "Spare combs for extracting," &c. The term "old" is evidently misleading in this connection, but I am com- pelled to state that in producing honey on a commercial scale the producer cannot dispense with these surplus combs ; he cannot produce a paying or general average crop from one brood-chamber ; and, wherever the large pro- ducer is found, a good stock of these spare combs will be seen in his possession. — Saml. SlMMINS. [We are quite in accord with the view of the late Mr. Abbott as quoted by our corre- spondent, but cannot see that it has any bearing upon the question discussed. — Eds.] DEATH OF MR. BALDENSPERGER, SEN. [2427.] It is some time since I have written to you, and am sorry to be obliged to announce you very sad news to our family, my beloved father departed this life on January 20, at the age of seventy-two. It is through him, that my brothers became bee-keepers. He had kept bees in the Palestine clay cylinder-hive for many years, in the Zion Orphanage at Jerusalem, and there he became acquainted with the Rev. Oxley who first told him of the existence of the B.B.J., the first bee-paper be ever saw. Mr. D. A. Jones was introduced to my father, and it is from his apiary the first Palestine bees were exported. Frank Benton also visited him, and inconsequence of this visit, I took to bee-keeping. My parents had lived in the Orphanage of Mount Zion for forty-five years, and it was very hard for them to be obliged to leave the place for younger forces, my poor father only outlived the change for little over two months, leaving my sorrying mother at Urtas, a small village inhabited by Feb. 20, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. '<) Mohatnedan Arabs on the border of the desert of Judea. — P. Baldensperger, Nice, February 2. PRESENTATION TO CAPTAIN CAMPBELL. An interesting — but quite informal — gather- ing of a few Surrey bee-keepers took place at the residence of Captain Campbell, H.M.I.N., on the 3rd inst., the occasion being the presenta- tion of a silver tea service to that gentleman as a testimonial of personal regard, and for his untiring efforts for many years past on behalf of the Surrey Bee - keepers' Association. Captain Campbell was actively connected with the Association from 1879 to 1895, had rilled the position of hon. treasurer and hon. sec. for the greater portion of the time, and only now resigned because of advancing years, and the consequent need for repose from active labour. The presentation was made on behalf of the subscribers by Arch. Seth-Smith, Esq., of Silvermere, Cobham, and the venerable recipient expressed his gratification at so kindly an appreciation of his efforts on behalf of bee-keepers. (fiimss and Jj^jjltes. [1424.] Beginners and the " Wells " Hives. —Having made a " Ford-Wells " hive, I should like to be beforehand in necessary ideas for management of same. We will assume that the brood-chamber is flourishing, and, in fact, waiting for supers or shallow frames as the case may be, and I ask — 1. Is it absolutely necessary to have queen-excluder zinc ? I don't mean on account of cost of same, which is very little, but some do not like using excluder zinc, as they say bees do not so readily go up as when there is none there. 2. I have a friend that has four ordinary hives, and he never uses excluder zinc, but he has good sections, and only on one occasion did he ever find the queen among the sections. But the " Eord-Wells " being a double hive con- taining two queens, I suppose the precau- tion would be the more necessary. — Jacques, Dorset. Reply. — One object we have in printing the above query in full is to show the need for those who venture to take in hand new or special systems connected with bee-keeping to make themselves more or less acquainted with the principles upon which such ''system" is based. This our correspondent obviously has not so far done, and we must once more state our opinion that the double-queen system, i.e., of working two queens in one hive, is not suited to novices in bee-keeping. In fact, it is nothing less than courting: failure to make a " Ford-Wells " or a " Wells," or any other hive adapted to the system without first acquiring the knowledge necessary for its proper management. Having said this, we reply to queries as follows : — 1. Without excluder zinc, the hive must be worked as two distinct stocks, and supered accordingly. 2. The use of excluder zinc is, in our opinion, a matter of choice when working for sections, but with shallow frames for extracting it is indispensable. [1425.] The Wells System.— Chemical Pro- perties of Honey. — 1. Is the "Wells" system on the whole growing in favour among bee- keepers ? 2. What are the chemical properties of honey ? 3. What are the best vessels in which to keep honey stored 1 Wooden I suppose absorb. 4. Do you advise Canadian feeder to be used in spring for weak stocks in frame-hives ?— Frank Smith, Stoneham, G-los., February 7. Reply. — 1. It is not easy to say. What we know of it is mainly gathered from what has appeared in our pages, and judged in this way the " system " seems to be very successful in the hands of careful [bee-beepers who are thoroughly up in the management and handling of bees— in fact, men like Mr. Wells himself. On the other hand, we do not con- sider it suitable for beginners, though some of them have done well with it, as their reports show. 2. The chemical equation of honey is as follows : — Dextrose, Cc H, 0 0, \ _p H ft Levulose, Cfi H12 O, J "~UlJ n^ u»> The constituent parts as under : — Water - 22-0 Crystalline (dextrose) . . 38-0 Vitreous (levulose) . 36 0 Mineral matter .. 0-2 Wax, pollen, &c. . 3-8 100-0 3. Earthenware or tin. 4. No. A slow feeder and soft candy is preferred, using both with weak stocks. (Kdtffts from the Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington, February 17. — Truly, this winter has been remarkable (thus far, at all events) by its mildness, so that the bees have not been many days con- tinuously in confinement. During the last fortnight here they have been out nearly every day, visiting their watering places, and some places not theirs, such as a water-butt used for household purposes, standing in a sunny, cosy spot. This watering-place had to be covered over to keep the bees out, and save them from drowning. I have examined a few stocks here and there, and find them well provisioned for the present. I was sorry to notice that Friend Brice, on page 12, speaks rather disparagingly of the Carniolans and 80 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 20, 1896. their crosses, his experience being quite con- trary to mine. I kept Ligurians for many years, hut after getting some pure white banded Carniolan queens I let the others gradually run out. Keferring to the question of old brood- combs versus new virgin-combs for extracting, I must say that I very much prefer new combs, or at least such as have never had brood ia them. I have had some of the latter in use every season for years past, and they are as good now as ever. — John Walton. METEOROLOGICAL SUMMARY. January, 1896. Locality, Stoke Prior, Worcestershire. Height above sea-level, 225 ft. Rainfall, 0-58 in. Greatest fall in 24 hours, 0-27 in. on the 24th. Rain fell on six days. Max. shade temp., 50° on 1st, 15th, 17th, and 25th. Min. temp., 20° on the 19th. Max. shade temp, at 9 a.m., 49° on the 1st. Min. temp, at 9 a.m., 20° on the 19th. Frosty nights, seventeen. Max. barometer, 30"7 on the 9th. Min. barometer, 2952 on the 14th. An unusually mild month. Bees flying nearly every day. Primroses out in full bloom the second week, and a crocus the third week. Barometer very high during the month. Stores in some of the hives getting low. — Percy Leigh, Beemount. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only oj personal interest will be answered in this column. Rev. F. W. Toms (N. Devon). — Transferring Combs from Large Frames into " Standards" — 1. With such combs as contain no brood, set a Standard frame on one to be trans- ferred, and pass a sharp knife round the inside so cutting the comb beneath that the piece when removed will fit tightly into the new frame when pressed. Tie it with a couple of narrow tapes passed round the comb and frame outside. After the bees have been on the combs a day or so the tapes may be removed. Reject all mis- shapen combs and those with drone-cells. With combs containing brood the greatest care must be taken to avoid chilling the larvse in the cells, as well as against damag- • ing the cappings of sealed cells. The trans- ferring must in the latter case be done indoors in a very warm room and the comb laid on soft warm flannel. 2. Foundation is fixed by running a little melted wax along the junction between the foundation and the wood of section, or it may be pressed into position with a warm flat-iron. Sections are now made with a split top-bar for reception of the foundation, and this renders fixing easy and simple. A. B. (Studley). — Uniting Bees in Double- stocked Hives. — If both lots of bees are weak they may be united by removing the division board. If, however, they have good queens, both may be nursed into pro- fitable stocks before the honey season begins. Should the hive contain frames, they might be left as at present, and worked on the " Wells " system by admitting the bees into a surplus chamber common to both lots. R. Roberts (Ainsdale). — Buying Second-hand Hives. — We find no trace of brood at all in the pieces of smashed-up comb received. When, therefore, in addition, the hives have been so thoroughly disinfected as proposed, there should be no risk in using them. A stock of bees distant one mile away may be removed at any time before active work begins in spring. G. Rooke (Salisbury). — Transferring Bees in Frame-hives. — If a new hive is prepared with its frames fitted with full sheets of brood foundation, and the old hive now containing the bees is set above this, the stock will transfer the brood-nest into the new hive as soon as room is required for breeding. To carry out this method of transferring in the most advantageous way, the old hive should not be set above the new one until such time as the population of the former is perceptibly increasing, say, at the end of March. Then prepare a covering — of American cloth, for preference — for frames of new hive, having a hole in centre about 6 in. square. Set the new hive on the old stand, then place the stock for transferring above, and pack the junction of both hives for warmth. Shielah (Brighton). — " Homocea" for Bee- stings.— Our correspondent writes of having personally proved this preparation to be "a wonderful remedy for bee-stings." Perhaps some other of our readers will have an opportunity of testing its efficiency in the coming season, and will report its effects. C. Wadland (Exeter).— The comb received is affected with foul brood, and, in view of this, it is perhaps fortunate that the bees have died. The frames, combs, and contents, including honey, should be burned, and the well disinfected before using again. The other stocks will need careful watching to see that they are healthy. J. R. Truss (Ufford Heath).— The address of the secretary British Bee-keepers' Associa- tion appears on page 71 of this issue, and also in reply to John A. Carrington, Junior, on page 70 last week. C. Marks (Kingsbridge).— Suspected Comb.— Comb received contains nothing worse than a few cells of mouldy pollen, which the bees will set right in due season. Feb. 27, 1896.1 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 81 (ftdftffriaL IJi&efc &t. "MUZZLING THE BEES." BEE-KEEPING AND THE DAILY PRESS. It has been our task more than once to offer a word of comment upon the unreliableness of reports which have appeared from time to time in the columns of the daily Press concerning bees and bee-keeping. Nor have we been unmindful of the assistance ren- dered to the pursuit, to which the Bee Journal is devoted, when articles have appeared tending to arouse public interest in, and sympathy for, a minor industry intended to afford help to a class sadly in need of assistance. It is, however, with the first-named tendency that we now feel impelled to deal, because of the evidence afforded by reports of a recent meeting in which bee-keeping is the subject dealt with. It would seem as if the high intelligence — apart from a simple common-sense view — possessed by Press-men as a body not seldom fails to display itself when " bees " are talked about. We admit that so purely tech- nical a subject as advanced bee-keeping is best left alone by those not conversant with it, but the pursuit has of late been favoured with much attention in the Press, and this tends very largely to increase the interest taken in it by the public. Consequently it becomes more than ever desirable that whatever is stated in print concerning bees should be as nearly correct and reliable as may be, otherwise harm and not good will be done to the craft by publicity. We write thus in view of the large number of press-cuttings received from various quarters within the last few days, all dealing with the " question " — very appropriately so-called — of " muz- zling bees." We do not, as a rule, care to occupy space in our columns by re- printing the amusing sallies of Press-men whose " line " is of the lively order, or of those who — to quote Dick Deadeye — "mean well, but they don't know.'1'' This particular question, however, has been so very " variously " handled in the Press — according to the extracts before us — as fco be misleading in the highest degree to the ordinary reader ; in fact, we confess to the danger of getting a bit " mixed " ourselves over them. The first cutting sent us was from the Newcastle Daily Leader, which says : — They are going to muzzle bees. At least, that is the impression we gather from the pro- ceedings of the annual meeting of the Surrey Bee-keepers' Association. The bees, it seems, have got rabies, or something like it, and, in place of ventiDg their wrath on the rearward abutments of ursuspecting schoolboys, have taken to biting or stinging each other. The result is that the disease, whatever it may be, is rapidly spreading, and the supply of honey is thereby threatened. The Board of Agri- culture has been appealed to in connection with the matter, but that department is at present too much engrosed in devising ways and means of relieving the starving landowner out of the surplus to devote any time to the misguided insects. Bee-keepers, therefore, propose to look after themselves, and Mr. Halsey, chairman of the Surrey County Council, sketched a plan of campaign. He announced that it is intended to muzzle the bees, though he did not inform his hearers which end of the busy insect was to be muzzled, and for the present the muzzling is only to be voluntary. Should the voluntary action fail, however, he is prepared to draft a short Act by means of which bees would be placed under the same laws as dogs, and muzzling would be made compulsory. Of course, it is eminently desirable that bee 3 suffering from hydrophobia should be pre- vented from careering over the country seeking whom they may devour, as it were, bat we imagine that the carrying out of such an order would be attended with considerable difficulty. Having got the muzzle placed upon the loaded end of the fiery untamed bee, how is it going to be kept there ? And then, how is a muzzled bee going to improve each shining hour, as he is in duty bound to do if he is not to lose his reputation ? The above, of course, comes within the " comic " line of treatment, and can be understood as such, but when we have leading morning journals like the Standard, Daily News, and Telegraph reporting the meeting referred to, we are on less safe ground. We learn from the Telegraph, that — Another and minuter branch of creation is also suffering from a malady which may or may not be akin to rabies. .At all events, it threatens to interfere with the supply of honey. It appears from the proceedings of the erst annual meeting of the Surrey Bee- keepers' Association, held at Kingston-on- Thames, on Saturday, that a mysterious disease is extremely prevalent among bees in the county, and the insects impart it to one 82 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 27, 1896. another by bites? The honorary secretary asked all" apiculturigts to take every step possible to stamp out the murrain, and the president, Mr. Halsey, chairman of the Surrey County Council, announced that it was in- tended, if possible, to muzzle the bses in order to get rid of the disease. For the present this could only be voluntary, as bee3 hitherto had not been the subject of legislation, but it was proposed to draft a measure to give them the honour of an Act of Parliament, if Lords and Commons were so disposed, under which a muzzling order for them would have the same authority as for dogs. The Board of Agri- culture had been approached on the matter, but was unable to find time to study it. The . difficulty will, of course, be to get the muzzles on the insects, and to keep them in the proper place. The reports of the Standard and Daily News are synonymous, and alto- gether in a serious vein, as under : — The first annual meeting of the Surrey Bee- keepers' Association was held on Saturday afternoon, at the County Hall, Kingston-on- Thames, Mr. E. J. Halsey, chairman of the Surrey County Council, presiding. Lord Onslow was elected president of the society, and Mr. St. John Brodrick, M.P., Mr. Buck- nill, Q.C., M.P., Mr. Skewes-Cox, M.P., Mr. C. H. Combe, M.P., and the Hon. H. Cubitt were among the vice-presidents. Mr. Jaconib Hood, the hon. secretary, in the course of a few remarks, said the disease among bees known as foul brood was rampant in Surrey, and it behoved every bee-keeper to work hard for its extermination. He was glad to notice that it bad been recognised by the Surrey County Council, and that they were in a fair way to stamp the disease out by legislation or otherwise. The Chairman said it was in- tended, if possible, to muzzle the bees, so that the disease to which reference had been made might be stamped out, and they hoped the Board of Agriculture would be induced to take prompt action in the matter. Mr. Wil- liam Welch said a committee of the British Bee-keepers' Association had seen the Secre- tary to the Board of Agriculture two or three times on this important matter, and had been received very sympathetically. That depart- ment had, however, so much work to do this session that they could not undertake to bring in a Bill at present. Beyond the repetition of the " muz- zling " order there seems nothing savour- ing of the " jokist " in the above, but the Evening Standard gives that particular specialist a turn, and accordingly we are informed that— The first annual meeting of the Surrey Bee- keepers' Association was a memorable event. It appears that the disease known as "foul brood " is playing havoc in the county. We all know the name of that infliction, and there are even persons here and there who can explain its mysteries. Among them is the hon. secretary of the Association. He has not only mastered the secrets of the plague, but, as becomes his honourable office, he has also divined a remedy. It may perhaps have been suggested by an order of the County Council which has been agitating Surrey for the last few months. Anyhow, the gentleman declares that " it is intended, if possible, to muzzle the bees.'' These words of caution, " if possible," seem very judicious to the uninitiated. They cannot begin to fancy how the operation will be performed. Fleas have been harnessed, no doubt, and have drawn vehicles up and down a tea-tray. Popular legend asserts that they have even fired guns, but it confuses them perhaps with canaries, a much larger bird which performs occasionally. Bees are ever so much bigger than fleas, but the head is more difficult to manipulate than the legs. And the tail has to be considered. It would be best, perhaps, to begin by muzzling the tails; experi- ments might then be tried upon the head. Then how many bees are there in a hive ? It might be exaggerating to say a million or two; but there are quite enough at least to furnish a whole series of exercises in arithmetic for the Surrey Board Schools, when the time needed, the number of hon. secretaries and others to be employed, the cost of muzzles, &c, come to be estimated. Bee-keepers, like other people, must, of course, put up with the poking of a little harmless fun like the above at their expense ; but our complaint, in this case, is that it is so exceedingly hard for general readers, who are not bee-keepers, to see exactly what part of the business is to be taken seriously and just where the joke comes in. Moreover, if those who report the proceedings do not them- selves know where to draw the line, why don't they say so, and hand over their " copy " to the funny man for treat- ment ? Anyway there are sound reasons for thinking that some discrimination is needed, seeing that even bee-keepers themselves may be led astray along with papers not given to either frivolous badinage or comic rjars. We, therefore, close our quotations with the following communication from a reader of this ■ Journal — Bristol, February 20, 1896. Dear Sirs,— In the Christian World of to-day's date appears the following : — "A mysterious disease has broken out among the bees in Surrey, and threatens to affect the Feb. 27, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 83 honey harvest. It is akin to rabies, for the insects impart it to one another by bites ! " Can you throw any light upon it ? A reply in your next issue will oblige. — Yours, C. H. Our observations would be incomplete without some reference to the origin of the — shall we call it " muzzling " joke. And we are, fortunately, able to state exactly what took place, our information coming direct from a gentleman who was present. It appears that the Chairman, in the course of his remarks, mentioned the active part taken by the Surrey County Council in obtaining protection against rabies, by the recent muzzling order for dogs ; and — referring to the protection sought by bee-keepers against foul brood — jocularly observed, " We are now going to muzzle the bees." Our readers may guess the rest, and we hope this state- ment will allay this " storm in a tea- cup." BRISTOL AND DISTRICT B.K.A. The Bristol and District Bee-keepers' Asso- ciation held its annual meeting and soiree on the 15th inst., at Stuckey's Restaurant, Wine- street. About 50 members and friends sat down to tea, under the presidency of Capt. J. B. Butler, after which the business portion of the proceedings began. Mr. James Brown presented the seventh annual report, which stated that the result of the year's work was decidedly satisfactory, and the committee heartily congratulated the members upon the vitality and growth of the association. The present membership stood at 260, and there were 233 names on the subscription list last year. The total number of members who had joined the association that year Avas 81 ; but they had to record the resignation of 21 on account of leaving the neighbourhood, &c. The committee regretted having to report a small debit balance due to the treasurer of £1. 3s. 9d. Their thanks were again due to the Bedminster and Clevedon Technical Education Committee for the grant of £5 towards the furtherance of their work. Lectures had been given at Knowle and Chew Magna, and others were being arranged for. The report having been adopted, and votes of thanks given to the president and retiring officers, LTdy Smyth was re-elected president, and a number of influential gentlemen appointed vice- presidents. Miss Dawe was re-elected hon. secretary, in conjunction with Mr. J. Brown. Miss Dawe was also appointed treasurer. The proceedings were interspersed with music, and an enjoyable evening was passed. — (Communicated). FOUL BROOD AND ITS TREATMENT. (Continued from page 74.) NATURE OF FOUL BROOD. It was at one time supposed that only the brood or larvae were attacked by the disease, hence the name " foal brood." But Hilbert's investigations in 1875 enabled him to state that it was not only a disease of the brood, but that the mature bees — sometimes includiug the queen — were liable to be affected by it. In consequence of this the disease is sometimes called " Bee-pest." In a healthy hive the brood in the comb3 lies in compact masses5, and the larvae are plump, of a pearly whiteness, and when quite young lie curled up at the bottom of the cells much in the form of a C. When a hive is attacked and the disease begins to develop, the affected larva commences to move unnaturally ; instead of lying curled up, and being plump in appearance, it becomes extended horizon- tally in the cell and has a flibby aspect, which indicates death. The beautiful pearly white- ness of the healthy larva now changes to a pale yellow colour, afterwards turning to brown ; then the dead larva begins to decompose. Although bees remove ordinary chilled or dead brood from the hive, they do not usually attempt to carry out that which has died from disease, except under conditions which we shall presently mention. As a consequence, the decomposing larva eventually shrivels up, and nothing remains but a dry brown scale, which adheres to the side of the cell. We would here note that chilled brood should not be mistaken — as it very frequently is— for foul brood. In the former the dead larva? turn first grey, and afterwards become nearly black (never brown, as with foul brood). The dead larvae are also generally removed by the bees. When the larva? die after the cells have been capped over, cells here and there will be found with cappings indented and darker than those of healthy brood. The cappings, too, are frequently perforated with irregular holes, as seen in the illustration, fig. 1 . On removing the capping from a cell and inserting the end of a match, the latter, on withdrawal, will have adhering to it, as a putrid, ropy, tenacious, coffee-coloured mass, all that remains of the dead larva, often (but not always) emitting a most disagreeable stench. Eventually this mass dries up, and nothing but a dark-brown scale remains. Later ou the bees become inactive, to a great extent losing their desire to fly abroid, and numbers will be seen fanning at the hive mouth, from which in very bad cases the disagreeable odour mentioned is emitte d, the smell in extreme cases being noticeable at some distance from the hive. life history of Bacillus alvei. It will only be necessary to give a brief out. line of the life history of Bacillus alvei to 84 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 27, 1896. enable us to understand somewhat of the nature of this disease. Bacillus alvei is a pathogenic or disease- producing micro-organism, in form cylindrical or rod-shaped, and increasing by splitting or fissuration. The rods increase in length with- out growing thicker, and at a certain point divide and separate in two, to again increase, divide, and separate. Sometimes, in suitable nourishing media, the lengthening of the rod is not accompanied by separation, but only by repeated division into longer or shorter chains of bacillus-filaments, or leptothrix. The rods are also provided with a flagellum at one end, suffers no damage at that temperature. Freezing also kills the bacilli, but not the spores. In the same way chemical reagents, completely destructive of the bacilli, do not affect the vitality of the spores. Carbolic acid, phenol, thymol, salicylic acid, naphthol beta, per- chloride of mercury, and many other substances, even when considerably diluted, prevent the growth of bacilli, but have no effect whatever upon the spores. The great resistance of spores to high and low temperatures, to acids and other substances, is due to their being encased within a thick double membrane. There are certain chemical substances which Fig. 1. — Foul Brood in an advanced stage. and are endowed with the power of locomotion. Under certain conditions bacilli have the power of forming spores, in which case a speck appears at a particular point of the bacillus, which gradually enlarges and develops into an oval, highly refractive body, thicker but shorter than the original rod. The spore grows at the expense of the protoplasm of the cell, which in time disappears, setting free the spore. The latter formation closes the cycle of the life history of the bacillus. The spores — repre- senting the seeds — retaiu the power of germi- nating into bacilli when introduced into a suitable nourishing medium, and at a proper temperature, even after tli9 lapse of long periods of time. At germination the spore first loses its brilliancy, swells up, and even- tually its membrane bursts in the middle. The inner part of the spore then projeats through the opening, and grows to a new rod. The spores also possess the power of enduring adverse influences of various kinds without injury to their vitality, so far as ger- mina'iog is concerned, even if subjected to influences fatal to bacilli themselves. The latter are destroyed at the temperature of boiling water, while the spore apparently evaporate at the ordinary temperature of the hive, and whose vapours, while not actually killing the bacilli, arrest their increase or growth. Amoogst such substances are carbolic acid, phenyl or creolin, lysol, eucalyptus, cam- phor, naphthalene, and several others. If a healthy larva be taken, and a small quantity of the juice from its body spread on a glas3 slide be placed under the microscope, we shall see a number of fat globules and blood discs (Fig. 2), amongst which molecules are in constant motion. If, on the other hand, a young larva diseased, but not yet dead, be treated as above, its juices will, when sub- jected to a similar examination, be seen to contain a great number of active rods swim- ming backwards and for wards amongst the blood discs and fat globules, which latter, as will be noticed (Fig. 3), are fewer than those in the juice3 of a healthy larva. We shall also find, as the disease makes rapid progress, chains of bacilli — the leptothrix form — becoming common. In Fig. 4 we have a representation of a later stage of the disease when the larva is dead and decomposing. Here the fat and albuminoids will be found disappearing, and the bacilli assuming the spore condition. In Feb. 27, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 85 Fig. 5 we see the disease in its latest stage, when the whole rotten mass has become coffee- coloured, or has dried to a scale. Blood-discs, fat globules, and molecular movements have disappeared, only a few bacilli are seen, and at last, as the nourishing material becomes exhausted, only spores remain. It will now be understood that, owing to the great resistance of the spores, chemical substances have no effect at all upon them unless admi- nistered under such conditions as would destroy the bees. From this it will be seen how great is the difficulty in curing foul brood unless the disease is attacked in its earliest stages. It has previously been stated that adult bees are some- times attacked by the disease. To prove this, it is only necessary to take a weakly bee on the point of death, and examine what remain of its fluids under the microscope, when a large number of active bacilli will be found. Such bees leave the hive to die, whereas the in- fected larva- remain in the cells, unless disinfectants to arrest decomposi- tion are used, in which case the bees remove them from the hives. CAUSE OF THE DISEASE AND MEANS OF ITS PROPAGATION. Although miny theories have been advanced, the causes of the disease are not yet quite known. Experience has, however, plainly shown that with foul brood— a? in all epidemic diseases— the weak, sickly, and badly nourished are attacked and become centres of infection to others. So rapidly does the disease spread by contagion that in one season, unless precautions are taken, a whole neighbourhood may become seriously affected. Fig. 4. — Later Stage. Comb3 which have contained foul brood retain the spores. The queen lays eggs in the cells and the workers deposit their honey and pollen in them. Both honey and pollen in this way become vehicles for the transport of the disease to the larv;e in the process of feeding these by the nurse - bees. The workers in endea- vouring to clean the combs scatter the spores, which may also be driven out of the hive by the current of air pro- duced by the fanners at the entrance, in their endeavour to rid the dwelling of the foul odours. As colonies be- come weak, bee3 from healthy hives rob them, and thus carry off the germs of the disease along with their ill-gotten gains. Bees in straw skeps often die with- out the owners knowing why, and as these skeps are frequently allowed to remain on their stands, in the hope of catching a stray swarm, the result may be imagined. Formerly, when few bees were kept, and these in the same garden, and swarms seldom sold out of the neighbourhood, it was possible to keep foul brood within bounds by destroying the bees. Now, however, the facilities for its pro- pagation are greatly increased by the large traffic there is in bees. The bee-keeper even may himself be a cause of spreading the pest by indiscriminately manipu- lating first diseased and then healthy hives- without taking proper precautious to disinfect himself or his appliances. Bee-keepers also, who have not succeeded with their bees in consequence of foul brood, have been known to sell by auction hives in which the bees have died, without the slightest attempt at disinfection on their part, the purchasers being frequently beginners who have no idea of the danger they are incurring. {Concluded in next issue.) . — Last Stage. 86 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Feb. 27, 1896. tymm$mxk\xtt The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. Aro notice trill be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. Me do not undertake to return rejected communications. Communications relating to the literary department reports of Associations, Shoivs, Meetings, Echoes, Queries Books for Review, &c, must be addressed only to " The Editors of the ' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William- Street, Strand, London, W.C." All business' communi- cations relating to Advertisements, er. — " Wells " Hives. — As seen in illustration, the lower or brood - chamber is fitted with standard frames, and for a manufacturer to send it out with a shallow- frame brood- chamber is an error, to say the least, which should be rectified. It should, however, be borne in mind that Mr. Wells in his own practice is perforce compelled to enlarge the brood- chambers of his hives because of their being so made as to hold only seven standard frames in each compartment. He therefore in early summer — when the queens require additional room for ovipositing — adds an equal number of shallow-frames overhead to make the brood-chamber of suitable size. But with ten standard frames in each brood- nest no shallow-frames are required. If, as stated, the lower chamber, with fixed porches, is fitted with shallow-frames in the hive sent you, and the mistake be not rectified, we should remove the shallow- frames, set on the " eke" to increase the depth of lower chamber, and fill the latter with standard frames. This will overcome the difficulty at once, and the shallow-frames may be used for surplus honey. Novice (Riverhead). — Combed Sections Damaged by Mice. — We should not use these again for storing honey in. The fact of the centre being eaten out of most of them by mice would probably not only make the comb offensive to the bees, but to consumers of the honey in combs so dealt with. The melting-pot is the best use to make of for such combs. W. S. (Preston) — Granulated Honey for Exhibition. — "White patches" in jars of granulated honey are certainly a blemish in an exhibit, but if shown only in the " col- lection " class it is not a very serious draw- back, provided the flavour, colour, and " grain '' be good. There are no means of getting rid of the " white patches " except by melting. E. Hyles (Essex). — Sample sent is not Porto Rico sugar, the latter being a brown raw- sugar. That received is nearly white. C. Stellingwerff (Hasselt, Belgium). — Hole's Swarm-catcher. — Full description, with illus- tration, of this appliance appears in Bee Journal of May 30, 1895, which can be had from this office for l|d. in stamps. S. S. N. Bingley (Surrey).— The ''British Bee-keepers' Guide-Book," of which a new edition is now in preparation, will furnish all the information required. Meantime you might peruse the handhook for Cot- tagers "Modern Bee-keeping,'' published by the B.B.K.A., and obtainable from this office, post-free, for seven stamps. Jacques (Dorset). — The " Wells System." — Mr. Wells ha? published a pamphlet on his system of managing bees, which may be had for 6id. from the author, Geo. Wells, Aylesford, Kent. Pollen (J. O. M.).— You cannot entirely prevent storage of pollen in surplus cham- bers, but it may be minimised by using excluder-zinc, and so keeping the shallow frames free from brood. " Teaching Bee-keeping in- Schools " and sevrral " Replies " arc in type, and will appear next weeTc. March 5, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 91 dfcdiforial, §jWte», kt USEFUL HINTS. Weather. — Excepting for an occa- sional night-frost, all traces of which usually disappear within an hour or so of daybreak, there has still been no winter worth speaking of as such. Ten days ago a change seemed imminent, and we began to fancy that frost, so long delayed, was "making for us" at last. A bitterly cold wind, with half an inch of ice formed during the night, betokened a wafting eastward of the " freeze," which — as reported from Chicago on February 20 — caused the mercury to drop down to 14 deg. Fahr. below zero. This means forty-six degrees of frost ; the intensity of the cold, we read, causing many persons to be frozen to death. Our touch of cold, however, was a very gentle one, and — supposing the " wintry wind " to have travelled across the Atlantic — its icy breath was appreciably softened on the journey hitherward. It soon passed off, too, leaving us again, so far as weather, in a condition of abnormal mildness for the time of year. As an instance of this we may quote a few lines from a correspondent, located so far away in the northern Highlands as Tain, in Ross-shire, about 050 miles north of London, who, writing on the 18th ult., says: — "We are having delightful weather here for the last three weeks. I had a look through some of my hives last week, and found as many as four frames of brood in a hive, with lots of young bees moving over them." We can imagine that many bee-keepers in the warmest parts of the south of England would be glad to have their hives with " four frames of brood, and lots of young bees " in them before the middle of February. After the Winter. —Apart from the possible risk — which none must ignore — of frost still to come, the general condi- tion of bees at date of writing, so far as accounts inform us, is exceptionally favourable. Indeed, it is a long time since so many apiaries were reported as having come through the winter practi- cally free from loss. Not only so, but brood is being raised freely, even though the actual opportunities for pollen gather- ing have not been so frequent as the mildness of the season would suggest. To read of bees so forward as those of our Scotch correspondent, referred to above, is, indeed, remarkable ; but, while affording cause for gratification at the prospect of "rousing stocks "for the early honey-flow, it should not be forgotten how great is the need for watchfulness should a sudden cold snap occur in April or even in May, as has been known ere now to the bee-keeper's cost. Old hands will seldom be caught napping on this point, but less experienced bee-men must be wary, and allow no leak from the warmth of brood-nests, if care will pre- vent it. They should possess a trifle of the watchfulness of the small market- gardeners of the famous " early potato " district of Wallasey, in Cheshire, who have been known to get up in the middle of the night and take the blankets off their beds to screen the tender foliage of the young potatoes from sudden and un- expected frost ! No " chilled brood " allowed there, anyway. Comb - building by Nuclei. — An inquiry received the other day as to the possibility of dispensing in a great degree with the free use of comb-foundation on account of expense, gives us the oppor- tunity of quoting a plan of doing this Avhich appears in the American Bee Journal just to hand. A correspondent of that paper, writing to Mr. G. M. Doolittle, tells of having heard that he (Mr. D.) secures worker-combs by having them built in nucleus colonies instead of buying foundation. In reply the latter gives his plan in nearly the following words : — The bees used in building the combs referred to are generally those left with the queen after uniting two weak colonies, as I usually do just before the honey harvest begins. I thus make up a strong body of workers able to work to the best advantage, the doubled colony giving a good yield of honey, while the surplus queen and a few of her bees form the nucleus which does the comb- building : — ■ Mr. Doolittle details his plan as follows : — ■ In unitiDg, all the bees from hive No. 1 are taken to No. 2, except those which adhere to the frame which the queen is on and the sides of the hive, so that hive No. 1 only contains 92 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 5, 1896. one comb of brood, the queen, and the bees which adhere to the hive. An empty comb is now inserted by the side of the only comb left, and a division-board adjusted to make a hive holding just two combs. When the bees from the united colony fly, the old bees taken on the frames of comb placed in No. 2 return to No. 1, so that we have the two combs there, well crowded with bees. This causes the que en to lay rapidly in the empty comb given, which will be filled with eggs in two or three days, at which time I put an empty frame between the two full ones. As this little colony has no desire to swarm — or for anythiog else, save to increase its number of worker-bees as fast as possible— they go right to work and fill this frame with as nice and straight worker-comb as ever was made where foundation is used ; and tbi->, too, when colonies haviDg no such desire, will be doing comparatively nothing at gathering honey, or anything else. In about a week this comb is completed, when it is taken out and given to some colony that needs just such a frame of comb and brood, while another empty frame is given, which is again taken out when filled, and thus we keep on to the end of the season, when several of these little colonies are united, so as to form one good colony for winter. The extra queens are sold or used in replacing poor one?. In this way I have got as many as fifteen beautiful worker-combs built by one of these little colonies in one season, and all done by the bees which hatched from the two combs they had to start with. California Honey Plants. — It may be remembered that in a leader on page 61 of our issue for February 13 last, some comments appeared on the subject of Foreign v. British honeys. We took exception to the statement made in a Liverpool newspaper by a firm of produce brokers in that city, who, in extolling the superiority of Californian honey, said, among other " nice " things regarding it, " The delicate flavour of Californian honey is due to the heather, clover, and other flowers which abound there upon the hills. Narbonne honey obtains its high reputation from similar sources. Scotch bee-keepers also convey their hives of bees to the mountains during the heather blossom season." Now, as we stated at the time, " heather honey " and " clover honey " are respectively unknown as being pro- duced in that part of the world. How- ever, as some readers may wish to possess an authoritative statement on the subject we append a list of Californian honey plants, as given by Professor Cook, the well-known writer on bees, who is also himself a bee-keeper in that State : — White sage. — Audibertia polystachia. Ball (or black) sage. — Audibertia stachyoicles. „ Palmieri. ,, Clevelandi. Blue phacelia. — Phacelia tcnaceti folia. Small blue phacelia. — Phacelia circinitrix. Wild buckwheat. — Erigonum fasiculatum. Californian cl jver. — Hosachia glabra. The last named, though commonly called Californian clover, is not a clover at all, nor does it belong to the family of clovers (tri/olium). In fact, the Hosackia belongs to the Lotas family. Professor Cook also says : — " The white sage takes the place of white clover as a honey plant." FOUL BROOD AND ITS TREATMENT. Written for the Quarterly Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England. BY THOS. W. COWAN, F L.S , F.G S. (Concluded from page 85 ) METHOD OF TREATMENT. The superiority of the modern frame-hive over the straw skep is here strikingly apparent. The latter was as a se ded bo k to its owner, who had no means of detecting the presence of foul brood except by outward sigas, and these, as already pointed out, are only mani- fested when the disease is in its last and most virulent stage, at which time any treatment short of total destruction is entirely hopeless. The owner of a movable frame-hive, on the contrary, can, by the facilities it affords for examining the combs, at once detect the disease in its earliest stages, and adopt measures for arresting its progress or for stamping it out altogether. Unfortunately the disease is seldom noticed on its first appearance, but it has nearly always to be dtalt with when mere or less spores are already in the hive. If, on examining combs, to all appearance healthy, with brood compact and larva? bright and plump, we find here and there a cell with young larvae moving uneasily, or extended horizontally instead of being curled up, and changing to a pale yellow colour, we at once detect the first symptoms of foul brood. The further progress of the disease can, at this stage, be arrested by feeding the bees with syrup, to which three grains of naphthol beta are added to every pound of sugar used. This is employed by the nurse-bees in preparing food for the larva?. We can further assist the bees by putting naphthaline or eucalyptus in the hive. The btes then usually remove the dead larvae. Apart, however, from experienced bee- keepers or trained expert?, very few are fortu- March 5, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 93 nate enough to detect the disease at such an early stage, or to effect a cure so easily, and it becomes advisable to describe the method of procedure in ordinary cases — that is, when the combs have irregular patches of brood, with sunken and perforated cappings to the cells (Fig. 1, p. 84) containing the coffee- coloured mass inside. If the colony l.e weak, destruction of bees, combs, frames, and quilts, together with ihorough disinfection of hives, is by far the best course to pursue. AVe tku3 destroy the spores, and so remove the source of infection. If, on the contrary, the colony be still strong, the bees may be preserved by adopting the following method:— An artificial swarm is made of the bees, which are then placed in a straw skep and fed on syrup medicated with naphthol beta. The frames, combs, and quilts are then burned. The hive is disinfected by being either steamed or scrubbed with boiling water and soap, and then painted over with a solution of carbolic acid (one put of Calvert's No. 5 carbolic acii to two parts of water), and when the smell has disappeared it will be ready for use. The bees are allowed to remain in the skep for forty-eight hours, by which time the honey they muy have taken with them, and which might contain spore-*, will have been consumed, and the diseased bees will have died oft". They are then shaken from the skep into a clean frame-hive furnished with six frames, fitted with full sheets of comb foundation, and are fed with medicated syrup for a few days longer. The skep used as their temporary home should be burnt. All such work should be done in the evening when the bees have ceased flying for the day, to avoid chance of robbing.* The bee-keeper in his endeavours to rid his apiary of foul brood must also ra;se to its proper standard the lowered vitality of the bees, which enabled the disease germs to get a footing. This he must do by keeping the bees strong wiih yonng and prolific queens, good wholesome food, cleanliness, and proper ventilation. Foul brood is extremely contagious, and, being preva'ent in so many places, it is advis- able to adopt preventive measures against infection. Naphthaline in I alls is generally used, and two of them are split in half, and placed on 1 he floor-boird of the hive in the corner farthest from the entrance. The tem- perature of the hive causes the naphthaline to evaporate. All syrup used for feeding should also be medicated with naphtbol beta. Clothes, appliances, and hands must be washed with caibolic soap, and other articles disinfected by spiaying with a solution of one ounce Calvert's No. 5 caibolic acid in twelve ounces of water. * Fcr other methods of treatment the reader may be referred to the writer's British Bee- keepers' Guide - hovlc, published by Messrs. Houleton & Sons, Paternoster-buildings, E.C. It was formerly thought that honey was the only source of infection, so that, if bees were starved untT they had got rid of the honey carried by them from the diseased hive, a cure would be effected. We now know that this starvation method, good as far as it goes, has always failed from the fact of its not embrac- ing disinfection of hives and appliances. The spores, which were not destroyed, and whose vitality was only latent, were possibly lurking in hidden places to be some day brought into contact with suitable nourishing material, when they would again start into growth, and thus the disease constantly broke out. From what has been said it will be seen that unless great pre coitions are taken it is very difficult to get rid of the disease. It thus becomes obvious that those who fail to realise the danger of infection, and who will not take proper means of ridding their apiaries of foul brood, or < f preventing its introduction, are a rial danger to the industry. If foul brood were under Government inspection, and all tad cases promptly dealt with by destruction, the disease could soon be stamped out. This is what the British Bee- keepers' Association have asked the Board of Agriculture to bring about, and by this means the intlustry would receive an impetus which would benefit not only bee-keepers, but a'so — to a far greater extent — farmers and fruit- growers— Fowcy, Cornwall, December, 1895. ABOUT OUR BEES. BY HENRY W. BRICE. (Continued, from page 75.) VII. Practical. How, when, and where, to commence keep- ing bees is a question which I suppose most of my readers have c:nsidered at some time ; and to properly grasp all that is involved, its three divisions or aspects must be considered separately, and I shall therefore begin with the important " How " to start ? The majority of failures to keep bees successfully arise from not making a fair and proper start. This necessitates some acquaintance with the theo- retical side of the pursuit, which can only be gained by the careful perusal of a good standard woik on bees. HaviDg mastered the salient points of this, purchase one hive, to hold standard frames, and a few of the most essential appliances enumerated on p. 74, viz.: a smoker, bee-veil, frames and foundation. Learn the use of each and how to handle them; then, and not till then — buy a stock or swarm of bees, a swarm for preference, and when these are comfortably located in the garden earnestly set to work and master the practical details of this part of the subject, bearing in mind all through the preliminary stages of acquiring bee- knowledge to " go slow " so far 94 THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 5, 1896. as taking more work on hand than you cin manage well. Take especial care also to avoid an initial mistake when it comes to buying the bees. Disease is so rampant all over the country that no tyro should buy stocks without either the advice of some one able to give an opinion on the purchase, or a guarantee from the vendor that the bees are in a thoroughly healthy and prospering state, possessing a good queen and strong in numbers, and on good workable frames of comb. Under no circumstances should bees in skeps be purchased without thorough examination. Indeed, the safest purchase for a beginner is a prime swarm in May from a reliable dealer. A visit to a be:- keeper of repute is most helpfu', as is also a visit to a honey show, where bee-tent lectures and manipulations are given. This will teach the observant more in one hour than a month's groping about, so to speak, in the darkness of one's novitiate. Next comes the " when" to start ; and an important part of the question it is. There are, however, two periods only in the year when bee-keeping should be commenced, v'.z , spring and autumn. April is the spring month to commence with if a stock be bought, and for a swarm, as early in May as it can be purchased ; August and September being the best autumn months. Bees should be left almost entirely alone in the early spring or until the beginning of March, by which time ail danger of harm from undue interference will have passed. " Where" to keep bee3 is the last part of this question, and I may answer — anywhere! if forage is available within a mile of the hives. In all our rural and semi-rural districts bees may be kept. In these islands many of the very best districts have but few bees. Tons cf honey are wasted annually simply because there are rot sufficient bees to gather it, and thousands of pounds sterling are lost to our cottagers and other dwellers in agricultural districts, solely for the want of a little enter- prise and trouble entailed in keeping & few stocks of bees on intelligent lines. Of course, every district will not give 100 lb. per hive, but there are scores of places where 30 lb. to 40 lb. can be gathered, per hive. In short, there are very few places out- side our large industrial centres where bees cannot be kept with profit, to say nothing of the pleasurable side of the question which is an item of itself not in any way to be despised. vi i r. HOW AND WHEN TO MANIPULATE BEES. To become a successful bee-keeper a certain amount of aptitude is necessary, and this is chiefly displayed in the absence of nervous- ness or roughness in manipulating. All the smokers and means of protecting are useless if confidence in oneself and aptne«3 to cany out the operation are absent. A great portion of these two requirements, it is true, may be acquired by practice, and as experience is gained ; much a'so depends on the time chosen for manipulating bees. A fine morning shortly before noon is a good time, as the field-workers are then too busy to give attention to trifles, and are much less likely to volunteer an attack than earlier or later in the day. Having the smoker alight and the bee- veil on, take your place at the back of the stock to be examined ; quietly lift off the roof and remove all quilts but the one next the frames. Having ascertained that the smoker will "smoke," gently raise one corner of the quilt, and give a puff or two a little into tne opening, then gradually lift the quilt right along the frame-ends so as to expose just a little of the combs ; a puff or two of smoke from one end to the other will cause the bees to become alarmed and to run down, replace the raised portion of the quilt for a minute, then steadily peel it off, giving a little more smoke if necessary, but not otherwise over and not on to the frames as they are exposed. To> much smoke often upsets the bees. Run the eye over the frames, and a fair estimate can be formed whether or not it is advisable to pro- ceed further. If the bees boil over and set up a hissing noise close carefully down again and try them again next day. If, on the con- trary, they seem to take but little notice of the interruption, quietly remove the end frame and dummy, and place them in a box— made to hold standard frames — which should be at hand for the purpose. This precaution is necessary for fear of harm to the queen, if she chanced to be upon the frame lifted out and it was S3t on the ground. If the object is to find the queen, do not at first waste time in looking for her on the first frame, but proceed to take out the next one, grasp it firmly by the " lugs " of top-bar, draw it towards you to separate it well from the next frame, and raise it carefully up till level with the eyes. Examine deliberately the side in front of you — always keeping a watchful eye on the brood and a look out for disease. If qu?en be not seen, lower the right hand end until the left i3 directly above it, then turn the frame so as to bring the opposite side round, lower tbe left hand to its original position, and examine. By reversing this action the frame is got into its original position for returning to the hive, close to the side nearest the operator. Proceed in this way with the rest of the frames, always drawing each one apart before lifting. Never forget to turn the frame over exactly in the way mentioned when examining combs or on some warm day when turning the frame over, the comb, bees, and brood, will break out and drop on the ground from sheer weight and the softness of the wax at the time. In all manipulating do what is wanted as speedily as may be consistent with gentleness ; if stung don't cry out and drop the frame ; bear the little prick of pain without desiring to at once " smash " the bee inflicting it, and when the March 5, 1896. j THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 95 frame is replaced scrape the sting out wiih a finger nail, and apply a remedy if thought necessary. Having completed the examina- tion, replace all frames and the dummy in their original position. This done, take the quilt in both hand?, and beginning at one end, slide it along the frame top?, pushing the bees forward as it passes along t*ie bars. Thus no bees are crushed, and those remaining outside speedily take wing for the hive entrance. When all quilts are replaced, the hive is closed down. Experience proves that at most seasons bees (not queenless) can be successfully handle I with but few stings, except when " robbing '' is the order of the day. At such times, if either of the latter states exist, all bees are cross, and those queenles3 the worst cf all. Bees may be shaken off a frame by a smart downward jerk over the hive in mid-air, but if honey is just being gathered it shakes out of the frame like water, and often makes a mess, which attracts robbers. I prefer using a goose-feather and brushing the bees off on to the tops of frames still in the hive. Do not, however, brush or shake the frame the queen is on for fear of injuring her. — Thornton Heath. (To be continued'. BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' CIATION. ASSO- ANNUAL MEETING AND CONVERSAZIONE. We would remind our readers of the annual meeting of the British Bee-keepers' Associa- tion, which takes place in the Board-room of the R.S.P.C.A., 105, Jermyn-street, at 4 p.m., on Friday, the 13th inst., the Baroness Burdttt Coutts, President, in the chair. The first quarterly conversazione for the j ear will a'so be held at 6 o'clock in the evening of the same day. We hope to see a goodly muster of members on the occasion, as the meeting is likely to be a very interesting one. NOTTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The annual general meeting of the Notts Bee-keepers' Association was held at the People's Hall, Nottingham, on February 22. Viscount St. Vincent (president) in the chair, and among the good attendance were : — Messrs. G. Hayes, P. Scattergood, Herroi, Glew, Wootton, Marriott, Wood, McKinnon, Richmond, Raven, Forbes, Baguley, Rawson, Riley, Meadows, Puttergill, Newton, Rev. J. S. Wright, &c. The Chairman, in briefly opening the pio- cec dings, remarked that that was the first time since he had been chairman at their annual meeting that the association had a balance on the right side. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and adopted, The Hon. Secretary (Mr. A. G. Pugh) read the annual report, which, after remarking as to the season of 1895, and dealing with membership and income for the past year, went on to say : — It was proposed to give lectures on bee-keeping during next month at East Leake, Collingham, East Bridgford, Under- wood, &c. Tnat scourge of bee-keepers, ';foul brood," had received considerable atten- tion at the hands of the Council of the British Bee-keepers' Association, and it was reported that proposed legislation dealing with the subject was making good progress. Their experts visited ninety-nine members' apiaries during the season, and did not report any great increase of the pest in Notts. The report, along with balance-sheet, which showed a ba'aice in the hands of the treasurer of £1. 19s. 6d.,was adopted. On the proposition of Mr. Pugh, Viscount St. Vincent was re-elec:ed president. Sergeant McK:nnoa was elected to the committee. The sub-committee on technical education were re elected. Mr. Geo. Hayes (Beeston) was elected secreta-y by ballot, Mr. Pugh having resigned his dual po t of hon. secretary and treasurer ; he, however, agreed to meet members' special wish, and accepted position of hon. treasurer. Tea was afterwards partaken of, after which a conversazione took place, at which Mr. P. Scattergood read an instructive paper upon "Foul Brood." A discussion followed, and the proceed'ngs were brought to a close by the usual prize dnwing (for which a valuable col- lection of appliances had been provided), included a splendid "Wells7' hive and an "XL all " hive presented by the noble Presi- dent, Viscount St. Vincent. — ■(Communicated}. The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and add?'esses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. H e do not undertake to return rejected communications. CELL AND COMB STRUCTURE. [2435.] Long before ever I became the ardent beekeeper I now am, my mind had been filled with admiration and amazement at the marvellous beauty and practical utility, from all points of view, presented by the cells and honeycomb of the ever-wonderful hive- bee. So seemingly — for it is not so actually — symmetrical and perfect. So " fearfully and wonderfully " made for the accomplishment of the end to be gained. Such economy of space and material, combined with such strength and capacity. How was it made ? Why did the bees prefer the hexagonal shape to any other 1 Such books as I could then obtain informed me that the cells were purposely so shaped by the bees — who were the greatest rnathe- 96 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 5, 1896. ruaticians ever known — for the object of com- bining the aforesaid qualities, and such was the extravagant bee- worship manifested that oae was almost led to believe that these insects went about with rule and compa?s besides indulging in the most terribly abstruse mathe- matical calculations. Later I learnt if the solitary and semi-sccial bees, and of the wonderful nests and cells made by them in Avails, boards, and underground. The s'ruc- ture of the nest and cells of the Humble Bee (Bombus terrcstris) caused me to ask myself the question, " Why should these differ so much from their relations on the Apis mdlifica side?" Why should the former be like little bladders with a circuhr entrance while the latter are hexagonal with a pyramidal ba-e. "Why should the cells of the solitary " mason," " carpenter,'' and other bees be round 1 Here I had to leave it, the bent of my mind and studies beiDg more of a literary than s:ientific natu e. But after many years a c'lance ramble in Cheshire made me accjuaintel with a cottager who possessed a number of straw skeps, and being quickly inoculated with tli3 bee fever, I took steps for tin speedy posses- sion of one of the colonies. Then began the reading of bee literature once more, together with all the hooks on practical apiculture I could lay hold of. When the following year the swarms " came off," and ths transference to bar-framed hives began, the cell structure and comb-building resumed its eld fascination over me, and I " wanted to know you know '' all about it. In all the books I had read, the good old " mathematical theory " was " trotted out,'' and the Maraldi and Kcenig calculation appealed to as clinching and incontrovertible. (I wonder bow many times, and in how many books, I have met with this celebrated story.) Darwin's observations on the subject— iu his " Origin of Species '' — put me on the right track. For though he appears to me to keep an open mind on the matter, yet the trend of his remarks are in the direction of the theory now almost univei sally held by advanced bee thinkers, and all who do not let their love of the mystic-allegorical-mathematical bee get the upper hand of modern science and evolution. The possession on its first publication of Mr. Cowan's " Honey Bee ; its Anatomy and Physiology," opened out to me fresh scope and wider range than had done the mere practice of practical a picultural and honey production ; and, henceforth, dissecting and microscopical work kept alive through the winter months the enthusiastic love of things apiarian, which practical work in spring, summer, and autumn had engendered. But of all the chapters in that admirable book, the most fascinating to me was that on " Wax and Comb Construc- tion.'' I think it is the chapter which shows more original research and patient investiga- tion than any of the otheis. Truly, the bees are mathematicians — not in the sense formerly attributed to them, but unconsciously so — for in the building of their combs they carry out the laws of nature which are essentially mathematical. From the way they work, the material they use, the temperature of the hive, and all the agencies which are at work, the hexagon is the only pos- sib'e outcome. Briefly the bees do make their cells round, but " mutual interference " convert them into hexagons. Many and many have been the disputes and arguments we have had on this subject. The soap-bubble, "squashed'' sausages, and cigarettes — prac- ' tical and easily obtained methods cf experi- ment—being treated with scorn. In vain to point out the polyhedral cells in plant3 and corah. The hexagonal face's of the com- pressed eye, which are rounded in the outer ones where mutual interference does not take i lice. The round form of the octlli. Nay, to come to a cell actua'ly made by the bees — r.ot in the usual way, but so built that "statical pressure according to the lavs of equilibrium" could not interfere. I mean the queen-cell. All these instances were vain. My opp men's had made up their minds that the bees built their cells hexagons, as hexagons — they were not going to deprive the bees of this honour— this "feather in their cap," so to speak. We might divest the queen of her prerogat ve, strip her of all her autho- rity and sovereign power, and leave her nothing but a mother-bee — a mere egg laying machke — but we must not rob the bees of their senior wranglership. How I did long to be able to produce or procure a cell made by a single-bee, without the normal side-by-side and head -to-head interference. But all my efforts and observations were in vain. Chance prodnc< d what endeavour could not accomplish. Last autumn, in giving back the drippmg cappings to the bees, I put them in a rapid box feeder, without the " float " arrangement. Taking them off in a few days, I was much amazed at the queer rockwork-like structure into which the wax of the cappings had been con- verted. But this amazement was quickly turned to surprise and delight of another kind, for the whole of these irregular rock-like " combs " were pierced with cells — of what shape do you suppose ! You will be prepared for the answer. Bound — veritable round — holes of the dmneter of a worker's body, and what is more, wherever by chance those celh are so close together that the holes almost touch the adjoining side are flattened. The bees not having been able to suspend them- selves and work in the normal manner, had burrowed individually amongst the wax - cappings, and produced a cell of the jrimitive shape. A short time ago I was present at a local lecture on " Bees : a Female Monarchy." To my com- panion (a first-class B.B.K.A. expert) and myself it was as comic and amusing as a pantomime — such a jumble of misinformation, superstition, metaphor, allegory, and moral sermonising in the hour and a half we had never heard before in a popular " scientific " March 5, 1896.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL, 97 lecture. But the lecturer waxed most eloquent and reached the zenith of his bathos when, after having expatiated on the intelligence of the bee — as demonstrated by the Koeaig- Maraldi v. Honey-bee mathematical compe- tition— he defied any one to produce a single piece of comb with round cells, adding, "let us hear no more of your soap-bubbles and squashed sausages. We have settled all that long ago." I think my round cells contradict his conclusion. At all events, they hold the chief place in my " museum '' of bee wonders. —Frederick H. Taylor, Birch Fold Cot- tage,, Old Hall-line, Fallowfidd, Manchester. TEACHING BEE-KEEPING IN SCHOOLS. [2436] — Many junior teachers in our schools include " Bees'' in their list of object lessons, and I have been struck by seeing how often they are painfully at a loss in drawing up their notes. Perhaps some would gladly possess a fairly reliable outline The notes below are much too full for infant classe*, unless intended to be given in two lessons, at least. The teacher will readily select his own points, find suitable illustrations, and draw up teaching notes. It would, however, be well for the teacher to possess a drawing of queen, drone, and worker, and to sketch it on the blackboard. Some flowers should be used to show the pollen and nectar vessels ; and onib, or a picture of one, should be shown. Perhaps you could kindly adorn the lesson with a woodcut of queen, worker, and drone. — S. Jordan, Bristol, February 7. A suggested lesson for junior teachers on — The Honey Bee ; - y l^EEEN. DRONF. WORKER. Life size. From the " British Bee-keepers' Guide Book." An Insect. — Many kinds of bees. All bees are insect?. Its Home. — In its wild state will live, thousands together, in a hollow tree or hole in a rock Men keep th3tn in hives made of straw or wood. Three Kinds in Hive. — 1. The queen, or mother-bee. Only one in a hive. She lays all the eggs — many thousands in a year. Can be picked out by shape, size, and colour, but she hardly ever goes out of the hive. 2. Diones. Found only in summer ; several hundreds in a hive. Male bees ; do not work at all, so all turned out to die before winter comes. 3. Workers. Most of the bees workers, They gather all the honey, build combs full of little wax cells in which honey is stored or eggs laid ; feed the grubs (which hatch from the eggs), queen, and drones ; seal over the full-grown grubs and the honey with wax ; fan with their wings to keep hive cool ; clean up hive and carry out debris ; keep out strangers, and at last tura out drone?. Changes.— Egg, larva, or grub, chrysalis, bee. The bee bites open the end of its cell to come out when perfect. Description of Worker. — About size of a wasp, but dark brown in colour. Three parts ; head, thorax (or middle), and abdomen. Long tongue with wonderful little spoon at end to gather nectar from flowers. Thousands of eye3 bunched together on each side of head. Two feelers (antenna?). On thorax two pairs of wings and six legs. Oq its hindmost legs are tiny baskets of hairs to carry home the pollen or dust of flowers. This pollen is used with honey to make bee- bread. A sting at end of abdomen, with poison-bag. Uses — To gather nectar from flowers, and change the nectar into honey ; to produce wax which grows in eight little scales under the abdomen ; to mate the flowers produce seeds by taking the pollen from one flower to another of the same kind. Swarming. — When the hive becomes too full many of thebee3 leave with queen to find another home. They fill the air, and make a busy hum, then cluster in a tree or bush before they fly off, or the owner takes them. The bees left in the old hive raise another queen from one of the eggs already laid. WHAT IS A LARGE ENTRANCE ? [2437.] I have to thank " Bee-Cycle '' for giving the size of entrance he has used when desiriug to prevent swarming [2409, p. 58]. An opening, however, which is only half-an-inch deep, though it may be fourteea or fifteen inches in length, will do little towards pre- vention in the case of really populous colonies. The new hive he mentions has had an entrance H in. deep by 18 in., but even this in future will be made deeper still. In addition to this, the lower chamber is everywhere clear of the floor, as well as its entire upper surface (both walls and frames) being separated by a never- varying bee-space from the actual stock chamber. Thus, when desired in summer, the entrance is practically equal to the entire superficial area of the stock chamber. If " Bee-Cycle " will adopt such an arrange- ment for securing thorough ventilation he will be enabled to work without cutting out combs, while if he is anxious about the condi- tion of the lower chamber he may remove it without disturbing or lifting any part of the working stock. This arrangement of hanging and sliding chambers I adopted in 1888, find- ing it the best means of securing the neces- sary ventilation, as well as offering other 98 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 5, 1896. peculiar advantages. With] ordinary tiering- hives, however, I was generally successful, with a shaded entrance, about 2 in. deep by 12 in. or 14 in. in length. I may say, how- ever, that I am not alone in considering the ordinary full-width entrance of the stock- chamber mostly in use as being far too small for a good colony during the height of the season. Most successful bee-keepers have advocated that the hive then be raised at the front on blocks, or in some cases the chamber has been brought forward some inches beyond the floor-board. By his silence on the subject, I conclude tbat "Bee-Cycle'' did use excluder zinc between stock and supir^, and this, with insufficient ventilation, will largely account for his trouble with so much comb bui't below, rather tl an above, the stock-combs. — Samuel SlMMINS. HOUSE APIAPJES. [2438.] I have been much pleased to see in late numbers of your Journal that certain experienced bee-keepers seem to prefer, though apparently only to a certain extent, house- apiaries, instead of detached hives, exposed to all the vic'ssitudts of the weather. In the British Bee Journal, and also in the Becord, I have seen very frequent allusion from corre- spondents showing the difficulty in keepiDg hives which are exposed dry. For the last thirty or forty years I have kept bee-hives more or less protected fiom the weather, but, as I gained experience in this respect, I hare endeavoured year by year to make improve- ments in the shelter I give to the hives. I am quite convinced that bee-hives must be kept dry and warm in winter, and cool and dry in summer. Dryness in winter is of greater im- portance in keeping bees healthy than warmth. Bees in winter, when they cluster, can keep up a certain heat, but if the surroundings are not dry the combs will become mouldy, and a damp c< Id is a more serious thing in the hive than a dry cald. In summer the bees have the means in themselves to keep thirgs right. If too warm, they can themselves cool the hive by farming with their wings, and clustering outside. Urjless, however, sufficient shelter is provided by the bee-keeper, summer and winter, he caDnot expect to get the full advantage of a suitable district for honey. Bees will exist under very miserable coverings, but there will be neither profit nor pleasure for those who own them. The entrances to most hivep, whether outside or in bee-houses, are, in my opinion, too small, and the porches, if iheie are any, scarcely protect the bees from rain, especially if there is wind as well as rain. I have watched bees during a sudden thunder- storm coming home in crowds, crushing and tumbling over one another, two or three deep, in their efforts to get into their hives, even with entrances 8 in. or 10 in. long. If bees in this position are soaked and blown away, many will never recover, and all the owner knows is that his bees are not quite so strong as he would like them. No doubt the arrangements to protect the bees under such circumstances cost a little more ; but I am certain the returns in honey and pleasure are much greater. In the first place, I think hives in a be e- house thoroughly protected from heat, cclJ, and wet, are a necessity for successful bee- keeping. Entrances to bee-hives should take a form of an entrance chamber, and be so arranged that the bees can fly in and be at once pro- tected from wind and rain, and, if the owner wishes to have the pleasure and advantage of watching them, these entrance chambers can be covered with glass. It has been quite on education to me during the last twelve er fifteen years to watch my bees going cut and coming in. A very great deal can be learnt from what is seen outside the entrance, and the bees, I am sure, feel the benefit of having such a place to roam about in. On warm even- ings many cluster there. As Mr.McNally, in an excellent letter which he writes on the subject, says, the hives can be examined in all weathers, and I quite agree with him in thinking a house apiary should be large enough to allow of room to examine the bees under cover, and with enough shelving to keep all the necessary appliances when manipulation is going on. If in front of each hive there is a movable shutter, this can be removed, and the comls examined with a gocd light immediately in front of the hive, and in that way bees tum- bling from the combs would fall on the top tf the frames. I am not writing this so much for those whose object is to make a profit only vf their bees, but a large number of bee-keepers keep them for pleasure, and also to vie with their neighbours in getting larger returns, and their object will be to keep the tees healthy, if they wish to suceeed. If 30U think my letter interesting ard instructive to your readers I will endeavour to go a little more into details in a future letter.— FRErERic W. M'Connel, Dumfriesshire, drkis from \\\t giws. Stiehill, Kelso, March 2, 1896.—' We have had an exceptionally mild winter here, and the stons are failing fast. There were Tatches of brood in the hives fully a fortnight fgo, and row the crocuses and mczereoLS are in iull bloom. I have thirty hives in capital condi- tion, while my bee-keeping friends, Messrs. Brown and Wilson, Kelso, are equally well pleased with their stocks. We hope to have a better year than last." — William Smith. March 5, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 99 WEATHER REPORT. Westboubne, February, 1890. Rainfall, "47. Heaviest fall, -23, on 20th. Rain fell on 9 days. Below average, "91. Maximum Tempera- ture, 53° on 28th. Minimum Tempera- ture, 22° on 26th. Minimum on Grass, 22° on 26th. Frosty Nights, 13. Sunshine, 769 hours. Brightest Day, 24th, 8 3 hours. Sunless Days, 10. Below Average, 24*7 hours. Mn. Maximum, 45'7°. Mn. Minimum, 32-4°. Mean Temperature, 39°. Maximum Barometer, 30-77° on 1st. Minimum Barometer, 29-62° on 20th. L. B. BlRKETT. THE FLIGHT OF BEES. A correspondent dating from Ripon, Yorks, says :— " I send you the enclosed communication to the Yorkshire Weekly of February 8. For myself I should think it highly improbable that bees should have any occasion to forage at so great a distance, especially from what one hears of Essex being a favourable county for bee-keeping. For many other reasons i am rather sceptical about the truth of the state- ment, and should be guided entirely by your experience in the matter. It is, however, an interesting point." [The salient point in the cutting enclosed, which is too lengthy for insertion, lies in a repetition of the old story about bees dusted with flour on leaving their hives for identifica- tion, being seen working on a field of clover twelve miles away from " home." It would take up too much space to controvert such s'atements, made, no doubt, through want of knowledge on the subject ; but to say that bees travel anything like one-half that distance in search of food is incorrect. For all practical purposes the radius of a bee's flight in search of forage may be given at two or at most three miles. — Ed ] SELLING ADULTERATED WAX. A London chemist and druggist appeared at the Marylebone Police-court in answer to an adjourned summon?, taken out by Inspector Andrews on behalf of the Marylebone Vestry, for selling, to the prejudice of the purchaser, 2 oz. of white wax which was adulterated with paraffin to the extent of at least 38 per cent. Mr. W. E. Greenwood, solicitor, prosecuted, and Mr. Hunt, barrister, defended. A certificate issued by Dr. Wynter Blyth, the public analyst, was produced, showing that the wax contained paraffin to the extent above stated. There was an advantage to the seller in the sile of the composition, as that was of less value. The defence put forward was that there were two kinds of wax— one known as commercial wax, containing paraffin, used for laundry work, the making of wax flowers, &c, and the other a pure bees-wax bleached, which was used for pharma- ceutical purposes. The former was the one usually sold to the general public, and was, in fact, sold to the inspector and would not come within the meaning of a drug. Both were called white wax. The magistrate remarked that when an ordinary person went to a chemist for wax he was entitled to get it, and not to be supplied with something which was a compound of wax and something else. Such a compound should be labelled, and the public would then know what they were receiving. It was quite clear that there had been an infringement of the liw, and a conviction must follow. He did not, however, consider it a case for an exem- plary fine, aa chemists might have been under the erroneous impression that what they were doing was correct. But in future, if chemists continued to trade in this way, and the matter was brought before him, the penalty would grow heavier. The defendant would be fined 40s., with two guineas costs. —Standard. NATIVE BEES, &c, OF CEYLON. Wild honey is very plentiful throughout Ceylon, and the natives are very expert in finding out the nests by watching the bees in their flight, and following them up. A bee- hunter must be a most keen-sighted fellow, although there is not so much difficulty in the pursuit as may at first appear. No one can mistake the flight of a bee en route home if he has once observed him. He is no longer wandering from flower to floAver in an uncer- tain course, but he rushes through the air in a straight line for the nest. If the bee-hunter sees one bee thus speeding homewards, he watches the vacant spot in the air, until assured of the direstion by the successive appearance of these insects, one following the other nearly every second in their hurried race to the comb. Keeping his eye upon the passing bees, he follows them, until he reaches the tree in which the nest is found. There are five varieties of bees in Ceylon ; these are all honey-makers, except the car- penter bee. This species is entirely unlike a bee in all its habits. It is a bright tinsel- green colour, and the size of a large walnut, but shaped like the humble bees of England. The mouth is armed with a very powerful pair of mandibles, and the tail with the sting even larger and more venomous than that of the hornet. These carpenter bees are exceedingly destructive, as they bore holes in beams and posts, in which they lay their eggs, the larvse of which, when hatched, feed upon the timber. The honey bees are of four very distinct varieties, each of which forms its nest on a different principle. The largest and most ex- tensive honey-maker is the " Bambera." This is nearly as large as a hornet, and it forms its nest upon the bough of a tree, from which the 100 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 5, 1896. comb hangs like a Cheshire cheese, being about the same thickness, but 5 to 6 inches greater in diameter. The honey of this bee is not so much esteemed as that from the smaller varieties, as the flavour partakes too strongly of the particular flower which the b >e has fre- quented. This in different seasons the honey varies in flavour, and is sometimes so highly aperient that it must be used with caution. This property is, of course, derived from the flower which the bee prefers at that particular season. The wax of the comb is the purest and whitest of any kind produced in Ceylon, so partial are these bees to particular blossoms that they migrate from phce to place at different periods, inquest of flowers which are then in bloom. This is a very wonderful and inexplicable arrangement of nature, when it is considered that some flowers, which par- ticularly attract these migrations, only bloom once in "seven yea's." This is the case at Newera Ellia, where the nillho induces such a general rush of this particular bee to the district, that the jungle3 are swarming with them in every direction, although during the six preceding years hardly a bee of the bind is to be met with. The next honey-maker is very s:milar in size and appearance to our hive - bee in England. This variety forms its nest in hollow trees, and ia holes in rocks. Another bee, similar in appearance, but not more than half the size, suspends a most delicate comb to the twigs of a tree. This nest is no larger than an orange, but the honey of the two latter varieties is of the finest quality, and quite equal in flavour to the famed "Mielvert" of the Isle da Bourbon, although it has not the delicate green tint which is so much esteemed in the latter. The last of the Cevlon bees is the most tiny, although an equally industrious workman. He is a little smaller than our common house-fly, and he builds his diminu- tive nest in the hollow of a tree, where the entrance to his mansion is a hole no larger than would be made by a lady's stiletto. Jt would be a natural supposition that so deli- cate an insect would produce a honey of corre- sponding purity ; but, instead of the expected treasure, we find a thick, black, and rather pungent, but highly aromatic, molasses. The natives, having naturally coarse tastes and strong stomachs, admire this honey beyond any other. — From " Eight Years in Ceylon," by Sir Samuel Baker, M.A., F.R.S., F.R.G.S. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. T. Pritchard (Bucknell).— Honey Imports. — You should write to the Gardening paper referred to as reporting the value of " Honey Imports" into this country, and ask them to " verify their quotations," which are certainly erroneous as given. So far as we are aware, our journals are the only ones in the United Kingdom to which official— and consequently correct — information is fur- nished, and the imports for every month of the year 1895 appear on page 22 of out issue of January 16 last. We also note several journals quoting our "returns'' regularly without acknowledgment of any kind as to where obtained. T. J. W. Rogers (St. Albans). — Sample of sugar sent is lighter in colour than any we have hitherto seen, but there is no reason to doubt the assurance given you as to its being genuine Porto Rico. We know, as a fact, that the genuine article named is very diffi- cult to obtain, and that much sold under that name is not Porto Rico sugar at all. Learner (Selkirk). — Transferring Stocks to New Ifives. — Choose a warm day for trans- ferring when bees are flying fre.dy, and operate when they are returning to, rather than going from, the hive. By doing so the chances of starting robbing will be mini- mised, as work may be regarded as over for the day. Remove the old hive from its stand, set the new one in its place, and quickly, but gently, transfer the frames with adhering bees with as little disturbance as possible, setting the frames in their original position relatively : cover all warmly down without loss of time, and if the bees in adjoining hives remain quiet, repeat the operation on another stock. G. B. (Hertford).— Surplus Chambers— \. We* should set the rack of sections above the box of shallow frames. 2. Half-sheets of founda- tion will do for shallow frames, as will " starters " only, but full sheets, of course, save time, and, if honey is coming in fast, money, too. 3. The outer combs of brood- chambers may be put through the extractor if containing honey only, but we never extract from combs containing brood. 4. Sample of foundation sent very much resembles some sent us, on which the bees refused to work. We should much prefer to use pale yellow (not white) foundation of this season's make. Enthusiast (Stonehouse). — Illustrations for Bee publication. — 1. There are only the lantern slides published by Messrs. Newton, of Fleet- street ; and thoe of A. Watkins, Esq., Imperial Mills, Hereford, depicting bee-scenes, and these are copyright. 2. We cannot say. 3. The old method of removing diseased bees from combs and compelling them to build new ones. 4. No. " Extractor " ( West Calder).- -Comb con- tains nothing worse than a little mouldy pollen. Novice (Ayrshire). — Comb is affected with foul brood. A. Bratshaw (Brixworth). — Date of "Eoyal '' Show. — The show takes place at Leicester on June 22 and four following days. March 12, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 101 \m, &t. UNPRINCIPLED ADVERTISERS. A correspondent, dating fiom Blairadam, N.B., on the 2ndinst., forwards a communica- tion in which he says: — "Kindly insert the following in Bee Journal as soon as conve- nient, and by so doing oblige a constant reader.'' Then follow details which, if per- fectly accurate, as we must assume the infor- mation to be, expose a very discreditable transaction on the part of one of the parties concerned. Now no one can regret more than ourselves anything even savouring of dishonesty or unfair dealing en the part of advertisers in our pages, but when a person forwards a few coppers for an announcement in "prepaid column ;' we are obviously bound to accept payment, and believe in the lona fides of the sender. Purchasers can, however, protect themselves by insisting on payment by " deposit," as provided for by ourselves, and that is all the pro- tection we can offer beyond refusing future advertisements from proved defaulters. With reference to publishing the letter of our correspondent as desired, we should be les? indisposed to do so than at present if all the possible consequences of publication rested with the writer, and not with ourselves, as is, unfortunately for us, the case. It thus follows, however bard it may be, when one believes himself to be wronged, that he is by law denied the privilege of letting the world know it in his own way. We cannot alter the fact, nor can we print words which are legally libellous because they happen to be true. It must be borne in mind that, in law, " the greater the truth, the greater the libel," so that truth alone decs not justify publication. Swindlers, too, who entrap the unwary by specious advertisements generally make use of respectable journals for their purposes, so that it is not, as our correspondent says, " very strange that people should, advertise in a paper like your.', which I always thought was to be depended on, draw money and keep it, without a word of censure being uttered." He then adds : "If this is the way justice is done in England, I am surprised." Now, without expressing an opinion on the last point, or as to the administration of jus- tice in general, we should indeed be surprised if any honest man in England, or Scotland either, did not reprobate in the strongest manner possible such downright swindling as our Scotch friend justly complains of ; but, for ourselves, we should like him to tell us how " words of censure " could be " uttered '' in this journal regarding a matter of which we were until dosv tntirely ignorant ? On the other hand, in the interest of readers generally, we very gladly give publicity to so much of our correspondent's letter as — for the reasons stated above — we are not debarred from making public. It appears that in response to an advertisement in our " prepaid column," a postal order was sent in payment for some bees offered for sale, and promised to be forwarded on receipt of cish. The "postal" was duly cashed by the advertiser, but no bees were sent, nor has any satisfaction whatever since been obtainable. We are making an effort to get some infor- mation direct regarding the case, and may know more before these lines appear in print, but in the meantime we advise readers — wherever any doubt exist3 as to the status of advertisers — to use the deposit system of pay- ment. As already said, we cannot do more than refuse advertisements from persons whose dealings are proved to be other than honest and fair. For the rest, readers can protect themselves whenever necessary, and so, while sincerely sympathising with our correspondent J. S., we cannot say more. AUSTRALIAN HONEY SELLS BADLY IN LONDON. We have more than once had occasion to express the opinion that Australian honey— at least so much of that article as is usually placed on the British market — is not likely to meet with general acceptance for table use in this country. Our views, though fairly given and well meant, were, however, not received quite in the kindly spirit intended — some colonial bee-keepers resentingourvery mild depreciatory strictures on the quality of their product as un- just and uncalled for. A cutting from the London City Press just to hand, however, rather forcibly confirms the comments we made on the subject when it says: — "The export of honey from Australia to London does not seem to be a very profitable business. A Vic'orian bee-farmer recently sent a ton of honey to London. The consignment was sold for £16. 6s. 3 I., but the charges for freight and packing reduced the net return to £4. lis. 8d., a sum considerably less than the honey would have redised if sdd locally." The gross price realised was thus one penny three farthings per lb , and the net sum yielded to the producer under one halfpenny per lb. ! HONEY VINEGAR. We have received from the Rev. G. W. Bancks a sample bottle of honey vinegar, together with a copy of his just-published ramphlet on " The Production of Vinegar from Honey." For the pamphlet we have no words other than of commendation. It is well written, simple in phraseology, terse, and directly to the point ; while the instructions for making the vinegar are so plain as to be readily under- stood by any ordinarily intelligent person. 102 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 12, 1896. For the rest, the author shows his confidence in the quality of the product recommended to the notice of his brethren in bee- craft by sending us a sample of vinegar made by his own hands from his own recipe, and from honey gathered by his own bees. There is in all this something so refreshingly genuine and novel as to commend itself to all readers who are bee-keepers. The vinegar, too, is most attractive to the eye, both in colour and brightness. The flavour, while less strong than that of some of the vinegars of commerce, is very good, and there is no trace of sweetness, or, indeed, of honey-flavour at all about it. In the words of the maker, " It possesses a delicious flavour and aroma alto- gether lacking in ordinary vinegar." What is commonly called "strength'' in the latter consists, m too many cases, largely of sulphuric acid, or of nitric acid, which is added either as a preservative or to increase its acidity. The injurious effects upon health of these adulte- rants are, however, obvious. The question of popularising honey vinegar, is of considerable interest to bee-keepers, for if housewives could be induced to make their vinegar at home from honey by the simple process described, not only would a great saving be effected, but the consumption of honey would be increased by some thousands of ton3. As a calculation on a small scale, Mr. Bancks says : " If only six persons in each parish in the United Kingdom made annually a couple of gallons of honey vinegar, this alone would entail a consumption of a hundred and forty tons of honey." It is also stated that it can be made of the finest quality and perfectly pure at a cost of 4d. per quart. In view of the general interest likely to be felt by bee-keepers in the above subject, Mr. Bancks has, at our request, consented to supply a sample bottle of his honey vinegar, free by parcel post for 7M. in stamps, or, together with the pamphlet, for lOd. The price of the latter alone is 2Jd., post free. For Address, see advertisement on another page. ; BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIA- TION. The annual meeting, to be held at 105, Jermyn-street, W., at four p.m. to-morrow, and the quarterly conversazione which follows at six p.m., promise to be unusually interesting, and we hope to see a large attendance thereat. MIDDLESEX B.K A. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual general meeting of the Middle- sex Bee-keepers' Association was held in the Board-room of the R.S.P.C.A., 105, Jermyn- street, London, W., on March 6, at which Mr. T. W. Cowan presided. The attendance was small, and included Messrs. W. H. Harris, W. G. Smyth, C. H. Landon, S. D. Thomas, Rev. W. Handcock, Major Fair, hon. sec, &c. The Chairman congratulated the society on the satisfactory state of the finances, and was glad to find the number of members kept up. He found that in some districts there were no local secretaries, and he would urge them to have their vacancies filled, as he thought the welfare of such a society depended greatly upon the influence of the local secretaries, who could keep the interest in the pursuit alive by constant visits to bee-keepers in their districts. He was glad to find that, notwithstanding the severe winter of 1894-5, the honey yield has been fairly good ; but although the report was satisfactory on the whole, there was one part which he regretted was not such pleasant read- ing. He alluded to that portion relating to foul brood, which showed that it was increasing in the country. He found that, whereas in 1894 there were forty-three cases in the spring, these had been reduced to eleven in the autumn. Last year there were eighteen cases in the spring and fifty-seven in the autumn. He hoped the time would come when we should have more control over foul brood, and be enabled to stamp it out. They would no doubt like to hear what was being done by the Central Society with regard to legislation. They will have seen reports in the British Bee Journal, and would know that a joint committee of representatives of the B.B.K.A. and County Council delegates was formed. This body appointed a sub committee, who were carrying out the details. The matter has been before the Parliamentary Committee of the County Councils' Association, and the executive of this body had asked them to draft a Bill, to put before the Parliamentary Com- mittee for their consideration. lie had been in conference the previous day with the Parliamentary draftsman, and thought that they were in a fair way of getting a workable measure prepared, lie had been rather astonished that they had not en- countered much opposition hitherto. He was aware bee-keepers knew all about foul brood, and those who formed their deputation to the President of the Board of Agriculture, as well as some members of Parliament, under- stood what they wanted, but there were over 600 members in the House, and these would have to be made acquainted with their pro- posals. He would impress "upon all those present that they should bring the matter con- stantly before their members of Parliament and County Councillors, so that they may be made thoroughly acquainted with the subject. They should be importuned in season and out of season until the measure is carried. If they persevered they were bound to attain their object in the end. The Baroness Burdett Coutts was re-elected president, Mr. H. Jonas, treasurer, and Major Fair, secretary. The following were elected March 12, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 103 on the committee : — Messrs. T. W. Cowan, W. H. Harris, J. Bolton, J. Gibins, S. J. Gunn, T. Sevan, S. D. Thomas, H. J. Savory, J. N. Farrant, and Rev. W. Hand- cock. The local secretaries are Major Fair, W. H. Harris, G. W. Smyth. Mr. E. Baldwin was re-appointed expert, and Mr. G. W. Smyth was elected B.B.K.A. representative. At the conclusion of the meeting a drawing for prizes took place. LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE B.K.A. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual general meeting of the above association was held on the 24th ulfc., in Mr. Chapman's Restaurant, Eberle-street, Liver- pool, W. Tyrer, Esq., J.P., presiding. The meeting was the most successful and best attended the association has had for some few years past. These present included the Revs. T. J. Evans and E. Charley, Messrs. T. D. Schofield, J. Bell, F. II. Taylor, H. Firth, G. C. Billington,W. Chapman, W. Lees McClure, W. E. Little, Geo. Roberts, J. Hale, J. Ikin, J. N. Bold, W. Forrester, W. H. Forde, J. Bally, G. Rose, and T. Carr. The annual balance-sheet (which shows a satisfactory state of the finances) and report were adopted, with the exception of a few lines in the report re Legislation on " Foul Brood," which, on the motion of Mr. W. Lees McClure, it was unanimously resolved to alter. After the usual votes of thanks had been passed, it was resolved that Lord Stanley be asked to be the president of the association for the year 1896. The names of several influential gentlemen were also added as vice- presidents conditionally on their accepting the office. The executive committee was reappointed, as were also the hon. treasurer (Thos. D. Schofield, Esq.), and hon. secretary (B. E. Jones). Fredk. H. Taylor, Esq., who was ap- pointed hon. librarian, kindly undertook to report on the state of the library, and put it in proper order. Mr. H. W. Johnston, of Preston, was to be asked to accept the office of hon. auditor. Owing to the resignation of Mr. W. J. Anstey, it became necessary to appoint a new expert or experts, and after some discussion it was resolved to leave the appointment in the hands of the committee. On the motion of Mr. McClure it was also resolved that small maps of the counties, having the districts infected with foul brood marked on them, be obtained for the use of the committee and officers. In making the show arrangements for the year it was resolved that the secretary should communicate with the B.B.K.A. on the question of the L. and C. Association having a Honey Trophy at the " Royal " show, to be held in Manchester in '97, so that members might be induced to keep by them a sufficient quantity of '96 honey for the purpose, seeing that honey of '97 would not be available at the early date the " Royal " would be held that year. Th;s concluded the business of the general meeting, after which most of those present sat down to tea. The committee for 1896 afterwards held their first meeting, when Win. Tyrer, Esq., J.P., was again voted chairman for the yeare The principal business of this meeting was th election of expert ; and on the recommenda- tion of a sub-committee which had been previously formed to go into the question, it was decided to have an expert for each of the two counties covered by the association, to that the work could be done thoroughly and expeditiously, and it was finally decided that Mr. W. Herrod, of Sutton-on-Trent, Newark, be appointed for Lancashire, and Mr. YV. A. Withycombe, of Biidgewater, Somerset, for Cheshire. — (Communicated). BERKSHIRE B.K A. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of this Association was held in the Abbey Hall, Reading, on Wednes- day the 26th ulfc.. Mr. F. B. Parfitt presided, and there were also present : — Miss Egginton (financial secretary), Mrs. Tomkins, Miss Taylor, and Messrs. J. Eggington, A. E. Hickmott, A. D. Woodley (hon. secretary), F. Cooksey (hon. librarian), J. Henderson, Robey, Shackel, W. Holden, Barefoot, Osborne, A. H. Miller, and H. Witt, C. Baker, F. Paxman, Wilkins, E. W. Goddard, E. Turner, &c. Letters, regretting absence, were received from Mr. A L. Cooper and the Rev. R. Errington. The Hon. Secretary read the annual report which, after detailing a large amount of satis- factory work done by the association during the past year, concluded with the financial statement, which showed the total receipts on the Bee-van cash account for the past year to have been £151. 4s. This included the grants from the Berks and Surrey County Councils of £50 and £84 respectively and the sum of £6. 13s. received in the shape of donations in response to the special appeal made for funds. The whole of the money received was ex- hausted in the expenditure, which included a balance of £32. 2s. due to the treasurer on the 1894 account. The receipts on the general cash account, including £43. 4s. 3d. received in subscriptions from members, amounted to £58. lis. Id., all of which was expended, with the exception of £2. 9s. lid., which remains in the hands of the treasurer. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, congratulated the association upon the fact that the heavy deficits which had appeared in past reports had been thoroughly wiped out. He was also glad to see that there was an improvement in the membership. In such a large county as 104 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 12, 1896. Berkshire, there was still much room for im- provement in the membership, considering the inducements made, and the excellent work accomplished by the bee-van journeys, which were favoured and fostered by the handsome contributions of the County Councils. Mr. Cooksey, in seconding the resolution, ventured to think that Miss Egginton's name should be included in the list of thanks to past officers for past services, and with this altera- tion the report and balance-sheet were adopted. The president (Princess Christian) and the vice-presidents were re-elected, as were also the following officers : Mr. A. D. Woodley (hon. sec), Miss Egginton (financial secretary), Mr. John Simonds (hon. treasurer), and Mr. F. Cooksey (hon. librarian). The central council, with Mr. A. L. Cooper as chairman, was also elected, the only alterations being in the Lam- bourne and Wantage districts, for which Mr. Goddard and Mr. Wilkins were elected respec- tively. The business part of the proceedings ended with the usual votes of thank?. Mr. E. Turner then read an interesting paper on " Foul Brood," which was succeeded by a social gathering, a large number of members attending. Chief among the very enjoyable features of the evening was a musical programme, arranged by Mrs. Frank Cooksey, which was successfully carried out. A number of appliances used in modern bee- keeping were also on view, under the super- vision of Mr. T. A. Flood. Much interest was also centred in a beehive exhibited by Mr. Fry, of Reading, which was made exclusively out of cube sugar boxes at a cost of 3s. 6d. — (Communicated.) IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The committee met on 5th inst. Present, Captain Millner, in the chair ; Dr. Traill, Mr. Doherty, and Mr. Chenevix (hon. sec, 15, Morehampton-road). A letter having been read from the Land Commission, stating that the Congested Districts' Board proposed to assist bee-keepers in certain cases, and on certain conditions, to obtain the advantages enjoyed by members of the I.B.K.A., the committee accepted the proposal. The general meeting was fixed for Thursday, April 16, at 12, and a conversational meeting for the evening of the same day. THE PORTER SPRING ESCAPE. FOR HONEY- ROOM WINDOWS. Having quite a quantity of honey to extract during the excessively hot weather of last September, when no nectar was to be had, and robbing was at its worst, and knowing too well how ineffective cone escapes used on extracting-rcom windows, or escapes made by extending the screen wire to a considerable extent above them, with a bee-space between it and the sides of the building were for ex- cluding robbers at such a time, to enable us to get through with the work without annoyance we made, for this purpose, the escape shown in the accompanying illustration. This escape is a modification of the well-knoAvn form of the Porter spring escape, now so extensively used for freeing the surplus honey from bees auto- matically before removal from the hives, the principle used being the same. It differs from that only in the details of construction necessary to adapt it to this particular use. The top, or oval part, is perforated along the edges, so that the escape may be readily tached to the casing or window-trame. The body is made of perforated tin, to admit light ; and its open end is extended into a cone to prevent robbers crawling in at the sides of the springs and interfering with the bees passing out, which would occur if it were left open full width. As compared with the other form, the interior part is reversed in position ; the springs used are somewhat broader, and set slightly more open. The method of applying these escapes to the window is almost too apparent to require ex- planation. Merely make | in. or | in. holes through the screen wire at its upper corners ; or, in casa it is desirable to make holes with- out injury to the wire cloth, thus leaving it so that it can be replaced when the escapes are removed, if desired, remove the tacks from the corners and turn them down till triangular holes of corresponding size are formed, and then tack the escapes in a vertical position over these openings, so that the bees can pass through them into the escapes. In case the window is provided with an escape made by extending the wire cloth above it, close the bee-spare with a strip flush with the top of the window, and proceed as before. If escapes are not to be used on all the windows of the honey-room, preference should be given to those opening to the south or west, so that, on coll days, the bees may have the benefit of the afternoon sun. After putting these escapes to the severest possible test under the most trying conditions, we have found them to meet all the require- ments of a perfect device for this purposa. Since using them we realise as never before how many of the disagreeable features of bee- keeping are removed, and how much pleasure and satisfaction are added to the pursuit by March 12, 1896.] I THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 105 having all windows of honey and extracting rooms supplied with escapes through which all bees that get in whan doors are bsing opened or closed, or in any of the other ways thesa persistent little insects have of effecting this end, can pass out eisily and rapidly, and not a single robber can enter. — R. and E. C. Porter, in Gleanings. HONEY IMPORTS. The total value of honey imported into the United Kingdom during the month of February, 1896, was ,£3,395. — From a return furnished to the Bee Journal by the Statistical Office, H M. Customs. The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to ivritc on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily fot publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper, tte do not undertake to return rejected communications. Communications relating to the literary department reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries Books for Review, pply for winter, not only none of our thirty "Langstroths" had given any surplus, but nearly all were short of stores. We therefore resolved to transfer them in larger hives, and we have now these empty " Langstroth " hives rotting in a corner of our yard. Not only I did not learn to prefer large hives and combs while I lived in France, but having ascertained here how much these hives were preferable to small ones, I began, twenty- seven years ago, to write on this topic in the French bee papers, and my writings were rudely rebuked by M. Hamet. Yet, I suc- ceeded in persuading a number of bee-keepers, not only in France, but also in Switzerland, in Italy, in Belgium, and even in Russia, where our book, " Langstroth Revised, ' was translated by M. Kandratieff. Now, let me say that I was greatly sur- prised when I saw that the " Langstroth " frame had been reckoned too large for England ; that the English standard fiame was but 14 by 8h in., and that the number of frames in a hive was but eight and a division board. In such a small hive, if you deduct two combs for brood, the queen has a space to lay but 1,700 eggs per day, while she is able to lay twice this number and more. Uf course, you may double the capacity by piling two hives upon one another, but the small size of your frames and the interval between the two stories inteifere with the laying of the queen. I have noticed that when a queen lays in small combs she drops a quantity of eggs which are lost, on account of the time necessary to hunt for empty cells, when she passes from one comb to another ; and such loss of eggs is* probably the cause why the English bee-keepers thought that the English queen bee3 were not so prolific as the queens of the Continent. M. Collin, the bee- keeper quoted above, was persuaded that queens were unable to lay 600 eggs per day because he used small hives. Furthermore, Doohttle here, who uses the "Gallup" hives, with nine frames 11| by iff, says in his pamphlet : — I use that hive to obtain a strong population for June 10, — time of the honey -crop. He commenced to stimulate brood-raising about May 1, by in- troducing a comb containing honey, or an empty comb, between the brood combs every week till June 10. With our large combs and large hives such work is not necessary. The ascertaining, twice a month, that our bees are not short or stores is sufficient. Then, about May 25, or two weeks before those of Doolittle, our colonies are strong enough to work in the surplus boxe3. Besides, while Doolittle tries every day to prevent natural swarming, we let our bees alone ; for the number of our natural swarms does not exceed two or three per cent, of the number of our colonies. We prefer artificial to natural swarming, for we can raise them from our best queens, and thus improve the race of our bees. 118 THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 19, 1896. If there are in England some bee-keepers who have tried large frames and large hives in comparison with the small English " Stan- dard,'' I would be glad to know the results they have obtained. — Chas. Dadant, Hamil- ton, Illinois, U.S.A., February 29. NOTANDA ET INQUIRENDA. CLEARING SHALLOW-FRAME SUPERS. [2446.] I have to thank several writers in the B.B.J, for kind answers, hints, or refer- ences, in response to inquiries of mine. I see all these and carefully note, consider, and weigh them ; but it is impossible to refer to them each more particularly. I hope the authors will kindly accept this general expres- sion of my gratefulness. Clearing Shallow-frame S^ws. — I now ask for any really practical advice under the fol- lowing circumstances : I shall be working a Wells' hive, and three or four single hives this coming season, with shallow combs for extract- ing. But the frames rest directly upon the super cases, there being no inner case ; and I last summer found the greatest difficulty in lifting them, owing to braca combs and pro- polisation, at which my bees are adepts. In the case of the Wells' hive, the long supers of sixteen widespread shallow- frames are all in one ; and the difficulty of lifting the enormous weight, each filled comb weighing from 5 to 7 lb. (making at least 90 lb. in all), and of keeping down the infuriated bees from the two stocks by carbolised cloths deftly inserted underneath, is very great. In fact, it was a very unpleasant business, especially as I only could command the help of a lad, and who very naturally did not like the job, when three would not have been too many. As all the lifts have plinths, the difficulty is aggravated, since it is not easy to insert a wire, for instance, to make sure of easy separation beforehand. In one case when, after ineffectual attempts, renewed in various forms on several days, to lift a super from a single hive, it at last came up on the employment, as a final and desperate resort, of great force. It brought with it several of the combs from a lower storey, and a cloud of bees in a particularly fine frenzy. However, that was a detail to which we became accustomed and hardened. I have tried sending the bees down, and taking out the combs one by one, but I cannot succeed. Smoke is absolutely useless ; or, rather, converts a fairly quiet hive into a horde of raging demons, who wait for hours to have another " go '' at you, and attack you anywhere near for weeks afterwards. With the car- bolised cloth I cannot send them down far enough to be of any use— they still pour out on lifting the super off the next. Of course, if I were beginning again, I should have another style of hive. I should be afraid to try and do without plinths to my lifts, as, at any rate when they were empty, I should fear the supers blowing off, or getting moved by some accidental push, with dire results. Besides, exposed to sea gales as we are, rain would certainly beat in at the exposed flat- joints. So it is not easy to see what to do ; and, although I am looking forward to a grand harvest this year, I am not anticipiting the taking of it with any particular pleasure. There must be some way out of the trouble ; and I shall be grateful to any one who cxn help me to find it, as find it I must, with help or without it. Only, sometimes, a mere hint sets one on the right track for an ea^y solu- tion forthwith. So I shall await replies with interest. — Self Taught, March 14, 1896. BEE NOTES FROM SUSSEX. [2447.] I suppose the feature of this opening season of 1896 is the almost uninterrupted continuance since Christmas last of mild weather and dull, grey, leaden skies. Looking back over nearly half a century, I can remember nothing like the present persistent lack of sumhine. With us, the hedges are just showing green, and the genial influences of spring are gene- rally beginning to be felt. Fruitbuds are only awaiting a little warm sunshine to burst into flower ; and I to-day saw an almond tree which I was told had been several days in full blossom. But I cannot call these things very forward. The arabis is only just showing white ; wallflowers and stocks are hanging fire ; daffodils have now taken the place of the crocuses ; hyacinths and tulips, narcissus and anemones, are coming on fast ; the palm is out : but yet everything seems to be holding back. Whenever the bees can get out, as they have at last done for a few days, they have a good time ; but I notice they have hitherto taken very little water. One thing puzzles me. They appear very fond of diving down into the roots of the grass, and also seem to pick up something from gravel paths right down in the small dust between the stones. What are they really doing in both these cases ? One would need a sort of telescope- microscope to make sure of their proceedings. Also, just at this time, a series of single or multiple combats seem to go on all along the floor-boards. Sometimes one, sometimes several bees, will all set upon one unfortunate specimen, and after an excited affray and an immense amount of pulling and hauling, a whole knot of bees, or sometimes only two, will fall in a lump on the grass in front of the sloping alighting board. Sometimes, the victim is apparently either killed or badly mauled. Sometimes, after awhile, he cheer- fully gets up and returns calmly to the hive as if nothing had happened. There is generally a grand struggle between the combatants, while sprawling on the grass, to get free of one another. I am satisfied the bees set upon March 19, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 119 are not always robbers. Again, what is the real explanation ? The cold spell at the end of February, when for several nights the minimum thermometer readings were from 24 to 28 degrees Fahren- heit, cost me a weak stock. But here I believe a very curious thing has happened. On March 6, I noticed how poor this stock, No. 4, had become ; and upon opening the hive at the first opportunity on March 9, I found perhaps twenty dead bees on combs or floor-board, certainly not more ; and there were a few more on the grass in front of the hive. They were well supplied with stores of honey and pollen. The puzzle was : What had become of the bees 1 Well, my notes show me that on February 6 this was a stroDgish stock. On February 9 I noticed a great and sudden decrease in their numbers. On the same day my notes tell me I remarked an unaccountable iucrease in the bees of another weak stock, No. 8, which I then attributed to brood hatching out, although this considerably mystified me. I now incline to the belief that the btes from No. 4 some- how amalgamated with No. 8. Those bees previously were barely covering four frames, out of six which they had. I have now given them four more, and they to-day were easily covering eight out of the ten. Again, if any one can throw light on the subject I shall be glad, as this seems a startling instance of spontaneous and successful self-uniting. I am not sure another stock is not doing, or about to do, something of the same kind. All my other stocks are strong, hearty, and only too active ; but I doubt whether such a very mild winter as we are having is a good preparation for a successful after' season. — W. R. N, Sussex, March 16, 1896. BEE-ESCAPES FOR WINDOWS. [2448.] In Bee Journal for March 12, p. 104, under the heading of "The Poiter Spring Escape for Honey- Room Windows," your correspondent gives a ready means of clearing extracting houses ; but, although very gcod to read, it might, I fear, be mislead- ing to beginners in Viee-keeping. Experience has taught me tbat although it seems wise to let bees out, it is not always expedient to do so, as the veiy fact of letting them, out encourages more to seek re-entry, bringing a friend or two with them ; to say nothing about the difficulty of manipulating the hives and walking about outside the bee-house. — A. Rowntree, Old Malton, Yorks. [We confess ourselves unable to quite agree with our correspondent so far as there being anything " misleading " in Messrs. Porter's description of their application of the bee- escape to honey-room or bee-houses. If the bee-keeper cannot prevent bees entering from the outside, it is surely preferable to offer a means of escape to the intruders than keep them prisoners, wearing out their lives in trying to escape through the glass. — Eds.] <$nmes m& Holies. [1436.] Compelling Removal of Bees by Law. — Can you kindly tell me if there is any law which would prevent me keeping bees in a girden, the position of the bees being about 65 ft. from a public path, and separated from the path by a high wall, and distant about 70 ft. from the nearest house 1 Can any one compel their removal from such a position ] — Old Subscriber, London. Reply — There Is no law to compel removal of bees unless they are proved to be a source of danger and a public nuisance. Nor can any one prevent a person from keeping bee3 in his garden, though an action might be taken for compensation for loss or damage if such could be proved. In which case the bee- keeper would be dealt with by a County Court judge. Referring to the location named above, there would be no risk whatever unless the bees were grossly mismanaged. [1437.] Removing Bees. — I have three stocks of bees in frame-hives. Two were made up with bees driven last autumn, and put on wired foundation and fed ; the other was a swarm of la3t June, and was not put on wired founda- tion. At present they all have plenty of stores, and seem to be doing very well, and are quite busy bringing in pollen. What I should like your advice on is, I am removing in June to a house about twelve miles away ; had I better remove the bees at once, which would be rather awkward, and there would be no one to look after them there ? or should I be able to remove them when I leave in June ? and whar is the best way of removing them in either case? — H. G. E., Hampton - in - Arden, March 16. Reply. — If at all convenient, the bees should be moved now, and if you have the "Guide Book" or "Modern Bee-keeping," reference to either will give you full instruc- tions for removing. If not, we will be glad to hear from you after deciding as to time, when we will write you again. [1438.] 1. Can you inform me to what extent English County Councils have given grants in aid of bee-keeping, and the amount of aid ? I ask this for comparison with Scottish Coun- cils. 2. Do you know if an attempt has been made to collect refereaces to the bees and bee- keeping in general literature, and is there a recent complete list of works on the subject ? — Fifeness. Reply. — 1. Reference to back numbers of B.B.J, will afford very full particulars of what has been done in the direction named. The Secretary of the British Bee-keepers' Asso- ciation, 12, Hanover-square, London, W., would, no doubt, if applied to, furnish infor- mation as to what has been done by County Councils in aid of tee-keeping. 2. None that we know of. 120 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 19, 1896. BEES. {Concluded from page 110.) Regarding bees, however, it is evident that the Romans of that age had outgrown Aristotle's information. In fact, the directions for bee- keeping laid down by the invaluable Columella were the best guide for bee-keeping until this century. All those of the Middle Ages, and they were many, took his rules for a foundation without change — but so it wa9, for that matter, in all other branches of rustic economy. But in one respect Columella's system was not appliei until a very recent day. The Romans did not kill their bees when rifling the hive, and therefore they left honey enough for the survivors to feel upon. Perhap3 the secret of the stifling mixture wai lost. Of course some very old notions remained ; are there not plenty still at the end of the nineteenth century ? People continued to believe, like the Jews, that a putrid circase might generate a swarm, and they fancied that in stormy weather bees attach a little stone to their legs somehow in order to keep their balance. We remember once to have heard a learned gentleman recount, in public, a most striking example of instioct — his learning had not been collected in the domain of natural history. He told how the early colonists of Brazil carried bees with them, which, the first year, made an astonishing quantity of honey, the second not so much, the third only a little, and the fourth none at all. The intelligent creatures had discovered that flowers bloom all the year round in those parts, and so they resolved to live up to their income, not troubling to save. If anybody in the room knew better, he had the wit to hold his tongue — too much amused, perhaps, to spoil such an excellent joke. Flowers do not bloom all the year round in Brazil, or anywhere else — unless, perhap3, in the South Sea Islands ; and no country has more bees, or more industrious, than Brazil. The European species abounds, and there are eighteen native varieties besides ; so many have been identified and named, but probably there are others. They all make honey in profusion, though one species i3 but two lines in length, and another may be mis- taken for a housefly. But the quality is eccentric sometimes. One sort is intolerably bitter, another acid, a third turns to the likeness of lemon juice after standing for an hour ; several are more or less poisonous. Schoolboys recollect how the Ten Thousand suffered in Colchis from eatiDg honey. Xenophon's account is verified by travellers at the present day. Many an army has been routed by bees at some critical moment ; the operations even of British troops have been gravely embarrassed. General Sir Hope Grant recounts such an in- cident in the assault upon the Abum B.igh at Cawnpore. Lieutenant Evans, of the 9th Lancers, who led the attack, thrust his spear through a bees' nest as they traversed a belt of timber. An avenging swarm sallied out, and the regiment bolted like one man. Others could not see what had happened — struck with panic, the whole advance guard of cavalry turned and fled. Colonel Hope commanding the main body deployed in haste, amid terrible confusion. It soon ended in laughter, but an officer of artillery was very nearly stung to death. Lady Dufferin merrily describes a panic in the church at Simli. Sermon bad just begun when the Viceregal carriages started off at a gallop, and the body-guard clattering after. Whilst the ladies looked at one another in alarm, a word was passed from the door and all the gentlemen sprang to their feet. Terrifying enough for strangers ! But it was only an irruption of bees, against which every wiudow and crevice had to be closed. The Viceregal party had a long walk neverthe- less.— Standard. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. New Beginner (Ballabont, I. 0. M.). — In- creasing Stocks. — We should not advise other than very moderate increase for a beginner. Allow the stocks to swarm naturally, and hive the swarm on the old stand ; then divide the combs and brood of the parent hive equally in two portions, with a good queen-cell or two in each. You will thus make six colonies from the two now on hand, and probably get some surplus honey from the swarms. Yorkshireman (Sheffield). — Moving Bees — We should think the least troublesome way of moving so short a distance of one and a half miles would be to get a couple of men to carry three hives at a time on a hand- barrow. By this plan, and doing it after dark on a cool evening, no packing to speak of would be needed, and probably the entrances might be left open. This would be less risky than jolting the hives in a cart or waggon. L. K. (Wicklow). — Comb is affected with foul brood, but the disease seems to be only just breaking out. It thus would appear a hope- ful case for treatment. It is evidently from a heather district. C. W. Evans (Carshalton). — Comb contains nothing worse than mouldy pollen. Such combs are of little use for extracting pur- poses. Don't give pea-flour when natural pollen is plentiful. A. H. (Crewe). — Sample of honey described as " Finest Cotswold :' is fermenting, and altogether out of condition. It is quite unfit for table use. C. Toms (Wilmington). — Sealed Queen-cell in March. — The queen has evidently been lost or deposed, and the cell now formed will be useless. Unite bees to the next colony. March 26, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 121 (BtftfortHl Ifartim, to. BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIA- TION. CONVERSAZIONE. (Continued from page 113.) At six o'clock the company reassembled. Mr. Henry Jonas having been voted to the chair, presided, and was supported by the Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh, Revs. G. W. Bancks, W. E. Burkitt, W. Handcock, and F. T. Scott, Mrs. G. W. Bancks, Mrs. T. W. Cowan, Miss Dawe, Mis3 M. L. Gayton, Miss A. J. Tate, Major Fair, Messrs. R. T. Andrews, Sannyer Atkin, H. W. Brice, S. J. Baldwin, T. Bevan, T. Baines, T. W. Cowan, W. B. Carr, J. S. Greenhill, J. M. Hooker, W. H. Harris, E. Hancox, H. Ashdown- Jones, Jas. Lee, R. Lee, W. P. Meadows, J. W. Sheppard, Leonard H. Smith, E. D. Till, E. H. Taylor, W. Woodley, E. Waebar, W. B. Webster, E. H. Young, &c. After the Chairman had briefly opened the procedings, Mr. Till called attention to the Bee-census of the County of Essex, obtained by Mr. T. I. Weston, particulars of which appear in Bee Journal of January 23 (p. 35). The details there given were well worth studying as afford- ing help to those willing to work in the same direction, which work he thought would be of great advantage to county associations and to bee-keeping generally. A similar step had been taken in Kent, where a census of forty parishes had been made, and an average struck for the purpose of ascertaining approxi- mately the number of bee - keepers in the county. The B.B.K.A. had for years urged the importance of securing such statistics, and there was no reason why other counties should not proceed on the same lines. Mr. Cowan said Mr. Weston's statistics would be useful to the Parent Association, especially in regard to the proposed legisla- tion. They tended to show that the estimate already formed of the bee-keeping industry was much lower than was actually the case, and that information, he thought, should be conveyed to the proper authorities. The Chairman then invited remarks from those present who had kindly brought with them interesting objects connected with bee- keeping to submit to the meeting, and in response Mr. Baines submitted a model of a square bottle of glass intended for holding comb-honey as cut from a 1-lb. section. Beyond a slight projecting lip on top edge for securing the cover of vegetable parchment, the bottle has no " shoulder,'' so that the piece of comb drops in, and completely fills the space within. The designer claimed for it several advantages, among them safety in transit ; perfect freedom from leakage or stickiness in the hands of users ; utilising partly-finished sections by inserting two pieces in one bottle ; using woodwork of sections a second or third time over, &c. In answer to enquiries, it was stated that the bottle was about to be put on the market by a firm of glass-blowers at the probable cost of 18s. per gross. After con- siderable discussion pro and con., it appeared that, in the opinion of the meeting, the value, or otherwise, of the bottle as a bee-appliance could only be appraised after trial of it. Mr. Cowan then exhibited several specimens of comb foundation, each of which he described minutely. There were samples on cardboard and on very thin zinc, also one entirely of wax, with cell-walls nearly £ in. high, and another specimen with cells of full depth. These latter had been practically tried by bee- keepers in Germany, and favourably spoken of, but these sheets are only made in sizes to suit the German frames, which did not exceed 12 in. by 9 in. The machine used could not make them any larger, so these would not do for English frames. He did not think there was any advantage in having either cardboard or zinc as a base for foundation, but thought that with high cell-walls was certainly worth trying. Mr. W. B. Webster had tried zinc as a base for foundation, but the bees refused to work it out. Mr. Cowan also showed some very fine samples of foundation and plain wax sheets, made by a new method, observing that he had never before seen sheets of foundation superior to those now shown. They were made in America by a new machine and process of manufacture invented by Mr. Weed. We should probably ere long be more fully informed as to the method of production, but he understood that dipping was dispensed with, and the wax-sheets produced in long lengths before being impressed with the cell foundations. He had a letter from Mr. Otto Schultz, of Germany, from which it appeared that the ordinary foundation with shallow walls was made in endless lengths, and possibly the method employed there was similar to the American plan. Mr. Baldwin said he had just made a trip to America, and was not particularly im- pressed with the "Weed" foundation. The way in which the sheets were turned out was an improvement ; they were wound out on to rollers like paper. His experience was that the quality of the wax used in making the foundation was the essential thing. A few years ago foundation had been produced with a wooden base, but unfortunately bees refused to work it out properly. He (Mr. Baldwin) had tried experiments, using muslin, calico, and other things as a base for foundation, but the bees generally gnawed away the materials use(i_0ther than wax— and dropped them on floorboard. An animated conversation followed, tending to show that the various substances used as an artificial base or midrib foy oomh foundation 122 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 26, 1896. were practically failures. The discussion sub- sequently turned on the point of using adulterants in foundation making, several gentlemen takiDg part therein, and all con- demned in strong terms the using of any wax other than that produced by the bees them- selves. Mr. Cowan next exhibited some specimens of honey sent to him from Australia by Mr. Pender. There had been much talk lately of honey coming from this colony, but he thought of the specimens on the table there was only one that would have any chance of competing with English honey, and that was the one ticketed " clover honey," which had a pleasant flavour. All the others were too strong for the English palate. The different honeys were from — Ridge box, yielding about 80 lb. per hive during the honey flow ; yellow box, from 100 lb. to 400 lb. per hive ; white box, 80 lb. ; coastal honey, 80 lb. ; clover honey, 60 lb. ; eucalyptus, 60 lb. to 120 lb. ; box and apple trees yield about 60 lb. lie also showed a specimen of honey col- lected by the Australian native bees, a swarm of which he had produced for inspection at the conversazione in October last. Those bees, the audience would be glad to hear, were still alive, and would have been brought to the meeting if the weather had been milder. He hoped, however, to exhibit them at the next conversazione. He then showed specimens of Australian wax, both light and dark, and also a piece made by the native bees ; the former was sold at about 9d. to 10|d. per lb., but the latter was valueless. The honey sold in Australia at from 3d. to 4d. per lb. As would be seen by B.J. last week, a ton of honey from Victoria had been sent over here, but at a considerable loss, the producer receiving, after all expenses had been paid, slightly less than a halfpenny per lb., whilst if he had kept it in Australia he would have realised 3d. per lb. The samples were passed round for the inspection of the audience. Mr. Jas. Lee then exhibited a hive of his own construction, in which he said there was no specially new design, except that it dis- pensed with plinths. As made, water coming in contact with the outside ran off' freely, as it did not always do with plinths. Its divisions or chambers were perfectly square, in order that frames might be hung parallel or at right angles to entrance. The specialty was — as seen by the small parcel shown — that the hive was made in the flat, and could be sent thus by parcels post, and afterwards easily put together without the use of nails. It weighed about 71b. in the flat, and the cost was 12s. 6d. A general conversation ensued on the merits of the hive ; Mr. Carr said he thought there was considerable ingenuity in the construction of the hive, which would no doubt make it a favourite with amateurs, who delighted in building up their own hives at home, while dispensing with the chief labour of joinering. Mr. Scattergood said he had carried one of these hives 300 miles on a lecturing tour, and had many times taken it to pieces and put it together again. The only doubt in his mind was whether it would be manageable in the hands of novices, though if Mr. Lee took the same trouble to instruct them as he had done him (Mr. Scattergood) he did not think there would be much to fear on that ground. In answer to a question, Mr. Lee said he intended to have directions printed regarding the hive which he had constructed in response to a question asked in the B.B.J, some two or three years ago — namely, as to whether there was a hive of that kind in the market. In further discussing the merits of the hive under notice, several gentlemen present ex- pressed their opinions as to the value or other- wise of dispensing with plinths, and, as bear- ing upon the subject, Mr. Carr — by request — showed specimens of an effective method of rendering plinths watertight by covering the joint well with paint, and sprinkling it thickly with sand while wet. Mr. Meadows next exhibited a swarm- catcher, which he said was a combined adapt a tion of the " Alley " trap and " Porter escape." By means of flat, delicate spring wire, similar to that used in the bee-escape, the bees could freely enter the hive without hindrance or damage to their load, their exit being amply provided for by the excluder zinc. Nothing could possibly get out of order, as might occur with hinged entrances. In the event of swarming the queen could enter the upper compartment, which might be fitted with frames of worked-out combs, or with " starters " of foundation. As shown, it was arranged for two frames, but could, at a slight extra cost, have any number. A separate entrance was provided for, so that the bees of the swarm might establish themselves and work quite independent of the parent stock or hive. The merits of Mr. Meadows' contrivance were freely discussed conversationally by Messrs. Cowan, Scattergood, Webster, Brice, and others, the general opinion being that the difficulty of these hivers arose from the springs or hinge-plates becoming blocked, or in various ways getting out of order when in use, and so either preventing free ingress to the incoming bee or allowing the queen to escape in the act of swarming. Mr. Cowan then begged to be excused for introducing a little novelty "made in Ger- many," which one instrument answered as a portable hand-smoker, a spray or powder dis- tributor, and in fact all sorts of purposes. It could be taken to pieces, and was most inge- niously made and fitted. The sprayer would eject water 3 yards, and was useful for spray- ing combs. When employed as a smoker, there was a little arrangement by which it could be fitted on to the coat sleeve, leaving March 26, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL, 123 both hands free for manipulations. The price was about 3s. 6d. Mr. Cowan then gave a practical illustration of the working of the instrument in its various forms. A general conversation ensued on the value of the exhibit, in which many of those present took part, and on being passed round for inspection, it was generally admitted that the little machine was admirably made, and a model of ingenuity. Mr. Taylor showed a cone-escape for hive roofs, fitted with springs like the Porter bee- escape. In the ordinary cone-escape it was found that the bees gradually accustomed themselves to pass in or out after a short time, a state of things which the escape shown pre- vented. He also exhibited a new form of honey jar made with a rounded edge, and fitted with a tin lid which, on pressure, would spring on and hold the contents quite secure. The bottle was perhaps not quite so good for show purposes as a taller one, although it was far better for table use, being handier for the spoon, which often became bent in the ex- traction of hard honey from deep jars. The jar was perfectly water-tight. The speaker next produced a swarm-catcher, which in some measure resembled that of Mr. Hole, but containing, as he thought, an improvement on the latter, so far as remedying the defect in the hinge-plates failing to act. The springs were on the " Porter " plan, fixed in small passage-ways of corrugated iron. The swarm- box as seen was fitted with six standard frames. Mr. Cowan said there seemed to be some confusion in talking about the " Porter " springs. The principle of the " Porter " bee- escape was to haveashallowandwidetunneljust deep enough for a bee to pass, and two slight springs nearly meeting at the free end, and just sufficiently flexible to allow a bee to pass out but not to enter. Those were the [ordinary springs, but those exhibited could not be properly called " Porter " springs. The objection was that, in a cone, the bees would push the spring aside and walk in. With regard to the swarm- catcher before them, he thought the corru- gated iron tunnels an improvement, as the bees must pass the springs singly, and were prevented from pushing the springs aside. After a few remarks from Messrs. Hooker, Taylor, and Carr, Mr. Cowan showed a number of lantern slides, which had been prepared by Dr. Percy Sharp, and sent by that gentleman for exhibi- tion. He would lay them on the table for the inspection of the company. The Rev. Mr. Bancks then exhibited some samples of honey vinegar, which were passed round for examination. He thought the pro- duction of this vinegar might be turned to account in the interests of bee-keeping, especially as he considered that as regarded flavour and aroma honey vinegar was superior to the general vinegar of commerce. The process of making the vinegar before them was extremely simple, and he thought every bee- keeper should be recommended to try it. If a demand could be obtained for that vinegar the bee-keeping industry would be greatly advanced. The Chairman said he had been indebted to Mr. Bancks for a sample of his honey vinegar, and since using it he could touch no other, as it was of a singularly mild and refined taste, and free from acid properties. After having spent a very enjoyable time inspecting and discussing the merits and demerits of the interesting exhibits shown, Mr. Cowan moved a vote of thanks to the Chair- man, and took the opportunity of informing the meeting that the proposed Bill with regard to foul brood was in a forward state, being then in the hands of the Parliamentary drafts- man, preparatory to being laid before the County Councils' Association Parliamentary Committee. He was also glad to say that Lord Thring, the Chairman, took a great interest in the matter. He (Mr. Cowan) desired to impress on all those present, as well as those not present, that they should use every means in their power to bring the matter before the members of Parliament for their boroughs and counties, and urge upon them the necessity of the Bill being passed. The Council of the B.B.K.A. would do all in its power, and they hoped that every bee-keeper would exert his individual influence to ventilate the subject, and talk about it to County Councilmen, and, if pos- sible, members of Parliament ; so that those in whose hands the power lay might know something of the matter, and the importance of it. Out of the 670 members of Parliament a large number had never heard of foul brood, and many knew nothing of bees ; and the same might almost be said of County Councillors. In conclusion, he said that the services of Mr. Jonas were highly appreciated by the members of the Association as a most able Chairman of the Finance Committee, upon whose energy and labours the success of the Association was obviously in a large measure dependent. Mr. Brice seconded Mr. Cowan's motion, ■which was carried. The Chairman, in briefly acknowledging the motion, desired, in the name of those present, to express his thanks to the gentlemen who had taken the trouble to bring their exhibits to the meeting. The proceedings then closed. MIDDLESEX B.K.A. At the annual meeting of above Association, (reported on p. 102), the following members were winners of prizes in the drawing that took place at its conclusion, viz. : — First prize (frame hive), Mrs. Todd, Finchley ; Mrs. Freeman, Halliford, and Mr. Marlow, Teddington, each 124 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 26, 1896. a rack of sections ; Mrs. Pawle, Harrow, Mr. Burrows, Southgate, Mr. Pollock, Hanworth, and Mr. Bridger, Hampton, each a bee- feeder ; Mr. Curtis, Hanworth, and Mr. Jonas, London, each 100 sections ; Mrs. Chowne, Shepperton, Mr. Jonas, London, Mr. Channon, Shepperton, Mrs. Priest, Hillingdon, and Major Fair, Teddington, each a parcel of comb-foundation. The names of Messrs. Botton and Savory were incorrectly reported as re-elected on the committee, these gentlemen having resigned. — Communicated. LANARKSHIRE B.K.A. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual general meeting of the Lanark- shire Bee- Keepers' Association was held in the Clydesdale Hotel on Saturday, the 21st inst., Mr. M'Callum, Hamilton, in the chair. The following officials were appointed for the ensuing year: — Hon. Pres., James Hozier, Esq., M.P. ; Pres., George T. Gordon, Esq., Tollcross ; Vice-Pres., William Brown, Esq., Larkhall ; Hon. Sec, John Stevenson, Merry ton Braes, Larkhall ; Assistant Sec, John Shaughnessy, Bellevue, Rutherglen. A general committee was also appointed for the season. Rutherglen and Cambuslang were both proposed for the annual honey show, but, on being put to the vote, Rutherglen was carried by a large majority, so that the show will next year be held in the " Royal Burgh." After a general discussion on matters more or less interesting to bee-keepers, a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman for presiding so ably in the chair brought a very enthusiastic meeting to an end. — J. Stevenson, Hon. Sec. ®,om%p\xfaML The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily f 01 publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. %* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, vdll oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. REMOVING SHALLOW-FRAME SUPERS. T2449.] Your correspondent, " Self Taught," (2446, p. 118) who has asked for help or advice from any one about taking off boxes of shallow frames, does not say whether he uses excluder zinc or not. I take it that he does not, be- cause of his describing how the frames were stuck to those of brood-nest and his trouble arising from lifting some of the latter up when removing the surplus honey. Well, I should say by all means use excluder zinc over frames of the stock hive in future ; also see that the spaces between side-bars of frames and the hive sides are not more than a regular bee- space, £ in. or T5f in. This done I think he would not be troubled with brace-combs. In tiering up, also, over the top of every box of combs, before adding another above, I almost invariably place one of the old excluders that I discarded years ago (about 12 in. wide). This narrow width leaves about an inch at each end of the frames, so that without inter- fering much with free passage-way, the zinc keeps the bees from joining the bottom of one set of frames to the top of the other. As regards plinths, I do not use them, my boxes fitting square on top of each other. Now about " Self Taught's " experience with the Wells hive ; certainly it would be too heavy for one man to lift off bodily, and as I seldom have any help I just get my smoker and give the bees a few puffs after uncovering them at the top, lift a frame out, and with a sharp jerk throw most of the bees on the large flight- board in front, when they soon run in. After removing two or three frames, if honey is still coming in, I substitute empty combs, just laying a piece of strainer canvas on top of bees while covering up the full combs in a box for removal indoors, after abstracting as many combs from super as are ready. I do not know what kind of material " Self Taught '' uses in his smoker that is " absolutely useless, or rather converts a fairly quiet hive into a horde of raging demons," but for myself I have found that old corduroy steeped, in a weak solution of saltpetre, and then allowed to dry, rolled up and well alight when using will always give a volume of smoke, that with- out hurting or irritating the bees, will make them move on double quick ; or as friend Sells used to say when I drove in the competitions years ago, " Walton has put their slippers on." A little caution is, however, necessary. Don't give so much smoke as to make the bees " boil over," as I call it. Last year I removed many boxes of shallow-frames clearing the bees out with the bee- escape, but some boxes worked with Standard size frames were, I thought, got off quicker by lifting them out one by one and shaking bees off as above, especially if I wanted to get some honey off at dinner-time, when a lot of the bees are out at work. — John Walton, Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington, March 21. REMOVING SURPLUS HONEY. DIFFICULTIES WITH SHALLOW-FRAME SUPERS. [2450.] In reply to " Self Taught " (2446, p. 118) I find the best way of removing lifts from single-wall hives in which shallow-frames are resting direct on the lift is as follows : — Let the plinths be screwed on, not nailed. These can then be taken off, and a wire passed between the brood chamber, and, lift to Iqosqh March 26, 1896.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. 125 the comb3 ; then have ready a round stick, about as thick as little finger, 3 in. longer than the width of brood-chamber. On this roll a cloth of unbleached calico, 1 in. less than stick in width, but 2 in. or 3 in. longer than the length of brood-chamber. Having got all the shallow-frames detached by the wire, lift the back of crate with one hand, and insert the roll of cloth under, and pass it along the top of brood frames, unrolling it as it goes, until about three-quarters over, then replace the crate on the cloth and proceed with the other end of crate, when the whole of the brood frames will be covered over. The crate can then be removed with the least distur- bance to the bees. A few will fly, but if done quickly these will not be troublesome. The crate should not be uncovered until the cloth has been rolled over the under frames. To remove the bees in crate, either use a Porter escape fixed in a board, and placed on the brood frames, removing the cloth, of course, and replacing the crate ; or let the cloth remain with crate on top and fix a cone escape in roof, uncover the crate and replace the roof, leaving all quiet for a few hours. — J. H. N., Watford, March 20. [2451.] After reading " Self - Taught's " letter of the 14th inst. twice, I laid down my B.B.J., fully concurring with him that " it is not easy to see what to do,'' unless he decides to alter his supers. It was a great mistake to make or buy supers which did not allow the proper bee space under the frames. Personally I would prefer making new supers, rather than work under such an inconvenience again. But if he does not care to go to this expense, why not try rubbing vaseline on the bottom bars of the frames 1 This would prevent both propolisation and brace-combs. I can quite understand the frenzy of the bees, after a super had been removed, by the application of great force, and more so when it was accompanied by several combs from the body box. When removing supers the operator's motto should be " gently does it.'' I often find the carbolised cloth effective when the smoker seems only to irritate the bees. I am working three Wells hives this season of a pattern I have adopted after two seasons' trial. Supers and everything fit well and work smoothly. I can remove them with the greatest ease. I hope to send you a drawing of it soon. It is very like the Wells hive made by W. P. Meadows, but not quite. I make my own hives. My Wells hives are made of the best yellow pine and co3t me about 6s. each ; consisting of floor-board, 3 ft. by 2 ft., body, 3 ft. by 18 in., to hold twenty frames, super to hold twenty frames (both double-walled), and shallow cover, truly a cheap hive, but then I get my wood cheap. I, too, have noticed bees diving down into the roots of the grass, and also combats on. the lighting board mentioned by W. R. Ni I concluded, in the first instance, that the bees were seeking water ; but it is only a sur- mise. In the second I have been much per- plexed, and I am totally unable to account for the bees fighting among themselves, for I feel sure they are of the same hive. It is more mysterious in that the offenders — shall I say cultivators of pugilistic propensities — are limited to one hive. Should you care to hear again from this remote corner of the world, I will write after I have made my spring examination. For the present I am in no hurry to do so, as the outside appearance of mo3t of my stocks tells me that " all's well." — Alfred J. Hutchinson, Millo?n, Oumb. TANGING THE BEES. [2452 ] It is the fashion nowadays to laugh at rustics for " Tanging/' though the practice, &% mentioned b y Aristotle (see B.B.J, of March 2, p. 110) and enforced by Virgil (Georg. iv., 64-66), appears to be universal wherever bees are kept. I have often laughed at my gardener for persisting in the absurd practice. But one day last year when I was expecting a swarm and had prepared a hive with frames and everything all ready, I happened to mention to him which hive I meant to put them into. When the swarm came out, he stood behind the hive rattling his poker and iron tray, and the swarm did of their own accord at once fly down and take possession of that hive. Of course this may have been sioaply a coincidence, but one such coincidence impresses one's mind more than a dozen failures. I propose to repeat the same experi- ment this spring whenever practicable, and will report the results at the end of the season, and if many other bee-keepers will do the same a mass of facts may be collected on the subject ; sufficient, perhaps, to contribute towards forming an induction. I may mention also that seven years ago I planted four apple trees in the centre of my bee garden — a small square — and of the seventeen swarms hived during last summer, ten had clustered in these trees. — C. C. James, Wortham Rectory, Diss, Norfolk. COMB-BUILDING BY NUCLEI. [2453.] The reference to the above subject in B.J. (p. 91, March 5, and 107, March 12) leads me to give my own experience in comb- building in 1895. I wanted to try if bees could in any way be induced to build-out comb3 with worker cells only, and resolved to try second swarms for the purpose. I accordingly arranged a hive holding six frames, each 16 in. by 10 in., and put in a second swarm. I also put two other casts or swarms from the same parent stock into hives fitted with standard frames. The swarm first men- tioned—aided by a little syrup feeding — worked hard on the six frames, and the young queen commenced laying, As time went on ( 126 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 26, 1896. inserted other frames, until they had com- pleted twelve frames without any drone-comb, except a few cells at lower edge of one or two combs. The other two swarms also worked out a good many. This trial leads me to believe that a second swarm will build out a very large number of worker combs if it has a laying queen and is not allowed to rear too much brood. This last point is important, for I remarked that when young bees begin to hatch out rapidly and in large numbers drone-comb building is commenced, and the bees also build drone-cells if the queen stops laying. In con- clusion, I should add that the first or top swarm that came off the parent hive was put on " starters " with a comb of honey, as it was a very small one, but they would build nothing but drone-comb and make prepa- rations for swarming again. — S. Crawford, co. Tyrone, March 18. [There surely must be some explanation — beyond what is mentioned above— for a top" swarm "building nothing but drone-comb," unless something was wrong with the queen. For the rest, we can readily understand second swarms and casts — put on frames fitted with starters only — building worker-comb as stated, especially if honey was not too plentiful at the time of hiving. — Eds.] ST. ALBANS SHOW. 'L2454.J The committee of Herts Bee-keepers, formed to co-operate for the success of this important exhibition, invite bee-keepers, who are willing to assist the work, in various parts of Hertfordshire, to send their names at once to J. H. New, hon. secretary, Local Com- mittee, Bee and Honey Department, 14, Essex- road, Watford. FOUL BEOOD LEGISLATION. [2455.] Referring to Mr. Cowan's remarks at the annual meeting of the B.B.K.A. as to informing Members of Parliament of the proposed legislation with regard to foul brood, may I suggest that each secretary of County Associations should write to the M.P.s in their respective districts, asking them to give their support to the measure when brought forward. As most M.P.s are members, and often vice- presidents, of County B.K. Associations, this would not be out of place, and might do a great deal of good towards securing their interest, which is so essential for a scheme like this. — R. Hamlyn Harris, Hambrook, near Bristol. COUNTY COUNCILS AND FOUL BROOD. [2456.] In report of annual meeting of B.B.K.A. in last week's B.B.J. I noticed that the opinion,of the County Councils will shortly be asked for on the foul brood question., Our local press is very favourable to bee- keeping, so I think of explaining matters through it, so that the Councillors may not be entirely ignorant of the case. You will be pleased to hear that even at this early stage the Duke of Bedford, who is also Chairman of the County Council, has interested himself in this matter. If we can still keep him interested, not only will the County Council be gained, but we shall also win a vote in the House of Lords. — Leonard Smith, Mstoiv, Beds. METEOROLOGICAL SUMMARY. February, 1896. Locality, Stoke Prior, Worcestershire. Height above sea-level, 225 ft. Rainfall, 0'4 in. Greatest fall in 24 hours, 0-22 in. on the 20th. Rain fell on four days. Max. shade temp., 53° on the 19th. Min. temp., 20° on the 26th. Max. shade temp, at 9 a.m., 49° on the 28th. Min. temp, at 9 a.m., 23° on the 1st. Frosty nights, fifteen. Max. barometer, 3052 on the 3rd. Min. barometer, 29 43 on the 20th. A mild month on the whole. Bees on the wing nearly every day. A large amount of pollen collected. Contracted entrances a necessity, owing to the inclination of bees to rob. Gooseberry bushes bursting forth. Apple and pear trees in bud. A steady barometer at the close. — Percy Leigh, Beemount. <$itmM and §t^ltw. [1439.] u Wells " Hives for Beginners. — I am just commencing bee-keeping, having had but one year's experience, and have been making a " Wells '' hive, intending to put two skeps on it this spring ; but, after seeing your advice to others situated like myself in late numbers, I feel rather inclined to discard it for this season, unless I can utilise it in some other way than as a " Wells " hive. 1. Can I do this and use it as two single- queened hives by cutting through centre and adding ends ? 2. Or can I divide it into two parts by putting in a thin division-board (not perforated), and working a stock in each brood compartment, with separate supers ? The hive takes twenty-four standard frames in all— twelve in each compartment. Would there be any objection to this plan ? Of course the hive could not be lifted off floor-board, but I have seen a hive similar to the above, and I think there would be considerable economy in heat and also in timber ; there would also be no draught through division-board, as there March 26, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 127 must be in perforated dummy of the " Wells " Live. 3. To whom must I apply for member- ship of county association, and should I get a visit from expert this spring ? 4. What are the chief difficulties in working the " Wells '' hive ? I should have queen-excluder in two separate parts, so that only one compartment would be opened at once. — Bluestone, Bugeley, Staffs. Reply. — 1. This would be making two distinct hives in every sense, so it is really only a question of " joinering." 2 j Yes, but — if not too difficult a job to manage — we should make the separation of the two stocks more complete by having the entrances at each end, instead of both being front. One main objection to these twin hives is that any dis- turbance of either stock affects both more or less. 3. The expert of the S.B.K.A., Mr. R. Cock, 19, Lichfield -road, Stafford, will furnish particulars wanted if written to. 4. The " difficulties " are not easy to define, but they include parting or separating swarms and queens, which come off simultaneously, and the more or less general knowledge of bee- management, which only comes of experience. [1440.] Enlarging Brood-Nests. — Melting Granulated Honey in Comb. — My hives are combination pattern, holding thirteen frames. On packing for winter I left eight and nine frames in each. The autumn being fine, they stored honey afterwards. I examined to-day (March 21) and find them fairly stocked with bees, and what appears to me far too much honey and not enough brood. There are four frames of sealed honey untouched. 1. Would it be right to take away some of the honey and give empty combs instead next to frames that contain brood ? and will this induce the queen to lay more eggs 1 I have also several frames of candied honey, which, of course, I cannot extract. 2. What can I do with it ? Would it do to melt the whole thing and take off the wax when cold ? and would the honey so dealt with be good for table use 2 It would do to give to swarms, but I do all I can to prevent swarming, and seldom have any but a good return of honey. I took sixty sections and four frames of extracted honey from some of my hives last year. — W. Todd, Oundle, March 21. Reply. — 1. Quite right ; but only remove one frame of the sealed stores at first opera- tion, and before inserting the empty comb next to brood — uncap a small portion of the food in comb next to the empty one inserted. Examine a week later to see if eggs are laid. If this is so repeat the operation on opposite side of brood nest. 2. Melt as proposed, but only to a sufficiently high temperature to bring wax to surface, otherwise the flavour of honey will be deteriorated. [1441.] Making Artificial Swarms. — I have four stocks of black bees in frame-hives. On examination a few days ago they were found to be very strong indeed — large patches of brood and plenty of stores. I am anxious to swarm them artificially and have four new hives prepared. Will you be kind enough to inform me in your next issue the earliest time it will be prudent to do so. We are having very fine weather and pollen is coming in very freely. — Aycliffe, Dover, March 23. Reply. — It is not advisable to make four swarms from four hives, as is apparently in- tended, unless the operation is deferred till weather becomes settled and warm. It would be far safer to make one artificial swarm from two hives, taking from one the queen and comb of brood on which she is found and putting this in new hive on the old stand. The combs and brood of the parent hive is then set upon the stand of the second hive, which latter is removed a few yards away. Thus of the two hives used for making the swarm, No. 1 furnishes the queen and bees, while No. 2 re-supplies No. 1 with bees to keep brood warm and raise a new queen in the latter. This plan may be carried out at end of April with strong stocks. [1442.] Bees in Hive-roof and in Immovable Combs. — We bought an odd lot of bees and some hives from a party leaving our neigh- bourhood, which said lot had been neglected for years past. They are most vicious bees, and the hive (a bar-framed one) had been so mismanaged that not a single frame could be raised for inspection, while the bees had free access to the roof, and in consequence had filled it with combs and honey. A surplus chamber with a vengeance ! After a lot of trouble we got the roof off and the bees out ; but the combs in the hive-body are all in a mass, and we can do nothing with them at all. We have an empty hive on hand, and thought of putting the one named above on the top of this, and letting the bees work down into it, as has been advised in your pages several times. 1. If you recommend this course, when should it be carried out, and when should the top one be remove d ? 2. How can we get the bees and combs out of the latter 1 — A Pair of Beginners, Roivde, Wilts. Reply. — 1. When the hive is fairly full of bees it will be ready for placing in position above new one. 2. Much will depend on the honey season as to removal, because the upper combs will be used for storage when brood- chamber is carried down to lower hive. As to getting bees out, a super-clearer would render the task easy ; but combs will require cutting out piecemeal after reversing the hive, cutting away side-attachments, and raising the hive-body away from'the mass of frames and combs. LECTURE ON BEE-KEEPING. On Thursday evening, March 13, the first of two lectures on the above subject was delivered in the school-room, Appleby, near 128 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 26, 1896. Doncaster, by Mr. F. J. Cribb, expert of the Line. B.K.A. The chair was taken by E. M. Sutton-Nelthorpe, Esq., and a good audience was deeply interested in the lecture, which was illustrated by a capital set of lantern slides, many of them being photographed by the lecturer, who took for his subject " Our Bees and their Hives.'' In concluding the lecture Mr. Cribb warned his hearers against foul brood, which was in the country, explain- ing what it was, how to recognise it, and what remedy to apply. He also showed several slides illustrating the bacillus alvei in its different stages, and the appearance of the comb affected. The remedy recommended was certainly an effective one, if rather drastic; the bee-keeper who discovered this disease in a hive being advised to close it up until the evening, and in the meantime to harden his heart like a steel file ; next, smother the bees with brimstone, and finally to burn the lot with the frames and combs, afterwards disinfecting the hive. At the close of the lecture the Chairman, who is also Chairman of the Educational Com- mittee of the County Council, addressed the audience, expressing the pleasure with which he had listened to the lecture, and observing that with regard to the means to be adopted for the extermination of this foul brood and kindred diseases, it was only to be done by all the counties co-operating together, and that if they would only follow the advice of the lecturer as regarding foul brood, it would soon disappear from the country. A hearty vote of thanks to the Lecturer and Chairman closed the meeting. — (Communicated.) (Mots from Ik Mm. Mattingley Vicarage, Heckfield, Winch- field, March 18. — All my hives (nine single and two " Wells ") have come through the winter successfully. No sign this year of dysentery. As "Wells" hives are still on their trial, I may mention that in mine every hole in both perforated dummies was carefully stopped with propolis by the bees (226 holes in each dummy). The propolis in upper holes was sufficiently thin to be able to show a little light through when held up to the window. Mr. Wells makes no mention of this drawback to his system, and apparently does not suffer from it. I attributed the propolisation at first to the fact that the bees, which I had put into the hives last autumn, were strangers to each other, but an expert tells me that the same thing has happened with him, where the bees had been in the hive for twelve months, and had worked together oomfortably all last summer without attempt- ing to close the holes of the dummy. I wonder can the season have anything to do with it, or the locality, or the race of bees. — H. Salter. Heeley, Sheffield, March 9. — My stocks are doing good work just now ; the very mild weather is enabling a lot of pollen to be gathered, and breeding has commenced generally. — P. B. Wood. Fordwich, Canterbury, March 19. —To-day, for the first time this year, pollen is coming in in large quantities. I have young drones flying from one of my best colonies. — Ned Swain. SONGS OF THE BEE. Poetry touching on the subject has from time to time appeared in your pages. I therefore venture to suggest that you should print a series of " Songs of the Bee," culled from all available sources, and doubt not your contributors will favour you with an excellent selection. I enclose one picked up the other day which might form No. 1. — D. M. M., Banffshire. N.B. " THE SONG OF THE BEE." "Buzz ! buzz ! buzz ! This is the song of the bee. His legs are of yellow, A jolly good fellow, And yet a great worker is he. In days that are sunny He's getting his honey ; In days that are cloudy He's making his wax ; On crocus and lilies, And gay daffodillies, And columbine blossoms, He levies a tax ! Buzz ! buzz ! buzz ! The sweet smelling clover, He, humming, hangs over ; The scent of the roses Makes fragrant his wings ; He never gets lazy ; From thistle and daisy, And weeds of the meadow, Some treasure he brings. Buzz ! buzz ! buzz ! From morning's first light Till the coming of night, He's singing and toiling The summer day through. Oh ! we may get weary, And think work is dreary ; 'Tis harder by far To have nothing to do." SEASONABLE QUESTIONS. AT WHAT AGE DO QUEENS LAY 1 Question. — Last season I had a colony that cast spveral smarms. Ten days after the last March 26, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 129 swarm issued I looked into the hive, but could see no eggs. Two days later I opened the hive to give them some brood, supposing them to be queenless, but now I found some eggs. Tbis would make the queen about twelve days old before laying. Is this common ? A nsiver. — As a general rule I expect to find queens laying when ten days old ; but I have found them laying when only seven days old, and had fecundity delay as long as twenty-four days. The young queen, when weather and everything is propitious, generally leaves the hive in search of the drones when she is from five to eight days old, the majority going on the seventh day to a successful mating. Some queens meet the drone on the first flight ; but the majority fly out and are gone a few moments, to return without mating — my opinion of this being that they fly a few rods from the hive at this time to carefully mark their location and void their fasces. The next time they fly they go for the sole purpose of their wedding trip, and they will usually be found laying in two days from this second flight, if the day is fine and drones plentiful. The time of the year and the state of the weather have much to do with the time a queen begins to lay. In early spring or during the fall, queens rarely lay till they are from twelve to fifteen days old ; and if a week or ten days of stormy, cloudy, and windy weather should happen to occur when any young queen is about five days old, she would not even attempt to leave the hive till she was from twelve to fifteen days old. Thus the questioner will see that what he gives is only a common occurrence. Many a queen-breeder has had stormy weather prevent the mating of queens till it would so happen that the queens from nearly all of his nuclei would fly out and begin to lay at about the same time, although such a state of affairs is not to his liking, as it means the destruction of many queen- cells which he hoped to save, and then a shortage of cells when he most wishes them, owing to his being obliged to send off so many queens all at one time. QUEENS BEING "BALLED." Question. — Last summer I had two swarms come out very nearly together. The first had a queen with its wing clipped, and the most of the bees had returned when the other issued, this last swarm having a queen with perfect wings. The swarm clustered and was hived in the usual way. In half an hour or so this swarm began leaving its hive and went straggling back to the parent hive. After a little I opened the hive and found a ball of bees nearly as large as my first on the bottom- board, and in this ball of bees was the queen. Why did these bees act in this way ? Ansiver. — In this question the writer has touched what has been to me one of the greatest nuisances in natural swarming, for I have had scores of very similar cases. Often, when I was about leaving; home for church or some other place, when time was precious, I have had swarms issue, I hiving them with the thought that I had done a nice thing in a little time ; but by the time I would get the horse hitched up and all ready to depart, the bees would begin to show a commotion and return to the old hive. If I had hived them on the old stand, as I generally do, they would scatter all over, going into other hives only to be killed, or received according to the condi- tion of the colonies where they went, this often keeping me at home, or making me so late that the pleasure of the trip was nearly or quite spoiled. I have carefully studied into the cause of such procedure, and believe it comes about by a few bees from other swarms or hives entering the new hive with the new swarm ; and as these bees are strangers to those composing the swarm, the queen is balled for safe-keeping till all get acquainted, or from some other reason best known to bee-ology. As soon as a queen is " balled " for any reason, the result is very nearly the same as would be the removal of the queen, which, a3 all know, is a stampede and general search for her. Failing to find her, their only alter- native is to go home, if they would preserve their existence; for staying where they are, without a queen, means that they go out of existence as a colony, when the bees which make up the present swarm cease to exist, from death by old age, or otherwise. Knowing that the supposed loss of the queen is the cause of the trouble, the only way to remedy the matter is to help them find their queen. This can be done by opening the hive as soon as the bees are seen to become agitated and fly out in the air, and smoking the ball of bees till they release the queen, when a general hum of content will be set up, the bees who have missed "mother'' running about with fanning wings, and those in the air returning to the hive with a general rejoicing. This once smoking generally restores quietude with the swarm ; but in exceptional cases the bees will re-ball the queen in ten minutes or so, when another stampede will occur, many bees now being likely to go home to stay, so that, do the best we can, our swarm is so weakened that they will be of little profit to us during that season. To obviate these exceptional cases, I made a few large flat wire-cloth cages, large enough so that they would cover quite a large part of the tops to the frames of the hive ; and when I had smoked the ball of bees until the queen was liberated she was put in this cage and placed over the frames. As multitudes of bees could now get near the queen, and the whole colony become aware of the presence of the queen among them, no more trouble would occur, the queen being liberated the next morning, when all was sure to go well. A frame of brood will generally hold the bees ; but as they sometimes " ball " the queen till she is injured, I prefer the cage. — G. M, Doolittle, in Gleanings, 130 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [March 26, 1896. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. setters or queries asking for addresses of manufac- turers or correspondents, 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 food 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 the date of iisue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt of their communica- tions. Mrs. L. (Lockerbie). — Recipes for Bee food. — We do not know the number of Bee Journal containing the special information asked for, though it has appeared several times over in various ways, and it is ob- viously impossible for us to print details of the special wants of readers, which we are glad to count by not a few thousands. All information, however, as to preparing bee- food, candy-making, medicating syrup, &c, appears in the hand-book, "Modern Bee- keeping," which may be had from this office for seven stamps. Shotter (Ilkeston). — 1. Ants in Honey House. — A good sprinkling of powdered naph- thaline will do as much as anything we know of to effect a riddance of these pests. 2. Managing Bees located at a Distance. — If the stocks are well supplied with food, no attention is imperatively needed until supering time — say, about first week in May. If food is getting short, your friend on the spot could give a cake of soft candy weighing about 21b., which would probably tide a stock over till natural food came in. 3. We should not advise open-air feeding under the circumstances. 4. Refer to back numbers of B.J. for candy-making. One recipe appears so recently as the 6th ult. (page 59). Third Year (Shrewsbury).- — Space between Top Bars and Surplus Chambers. — The space between bottom-bar of shallow- frames and tops of brood-frames should not exceed f in. Excluder Zinc. — Our preference is to lay the zinc direct on top-bars with the length of perforation running across spaces between frames. There is no need for framing the zinc. Bee-space. — By a "bee -space'' is meant just so much room as will pass a bee easily when on its legs. Practically this is about three-eighths of an inch. W. Little (Melksham). — A Beginners Queries. — 1. Excluder Zinc. — This is used for keeping queens out of surplus chambers. Ironmongers do not keep it, but any dealer in bee appliances will supply the right kind of metal. For full replies to other queries we must refer you to " Modern Bee-keeping," which will be sent from this office for seven stamps . A beginner cannot possibly get on without some sort of guide-book to assist him, and this is a cheap and good one. The Kev. W. E. Burkitt, Buttermere Bectory, Hungerford, is Sec. of the Wilts B.K.A. W. H. S. (Sparkbrook). — Adding Frames to Brood-Nest. — 1. On no account must shallow frames of comb be inserted between those of standard size when enlarging brood-nests. If the latter is too small, the shallow comb3 may, however, be used overhead for the purpose. 2. Preventing Swarming. — There is no certain means of doing this. Timely room, shade, and ventilation is very helpful in lessening swarming, as is also the keeping of young queens only ; but this is all that can be done. F. Knight (Holloway). — Bees in a London Suburb. — It is quite possible that bees would find forage in the locality named, as they have been known to do well at High- gate. A season's trial would, however, soon test the matter. April is the best month for purchasing stocks, and May for swarms. You could obtain either from any of the London dealers who advertise in our pages. 0. J. Barnett (Brynmair). — Spring Feeding. — 1. Bee, and box containing it, had escaped from envelope. 2. If the stock is now well supplied with food there is no need whatever for feeding. 3. Give an extra frame in centre as soon as four seams of bees are seen on the five combs now in hive, and a second five days later if weather is warm. Porto Rico (Garstang). — Dry Sugar-Feeding. — Since soft candy-making is now becoming so clearly understood by bee-keepers, and its advantages are so obvious, dry sugar- feeding has almost fallen into disuse. Besides, genuine Porto Bico sugar — the only kind really adapted for the purpose — is so difficult to obtain that we see no reason for using moist raw sugars as bee food. If there is the slightest predisposition to dysentery, the large proportion of molasses, or treacle, such sugars contain cannot but be injurious to the bees so far as tending to aggravate the mischief. E. Mourant (Jersey). — The Chapman honey plant can be had from Mr. G. Rose (see advertisement at foot of " Prepaids " column). H. M. (Tetsworth).— Chilled Brood— If you are quite sure the brood is chilled only (not foul), remove the combs of dead larvre, and contract the hive to only so many frames as the bees can cover. Percy Leigh (Stoke Prior). — Bee Candy.— • Sample received is an excellent candy, and the glazed case in which it reaches us admirably adapted for placing above feed hole in quilts when feeding bees. F. Bridgett (Stoke-on-Trent). — Feeding Bees. — Unless a properly-made feeder — as sold by dealers — is used, the syrup must be given in a wide-mouthed jar, which, after filling, has a piece of muslin tied tightly over the mouth and is then inverted over a feed-hole cut in the quilt covering top-bars of frames. April 2, 1896.1 THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. 131 (Mfarial, $jLaikt*, th\ THE COMING SHOWS. APPEAL TO EXHIBITORS. We invite the attention of bee-keepevs> appliance manufacturers, and exhibitors gene- rally to the three important exhibitions of tees, hive?, and honey, now arranged for and held under the auspices of the B.B.K.A., which may be said to inaugurate the show season of 1896. These are, first, the " Bath and West," men- tioned below ; second, the " Royal Counties " Agricultural Show at Eastbourne, June 9 to 12; and, lastly, the ''Eoyal" Show at Leicester on June 22, and five following days. At all of these exhibitions numerous and good prizes are offered for competition, not only for honey of the current year, but for the bee produce cf " any year ; " thus affording a chance for bee-keepers located in districts where June honey is not available. But besides this, the exceptional privilege is offered of entry fees being returnable in classes for new honey to those who, through a backward season, may be unable to stage their intended exhibits. We therefore appeal with confidence to readers, trusting that they will, for the good of the cause, make an effort towards securing a trood " start off'' for such shows as the above. The early date at which they are held severely militates against a very large entry, but it must be borne in mind that "those who help first help most," and we shall not, we trust, appeal in vain to those who have honey by them, or are looking forward to some of '96 in time. Appliance manufacturers, too, will we are sure, not hesitate about sending goods to these early shows for reasons which are obvious to those well-stocked with goods for the coming season. BATH AND WEST SHOW, ST. ALBANS. ENTRIES CLOSE APEIL 8. Bee-keepers should s^nd immediately for schedule to Mr. E. H. Young, sec. B.B.K.A., 12, Hanover - square, W. Entries close April 8, post entries April 15. It will be seen that uot a day is to be lost in securing schedules, sending entries, and persuading others to do likewise. Those who can get early honey will have a fine opportunity. BATH AND WEST SHOW. MEETING OF HERTS BEEKEEPFRS AT ST. ALBANS. By request of the British Bee-keepers' Asso- ciation, a meeting was held a few days ago in the Herts Advertiser Offices, St. Albans, Mr. F. W. Silvester in the chair, for the purposes of interesting the bee-keepers of Hertfordshire and adjoining counties in the forthcoming Bath and West of England Society's show, and raising funds for meeting the expenses inciden- tal in the exhibition of hives, honey, &c, on that occasion. The Chairman said, he hoped the exhibition would be made worthy of the county which was one of the pioneers in the bee-keeping movement. Mr. J. H. New, of 14, Essex-road, Watford, kindly consented to act as honorary secretary, and, subject to their consent, the following ladies and gentlemen were elected a committee with power to add to their number : — The Bev. Astley Roberts, Messrs. F. W. Silvester, J. Helsby, A. B. Lipscomb, W. C. Childs, Stobo Aston, J. H. Rogers, A. Payne, A. Lewis, H. S. Gibbs, R. Wailes, W. J. Sworder, Miss Selby, Miss Gayton, and Messrs. Gudgeon, Reynolds and Wait. It was resolved to ask Mr. G. N. Marten, J.P., to act as treasurer to the fund. The hope was expressed that the result of this movement and the exhibition would be the formation of a County Bee-keepers' Associa- tion. Another meeting was arranged to be held soon at Mr. Henry Gibson's office, and an appeal was drawn up inviting all interested to co-operate. STAFFORDSHIRE B.K.A. The annual meeting of the Staffordshire Beekeepers' Association was held in the Guild- hall, Stafford, on Saturday, March 21. Mr. W. G. Bagnall (vice-president), in the chair, and among others present were the Revs. J. D. Glennie, and A. R. Alsop, Messrs. P. Blair, R. Cock, J. H. Collier, T. Cooper, E. E. Crisp (hon. treasurer) ; J. R. Critchlow, G Farrington, E. Gilman, W. Stendall, E. W. Tumor, H. E. Twentyman (hon. secretary) ; W. Williams and H. G. Wilkes, members of the committee ; G. Dale, A. Goldsmith, W. E. Gould, J. Pellinaton, W. H. Scarlett, E. TUt, J. Wallis, Mr?. Stendall, Mrs. Capner, Miss fctubbs, and others. The Chairman, in referring to the annual report and balance-sheet, said their credir, balance on the year's working was somewhat reduced from that of last year, the loss beiog due to the fact of the entries at their annual show being less numerous than in 1894, and the extra expenses owing to the distance, of the exhibition ground from the town. Then they had to consider the fact that in some parts of the county a very bad year for honey was experienced. The late hon, sec, Mr. Twentyman, feeling compelled to resign the office, it was stated that Mr. E. Crisp (hon. treas ), had expressed his willingness to act until a permanent secretary could be found. Mr. Crisp then submitted the financial state- ment, which showed that the year commenced with a credit balance of £19, 7s. lid. The total receipts amounted to £50. 2s. 5d., and 132 THE BRITISH BEE JOUENAL. [April 2, 1896. the expenditure £18. 17s. 9d., so that, allowing for a deficit of £20. 5s. on the West Bromwich show account, there wa3 a balance of £10. 19s. 8d. left in the treasurer's hands. Mr. Crisp explained that if the outstanding subscriptions had been paid, it would have placed them in as good a financial position as last year. The entrance fee? at West Bromwich were £2. 33. 6d. less than they were at Stone, and the expenses £5. 14s. 4d. more. A discussion then took place upon an item in tli3 report referring to foul brood and to compensation for destruction of diseased stocks of bees, and ultimately it was resolved that the question of payment by the Association for destruction of foul brood be left in the hands of the committee. The report and statement of accounts were approved and adopted. Mr. Crisp then read the report of the Expert (Mr. Cock), detailing very fully the work performed by him for the Association during the past year. The late hon. sec, Mr. Twentyman, next read his own report, in the course of which he said it was with reluctance that he tendered his resignation, because the work had afforded him much pleasure, and he was conscious of the good feeling which the committee had extended to him in spite of many shortcomings in this the first office of the kind which he had held. The report was adopted, as was also a reso- lution, moved by the chairman, that an ex- pression of regret at the resignation of the hon. secretary be embodied in the report of the Association. Mr. Twentyman had filled the office with credit, and they all thanked him heartily for his services. The retiring officers and committee (with the exception of Messrs. Wood and Yarde, who retired) were re-elected, and the proceed- ings closed with the usual votes of thanks. — (Communicated.) ABOUT OUR BEES. BY HENRY W. BR1CE. X. NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL INCREASE. As the season advances, and our colonies increase in strength, the question arises, are they going to swarm I Except in a few cases it may be said that natural swarming is one of the most unprofitable phases of bee-keeping, and the most anxious thoughts of the bee- keeper are at certain seasons devoted to methods of prevention. When honey begins to come in real earnest, swarming is the most undesirable thing that can happen in an apiary devoted to honey production. To those who make sale of swarms their chief business, the "swarming mania'' is of course a blessiDg ; but for the honey-producer — absent, may be, at business for the greater part of the day — it must, if possible, be avoided. That swarming cannot always be prevented I admit, but in a very large majority of case3 I mean to say that swarming from bar-frame hives is mainly the fault of the bee-keeper. In other words, it shows a lack of proper and timely supervision on his part. A strong stock can easily be made to swarm during the honey season by introducing a ripe queen-cell, as I have proved (and lost the swarm, too, in proving it). But the experiment clearly demonstrated that the absence of ripe queen-cells is the main factor in preventing swarming. The question then arises how are we to avoid ripe queen-cells in the hive 1 Before replying, we must consider under what circumstances queen-cells are started, because three con- ditions require to be dealt with, viz., old queens, want of room in the brood-chamber, and lack of ventilation ; and as long as any of these are present, so surely will bees swarm. Let these three conditions be absent, and there will be no natural swarming if the right sort of bees are kept. Bees may build embryo queen-cells, but it Ins yet to be proved that a queen Avill lay an egg in them while there are empty worker-cells available. For myself I do not believe she will. In fact, I am positive that if there are empty worker-cells in the hive the queen will never look at queen-cells, and so far as she is concerned they will remain untenanted. That the bees may place an egg in an embryo cell is possible, but if they do then one of the adverse conditions above-mentioned will be present. I say, then, to those who don't want artificial swarms, keep only young queens, give plenty of room in brood-nest by the aid of supers and abundant ventilation. To those who require swarms, well, the answer is obvious. JSTo bee-man fails to admit the pleasurable excitement caused by a natural swarm " coming off." The hum of thousands of bees on the wing is always a delightful sound to him. Even the rattling of pots and pain to many lend an additional charm to the scene, and watching ,the bees cluster on a top branch of a high tree, far beyond easy reach, may provide a not too pleasing variety to the occasion to non-adventurous minds ; but to the man away at his work while all these charming incidents are happening, and who, on his return home, learns that the swarm — inaccessible to his women-folk— stayed till " ten minutes ago," and then departed to fields and pastures new ; for such a one I say it is wonderful how little he appreciates the beauty of the late proceedings on the part of the bees, and how unreasonable he is in bewailing his loss. The more one studies this swarming busi- ness, however, the more is the fact forced home that bees will not swarm " naturally :' unless compelled by stress of circumstances to relin- quish that which is most dear to all living creatures, i.e., "home." To those possessing out-apiaries, the question is of the utmost im- April 2, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 133 portance. Swarming, except in the few cases indicated, is not, to my mind, an indication of progressive bee-keeping, but it shows how regularly undesired swarming entails certain loss on those who are plagued by it. With such bees as carniolans the utmost care and watchfulness is necessary, owing to their very rapid rate of increase. But once the ''swarming-fever'' has taken possession of any variety of bees, it is a most difficult task to stop it other than by artilicially dividing the stock ; in which case it is practically good-bye to profit so far as honey. Another potent factor which leads to swarming is an abundance of drones in the hive ; although it in no way follows that because drones are present in a hive the bees will swarm. Re- stricting the male element of the population to small proportions, however, has much influence on swarming. Supposing, then, a swarm has issued, and the bees have clustered within easy reach, place a cloth on the ground (or a large board will do), grasp your hiving-skep by the " handle " at top, and hold its mouth uppermost beneath the swarm. A sharp shake of the bough, and the bees drop in ; now gently turn the same over on to the cloth or board, and raise it up on one side by means of a stone, to allow the bees plenty of ventilation, and the stragglers to run in. if we have secured the queen the flying bees will soon join her, and gather in. Shade the skep until the evening, and then proceed to re-hive them in a frame-hive. If, however, we have not secured the queen the bees will soon be out of the skep again, in which case ■we shall have to repeat the operation. In preparing the frame-hive for their recep- tion I always give a strong swarm six frames of foundation, and one of brood, and have never had a swarm reissue, even when the queen has been missing. The affection of bees for young brood is most marked, and, coupled with the fact of their consciousness that they have the material at hand from which to raise a new queen, seems sufficient to restrain the most recalcitrant swarm from deserting a new home. Second swarms, if fairly large, often make good stocks by care, but casts or third swarms should under any circumstances be returned, keeping them in a cool place till the evening. They are not worth hiving separately ; they ruin the parent stock, and are generally worthless. Feed all swarms for a few days after hiving, and longer if weather is bad. Having got the swarm quietly established as an independent colony, and presupposing that no second swarm is wanted, it becomes necessary to turn our attention to the parent colony. Herein we shall find queen-cells in various stages of development, and it requires theinterference of the bee -keeper in selecting the cell which shall produce the new queen. All cells but one should be destroyed and in choosing that one make certain that it is built on a larva under three days old. My own practice is to remove all sealed cells as doubt- ful, and to choose an unsealed one, destroying the larva' in the remainder. I thereby cause all the nurses to give strict attention to the one and always with satisfactory results. Other celh will be built, no doubt, but after an examination two or three days later, if the chosen one is progressing favourably all others are removed. Happy the bee-keeper whose honey harvest is not spoiled by natural swarms, for when the flow is over he can swarm his bees artificially, and so get all the increase he desires. Division of stocks is also absolutely necessary for raising new queens to take the place of those over two summers old. So far as queen-rearing — my recent articles on the subject may be still fresh in my readers' minds, but I hope later on to add somewhat to the subject to bring the matter fully "up to date." In considering artiScial swarming, I do not propose to deal with this operation from skep*. It may do for those who are located in places where bee-disease is unknown, but foul brood is so rampmt in many districts and the skep so difficult of investigation, that the risk of making artificial swarms from diseased stocks renders the practice, in my opinion, bad. To make artificial swarms from frame-hives is a far different thing. Here everything is open to us, and if we make a mistake it is mainly our own fault. Do not attempt to make three or four stocks from one or the result will be failure, however strong the colony may be. Two can be made from one, or better still, three from two. In the former case, move the parent hive to a new stand a few feet away, and place the new one on the old stand. Previously furnish it with five or six frames of comb for preference, or with full sheets of foundation. Combs are the best, as no time is lost, and these should be built out in anticipa- tion in the early part of the season. Now go to the old stock and take one frame of brood and the queen, and place it in the centre of the new hive and pack warmly down. Close up the frames of brood in the old hive (now queenless), and carefully feed both stocks. 'Hie old stock may, subject to the supervision already mentioned, be left to re-queen them- selves ; though valuable time would be saved if we have a young queen to hand to intro- duce after the lapse of twenty-four hours. Thus the Hying bees, or foragers of the hive, return fci the old stand and constitute the " swarm,'' while the young bees, who are the nurse bees, raise a new queen from the brood left with them in the old hive. To make three colonies from two, take four or five frames of brood and eggs (but no bees) from a strong stock, brushing the bees off into the hive t) which they belong; close up the remaining brood combs, and give empty combs outside in lieu of removed ones ; place these beeless combs into a new hive, which takes the place of another strong stock removed to a fresh stand for the 134 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 2, 1896. purpose. The new hive will receive all the flying bees from the last-removed stock. In moving frames of brood from the first stock find the queen, and do not interfere at all with the frame she is on, but choose others for the purpose. All operations of this descrip- tion, entailing the exposure of brood, must be carried out in warm, settled weather— about mid-day, but on no account later than 3 p.m. Keep the hives open no longer than necessary. Feed all divided stocks. (To be continued). fymmymkntt The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn oil separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. \* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. SUPER FOUNDATION. BEES REFUSING TO WORK UPON IT. [2457.] Kindly excuse me for again troubling you in regard to this comb-founda- tion business, but I find from correspondence addressed to me that the failure I complained of in the Bee Journal of January 9, '96 (p. 14), extends to England and Scotland. And what is of much importance is the fact that complaints ars not confined to the super- foundation of any one manufacturer. It is thus a matter that may come home to any one ; and I much wonder why bee-keepers, ■who have been sufferers more or less, will not by publication of their failure help to correct it, and not leave it entirely on one individual to do so. Now that the season of '96 is near, I point out an easy way of preventing being imposed on, in the future, in the way of adulterated, or what is just as bad, of unadul- terated foundation, contaminated by some lubricant in the foundation mill. The cor- rection is very simple, and in where the failure points to the foundation, a publication of the failure together with the name of the manufacturer of the foundation. 1 will ask inexperienced bee-keepers to remember that perfectly unadulterated foundation may be rendered just as objectionable to bees as that which is adulterated by being contami- nated by contact with some lubricant in the making. And then, not to be misled by the offer of a maker wbo gives a guarantee that his particular foundation is unadulterated, and challenge analysis in case of failure ; remember analysis may show the foundation unadul- terated, but entirely fail to show that it was contaminated by contact with something objectionable to the bees. Publication, then, only will ensure that neither form of objec- tionable foundation be given by any dealer. And no bee-keeper wants either an analysis or tbe opinion of an expert to know when he gets wrong foundation ; he can satisfy himself at any time he sees foundation refused under favourable conditions, by using foundation of another maker alongside that refused and observing the result. In common justice, however, I strongly object to any dealer pointedly alluding in his advertisement to the super foundation which I complained of in your pages as being <: adulterated," unless he has by analysis proved it to be so. I sent a sample of the refused? oundation to the dealer I refer to at his own solicitation, in accordance with my offer to send the same to anyone asking for it, suggesting that he should have it analysed, but refusing to name the dealer from whom 1 got it. Under those circumstances I do not tbink it right to identify me with the assertion that the foundation I complain of was abso- lutely adulterated, as until the contrary is proved, I believe it was only contaminated by soap in the making, as a lubricaut. So far as the matter affects bee-keepers, by bees refusing foundation, contamination in lubricating is as bad as adulteration. Yet they are two widely different matters, as regards the dealer's honesty, so I will then ask that this adver- tisement of his be revised by the advertiser alluded to. — T. Kirwan, co. Galway, Ireland, March 28, 1896. THE DAIRY SHOW OF 1896. ADDITIONAL CLASSES FUND. [2458.] A considerable sum has been pro- mised for the above object, and several dona- tions already received. I am also glad to say that the Council of the B.B.K.A. at once saw the advantage to the honey producer of what has been proposed, and agreed to take the matter up by handing it over to their Exhibi- tions Committee for dealing with. I have therefore sent on to Mr. E. H. Young, secretary of the B.B.K.A., the names of those gentlemen who kindly responded to my invita- tion and promised to assist in the good work. It now remains for honey producers and bee- keepers generally to come forward and support the movement, which I believe will be the means of securing three or more extra classes at the coming Dairy Show. — H. W. Brice, Thornton Heath, March 28. CLEARING SHALLOW-FB1ME SUPERS. [2459.] In reply to "Self Taught V (2446, p. 118), appeal to bee-keepers to help him in removing above, I would advise him to adopt April 2, 1896. THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 135 my plan of clearing bees from supers placed on hives for clearing-up — a notice of which is to be found in p. 37 of the B.B.J, of January 24, 1895. This would enable him to remove those frames that are not fastened to the tops of frames in lower story ; the others could then be operated on by cutting. He will find tlvs plan an easy and most effectual way of getting rid of the bees, without risk of annoyance, and the whole operation should not take many minutes. — Jno. Hall, high Blantyre, N.B., March 28. BEES AND BKOOD DYING. A PUZZLING DIFFICULTY. [2460.] Enclosed herewith is a piece of comb and bees from a hive of mine, which I am quite at a loss to understand ; and if you can assist me in arriving at some explanation I will be much obliged. To help you in thi?, I may say two of my hives (which I will call 1 and 2) stand close together. Early in 1895 No. 1 was a strong stock on nine frames, but about the middle of April the bees began to die off very fast. Then they started throwing out nearly full-grown brood, just as a stock would do if suffering from hunger. But they had food in abundance. Some days hundreds of bees were put out. I did not suspect foul brood, as I could see neither signs of it nor detect any bad smell ; so I set it down to lack of vitality in the queen, and I deposed her, putting in a queen-cell, which hatched all right, and the trouble from that day disappeared. So far for No. 1. No. 2 was also a good stock last year, so I proposed to let it swarm and utilise all the queen-cells I could secure from it after swarm- ing, as I wanted some young queens at the time. This was done, but unfortunately the young queen left to head the parent stock never got fertilised. I had no other queen- cells by me, and therefore decided to remove the barren queen and make a nucleus colony from No. 1— as drones were plentiful at the time — and join the surplus bees and queen to the now queenless bees of No. 2. This was all successfully accomplished, the st)ck doing well in a super during the heather seasoD. They were put up fir winter in splendid con- dition— plenty of both bee* and stores. About the end of January of this year, however, the bees began dying off again, hundreds being thrown out every week since, till at the present time there are scarcely enough bees to cover four frames. There are no signs of dysentery, and their stores (mostly heather honey) are all sealed over. If it is foul brood, why are there not more affected cells ? Last year, after I had re-queened No. 1, and— as I thought — all was perfectly right again, combs from both these hives were exchanged about amongst other hives with no bad results. The nucleus made from No. 1 is now a prosperous stock, the bees o?cupying the hive in which No. 2 lot were last summer ; while the hive in which bees of No. 1 formerly were likewise now contains a strong stock. There is also no want of ventilation in the hive. — A Ten Years' Bee Man Puzzled. [There is nothing in comb to explain the bees dying or brood casting complained of, brood being quite healthy and plentiful. Beyond seeing to the conservation of warmth by contracting the hive and adding to cover- ings, there seems nothing further to be done but wait till swarming time, when, if the trouble continues, we should re queen the stock. It would not surprise us, however, to learn that the bees get on all right when new honey begins to be gathered. — Eds.] BEES IN BANFFSHIRE. A LADY BEE KEEPERS REPORT. [2161.] It is now more than a year since I sent you an echo from our hives (I have no doubt had I netted another 1,009 lb. of honey you would have heard of it long ago), but seeing some weeks ago a letter from "D. M. M.," -Banffshire, L thought I might also send you some account of our bee-doings since I wrote last, since I also am a Banffshire bee-keeper. I cannot say that last year was particularly good, yet we had over 450 lb. of fine honey. The weather broke in this district just as the honey flow came on, and there was not for any length of time the continual sun- shiny days which are necessary to a good honey harvest. But hope springs perennial in a bee-keeper's breast, and I am already hoping to have a better report to tend you for 1896. What has become of my bee friends, Mrs. Harrison, "Bee Kay," and "Beta"? I hope they are bee-keepers still, though somewhat silent ; for of all hobbies there is none will give more pleasure (and profit too) than bee-keeping, except flowers, and with them it is pure pleasure, minus the profit, which is always a consideration in the family of a working man. I think I must tell you about a new hive I invested in, which I call the Princess of " Wells,';it holds thirty frames, is divided into six compartments, on the " Wells " system, and is purely and simply a wintering hive. We have always had in onr apiary some skep3, as L greatly enjoy the swarming lime (no drone traps or swarm catchers for me, I always catch them myself), and the swarms come in handy, to fill up any hive3 that may have given out from various causes (never, though, from foul brood, which does not come so far north, nor from the disease through which, I was sorry to see, D. M. M. lost his hive). Well, I intended the "Princess" for several swarms, so that in the spring, should any of my stocks show signs of spring dwindling (as also they have often done) I would unite with them one of the stocks from the Princess, 136 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 2, 1896. headed, as all would be, by young queens. As I was rather late in the season in getting the hive, we only managed to fill four of the divi- sions, so that this year would scarcely be a fair test, as one great advantage for safe wintering would be the heat on both side3 of at least the four stocks in the centre. Our bees were all out very lively on some of the May days we had in the beginning of February, and were carrying in pollen (not in the big balls seen later on), but pollen all the same. I was astonished to see at two hives young bees being cleaned on February 11, and could scarcely believe it possible at this (to us) early date. I have now eighteen single hives, one " Wells," seven skeps, and last, but not least, the "Princess" — thirty-one queens in all. If a good year, I trust to be able to send you a good report ; but there, it's time I had finished. "Wishing the Journal a prosperous year, and every success in its invaluable work among bee-keepers. — A Scottish Cousin, March 23. P.S.— I was pleased to fee"D. M. M.'s" letter some time ago anent the S.B.K.A., being also a member of that short-lived society. What did it die of, I wonder ? Was there no honey (money) in the hive, or was it spring dwindling % FOUL BROOD. COMPULSORY POWERS. [2462.] No one who has paid attention to the reports concerning the action taken to obtain legislative power in dealing with foul brood will hesitate to acknowledge the debt of gratitude due to the B.B.K.A. Special Committee for their untiring efforts in the direction above referred to, and many besides myself will doubtless regret if full jjowers cannot be secured. We shall, however, get what the Special Committee are satisfied is the fullest power obtainable, and must be content with the conviction that, without obtaining all that i.s really desirable, we shall have a means of doing much good ; while an impetus will be given to the bee-keeping industry by the valuable advertisement, which this particular movement must be, of the work being done by the British and affiliated Associations. I am induced to write on this well-worn topic because of a recent experience. On January 31st I went to a, village less than a mile away, along with a friend, to examine a suspected stock which was found to be badly affected with foul brood, and in consequence we advised immediate destruction, and left satisfied that the advice would be acted upon. But no, the heart of the owner was hardened, and not until a fortnight ago was this source of danger removed. My friend, Mr. Brown, who destroyed it, looked round a neighbour- ing apiary, and fouud there another badly alfected stock which was destroyed without a murmur of protest. It is not easy to say wlia/ similar trouble has yet to be unearthed in the district, as those conversant with the nature of the disease are aware. Last autumn I went by request to assist a bee-keeper to remove some stocks into Cambridge from a village near, but finding them in a terribly bad state, I declined to be a party to their removal and, after som? hesita- tion on the part of the owner, was allowed to destroy the comb?, &3., on the condition of saving the bee?. A few days later the owner informed me that he had consulted a " com- petent authority," who stated that the stocks need not have been destroyed. Who this " authority" is I cannot find out. These stocks were brought some time ago from Kent into a village where I know no disease was previously heard of. If necessary I could add other cases in Cambs and elsewhere worse than this, which makes me pity those who, through indifference, or worse, on the part of owners of infected apiaries, may have now to regret starting the hobby or increasing their apiaries by purchased stocks. If the powers to be conferred by the Bill now being drafted are to be exercised by County Council?, action should be possible whenever and wherever a really " competent authority" declares the disease to be in exist- ence.— C. N. White, Somersham, Hunts, March 26. DEALING WITH FOUL BROOD. [2463.] The other day I examined my hives to ascertain their condition and to satisfy myself that they had. ample provisions. Whilst doing so I was shocked to find that one had foul brood very badly. There were no less than four frames which had large patches of dead larvae and the bees were very reduced in number — a wonder they lived through the winter at all. I at once destroyed bees and combs and disinfected the hive. I was very surprised to see what havoc this fearful disease had worked in so short a time, though I suppose the queen commenced to lay very early this year. I used a piece of the foul-broody comb to inoculate a test tube of gelatine, obtained from the Office of Health, in order to propagate the bacillus alvei, as I am studying its growth in different stages under the microscope. — R. Hamlyn Harris, Bristol. dfhtcries mi lilies. [1443.] Feeding under Floor-boards.— Some two or three years ago in Bee Journal, Mr. John Walton, of Leamington, reported how he fed his bees in the spring under the April 2, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 137 frames instead of on top. I should be glad if Mr. Walton still feeds in this way, and if so, will he kindly explain his methods for the benefit of others ? I should say this is a good way of feeding in spring, as it does not allow any escape of heat from the brood-nest — a most important item in cool weather. Spreading Brood. — 1 see Mr. Brice does not advocate the spreading of frame3 and uncapp- ing of stores in early spring. Do I understand him rightly, that there is no need whatever for stimulative feeding, providing that the stock is well provided with enough store3 to carry it on until honey begins to come in ? Mr. Brice aho advices the use of brown paper for smoker fuel instead of bagging. I have always used the latter, as paper either did not keep alight or was all burnt out in a very short time. Has Mr. Brice any particular way in charging his smoker with paper so as to keep it alight for a good time, and would he give the dimensions of his fire-chamber, and where one could obtain a good smoker ? Broad-shouldered Frames. — Mr. Woodley, in 'his " notes " on page 64, advises " Self Taught" to have top-bars of frames If in. wide ; would he please say if he ha3 altered the dimensions of his top-bar from l-,1^ in. to 1£ in. ? because, some time ago, he advocated l-rViQ- as the width for top-bar. Does he use the same kind of frames for extracting ? 1 do not see why the frames could not be made so a3 to exclude the queen altogether from going up into the supering chamber. He might also kindly say how " strong lye " is made for cleaning tin separators ? Bearing Queens. — I have difficulty in rearing a young queen in the parent hive under the following circumstances. Say a stock swarms and you wish to dispose of the old queen and rear another in it3 place. I proceed as follows (but have failed in every instance) :— First : Stock swarms. I then secure it in skep. Second : I open parent hive and cut out all queen-cells but the best one. Third : Secure and dispose of old queen in swarm, then return swarm to parent hive. I then expect them to settle down to work and rear the queen left for them in the cell. But no ! in about eight or nine days' time out come the bees again, headed, 1 suppose, by a virgin queen. After securing swarm I examine hive and find they have gone in for another batch of queen-cells. I cut them all out and return swarm again, when they will very probably settle down to work. What makes them start more queen-cells when one is left for them ? I wish to avoid the second bother with them and also the risk of losing the swarm (as I have done) when they come out the second time, as they are more liable to start clean off with a young queen. Perhaps some one will be able to tell me where the blunder comes in. Girders for Section Baclcs. — What is the best kind of girders to use in making racks, wood or tin 1 The advantage of the latter is that it allows of a bee-space under, there- fore lessening the risk of bee-crushing, while the rack is not attached to the frames so firmly by the bees. This latter fact makes the rack easier for removing when filled. On the other hand, with wood girders the sections fit together closer in the rack, and the sections come out freer from propolis, and some say " squarer " than when tin girders are used. Nuclei. — When forming nuclei to rear young queen to replace an old queen later on, should the nuclei be formed close to the hive that is to be re-queened 1 And what is gene- rally done with the two or three frames of bees left in the nuclei ? After taking out the queen, and you have no further use for the nuclei, should they be united to the stock at the time of introducing the young queen ? Manipulating Bees. — What is the best time of day for manipulating bees ? I have seen some advocate early in the morning, while others prefer the evening— six o'clock and after. Personally I have always found them quieter to be handled between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. One thing that favours the latter time is that a lot of them are out in the fields, therefore you have not such a bulk of bees to deal with. — An Anxious Bee-keeper, March 27, 1896. [As our correspondent addresses his rather " large order " in queries to certain of our contributors, we leave those gentlemen to kindly send us brief replies, which we will supplement as needed. — Eds.] [1444]. Combs in Skep Broken down in Transit. — 1. Will you kindly inform me whether the bee in the accompanying pill-box is a queen, or only a larg;e-sized worker 1 If a queen, can you tell if she is old or young, and has she been impregnated ? I may say that about three weeks or a month back I received two skeps of bees from the country, which I placed on an outlying piece of land belonging to me, about four miles north from here. The skep3 came up in a properly-packed crate (bottom upwards) but got terribly knocked about in the transit. One skep was about two years old, and full of comb and honey ; the other a last year's swarm, with combs only built about half way down and very new and white in appearance. It had, however, plenty of bees and stores. This last skep suffered most, for all the combs were shaken from their fastenings, and on reversing the hive in setting it on the stand they all fell to the bottom. I fixed the combs up edgewise as well as I was able, and left them to their fate. I have visited them several times since, and bees of both skeps appeared to be working freely on fine days. I ought to mention that in the other hive only one comb — about the size of a cheese plate— was dislodged. This I took 'quite away, as there was plenty of honey left. On visiting the hives yesterday, I found the bee now tent on the ground in front of the hives. There were other dead bees in 138 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 2, 1896. the immediate vicinity, but all very much smaller in size than the one now sent. 2. Can you advise as to what I had best do in the matter of skep with broken down combs ? — H. K. L., Hornsey Rise, N., March 27. Reply. — 1. Bee sent is not a queen, but a worker. A closer inspection of the dead insect would have shown our correspondent the wax flakes between each segment of the abdo- men, which of itself proved the bee a worker, and also the undaunted readiness with which the poor little creature was preparing to make good the damaged combs by secreting wax for repairing purposes. 2. The combs had best be left as they are, so long as the bees seem to prosper. In good time they will probably swarm, in which case we hive the swarm and, twenty-one days later, when the combs are entirely free from brood, separate them from oor-board by pulling a " cutting wire " under skep to sever the attachments. Then turn up the skep, and drive bees out in usual way, hiving them as a swarm. [1445.] Number of Frames for Brood- chambers. — I have two stocks of bees, one of which an expert told me on March 14 was queenless. J, therefore, ask : — 1. When would be the best time to procure a queen from a distance, as I should like to introduce new blood into my apiary. The expert also told me to remove coverings from the tops of the frames, take off all the winter packing, and leave the hive top open to dry on a fine day. The coverings are not wet, but a little damp with the heat of the bees. 2. Should I do this ? The other hive is boiling over with bees which do not seem to have room enough. They covered eight frames in middle of March. 3. Should I give them any more room or not, as they are breeding very fast? The gentle- man I have mentioned advised me not to give them any more room in the brood-chamber, but put a queen-excluding dummy at the back of frames and fill the rear part of hive up with comb foundation. This would mean putting in seven more frames behind dummy as it is a 15-franie hive. I myself thought of giviDg two more frames in brood-chamber eojv and two others later on, and so on till the hive was quite full of brocd. Then put on qucen-esr.luder over brood, and woik •shallow- frames and sections for surplus honey. 4. Kindly let me know if the fifteen frames will not be too much room for the brood I I have had no honey from either, and have fed both from the brst. They have not much food leit, so I am giving candy to them now. I have been examining the old stock to-day, and find there is brood in several stages. I watch the B.B.J., but do not see any case like mine. — Novice, Fentijrch, < ardiff. Reply. — 1. If you really desire to re-queen the hive for the purpose of introducing new blood — the sooner a queen can be got the better— but the stock is evidently not now queenless, as shown by your inspection of the hive on the 14th. 2. There is no positive need for it, but drying quilts in the sun (if damp) en a warm day is conducive to the comfort and health of the bees. You must, however, keep the hive well covered down while drying wet quilts to keep in the warmth. 3. Give additional frames in brood-nest till you have ten or eleven well occupied with brood ; then prepare for supering overhead. If you want room for honey storing in rear of brood-chamber, give more frames there in summer, not in spring. 4. We consider ten or eleven frames quite sufficient for brood- chamber, if occupied almost wholly with brood and not honey. [1446.] Transferring Bees from a " Lard- bucket." — I have a stock of bees in a lard- bucket, given to me the year before last. 1. Can I place the bucket on a frame-hive so that the bees will eventually work down into it ? and, if so, when must it be put on ? 2. Later on, could I remove the bucket, as I prefer to have the bees on frames, and when should it be removed ? They did not swarm, but built six pieces of comb outside of the bucket, and several times had the appearance of swarming. I removed the outside combs in the autumn, and found honey in centre ones. The bees are strong, and are daily carrying in pollen. I have two other hives, which I fed, and am still feeding them Avith honejr. 3. Is this right ? — E. J. Calverwell, Newport, Mori., March 27. Reply.— 1. Yes, but the frame-hive below must have its frame fitted with full sheets of foundation, otherwise much superfluous drone- comb will be built. Do not set the " bucket- hive " above the other till the bees show by their busy activity that they are prospering well, and rapidly increasing. About first week in May will be a likely time. 2. You will be able to judge fairly well when "bucket'' will be fit ior removal as a surplus- chamber by comparing results of other hives. 3. Quite right if the bees require food. [1447.] Working "Wells" Hives.— Last spring I made a " Wells;' hive, and at swarming time purchased a swarm which I put into one compartment of it with a. solid dummy between. The bees worked on, and in August I drove two stocks from skeps, keeping them separate. I then replaced t he dummy by a perforated one of zinc, and a similar dummy between the ten irames, thus dividing the second com- partment in two. I then put one driven lot on each five frames, thus having three lots at work in one " Wells." They are now strong and busy. 1. I shall, of course, have to remove one of the throe queens, so I ask which should it be ? 2. In working the '; Wells " hive for supering are bees allowed to mix in super? — — John S. Biggs, Radstocl: Reply. — 1. Remove queen which has least brood. Two days later take out dummy in second compartment. 2. Yes. This working together is the gist of the " Wells " system. April 2, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 139 BEES AND BROOD DYING IN SPKING. The season of 1895 has in this locality bean a peculiar one in many respects. The loss of bees around here during the winter and spring of 1894-95 was fully a half. I lost more than half of mine, so list summer I ran only one yard, and this is all I intend to run in the future, for I have bought a piece of land, and intend t~> follow farming in connection with bee-keeping1. But as I shall have a very favourable location for bees I expect to keep profitably about 150 colonies in this yard. Now, perhaps it may interest some for me to give my opinion as to the cause of the large loss of bees here last winter and spring, and to dessribe some of the things in regard to bees that took place the past summer. Although it was very dry here in 1894, we had a fair fall flow, which lasted very late, and colonies went into winter quarters very strong in bees, especially young bees. But I believe there are other things of more importance for the successful wintering of bees than to have plenty of young ones in the fall. One summer I had a strong second swarm issue from a large box-hive. I do not remember the date, but it was just before basswood blossomed. The queen of this swarm was lost on her mating- trip, or in some other way, for 1 am certain that they did not have a laying queen at any time during the summer. I thought I would let them do without one, to see what they would do. They were hived on combs that contained considerable honey, so they did not have much room to store below ; but they filled up what room there was, and then, instead of working much in the sections, they took the world easy. In the fall I thought I would unite what few of them were left with some other colony ; but on coming to examine them I was sur- prised at the amount of bees there was left. There seemed to be nearly as many as when I hived them ; so in order to experiment further they were put in the cellar, where the rest were. They came out in good shape in the spring. A queen was given to them ; and although they dwindled away very fast, they pulled through all right. Now, in this case the workers lived at least ten or eleven months, not only a few, but thousands of them. But they would not do so every year. If the same thing had been tried the past summer I do not think there would have been a live bee left after they had been in the cellar a month. I believe bees live longer some years than they do others. In the fall of 1894 there was a good deal of honey-dew gathered in this locality. This, or something else, caused the bees to have diarrhoea after they had been confined for some time. I think it was the honey-dew that caused it, for colonies that had sugar stores did not have it. Still, I have wintered bees on honey-dew in first-class shape; in faot, last winter some colonies wintered in good condition on it. Again, some that died with honey-dew stores did not get the diarrhcea. They seemed to fall right down from the combs, and die without a struggle. What caused this difference in some cases, where the stores were the same, gathered from the same yard, and the colonies side by side in the same cellar, is more than I know. But these cases were exceptions ; for most colonies that were on stores that they gathered got the diarrhoea, and were in poor condition when put out in the spring. Mine were put out the latter part of March, and for a week or two every thing was very favourable. But suddenly the field- bees commenced to die by the thousand. Strong colonies were, in a few days, reduced t) a small nucleus ; many colonies perished outright, and this when the weather was warm and mild. The bees were at the time working on a species of willow from which they were getting large quantities of honey or honey- dew. I felt sure that this was poisonous, and that it was the cause of so many colonies dying around here last spring. On examining these willow blossoms with a strong glass, they were found to be alive with a small species of louse. Some around here thought that the reason the field-bees died off so suddenly was because they had poor winter stores, and- that they were, therefore, in a feeble condition when put out in the spring, and able to stand but a few days of hard work. I do not think this was the reason, because I had some colonies that had pure basswood honey, and some that had sugar for winter stores, and these colonies suffered as badly as the rest. About the time these willow blossoms were gone there commenced to be a good deal of dead brood. It seemed to die in all stages, and this dead brood continued all summer. It was noi foul brood, although it resembled it some- what. Every colony I had was affected with it, some more so than others. I do not know what it was, or what caused it. I thought at first it was caused by poisonous honey ; but that could not h ive been the case, for this dead brood continued as long as there was any brood reared. Last fall I put some colonies into clean hives on frames filled with foundation. Others were put into new hives on new empty frames. Others I treated the same as one would for foul brood, giving frames with starters first, then changing again. But in all cases, as soon a3 new brood was started it commenced to die as badly as before. Some queens that I got from a distance were introduced to some of the worst-affected colonies. In some cases this changing of queens seemed to help ; in others, it did not. Just before white-clover bloom the workers took another spell of dying. They would come out of the hives mornings soon after sunrise, crawl around awhile, then die. Their intes- tines seemed to be full of thin transparent liquid of a very sharp and acid character. While this lasted only a few days, some colonies 140 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 2, 1896. were considerably ■weakened. Late last fall some colonies were affected with the same thing again. From some hives there would come out hundreds, and die during the day. Some of them were so reduced that, in some cases, I united four or five together before put- ting them into the cellar. My opinion is, that these peculiar conditions were caused by the character or kind of stores gathered. But I cannot understand why some colonies should be affected worse than others. — Q. Davenport, in Gleanings. [At the Illinois State Convention in Chicago, two or three reported this same dead brood, and bees dying, as you speak of. From the description given, as in your case, it was plainly not foul brood ; but what it was, no one seemed to know. There have been repeated letters on the same thing, and we had it one season in our own yard and part of another. We did nothing for it, and it finally disappeared of itself. We shall have to conclude that this dead brood is probably a disease, with characteristics very similar to those of foul brood, but differing in that it has no effect on bees. And now the questions that I should like to see solved are these : — (1). Is it a case of poisoning, or (2) is it a real disease caused by bacillus, similar to that of foul brood ? (3). If so, can it be cured ? In answer to the first question, Mr. Davenport seems to feel that it is not a case of poisoning. In answer to the third question — if he is correct, treating the dead brood the same as foul brood does not have any influence so far as the cure is con- cerned. Perhaps some of our German bee- keepers, especially scientists across the water, can give their American cousins a little more light. While we may be, and probably are, ahead of them in practical apiculture, owing perhaps to the favourable conditions on this side, they are certainly ahead of us in scientific research. — Ed. Gleanings] }t^ litmus to tflmt May' 27 to June 1.— Bath and West of England Agricultural Society at St. Albans. Bees, hives, and honey. Thirteen classes and liberal prizes. Entries Close ArRiL 8. For schedules apply Edwin H. Young, Secretary B.B.K.A., 12, Hanover-square, London, W. June 22 to 26. — Boyal Agricultural Society at Leicester. Schedules now ready. Entries close May 1. All letters relating to Bee Department to be addressed to Edwin H. Young, Secretary B.B.K.A., 12, Hanover- square, London, W. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. David Hancox (Deddington), — Home-made Hives. — 1. If the "strip" which encloses frame ends be omitted, how do you propose to regulate distance between side-bars of frames and the hive sides ? The " difficulty you see in removing frames when necessary " is entirely imaginary, if measurements given are carefully adhered to. 2. Frames with form of wide shoulder, shown on sketch, would be objectionable, and difficult to mani- pulate for many reasons, and which would s 5on present themselves in practice. 8. The bell-staples are to guide the body-box into proper position before slipping on the outer case. 4. No ; the side-bars do not project below bottom rail. If you are inclined to introduce alterations in construction of the hive (no doubt intended to be improve- ments) we advise making one after your own ideas, and a second hive exactly to those of the designer of the hive referred to, and see which works best in actual practice. New Beginner (Attercliffe). — Bees Deserting Hive. — 1. The stock most probably became queenless last autumn. Have you no idea for how long the hive has been deserted ? 2. We should not give more than two or three of the combs to a swarm, if one is put into the hive. These with four lbs. of candied honey in each might be melted down and used as bee-food when wanted. M. Quinn (co. Down).— Perforated Zinc for Section Dividers. — It has been claimed that perforated zinc dividers or separators are lar better than plain ones, as not tending to cut off the bees into separate lots, as the latter more or less does, besides being advantageous in other ways. We shall be glad if you will try them and report results. P. Allen (Luton). — Taylor's Swarm Catcher. — Mr. E. H. Taylor's address is Welwyn, Herts. E. B. Stuart. — Comb is affected with foul brood. The honey may be used with perfect safety for household purposes, but must on no account be given to bees. We should burn combs and frames and disinfect the hive thoroughly before using again. F. Bridoett (Stoke-on-Trent). — Feeding Bees. — About 1 pint of syrup per week. See page 130 for instructions. E.. M. Lamb (Burton Pidsea). — Spring Syrup. — We do not quite know what is meant by " brown sugar candy for syrup in the spring." But for candy-making we never use any but refined white cane-sugar, in crystals. 0. J. Barnbtt (Towyn).— Bees sent are Ligurian hybrids, *a cross between the Ligurian and our native bee. The difference in markings is quite common among hybrid bees of same stock. April 9, 1896. THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 141 (ftdtfarial, $fofim, &t USEFUL HINTS. Weather.— Since our last weather notes were written a considerable change has taken place in the temperature, not only of these islands, but of nearly the whole European continent. All through the month of March high, cold winds, cloudy skies, and frequent rain has been the rule, while the lower temperature caused the air to lose the warm, spring- like mildness noticed in this column at the beginning of the month. The advent of April, however, has witnessed a return of more favourable conditions, and the month promises to be a fine one. In an interesting article on the " Weather Prospects in April," after referring to the general increase in power of the sun's rays in April owing to the more prolonged daylight, the Graphic goes on to say : — "At times when the sun is screened by a dense canopy of cloud the days are often cold, but on the whole the weather is fairly warm. The effect of the sun is shown by any map exhibiting the mean temperature, the coldest weather being now experienced in the north of the British Isles, while the warmest weather is over the south of England. The difference between the mean temperature in the extreme north and south is about 6 deg., and the increase of temperature since March ranges from about 4 deg. to 6 deg. The mean air temperature for April at Greenwich during the last half- century is 48 deg., the mean of the mid- day readings being 57 deg., and of the night readings 39 deg. With a cloudless sky the thermometer ranges from 40 deg. at five o'clock in the morning to 63 deg. between one and three in the afternoon ; while with a cloudy sky the range of temperature is from 44 deg. in the early morning to 50 deg. soon after noon. The south winds are the warmest, having an average temperature of 50 deg., while with north winds the temperature is only 43 deg. On the warmest of April days the temperature in the shade commonly touches 70 deg., and in 1893 the thermometer registered 80 deg. There are very few years in which we entirely escape night frosts in April, although they do not occur at all frequently. The average rainfall at Greenwich during the last fifty years is 1*6 in. The heaviest rainfall occurs in the south-west of Ireland, the fall at Valentia being 3*8 in.; the least fall is 1*3 in., in the north-east of Scotland. The average duration of sunshine at Greenwich is 128 hours, or rather more than four hours a day. On our south coast the average amount of sunshine is from twenty to fifty hours more than in London. Notwithstanding the heavy rainfall in March, there is still a deficiency of rain since the commence- ment of the year over nearly the whole of the British Isles. In London the deficiency exceeds 2 in." Removing Surplus Honey. — We add an additional line by way of finale to the advice already given to our correspondent "Self Taught" (2446, p. 118), regarding his trouble in the removal of shallow- frame supers. First, then, as to plinths : There must be no plinths round surplus- chambers — this is a tine qua non. The first thing, therefore, is to remove them. A couple of "Van Deusen " clamps (costing 2d. each) will prevent "blowing off when empty." Or Mr. New's plan of making the plinths detachable might be adopted. The next point is to bear in mind that nothing in the whole range of manipulations in the apiary so tends to " convert a fairly quiet colony of bees into a " horde of raging demons " as the attempt to lift off a surplus-chamber full of honey with a frame or two from the lower storey sticking to its under side. These latter usually drop off (or are knocked off) and fall with a bang among the crowd of bees below, and if the operator is not well "mailed" — and veiled, too — the memory of that removal usually remains for a long time. Many old hands have felt it once, but most of us once only. To avoid such a mishap our advice is : Take four small wooden strips, 4 in. long by i in. wide, cut from a broken section, pare the ends down to wedge shape. When removing the super raise it gently with the point of a screw-driver at one corner and slip in a wedge ; do the same at all four corners. The thickness of the wedges provides space at the junction for blowing in a few puffs of smoke on each side, but allows no bees to escape. Use the "cutting wire" if space between surplus 142 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 9, 1896. and brood-chambers is faulty, otherwise a screwing motion in lifting off the full combs (before raising the box containing them) will effectually prevent any dis- turbance of the frames below. Then, if the "boy," referred to by our correspon- dent, deftly drops a carbolised cloth on the top of the uncovered frames as the upper box is lifted off, we will guarantee the easy "way out of the trouble" so earnestly desired. The " Wells " super holding 90 lbs. of surplus is rather an absurdity, so far as lifting it en bloc. Combs from such supers should certainly be removed as described by Mr. John Walton on page 124. Extending the Use of Honey. — At a time when bee-associations are endeavouring to help such of their members as experience difficulty in dis- posal of their surplus honey, it may occur to bee-keepers of an active business turn of mind to inquire if no new method can be found for presenting honey of fine quality to the public in some form not hitherto adopted. If this could be done in a way likely to meet with favour it would provide an outlet for the product as yet untapped. Take, for instance, the use that could be made of candied honey instead of the fondant sugar in such sweetmeats as chocolate creams. Why, in the manufacture of this confection alone we may suppose that hundreds of tons of sugar are consumed annually, and when a product so distinctly flavoured as many honeys are could be used instead of cane or beet sugars, we do not see why chocolate honey-creams might not become very largely used. There is no sweet that can compare with honey from a medicinal point, either for children or for adults. Moreover, it can be used by persons prohibited from par- taking of cane or beet sugar in any form. We merely mention this as one idea among many which appears to be worth thinking out. There would be no difficulty in getting honey to granulate with a perfectly smooth grain, similar to the fondant sugar used in the sweetmeat referred to, and the very nature of honey, the nectar of flowers, gathered by Nature's own handmaiden, the busy bee, would commend it to general favour. Pursuing another line of thought in the same direction, we find Mr. J. H. Martin — a well-known contributor to American bee journals and secretary of the Californian Bee-keepers' Association — writing to the Scientific American, with the object of " enlisting inventors, if possible, in a new field for the exercise of their genius." Mr. Martin goes on to say:— "I am a honey producer, and I find that as time goes on little improvement has been made in placing our honey upon the market in new and popular packages. We have our little pound packages of comb-honey, which are desirable and can scarcely be improved ; but a greater por- tion of our honey is thrown from the comb by means of the honey extractor, and is shipped in liquid form in 60-lb. tin cans, to eastern and foreign markets. "It is safe to say that there is no natural food product that has equal nutriment and healthful properties in a compact form as honey. Honey caters to the taste of all classes and conditions. Still, there are multitudes of people who never taste this desirable sweet. The syrup of the sugar-cane can be manufac- tured in various grades of syrups, sugars, and into confections a very multitude. Liquid honey, on the contrary, has never advanced beyond the tin can, the glass jar, or the jelly tumbler, because there are difficulties connected with the mani- pulation of honey not encountered in the manufacture of the various products from cane juice. If heat up to the degree of boiling water is applied to honey, its flavour is destroyed, and the colour of even the whitest honey rendered dark and unattractive ; a great degree of heat is therefore not to be entertained. "Nearly all pure honey granulates, or candies ; this is a molecular change, and a gentle heat restores it to liquid form. In its candied state it never gets beyond a plastic, salvy condition; and, when candied in a glass jar, it has an appear- ance of lard, very detrimental to its sale. " Honey also candies in a low tempera- ture. Now, suppose the temperature that surrounds the honey were carried to that degree known only in experimental purposes, would it have any further molecular effect 1 Or again, many liquids are solidified under enormous pressure. What would be the effect upon honey 1 If it could be solidified by these or any other method, aside from the application of heat, honey would compete with con- April 9, 1896.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. 143 fections made of other substances. There is no record that experiments in this direction have ever been tried. "If hone\r cannot be solidified, still there is a chance to offer it to the public in a small, popular package that partakes of the nature of a confection. Our ideas for such a package naturally turn toward glass or tin. But glass is too fragile and tin too expensive. If not too costly, a gelatine capsule of unique form, and large enough to hold a few ounces of honey, sold for a trifling sum, would come nearest to an ideal honey confec- tion. " From the above, inventors may gather what is needed, and perhaps be able to aid a large and growing industry." Bees Refusing Comb-foundation. — This question is again opportunely raised by our Irish correspondent, Mr. Kirwan (2457, p. 134). No doubt the publicity given to the fact of faulty comb-founda- tion being sent out by several makers will ensure an increased amount of care, but so far as offering a " hint " what to avoid to those who are inexperienced, we may say that nearly all the samples of " refused foundation " — and they were many — sent to this office were of almost white wax, and had, moreover, a distinct " tallowy " smell, like that of the " Japanese wax " sold at 6d. per pound. Choose, then, thin pale-yellow founda- tion, and prefer that having about it a honey aroma, such as will strike any- one as sure to be grateful to the bees. WARWICKSHIRE B.K.A. The annual meeting of the Warwickshire Bee-keepers' Association 'was held on the 26th ult., at the Grand Hotel, Colmore-row, Bir- mingham. Mr. J. C. Lord presided, and among those present were the Rev. Canon Waller, Miss Waller, Rev. T. Slevan, Colonel Nuthall, Major Deykin, Messrs. A. H. Foster, E. M. Pearson, J. R. Young, J. H. Parke s, B. Boothroyd, Hasluck, Corbett, S. Turner, T. Jones, C. Buller, W. Churchill, J. N. Bower (hon. sec), J. R. Ingerthorp (as- sistant sec), G. Franklin (expert), &c. Apologies for absence were announced from the Right Hon. Jesse Collings, M.P., Mr. P. A. Muntz, M.P., and others. Mr. Collings wrote that he had a special interest in the development of the work of the Association, from the fact that it undoubtedly would largely benefit the social and economic condition of our rural population, and especially the class of small cultivators and cottagers. The Hod.- Secretary read the report, which congratulated the members upon the continued growth of the association, thiity-five new mem- bers having joined during the year. Finan- cially the position of the association had much improved. The committee had adopted a registered honey label for the exclusive use of the members, and it was hoped this would be a means of effecting a ready sale of honey, and establishing a means of distinguishing British from imported honey, with a guarantee as to purity. Through the co-operation of the British Bee - Keepers' Association and the County Councils, the Board of Agriculture had taken up the question of " foul brood," and it was highly probable that some legislation would be introduced to minimise that great evil at an early date. The Chairman, in moviDg the adoption of the report, alluded to the imports of foreign honey into this country, and said that instead of £60,000 worth being imported, they could easily supply the whole of the home market. Lord Leigh was re-elected president for the ensuing year, and the vice-presidents were also re-appointcd. The executive committee for the current year were appointed, and the hon. treasurer (Mr. A. H. Foster), hon. auditor (Mr. J. L. Hawkes), and the hon. secretary (Mr. J. N. Bower), were severally re-elected, as were Mr. J. R. iDgerthorpe (assistant secretary) and Mr. G. Franklin (expert). The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Mr. Franklin delivered a lecture on " Wintering Bees," and he also gave a few hints as to the spring and summer treatment desirable for s°curing a successful honey harvest. The meeting then terminated. — {Communi- cated.) tywmpwhwit The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice ivill be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. *„* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number ofthelettcr, as well as the page on which it appears. NOTES BY THE WAY. [2464.] The weather in this district during the past week or two has not been ideal bee weather, but whenever there came a burst of sunshine it has been a pleasure to see how eager the bees were to improve the shining hour. The large amount of natural pollen carried into the hives tells its tale of the in- creasing breadth of the brood-nest, and, with every prospect of a forward hay-harvest, the 144 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 9, 1896. rapid progress of our colonies is gratifying, as the crux of the honey-raising question lies in getting bees ready by the time of our harvest. We may have abundant forage all round us, coupled with good gathering weather, but without the gatherers, " where are we ? " There- fore, now is the time to build up stocks for the white clover, sainfoin, alsike clover, and the trifolium. The bees that are hatched out duriog the last half of April and the first half of May are the ones to fill early supers for the "Royal" Show at Leicester, or your early swarms, if working for increase, ready to build up into stocks for the ingathering of the lime honey in July, or the later harvest of heather honey on the moors and in the Highlands of Scotland. May I say another word with reference to house apiaries, regarding which little or nothing has been said of late. Now is the opportune time for the construction of these useful repositories for bee-hives. To any one contemplating building such I would advise that each hive have a separate floor-board ; the shelf or supports on which the hives stand may then be of a skeleton pattern. This floor-board to each allows of moving hives to a fresh position in the house or elsewhere if desired after swarming, leaving the new swarm to use the original entrance to the parent colony, and thus insuring the bulk of the flying bees returning to the old position and increasing the strength of the new swarm. Then pro- jecting eaves will carry the rain off the alighting boards of the top row of hive?, while the bottom row may have a long continuous porch verandah-fashion, or a small one over each entrance, to suit the fancy of the owner. The bees will find the right entrance under any circumstances. The painting of hives should be attended to, also overhauling stocks, cleaning floor-boards, removing brace-combs and propoli3 from top bars, and a general straightening up of crooked combs, also the removal of old queen cells to save mistakes later on when the bee3 make preparations to swarm. Some folks say that great risk is run in getting queens "balled," &c, but after an experience of several years I have yet to lose a queen by "balling" as a result of "spring e'eaning." My hives are nearly all on the combination principle, with frames across the entrance, and in manipulating I use carbolised cloths with a little smoke to drive the bees down from the damp cloths. I generally use two cloths, one over the front part of frames and one over the frames at the back part of the hive ; then, after the first two or three front frames are attended to, I remove one of the cloths and replace the quilt, rolling it up so that it gradually unrolls to cover the frames as fast as they are returned to their proper place ; and when the quilt is over the frames the bees set up the hum of " Home, sweet Home,'' and rush for the front part of hive. The job only takes a few minutes, as I never blow any smoke in at the entrance of hives, but simply peel off the quilt, give a puff of smoke, and allow the carbolised cloth to take the place of the quilt, and begin to manipulate forth- with. The second cloth is used to cover the combs moved to the rear, and the other covers those in front. I keep an eye on each frame, and if the brood is not covered pro- perly with bees (owing to their alarm) I remove the carbolised cloth at the back, and drop on a piece of woollen material, which confines the warmth, and the bees soon return to the brood. At the late conversazione the question cropped up as to the passing of drones through the " Porter " bee-escape, one or two question- ing the possibility of the springs opening wide enough to allow the drone to pass. I myself took the other view, from the fact that both workers and drone3 are regularly cleared out of the supers, when removing surplus honey. I have removed hundreds of racks cleared of bees by the aid of the " Porter " escapes. When I returned home from tli9 late meeting in London of the B.B.K.A. I examined a " Porter " (one of Porter's own brand), and I find the springs can open out to the sides of the escape nearly an inch wide, giving lateral space for drones to pass easily. In reply to 1443 (p. 136), I have not altered the width of my top-bars by Tlf even, though the particular one I put the rule across when I penned the note to " Self Taught " was nearly 1^, and without reference I hurriedly con- cluded that the original width was 1\, when I found it 1| bare, and thought the shrinkage would make it full 1| wide. This would not be an objection if frames lh in. from centre to centre are used, though I admit that with frames 1/% in. wide, if top-bars are full 1|- in. wide, the openings for admission to super compartment would be somewhat circum- scribed ; yet, even then, not so narrow as excluder zinc. — W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury. A COTTAGER'S BEE-KEEPING. [2465.] In December, 1894, we came here f.om Romford, South Essex, bringing with us four stocks of bees ; two in a " Wells " hive, and two in single hive 3, the whole being brought by road with our furniture. The " Wells " and one of the single hives are on leg!, and I gained the experience that hives standing on legs at the bottom of a van get so shaken and jolted on the journey, added to the mischief to the bees from excitement of shaking, and the moisture within the hive from the heat, that great damage is caused to the stock ; while the stock in hive without legs suffered no damage at all ; and this last one was strong in the spring of '95, while the other three were weak, and combs mouldy. All had queens of '94, and those in " Wells " hive, however, soon became strong in both divisions ; but the single weak lot were not April 9, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. H5 ready for supering till June, nor did it swarm last year at all. I call this hive No. 1. We had eight swarms from the other three lots, seven of which were put back. Our returns for 1895 are :— No. 1, 80 lbs. ; the strong single queen stock (No 2) 137 lbs. ; " Wells" hive, 255 lb, total, 472 lb. Of this total 75 lb. was got in sections from Nop. 1 and 2, and I have 6i lb. of good wax. MaDy of the sections weighed 18 oz. My shallow frames (4| in. deep), worked with the wide " W.B.C." ends, weighed from 4 lb. to 4| lb. each. The average price received for sections is JHd. each, the extracted honey making 8M. per lb. My receipts are as under : — Honey sold £3 6 6 4 lb. wax 0 6 0 Awarded in prizes 3 8 6 Add to this — 75 lb. show-honey kept in hand 2 16 0 And about 70 lb. for sale, &c. ... 2 2 0 £17 19 0 Expenditure : — Travelling expenses and entry fees for shows £2 8 6 Appliances, postage, &c 2 11 6 £5 0 0 I have increased from four to five stocks. I do not charge for time, putting that item down to pleasure account. Having been an invalid fcr the greater part of this year, my wife has had to do a good deal of the work about the bees. Of course, keeping bees here is quite different to having them in a large town, such as where we came from, this being an ideal locality for honey-getting ; abundance of hazel, willow, palm, and horse chestnuts, a fair amount of fruit-blossom, with charlock and sainfoin. Then we have second crop of red clover, blackberry, and the ivy, from which latter the bees can gather at intervals up to end of November. I came here to a situation as gardener, but unfortunately injured my spine ; and it is very unlikely that I shall b3 able to do hard work again. So it is some consolation to find the prospects for bee-keeping are helpful to one afflicted as I am. I have succeeded as a bee-keeper from the first, but I attribute my success chiefly to having followed closely the teaching of the County Association, which I joined on com- mencing to keep bees. Having read " Mod* rn Bee-keep'ng" 1 could drive bees and pick out queens before I had bees of my own ; and I think a love I have always had for doing things well has helped me in my bee- keeping. I hope, if my health allows it and all goes well, to increase to ten stocks in 1896. Then, if I can manage ten, well, I must be content, as I can hardly hope to be able to manage more. My trouble is to get appliances, because cottagers have to get one thing at a time and in small lots, so it costs more, and a great deal extra for carriage, too. I have been fortunate in finding a good market, and by trying to please my customers, manage to keep them. One chemist has taken hoGey and wax from me for four or five years. This year I have secured two other chemists as customers, and they say the honey and wax is very satisfac- tory. A grocer would have given me his custom in preference to buying foreign honey, but he wanted it in i-lb. jars, and, unfortu- nately, tight times for cash prevented me from laying in a gross of J-lb. jars, so I had to refuse the order for the present. — Wm. Love- day, Harlow, Essex. A BEE-KEEPERS' DIRECTORY FOR CUMBERLAND. A PROPOSED MAP OF DISTRICTS AFFECTED WITH FOUL BROOD. [2466.] In response to the request of many local bee keepers, I have decided to make a map of Cumberland, in which will be shown the locality of every bee-keeper, and also every place where foul brood is known to exist. This is quite a private venture, but can only be made successful by the co-opera- tion of every bee-keeper in the county. Therefore I wish to ask (through the B.B.J. and Record) the help of every one concerned. When ready, I will send a copy to all appli- cants in the order as received, but priority will be given to those who are instrumental in giving information for its production. The value of such a map will be at once seen. Will all Cumberland bee-keepers respond, giving full particulars, not only of their own apiaries of whatever size, but also of their neighbour's, and state all cases of foul brood they know of ? I shall also be glad, Messrs. Editors, if you can give me any information as to how to proceed to form a County Bee- keepera' Association; or who could I apply to for such information ? Will other Cumbrians give their opinions on this question 1 Thank- ing you in anticipation, and for past kind- nesses.— Alfred J. Hutchinson, Millom, Cumberland. [The Secretary of the British Bee-keepers' Association is the proper person to apply to for such information as is asked. Address: — Mr. Edwin H. Young, Sec. B.B.K.A., 12, Hanover-square, London, W. — Eds.] SPREADING BROOD. [2467.] Your correspondent "An Anx'ous Bee-keeper (1443, p. 136) has either not read carefully or I have failed to make clear the point I wished to convey. On p. 114, how- ever, my words are, " as an aid to building up strong colonies for the early honey flow, slow feeding plays an important part." But this surely should be clear enough ? Later on I continue, " Where the brood-combs are found full of sealed food, remove the comb next the 146 THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 9, 1896. cluster of bees, and substitute a frame of empty comb," &c, so as to carry on the stimu- lative feeding in that direction. Then follows, " At the next shift carry operations on to the other side," &c. My object here is to prevent clogging the cells with food to the exclusion of brood, a condition apt to arise where a large quantity of thick honey is uncapped at one time. The bruising of a few cells containing honey is no doubt a means of stimulation, but once bees begin to remove honey they may continue until the brood-nest is overcharged therewith to its detriment. I also think that honey running from a comb causes greater excitement than syrup feeding. These are my main objections to uncapping honey in hives, and I may also add that more cells are generally uncapped than necessary, and that the bees in clearing up the mes3 caused by we!; cappings and dripping honey become unduly excited and are allowed to relapse iafo a state of inactivity until a fresh uncapping takes place. The work of brood rearing thus goes on in fits and starts, to say nothing of its liability to attract robbers. Fuel for Smoker. — I have no special method of charging my smoker, a "Bingham" of the American patter a, got from Mr. Meadows. The fire-chamber is abcut 6 in. long by 2| in. diameter. I use very coarse brown paper, usually picked up and " saved " for its smouldering qualities. Some kinds of paper won't smoulder at all, and aie useless for the bee-man's purpose. The paper chosen is kept dry, and when torn into strips about 5 in. wide is folded into corrugations, forming a grooved roll thick enough to fill the fire-chamber. After lighting well insert it in fire-chamber lighted end down, fix on the nozzle, and give a few puffs till smoke issues freely ; set the smoker down nozzle uppermost ready for use. If the fuel burns too freely set it down with the flat side of bellows on the ground. Time for Manipulating. — If robbing is prevalent choose the evening. If not, as near midday as possible for the reason mentioned by your correspondent, always selecting a fine day. — Henry W. Brice, Thornton Heath. PACKING HIVES FOR WINTER. [2468.] I have been a reader of the B.B J. for a number of years, and have seen described in that paper not a few different methods of packing up hives for wintering, I thought that perhaps a description of my system might be advantageous to bee-keepers in general. I may state first that I use only two-ply of cloth for quilts. I get a quantity of unbruised straw (i.e. , straw that has not been put through the thrashing mill), and cut it the exact length to fit into the hives above the quilts. I put in as much as will be about six inches thick after being gently pressed down with my hands, then put on the roof for all winter. This year when I opened my hives and took off the straw it was all perfectly dry, as were also the quilts, which had not the least damp smell about them, as is too frequently the ca?e when hives are packed up with old cloth, &c. The bees I may say were all in splendid condition. — East Fife, April 6ch. FLOOR-BOARD FEEDERS. [2469.] In replying to " An Anxious Bee- keeper," whose query (1443) appears on page 136 of last weeks B.J., I may say, Yes, I still use this method of feeding, and shall shortly set the feeders below such stocks as need them. I don't leave these floor-board feeders on all winter, because such debris as cappings, «&c, would be sure to fill up or block the bees' feeding-place. The actual feeder is a tin trough, 12 in. or 14 in. long, | in. deep, and 3 in. wide, which slides into the floorboard, with a wide flange at outside end, so that when pushed in (like a drawer) the bees cannot get at the food from the outside. The trough itself is covered over with wood about J in. thick, all but a space about 2 in. by 1\ in., which has perforated zinc bent thus : — and which goes down the lower side reaching to within § in. of bottom of the trough ; this trough is cut out about the middle of the combs, where the cluster of bees are usually found in spring. The trough draws out two or three inches, but drawing it in or out does not interfere with bees while in the feeder. The syrup (always given warm) is poured in at the trough entrance, about a teacupful every nigh*-. The bees can get down into the feeder and empty it to the bottom, providing the board is fixed level before the stock is placed over it. There are bits of wood about \ in. apart for the bees to walk on and to follow down, as they take the syrup, till they get right to the bottom. This plan of feeding saves a lot of trouble, as there are no hive covers to be lifted or wraps to be disturbed, and it takes but a minute or two to feed a stock of bees, and the syrup being warm, I believe it stimulates better than feeding at top with bottle or any other feeder. A friend, to whom I showed it two or three years ago, told me last year that he had adapted it to most of his hives, and spoke of it very highly. — John Walton, Honey cott, Wedon, Leamington, April 3, 1896. REARING QUEENS. [2470.] Referring to 1443 (p. 137), I for several years practised this plan of preventing increase for a neighbour bee-keeper, who was well satisfied with the results"; but I usually had to hive them twice, as detailed by "An Anxious Bee-keeper." I explain it in this way. April 9, 1896.] THE BEITISH BEE JOUENAL. 147 The bees have no mind to depend upon one queen-cell, even if the bee-keeper has. They therefore take the opportunity (which may be their last) of raising another batch. At the end of eight or nine days the necessity for swarming has increased, and they therefore lead the young queen out. — Geo. Wall, Harrow Weald, April 4. HONEY FROM WILLOWS. [2471.] Though I resided formerly for many years where willows grew in abundance, until this year I had no convincing testimony that, they yielded honey in any quantity. On Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday of March 22-24 last, we had a very high temperature with nothing else in bloom, and a remarkable honey glut occurred during those three days only. There was as rapid an incoming as I have ever known during the height of the season, and had the weather continued warm, supers would have been a necessity. — S. Simmins, Heathfield, April 4. WEATHER REPORT. Westbourne, March, 1896. Rainfall, 344. Heaviest fall, 111, on 20th. Rain fell on 25 days. Above average, l-53. Maximum Tempera- ture, 61° on 24th. Minimum Tempera- ture, 29° on 15th. Minimum on Grass, 24° on 28th. Frosty Nights, 5. Sunshine, 124-5 hours. Brightest Day, 19th, 9 6 hours. Sunless Days, 11. Below Average, 42*6 hours. Maximum, Minimum, Temperature, Mean 48-8°. Mean 381°. Mean 43 4° Above average, 3 3. Maximum Barometer, 30-31° on 10th. Minimum Barometer, 28-71° on 4th. L. B. BlRKETT. df)umes m& Holies. [1448.] Baiv Sugar for Bee-Syrup. — I will be glad of a word of advice as I am only a beginner at bee-keeping, and there is some- thing wrong, I fear, with my bees. I have four frame-hives, the bees of which seemed strong and were working well until I started feeding them three days ago with syrup made from raw Demerara sugar, and to-day while in the garden I noticed the bees as they came from the hives dropping a yellow substance so freely that the leaves of bushes near the hives were quite streaked and specked with it. The bees also seemed very weak. I send you a few leaves with the substance mentioned, hoping that you can tell me the cause of this, and what I had better do under the circumstances ? I have taken off feeders to-day, as I thought the food I give mi^ht be the cause of the mischief. I had the hives painted to-day. Could that be the cause '?— H. A. C— Wick- ham Market, April 3. Reply. — The symptoms point to the food as a cause of the diarrhoea, which is evidently troubling the bees. We are continually cautioning readers against the use of moist raw sugar in making bee-syrup, and cannot understand why anyone will ignore the advice given. However, a few days will no doubt set the bees all right if the food is discontinued. [1449.] Design in Honey-comb. — Will you be kind enough to inform me if a design can be worked out in an ordinary hive, and how it is accomplished, say, from the figures 1896 ? — Amateur, Penicuik, N.B., April 4. Reply. — We print below, from a former issue, a cut of the kind required, which, though not showing the actual figures wanted, will no doubt serve your purpose. The description is from the pen of Mr. Wm. McNally, who says : — For the building of honey-comb designs, shallow oblong supers are the best. A very convenient size is 16x8x3, outside measure, made of f in. wood. Two of these, placed alongside each other, will cover a ten-frame hive. A glance at the illus'ration here given will show at once how the work is done. First, sketch in the super the design intended to be built. The dotted lines show the foundation guides, about 1 in. deep, fixed in position. Having these fixed, get a few pieces of wood nearly the depth of the inside of the super. Form these into bbcks to put at the different corners and angles to prevent the bees from misshaping the figures. The black marks in the illustration show the blocks in position, which are only temporarily fixed from the outside with small nails or screws. The spices for the thickness of the comb, to be about right, should be about \i> in. wide. The super is now ready to place on the hive, with an excluder between. Once the bees begin to work in the super, it may be necessary to take it off to see that none of the figures are misshapen ; if so, they require to be cut or bent to the desired angle. When finished the blocks are removed, leaving the combs perfected. 148 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 9, 1896. [1450.] Working Tivo Stocks in OneSvper. — I have at present two stocks of bees, which cover about four frames each respectively. Having brought the hives close together, I wish to put one set of bees into the other hive, with a solid division board between them. I should thus have seven or eight frames covered with bees, with a division-board in the middle. 1. Can 1 work a rack of section on top, with excluder zinc between surplus chamber and brood-nest ? and would the bees from both stocks work together without figh'ing? After the fruit blossoms are over I shall disconnect them. I have been a bee-, keeper for two years, and not very success- ful so far, owing perhaps to scarcity of forage in my district, or not getting the bees strong enough in numbers for the early flow of honey from fruit trees. — Edw. J. Barton, Anerley, April 4. Beply. — If the intention is to aUow the two sto:ks of bees to work in one super common to both, a perforated division-board should be used, not a solid one as proposed. This is the principle of what is known as the Wells hive, seeing that progeny of both queens acquire the same scent, and in consequence the natural antagonism between bees of different colonies is removed. The main point to be considered is to provide sufficient frame space in the two compartments ef the hive to allow of enlargement to nine or ten frames in each, as the queens require more combe for brood-raising. [1451.] — Suspected Queenlessness. — I ex- amined my two frame-hives to-day, and find six frames in each pretty thickly covered with bees. There is not much brood, however, and in No. 1 I noticed three or four queen- cell?, but none in No. 2. I failed to find the queen in either, and wonder whether they are queenless. What brood there is, however, is not scattered about, as if the product of a fertile worker, nor do the cappings project much. If the queens are all right, and only escaped my observation, why are these queen- cells in one hive ? If you think the hives queenles", what shall I do ?— Herbert E. Cater, Torquay, April 2. Beply. — If queen-cells are old ones, and show no signs of being enlarged, they mean nothing ; but if no eggs are found, and the cells are of recent construction, the stock is most probably queenless, and the bees should be joined to the other stock. SEASONABLE QUESTIONS. answered by g. m. doolittle. Pollen in Sections. Question. — Why do bees store pollen in sections ? I had one colony the past season store large quantities of pollen in the honey- boxes, while the other colonies stored very little, if any. Answer. — The storing of pollen in the sur- plus apartment is largely brought about by the queen filling the brood-chambers so full of brood that there is not room enough for all of the needed pollen below. This is a thing that d)es not very often happen when a large hive is used ; but with our small brood-chambers of the present day it is not at all unusual for this state of affairs to exist where no honey- board or queen- excluder is used. The queen- excluding honey-board, made of perforated zinc and wood, is a great help along this line, and I think it would well pay for using, on this account alone, where the brood-chamber used was not larger than one division of the Heddon hive. Then there is the break- joint honey-board, which is almost entire proof against the storing of pollen in the sections. Perhaps some of the younger readers of Glean- ings do not know what a break-joint honey- board is. It is a honey-board so made that the openings from the brood-chamber to the surplus apartment come directly over the centre of the top-bar to each frame, instead of being over the passage-ways between the combs, as our honey-boards of the past were made. This causes the bees to come up over the top-bars to the frames to get into the sec- tions, or gives a crooked passage-way, instead of the continuous passage-way of our fathers. Such a circuitous route causes the bees to think that the room above is not a part of the brood- chamber, so they do not store pollen in it, for pollen is, as a rule, stored close to the brood. For the same reason large hives give the same results, as in this case there is usually quite an amount of sealed honey between the brood in the hive below and the surplus arrangement above. However, it is claimed that bees will not work as well in boxes where they can store large quantities of honey below before they commence in the sections, so it is thought that a small brood-chamber is much more preferable, even if we do have to go to the trouble of making a special honey- board to keep the queen and pollen out of the sections. WHY BEES STORE POLLEN. Question. — Why is it that some colonies store more pollen than others ? I found one or two colonies in mid-summer that had their combi half-full of pollen, while the others did not seem to have such an abundance. Answer. — Pollen accumulates in the combs only as brood-rearing i3 not carried on rapidly enough to consume it as fast as it is brought in. For this reason a queenless colony will often have its combs half-filled with pollen, while one by its side having a prolific queen will have hardly any in its combs. During the latter part of the season more or less pollen iB generally stored, for at this time the rearing of brood is drawing to a close, and Nature has so ordained that the bees should have some pollen in early spring before they can get any from the fields ; but the prolific- April 9, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 149 ness of the queen has more to do with it than anything else. - POLLEN AND PROPOLIS NOT THE SAME. Question. — A man of some experience with bees told me that pollen and propolis were the same. Is this so ? Answer. — No ! Their offices are very different, and the man who has any idea that the two are at all alike has had no experience along this line of bee-keeping, else he would know better. Propolis is a resinous substance gathered by the bees very largely from the buds of the balm of Gilead and other trees which secrete any substance of a salivy nature which can be worked in warm weather, but which is hard and brittle on the approach of winter. It is used to stop all cracks in the hive not large enough to admit a bee, and to smooth over all uneven surfaces about that part of the hive they come in contact with. It is as diffe- rent from the farinaceous substance of pollen as glue i3 from flour, and could in no way be made to take the place of pollen in preparing the food for the larval bees, neither could pollen be made to take the place of propolis in stopping cracks or glazing the walls of the hive, for it would crumble and fall off as fast as the bees could put it on. POLLEN A BEE- FOOD. Question. — Is not pollen a bee- food ? Why I ask this is, I have a neighbour keeping bses who says that the bees never eat pollen ; but I think he is mistaken. Answer. — Pollen, or bee-bread, is n>t a food for the mature bee to any great extent, but it is used largely in compounding the chyme, which is fed to the larva, or young bee, while in the larral state : hence, when the bees are breeding largely, as in Juna, large quantities of pollen are consumed. Pollen, honey, and water are taken into the stomach of the nurse-bee, and, by a process of partial digestion or secretion, formed into milk or chyme, which is the only food of the immature bee ; and if from any reason the supply of honey entirely gives out at such times of pro- lific brood- rearing, the larva? are sucked dry by the mature bees so they (the bees) need not perish ; and if the famine still continues, the nurse-bees feed this chyme to the mature bees instead of the larva? till all the pollen in the hive is used up — at least, this is as I believe it to be after very careful watching along these lines. At no other time have I ever known of mature be 33 eating pollen. I have starved several colonies in the fall when there was little or no brood, by various experiments, in trying to make old bees subsist on pollen, and never could see that they touched a particle of it. HAS POLLEN OR PROPOLIS ANY DOMESTIC USE? Question.— Can either pollen or propolis be put to any domestic use ? Answer. 7— I think not, although there has been some attempt made at using propolis for one of the ingredients in making salve. From last accounts the attempts resulted in partial failure, so that this has no market value, and no idea has ever been entertained, that I know of, by any one of making use of pollen in any form or under any circumstances. In queen- less colonies it often collects in the combs so as to become almost a nuisance, and we have heard of calls for some plan to remove it with- out harming the combs. If either of these substances could be used in domestic life it would prove more or less of a bonanza to the apiarist ; but I have no idea that anything of the kind will ever come to pass. — Gleanings. lt§ j^tautss to Qtome. May 27 to June 1.— Bath and West of England Agricultural Society at St. Albans. Bees, hives, and honey. Thirteen classes and liberal prizes. Entries Close April 8. For schedules apply Edwin H. Young, Secretary B.B.K.A., 12, Hanover-square, London, W. June 9 to 12. — At Eastbourne, in connection with the Royal Counties Agricultural Society's Show. June 22 to 26. — Royal Agricultural Society at Leicester. Schedules now ready. Entries close May I. All letters relating to Bee Department of above Shows to be addressed to Edwin H. Young, Secretary B.B.K.A, 12, Hanover-square, LondoD, W. TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. W. P. Meadows, Syston and Leicester. — Mr. Meadows, whose annual catalogue is, as usual, among the first issued for 1896, this year con- tents himself with a re-issue of his large and comprehensive list of fifty-six pages, together with a supplement of special goods and novelties recently introduced by him. Mr. Meadows still maintains his high reputation for metal goods, as evidenced by his success as an exhibitor, and the number of prizes taken at leading shows. Another leading line of goods just introduced is the miniature green- house or garden frame which promises to be a great success. T. B. Blow, Welwyn, Herts.— Mr. Blow's list is now enlarged to eighty-two pages, and is this year embellished with many new illus- trations. The evidmt intention of the pro- prietor of the Welwyn Hive Factory is to keep pace with the time3, every up-to-date item in bee goods being included in the list. We also note that a new departure has been made by the inclusion of greenhouses and 150 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. {April 9, 1896. horticultural buildings, together with poultry houses of several designs, which are among the capital illustrations referred to. David Raitt, Beecroft, Blairgowrie. — The business carried on by the trustees of the late Wm. Raitt, since the death of that gentleman, has now been taken over by Mr. Raitt's son, whose neatly got-up and well-illustrated list is now to hand. In addition to the specialty for which Beecroft has so long been favourably known, viz., high-class comb-foundation, Mr. Raitt has stocked a full line of bee goods of the best and newest construction. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufac- turers or correspondents, or where appliances can he 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 jood 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 the date of iisue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt of their communica- tions. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. Fox (Shrewsbury). — Transferring Bees to Frame-hives. — 1. The insects received will not be allowed inside hives and need cause no alarm. Carbolic acid will destroy them. 2. The plan you propose will not work at all. If, as stated, it is not desired to transfer the combs from the skep, set the latter above the frame-hive, after fitting the frames with full sheets of foundation, and allow the bee3 to transfer themselves. This they will do in good time if the skep is now fairly strong. No excluder zinc must be put on between skep and frame-hive, but the junction should be packed warmly to conserve the warmth in the skep. Of course the entrance to the latter is stopped up and the bees compelled to pass down through the frame-hive in coming and going, using the ordinary entrance of the latter. 3. If food is short, stimulating is continued till honey can be had outride. One in Difficulties (St. Davids). — A Beginner's Queries. — Before replying to queries we must impress upon you the need for acquiring a better grasp of the instruc- tions given in "Modern Bee-keeping" than h implied by the questions put. For instance, you write asking if you mint drive the bees, as stated on page 39, and into a section crate (as fig. 18, page 54), in order to secure success ? Again, to ask, "must you have some artificial pollen to help the bees to build in the little sections ?" betrays an entire wwnt of knowledge of the contents of the book, and makes us despair of clearing the matter up in this column ; for, however willing to render assistance, we cannot put together plainer instructions than are given in the book referred to. Have you no bee-keeping friend who would explain operations difficult for you to under- stand in the book ? This would be more helpful than anything else. But in the meantime we may just say, in reply to Query No. 1, you must cut a hole in top of skep about 3 in. in diameter ; and, when weather is warm, honey coming in, and bees show by their busily working that the hive is strong, set on a skep section-rack, as shown in fig. 18, page 54 of your book. Any of the dealers whose names appear in the advertising pages will supply the right thing, if told what is wanted. But you must attend to the instructions given on page 55 in working the sections. Sidney Smith (Wheldrake Rectory). — Bee- plant. — The specimen sent is an Ulmus, probably Ulmus campestris, but in the absence of young shoots it is impossible to say for certain. If our correspondent sends a shoot or twig of the tree when its leaves have developed it could be identified, but at the stage in which the specimen reached us both elm and beech are very similar. E. F. T. (St. Mellion).— Dead Brood in Comb. — There is no disease in comb received. The dead brood is chilled. As to our opinion of the effect such " remedies " as you name on the spores of foul brood, we can add nothing to what appears in Mr. Cowan's paper on p. 84 of Bee Journal for February 27 last. J. Dean (Hextable). — Comb is badly affected with foul brood— so bad that the best course is to burn combs, frames, and bees. It is useless attempting a cure in such cases. The Holms (Blantyre). — The bee3 sent lead U3 to think there has been some " robbing '' about the hiv<>, and the bees cist out are marauders killed by the rightful occu- pants. Special Prepaid Advertisements. Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, <5ce. — Up to Twelve words, Sixpence ; for every additional Three words or under, One Penny. FOR SALE.— Stocks, Nuclei, Queens, &c. Apply, Frank Reed, Portslade, Sussex. l 10 PURE Norfolk HONEY, 7d. per lb. or offers. Sample sent. Miss SAVORY, Sparham, Norwich. L 17. STOCKS, Nuclei, Swarms, and Queens.— Address, Rev. C. Buereton, Pulborougb, Sussex. SIX-FRAME STOCKS, superior strain of bees, 21s. John Walton, Weston, Leamington. l 18 W ANTED at once, young ITALIAN DRONES. F. Sladen, Ripple Court Apiary, near Dover. L19 FOUR Strong Stocks, in round, well-made bar framed Hives, 30s. each, or 115s. lot. GRIMBLY, Minster, Ramsgate. l 16 April 16, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 151 dfcdiforal, $jWtttt, kt BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The monthly meeting of the Council was held at 17, King William-street, Strand, W.C., on Friday, April 10. Present:— Mr. T. W. Cowan (in the chair), Rev. G. W. Bancks, Major Fair, Messrs. H. W. Brice, W. Broucrhton Carr, W. H. Harris, H. Jonas, J. H. New, E. D. Till, T. J. Weston, and the Secretary. Miss H. Dawe and Mr. J. M. Hooker attended as representatives of the Bristol and Kent Associations respectively. Letters were read from Sir T. D. Gibson Carmichael, Bart, M.P., and Mr. R. T. Andrews, apologising for non-attendance on account of indisposition. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Nine new members were elected as under : Mr. Geo. W. Brown, 1, Sycamore Villas, New Maiden. Mr. Robert Dyniond, Ferney House, South- gate, N. Lieut. H. C. Hawker, Longparish, Hants. Mr. Edward Mourant, Samares Manor, Jersey. Surrey Beekeepers' Association, Mr. Chas. E. Cuthell, Chapel Croft, Dorking, secretary. Mr. G. H. Varty, Burnaston, Etwall, near Derby. Mr. Thos. Walker, jun., Brind Leys Farm, near Howden, Yorks. Mr. Charles Whiting, Valley Apiary, Hundon, Clare, Suffolk. Mr. Thos. Geo. Worsfold, Fair View, Bushey Grove Road, Watford. The report of the Finance Committee, re- commending payment of various accounts, was presented by the Chairman, and adopted by the meeting. In presenting the Education Committee's report, Mr. Cowan stated that arrangements were in progress for the holding of examina- tions for third-class certificates as follows : — Group 11 (Herts, Middlesex, and Essex), at St. Albans, on May 28 ; Group 12 (Surrey, Sussex, and Kent), at Eastbourne, on June 10 ; Group 1 (Notts, Derby, and Leicester), at Leicester, on June 23 ; and for first and second class certificates on May 8, at the Office of ihe Secretary, 12, Hanover-square, London, W. The Committee had also prepared a list of examiners for third-class certificates. The rtport was approved. On behalf of the Exhibitions Committee, Mr. Till gave details of their work in regard to the approaching shows at St. Albans, East- bourne, and Leicester. He was glad to be able to report that at the first-named place there was every prospect that the exhibition would be successful in point of entries, both in the appliance and honey section". Since the last meeting of the Council schedules had been prepared for the Eastbourne and Dairy Shows, and had been approved by the Societies concerned. Several additional classes had been included for the Dairy Show, which, if properly supported, would materially assist in raising this popular department of the exhibition to its deserved prominence. It had been suggested that a class should be provided at the Manchester meeting of the Royal Agri- cultural Society in 1897 for " Honey Trophies," to be exhibited by affiliated County Associa- tions, and this matter would be further con- sidered by the Committee. The report was received. Mr. Cowan stated that the proposed Bill for dealing with foul-brood had been drawn up, and was now before the Board of Agriculture for approval or otherwise. Statistics, prepared by the Lancashire County Council, relating to grants made towards the promotion of bee-keeping, were placed before the meeting by the chairman, showing that of fifty-one County Councils in England, thirty-four had made grants ; of twelve County Councils in Wales, two had made grants ; of thirty-three County Councils in Scotland, three had made grants. A vote of thanks was accorded to the Lancashire County Council for the report, and the meeting shortly afterwards terminated. COMING SHOWS. " ROYAL COUNTIES " AT EASTBOURNE, AND "ROYAL" AT LEICESTER. Referring to the " Royal" Show at Leicester in June next, readers must not forget that entries close on Friday, May 1st, only a fortnight hence (see advertisement on back page of this issue). But for those who are not too hopeful of having surplus of this year ready for removal, there is the saving clause in the schedule which provides for return of entry fees in case the weather should be adverse to honey gathering in time for the show. This clause should do away with any indecision on the part of would-be exhibitors. We are also pleased to announce that the date of closing entries for the " Royal Counties' '' Show at Eastbourne has been ex- tended until May 22, a concession which will no doubt be welcomed by southern bee- keepers in view of the wealth of fruit-bloom now just becoming available to the bees. AUSTRALIAN HONEY. As a further illustration of the unfortunate outcome of sending Australian honey to this country for sale on the open market, a press- cutting has just reached us, in which the Melbourne Age of February 12 last says : — " Messrs. Morgan Bros., of High-street and Glenferrie-road, send us some accounts con- cerning the fate of a case of honey which they 152 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 16, 1896. forwarded to England last year that are interesting, as showing the scant encourage- ment given to exporters. The honey, 72 lb. in weight, was placed in six dozen bottles that cost 9s. ; the box in which they were enclosed cost 4s. and the labels 2s. So that (taking the value of the product itself at 2|d. per lb.) when the honey left Messrs. Morgan Brothers' hands its value was £1. lis. 6d. The box was sent in April to Messrs. M'Meekin Bros. & Co., ofWarrnambool,for trans-shipment to England, and these gentlemen in November reported to Messrs. Morgan Brothers that they held 2s. 9d. to the credit of that firm (M'Meekin Bros. & Co.). The account sales contained the follow- ing figures : — By proceeds sale of honey, lis. 8d. ; debit to insurance, 3s. ; Melbourne railage, 3s. ; ocean freight, Is. 7d. ; London commission charges, 6s. lOd. The last-named sum was made up of landing and warehouse charges, rent, &c, 3s. ; fire insurance, Id. ; sale expenses, 2s. ; brokerage, Is. ; commission, at 2 J per cent., 4d. The little commercial trans- action of Morgan Bros, is not without a humorous side." We rather fear that Messrs. Morgan Bros, will not readily perceive the humorous side of the above " little commercial transaction," but it gives a further confirmation of our conten- tion that Australian honey is not suited to the British market. " Rather less than a half- penny per pound," the net sum quoted in our pages as obtained for a ton of colonial honey sold a short time ago, was bad enough, but in the case reported above the honey realised two shillings and ninepence less than nothing ! BEES AND APPLE-BLOOM. HOW BEES BECOME FRUIT-PROTECTORS. Monsieur Fabius de Champville, in his new book on '' How to Obtain Good Cider,"* has a chapter entitled " Nos allies contre les para- sites," in which the author concludes by urging the spread of bee - keeping in France. He says : — " I ought to mention equally as an ally in the defence of apple-trees one of the useful insects which, spite of its worth, has not the place in France that it ought to have — we speak of the bee. In fact, the bee, when in quest of its spoil, is one of the greatest destroyers of apple-blossom weevil (lAntho- nome). In gathering pollen .... they cause the egg, which the weevil has deposited on the fertilising pollen, to fall. Later, in opening the petals to seek their feast, they place the larva of the weevil in contact with the in- clemencies of the atmosphere, and thus rudely arrest its development, causing it to perish." In 1879, Le Frere Abel, so competent in such questions, wrote : — "This year, when the ravages of the apple-blossom weevil have been so deplorable in the Guerche de Bretagne * "Comment s'pbtient le Bon Cidre." Published in Paris : Soci6t6 d'Editions Scientiflques, 4, Rue Antonie Belbois. (Ille-et-Vilaine), the apple-trees situated near hives promise a good harvest. One sees that the bee plays an important role of immense utility in defending our apple-trees — more- over, its estimable product is a great revenue without much expense, and one cannot advocate sufficiently the spreading of apiaries in the farms." Then alluding also to the bee being one of the best agencies for fertilising fruit-blossom, the author concludes by urging the importance of " keeping bees that the work of the orchard may be enlivened by the hum of these industrious labourers." HONEY IMPORTS. The total value of honey imported into the United Kingdom during the month of March, 1896, was £2,638. — From a return furnished to the British Bee Journal by the Statistical Office, H.M. Customs. ABOUT OUR BEES. BY HENRY W. BRICE. XI. FORMING NUCLEI. This is an operation most useful in itself, but requiring careful consideration if it is to be carried out successfully. Beginners will, therefore, do well to leave it alone until such time as they have acquired a fairly good knowledge of the art of bee-keeping, and are certain of their ability to manipulate their charges not only with facility and confidence, but with entire freedom from mistakes in what is known as " management." All com- petent bee-keepers are now fully alive to the importance of having nothing but young queens in their apiaries. But for those who have only one or two queens to replace it is preferable, for economical and other reasons, to buy from a reliable source rather than break in upon the prosperity of a flourishing colony for the purpose of providing temporary quarters for new queens and breeding them at home. Another disadvantage under which the small apiarist suffers in our variable climate is the risk of his princesses being lost on their marital or mating flight. Considering, therefore, all the risks and uncertainties attendant on the rearing of good home-bred queens it is, as I have said, cheaper to buy. Where a large number of young queens are needed to replace old and worn-out ones the case is different, and it may be well worth all the thoughtful- ness and skilful management we can bring to bear on the raising of home-bred queens. This means practically breaking up a colony or two after the honey season is passed for the purpose of forming nuclei in which young queens may be preserved until required. To carry out this phase of bee-keeping success- fully every possible pains must be taken if April 16, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 153 first-class queens are to be obtained ; and the little disappointments which crop up at times on every hand must be borne with fortitude, so that if failure follows our best efforts we must bear it and " try again." By- far the best time for queen-raising is during the natural swarming season, from May to the end of July. This holds good whatever method is adopted. So soon, therefore, as the main honey harvest has been gathered iD, operations may commence. Have your queen- cells as nearly twelve days' old as possible ; remove all supers from a very strong stock, and next day make an artificial swarm from it in the manner described in the last chapter (page 133). In twenty-four hours all the old bees will have joined the swarm, and the part of the stock to be divided will contain all young bees and brood. An examination of the combs will give an estimate as to how many nuclei the stock may with safety be divided into. To arrive at this number allow one fgood queen-cell (two if there are suffi- cient), one frame of brood, and two of food covered with bees to each intended nucleus. After making a selection of the queen-cells for each, place them between every alternate frame in the brood-nest. The nucleus hives being already prepared for occupation, in twelve to fourteen hours afterwards make the division, and set the little colonies on their respective stands. It will be found that nearly all the bees will stay where placed. Do not be tempted to form more nuclei than the stock will safely make, because nothing is so unsatisfactory as a weak nucleus. Should there be more frames of brood than the single comb required for each nucleus, brush the bees into the stock to be divided, and give the brood back to the swarm previously made. A good strong stock should yield three serviceable nuclei (not more), if properly managed, besides the swarm. I consider the above to be the best, and withal the surest, method of queen-raising in nuclei. Other plans there are in plenty, but all entail a deal of careful watching, and the need for considering many things, amongst which are stimulating the stock in order to be full of young bees and hatching brood ready, when the time comes, for forming nuclei. All this means trouble and anxiety for the bee- keeper, and adds to the disappointment if failure follows. Sometimes, I grant, when all the conditions are favourable, strong stocks worked up in [this way may be divided into a number of moderate nuclei with ease, pro- vided the bees are brought to a due sense of their loss by removal of the queen, and very- young brood is removed twenty-four hours before the division is made. But to get queenless bees to stay on a new position in a strange hive some strong inducement must be given them. Torn abruptly from old associa- tions and surroundings, bees will rather cast in their lot with the nearest prosperous colony than stay where we desire them on a new stand. Some strong inducement must, there- fore, be given to bind them to the new locality, and nothing is so likely to afford this inducement as a laying queen. The next best thing — after the bees have shown their sense of loss by starting queen-cells — is to give them a ripe queen-cell just about to hatch, as a most powerful inducement towards the retention of bees in nucleus hives. Even old bees are chary of leaving a hive under these circumstances. On the other hand, a queen- cell not due to hatch for a week will often fail in alienating bees from old associations, even though the stock to which they return is motherless. Nucleus colonies should never consist of less than a frame containing both a young and hatching brood and two combs of food, all of which combs should be covered thickly with chiefly young bees. Many more bees must be given than are ultimately required, because some are bound to be lost, and can only be replaced by the bees of the continually hatching brood first given. The young larvae will effectually attach all the nurse bees to the nucleus, and as young unflown bees will readily stay wherever put, it sometimes becomes necessary to brush off a few hundred of these from the combs of a strong stock in the event of the population of the nucleus getting too much reduced. Always make up nuclei in the evening, as during the still hours of the night many recruits will have joined the ranks from the hatching brood given. When only a single nucleus is required, make it as follows : — Take from a strong stock two frames of hatching brood (but not the queen) and one of food with the bees thereon, and place them in a nucleus hive about mid- day. Carry same quietly, without covering the frames down before moving, to the other end of the garden. Nearly all the old bees will fly back to the old stock. Then cover down warmly, close the entrance, and remove them indoors ; keep in a warm, dark place for twenty-four hours. The bees in the nucleus are nearly all young ones, and at the end of the time men- tioned, if the brood has been well selected, a nice little stock is obtained, ready to accept a queen or a queen-cell, and may be warranted to stop wherever placed. If a strong stock is deprived of its queen and removed to a' distance of, say two or three miles, it may be at once divided into several small stocks, as all the bees are in a strange locality, and will stay wherever placed, if a frame of brood is given them. A queen-cell may be given after the lapse of a few hours. I have carried ripe queen-cells, packed in wool under my vest, fourteen or fifteen miles, by rail and road, to such divided stocks, and had them all hatch successfully. When the queens of stocks divided in this way are mated and laying, the hive may be brought home again to be utilised as required. Small stocks may be made by reducing a strong lot of bees to the 154 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 16, 1896. condition of a swarm ; then dividing the brood-combs into as many portions as stocks are wanted, and in the evening running in as many bees to each as will equalise them, the brood being placed in a very warm place in the meantime. I do not, however, recommend this process, as it entails a considerable loss of brood and bee-life, although it is fairly certain in its results. When a number of nuclei are required at once, and there are only a limited number of stocks from which to make them, there is no sure and simple way of making them. Some will go on right and succeed, others will fail, try as we may. Some will be troublesome and require constant care and attention for at least four or five days, others will get short of bees during the day, and require young bees added each evening until the stock is strong enough to keep going without outside help ; and, as I have said above, a deal depends upon the condition of the stocks to be divided, and its previous careful preparation for the operations which follow. But, of course, like everything else, to carry out the making of nuclei in an efficient manner entails a lot of work under- taken on systematic lines, moreover, it requires the attention and skill of a practical bee- man to make the forming of nuclei uniformly succcessful. — Thornton Heath. (To be continued). Erratum.— On page 132, second column (31 lines from bottom), for ■' artificial " read natural. tynmtytm&mtt The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice tvill be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily f 01 publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. Communications relating to the literary department reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries Books for Review, &c, must be addressed only to " The Editors of the 'British Bee Journal,' 17, King William- street, Strand, London, W.C." All business' communi- cations relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to "The Manager, ' British Bee Journal' Office, 17, King William-street, Strand, London, W.C." (see 1st page of advertisements ). \* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. MANIPULATING BEES. DOES THE METHOD OF HANDLING CAUSE EXCITEMENT ? [2472.] I think we sometimes complain of the excitability of our bees, when in eight cases out of ten the bee-keeper's mode of manipulation is the cause of it. Had a different plan been adopted, there would have been no excitement among the bees. I am sure the smoker is used a great deal too much, and the bees unnecessarily frightened and ex- cited thereby. On the 7th my wife and I manipu- lated twenty hives, without using a smoker, carbolic cloth, or anything to frighten the bees, and only three bees attempted to sting us. All the hives except two had wooden covers. The average time taken over each hive was six minutes, and most of the hives were full from end to end with bees. Our stocks have never before been so strong at this time of the year. The 7 th was a lovely day, which would partly account for the nice behaviour of our little friends. I think the great point is to accustom the bee3 to gentle treatment, and then they go on with their work as if nothing unusual was taking place. A friendly relationship is thus established between the bees and their owner, which one hopes heredity will fix. For two or three years I have never used a smoker except in driving bees, and it is a great comfort to be able to discard the smoker, which in my case often went out just when it was most required. I am also certain our bees have been far easier to manipulate since the smoker has been disused. If I want the bees out of the way when putting on supers or hive covers, I use a smoker with a sponge in it saturated with carbolic acid. — B. T. Shea, Southend, April llth. [Our correspondent is undoubtedly right in contending that the method followed^ by the bee-keeper in manipulating has very much to do with the quietude or irascibility, as the case may be, of the bees dealt with. It is also certain that in too many instances far more smoke is used than needed. But it is equally true that either smoke or some other inti- midant is absolutely indispensable in bee- work as a rule. We are quite in accord with our correspondent as to the folly of frighten- ing and exciting the bees unnecessarily, and the value of accustoming them to gentle treat- ment. On some days — like the particular one referred to — hives may be examined and all sorts of operations carried out as stated ; but a couple of days or so later the same stocks may be very difficult to do anything with in comfort without smoke and veil. It is, there- fore, not quite good policy to lead readers to suppose that smoke and bee-veils may be dis- pensed with, and gentleness only relied on, because it would, we fear, in too many cases lead to regrettable mishaps. To show the variation in methods and pre- ferences, how many bee-keepers would give up his smoker, preferring to rely on the fumes of a carbolised sponge 1 And how easy it is — when one knows how — to keep a good smoker alight for three or four hours at a stretch ! In point of fact each should adopt and use what he best succeeds with ; and, as a general rule, the ordinary bee-keeper should be advised to have his smoker (or his carbolic cloth if he prefers it), and his bee-veil too, handy and ready for use if wanted in the performance of all work in the apiary. This seen to, our April 16, 1896.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. 155 correspondent's method of management is in every way admirable and worthy of being folio wed.—Eos] BEES REFUSING COMB-FOUNDA- TION. FLAT-BOTTOMED OR NATURAL-BASED, WHICH 1 [2473.] As this matter appears to receive prominence very often of late in both the bee press and in conversation amongst bee-keepers, 1 should like to state my views on the subject, and to draw your attention to a personal experience of my own. During the whole of last season I was particularly struck with the fact that my bees persistently refused to start work in the supers on some sections which were fitted with what at that time appeared to my mind super-foundation in perfection. There was no question as to whether my bees were in the proper condition for supering. Sections there were in that very super, full, yea, full to overflowing, and these were the outside sections ; my bees actually filled the outside sections in the super and left severely ' alone the sections I in my wisdom (?) had ordained they should tackle first. How was this 1 The foundation was manufactured by a dealer beyond reproach, and even had that aroma which, as you very neatly put it in " Useful Hints " last week, " will strike any one as sure to be grateful to the bees.'' The question was constantly in my mind, why didn't the bees " go for " that foundation ? Now, sirs, here, for me at all events, is the answer : That beautiful foundation which the bees wouldn't " have " at any price was flat-bottomed, while the filled sections were in every instance started from natural based foundation, and to my mind that was the secret. At the commence- ment of the season I had recommended the flat-bottomed foundation for sections, in fact, had ordered supplies of it for some of my friends, but not in a single instance would the bees touch that foundation, except for the purpose of tearing it down to make way for their own natural comb. I send this purely as a suggestion, and would not for one moment force my opinions on gentlemen who must literally have for- gotten more about bees than I shall ever know ; but to my mind the evidence was con- clusive :' the bees preferred the natural base to the flat-bottom, and I should be delighted to have the opinion of any of your many able correspondents. — T. F. Harrison, Asst. Local Hon. Sec, Lanes, and Ches. B.K.A., North- enden, Cheshire. [Flat-bottomed — known as "VanDeusen" — foundation has been, and is, so frequently accepted and worked out by bees, both in surplus-chambers and in brood-nests, that we think there must be some other reason than the one given by our correspondent for the refusal in his ca?e. Personally^ we never found bees object to the flat-bottomed make, while many are known to prefer it. Perhaps some corroboration, one way or the other, will follow from readers who have had experience. —Eds.] HONEY AND ITS USES. [2474.] I read in Mr. Bancks' pamphlet on honey and its uses as follows : — " Honey is especially recommended as likely to be beneficial in cases of dyspepsia, rheumatism, asthma," &c. And it is said "to have been recently ofcen used as a substitute for cod liver oil with satisfactory results." The read- ing of this decided me to keep bees — having no objections to honey — and being (I am told) predisposed to rheumatism. Some time ago I was told to abstain from sugar, preserves, &c. Not very difficult, as long as I might put the honey jar in place of the sugar basin. Now I find the objection to the latter extends to the former. In my ignorance I thought they were widely different things. May I ask the experience of some of your readers whb have made a liberal personal use of the honey their bees have gathered ?— > W. C. H., South Devon. BEE-KEEPING AND BEE-KEEPERS. The second lecture under the auspices of the local Technical Instruction Committee and the Lancashire and Cheshire Bee-keepers' Associa- tion was given in the National Schools, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Mr. Councillor Norquoy presiding. The Chairman said that, although not a bee-keeper, as a member of the Instruc- tion Committee it was a subject he was thoroughly in sympathy with. He thought the pursuit of bee-keeping ought to be taken up by the people who had gardens, and no doubt with Mr. Taylor (local hon. sec.) and the expert of the Lancashire and Cheshire Bee-keepers' Association they would make it a success. Until a few weeks ago he knew very little of the matter, technically speaking, but an interview with Mr. Taylor and a visit to his apiary at Fallowfield had aroused in him so much interest, and he had gained so much information, that he was desirous of learning more. He then called on Dr. Jones to deliver what he felt sure would be a most interesting and instructive lecture. Dr. Jones pointed out that from bees a greater pecuniary return could be obtained than from any other kind of live stock — whether it was from pigs, poultry, rabbits — and with far less outlay of capital and labour. As to pigs and poultry, day after day, morning and night, they had to be fed and attended to, and their homes cleansed, whereas with bees — with the exception of a little time in spring and autumn — they required, so to speak, no attention whatever ; whilst in winter, from 156 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 16, 1896. October to February they were best left entirely alone. The local hon. sec. Mr. Taylor, of Fallowfield, had made his bees profitable, apart from the honey season, and if he could do it, they who were more suitably situated, ought to succeed. Taking one year with another, from 20s. to 30s. per hive profit could be made annually. Probably Mr. Taylor, if he spoke, would detail his experience on that point. Then there was a fascination about bee - keeping that any one once thoroughly interested in them never lost, but, on the contrary, the enthusiasm increased the older one grew. The doctor then, from the models he had on the table, explained the mechanism and manipulation of the modern bar- framed hive, and pointed out its advantages over the old straw skep. The inhabitants were also described and their functions pointed out. Mr. F. H. Taylor, local hon. secretary, in proposing a vote of thanks to the lecturer alluded to the profit that might be made, and gave some very interesting figures. In 1893, from one hive he obtained three swarms, to- gether with honey " takings " from the lot over sixty pounds in weight. This represented a money profit of nearly £5 from one hive. In 1894, from four hives he increased, by natural and artificial swarming, to seven hives, and obtained 225 lb. of honey, and this though he had lost three swarms. But an analysis of his takings for that year was still more remarkable. From one hive he obtained a swarm which produced 28| lb. of honey, and sent off a " virgin swarm " (which was lost through his absence), and the old stock produced 82 lb. of honey. Another hive yielded an artificial swarm and fifty- seven complete sections and 15 lb. of extracted honey ; in each case the profit being nearly £5 per hive. Taking last year — the most in- clement he had experienced since he started — his hives yielded him a profit of about £1 each. In conclusion, he announced that Dr. Jones would give an open- air lecture at his apiary, Birch Fold Cottage, Old Hall-lane, Fallowfield, early in May, to which he invited any of those present to come and bring their friends, and if they would send their names and addresses he would gladly let them know the date. He also expressed himself willing at any time to help beginners, especially cot- tagers and farm labourers. Dr. Jones briefly thanked the meeting. The proceedings ter- minated with the usual votes of thanks, and at the close several interesting conversations took place, most present asking questions of the lecturer and local hon. sec. NUMBERING HIVES. THE USES OF A RECORD-BOOK FOR HIVES. Suppose I met a man while down street to-day whose name I did not know, and wanted to tell Dr. Miller, when I came home, who it was I had seen ; I should most likely begin to describe him, tell whether he was tall or short, fat or thin, dark or light, and how he was dressed. If there was any peculiarity about him I should mention it ; and after I'd been to all that trouble he might not be able to tell who he was. Now, if I had known his name was John Smith, and there was only one John Smith in the place, I need only have said, "I met John Smith to- day," and he would have known immediately whom I meant. Just think how much time and trouble I might have been saved if I had only known his name. Now just imagine what a muddle we should be in, most of the time, if people were without names. Now, it seems to me just about as necessary to number or name colonies of bees as it is to name people. If I had to stop and describe each colony of bees by some peculiarity of hive or location every time I wanted to refer to it, instead of saying No. 12 or No. 9, I believe I should get discouraged, and just give up. It seems to me a bee-keeper's time is too valuable to be wasted in that way. For instance, suppose Dr. Miller told me, " Get a frame of brood and bees from No. 2 and give it to 49," it wouldn't take him very long to tell me, nor me very long to do it. But, oh dear me ! suppose our colonies were not numbered,and he had to stop to describe them. I might not understand perfectly, and get the wrong colony, and what a muddle it would be. Then think of similar orders many times a day. I don't believe I'd want to work in the apiary very long. It seems to me pretty clear, if two persons are at work in the same apiary, and the colonies are to be talked about, that they need names of some kind, and I don't know of any- thing more convenient for names than numbers. Now, how would it be if only one person were at work in the apiary ? Let us suppose he's at work at No. 49, and wants to get a frame of brood and bees from No. 2. Unless he marks No. 49 in some way when he goes to No. 2, he is liable to make a mistake and get the wrong colony when he comes back. But if there were no other reason for it, I should want hives numbered in order that a record might be kept. You know when children dispute with regard to their ages they are always referred to the family Bible. Well, when we want to be sure of our queen's ages we refer to the record-book. Suppose I go to a colony and find that it is queenless. Is the record-book now of any use to me ? Of course it is. I can take the book and look and see if there is any colony I can go to for queen-cells, tell how ripe they are, tell whether it's a colony I want to breed from, whether it's gentle or cross, whether they are good workers or not ; in fact, tell all about them. With a record-book you can sit down and map out your day's work, and know just what April 16, 1896. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 157 you're going to do beforehand. In fact, I don't see how any one can get along without one. If we should forget ours when we go to the out- apiaries we should have to go back after it, and it would be a difficult thing to keep a record-book without having your colonies numbered. — Emma Wilson, in Gleanings. [I think we shall all have to accept this fac% that, if a record-book is used, hive-numbering is a necessity. Yes, it is indeed true that the book enables one to plan out the work in the apiary before- hand, and while at work in the yard it may save many steps. Suppose I want a certain kind of queen with which to fill an order. In- stead of walking from one hive to another, inspecting the records on the hives, I could sit in the shade and turn the leaves over ; and when the desired queen was found, or queen- cells of the right age, we will say, I go direct to the hive bearing the number designated. And then, again, it is interesting to go over the record-book quietly in the house. Some- times we would find something seriously need- ing attention ; and, again, we run across some interesting facts, as shown by the record routine work. This was forcibly brought to my mind when Dr. Miller read over to me page after page of his record-book one evening at his house. — Ed., Gleanings.'] ^wm m& [1452.] Pollen-choked Combs. — May I kindly beg the favour of information through the columns of the B.B.J, respecting the accompanying piece of comb ? Last week another bee-keeper and myself examined my stocks and found two hives with a great deal of comb similar to piece forwarded — there was no brood in them — and the bees were very weak, so we came to the conclusion that the queens were dead in both hives. We are of opinion that it is the result of foul brood. Are we right % If not foul brood, what is it ? Would it be safe and wise to give the combs to other or new stocks, as a good many have a large quantity of sealed honey ? Thanking you in anticipation of your reply in the valuable B.B.J.— F. S., West Norfolk, King's Lynn, April 13. Reply. — Sample of comb received is com- pletely choked up with nothing worse than wholesome pollen. There is no trace of foul brood, but combs thus occupied are of no more use for egg laying than so many pieces of wood, and the absence of empty cells may account for the hives being weak in bees. In districts where pollen is plentiful such combs are a nuisance and should be destroyed by burning. [1453.] Getting Rid of Pollen in Rendering Wax. — 1. I have been melting down some old combs and under the resulting layers of wax have found a large residue of the substance enclosed. Will you kindly tell me what it is, and whether it can be employed for any pur- pose 1 2. Thanks for answering my question about suspected queenlessness, on p. 148 of last issue. I examined the hives again last week, and in each case found the queen in the first comb lifted out, though on two previous occasions a most diligent search had failed to reveal her. The bees are now carrying in quantities of pollen, but I was surprised to see that they almost entirely neglected a large pear tree trained against a south wall, covered with blossDm, and went for their supplies to some old cabbage plants which have run to seed, and are now leaving a large quantity of small yellow blossom. Why this preference ? — " Little Billie," Torquay, April 12. Reply. — 1. The " residue " forwarded con- sists almost wholly of pollen, which must, of course, have been in the combs before melting. There is not sufficient wax left in the residue to make it worth while melting again, while if offered to the bees in an open dish outside they would no doubt visit the place, attracted by the odour, but no part of the boiled pollen would be used again by them as larval food — so it is best to burn what remains. 2. The bees' preference for the bloom of cabbage plants grown for seed, or that of old plants allowed to flower in spring, is well known, and we do not wonder at them discarding the pear-bloom for that of the cabbage. [1454.] Working Skeps above Frame Hives. — Being a beginner in bee-keeping, I should like a little advice regarding an idea that came to me. I have a skep of Italian bees strong and healthy, which I have placed on the top of a frame-hive fitted with ten frames of foundation, which the bees have taken to nicely. Now, it occurred to me when the honey flow commences it will be necessary to take the skep away, making in reality two hives, as you said in last issue but one. But instead of entirely removing the skep, couldn't it be raised, putting excluder zinc over the body-box, then supers for honey (shallow frames say), two tiers ; and then another zinc excluder, the skep resting on that ? Of course, they would become two distinct hives, but the idea came to me that it would save a lot of time instead of driving from the skep, &c. The drawback to me seems the distance the bees will have to travel in the hive. I shall be glad of your advice, or if you can make it a little plainer and insert it in your next issue, if there is room, I might get the advice of some one who has tried it. — F. Potter Ronton, April 13. Reply. — We have in vain searched our " last issue but one '' in the endeavour to find out what is referred to above. But when bees have transferred the brood-nest from a skep into a frame-hive below, excluder zinc must not be placed between the two unless it is 158 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 16, 1896. quite certain that the queen is on the lower frames and also that there is no drone-brood in the step above. If these points are care- fully attended to and ensured, there is no need for more than one sheet of excluder (set above brood-frames). The skep may then be raised as often as required, for the purpose of adding surplus-chambers below it. Take no notice of the distance the bees have to travel. dfcdtots from ism. Hathersage , near Sheffield, March 8. — My bees are doing wonderfully well. I consider they are at least a month in advance of previous years. I have certainly stimulated them with pea-flour, soft candy, and syrup, but the open weather has been all in favour of early work with strong stocks. Possibly the fact that I am close to the moors may account for the statement that the bees have no diffi- culty in securing a plentiful supply of winter stores from the heather, after giving me an excellent yield of that as well as clover honey. — L. Tavlor. DRAWN-OUT COMBS FOR SECTIONS. THEIR ADVANTAGES ; AND HOW TO UTILISE UNFINISHED SECTIONS. Dr. A. T. Peete, of Branchville, S. 0, in a private letter, says : " There is one point I wish you would explain for me, either personally or in the journal. I see the advantage of sections already drawn out, especially in poor seasons. We can easily get such here in our long summers, the main honey-flow being over by June 10. But your sections go on the hive twice or three times ; are extracted once, cleaned by the bees once, and then have the combs partly melted in the leveller. What can the wood of the section look like, after all that ? Have you no propolis, or do you have wide frames which keep every- thing clean ? Or have you a way of cleaning the sections 2 I am afraid mine would look as clean as very old nest-eggs. Some light on this subject would greatly oblige me." The doctors way of asking questions makes it look as if the drawn-out combs involved a formidable amount of work. In this he is mis- taken ; for the sections are not returned to the hive "three or four times," as he seems to suppose. I will try to make the matter plain by again stating just how I work to get the main part of these drawn (or partly drawn) comb?. Before we began the use of drawn-out combs we were compelled to restrict the room in the surplus apartment of strong colonies, so there would not be a large lot of unfinished sections at the end of the surplus-honey season, for we then regarded unfinished sections (as they truly were) as a great misfortune to the comb-honey producer. Curtailing the section room near the end of the basswood season often resulted in renewed swarming, which is at that time a great loss ; but if we continued to give unre- stricted room at that time there were sure to be thousands of partly-filled sections of white honey. I tried many ways to utilise such sec- tions the next season, but without profitable results. With all our care, the honey in the uncapped cells would be more or less candied, and, when returned and finished the next season, the sections never would be in even second-class condition, and were prone to ferment and become damp and dauby. In our locality there was nearly always a good fall flow of dark honey ; and if the partly filled sections of white honey could be com- pleted from fall flowers, in my market they would be rated below well-finished sections of entirely dark honey. These difficulties led to the experiments that perfected the " Handy " comb-leveller, which with us turned misfortune into fortune. Basswood is here the last of the white honey for each season, as a rule. Now, we pile on unlimited supers of sections until the end of the basswood flow, and not one colony in fifty has the swarming passion renewed, but they go on storing surplus to the end. At the end of basswood the colonies thus supplied with room will have far more honey in the supers than they would if they had been restricted for room ; and there will be more finished honey than in colonies with limited surplus-room ; and the large quantity of unfinished sections is, if rightly used, the best capital ever owned by a comb-honey producer, for I can extract the unfinished sections, and sell the honey to my customers for 12i cents per pound more easily than I can sell gilt-edged combs for 15 cents ; and I can use the empty combs to double my crop of white honey next season. Mr. Van Deusen tried to convince me that bees would finish foundation in less time than finished combs ; but after four years of prac- tical results I know he is incorrect ; for in supers with one half finished combs, and these in the outside of the supers, and the centre filled with sections in which full sheets of Van Deusen and other makes of first-class founda- tion were used every season, the drawn-out combs were all filled and sealed, while the foundation- in the centre (where the bees usually finish first) was left untouched. Now I. will try to answer pointedly Dr. Peete's questions. You see, doctor, the sec- tions which I use for extracting and using again were got from the supers I must neces- sarily use in saving the honey crop, and not only without extra work or loss, but with an actual saving in both, for we avoided the swarming trouble, and did not curtail, but in- creased, the general surplus crop, and even the crop of finished comb honey, so there was no April 10, 1896,] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 159 waste of work here. After the honey is ex- tracted .from the sections they are returned to the supers, and on a warm afternoon are all set out at once in the open air ; and by dark every section will be cleaned of every particle of honey by the bees ready for the comb- leveller. Two hours' work will accomplish all the work of having thousands of combs cleaned ; but the leveller must be used on every comb. Surely that will be a big task. No : it is but little more work than to pro- perly fill sections with full sheets of founda- tion, especially where two pieces of foundation are used in each section ; and the comb-honey producer who does not use two pieces has not yet learned his trade ; so there is but little, if any, extra work or loss in levelling or using the drawn-out combs again. But " what does the wood in the sections look like after all this ? " When we first began using drawn-out combs we scraped them before returning them to the super ; but now we never scrape such sections until they are filled with honey again, and are ready to go into shipping-cases. We scrape the top and bottoms of all our finished supers of comb honey. Before sections are removed therefrom they are all wedged up tight in the supers ; and, the work being accurately done, the tops and bottoms are nearly as smooth and level as a board. We set them on end on a table ; sit down in front of them, and with a scraper made of a piece of old saw cut to a proper shape, and sharpened so it wdl cut like a smoothing-plane, we quickly make the sections so new-looking and clean that we have never heard a word of complaint from the most fas- tidious customer ; so there is no bugbear of soiled sections with us. By the way, I clean all the supers of sections, however made, in the way stated. As to the doctor's inquiry as to whether we have propolis here, I would say that, so far as we know, it is as plentiful here as elsewhere ; but we have far less of it than most others. I remember that, at the hotel in Madison, Wis., we explained our way of preventing propolis and burr-combs to two distinguished bee-men (A. I. Root and C. C. Miller), and they said they wished it was true elsewhere than at Forestville, Minn. Our way is to have all bee- spaces kept very close to and not above J in., to prevent burr combs, and to have everything about the hives where the bees have to travel made very smooth. For this purpose we now paint the inside of our hives, and have them, as well as the frames, supers, sections, and every part the bees must walk over, very smooth. And now, friends, this does lessen the evil of burr-combs and propolis, not only at Forestville, but everywhere that bees work. A rough fuzzy board is about the same to a bee as a piece of rough boggy brush land would be to a labouring man to travel through, and the first thing the sensible bees do is to make the ways they must constantly travel as smooth as pos- sible. This they do by gnawing, and varnish- ing with propolis, and I am now certain that all frames should be very smooth, and may be dipped into proper paint with profit, and if only one side of the hives is painted, the inside should be preferred, as it keeps the wood from being soaked with water in winter, and in- juring the colony's health and causing the wood to warp and check. Warped covers have never troubled me ; but they are carefully made, and both sides well painted. I have never used wide frames in connection with drawn-out combs ; but I have invented a new super composed of peculiar wide frames in connection with my slotted and cleated sepa- rators, without any section case, that is not only cheap and handy, but keeps all sides of the sections entirely clean, and the readers of Gleanings shall know all about it soon. In closing I will admonish those keeping sections over for future use to pile up the supers and cover from the light. I hope I have made the method of profitably usiDg drawn combs plain.— B. Taylor, in Gleanings. [This is indeed an important question, and I believe our friend Taylor has hit upon the proper solution of that problem of unfinished sections. At the convention in Chicago one or two reported very favourably regarding the Taylor method of levelling down the combs ; and I was satisfied that the comb-leveller was a good thing, and a very important adjunct to the apiary. I should like to hear from our readers who have tested the Taylor comb- leveller ; and even if it does give our old friend a little free advertising it is all right. A good thing should occasionally be pushed along, and perhaps this is one of them. — Ed. Glean- ings.] BOIL IT DOWN. Whatever you have to say, my friend — Whether witty, or grave, or gay — Condense as much as ever you can, A.nd say in the readiest way ; And whether you write on rural affairs, Or particular things in town, Just a word of friendly advice — Boil it down. For if you go spluttering over a page, When a couple of lines would do, Your butter is spread so much, you see, That the bread looks plainly through. So when you have a story to tell, And would like a little renown, To make quite sure of your wish, my friend- Boil it down. When writing an article for the Press, Whether prose or verse, just try To utter your thoughts in the fewest words, And let it be crisp and dry ; 160 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 16, 1896. And when it is finished, and you suppose It is done exactly brown, Just look it over again, and then — Boil it down. For editors do not like to print An article lazily long, And the general reader does not care For a couple of yards of song. So gather your wits in the smallest space, If you'd win the author's crown. And every time you write, my friend — Boil it down. — Printers' Circular. U\ j^ftiwra to &mt May 27 to June 1.— Bath and West of England Agricultural Society at St. Albans. Bees, hives, and honey. Thirteen classes and liberal prizes. Entries Close ArRiL 8. For schedules apply Edwin H. Young, Secretary B.B.K.A., 12, Hanover-square, London, W. June 9 to 12. — At Eastbourne, in connection with the Royal Counties Agricultural Society's Show. Entries close May 22. June 22 to 26. — Royal Agricultural Society at Leicester. Schedules now ready. Entries close May 1. All letters relating to Bee Department of above Shows to be addressed to Edwin H. Young, Secretary B.B.K.A., 12, Hanover-square, London, W. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufac- turers or correspondents, 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 Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is iiecessary 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 of their communica- tions. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. A Lover of Bees. — He-queening and forming Niiclei. — Our correspondent will find all the information he asks for in Mr. Brice's article in this issue, page 152. John Polchampton (Frome). — Tied Spiders in Hives. — The spider will do no harm in the hive, and will not be tolerated there when bees get stronger. It spins no web as ordinary spiders do, being a sort of scavenger which lives on offal of any kind. John Kinnings (Craven Arms) . — Frame- Hives without Frames. — You will have to give us fuller particulars as to your proposal to "take out all old combs," &c, to pre- vent swarming. With only the meagre details given to guide us your plan seems impracticable, and we cannot advise regard- ing it without further information. Special Prepaid Advertisements. Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, &c. — Up to Twelve words, Sixpence; for every additional Three words or under. One Penny. STOCKS, Nuclei, Swarms, and Queens.— Address, Rev. C. Brereton, Pulborough, Sussex. FOR HONEYCOMB DESIGNS apply C. Cox, Bramp- ton, Northampton. FOR. SALE, 2 cwt. SUPER HONEY (good pale). Sample 7 lb. LING, , Shady Camp, Cambs. L 29 FINEST EXTRACTED HONEY; in J cwts. 7d. per lb. Tins free. Sample 2d. Deposit. Dutton, Terling, Witham, Essex. L 28 -lOQK QUEEN WANTED at once. Price and iOCCi particulars to Hopkins, Greenhill, Bromsgrove. L 26 BLOW'S little wonder HONEY EXTRACTOR. Ex- change for good sections. David Hale, The Oaks, Grayshott, Hants. L 27 GUARANTEED PURE ENGLISH HONEY. Best quality in 30 lb. tins. 7 lb. tins free. TWINN, Apiary House, Ridgwell, Halstead, Essex. SECTION RACKS, to hold 21 1-lb. Sections, with tin dividers. Sample sent post-free, 2s. 6d. W. Milne, Poissell-street, West Hartlepool. L 34 EXCHANGE 13 ROLLER PIGEONS for Bees or Appliances. T. BARBER, 222, Wath-road, Mex- boro', near Rotherham. L 33 FOUR Strong Stocks, in sound, well-made bar framed Hives, 30s. each, or 115s. lot. GRIMBLY, Minster, Ramsgate. l 16 WANTED, strong healthy STOCKS, on standard frames, without hives preferred. Lowest price to W. Hutchinson, King-street, Leek. l 30 SKEPS of BEES (foul brood unknown), 15s. each, packed and put on rail. G. Knowles, Newnham , Ely, Cambs. L8 BEES ! BEES ! ! BEES ! ! ! PLANTS ! PLANTS ! ! PLANTS ! ! ! Canadian Balsam, the noted Bee- Plant. 25 post free, Is. 3d. Post Office, Flixborough, via Doncaster. L 37 NUCLEUS, 10s. 6d. Five-framed STOCKS, 20s. Address.— Frank Reed, Portslade, Sussex. L 38 CLEARANCE SALE.—" Bee-Keepers' Text Book,' by A. J. King, 2s. 3d., usual price 4s. ; " The Hive and Honey Bee," by Rev. L. L. Langstroth, 5s., usual price 8s.; " Quinby's New Bee-Keeping," 3s. 0d., usual price 6s.; "The Bee-Keepers' Guide,'' by Professor A. J, Cook, 3s., usual price 5s.; "Bee-Keeping, Plain and Practical," by Alfred Rusbridge, Is., usual price Is. 6d. ; " British Bee-Keepers' Guide Book," by T. VV. Cowan, Is. 3d., usual price 2s. 6d. ; " The New Method of Queen-Rearing," by H. Alby, 2s. Cd., usual price 4s. ; Foundation Fixers for fastening Foundation in Sections, 7d. each, 6s. per doz., usual price Is. 6d. each ; 2 doz. Bingham Honey Knives, Is. 9d. each, usual price 4s. 6d. each. Carriage paid to any part. Two " Little Wonder " Extractors, 5s. each, usual price 12s. Carriage forward. W. Lee, 71, Hurdsfleld-road, Macclesfield. l 39 April 23, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 161 deferral, $e&m, &t COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS AND DEALING WITH FOUL BROOD. The season is now at hand when bee- keepers who have reason to suspect the existence of foul brood in their hives will watch with some anxiety the combs of hatching brood for the signs of disease too well known to be easily mistaken. It is a curious but indisputable fact that, as regularly in each year as the month of May comes round, so regularly does this bee-pest make its presence felt in an increased degree; and although, one would gladly dispense with its periodical prominence in our pages at this season, there seems to be no help for it. We must, therefore, keep on pegging away at the unsavoury subject until foul brood is, as nearly as can be, banished from our midst. But it is not difficult to understand why, of all months in the year, May is the one in which the disease develops in so palpable a form that only the most inexperienced or careless bee-keeper can overlook or mistake it. The central combs are rapidly filling with brood in all stages of metamorphosis from the tiny larvae just hatched to the fully- developed insect, and this affords the opportunity of comparing, side by side, unsealed larvae of all sizes in the crescent- shaped pearly plumpness of health, with those already bearing the appearance of flabby j shapeless bags of pale - yellow matter which so surely betokens bacillus alvei and death ! In the same way, the convex cappings of living, healthy, sealed brood are seen contiguous to the flatter and darker-coloured coverings of brood which has already died of disease in the cell; so that the bee-keeper must be indeed blind who fails altogether to notice the symptoms brought directly under his eyes (and nose, too, at times). There is also the fact that if colonies of bees fail to make perceptible and continuous headway in May, there must be something wrong in the hive ; and if the queen be at all prolific — with sufficient bees to induce egg-laying — the quantity of dead brood in a diseased hive increases enormously during the month, causing even the most casual in- spection of the combs to reveal the mischief being wrought. All this tends — as we have said — to bring foul brood into prominence at this season, and we notice with unmixed pleasure the prompt action resolved upon — in consequence of what is termed an " Outbreak of foul brood " — by a county association, whose printed circular has been kindly for- Avarded to us by the hon. secretary for use if thought advisable. We also regard it as a healthy sign that no special request was made for us to suppress the name of the association referred to — and in doing so we have merely exercised our own discretion — because there is a ten- dency to minimise, indeed, we may say in some quarters to conceal, the pre- valence of foul brood. Why, it is hard to say, but — were it not for the serious consequences involved — we should at times be amused at the easy complacency with which some counties are reported by their experts to be " almost free from foul brood," in the light of reliable information to the contrary now in our possession, but regarded, of course, as strictly private. There are, we admit, sound reasons for avoiding a scare, or, indeed, anything tending to cause the whole bee trade of a county to be damaged or undeservedly crippled by reckless statements ; but it is easy to err on the other side, and, by making light of the evil, to throw hindrances in the way of any honest attempt on the part of county associa- tions to grapple with so complete a bar to success in the pursuit as the one now being dealt with. We therefore allow the circular mentioned to speak for itself, and commend the association concerned for the praiseworthy vigour and thoroughness with which the work is apparently intended to be carried out. It is to be hoped that the members ad- dressed will heartily co-operate with the committee in supplying the needed infor- mation ; which will not only be most ad- vantageous in their own county, but affoid valuable material for strengthening the hands of those who are now endeavour- ing to obtain compulsory powers for dealing with foul brood. Nothing will more conclusively prove to the Board of Agriculture how pressing is the need for legislation than to find that the very steps the B.B.K.A. propose to take are 162 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 23, 1896. actually being put in force by Bee Associations, assisted by funds at the disposal of County Councils, as stated below. The first circular is apparently intended for distribution to all members of the association, and reads as under : — BEE-KEEPERS ASSOCIATION. Foul April, 1896. Brood Outbreak. Dear Sir, — This disease is now reported from almost every side of the county. In j ten out of seventeen bee-keepers are affected, and nearly half the stocks are diseased. The committee have resolved to take special measures to cope with this alarming outbreak, as every diseased hive becomes a centre of infection. The subjoined advertisement, inserted in the local papers, explains the j>rocedure. to bee-keepers. [Advt.] Outbreak of Foul Brood. In consequence of the alarming increase amongst bees of this very contagious disease, the Bee-Keepers' Association wish to send their expert to all infected districts to examine hives and give information concerning remedies. Expenses arc defrayed from County Council grant. Any bee-keeper suspecting disease among his own or neighbours' bees, or having bees die without knowing the cause, is requested to communicate at once with the undersigned. A hive affected with this disease is a source of danger to all hives within a mile. (Here follow name and address of Hon. Secretary.) Along with above the following cir- cular was sent : — ■ bee-keepers association. Special Notices. " There will be no spring tour this year ; an autumn tour will take its place. FOUL BROOD. " This contagious disease continues to spread in the county, and the committee hope that members will give every assistance in the task of detecting and (if possible) stamping it out. A stock dying of foul brood is usually robbed, and the diseji.se carried to neighbouring hive?. Any cases of suspicion, either with members or non-members, should be reported to the secretary, who is empowered to direct the expert to proceed to the spot to investigate the matter, and to do his best to induce the owner to adopt efficient remedies. In case of doubt a piece of brood comb should be sent t^ the secretary." " This foul brood investigation will take the place of the usual spring tour. No district will be visited without an application or report of suspicious cases ; and although the expert takes every precaution to disinfect himself, it is not advisable for him to do the usual spring tour work on this tour of inspection. You are earnestly requested to report any case of suspicion in your district, and to aid the com- mittee in this matter. The greatest danger is apathy and reluctance to allow examination of stocks. In bad cases, stocks should be destroyed by fire (combs and frames), and the body of hive disinfected. The signs of the disease are given in the April Record. " No stocks should be sold or purchased until it is ascertained that their district is free from foul brood. Natural swarms are usually healthy, but in purchasing such stipulate that they are not artificial ones. In this work no distinction is made between members and non- members ; it is imperative to deal with any and every case of foul brood. " Yours truly, , Hon. Sec.'' April, 1896. It affords us much pleasure to add that another important county association has to our knowledge recently engaged the services of a capable expert — known to be " down upon " foul brood wherever found, and who spares no pains in assisting those troubled with it — who is now labouring hard in the effort to search out all the plague spots with which the bee-keepers of the count}'- are troubled. Work of this kind seems but the precursor of the legislation which is sure to follow if the results can be proved at all commensurate with the small amount of expense involved. Of this we have no doubt whatever, and it affords some encouragement to note that in the case of the association first referred to the ex- penses of the work undertaken are " defrayed from the County Council grant." IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION The annual general meeting was held on. the 16th inst. The report, which was adopted, states that in 1895 a large increase was made in the number of members. Greatly increased facilities are now afforded to member * for obtaining advice on bee-keeping, mainly by supplying the Bee-keepers' Record on extremely favourable terms and also by issuing the Asso- ciation's "Notes and Hints" six times a year instead of quarterly. Between 3,030 and 4,000 sections were sold for members, mostly at from 8d. to 10d., and some run honey. The co-operation of the Royal Dublin Society and Oommisnoners of National Education has April 23, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 163 been obtained ' for establishing an apiary at the Model Farm, Glasnevin, where instruction will be given in bee-keeping. In this way it will be possible for a prac- tical knowledge of the subject to be acquired by students at the Training Colleges for school teachers, enabling them to teach it afterwards to children, and by gardeners and land stewards in training at Glasnevin. The outgoing officers of the Association were re-elected. The committee for 1896-7 con- tains two new members, Mr. W. J. Deiap, of Cahirciveen, and Mr. H. Jenkins, of Clontarf. A conversational meeting of members was held in the evening, at which samples of the new " Weed " comb-foundation, sent by Mr Boxwell, were shown. HONEY EETUENS IN CALIFOENIA. SOMETHING LIKE A " BIG YIELD " PER HIVE. A correspondent dating from Combe Grange, near Bath, on the 18th inst., writes as fol- lows : — " I beg to enclose a cutting taken from the Irish Times of March 10. If you could find space for it in the pages of the B.J., I think it might be interesting to some of your readers. I am aware that some who have read the article would welcome an experienced opinion on the subject. One reader inquires the rents of house and land in that land ' overflowing with honey.' " The cutting referred to reads thus : — "The land that floweth with milk and honey has not it would seem been yet obliterated from off the face of our globe — it is still a geographical reality. Those only who have visited the undulating lands of Southern California are in a position adequately to appreciate the literal wonders which in this part of the world encircle the management — as an industry— of bees and beehives. The conditions for the growth of honey, and that, too, of exceptional purity, richness, and nutritive strength, are all fulfilled here. First and foremost the air, especially at the end of spring, is alike warm and dry, an essential element in the production of sweet substances in Nature ; while the soil is the very perfection of an auxiliary in the same process by being lofty and gravelly. Persons on both, sides of the Channel takiDg an interest in this branch of remunerative work might well look amazed to hear what sort of a harvest can be reaped in South California with an apiary. Here is a sample of a return on outlay. The outcome of a summer's work will frequently average between £75 and £200 per hive. It is not quite a rare circumstance in the far- away territory that a single swarm of bees for the twelve months has yielded in honey the seemingly incredible sum of one thousand pounds sterling ! The fact is, this entire region is enriched with a profusion of honey- producing plants, so that, like as in quite a different sphere the vulture is attracted from long distances to where the carrion lies in the lone valley, so the vast abundance of flowers everywhere blooming draws, as if by a magnet, swarm upon swarm of bees eagerly in quest of their treasure substance. One reason of such an exceptional state of things is that South California abounds in all the varieties of the sage plant, which is a receptacle of a pheno- menal supply of saccharine substance. The Californian honey, as those are aware who have tasted it, is endued with more virtues than its unequalled power of giving a relish. This delicate and vigour-giving food surpasses the far-famed honey of Mount Hymettus, and would appear to be a formidable rival to that nectar which, in the songs of the poets, ' enwreaths the golden goblets at the fabled banquets of the kings.' " Our correspondent surely does not intend us to treat the above seriously. Anyway, as the B.B.J, circulates in the land of Stars and Stripes, and is, moreover, sent to the State of California every week, it is just possible we may be favoured with " an experienced opinion on the subject," gathered on the spot. In sober English, however, and with due deference to what our Irish contemporary evidently intends to be read as a serious statement, we advise our Bath correspondent to delete the £ before figures 75 and 200 quoted, and the words "sum" and "ster- ling " a few lines lower down ; and read pounds weight (avoirdupois) in each case. He will then arrive at the sense of the matter, but without those corrections the substance of the cutting is utter nonsense. (§am%pnkML The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. W e do not undertake to return rejected communications. Communications relating to the literary department reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries Books for Review, dec, must be addressed only to "The Editors of the 'British Bee Journal,' 17, King William- street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi- cations relating to Advertisements, die., must be addressed to "The Manager, ' British Bee Journal' Office, 17, King William-street, Strand, London, W.C." (see 1st page of advertisements). *»* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on tvhich it appears. NOTES BY THE WAY. [2475.] After a period of cold, rough north- easterly winds, dubbed by local tradition " Blackthorn Winter," we have had a few days of real spring weather, bees fairly revel- ling during the early part of the day in fields 164 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 23, 1896. yellow with dandelion bloom, and in the afternoon busy in the fields of turnip and rape now bursting into blossom. The wild cherry, too, and blackthorn in the hedges, the wild anemone covering the woods with a carpet of white bloom, together with the many and varied wild flowers of spring make up a feast for the bees, which has set them to work with a will and resulted in a rapid enlargement of the brood nest. In the immediate future we shall have further hee-forage in the horse-chestnut, fol- lowed closely by the beech and sycamore ; vetches, too, are looking remarkably promising, and the clovers, trefoil, or hop, with a good prospect of surplus from trifolium, all these items are cheering to the bee-keeper owning large apiaries, as affording relief from the risk of cash out of pocket for feeding stuff to carry on the growing colonies till the honey flow. Sunshine and showers alone are wanted to complete the picture, and then, with a fine June and July, why bee-keeping will just " hum " in 1896. The " Kontgen rays " are credited by the savants of Chicago as inimical to bacteria. Will it be possible in the future to turn on those " rays " to a foul broody stock of bees and annihilate the germs ? Hasten the happy time, say I. American bee-keepers are able to move their Government to publish a free issue of 20,000 copies of Benton's book on bees and bee-keeping — said to be an exhaustive treatise. Now, cannot something of the kind be done in this country by County Councils in dis- seminating good sound knowledge on the same subject ? A pamphlet on bee-keeping, containing all necessary instructions for the successful management and care of bees in movable frame - hives, after the style of " Modern Bee-keeping," or a similar pamphlet. Perhaps the B.B.K.A. would offer a prize or prizes for the best work on the subject suitable for the purpose. Thi?, I venture to say, should or would be a pre- liminary step to the foul brood Inspector, as a free copy to every bee-keeper in the kingdom would place every one who keeps bees in possession of the character of the bee-pest, and no one could then plearl ignorance in respect of the disease. Canadian bee-keepers have been busy getting an Act through their Parliament to prevent adulteration of honey in any shape or form, and imposing heavy penalties for breaking the law. This appears be the most stringent and direct law dealing with the subject hitherto pacsed in the interest of bee-keepers. I trust our British makers of comb-founda- tion have improved their processes in the super-foundation making so that we may not have the bees refusing so many sections alto- gether, and in others working out filling and sealing perfectly one side of the section and leaving the other side severely alone. I firmly believe that the lubrcint used in mi'lin^ the sheets is to blame in the matter and not the shape of bases of cells. I have had but little experience with flat - bottomed foundation though I tried a small parcel from Messrs. Abbott some years back and my bees took to it readily and worked it out into combs of which a few are still sprinkled about the apiary now, but the bees did not in all cases change the base of the cells. — W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury. NOTANDA ET INQUIRENDA. CLEARING SHALLOW-FRAME SUPERS. [2476.] At last I find leisure to return my thanks to the correspondents who, in the pages of the B.B.J., and in private letters, have kindly given me the benefit of their experience — not forgetting the parting fling of the editors. One thing soon became very clear to me, viz., that my immovable plinths were the main cause of my trouble. With no little difficulty, and at some expense, I have had them carefully ripped off the lifts and replaced. They have been so screwed on that I anticipate no future hindrance to their entire removal whenever desirable. I can now avail myself of the editors' helpful hints in the B.B.J, of April 9 (pages 141 and 142). In fact, I have only to follow the same procedure as I adopt for section-racks. But I find super-clearers far more useful than several of my corre- spondents seem to do, and should be sorry to be without them. Before proceeding farther, if space will permit, I should like to clear away one or two misconceptions : — 1. Excluder Zinc. — All my trouble arose from trying to do without excluder zinc one year, after reading the opinions of Mr. Simmins and others. But those who, like Mr. Walton (No. 2,449, page 124), give such positive advice, should remember that, only quite recently, equally positive advice has been given the other way. This is puzzling to a beginner ; and it takes time and mishaps before the necessary experience is gained — sometimes rather dearly. I am not at all likely to omit excluder zinc for the future. ' 2. Brace Combs.— Those on the sides of frames are no practical trouble ; they do not interfere with Jifting one super off another. Those between the top bars of frames in one super, and the bottom bars of the next highest, are a serious nuisance. At times, owing to catching in the tin spacers, I have been utterly unable to get a cutting wire through. In the crucial case I mentioned I tried this in every way I could think of, besides attempting other dodges, before giving up and resorting, in despair, to 3heer force, when the season was already too far advanced, in order to get the bee* packed for winter, before it was too late. I also use vaseline lavishly on sides of hive aud on topi, bottoms, and sides of frames. To April 23, 1896.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 165 a certain extent it stops brace comb building and propolisation ; but the bee3 ingeniously build from the edges of the combs to the edges of those next above, and so on ; and I cannot at present have broader frames, as they will not go into my extractor, and I am not pre- pared just now to go to the expense of a new one, nor to sacrifice my fine and growing stock of built-out combs. 3. Spacing. — It is an entire misapprehension to think that one tier of my supering frames resfs on the one immediately beneath. I was speaking of the outer case. My frame ends rest upon that, there being no inner case. They are, however, carefully spaced top, bottom, and sides, and properly distanced one from another. Now let me return to the charge for the last time. In this neighbourhood the only prac- tical source of honey-flow is the clover, first and. second flowering. A large quantity being grown (there is a 16-acre field just over my garden wall !) the influx is tremendous, and the needs of supering space excessive for a very short time — about three weeks — on each occasion. Last year I had three tiers of standard and shallow frames more or less filled in my " Wells " hive, with only one stock working both sides. A single hit e had five section-racks on at the same time. Mr. Wells speaks of five or six lifts on his hives at once. Hence the plans for lifting out tingle combs are useless, comparatively speaking, to me. I want to get off whole lifts. To take out combs one by one would send my bees boiling up in hundreds and thousands at such a time from the open and bared tops of the frames beneath. This is just what I want to avoid. What I propose to do is this. I shall unscrew plinth', if I cannot loosen the lifts by working them gently round, or to and fro (as I have had the plinths well rebated), then I shall slowly coax a thin carbolised cloth between the lift and the one below it. After a few moments I shall suddenly raise super and cloth, my assistant will pop on a clearer, and down will go the life (minus the clotb, whisked away) at once. Next morning there will not be a bee left in the super. I have done this so often with section - racks that I have no doubt whatever of success now my plinths are removable. With my " Wells" hive, the size and weight are the difficulty : but I see no help for it but to work on the same plan, with the necessary extra assistance. Here two clearers must be clamped together side by side to cover the whole double-hive top. It Eeenis to me that any " absurdity " lies at the door of the makers (a well-known firm) who send out such a monstrosity. Of course, the supers ought to be in two manageable divisions, when there would be no more fuss than with single hives. The bee-appliance makers are indeed much to blame. I have had a super clearer board sent me with the escape fitted in wrong s;de up ; fortunately I noticed it in time. Advertisements and even illustrations of hives with fixed plinths appear in the current numbers of the B.B.J. ; and from what I hear, such unworkable hives are being sold in hundreds — and can only cause endless annoyance and vexation. This must be my parting shot for the present, as practical work will now engross my scanty spare time. Perhaps after the experi- ence of another season, I may have accumu- lated some more notes and queries, and may find time to ventilate them. It only remains for me once more to offer my most sincere thanks to all those who have so kindly sought to assist me out of my difficulties, and especially to thank the Editors of B.B J. for their extreme indulgence and consideration. May the coming season prove so successful that the after-leisure may find us all in the full enjoyment of exuberant and lasting good spirits. — Self-Taught, April 20, 1896. BEES REFUSING FLAT-BOTTOMED FOUNDATION. [2477.] I can fully corroborate my colleague, Mr. Harrison (2-173, p. 155), as to bees refusing " flat-bottomed '' foundation ; and, besides the instances he mentions, my own personal observation and that of many of my friends all tend to the same view. They (the bees) do not like it. They nibble it away, tear it down, or refuse to touch it. I have just been showing to a new member and beginner practical demonstration of the above by means of some of last year's spoiled work. And I may say, further, that in the instances I have met with the foundation has not all come from the same maker. This is a matter of great practical im- portance to bee-keepers and to dealers, and I trust the ball set rolling by Mr. Harrison will lead to some useful information on the subject. — Frederick H. Taylor, Local Hon. Sec. for Manchester and district, Old Hall - lane, Fallowjield, April 17th. [We can only add to our remarks in foot- note to 2473, viz., that both here and in America many bee-keepers prefer and use only the Van-Deusen, or flat-bottomed founda- tion, preferring it to any other. Our personal experience of it after ttial is that bees work on flat-bottomed foundation as fretly a3 on that with the natural base. We cannot say less than this in justice to Mr. Van-Deusen, —Eds.] REMOVING "EKES:: IN SPRING. IS THE OPERATION DANGEROUS TO QUEENS 1 [2478.] The other day I found that my bees were mostly very busy at drone comb-build- ing and drone-rearing, under the frames, iu the " ekes " ; I have not seen any special notice in either Record or Journal to call attention to this ; but have let my bees alone, 166 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 23, 1896. as in taking away an " eke " on March 22 I only just saved a queen from being completely balled in my most forward colony; and we have since had Mr. Webster's caution in April Record, against early manipulations. In the most forward case of comb-building, a lift of standard frames had been left on for the winter, and there was top-front ventilation, and the " eke " was open at top on all sides as an experiment. — Ned Swain, Fordwick, Canter- bury, April 15. [It should surely need no " special notice " to ensure the removal in early spring of "ekes" placed below frames of brood-nests for ventilation in winter 1 Besides, the dis- turbance necessary is so very trifling that we never before heard of a case of balling being attributed to it. We are also fully in accord with Mr. Webster's objection to untimely manipulations in early spring ; but we think his remarks on page 48 of April Record expressly refer only to the pulling about of combs in examining brood-nests in the early season — a very different matter to a simple operation occupying about two minutes' time, and causing no disturbance of combs at all. We therefore think our correspondent may safely banish his fears on the point, and take away his " eke " when the proper time arrives ; while to account for bis own particular ex- perience of " balliDg," as stated, we must, as usual, take refuge in Mrs. Tupper's declaration that " bees do nothing invariably." The fact of " ekes " being left on floor-boards until combs are extended down into space below, is however, a serious mishap, and the pieces of comb should be removed without delay by cutting them away from bottom bars with a knife, before removing the " ekes " and setting the hive down on floor-board. An assistant will be required in the operation. — Eds.] BEE NOTES FROM SUSSEX. [2479.] That the bees are at last having a high good time there can be no doubt. To- day I took the trouble to look carefully into some blackthorn blossom I was passing not far from my house, and it was simply alive with bees, and their hum could be heard some way off — indeed, this first drew my attention to them. Stocks are increasing rapidly, and pollen is being brought in wholesale. What- ever anticipations, good, bad, or indifferent, bee-keepers may be forming, their bees evi- dently mean business. Some of my stock-! had been sadly reduced in numbers, and I greatly feared for one in particular ; but they are one and all looking up, and will evidently give a good account of themselves ere long. The abundance of spring garden flowers now in bloom, the varied fruit blossoms, and the large quantity of pollen to be obtained, are tempting the bees out on every possible occasion, and they are working with a will whenever the sun come3 out and the tempera- ture rises. The restricted range of the thermometer and the entire absence of night frosts have been in their favour ; but too many days are still dull and chilly — from a bee point of view. The absence of high winds and of frosts, and — it must be added — of the amount of sunshine usual at this time of year, is still very remarkable. The rainfall is not yet up to the average. The prevalence of winds from S.W., W., or N. W. during the whole winter and spring is most unusual. So far, we have hardly had an easterly wind this year. In No. 2447 (page 118) I asked what bees were doing which I noticed poking about right down in the stems of grasses. By care- ful observation, I have solved the query for myself. They are drinking the dew-drops, which seem to have a great attraction for them. I have several times distinctly seen a bee entirely absorb a droplet ; and I have become considerably impressed by the respect- able amount a bee can thus dispose of. I fancy the usual estimates as to what a bee can " carry " require large emendations. What it is that takes the bees down into gravel paths I have been unable to ascertain. — W. E. N. Sussex, April 20, 1896. MANIPULATING BEES. [2480.] In your Editorial remarks on my letter (2472, p. 154) you have slightly misun- derstood my meaning. You say : — "It is, therefore, not quite good policy to lead readers to suppose that smoke and bee-veils may be dispensed with.'' I should be most averse to inducing readers to dispense with the bee-veil, as I am a strong advocate of it, and always use it myself. And I think my letter is quite innocent of detracting from the virtues of the indispensable bee-veil. The very fact of wearing a veil and gloves gives confidence and facilitates gentle treatment. The gloves which answer my purpose best are thin dog-skin covered with two coats of varnish. The varnish renders them unlike skin, consequently they are seldom stung. The thinness of the glove, which should fit like a lady's, prevents the least discomfort in manipulation. I quite agree with you that it would not be good policy to advise all bee-keepers to dis- pense with smoke. But from experiments I have made during the last two years I am con- fident that, with a suitable hive, and adapta- bility for the work in the bee-keeper, all ordinary operations can usually be performed without the use of any intimidant. A properly constructed hive is of the utmost importance. In my opinion the mistake many bee-keepers make is they open fire on the unfortunate bees at once, instead of first observing if smoke is required. They expect their bees to commence stinging, when perhaps they have not the remotest idea of indulging in such conduct. When I am opening a hive, provided the day April 23, 1896.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. 167 is fine, I assume that my bees will be quite gentle and friendly, and, as a rule, my assumption is correct. Three ladie3 came a few days ago to see our bees, and they wished to see a hive manipulated. The day was dull and rather cold, and not suitable for opening a hive, so I warned them that I would not promise there should be no stinging. A hive in a shed was chosen, which has been manipu- lated four times lately. Some combs ware taken out and shown, and not a bee attempted to sting. No intimidant of any kind was used. Of course I provided the ladies with veils, fcr one never can be sure what some dyspeptic bee may do. I am inclined to think that bees in a house with partially open front are quieter during manipulation than those on outside stands. — E. T. Shea, Southend, April 18,1896. [Now that our correspondent explains his use not only of a bee-veil but also of gloves when manipulating, it is more easy to understand how smoke may be to great extent dispensed with in his case. At the same time, and while always advocating the use of protection, as stated in our footnote on page 154, we advise the casting aside of gloves at once when suffi- cient has been gained. On this point the general body of bee-keepers agree with our- selves in considering that gloved hands would be an intolerable hindrance to comfort and ease when manipulating bees. — Eds.] WILLOW HONEY. [2481.] I can quite bear out what Mr. Simmins says re the honey flow from the wil- low, as I have again got my hives almost filled with this beautiful honey. I think this is about the fifth year in succession we have come in for a good " willow honey '' harvest. I believe it was three years ago this spring I had a crate of sections nicely filled with it. Nothing stimulates the bees more in early spring. I have stocks now so crowded that swarming must soon take place unless supered at once. Would that we had nothing worse to trouble us here, but alas ! we are sur- rounded with foul brood in all directions, hives in abundance standing rotting with it, and the owners will not take trouble to destroy them, excusing themselves by saying, " It's no use destroying their bees while others won't do the same." " Compulsory powers" are, indeed, wanted here.— H. Neve, Heathfield, April 20, 1896. NOVELTIES FOR 1896. meadows' new swarm-catcher. (Registered.) Concerning this the manufacturer says : — " This appliance as now made is the outcome of practical experiment and experience. It combines the tried principles of the Porter bee-escape and the Alley trap, and while allowing fr«e ingress to the bees between a pair of delicate flat springs, effectually prevents the escape of the queen when in the act of swarming. The catcher is divided into two compartments, the lower one forming a direct entrance into the hive from outside, while the upper portion — shown in the cut as holding two frames only — may be made to hold as many frames as desired. When a swarm is issuing the queen (along with a large number of bees) finds her way into the upper portion by one of the two cones fitted for a passage- way, and being retained there, is joined by the returning bees of the swarm. The swarm, when settled in the upper part of the catcher, has an alighting board of its own apart from that of the parent hive, and will work as a separate stock till removed to its permanent stand. " The appliance can be fitted to almost any hive made." meadows' new wax-extractor. " No special originality of method is claimed for this little appliance, the plan in various forms having been long in use ; but we do claim credit for a simple, economical, and original application of the known method of wax-extracting. A round pan or boiler (fig. 1) Fig.l. is fitted with an inner vessel of corrugated iron (fig. 2), having a loose top and bottom of perforated metal, together with a device for keeping it in middle of the boiler when in use. This is the wax-holder. When the l! THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 23, 1896. latter has been filled with broken combs — pressed close down by the loose lid laid over all — the boiler is filled with cold water until the wax-holder is completely submerged. As the water heats the wax melts and passes upward to the surface of water above, on which it floats till removed, when cold, as a solid cake of clean wax, the debris being retained in the wax-holder." Fig. 2. Mr. Meadows informs us that he has made some further improvements in existing appli- ances of his own make which tend to place them in the list of" Novelties" of which we may give particulars later. [Other appliance-manufacturers will oblige by forwarding illustrations and descriptions of " Novelties " they may desire to bring before bee-keepers for insertion in this column. — Eds.] EARLY SWARMS. The Rev. E. Davenport (who is now on an "Expert" tour), dating from Evesham on Monday, the 20th inst., writes : — " I have this day met with the first swarm for this year, so far as I know. It came off in the apiary of Mr. Bent, of Evesham, and was a very fine swarm indeed. All hives are boiling over with bees, and sections are filling fast." We have also had the following cutting sent us from the Northampton Mercury of ihe 10th inst. :— "Mr. W. J. BlackwelJ, of Stanwick Hall, had a swarm of bees on Tuesday last. The bees, which were strong and in good con- dition, alighted on an iron fence along the carriage drive to the hall." gurries and lilies. [1-155.] Bees Dying in Hive — Noticing in February last that no bets came out on warm days from one of my hives, I lifted quilt, and found them all dead. There were scarcely 2<)0 in the hive. I had meant to join them to another stock in the autumn, but they were at least 100 yards from the next one, and I did not have time to move tbcm up, to let them take their chance. On examining combs, I find them like the piece I send. Only two or three are so affected,, and I send the worst piece. Will you tell me— 1. Is it a case of foul brood, or can I use combs again (they are new) 1 2. Does the mould you see in one cell make any difference ? 3. What would you advise me to do with combs 1 — Peter, April 11. Reply. — 1. Yes. So long a time, however, has elapsed since any brood hatched from the cells that all trace of the ordinary symptoms has disappeared. In such cases nothing short of microscopic examination will reveal the presence of the disease except to a long-prac- tised eye. 2. Mould in combs will be removed by the bees. 3. Burn them. [1456.] Bees in Frame-hives ivithout Frames. —As you ask on page 160 of last week's B.J. for further information— about what I propose to do in getting my bees into proper working order — before giving me advice, I beg to say I am only a novice at bee keeping, a mason by trade, mostly at work away from home. But having a son, aged 18, who is in delicate health, I am going in for bees, thinking he might be able to manage them, and make bee- keeping his occupation, or partly so. I have bought your books for his instruction, and we are taking in the B.B.J. I have eighteen hives (own make), made to take standard frames, but having only strips of wood across top instead of proper bar-frames. I made them so, not having spare cash at the time to buy frames, and thinking, or hoping, they would answer for my purpose, but find they don't. Last year my bees made very little honey, but were continually swarming. All the hives sent off at least two, and some three, swarms each. Having now ten stocks working well in the above-mentioned hives, I desire to get the bees on combs built in proper standard size bar- frames. My plan is to procure a supply of the latter, fill them with foundation, and get all ready for swarms, and place the swarms in them as they come iff. Then after each top swarm has bten hived (same day if possible) cut from each parent hive the strips of wood which serve as top-bars, together with the old combs — brood and all — and replace them with standard frames with full sheet3 of foundation. The bees left behind by the swaim will then have the same start as the swarm just hived, will they not 1 Any advice as to my plan, or a better plan, will greatly oblige. 1 may say I have only the ordinary black btes. Can you furnish me with name of the secretary of the Shropshire B.K.A. 1— John Kinnings, Salop, April IS. Reply.: — The fault in the plan proposed lies in the fact that no mention is made of the combs full of hatching brood left in the parent hive, and which if they dtalt with as proposed would all be sacrificed. The proper course will be to defer putting the bees on to the new frames of foundation for twenty-one days April 23, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 169 after issue of first swarm. (If a second swarm comes in nine days, return it early next morning.) By that time all the brood will be hatched out, and so no bees will be sacrificed. The hon. sec. of the Shropshire B.K.A. is Miss Eyton, Wrockwardine Hall, Welling- ton, Salop. [1457.] Suspected Fertile Worker. — Two of my hives gave a surplus last year of about 70 lb. each. They have not swarmed for two years. On examination yesterday I found about five frames of brood, and scattered over two of the frames were patches of brood pro- jecting fully £ in. about three or four sealed cells together, about a dozen or more on each comb. I did not examine for cells on the other frames, but those I saw were smaller than queen cells, and not hanging down. Would a fertile worker be permitted to lay with a laying queen in the hive ? I am afraid the queens are too old, but I never can find queens except by accident. Will you kindly tell me what is best to do ? The hives are fairly full of bees, and there appeared to be brood in all stages. — W. Todd, Ounctte, April 20. Reply. — If there are so many as five frames of brood at this season, we should rather think that the queen has deposited a few drone eggs in drone-cells which chanced to be in the positions noted. At any rate, we cannot think the queen is failing in fecundity, nor is it likely that a fertile worker will be present. Are the protruding cells drone or worker cells ? We should merely wait further deve- lopments later on. SEASONABLE QUESTIONS. answered by g. m. doolittle. Queens Mating. Question — Do queens of second swarms " mate " before or after they lead out a swarm 1 I see one of our " bee-lights " says that " per- haps they may mate before going out with the swarm." Answer. — If any bee-keeper of known prominence puts forth the claim that queen leading out an after-swarm may mate with the drone, or become fertile, before she so leads the swarms, it is something I should not expect, and shows that he or she cannot have looked into the matter very thoroughly. I have made swarming and queen-rearing a study for the past twenty years, spending hours, days, and weeks upon it ; and if any queen was ever fer- tilised, or even flew out to meet the drone while there were other young queens in the cells, it is something I have never noticed, and something that all of my experiments go to prove never happens. All know that after- swarming comes only from a plurality of queens in the hive, and these queens are always those which have never been out of the hive at all, except as they may have gone out with an after- swarm, and been returned by the apiarist. As a rule, during after-sw.u'ming, all young queens which would naturally emerge from the cells, except the first hatched, are kept in the cells by a guard of bees which feed them through a small opening in the cell, made by the young queen trying to bite the cover off; and these queen? are constantly " piping " because they are kept prisoners ; and the one which has her liberty is piping back in her enraged condition — enraged because of being kept from destroying her rivals. While such a state of things as this is kept up in the hive, no queen has any desire to mate, and no after-swarming is ever conducted except under just such a state of affairs. In one or two instances, where after-swarms had been kept back for several days by unfavour- able weather, and where only one queen went with the after-swarm, I have had every evidence to believe that said queens were fer- tilised while out with the swarm, as I saw them entering the hive with the drone organs attached to them, and they were laying two days afterward. But the rule is, that all queens accompanying after-swarms wait about their wedding-trip until they are established in their new home, when, in two to four days after hiving, on some pleasant afternoon, the bees will come out for a playspell, and the queen be seen to leave the hive to mate. GETTING BEES TO WORK IN UPPER STORIES. Question. — I use the Simplicity hive, and wish to know if the hanging of a frame of brood and honey " upstairs," taken from the lower story, would get the bees up and to work more quickly ? I use full wired frames of foun- dation. Answer. — Yes, it would in many cases ; but would it not be too much manipulation for the advantage gained ? The bees will follow their brood " upstairs " every time ; but it does not appear to always get them to work more quickly, as to starting comb-building, than by other methods. The theory, that, as bee3 will instinctively adhere to their brood wherever i b is placed, so the said brood will set bees at work wherever there is brood, needs to be taken with a degree of intelligence ; for, no matter whether the brbod is kept together or separated, the bees will not go to work storing honey or drawing out comb-foundation, in any part of the hive, when there is a dearth of honey ; and very many do not seem to think otherwise than that the bees should be at work storing honey on every pleasant day during the time flowers are in bloom. If there were any difficulty in getting bees to work in a pro- perly arranged surplus-apartment, when there is anything for them to do, it would be of advantage to talk about a remedy ; but my experience has been that, if there is honey in the flowers, and the weather is fine, and the brood-ne3t is full of brood, or brood and honey, we shall find it a difficult matter to keep the bees out of the surplus-apartment, even should we wish it otherwise, short of taking said 170 THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 23, 1896. apartment from the hive, or excluding the bees therefrom. I think all of our best practical apiarists agree that, with good average queens, a good strain of bees, proper size and shape of brood-chamber, right communications to the surplus-receptacles, bees will, -without any- artificial inducement, begin in the surplus- apartment just as soon as the secretion of nectar will yield any surplus. — Gleanings. jq j^ftmes to dame. May 27 to June 1.— Bath and West of England Agricultural Society at St. Albans. Bees, hives, and honey. Entries closed. June 9 to 12. — At Eastbourne, in connection with the Royal Counties Agricultural Society's Show. For Schedules apply as below. Entries close May 22. June 22 to 26. — Royal Agricultural Society at Leicester. Schedules now ready. Entries close May 1. All letters relating to Bee Department of above Shows to be addressed to Edwin H. Young, Secretary B.B.K.A., 12, Hanover-square, LondoD, W. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. H. May (Tetsworth).— Chilled Brood.— Comb contains chilled brood, but how the mis- chief has been wrought it is impossible for us to say. Nor can we judge what portion of the larvae was dead when combs were removed from the hive. Almost the whole of the sealed brood seems in normal healthy condition, while of the unsealed — now turn- ing dark grey in colour — it, too, may have altered since removal. You give no parti- culars at all to account for the chilling and death of the brood, so we can only say there is no disease present, and if there are too few bees in the hive to cover the brood- combs, or if you haye been exposing the combs in cold weather, it may account for the death of the larva?. Otherwise we cannot explain it. George Hill (Boxted). — Returning Swarms, — We cannot see any good object to be gained in keeping a top swarm in the hiving skep for forty-eight hours, and then returning it to the parent hive. If it is intended to cut out queen-cells to prevent the re-issue of swarm, it should be done, and the swarm returned on the evening of the day on which it issued ; but if queen-cells were not removed, the swarm would most pro- bably come out again. Your friend should should give more details of his procedure before we can understand it properly. David Hancox (Deddington).— The " W. B.C." Hive.—l. The top-bar of Standard frame is 1-^in. wide. 2. Shallow frames for surplus may be fitted with the ordinary "W.B.C." end, same as used for brood- frames or the " wide-end," which is barely 2 in. outside measure. 3. The description given of " W.B.C' hive in Bee Journal of February 1, 1894, deals with frames fitted with "W.B.C." ends, of which a body-box of the size named holds ten frames and " slips " as stated. If a dummy is per- manently used in the hive the body- box should be made 1^ in. wider inside, ten frames being more suitable for the brood- chamber than nine. 4. If comb foundation be fitted in grooves in side-bars of frame (as with sections), from top to bottom, it is apt to sag or buckle. We should not let side-bars "grip" the edge of founda- tion for more than half its depth, leaving remainder free to allow for stretching. 5. Giving two additional frames fitted with foundation will certainly tend to delay swarming for a few days. 6. About first week in May we hope to see the book out. A. Weatherhead (Redbourn, St. Albans). — Difficulty of Obtaining the B.J. — Your newsagent need have no difficulty in pro- curing this journal along with other papers. It is always obtainable at our publishers — Messrs. Kent & Co., Paternoster-row— on Thursday morning of each week. Special Prepaid Advertisements, Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, . plied with combs and brood while the di&>eas$ is supposed to exist in my neighbourlu od.— Samuel Simmins. FUEL FOR BEE-SMOKERS. QUIETNESS IN MANIPULATING. [2487-1 I see that some readers of B J. have trouble in getting brown paper to burn well ; I used to be bothered with the same thing till a friend gave me his plan, viz., dissolve a teaspoonful of saltpetre in a pint of water, steep the paper in it, then let it dry and use as wanted. Any kind of brown paper answers equally well. For myself, I use very little smoke, and believe in quiet treatment when manipulating. In fact, I have not had to use the smoker this season so far. When bees get in the way I use a feather dipped in carbolic acid solution. There are, of course, times when the smoker must be used, such as on days when 'cold dry winds are blow-* ing, between the dates when fruit bloom is over until the white clover comes in, and with it honey-income. My bees are mostly Ligurian hybrids (first cross with native drones). I find them no more difficult to handle than natives. This is not new, but may be advantageous to some to know how I manage my bees, in case you have a spare corner in your valuable columns. — 0. Knight, Stonehouse, Glos , April 26. CURING FOUL BROOD. ANOTHER CASE OF HARDSHIP. [2488.] I am very much obliged for your prompt answer as to " foul brood," received this morning. I intended taking measures this evening had I not heard from you, as I was almost certain it was a case of "foul brood." I have read carefully all the instructions given in Mr. Cowan's paper in the B.B.J., and the only difficulty I have is in not knowing whether I need follow those instructions in the case of all the hives, several being as I think very slightly affected. In some cases I can see but one or two larvae, yellow looking amid frames of apparently quite healthy brood, and I am still feeding all stocks with the " naphthol beta," although some are quite ready for super- ing ; in fact, I have supers on some. A little further advice as to these points would be very useful, as it is quite a new experience to me. I have kept bees for many years and have been most successful, but the risk of " foul brood" alters matters most considerably. I have examined all my stocks (20) and I know I shall have to deal with seven of them according to your instructions, i.e., treating them as swarms. Even then I suppose it may break out again later on. I have been most careful in using preventives and in cleaning 178 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 30, 1896. aad disinfecting hives, &c, but apparently to no purpose, for there are to my knowledge cases of foul brood within a mile ; and skeps that bees have died in are allowed by the cottagers about here to stand empty on their stands, and thus, by attracting bees, cause further mischief, no matter how careful I am with my own bees. It is really a terrible curse, and I hope that something will be done by the Government to stop this evil, otherwise what would be a lucra- tive and pleasurable industry will be im- possible. I feel confident I can cure it for the time being, but there is always— for the reasons I have stated — the disagreeable probability of its showing again. Would it be advisable to use the frames again if I boiled them, say, for fifteen minutes ?— E. C. S., April 24. [The publication of cases like yours cannot fail to strengthen the hands of those who are seeking to obtain powers for dealing with the evil complained of, and as you will observe by what appears in our columns, efforts are being made by bee associations in the same direction. We are confident that the remedy will come, and in the meantime such precautions as you are taking will keep the mischief within bounds. If the seven stocks known to need removal from the combs are dealt with as we advised, good results may be confidently expected. Frames boiled for the time named may be safely used again. — Eds.] (furies aid Holies. [1458.J Be - Queening Old Stocks. — I have had less than two years' experi- ence in bee-farming, and anxiously seek to do the right thing. I am, therefore, asking help and advice, if you would kindly assist me in the following ? — I have four stocks in frame- hives, numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. No. 1 having swarmed in July last year has a queen less than one year old. The queens of Nos. 2 and 3 are each four years old, while No. 4, which is rather weak, has a five \ ear old queen. Should No. 1 send out a swarm— as I think likely, for it is " boiling over " with bees and if I examine the combs after swarm has left and find two or three good queen-cell?, may I cut out two and give a cell to Nos. 2 and 3 ? If so, how many days after swarm leaves should this be done '( Also how long a time should the old queens have been removed from hives before putting in the cell >. Your reply will oblige, as I am anxious for young blood in the hives. — A. Bridges, Bradfield, Essex. Reply. — The old queens should be removed as soon after the swarm leaves as the queen- cells have been examined and found all right. About the sixth day afterwards will do for inserting the queen- cells, but in the meantime do not destroy the old queens until the safety of the young ones is assured. [1459.]— Sugar Candy for Bees. — I beg to enclose what I — on page 140 — call "brown and white sugar-candy," as you seem to be somewhat puzzled with the names I used. I understand there is some candy darker still in colour. Have you seen such ? — Richard M. Lamb, Burton Pidsea Bectory, hull, April 20. Reply. — Candy sent is that known as " rock candy," the common sugar-candy of the confectioner, and appreciated by children as a sweetmeat, but entirely unfit for bee- food. In fact, unless exposed in a damp atmosphere — or where the internal moisture of the hive could reach it — we don't see how bees could make any impression on such candy, so far as carrying it below. Before the art of making soft candy became known to bee- keepers, we used the " barley-sugar " of the sweetmeat shop, and as this possessed the quantity of deliquescing when exposed to the air, it answered fairly well, but " rock candy '' we have never heard of as bee-food. BEE-KEEPING IN CALIFORNIA. INSANITY OF BEE-KEEPERS ; WHAT MAKES LOW PRICES ON HONEY ? [As tearing upon the point raised on p. 163 of our last issue, we here print an amusing but instructive article from a Californian con- tributor to Gleanings. — Eds.] I wish to make a few remarks before I say anything. This is not my usual style, for I generally " pitch into" my subject just as I used to pitch into the river, when I was a boy, whether it were head or heels foremost. If a merchant is making money on his business, he does not blow about it ; neither does he publish it in the papers, and scatter it broadcast over all the land. If an investor in any kind of stock sees a large amount of money in it he quietly buys up all the stock he can get, and says nothing about it. And so through all business circles, through all trades, professions, and occupations ; the successful man is as dumb as an oyster. The time is out of joint, and we may well pause to consider our situation, and look around for a remedy. The normal condition of bee-keepers at the present time is insanity — a state of actual, acute, and rampant insanity. The successful bee-keeper is not like the other business men noted above. The greater his success, the wilder and longer he will blow his horn. In fact, his horn seems to be a " h^rp of a thousand strings." If one is at rest, a hundred more are in sonorous motion. He seems to take delight in teaching his neigh- bours, acquaintances, and even strangers, " how to do it." I know from experience that this passion for teaching bee-keeping is not con- April 30, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 179 fined to publishers, supply-dealers, or queen- breeders, whose interest is superadded to their love of the calling and this characteristic mania for spreading it all over the land. Why this insane and suicidal course should be pursued I cannot tell. There is something in the pursuit itself — something in our passionate love for it — that makes us proud and happy to tell and teach it to others. We are like the victims of animal magnetism, or hypnotism, as it is now called. We are under the will of a master whom we cannot resist. Now, here is just where the insanity comes in. Every 1,000 lb. of boney that is produced — in excess of the year before — brings down the price of honey. Every new bee-keeper who is started in business brings down the price of honey. Why, then, are we insane enough to start them ? Our teachings and our figures showing large gains, do the business, and a rival is raised up by our own hands to compete with us in the same market, with a product just as good as ours ? But although 1 know it is so, I never could feel that a bee-keeper was a rival of mine. But he is to all intents and purposes ; for if I had no rivals I could now get a dollar a pound for honey. It was once two dollars on this coast ; and it is within the memory of living men when it was 50 cents in the markets of the Eastern States. What re- duced it to its present insignificant price, but an influx of amateurs into the calling ? An amateur soon becomes a proficient, when there is money ahead of him. If this mania were only confined to those whose interest it is to make more bee-keepers, there would not be such an enormous increase in their number. For one they make, bee-keepers themselves make a hundred. Even I — Skylark — when I ran short of undeveloped intellect, did some preaching to an audience of one on this subject, thus : " Yes, friend Bollirs " (he was rich, but still had an itching palm for the almighty dollar), " bee-keeping is better than a gold mine ; for after you get the mine, and put on it and in it thousands of dollars, you don't know when your lode or vein may run out, and leave you with thousands of dollars' worth of expensive machinery on hand. You have a large rough lot of mountain land covered with black sage — the best pasturage in the world for bees. What would think of a man who had thousands of acres of good pasture for horses and cattle, and not a single head of stock in it?" '.' Well, Skylark" said he, " I declare you have opened my eyes. I never looked at it in that light before ; but I see clearly now that I am losing money." " Losing money ! I should think there were thousands of dollars going to waste on that land every year." " Well, Skylark, give me an idea of the pro- babilities of bee-keeping, that I may not go into it blindly. I want to see my way clearly to success. You know I have money to go into the business on a large scale. When a man wants to make money there is no use in playing with copper cents." (Conclusion next week.) TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. Jas. Lee & Son, 5, Holborn-place, High Holbom (near the Inns of Court Hotel), London, W.C. — This new firm are now esta- blished in their new town address, and their catalogue, now before us, though compressed within modest limits, is a complete list of all that is useful to bee-keepers. Mr. Jas. Lee's reputation as a practical hive-maker and designer of bee-appliances is too well known to need more than mere mention, and he, along with his son, seem to be making every effort to secure a share of public patronage. Amongst the specialties we notice Mr. Lee's excellent hive for sending out in the flat, and readily put together by purchasers. J. S. Greenhill, 80, Graham-road, Wimble- don, S.E. — Mr. Greenhill's list of bee- goods for '96 is somewhat fuller than that of last year, several new patterns of hives being added, and everything useful included. His experience of twenty-seven years in all branches of the bee-business renders him a reliable man to deal with — no small considera- tion in these times. A. W. Harrison, Potters Bar, Middlesex. — Mr. Harrison again issues his very complete catalogue as sent out in '95, which comprises not only a full line of bee-keepers' require- ments, but quite a long list of other useful things, including poultry appliances, &c. We are pleased to note that promptitude in despatching goods is made a feature of in this case. W. Dixon, 5, Beckett-street, Leeds. — Bee- keepers in the north will be pleased to know that Mr. Dixon's list for 1896 is now to be had on application. It is modest in dimensions, but nothing really required in the apiary is omitted ; and the fact that Mr. Dixon com- bines successful honey production (as his prizes attest) and personal expert work in attending to apiaries will no doubt bring him customers who like to deal with one who makes his own bees a success. [Further catalogues will be noticed in order as received. — Eds.J - — •■ -■ . •- -— >- Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. G. D. (Long Eaton).- Bees and Stale Comb- Foundation. — Bees do not take quite so readily to foundation " a year or more old,'' as to that freshly made, which has an attractive aroma about it. Old foundation also usually becomes very brittle, and some- times a sort of mildew gathers on its surface 180 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [April 30, 1896. after keeping a year or more. It is, there- fore, advantageous to dip it in warm water before giving it to the bees ; this, in a great measure, removes the two objectionable features of the stale article. Hartwood (Chorley). — Wild Bees. — Insect sent is a male bee, native species ; genus, Andrena; variety, Fulva. The andreme burrow in the ground, forming tunnels from 5 in. to 9 in. in length, in which the little cells are formed. They are commonly known as sand bees. Jas. Cowie (Abbey Green, Lanark). — "Dale" Honey. — We must confess our inability to define quite what is meant by " Dale Honey." If, however, the term is well understood in the county of Lanark, it should cause no confusion to the members of your Associa- tion to have it so called in the prize schedule. For bee-keepers generally, how- ever, the case is different, and we think that the use of local terms not understood by British bee-keepers generally — Scotchmen included, of course — is not advisable. And when if, as stated in your note, clover honey is meant, we see no reason whatever for making a change in name which can serve only to obscure or confuse the issue. Beginner (Guildford). — Transferring to Frame-hives. — You cannot do better than follow the advice given to " Fox (Shrews- bury)," on page 150 of B.J. for April 9. Subscriber (Isle of Man). — Drone Comb in Super. — It is quite usual for bees to build drone comb in supers where only " starters " have been given. They will store honey in such cells quite as readily as in worker comb. T. G. Borough (Milverton). — Swarming {Artificial) from Skep. — Full and detailed description of this operation appears in " Modern Bee-Keeping, '' price 7d., from this office. J. M. Lord (Northiam). — "How to Obtain Good Cider." — We will make inquiries as to the book in question, and reply next week. George Brealey (Grendon). — Re-queening a Stock in April. — The fact of the bees carrying in pollen points strongly to a queen beiog raised ; and as there are now drones flying freely, it seems probable that your effort at re-queeniog will be successful. Chas. E. Moore. — Buying Goods from Advertisers. — Any of our principal adver- tisers will forward a catalogue giving the terms upon which they deal with customers. Since you mention payment before delivery, we may say our " deposit system " is and may be used for this purpose if so arranged between the parties. Bee-appliances are rarely sent u on approval." Taos. Hughes (Woodstock). — B.B.K.A. Certificates as Prizes at Shows. — All com- munications for the B.B.K.A. must be addressed to the Secretary, 12, Hanover- square, London, who will supply information on the point mentioned. A. II. (Caithness). — Suspecting Foul Brood. — Comb received contains nothing worse than a little mouldy pollen. Special Prepaid Advertisements. Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, &e. — Up to Twelve words, Sixpence; for every additional Three words or under, One Penny. FOR SALE— HIVES, standard size (15i" top-bars) and appliances. Hunkin, Poole. h 55 CANADIAN BALSAMS, 25 for Is., post free. Strong healthy plants. M. Turner, London-road, Shrewsbury. L 51 WANTED, several Strong SWARMS, cash or EX- CHANGE. Also Wanted, Built-out Combs. Chittenden; Lydd, Kent. FOR SALE.— Four Hives BEES, in bar-frame, wooden hives. Price £1 each. Address, Mr. Webster, Barnham Junction, Sussex. WANTED Chain or Cog EXTRACTOR. Good con- dition. Exchange 37s., banjo and cash. P. Ben- NISON, Scoston, Darlington. 1 54 PURE BLACKS.— Healthy Natural Swarms, 10s. 6d., 15s., ready shortly. Please book early. Honey- comb designs a speciality. Alsford, Expert, Bland- ford. L 49 HONEYCOMB DESIGNS.— Send 6s. for Design 1896, or 5s. for any three letters. Post free, with every instruction. Charles Cox, Brampton, Northampton. L52, SIX STOCKS of BEES in ten frames. Hive at 25s. Six and seven bars of brood. Strong, healthy young Queens, 1895. Foul brood unknown. E. Philpott, 18, Bedford-road, Hitchin, Herts. L 53 FOR SALE.— Well's HIVE, by Blow. Holds 20 frames in body, 40 in supers. Shallow or standard, with lift and section crate. Apply Rev. A. P. JOLLYE, Aslacton Vicarage, Long Stratton, Norfolk. L 56 FOR SALE, OBSERVATORY HIVE, three Standard Frames, vertical, oak, 20s. .Six SHOW-CASES for six sections, Is. 6d. each. W. H. Jenkins, Brynderwen, Sketty. L 47 FOR SALE, or will EXCHANGE for Safety Bicycle, two new "Wells" Hives on the"W.B.C." plan, fitted with Non-swarming Chambers to prevent swarm- ing ; fitted up complete. H. Seamark, Willingham, Cambs. OBSERVATORY HIVE FOR SALE. Takes four Standard Frames ; made of laburnam wood, polished ; has taken First wherever shown. A beauty. Securely packed and put on rail free for £2. Reid, Carnock, Dumfermline, N.B. L48 HONEY AND ITS USES," ljd. ; 3s. 6d. per 100. Also "MEAD, AND HOW TO MAKE IT," and ' ' VINEGAR FROM HONEY," each 2|d. Small sample bottle of Honey Vinegar, 7Jd. Rev. Gerard W. Bancks, The Green, Dartford. FOUR double-walled HIVES, with lifts, cost 35s. each ; two Wells with lifts, ost 35s. each ; One 15-frame double-walled, cost 25s ; Twelve Hives, various ; Twelve Section Crates and quantity of 1 lb. sections ; 15 doz. Standard Frames ; 50 2 lb. Sections and two crates ; 100 Metal Dividers ; 2 Straw Skeps ; 1 pair cold blast Bellows, all the above in first-class order, £9 the lot, or separate. Joseph Cowan, Book- well, Egremont, Cumberland. l 57 May 7, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 181 (Mfarai $jtitim, &t USEFUL HINTS. "Weather. — Since last we wrote the weather has been, for the most part, fine and bright, just a little too cool for bee- work to get into full swing, but good progress is being made, and we hear of a few sections being now nearly ready for removal. The only thing needed for a fine honey month is freedom from the cold winds so frequently prevalent in these islands at this season. For the rest, the month truly verifies the poet's description, Beautiful May, with its lapful of flowers ; and with a few degrees of higher temp, it is quite safe to say that our bees will have a share of their sweets. We again quote some particulars re- garding "Weather Prospects in May," interesting and useful to bee-keepers, in which the Graphic says : — " May is proverbially fickle so far as the weather is concerned, the month being favoured at times with bright, warm spells, which often give place to a period of cold, bleak, northerly winds, with a very dry atmosphere. May is, however, the surjniest month of the year, and on the whole the weather is usually very pleasant. With the rapidly-increasing power of the sun the tem- perature is rising quickly, the mean at Green- wich being 54 deg., which is 6 deg. warmer than April. The hottest part of the day is usually at two o'clock in the afternoon, the coldest at four o'clock in the morning. The average maximum day reading is 64 deg., and the minimum Dight reading is 44 deg. In May last year the shade temperature rose to 86 deg. at Greenwich, and this was within 1 deg. of the highest reading during the year. In two years out of every three the tempera- ture during the month reaches 80 deg. or above ; very occasionally, however, the highest reading does not touch 70 deg. No frost has occurred duriDg May in the shade in the suburbs of London in any of the last three years, and on the average of the last half- century it has onlv occurred in two years out of every three. The absolutely lowest tem- perature recorded at Greenwich is 28 deg, in 1855 and 1877. The warmest winds are lrorn the west and south, the coldest from the north. With a cloudless sky the average highest day temperature is 67 deg., while with an overcast sky it is only 54 deg. The warmest part of our islands is over the midland and southern districts of England where the mean for the month is about 54 deg. In the north of Scotland the temperature is, on the average, fully 6 deg. colder. In London the average sunshine is 40 per cent, of the possible dura- tion, and it is generally rather more on the south and south-east coasts of England. The average rainfall at Greenwich during the last fifty-five years is 1*95 in. The total fall during last month in the neighbourhood of London was only about one-third of the average, and there is a large deficiency since the commence- ment of the year. There is a similar deficiency in nearly all parts of our islands." Temperature for Examining Hives. — The receipt, during the last week or two, of rather more than the usual samples of comb containing chilled brood — in most cases supposed by senders to be foul brood — affords an opportunity for offering what may be a useful hint as to the temperature at which hives may be safely examined without harm to the tender brood in the combs. This, how- ever, is a point upon which no hard-and- fast line can be laid down. To say positively that no harm will follow is perhaps going too far, seeing that to disturb the thriving warmth and " cosi- ness " of the brood - nest at all by parting the frames, letting out — so to speak — the warmth of the hive by lifting the combs, full of tender brood, and exposing them to the outer air, even for a couple of minutes, must be produc- tive of possible harm, more or less, in some way. Suppose, for instance, after much disturbance of the hive, the bees happen to cluster a little closer when settled down again on their combs, it is quite possible — nay, even probable — that a patch of brood previously well covered by bees may be " left out in the cold " — especially if a frosty night follows— and so perish. We only name this as a pro- bable explanation of some of the cases brought to our notice which otherwise cannot be accounted for. But so far as the temperature below which hives should, as a rule, be left severely alone — so far as lifting out frames of brood, — we should say 55 deg. Fahrenheit, and even then combs containing unsealed larva1- must not be exposed for more than one minute in the open air. Moreover, unless urgent circumstances necessitated it, we do not advise opening hives with the temperature below 60 deg. unless the position is sheltered from cold wind and bees are on the wing. If the fact is borne in mind that unsealed brood in its 182 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 7, 1896. early stages will perish if exposed for less than five minutes at a temperature of 65 deg., it should not be needful to give more cogent reasons for caution in this matter. The Season. — Early swarms are re- ported from several quarters. From Devon, we hear of " bees throwing off a magnificent swarm on April 23rd," while from Derbyshire a report comes that Mr. John Carrington, of the Avenue, Bake- well, had an excellent natural swarm on the 22nd of that month. Then we hear from our well-known contributor, Mr. H. W. Brice, that his " first queen was mated on or about the 15th of April last; this was a case of superseding an old queen." (Remainder of " Hints " next week.) BRITISH BEE - KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. QUARTERLY CONVERSAZIONE. We again remind readers who purpose attending the Quarterly Conversazione which takes place to-morrow (Friday, May 8) at 5.30 p.m., that — as stated on p. 172 — the meeting will be held in the " Council Room,'' 12, Hanover-square, W., instead of 105, Jermyn-street. 'Buses going westward up Regent-street pass the end of Hanover-street, quite close to the square. HUNTINGDONSHIRE B.K.A. The annual meeting of the Hunts Bee- Keepers' Association was held on the 11th prox. at the Town-hall, Huntingdon, Mr. A. W. Marshall presiding. Among those present were Me3srs. J. Linton, J. Pearce, W. H. Woods, S. Woods, R. Brown, Allen, A. Sharpe, Howland, S. Watts, C. N. White, Mrs. All- press, and others. Mr. C. N. White, secretary, read the report, according to which the number of members had increased from twenty -seven to thirty-five. The report dwelt upon the fact that the Association — like the county of Hunts — was a small one, but they had plenty of enthusiasm, with good bee-keepers and good forage for bees in it. It expressed the opinion that the number of bee-keepers could be increased ten- fold. But they could not do much with the funds at their disposal, and it was therefore thought advisable that an earnest appeal should be made to the Hunts County Council to grant the Association some pecuniary assis- tance, so that bee-keeping might prove a source of income to the farming interest. The report and statement of accounts were passed. After some formal business of a routine nature, the Chairman handed over the silver Challenge Cup to the winner for '95, Mr. W. H. Woods, of Hemingford. Mr. R. Brown, of Samersham, received a silver medal as second prize. The Earl of Sandwich was then re-elected President, and the Vice-Presidents were re- elected. Tho committee, with the addition of Mr. Watts, were re-elected, as were Mr. Marshall (treasurer) and Mr. C.N.White (sec- retary), with Mr. A. Sharpe as assistant-see - rstary, and Messrs. J. H. Howard, R. Brown, and W. II. Woods as District Secretaries. Mr. Howard and Mr. Brown were also appointed representatives of the Association at the quarterly meeting of the B.B.K.A. The meeting terminated with the usual votes of thanks. — (Communicated). NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM B.K.A. The third annual general meeting of mem- bers was held in Lockhart's Cafe, St. Nicholas- square, Newcastle-on-Tyne, on April 25, Mr. J. W. Wakinshaw presiding. Amongst those present were : — Messrs. S. Dunn, J. Anderson, Coates, Wm. Penaluna, Hisco, R. Greeawell, J. R. Appleby, J. Ladbrooke, J. Atkinson, Clark, A. Surtees, J. N. Kidd, T. Gardner, T. Russell, G. Rochester, Bell, J. L. Dent, M. Riddle, T. Dixon, Robson, &c. The annual report included a notice to the effect that an exhibition of honey will be held in connection with the Chrysanthemum show at Newcastle, November 18 and 19, 1896, under the auspices of the N. and D.B.K.A., at which valuable prizes are offered for com- petition. A statement of the results of the past year's working, as furnished by various bee-keepers in Northumberland and Durham, was sub- mitted to the Meeting, showing the number of colonies in each, average surplus of honey, &c. Mr. J. Youngman, Ponteland, headed the list with the following record : — Number of Colonies (spring count), Seven. 140 lb. clover honey at 8d £4 13 4 335 lb. heather honey at Is. 2d 19 10 10 Total receipts £24 4 2 Less Expenses, £4. 10 9 ; Balance, £19 13 5 Average surplus of honey per hive, 68 lb. Besides the above results, Mr. Youngman increased the number of his stocks to thirteen by artificial swarming. A letter was read from Mr. Fenwick, in- viting the members to visit his apiary at Nether witton, and Mr. Greenwell gave the members a similar invitation to Warkworth, and it was decided to arrange bee-keepers excursions to both these places during the summer of 1896. Tho following officers were elected for the ensuing year : — Committee : J. G. Angus, J. May 7, 1896.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 183 Atkinson, Geo. Gibson, Wilson Kitson, T. Russell, Councillor F. E. Schofield, and T. Gardner. Local correspondents : J. R. Appleby, Amble ; J, Anderson, Washing- ton ; J. Brassell, Ushaw ; T. Brown, Forest Hall ; J. M. Balrnbra, Alnwick ; J. Bruce, Belford; W. Codling, Hartburn; J. Cuth- bertson, Bedlington ; E. Davison, Ryton-on- Tyne ; J. L. Dent, Burnhill ; R. Greenwell, Warkworth ; J. Ironside, West Hartlepool ; J. Ladbrooke, Boldon ; W. Pearson, Chester- le-Street ; G. Robinson, Greatham ; and J. Weightman, Whittingham. Hon. Treasurer : Joseph W. Wakinshaw. Hon. Secretary : J. N. Kidd, Windermere-street, Gateshead- on-Tyne. At a conversazione held subsequent to the ordinary business, Mr. J. N. Kidd, hon. sec, read a paper on the " Preparation of Bees for the Heather Harvest," upon which an interest- ing discussion ensued. — {Communicated.) GOOLE AND DISTRICT B.K.A. The annual meeting of this society was held on Tuesday, the 11th ult , Dr. Arbuckle pre- siding over a good attendance. The following officers were re-elected : — President, Dr. Arbuckle ; vice-presidents, Mr. R. S. Schol- field, J.P., Rev. W. H. Elmhirst, Messrs. J. Sutcliffe, J. Biggs, and W. Chester ; com- mittee, Messrs. E. Wainman, W. Ramsey, T. Earl, W. Lambert, M. Milner, and G. Remmer ; treasurer, J. J. Wise ; secretary, A. Woodhead. The schedule of prizes to be offered to members of the society at the Goole Show, to be held on August 13, was con- sidered, and it was decided to extend the classification, Dr. Arbuckle kindly offering to give the two first prizes for extracted honey, which it was proposed to make. Other business of a routine character brought a successful meeting to a close. — {Communicated.) tyamzpvikML The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. *** In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. NOTES BY THE WAY. [2489.] We are now in the merry month of May — the month of early swarms, which, according to tradition, are (or were) supposed to be worth a load of hay. When the old doggrel rhyme was first penned, loads of hay were probably either smaller in quantity or of less value than in '96. Be that as it may, however, we bee-keepers are always proud to be the happy possessors of the first swarm in the neighbourhood ; it augurs well for the healthy condition of the bees to have reached swarming point in May. To those who have had, or may have, very early swarms this season I would offer a word of caution against letting them starve for want of food if cold weather should set in just after the swarm has been hived, or a sudden scarcity of income occurs owing to the par- ticular yield of food from which a present supply is being gathered being "fed off" by sheep. The observant bee-keeper will, by timely feeding, keep the new colony thriving, and ensure a paying return later on when the clover and limes bloom. In our own district forage is not much more advanced than it was a fortnight ago. We have had it dry all the time, and the grass crops are looking very " spindley '' for want of rain and a warm growing atmosphere. Bees, however, have progressed notwithstanding the cold nights, and. hives begin to show " full to the mouth " where the colonies are strong. I was at Peasmore last evening, and meeting an octogenarian bee-keeper, I greeted him with, " How are the bees doing ? Have you had any swarms yet, Noahr"' "No," says he, " neither do I want any yet awhile." He then added, " I pities that poor little lot at Wicklot Copse " (referring to an early swarm a keeper had who lives in the wood) ; " 1 quite expects to hear that they are starved to death." My friend Noah has kept bees over sixty years and says that he scarcely ever remembers that very early swarms do much good. Last issue of B.J. for April 23 gives a drawing of Mr. Meadows' new swarm-catcher. This compact "catcher "has the appearance of a useful appliance for the purpose. The springs at entrance allow of pollen-laden bees returning to the hive to pass in with their loads more easily than through the zinc, and when the contrivance is enlarged to take three or four frames, it will afford room for a good- sized swarm. Mr. Meadows exhibited a " catcher " at the annual meeting of the "British " on March 13, on which occasion we bee-keepers, at the request of the maker, criticised such weak points in the appliance as were, in our opinion, to be found in the catcher, and, as a result of the discussion which followed, possibiy it is somewhat improved. But in any case bee-keepers will gladly welcome the production of an appliance that will relieve the interminable watching for swarms week after week during the months of May, June, and July in each year. The pay of a man to do the work of watching for 3warms for several weeks will buy " catchers " enough for the purposes of a good-sized apiary. Has Mr. Hole made any improvements in his "catcher" for 1896? If so, perhaps our Editors can give an illustration. — W. Wood- ley, Beedon, Newbury. 184 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 7, 1896. HEATHER HONEY. [2490.] I shall be glad if, in next number of B.B.J., you would give me your opinion whether there is necessarily any intrinsic difference between Scotch and Yorkshire heather honey. I ask, because I recently had some of the latter to sell, and seeing " Scotch Heather Honey " in several London shops at 2s. 6d. per lb., I tendered mine, but was met with the reply that Yorkshire heather honey was worth no more than clover honey. To my mind this is ridiculous, but I thought I should like to see what you would say on the question. I have never been able to detect any difference between the two, myself ; both are similar in flavour and appearance, and both are gathered from similar heather or " ling." — Grosmont, Eynsford. [There is no "intrinsic difference," other than that of quality, between heather honey, from wherever gathered. It is well-known, however, that some of the very finest heather honey is gathered in the Scottish Highlands, and, having gained a special reputation for this product, our Scotch friends, quite justifi- ably, make the most of it, from the business point of view. On the other hand, we have seen and tasted heather honey, gathered in the North of England, and in Wales, which would pass muster with competent judges as the " finest Scotch." But it is difficult to remove prejudice, and so, if strict rectitude on the part of producer and retailer is to be observed, we must admit there is something in " a name," and let our Scotch friends make the best of theirs. It would be interesting to know if the shop-keepers referred to are as careful in ensuring that the famous "Narbonne " honey — held in such high repute, and command- ing a high price — is not " made in Germany." Anyway, it is pretty well known by bee- keepers that it is not gathered in Narbonne at all ; Narbonne, like the equally famous Mount Ilymettus, having practically ceased (as we are told) to yield honey of any but very ordinary quality indeed. — Eds.] FLAT-BOTTOMED FOUNDATION. [2491.] I have read with interest both Mr. Harrison's letter (2473, p. 155) and also Mr. Taylor's (2477, p. 165). My own experience is that bees will take to flat-bottomed or " Van Deusen " foundation as readily as to any other, provided the wax is to their likinsr, i.e., pure. To my mind the whole point lies in that question, viz , purity of the wax. I have used flat-bottomed foundation for some years (Abbott's), and have never seen the slightest distaste shown for it on the part of the bees. As a rule the bees leave the bottom flat, and my own impression is that it is stronger both for hot weather and also for the extractor. It may be that the foundation used by both gentlemen had been lubricated with some sub- stance distasteful to the bees. Flat-bottomed foundation has one other advantage, viz., that it slips more readily than the natural- based into the saw cut of the top bar whether of the frame or the section. — "W. Winterton, Wel- lingborough, April 30. BEES "BALLING" QUEENS. [2492.] Would some kind friend advise me when a hive should be manipulated in order to avoid getting the queen " balled " ? I know over-manipulation will do it, but when one goes to a hive — say, after an interval of three weeks — to see if more room is required or the necessary attention given, it is odd to find that the queen (a young one, and laying remarkably well) should be killed in three minutes, although I got the cluster in my hand and released her ladyship. It seems odd that bees will go to any length in order to replace a lost queen. Why, then, are they so very ready to put her to death, and close on swarming time, too ; or is that possibly an explanation of their over-zeal ? — '' B. Attitude." [It is perfectly impossible for any one to say with absolute certainty why queens are " balled " ; but — apart from the balling of an alien queen presented to them without proper precautions — we think the main causes are untimely manipulation or awkward handling of combs in early spring, soon after breeding has started in earnest, or in the autumn, when bees are so sensitive to robbing. It is interest- ing to read the above rather plaintive appeal for a reason why " balling " occurs, in the light of the sort of protest (against our advice to avoid the causes of mischief stated above) made by a correspondent who handled his bees at all times and at all seasons, but had " yet to see a case of balling." — Eds.] BEE PLANTS FREE. [2493.] I again offer plants of Canadian Balsam free to any bee-keepers desirous of giving them a trial. They yield a fairly good quantity of honey and pollen. Borage is this year a failure with me, it did not seed well last season. Send address plainly written, and stamps to cover postage, to H. Crawley, 250, Canbury Park-road, Kingston- on-Thames. HANDY HOME DEVICES. USING UP POLLEN-CLOGGED COMBS — CALICO COVERS IN LIEU OF "LIFTS.'' [2494.] Will you kindly describe the "Taylor comb-leveller" (p. 159, April 16, B.B.J.), how it is worked, and where^it may be prosured ? Referring to pollen-clogged combs, I have made use of these for the last three seasons by cutting down close to the mid-rib, and giving May 7, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 185 "back to the bees. They are not built out so soon as foundation would be, but they save the expense of the latter, and it takes no longer to prepare than to wire foundation. Calico Coverings for Surplus Chambers. — A piece of calico, made into a petticoat, 7 ft. 8 in. round (for W.B.C. hives) by 3 ft. deep, with a tape run through the top hem, will keep off the sun and throw off summer showers. To shorten it up, tighten the tape. The roof is placed on top, over all. — H. J. Hawker, Longparish, Hants. [We have not seen the American " comb- leveller " referred to, nor do we quite know how it is used, but as the object is to cut down the cells of drawn-out combs a quarter inch or more in depth, so that the bees may — in building them out to* full depth again— form even and newly-built comb for the surface of capped comb in the finished section, a sharp knife practically answers the same purpose. — Eds.] NOVELTIES FOR 1896. tatlor's swarm-catcher. Referring to the device illustrated below Mr. Taylor says : — The box for the swarm is made to hold six gtandard-frames and is affixed to the front of the hive as shown, and can be used on any hive having an ordinary entrance. The bees enter by a series of short passage-ways each of which is fitted with a pair of fine springs similar to those used in the " Porter " escape. Pollen-laden bees thus enter freely with their loads while outgoing bees must pass throug the excluder zinc. When a swarm is coming off the queen and some bees pass upwards through a similar row of springs to those fixed at the entrance but opening into the swarm-box above, and the queen, being confined therein, is joined by the bees of the swarm, which, finding them- selves without the queen, return to the parent hive. The top of swarm-box is made to take off, so that the frames, previously fitted with full sheets of foundation, with swarm attached can be easily lifted out and transferred to hive, which should previously have been got ready for them. tatlor's cone -escape. This useful little escape has been invented to prevent bees entering hive-roofs fitted with cone-escapes, as is so common in the autumn. It is fitted with two small springs which converge towards the outlet, and when a bee passes out the springs close together again, and so prevent robber bees or wasps entering the hive again through the escape. One cone is quite sufficient for a hive, so* far as effectually answering the purpose intended. HONEY BOTTLE (REGISTERED). The cut below illustrates a new 1-lb. bottle designed to take the place of the 1-lb. screw-cap jar for those who want a cheaper article. The glass rim of bottles is made of slightly rounded form, the " cap " being manufactured from a springy metal, so that when pressed it goes on with a snap, and is hold firmly in its place. If a thin cork wad is used on top it becomes absolutely air-tight, and will hold water when the bottle is turned upside down. It has also a wider top than the ordinary bottle, rendering the honey easier to lift out. [All the above are made and sold by Mr. T. B. Blow, Welwyn, Herts.— Eds.] 186 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 7, 1896. (ftomts and D^jjlku. [1460.] Damaged or Worn-out Queen. — In examining my hives a fortnight ago I found one — which some weeks ago was very strong — quite weak, with few bees, though full of stores ; comb a little mouldy in places, and very little brood. I reduced the number of frames, and cut out mouldy parts. A week ago I found my other hives had made great progress, having quantities of brood and eggs. The one first referred to was now weaker, with little brood, and few fresh eggs laid irregularly, sometimes three in one cell. I found the queen — a large, healthy-looking one — alone at the back of the hive. She walked on to my glove, and was very slow, and did not run down fast when placed on the top of the frames. There is no unhealthy appearance about the hive. 1. Should I remove this queen and raise another, and what do you think is the matter ? I have put in a good frame of brood from a strong hive. 2. Is there any way of preventing swarming without constantly examining the hives, and cutting out queen cells ? I did this every few days last season, aod yet the bees wasted all their time trying to raise queens and swarm, though they had plenty of room, sections on, &c. 3. Would it do to place a queen-excluder between the frames and door of the hive ? only then the drones could not come out. Would this matter ] My queens are all in their second year. I have four hives, and don't want more. I thought of doubling the strongest to get plenty of honey to extract, and of having sections on the others. — (Mrs.) Lloyd Edwards, Llangollen. Eeplt. — 1. The queen has either become "worn-out" or been damaged in some way. In any case, she is worthless for breeding purposes and should be removed at once. Five or six days later examine the frames and cut out any queen-cells found. Next day insert a comb containing eggs and very young larva; from another stock, and allow the bees to raise a queen therefrom. 2. The only thing to prevent swarming — beyond what has appeared recently in our pages on the subject — is to give room early, with shade and venti- lation in hot weather. 3. Your plan of using excluder zinc to prevent swarming won't do at all. [1461. ] Comb-levcller for Sections. — With reference to the article on p. 158 of Bee Journal of the 16th inst. on "Drawn- out Combs for Sections," would you please say what sort of thing the " handy comb- leveller is ?" Again, on p. 159, first column, first paragraph, comb-foundation in two pieces is recommended for insertion in each section. 2. Would you please state how this is accomplished ? 3. I have 160 un- finished sections in which the honey has granulated (an unusual circumstance with me). Is there any means of getting rid of granu- lated honey, and so preserving the sections ? — E. J. Park, Elgin, N.B. Keply. — 1. We don't quite know what sort of an implement the "American comb-leveller " is, but, as the object aimed at is simply paring- down the combs to about two-thirds their present depth, a very sharp knife answers the purpose fairly well. 2. It is a common practice among Americans to fix a narrow strip of foundation along bottom side of sections as well as the one at top ; the bees join the two pieces of foundation, and thus ensure a comb attached to the wood top and bottom. 3. The only way of utilising granulated sections is to melt them down and lift the wax off the liquid honey in a solid cake when cold. [1462.] Disinfecting Hives. — I last autumn destroyed a colony that was affected with foul brood, but owing to the separate parts of outer-cases of the hive (a " W.B.C') not fitting closely the bees from my other hives robbed the dead ones before I could remove them. (The winter before last a mouse made its nest between outer and inner boxes of another hive also made by a prominent manu- facturer of bee-appliances.) What had I better do with supers, sections, and shallow- frames in the way of fumigating ? I find at present only one colony affected slightly with foul brood, and as the queen is old, I have burnt it. My six others are doing well. I fancy the foul brood has come from a neigh- bour who has a large number of old boxes and has neglected his bees and allowed them to die. But I cannot tell. I do not think there would be any objection in this neighbour- hood to the visit of an expert to ascertain where foul brood exists, but no steps appear to have been taken owing to the want of a County Association. Poor people lose their bees and cannot tell the cause, and most of them do not know that there is such a thing as foul brood. I should be happy to circulate a leaflet amongst my bee-keeping friends on the subject until we get practical help. — W. S. Trapp, Marsham, Norfolk. Reply. — We should burn all frames and sections used on a diseased stock and treat the supers as directed on page 92 of our issue for March 5 last. It will be needful to use pre- cautions against infection with a hot-bed of disease close by. [1463.] Bees Dying Outside Hives. — By the same post I send you a few bees, part of a larger number which are dying outside one of my hives daily, very much after the manner described on page 568 of Cheshire's " Bees and Bee-keeping," as " running upon the ground, constantly stopping to rub their legs, antennas, and bodies, with a nervous uneasy movement, and then, collecting into little knots, continue these convulsive twitchings May 7, 1896/ THE BKITISH BEE JOUENAL. 187 until they die." There is one thing, however, about the colony, the bees are very strong in number and vigorous in action, going in and out apparently loaded ; so much so, I can hardly understand such activity to exist if there is disease. I first noticed this three weeks ago, and then transferred them into a clean hive, putting in some naphthol beta, and feeding them with medicated syrup ; since then not so many bees have died. I should, however, like to be satisfied, and if you by examining the dead bees uUder the microscope, you will greatly oblige. — S. Head. P.S. — There does not seem so much appear- ance of convulsions now as at first, nor as stated are the bees dying in such numbers. Eeply. — There is nothing in bees sent to indicate disease. The symptoms described above point to what is sometimes termed bee paralysis, the remedy for which is to re- queen the stock. We would, however, not follow that course till the effect of a few weeks' warm weather has been tried. It is quite possible the mischief complained of may cease in a week or ten days. [1464.] [Loss of Bees in Spring. — I have three stocks of bees, which I am told by an expert are " rather weak," owing to losing some after moving them in February. He said, however, they were perfectly healthy, rearing brood, and doing very well. But since his visit (about a fortnight ago) I have noticed bees from the strongest hive lying dead on the ground in greater numbers than I care to see from a hive already weakened. There were many fresh ones this morning, and some crawling slowly about, unable to rise, one or two with pollen on their legs. Can you give me any reason for this 1 The hives have a southerly aspect, and are sheltered from cold winds, and they get all the best sun, though not all the day, owing to some trees on the west side. I shall be glad to have your opinion. — L. C, Boldmerc, Birmingham, May 2. Eefly. — See answer to S. Head, No. 1463, above. [1465.] Fertile Worker in Foul-broody Hive. — Enclosed herewith is a portion of comb taken from a hive which has been queenless since October, 1895. Kindly inform me through the B.B.J, if foul-brood is present, and also if the brood in the comb is produced by a fertile worker 1 — Brickman, Glasgow. Keply. — The bees should have been added to another hive when found queenless in October last. Keeping a stock in that condi- tion over winter would tend to develop fertile workers. The dead drone-brood occupying worker-cells in comb sent clearly proves that a fertile worker is present ; and as in addition we find slight traces of foul-brood, the bees, combs, and. frames should be promptly burnt — as not only useless but dangerous to keep. NOT A BEE-KEEPER. A correspondent who is a bee-keeper sends for our perusal a cutting from the London Echo of the 23rd ult., wherein one who is evidently not a bee-man writes to the editor of that journal thus : — "I have a small garden stocked with flowers. My next door neighbour has a garden some 15 yards long by 8 yards wide, stocked with eight large hives of bees, two of them right close to my house. A fence 5 ft. high parts our gardens. The bees are a nuisance to me coming in my garden, also the house, taking the substance out of the flowers, so that they do not last as long as they should. What remedy have I ? — Wm. Warmington." We don't quite gather whether our corre- spondent intends himself to reply to the above query or asks us to suggest the remedy Mr. Warmington inquires for. We might refer him to the article which appeared in our issue of February 27 on " Muzzling the Bees,'' for nothing less than a muzzle will prevent the thieving bees which are also " a nuisance," from " taking the substance out of the flowers," unless he covers the " substance " up. Or suppose the gentleman injured got up a deputation to invoke the aid of the London County Council in procuring a "muzzling order for bees." How would that do ? WEATHER REPORT. Westbourne, April, 1896. Rainfall, -31. Heaviest fall, "15, on 14th. Rain fell on 11 days. Below average, 1*27. Maximum Tempera- ture, 63° on 26 th. Minimum Tempera- ture, 30° on 2nd. Minimum on Grass, 23° on 2nd. Frosty Nights, 2. Sunshine, 1497 hours. Brightest Day, 22nd, 11*3 hours. Sunless Days, 2. Below Average, 53*9 hours. Maximum, Minimum, Temperature, Mean 53"6°. Mean 39'8°. Mean 467° Below average, 0'2. Maximum Barometer, 30-58° on 22nd. Minimum Barometer, 2974° on 29th. L. B. Birkett. BEE-KEEPING IN CALIFORNIA. insanity of bee-keepers ; WHAT makes LOW prices on honey ? (Concluded from page 179.) " No, copper cents don't count up fast enough. How many colonies would you begin 1 " " Well, Skylark, I will buy a thousand hives, as this promises to be a good year — say, a thousand." l; THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 7, 1896. "Well, if you never loose any bees, and double every year, the rate of increase and amount of honey — 100 pounds to the hive — might be a3 follows : — Colonies. 1st year 1,000 2nd „ 2;000 3rd „ 4,000 4th „ 8,000 5th „ 16,000 6th „ 32,000 Increase to Honey, lb. 2,000 100,000 4,000 200,000 8,000 400,000 16,000 800,000 32,000 1,600,000 64,000 3,200,000 " The sixth year, according to this, you would have 3,200,000 lb. of honey. At even ten cents per pound this would be an income 320,000 dols. a year, besides the 310,000 dols. made in the preceding five years. Caesar Augustus ! What a world of bees and honey ! Why, you could control the honey market of the world ; establish houses for its sale in all the principal cities in Europe and America ; buy up all the honey that is offered below your price, and then corner the market, and have it all your own way." " Skylark, you are a brick. I never thought you had such extensive schemes in your brain. I see now it is only the want of capital that keeps you down, or you would be one of the richest men on the continent." " Yes, friend Rollins, you say truly it is the want of capital that keeps me down. Just now I want a round 1,000 dollars. Can you lend it to me ? It would be a great accom- modation, and place me under great obligations to you." "Well, Skylark— ahem !— er — Skylark — er — I have invested all my money except what I shall need in this business. It would be im- possible, but I am very sorry." Now, I knew his cheque was as good as gold, from San Diego to Puget Sound ; but just look at the meanness of the man. After I had put him in the way, and given him my full per- mission to make 320,000 dols. annually, besides the 310,000 dols. which he had made in the preceding five years — to refuse me the loan of a paltry thousand dollars ! The deep ingratitude of some men is incomprehensible. Shall I give him a stunner, now, that will knock the stilts from under him, or let him go on and buy the 1,000 hives and lose his money? Mr. Editor, my undeveloped intellect pointed one way, and my kind benevolent heart pulled another. " Rollins," I called out to him, as he turned to go away, " look here a moment." "All right, Skylark, what is it ?" "Well, be careful about your speculation in bees, for there are many losses you are not aware of at the present time." " Why, Skylark, I thought it was all plain sailing. 1 get the bees, and they work for nothing and board themselves — isn't that the idea?" " That is all true in a good year — with a little skilled labour thrown in. But in a bad year — and bad years will come — you will have to feed two dollars' worth of sugar to each and every one of your colonies — amounting to 64,000 dols. I think it would be batter for you to build a beet-sugar factory. A good factory could be built for 50,000 dols., and you could make your sugar cheaper than you can buy it. Oh, yes ! then there is robbing. You must be wide awake when that begins, and it does begin with feeding. Once the robbers get a sniff of the fresh feed they will rob all the weak hives in the apiary. When they are finished, the strong hives will rise up in arms against one another. It doesn't much matter which whips— you are the loser, for millions of your bees are slain. Oh, yes ! then there is foul brood that sweeps away whole apiaries in a single year — as virulent and as infectious as the smallpox — travelling through all the sur- rounding country, carrying death and utter annihilation wherever it goes. Losses also by death of queens, by fertile workers, bee- paralysis, diarrhoea, mumps, measles, whoop- ing-cough, &c. But the worst of all is the toothache and earache. These coming in col- lision will cause the bees and sometimes the bee-keeper to dash themselves to death against the first post, tree, or rock they come to. Now let me tell you about the ravages of the moth- worm " " Skylark, you may stop right there. I have enough of bee-keeping." " Well, but, Rollins, I am not done yet ; for I haven't told you of the thousands of stings, and how to cure them." " That's enough ; I don't intend to get them, if I can help it. Good-bye." " Good-bye, friend Rollins ; but if you wish any other information on bee-keeping, always consider me ready to give it freely." " I don't want it," he yelled back. There is one (would-be) extensive bee- keeper tilled anyhow. Yes. killed as dead as a salted mackerel. If all bee-keepers would give the same vigorous encouragement to every applicant for advice, honey would advance a 100 per cent, within two years, and more too. But friend Eugene Secor is not of my way of thinking. In Review, jiage 19, after giving u* a very good article on the depressed state of the market, the adulteration of our product by middlemen, &c, he winds up by giving us two remedies as follows : 1. Produce only comb honey, and put it up in such "taking" packages that it will find its way on to the tables of those who can afford to pay for luxuries. That's what comb honey is, and always will be. 2. Encourage small bee-keepers (the adjec- tive has reference to numbers of colonies). Remedy 1 is a good one. Remedy 2 stuns me. How encouraging small bee-keepers could tend to advance the price of honey, I cannot tell. Has friend Secor got it, too — that insane mania, common — yes, universal — among bee-keepers ? Are we all mad ? Is there not one sane man to call a halt in the manufacture of new bee keepers ? May 7, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 189 Mr. Editor, is there any proof now at hand — is there any tangible probability that you can point out — that we shall not all be in crowded asylums in less than five years ? Here are my remedies : — 1. I will place friend Secor's first remedy, to produce only comb honey. 2. Stop, by every means in your power, the production of distracted honey, for that is the name by which it should be known now. 3. Discourage, by every means in your power, every would-be bee-keeper, even if you have to floor him with a skillet. 4. Let as get from some foreign country, or breed a race of bees, with long and fiery stings — a race with coiled-up, hidden stings, that they can dart out 1 j inches into the amateur. This will settle him. These four rules put into effective operation would advance the price of comb honey to 40 cents a pound in less than two years, and in three it would be 50 cents. — " Skylark " in Gleanings. }t\ j^ktcis to damt May 27 to June 1.— Bath and West of England Agricultural Society at St. Albans. Bees, hives, and honey. Entries closed. June 9 to 12. — At Eastbourne, in connection with the Koyal Counties Agricultural Society's Show. For Schedules apply as below. Entries close May 22. June 22 to 26. — Royal Agricultural Society at Leicester. Schedules now ready. Entries close May 1. All letters relating to Bee Department of above Shows to be addressed to Edwin H. Young, Secretary B.B.K.A., 12, Hanover-square, London, W. July 1 and 2. — At Ramsgate, in connection with East Kent Agricultural Society's Show. Entries close June 18. Schedules ready shortly from Henry W. Brice, hon. sec. Kent B.K.A., The Apiary, Thornton Heath. TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. Edmondson Bros. ,10, Dame-street, Dublin. — This is a small but very compact list of bee- goods, nothing of real service being omitted. E. J. Burtt, Stroud-road, Gloucester. — Another small but complete catalogue of twenty-four pages. We notice on page 2 that Mr. Burtt, being himself a practical bee- keeper, offers to give free advice on bee-matters by post if stamped envelope is sent. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. Letterg or queries ashing for addresses of manufac- turers or correspondents, 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 ;iood 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 the date of iisue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt of their communica- tions. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. W. C. Hannaford (Newton Abbot). — Feeding Bees in May.—li the " local bee- keeper '' — from whom the stock has just been purchased — advises " giving a half-pint of syrup every night all through the month of May," he must — if experienced — have kuown the bees were very short of food. Otherwise, the giving of nearly two quarts of liquid food per week, with some natural income available, would have a dangerous tendency to fill combs with food which could with far more advantage be occupied with brood. A good stock, with an ordinary amount of stores on hand, should need little or no feeding during the month of May ; especially in Devon, where apple orchards are so plentiful. But if stores are really short, half the quantity advised will be amply sufficient at this season. Arthur Lewin (Plymouth). — The Novel Bee- Smoker. — These cannot be got in this country ; but, seeing that several inquiries similar to yours have reached us, we are making inquiry, and may get a few over to oblige such as desire to possess one. H. Pugh (Bury St. Edmunds). — Increasing Stocks. — If your limited experience justifies the attempt to divide the bees for increase, as directed in our pages, you may try it ; but it is simpler, and moreover safer, to increase by natural swarming. Chas. Davy (London). — Bees Dying outside Hives. — See reply to S. Head, Query 1463, p. 186, in this issue. Geo. Wells (Aylesford, Kent). — We are unable to assist in finding out the address of the Mr. W. T. Joyse who omitted sending it to you when writing. Possibly this may meet the eye of the gentleman referred to, and cause him to forward the information sought. J. E. Roden (East Grinstead). — Parasites in Hives. — The parasite on bee received is not Br aula Cozca but a larger insect, very seldom found on bees. Unfortunately the insect was accidentally lost before we had carefully examined it for identification, and in consequence we cannot say more unless another specimen is forwarded. 190 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 7, 1896. Novice (Oban). — Bee-houses. — If care is taken to make the window (or windows) revolve on a central pivot, so as to be instantly turned inside out, as it were, to allow for free escape of bees, the house as described ought to answer very well for the purpose, and should be of great advantage in your northern latitude. Sorry your letter got inadvertently overlooked. W. A. Field (Grimsby). — Age of Queen. — Queen received is a rather diminutive adult one, but we cannot judge her age from the appearance. Peter McKiehan (Gareloch, N.B.). — Using Raw Cane-Sugar for Bee Food. — Eaw sugar is not suitable for bee syrup, and when any other food is available, they will refuse it. We can only advise using up the syrup made from it by mixing with two-thirds its quantity of syrup made from refined sugar. Special Prepaid Advertisements. Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, &c. — Up to Twelve words, Sixpence ; for every additional Three words or under, One Penny. STOCKS, Nuclei, Swarms, and Queens.— Address, Rev. C. BRERETON, Pulborough, Sussex. SWARMS for SALE, 10s. 6d. each, or 2s. 6d. per lb. A. Felstead, Rempstone, near Loughborough. SIX Strong Healthy STOCKS ; bar-frames, 27s. Dryburn, Albert-road, Heeley, Sheffield. L 67 FOR DISPOSAL.— Stocks BEES, straw skeps, on rail, 10s. JAS. Weatherhead, Ely, Cambridge- shire. L 63 STRONG SWARMS, from good-tempered, healthy stocks, 10s. ; sent in new skeps, 2s. extra if kept. Mrs. May, Parwich Hall, Ashbourne. CANADIAN BALSAMS, very vigorous, 30 for Is. Postal Order free. Morris, Rectory, Brook, I. of W. L60 "•TOR SALE, several stones of splendid HONEY. j. McKenna, The Lodge, Margaret's House, Isle- worth, Middlesex. L 61 F'OR SALE.— 200 lbs. Extracted Honey. Also Guinea Extractor. Apply J. W. DAVIES, Park Farm, Wallingford. l G2 WANTED.— MAN to assist in Apiary. Handy with tools. Particulars to VV. SHEPHERD, Oxton, Tadcaster, Yorks. L 64 SWARMS Booked in Rotation, 3s. (id. lb. ; Skeps, Is. Gd. ; Stocks complete in Bar-frame Hives, 25s. Weatherhead, Redbourn, St. Albans. h 58 EARLY SWARMS, packed and carriage-paid, 15s. each. Rev. Jarvis, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire. L59 €)(-) SWARM CATCHERS, new, 4-framed, 5s. each, *—tK-' o-framed 7s. Gd. each. Or exchange. H. Seamark, Willingham, Cambs. L 70 PURE IMPORTED ITALIAN QUEEN 7s. each. Cash with order. J. S. Greenhill, 80, Graham-road, Wimbledon. Prepaid Advertisements (Continued) FOR SALE, 7 doz. 1 lb. TIE-OVER JARS of HONEY, at 7s. per dozen. Packing-case free and put on rail. WOODLEY, World's End, Newbury. BEEKEEPERS should try PATERSON'S SCOTCH- MADE MEDAL HIVES and APPLIANCES. Paterson, Pollokshields, Glasgow. L 11 LACE PAPER for GLAZING SECTIONS. 100 strips, 7d., 200, Is. 2d., 300, Is. 6d., 500, 2s. 3d., 1,000, 4s. Post free. Best quality. Neat patterns. W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury. PURE BLACKS— Healthy Natural Swarms, 10s. 6d., 15s., ready shortly. Please book early. Honey- comb designs a speciality. Alsford, Expert, Bland- ford. L 49 HONEYCOMB DESIGNS.— Send 6s. for Design 1896, or 5s. for any three letters. Post free, with every instruction. Charles Cox, Brampton, Northampton. L52 FOR SALE.— "WELLS " HIVE, by Blow. Holds 20 frames in body, 40 in supers. Shallow or standard, with lift and section crate. Apply Rev. A. P. Jollye, Aslacton Vicarage, Long Stratton, Norfolk. L 56 HEALTHY STOCKS of ENGLISH BEES in first- class double-walled standard bar-frame hives. Grand working strains. Price moderate. MASON, Nunclose, Armathwaite, Cumberland. L 68 TNDIAN RUNNER DRAKE and SIX DUCKS, _L prolific layers, hatched 1895, 5s. each, the lot 30s. Stocks of bees, swarms, and nuclei in season. Robt. NESS, Certified Expert, B.B.K.A., Sproxton Park Apiary, Helmsley. L 69 HONEY AND ITS USES," l^d. ; 3s. 6d. per 100. Also "MEAD, AND HOW TO MAKE IT," and "VINEGAR FROM HONEY," each 2£d. Small sample bottle of Honey Vinegar, 7Jd. Rev. Gerard W. Bancks, The Green, Dartford. T AM now booking orders for NATURAL SWARMS of 1 my well-known strain PURE NATIVES, Z\ to 4 lbs., 12s. 6d. each. Guaranteed healthy. Orders strictly in rotation. Few doz., clean, well-filled, and sealed, lib. sections, 7s. doz. ; 250 lbs. first quality, extracted, at 6d. lb. Tins free. C. Whiting, Valley Apiary, Hundon, Clare, Suffolk. L 66 CLEARANCE SALE. — "The Bee-Keepers' Text Book," by A. J. King, 2s. 6d., catalogue price 4s. ; " Quinby's New Bee-Keeping," 3s. Gd., catalogue price 6s.; "The Bee-Keepers' Guide," by A. «T. Cook, 3s., catalogue price 5s. ; "Bee-Keeping, Plain and Practi- cal," by A. Rusbridge, Is., catalogue price Is. 6d. ; Foundation Fixers for fastening Foundation in Sections, 7d. each, catalogue price Is. 6d. ; Bingham Honey Knives, Is. 9d., catalogue price 4s. 6d. Carriage paid to any part. "Little Wonder " Extractor, 5s., catalogue price 12s. Carriage forward. W. Lee, Hurdsrield- road, Macclesfield. L 65 FLOWERS, VEGETABLES, & HONEY "HOW TO GROW FLOWERS FOR EXHIBI- TION." " HOW TO GROW CARROTS, PEAS, BEANS, POTATOES, ftc, FOR EXHIBITION." " HONEY AS FOOD," &c. LEAFLETS BY MOST ADVANCED SCIENTISTS. By the distribution of these Leaflets better prices can be obtained by Bee-keepers, and any amount of first- class Honey can be disposed of. Send P.O. value Is. for Packets of Leaflets, &c, to T. HOLLIDAY, ASTBURY, CONGLETON. May 14, 1896.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 191 (Miforial, Ifartim, &£ BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIA- TION. The monthly meeting of the Council was held at 12, Hanover-square, on Friday, the 8th inst. In the unavoidable absence of Mr. Cowan, the chair was occupied by the Vice- Chairman, Mr. E. D. Till. There were also present the Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh, Rev. W. E. Burkitt, Major Fair, Messrs. W. Broughton Carr, W. H. Harris, J. M. Hooker, T. I. Weston, and the Secretary (Edwin H. Young). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and adopted. Eight new members were elected, as follows : — Mr. A. S. D. Arundel, Woodlands, High- road, Whetstone. Mr. T. M. Busteed, Weybourne, Holt, Norfolk. Rev. Edward Charley, Ince Vicarage, Chester. Mr. Harry Cotton, 61, Hill-lane, South- ampton. Mr. J. T. Haynes, J.P., Milford, Hartland, North Devon. Mr. H. Boswell Palmer, 219, New KingV road, Parson's Green, S.W. Rev. Jas. Sunderland, Egginton Vicarage, Leighton Buzzard. Mr. Albert Twinn, Ridgwell, Halstead, Essex. The Report of the Education Committee stated that arrangements were being made for the holding of an Examination of Candidates for " Lectureships in the Science of Apicul- ture " in London, on Friday, July 10th. In presenting the Report of the Exhibitions Committee, Mr. Till said that the Committee had brought before them the question of allowing county labels on horiey exhibited for competition at the various shows ; the con- sensus of opinion being that it would be derogatory to the general interest to allow any mark' which would at all indicate the district in which the honey had been gathered. This view was endorsed by the Council. The (Com- mittee had also considered a suggestion made by the Council of the British Dairy Farmers' Association in regard to the desirability of greater uniformity in the size of jars con- taining honey for competition at the Dairy Show, and recommended that the height of jars shall not be allowed to exceed the height of the reputed 1 lb. screw-capped jar. The recommendation, of the Committee was approved. i Four candidates presented themselves for examination for First-class Expert Certificates, each of these being required to lecture, in rotation, upon subjects selected by the Educa- tion Committee. The duration of time allowed to each candidate was fifteen minutes. At the conclusion of these lectures the Council ad- journed. A short interval took place, during which light refreshments were partaken of. The members then reassembled for the Conversazione, Mr. Till again occupying the chair, supported by the Rev. W. E. Burkitt, Major Fair, Messrs. R. C. Blundell, H. W. Brice, W. B. Carr, B. Dymond, W. H. Harris, G. D. Haviland, J. Helsby, G. W. Hole, J. M. Hooker, H. Jonas, B. E. Jones, H. A. Jones, A. J. Moffatt, J. H. New, G. Newman, Percy Sharp, Ned Swain, E. H. Taylor, Gurney Wilson, W. C.Young, &c. Mr. Till expressed regret that owing to the indisposition of Mrs. Cowan, their honoured permanent chairman for the year had been unable to come from Cornwall to attend the meeting. A letter had been received from Mr- Cowan conveying sincere regret at his unavoidable absence, and they were all aware of the great interest he took in the meetings and work of the Association. Letters of apology had also been received from Sir T. D. Gibson-Carmichael, Rev. E. Daven- port, and a number of others. Comparatively little in the shape of bee-keeping appliances had been brought in by members, but, no doubt, subjects of much interest would be introduced, and they were happy to welcome Mr. Haviland, a life member of the B.B.K.A., who had lately returned from Borneo. Mr. Haviland was an experienced and an enthu- siastic bee-keeper, who, when at St. Bartholo- mew's Hospital many years ago, kept bees on the roof of that institution, and he would be able to communicate many items of interest. Mr. Haviland remarked that had he antici- pated that Bornean bees would be interesting to the meeting he would have brought speci- mens with him. The only bee kept in the district was the Apis indica, which is some- what similar to the English bee. He first saw it at Ceylon. Almost all the natives kept it in hives. At Borneo he tried to keep it in special hives which he had constructed, but he found the great difficulty was, that in that climate, where there was no winter, the bees were not in the least afraid of leaving their hives and starting business somewhere else. They could almost always keep themselves alive, and directly one begin to manipulate a hive, it was immediately deserted by the bees. It then occurred to him to make some experi- ments with English bees, and work tbem together with the Apis indica, and he there- fore sent to this country for four queens and some thousands of worker?, but when they reached Singapore, only a few of the workers were alive. By this time the bees which he had ready to transfer them to had left their hives, and not long after the English bees died, so that the experiment came to nothing. He had taken a great many bees out of trees in the jungle. But the great enemy of the 192 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 14, 1896. bees in these places was the " Honey Bear," so named from its great partiality for honey. He had seen cases in which bees had been located in holes in trees, a long way above the ground, and in order to obtain the honey, or the brood, of which they were very fond, the natives had driven pegs at short distances apart in the tree all round. Perhaps the most interesting bee was the Apis dorsata, which was a very large bee, the workers being about the size of an English queen. It always built its combs out in the open, and had a great aversion to being shut up. Of course, this variety was useless for honey production, its great value being as a producer of wax. The Apis dorsata is the one that sometimes kills horses ; and in reply to an inquiry, Mr. Haviland supposed Jt was this race of bees that had been known to attack a regiment of soldiers. Hornets, of course, were similarly obnoxious. He had constructed special frames, covered with a caging of wire of a certain sized mesh (which confined the queen), for the purpose of imprisoning her, while allowing access and egress to the workers as with excluder zinc, and in this way he had endeavoured to domes- ticate the Apis dorsata, but all efforts in this direction were failures, so great was their objection to any form of confinement. In con- clusion, Mr. Haviland detailed his experiences of some years ago, while resident in London, in keeping bees on the roof at St. Bartholo- mew's Hospital, where they had repeatedly swarmed, and the young queens had become fertilised in due course. Mr. Taylor stated that he knew of several stocks being kept near to King's Cross, and Mr. Oarr said that bees had been kept on the roof of a building in Holborn for some time by Messrs. Abbott Bros. A new " swarm- catcher," sent for exhibition by Mr. Seamark, of Willingham, Cambridge, was critically ex- amined, and the inventor's explanation was read to the meeting by the chairman. It was thought that an improvement might be effected in the position of the perforated zinc arrange- ment, providing for the ingress of returning workers. Mr. Seamark was thanked for his kindness in sending his " catcher.'' A few other small items of interest to bee- keepers were then shown, and the remainder of the evening was pleasantly and usefully occupied in the friendly interchange of the various bee-experience of those present. A vote of sympathy with Mr. Cowan was unanimously passed by the meeting, coupled with an expression of the hope that Mrs. Cowan's health may be speedily restored. HONEY IMPORTS. The total value of honey imported into the United Kingdom during the month of April, 1896, was .£2,416. — From a return furnished to the Bee Journal by the Statis- tical Office, H.M. Customs. USEFUL HINTS. (Continued from p. 182.) Early Swarms. — Since last week reports of further early swarms have come to hand from many districts, plainly showing how easy a thing it is to be behindhand in giving timely room to populous colonies. The weather, too, of the past few days has continued so uni- formly fine and warm — with numerous drones flying daily — that further delay in giving room to crowded hives is sure to see queen-cells started, and consequent difficulty in the prevention of swarming later on. Further dilatoriness should therefore not be allowed — as it inevitably will if continued — to upset calculations either as to increase or surplus, so far as taking the necessary steps to prevent the issue of undesired swarms. Surplus-room is the first preventive, and this should be given at once to all strong stocks, allow- ing the bees to occupy themselves in building out combs from foundation. If surplus honey is not yet available for storing in these combs, they will be ready for the inflow when it does come. Early Honey for Showing. — The continuance for another ten days of the present warmth and sunshine, with a good day's rain thrown in, would make it certain that honey of 1896 will be on hand for the first show of the year, which opens at St. Albans on the 27 th inst. The promising condition of things apicul- tural are therefore a cause for present thankfulness, for it has always a de- pressing effect to contemplate a show of honey at which none of the current season's produce is staged. On the other hand, with surplus gathered in 1896 for showing in May, we are within measurable distance of a good display at the other early "shows to come," already announced. Bees and Fruit Crops. — The value of bees as a means of increasing fruit crops — as shown in our pages from time to time — are undeniable, notwithstanding the fact that some growers seem disposed to minimise the value of bees as ferti- lisers of the fruit bloom. An instance illustrating the accuracy of the bee- keeper's deductions on the point came under our notice the other day in hearing of an extensive fruit grower in Kent, who declared that his gooseberries showed May 14, 1896. THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 193 a bigger crop this year than he ever remembered them to have done before. The fact of a small " bee-farm " having, last autumn, been planted within a half- minute's bee-flight of the several acres of gooseberry bushes referred to, fully ex- plained the big crop ; and it was jocularly suggested that the grower be invited to subscribe to the County B.K.A. as an acknowledgment of benefits conferred, or, as the Association prospectus says, " the advantages of membership." Concerning the same subject further away, a news-cutting sent from Cheshire reads thus :— " The prospects for an abundant fruit crop in Cheshire and the adjacent counties are, says our Chester correspondent, very promising. The damson, pear, and wall- fruit trees are in magnificent bloom, and, if night frosts are not experienced, there is every indication of heavy crops of fruit of all descriptions." Foul-brood Samples. — We have once again to complain of want of considera- tion on the part of some correspondents sending samples of comb improperly packed, and of others who, while careful enough over the packing, are unaccount- ably thoughtless — to say the least — of those to whom the packet is addressed. Surely it is not too much to ask that notes accompanying such be sent outside the box containing the " sample 1 " How can it be termed less than gross careless- ness to put a piece of foul-broody comb carefully in a tin or wood box for sending to this office by post, and packing the letter of inquiry inside the box, so tightly squeezed on top of (and into) the comb that it has actually to be washed before it can be read ! We desire to render all pos- sible help to readers in this matter, but must ask that such correspondents as fail to receive any reply at all to their communications on this subject will set it down to some such cause as is covered by the above remarks. We beg also to request that queries for reply, and all literary matter intended for insertion, be written on separate sheets apart from such as refer to the subscription and advertisement department. If cor- respondents knew how much trouble is spared us by conforming to this rule, they would, we feel sure, bear it in mind. IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The committee met on 7th inst. Present (Mr. Jenkins in the chair) : Dr. Traill, Mr. O'Bryen, and Mr. Chenevix, hon sec. Various matters were considered relating to the Instructive Apiary now being established at the Model Farm, Glasnevin. It was decided to begin giving instruction in kee-keeping there at once, every Saturday at 1.30 p.m. BEE-KEEPING IN CUMBERLAND. A meeting of bee-keepers located in Millom and district was held in the Public Library Buildings, Millom, on May 9, Percy B. Stoney, Esq., M.R.C.S., in the chair. Among those present were Messrs. J. R. Hall, D. Jenhinson, J. Stables, D. Jordan, T. Tyson, Alfred J. Hutchinson, W. Parrott, J. Blair, G. Morgan, &c. In opening the proceedings the Chairman gave his views as to the advantage to bee- keepers of associated effort in the county, and the assistance to be derived from expert help in the management of bees. He thought if they could decide upon some mode of procedure and lay it before the bee-keepers of the county, there was every hope of securing support for the movement. In reply to an invitation asking for an expression of opinion from those present, Mr. Hutchinson said it had long been his opinion that a combined effort on the part of Cumber- land bee-keepers would result in similar advantages to apiculture as were enjoyed in other counties by members of bee asso- ciations. A powerful organisation formed for mutual help would also assist them in the suppression of "foul brood," which he was sorry to say was prevalent in several parts of the county. He found that many bee- keepers whom he had met were of the same opinion, and this had prompted him to con- vene that meeting. He had received letters from bee-keepers located in various parts of the county, who were unable to attend, but expressing cordial sympathy with the proposed movement, and promising every assistance in their power. Mr. Hall, a district sec. of the L. and C. B.K.A., who was present, gave some particulars of the work done by the L. and C. B.K.A., together with valuable hints as to details in forming an association. After further discussion, it was decided that a Bee- Keepers' Association for Cumberland was most desirable, and a committee was formed to take steps to this end, Mr. Hutchinson being appointed secretary (pro. tern.) It was afterwards agreed that the Secretary be instructed to write to the Hon. H. V. Duncombe, M.P. for this division, placing before him particulars of " foul brood " and asking him to vote in favour of the Bill. A vote of thanks was accorded to the B.B.K.A. for their laudable efforts on behalf of bee- 194 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 14, 1896. keepers and bee-keeping. Mr. Hutchinson drew the attention of the meeting to an article in a recent number of the B.B.J, referring to the importance of ascertaining the opinion of County Councils throughout the country with regard to the proposed Bill dealing with " foul brood.'' Eventually it was decided that a deputation wait on the four local County Councillors and lay before them facts on the foul brood question as it, effects bee-keeping and ask them to reply in favour of compulsory power to destroy diseased hives. The meeting closed with thanks to Dr. Stoney for presiding. — (Commit nicated) . tyatmpvthML The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily foi publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. *»* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, toill oblige by m^entioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appear s. EXPERTS AND FOUL BROOD. [2495.] I was much surprised on receiving my Bee Journal of the 30th ult. to find you had given such prominence to my letter on page 171, and, in consequence, felt much as I should imagine one would upon being put into a pillory ; but having, with the aid of your kind remarks got over this feeling, I should like to remove certain misunderstandings, doubtless due to my faulty expression, regard- ing the letter referred to. First, however, let me impress upon you that my desire is above all to help both the B.B.K.A. and the cause of bee-keeping. I am not "in the know'' regarding the labours of the Special Committee of the B.B.K.A., but hope they may be successful in their undertaking. They must, however, have reliable evidence of the existence of foul brood in different districts, which evidence has partly been contributed by the affiliated Asso- ciations, and I still think— nor am I alone in this idea — that if such information were collated by the secretary and sent to the Associations it would be of considerable service in attaining the object we are all striving for — viz., the suppression of "foul brood," in that it would enable experts to localise the disease, and keep a careful look- out for it around the districts mentioned. It would also prevent the forming of more apiaries or purchase of bees from such places until such time as the neighbour- hood was known to be clear. For this pur- pose alone the information would be very valu- able, especially on the borders of counties. A year or so ago some eight apiaries were, •through my own influence, started in Lincoln- shire on the border line. Last year I found in the adjoining county foul brood prevalent within a mile of some of them, and had been for some time. The river intervening along this border renders it difficult of access for long distances, or I should perhaps have dis- covered this fact ; but the possession of such a list as I suggest would certainly have caused me to discourage starting these apiaries until I knew the coast was clear. The value of such a list must surely be obvious to all interested in the matter. It would not take much compil- ing, could be marked " private and confi- dential " if thought necessary, and I am sure that good sense and discretion — of which our experts possess their share along with other folks — would prevent anything in the nature of " a scare,'' as you term it, for if we have got to face the music it is as well to know the tune. — F. J. Cribb, Gainsboro', May 9. [Concerning the above we have nothing to add. to our remarks of last week, beyond ex- pressing the hope that " Experts " will wisely exercise the discretion they, no doubt, possess along with other folks. We fear, how- ever, that our friend Mr. Cribb — and probably some " other folks " — does not quite perceive the direction in which our word of caution points. — Eds.] BEES "BALLING" QUEENS. [2496.] It is often asked why bees " ball " their queens ; but this is not a common occurrence in expert hands, and my opinion is that she is mistaken for a stranger. In a normal condition those bees attending the queen behave in a way that shows all is going on well with her. This behaviour is con- tagious, and is from this centre carried out by all the bees throughout the hive. But during manipulation the queen is sometimes forced rather suddenly to another part of the hive, and the bees, while under the impression that their queen is all right, mistake her for an alien. The only case that has come under my notice was once while examining a frame, when the queen dropped from it to the ground. I picked her up and placed her on the frames then in the hive. One bee attacked her, and the example was instantly followed by dozens. Possibly the smell of my fingers might have something to do with it in this case ; if so it must have been perceptible at some little distance, as the leader never stopped to make any inquiries. The bees would naturally be most jealous of their queen's safety during the spring and autumn, but if once the attack is begun the bees are too furious or too much engaged to allow themselves to be told that "their own dear queen is missing." — Geo. Wall, Harrow- Weald. May H, 1896.] THE BRITISH1 BEE JOURNAL. 195 BEE NOTES FROM SUSSEX. [2497.] The extraordinarily fine and dry- weather, allowing the bees to fly nearly every day, in spite of. some cold winds and frosty nights, has had its effect, and never yet have I seen stocks in such splendid , and promising order. Unless we happen to get a spell of rain and cold just at the wrong time, the honey harvest ought to be magnificent this year. The first swarm of which I have heard as yet in the neighbourhood came off from a skep in the village to-day, and was an unusually large and fine one. " My own bees in frame hives show no inclination as yet to swarm, but as drones have made their appearance, I shall put on a couple of of Hole's improved swarm- catchers I happen to have by me at the first opportunity. The wealth of fruit-tree blossom and flower bloom is this year very great, and the bees seem to be making the most of it. I cannot find, however, as yet, that my bees are storing. Probably they have all they can do to keep pace with the increasing needs of the rapidly -growing populations. Now that there are drones, and the heat of the hives (especially by night) is quickly going up in consequence, 1 expect to see them soon take to the supers -in good earnest. A.t present they are doing •little more than clear up in preparation for the coming Loney flow — and, I trust, boom ! In the B.B.J, for April 11, 1895, page 146, No. 2,295, I asked whether the bees obtain pollen from the catkins of aspens. Recently, as usual, the ground was strewn with a carpet- ing of these, fallen from the lofty trees which produce them. One day, t~> my surprise, the lad I employ in my garden asked me to come and look at something he had noticed; and he proceeded to point out to me dozens of bees hovering over these, and ransacking them as they lay on the ground. Whether they also fly up into the tree3 themselves we could not decide ; but, knowing my curiosity on the subject, my assistant on several days 'showed me ample proof that the bees rifle the aspen catkins when fallen to' the earth. — W. R. N., Sussex, May 8, 1896. I EASTBOURNE SHOW. [2498.] June the 9th is fait approaching, and I am hopeful that on that day we shall see a grand display of Kent and Sussex honey at Eastbourne. Bee-keepers in each county, please' do your best. Entries close May 22, and fees will be returned if honey should fail. Those on whom the work of this, show devolves will be greatly disappointed if bee- keepers in either Sussex or Kent are backward in sending entries. Mr. Brice, K.B.K.A- , apd Mr. Young, B.B.K.A., will supply schedules. (See advertisement on; another page.) — E. D. 'Till, Eysford, May 11. FIAT-BOTTOMED FOUNDATION. [2499.] Your correspondents ' Mr. Harrison (2473, p. 155) and Mr. Taylor (2477, p. 165) are mistaken in attributing their failures to the use of flat-bottomed foundation. Years ago, when the late Mr. C. N. Abbott introduced flat-bottomed . foundation, I used nothing else either for brood or' super, and the bees never refused to work it. I have since had the same kind of foundation refused by bees as I have had that with a natural base. Last year, however, I used both indiscriminately, and found none refused. The causes, in my opinion, are chiefly attributable to something distasteful to the bees (either in the wax or by contact with it), or the foundation is too hard for them to work it. — Northants. EARLY HONEY. [2500.] On May 5 I took off some nicely finished sections of comb-honey. I have three racks of sections already three parts filled. We are having splendid bee weather at pre- sent. The chestnuts and May blooms are just bursting into flower. The gardener at Mr. F. Riley Smith's, of Tadcaster, told me he had a very large swarm on May 6, which is rather early for Yorkshire, isn't it ? Hoping all bee- keepers will have a good' honey season. — T. Rothery, Stutton, Tadcaster, May 10. BIRD'S NEST IN HIVE. [2501.] The other day whilst examining an empty hive, of which the roof was not fixed on properly, I found a pretty little nest formed of moss and bran, comfortably occupied by a tom-tit sitting on ten eggs, and such is the courage of the " little motner," that she will not fly oil', but remains in charge while being looked at. Perhaps some other bee-keeper has had the same experience ? — E. H. Taylor, Wehoyn, Herts. EARLY SWARMS. A SWARM IN NOTTINGHAM PARK. On Sunday, May 3, a fine swarm issued from a hive in the Park, Nottingham. The owner, a leading gentleman in the town, rode over on his bicycle to fetch me to hive the bees for him, but, being from home at the time, my wife gave him instructions how to proceed, and these were carried out by the wife of the gentleman referred to, who bravely hived the swarm into a straw skep from an awkward position. I went over on the following day and put the swarm into a frame-hive, and it is now doing very well indeed, and working away as only swarms do work. This is the earliest swarm I have heard of in this district this year. — P. Scattergood, Jun., Stapleford, Nottingham, May 6, 1896. 196 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 14, 1896. EARLY SWARMING IN SCOTLAND. A hive of bees belonging to Mr. Samuel Callander, Clunie Farm, Terregles, Dumfries, cast a splendid swarm on May 6. It was successfully hived and is doing well. Bee matters are from four to five weeks earlier than usual, but this is the first swarm we have heard of in the North. — R. McC, Inchiman. N.B., May 10. SWARMS IN DERBYSHIRE AND CUMBERLAND. I hived my first swarm this season on Sun- day, May 10. Though very early, I see I am not the first in Derbyshire, as seen by B.J. of May 3, where a swarm coming off in April ; but I think I am a good second. — W. Mey- nell, Horsley, nr. Derby, May 11. Mr. M. Wilson, of Waberthwaite, Cum- berland, had a very large swarm of bees on May 8, this being the first I have heard of for Cumberland, and is very early, considering how far north we are. — W. Barrows, Esh- meals. THE "GUIDE BOOK." ISSUE OF THE 29TH THOUSAND. In announcing the issue, within the next few days, of the fourteenth edition (consisting of four thousand copies) of the above work, a word of apology is due to several hundreds of intending readers, who have been kept wait- ing for so long a time for the book after ordering it. In tendering this apology, the author may, perhaps, be allowed to say that a good portion of his somewhat limited leisure has been occupied in making this edition of the " Guide Book " as perfect as possible, and he is not altogether without hope that the result will sufficiently well repay the waiting for. The work has been largely extended and many parts re-written ; the chapter on "Diseases of Bees" being entirely so. In fact, each division has been brought up to date and revised in the light of latest dis- coveries in the art of bee-keeping. A special and new feature is the introduc- tion of a series of illustrations executed in the finest style of half-tone process engraving from photographs. These life pictures may be re- garded as so many object-lessons illustrative of bee-manipulations in a modern apiary, and should be very helpful in enabling readers to thoroughly understand the text of the book, so far as carrying out bee-work. A number of other new engravings have also been intro- duced, wherever necessary. Finally, by adding a line of text on each page, much additional matter has been got in to the prescribed space, and for the rest the author is content to let the book speak for itself when it appears, which will be within a week or ten days' time. ^mrm and Holies. [1466.] Working Sleeps above Frame-hives. — Like your querist, F. Potter (1,454, page 157), I have a very strong stock in a straw skep which was placed on the top of a frame-hive, fitted with ten standard frames on April 27. Like him, I also propose inserting a lift of frames between brood-box and skep. 1. Could you give me a hint as to when I may reasonably expect to find them ready for this, with fine weather and abundant forage ? (I don't ask for anything like precision, but just a hint that may save premature and fruitless manipulation.) In your reply to the query re excluder zinc, you say it " must not be placed between the two, unless it is quite certain that there is no drone brood in the skep above." 2. Might not a strip of excluder-zinc eleven or twelve inches wide be placed across the frames to afford an exit for the drones, while it would in all probability deter the queen from ascending ?— G. M. M., Dorset, May 11. Reply. — 1. Under the conditions named, additional surplus-room may be given as soon as it is ascertained that the frame hive is fairly full of bees and brood, with all its combs com- pleted. Supposing that the frames in lower hive were filled with full sheets of foundation, and stock " very strong " as stated, from fifteen to twenty days from time of putting on the skep should suffice to render a second lot of frames necessary. 2. Yes, any means of queen and drones passing down into lower hive does away with serious risk, but this seen to, a proper excluder is preferable. [1467.] Artificial Sivarming. — I have a hive of bees crowding ten frames, eight of which are covered with brood. Outside this hive on Monday evening I found the queen dead. I examined the hive on Tuesday and found a young queen hatched out and two sealed queen cells. Is it too early to make an artificial swarm from this hive by following directions in Guide Book ? I have not noticed drones on the wing, but there are drones in the hive. — " Beginner," May 5. Reply. — An artificial swarm cannot be made from the hive referred to until such time as the young queen now hatched has been fertilised and laying for several weeks. It would be safer and better for you to defer making the proposed swarm until the first week in July, by which time the stock may have stored some surplus honey for you. [1468.] Keeping Smokers Alight.— "Wells" Dummy. — Referring to Queries (1443), will the Editors kindly reply to the two following queries which have not been answered, and allow me to thank those bee-keepers who kindly answered the other questions ? — 1. Girders for section racks? 2. Smokers? May 14, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 197 Your footnote regarding these, page 154, reads as follows : — " And how easy it is — when one knows how — to keep a good smoker alight for three or four hours at a stretch." Will you please explain how this can be done? 3. "Wells" dummy. The holes in my " Wells '' dummy have been stopped up by the bees. Will you please say if, under the circumstances, it will be safe to let the bees amalgamate in super when the time comes ? 1 cleared the holes in March, but the bees will persist in stopping them up. — Anxious Bee-keeper, Dorset, May 8. Reply. — 1. Personally we prefer wooden rests for the sections to rest upon. 2. By using ordinary intelligence in making a roll of paper close enough for fairly slow combustion, and yet allowing a current of air to pass upwards and through the roll on using the bellows. Some degree of the same intelli- gence must also be used in choosing a paper which will " smoulder,'' and not persistently go out. 3. Bees of two separate stocks have been known to work in a super common to both lots, but it is not quite safe to let them do so. Hence Mr. Wells's plan of a perforated dummy to give the same scent to the bees of both compartments. Yours must be regarded as having a solid dummy, since all the per- forations are closed. THE HEATHER HARVEST. PREPARATION OF HIVES FOR TAKING TO THE MOORS. Mr. J. N. Kidd, Hon. Secretary of the Northumberland and Durham B.K.A., has kindly forwarded his paper on " Preparing Bees for the Moors," read at the annual meet- ing of the Association, from which we make the following brief extracts as possessing in- terest for bee-keepers located within reach of heather : — " In the early part of August bee-keepers convey their hives to the heather and place them in sheltered positions in the midst of the purple bloom ; the moors are thus dotted over with hives, many of them having travelled considerable distances by road or rail. If, on a warm day later on, the entrances to various hives are watched, it will be seen that at some so great is the number of bees rushing in and out that the gateways present a busy and animated appearance, whilst at others there is little apparent activity. Further disparities will appear if the hives are opened and an examination made of the surplus chambers ; in some the section-racks will be crammed full of bees working out the comb, in others the surplus chambers will be found deserted by the bees and consequently no honey being stored in them." After entering into the past history of the various hives in order to account for the failure or success of each respectively, he goes on to say : " A hive ready for the moors should be literally crammed with bees ; 70 per cent, of the cells in the whole of the stock comb3 (say from seven to ten combs), should contain brood ; the remaining cells being filled with stores. If the general prin- ciples of management as set forth in the ' Guide Book,' have been intelligently fol- lowed, there will be very little doubt of the hives answering to this thriving and populous condition. " The following examples explain in a con- densed form the methods of management practised by bee-keepers in Northumberland and Durham, viz. : A has an apiary of thirty colonies. Beyond giving absolutely necessary attention from time to time, the bees are inter- fered with as little as possible. Except in very bad seasons, no food is given for stimula- tive purposes. This apiary is, however, near a wood containing many wild cherry trees, which afford an early and plentiful supply of nectar. "B's apiary consists of eight hives. At the approach of winter a 6 lb. cake of soft candy is placed over the cluster of each colony, which, whether consumed or not, is replaced by a bottle-feeder in April, and slow stimu- lative feeding is continued from day to day. About a fortnight before white clover blooms, rapid-feeders are put on, and the bees fed for two days with as much thick syrup as they can take down ; a week is given to enable them to seal over the syrup, when the sections are put on ; the bees immediately take pos- session and commence comb-building in the sections. When preparing the bees for the moors they are again fed heavily in the same way as above. M C has six colonies in hives containing ten to twelve standard frames. " The bees are kept continually under the direct control of the bee-master. They are stimulated to activity in early spring by un- capping their stores ; brood is spread from time to time, the slow-feeder being kept constantly going. Thus, by the end of May the combs are filled with brood, and the hives boiling over with bees. From this time till the close of the swarming season — aided by a reliable assistant — each comb in the apiary is examined once a week, for the purpose of cutting out queen-cells. Swarming is prevented and excellent results are obtained. The apiary is run for extracted honey only. D has eight colonies. In the autumn a 2-lb. cake of candy is placed above the cluster of each stock. This is renewed from time to time if needful after the close of the winter. Slow feeding is commenced in April, and con- tinued up to the clover blossoms (about June 15). When the clover harvest is over all section-racks are removed, and, unless the weather is very fine, the bees are fed slowly until packed for sending to the moors. Swarming is discouraged, but if any swarms ■ come off ' they are returned to the stock 198 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 14,'l896. hive after all queen-cells have been ', cut out. Before sending to the heather all combs not containing brood are taken out, the brood-nest being thus contracted to force the bees into supers. ' • , Many other examples might be quoted ; but it is impossible to give the rule for general management, as so much depends on the quantity and quality of the bee-forage sur- rounding the hives. The necessary variations of bee management must be left to the judg- ment of the apiarist himself, who will know the requirements of the bees from time to time by the weather conditions prevailing, and the forage in bloom. Statistics, however, received from bee-keepers in Northumberland and Durham indicate that slow continuous feeding — say half a gill per day — up to the honey flow is productive of the best results. Over- feed- ing is injurious, causing reduction of the brood-nest ; but neglect of feeding in cold, wet weather is disastrous, sometimes causing an entire discontinuance of breeding. The advan- tages of early stimulation, however, become apparent in considering the relation of swarm- ing to the heather harvest. When bees swarm their forces are divided, and the yield of sur- plus honey is consequently curtailed. For this reason, and the trouble of hiving and risk of losing the bees, swarming is usually dis- couraged.'' ' The writer then — after discussing the ques- tion of swarming and non-swarming when working for clover as compared with heather honey — continues : — " The yield of surplus honey will be increased if the bees are relieved whilst on the moors of the labour of building the combs needful for its storage ; and the following methods of obtaining comb for this purpose may be adopted : 1. Clear all unsealed sections after the clover harvest with the extractor, and give them to the stocks to be sent to the moors. 2. Employ forward stocks before the clover harvest (if necessary by additional feeding) to draw out section combs, to be cleared by the extractor. It should, however, be noted that comb obtained in this way afterwards becomes bleached by exposure to the air, and so dry and brittle as to make it break up into minute pieces — quite distinct from the honey — whilst being eaten, and makes its presence too evident to the con- sumer. For table use this is a very objection- able feature. " In marketing such honey it is advisable to separate it from the comb with a honey press (a potato squeezer will do for small quantities) as is sometimes done with unfinished heather sections, and bottled. In this form it will command a ready sale ; or a very desirable blend can be made by niixiDg it with extracted clover honey. Super foundation is not edible, and its flavour is often so disagreeable as to destroy ' the reputation of the finest heather honey. For these reasons most kee-keepers insert only a small piece in each section as a guide to the bees." THE HIVE. "All unnecessary weight should be dispensed with in the construction of hives for the heather, and yet they should be strongly built to withstand the knocking about they receive on their annual trip to the moors. A double- cased hive is preferred for the following reasons : — " The outer case and air-space afford protec- tion from excessive heat ; and in cold weather the natural warmth of the bees is better re- tained. It permits the use of 17-in. top bars ; and affords more room in surplus chambers for packing. On the other hand, these hives occupy a larger space when placed on a wagon and its additional size and weight are impedi- ments to travelling ; white it has not yet been proved that more honey is stored by the bees in double as against single-walled hives. 11 The following main points indicate how a suitable moor hive may be constructed : — Body box to contain ten standard combs, with 17 in. top bars, and one dummy, single walled only at sides. Lift deep enough to cover two racks of sections. " A piece of perforated zinc may be inserted in the floor-board whilst travelling, but this is unnecessary if top is covered with scrim or perforated zinc, and all quilts taken off until the hives are set down again. " The weather at the moors being often cold and bleak (especially during night time), the section racks should, therefore, be made snug and warm, so as to conserve the natural heat of the bees." <&t\w% from lite Jfifrts. Walton-on-Thavies, May 10. — I expect you have found swarms very prevalent, but one came off here at Halliford on April 28, and on May 4 I took for a lady a large swarm, cover- ing eight frames, well. I also removed from the parent hive, after the swarm issued, eight fully-sealed and beautiful sections, and could have taken more not so well sealed, so I left them on. This is unusually early for both honey and swarm to be taken off the hive. I also took a very large swarm on May 9. — M. Turner. Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington, May 9. — The cuckoo has now been hero about three weeks. A week ago I also heard the nightin- gale. Drones, too, are flying from my hives in full force, and the bees are very busy building up well. It is a sight to be pleased with, a few days after inserting a frame of foundation between full combs of brood, to find the combs built out, and practically full of brood from top to bottom. I cannot even boast of having supers on yetj but hope to do so ere long. The white thorn is just on the May 14, 1896-.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 199» eve of coming out, while dandelions, syca- mores, and apples are blooming in great pro- fusion ; also turnip and greens are in full flower, as are some winter beans. If we have only a continuation of the warm weather experienced of late, there is great promise of a fine yield of honey this year.— John Walton. &j $hmra to Qlomt May 27 to June 1.— Bath and West of England Agricultural Society at St. Albans. Bees, hives, and honey. Entries closed. June 9 to 12. — At Eastbourne, in connection with the Royal Counties Agricultural Society's Show. For Schedules apply as below. Entries close May 22. June 10 and 11. — Bees, hive?, and honey, in connection with the Essex Agricultural Society's Show at Brentwood. For schedules of honey department, apply E. Durrant, Hon . Sec. Essex B.K.A., Chelmsford. Entries close May 27. June 22 to 26. — Royal Agricultural Society at Leicester. Schedules now ready. Entries closed. All letters relating to Bee Department of above Shows to be addressed to Edwin H. Young, Secretary B.B.K.A., 12, Hanover- square, London, W. July 1 and 2. — At Ramsgate, \a connection with East Kent Agricultural Society's Show. Entries close June 18. Schedules ready shortly from Henry W. Brice, hon. sec. Kent B.K.A., The Apiary, Thornton Heath. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. Letters or queries ashing for addresses of manufac- turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be purchased, or replies giving such information, can only oe 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 Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of iisue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt of their communica- tions. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. Geo. Rookr (Salisbury). — Bees Trans- ferring themselves to Frame-hive. — If the bees Lave transferred the brood- nest below, as stated, the old hive may be removed to make room for a box of shallow- frames as soon as all the brood in the " old hive " has hatched out. To remove it sooner would, of course, entail loss of the brood. Apart from this, the plan you propose will answer all right. Caleb Godfrey (Cardiff). — Working Frame- hives.— I. Ten or eleven standard frames are sufficient for brood-chamber. 2. Divi- sion-board must have same space between it and face of comb as is allowed between combs and hive sides. 3. Boxes of shallow- frames must be placed right above top-bars allowing the usual f in. space below frames. You should really buy a book on bees to get at all these details of how to work frame-hives, or mistakes will certainly occur. R. Hamlyn- Harris (Bristol). — Parasites on Bees. — No doubt the constant worry to the queen and bees of the parasite Braula cceca, must tend to lessen the prosperity of a stock. They can only be got rid of as stated over and over again in our columns. H. May (Tetworth). — Chilled Brood.— The condition of things you report as to chilled brood are so extraordinary as to be quite past our comprehension and are certainly unaccouutable to us. Are you not within reach of some experienced bee-keeper who could inspect your hives and report to us ? W. Allen. — 1. Comb sent is very old, and only fit for burning. It is also affected with foul brood, which makes it doubly suitable for entire and total destruction. To use such combs again for a swarm as proposed would be the height of folly. 2. Swarms of the current year will do to have frames only partly filled with foundation, without build- ing a preponderance of drone comb in consequence. "Bees" (Isle" of Man). — Helping Weak Stocks. — 1. We should make quite sure of the cause of weakness in the " pure Italian'' colony before giving combs of brood from a thriving stock of hybrid bees to help on the very weak lot. Besides, if there are only bees to cover three of the four frames now in the hive with brood on two df these already, any further brood given them would certainly be chilled. 2. We' can offer no reliable explanation of the bee-loss you mention, other than faulty management. Nemo (Glasgow). — Purity of Wax in Comb- foundation. — There are no entirely safe means, other than by analysis, of proving the purity or otherwise of the wax used in comb-foundation. J. H. S. (Sheffield). — Queen rearing. — There is no way except waiting to see if queens hatch out from the sealed queen-cells seen. If they do come out all right we see no reason why one of them should not be safely mated at this season. Robt. J. Lang (Plumstead). — Odd-sized Frames in Hives.— The best time for effect- ing the change to Standard size frames would be twenty-one days after the old hive had swarmed, when there would be no brood to deal with. The full modus operandi would take too long to describe in 200 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL [May 14, 1896. this column ; but it is fully detailed in both " Modern Bee-keeping " and in the " Guide Book." M. L. — Apply to Mr. Meadows, of Syston. (See advertisement columns.) S. Jelling (Coventry). — Embryo Wasps' Nests. — Much obliged, but we have already some on bar-frame by us. J. Clark (Maryport). — Queen Turned Out. — Queen sent is an adult. There is nothing to indicate the cause of death. *** Several communications and replies to queries are unavoidably held over till next week. Special Prepaid Advertisements. Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, &c. — Up to Twelve words, Sixpence; for every additional Three words or under, One Penny. STOCKS, Nuclei, Swarms, and Queen3.— Address, Rev. C. Brereton, Pulborough, Sussex. SWARMS for SALE, 10s. 6d. each, or 2s. 6d. per lb. A. Felstead, Rempstone, near Loughborough. FOR SALE, Strong STOCKS on frames at 21s. Ley, Easton, Stamford. L 74 WELL known Bee plants, Borage and Canadian BALSAMS, 50 mixed, post free Is. 3d. Apply, J. T. Hick, Sherburn, East Riding, Yorks. L 75 PURE ENGLISH HONEY in J cwts., 6d. per lb. Tins free. Sample 2d. Deposit. Dutton, Terling, Witham, Essex. 1 71 WANTED at once, a swarm of PURE ITALIANS cheap. E. J. Flewelling, Burford, Shepton- Mallett. L 72 SWARMS Now Ready 10s. 6d., extra large 15s. Empties returned or 2s. 6d. Cash with order. Alsford, Expert, Blandford. L 73 FOR DISPOSAL, Stocks BEES, in straw skeps, on rail, 10s. Jas. Weatherhead, Ely, Cambridge- shire. L 63 QUEEN'S, 4s. 6d. ; Nuclei, 10s. ; Stocks, 20s. Apply, Frank. Reed, Portslade, Sussex. l 82 Qf\ LBS. beautiful HONEY in tie-over bottles 16s. 6d. CJV-' the lot. 100 Bedding PLANTS, 10 varieties, Is. 6d. free. Leigh, Florist, Broughton, Hants. L 83 SWARMS FOR SALE, 3s. per lb. packed free. Robt. Ness, Certified Expert, B.B.K.A., Sproxjon Park Apiary, Helmsley, Yorks. L 84. STOCKS of BEES at 30s., 25s. Swarms at 15s., 12s. 6d. Nuclei at 17s. 6d. and 15s. Healthy young queens, guaranteed. Apply, E. Philpott, 18, Bedford-road, Hitehiii, Herts. L 81 WILL EXCHANGE Cushion SAFETY BICYCLE, ball bearings and pedals, good condition, for five strong swarms of Bees. A. Surtees, Blacksmith, Learns, Gateshead. L 85 T AM now booking orders for NATURAL SWARMS of 1 my well-known strain PURE NATIVES, 3J to 4 lbs., 12s. 6d. each. Guaranteed healthy. Orders strictly in rotation. Few doz., clean, well-filled, and sealed. 1 lb. sections, 7s. doz. ; 250 lbs. first quality, extracted, at 6d. lb. Tins free. C. WHITING, Valley Apiary, Hundon, Clare, Suffolk. L 66 Prepaid Advertisements (Continued) STRONG SWARMS, from good-tempered, healthy stocks, 10s. ; sent in new skeps, 2s. extra if kept. Mrs. May, Parwich Hall, Ashbourne. FOR SALE, 200 lbs. Extracted Honey. Also Guinea Extractor. Apply J. W. Davies, Park Farm, Wallingford. L 62 SWARMS Booked in Rotation, 3s. 6d. lb. ; Skeps, Is. 6d. ; Stocks complete in Bar-frame Hives, 25s. Weatherhead, Redbourn, St. Albans. l 58 STOCKS, 20s. Strong Healthy Swarms, 10s. 6d. Packed free. Rev. Jarvis, Stonehouse, Glos. 159 PURE IMPORTED ITALIAN QUEEN 7s. each. Cash with order. J. S. Greenhill, 80, Graham-road, Wimbledon. __ BEEKEEPERS should try PATERSON'S SCOTCH- MADE MEDAL HIVES and APPLIANCES. Paterson, Pollokshields, Glasgow. 1 11 WANTED, Strong Early SWARMS. State par- ticulars. Address, Bamford, 45, Jubilee-road, Middleton, nr. Manchester. L 77 EARLY SWARMS WANTED. State price and full particulars to George Rose, Great Charlotte- street, Liverpool. FOR SALE, SECTION RACKS to hold211-lb. sections with tin dividers. Sample sent. 2s. 6d. post free. William Milne, Russell-street, West Hartlepool. L80 EXCHANGE, smart little Black Red Game BANTAM COCK (Wicks), Pullet, laying, and Hen, for Standard Frames, drawn out, or "Wells" Hive. J. Barker, Winton, Kirkby Stephen. L 76 LACE PAPER for GLAZING SECTIONS. 100 strips, 7d., 200, Is. 2d., 300, la. 6d., 500, 2s. 3d., 1,000, 4s. Post free. Best, quality. Neat patterns. W. WOODLET, Beedon, Newbury. HEALTHY STOCKS of ENGLISH BEES in first- class double-walled standard bar-frame hives. Grand working strains. Price moderate. Mason, Nunclose, Armathwaite, Cumberland. L 68 HONEY AND ITS USES," ljd. ; 3s. 6d. per 100. Also "MEAD, AND HOW TO MAKE IT," and ' ' VINEGAR FROM HONEY," each 2£d. Small sample bottle of Honey Vinegar, 7jd. Rev. Gerard W. Bancks, The Green, Dartford. BEES, splendid workers. From one single hive last season I extracted 216 lbs. Guaranteed healthy Natural Swarms, 3-J- to 4 lbs., 12s. 6d. each. Packing and box free. Orders in rotation. A. TwiNN, Apiary House, Ridgwell, Halstead, Essex. L 78 FOR SALE, 26 strong STOCKS of BEES in frame hives ; also 14 Spare Hives, with built-out combs. All the above with Lee's frames and W.B.C. ends. Also 40 crates (Abbott's) and 24 lifts, extractor, honey tins, &c, &c. All hives, &c, are inter-changeable and in perfect condition. No foul brood. Bid wanted for lot. Apply, Arthur J. H. Wood, Bellwood, Ripon. FLOWERS, VEGETABLES, & HONEY "HOW TO GROW FLOWERS TOR EXHIBI- TION." " HOW TO GROW CARROTS, PEAS, BEANS, POTATOES, &c, FOR EXHIBITION." "HONEY AS FOOD," &c. LEAFLETS BY MOST ADVANCED SCIENTISTS. By the distribution of these Leaflets better prices can be obtained by Bee-keepers, and any amount of first- class Honey can be disposed of. Send P.O. value Is. for Packets of Leaflets, &c, to T HOLLIDAY, ASTBURY, CONGLETON. May 21, 1896.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 201 (ftdrforial $farfias, &t FOUL BKOOD LEGISLATION. BILL FOR THE BETTER PREVENTION OF FOUL BROOD OR BEE PEST. We are here enabled to place before our readers the draft of a Bill having for its object the obtaining of compulsory powers for dealing "with foul brood among bees. The proposed Bill, as printed below, has already been sub- mitted to the Executive Committee of the County Council's Association, and is now referred by that body to their Parliamentary Sub - Committee, which meets in London within the next few days. The full text of the draft Bill reads as under : — Be it enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, aa fol- lows : — ■ 1. In and for the purposes of this Act the word " infected " means infected with the disease known as Foul Brood, or Bee Pest ; and the wcrd " premises " includes lands and buildings. 2. Every Local Authority empowered to execute "The Diseases of Animals Act, 1894," shall have power to execute and en force the provisions of this Act. A Local Authority may ( without prejudice to their powers of delegation under any other Act) resolve that the provisions of the Fourth Schedule to the Diseases of Animals Act relating to Committees of Local Authorities shall apply for the purposes of this Act, and thereupon the said provisions shall apply accordingly. Any expenses incurred by a Local Authority in the execution of this Act shall be defrayed in the same manner as the expenses of such Local Authority under the Diseases of Animals Act. 3. For the purpose of executing and enforc- ing the provisions of this Act, a Local Authority may, by a warrant in the form in the Schedule to this Act, or to the like effect, authorise a person qualified by his knowledge of bee-keeping (in this Act referred to as a bee expert) to exercise the powers exercisable by authorised bee experts under this Act. ADy such warrant shall extend to the who'e or to such part as shall be therein specified of the district of the Local Authority, and shall continue in force for the period (not exceeding five years) therein limited, but may at any time be revoked by the Local Authority. A Local Authority may, if they see fit, grant warrants to more than one bee expert. A warrant shall be sufficient if purporting to be signed by the Clerk of the Local Autho- rity, without being sealed, and shall not be subject to any stamp duty. 4. — An authorised bee expert under this Act shall have the following powers and duties : — (i.) He may enter any premises whereon he may have reasonable grounds for sup- posing that bee pest exists, or has within fourteen days existed, and may examine any stock of bees or product of bees, or any hive or appliance for bees which he may find thereon ; (li.) He may destroy or order the destruc- tion of any infected stock of bees, or any infected product of hees, or any infected hive or appliance used for bees ; (iii.) He may, in a case where the infection is not, in his opinion, sufficient to justify destruction, order the disinfection of the infected stock, product, hive, or appliance, or forbid the removal, for a specified period, not exceeding three months, of any such stock, product, hive, or appliance from the premises where he finds it ; (iv.) He shall exercise and perform such powers and duties as may be prescribed by bye-laws of the local authority. Any person who obstructs any authorised bee expert in the exercise of his powers, or who fails to comply with an order under this section, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding five pounds. 5. — Compensation may be paid by a local authority to any person who has suffered loss or damage by reason of the exercise of the powers of this Act, unless the authorised bee expert reports that the existence of bee pest on the premises of such person was due wholly or in part to his own negligence ; but such compensation shall in no case exceed ten shill- ings per stock of bees. 6.— A Local Authority may make Bye- Laws : — (i.) For requiring notice of the existence of bee pest infection to be given to the Local Authority ; (ii.) For prescribing and enforcing the isola- tion and treatment of infected stocks or products of bees ; (iii.) For enforcing the cleanliness and dis- infection of hives or other receptacles for bees ; (iv.) Generally for the better prevention of bee pest. Such Bye-Laws may impose penalties not exceeding, in any case, five pounds for any breach of them, and shall be of no effect unless and until confirmed by the Board of Agriculture, but shall not require confirmation by any other authority. 7. — Any person who knowingly removes from his premises, or sells or disposes of to any other person, any infected stock of bees, 202 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 21, 1896. or any infected product of beep, or any infected hive or other receptacle or appliance used for bees, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding, for the first offence, five pounds ; and for the second or any subsequent offence, ten pounds. 8. — All offences under this Act may he prosecuted, and fines may be recovered in a summary manner before a Court of Summary Jurisdiction. 9.— This Act may he cited as "The Bee Pest Prevention Act, 1896." BEES AND FLOWERS. The displaj s of honey, bees, and bee-keep- ing appliances at public exhibitions are usually made much more attractive to visitors by the judicious addition of floral decorations. Bee- keepers residing in or near Hertfordshire can materially aid in making the coming show at St. Albans more than usually successful by Eending, not later than Tuesday next, plants or flowers suitable for decorative purposes, addressed to the Secretary, Bee Department, Show Ground, St. Albans, by whom they will he gratefully accepted, and utilised to the best advantage. Carriage of parcels will be paid, if desired. WAN TED- 200 SHILLINGS ! It may not be generally known that the effort being made by the British Bee-keepers' Association to popularise bee-keeping in the Southern Counties by means of a display of honey and bee-keeping appliances, in connec- tion with the meeting of the Royal Counties Agricultural Society at Eastbourne, June 9th to 12th, entails a considerable drain upon the Association's funds. The prize list alone amounts to a good round sum, in addition to which numerous other expenses have to be in- curred. To meet this expenditure it has been decided to appeal to bee-keepers in Sussex, Kent, Surrey, and adjacent counties for a little monetary assistance. If two hundred of our friends will each send the small sum of one shilling, our object will be attained. Remittances made payable to Edwin H. Young, Secretary B.B.K.A., 12, Hanover- square, London, W., will be thankfully received, and, by the courtesy of the Editors of the B.B. Journal, an acknowledgment of all sums received will appear in theEe columns. SCOTCH COUNTY COUNCILS AND TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION IN BEE-KEEPING. A numerou-sly signed petition having been received from the North Ayrshire Bee- keepers' Association asking for a grant in aid of proposed lectures on bee-keeping, the com- mittee pgreed to give £10 on condition that twelve lectures were delivered. The Associa- tion accepted the offer and appointed the Rev. R. McClelland, Inchinnan Manse, Renfrew, as lecturer. The lectures were highly appre- ciated, and it is believed will be a stimulus to bee culture in the county. Two lectures, illustrated by lime-light views, were delivered at each of the following places : — Dairy, Kil- maurs, and Stevenston. The attendance at each place numbered 70, 100, and 40 respec- tively. The remaining lectures will be given in the gardens at the height of the season, one at each of the following places : — Kil- birnie, Dairy, Kilwinning, Stevenston, Kil- maurs, and Stewarton. tytttmpnkm. The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspo7idents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be draivn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, &c, must be addressed only to " The Editors of the 'British Bee Journal,' 17, King William^ street, Strand, London, W.C." All business' eommuni' cations relating to Advertisements, Jcc, must be addressed to "The Manager, ' British Bee Journal' Office, 17, King William- street, Strand, London, W.C." (see 1st page of advertisements). *** In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. THE « WEED " FOUNDATION. [2502] I was somewhat surprised to read the statement of Mr. S. J. Baldwin, made at the conversazione of the British Bee-keepers' Association in March last, to the effect that he knew all about the new " Weed " process of making comb foundation. I believe Mr. Baldwin was in the United States in October or November of last year, and visited Falconer's establishment at that time, but no machine like that upon which the " Weed '' foundation is now made has yet entered the factory of Mr. Falconer. Mr. Weed left Falconer's place in December, 1894, for the Goold, Shapley, & Muir Co., Limited, Brantford, Out. The first machine was not completed at the latter establishment before August, 1895, and that was the fir3t of the kind ever built. About October 1, Mr. Weed left for the A. I. Root Co.'s establishment, Medina, Ohio, where several weaknesses found in the machine were strengthened ; but the principle was in no way changed, and even there, no machine was in working order until about December 1. The statement of Mr. Baldwin is therefore unjust and misleading. The Falconer Co. did have a machine upon which an attempt was made to make the foundation, but that was abandoned, and only after nearly a year's further experi- menting was an entirely different machine built and successfully operated. The Falconer May 21, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 203 Company have in fact been corresponding with the A. J. Eoot Co., with the object of purchas- ing one of the new process machines. Chas. Dadant & Son, Hamilton, III, purchased first one machine and then a second. Gleanings in Bee Culture says : — " Just as soon as we got the new Weed process of making foundation nicely under way, we sent Mr. 0. 6. Poppleton, of Stewart, Fla., sample sheets of the product and sample sheets of the old foundation, same weights and size. These he was to te3t in the apiary as soon as the weather would permit, to determine the relative sag or stretch of the two kinds of foundation in the hive. After he had made his first tests, he wrote us that the difference was slightly in favour of the new process, but the weather was hardly suitable to arrive at satisfactory results. A month or so later we heard from him again, under date of February 19, giving more exhaustive experiments, the result of which showed that the sag, by the old process or dipped foundation he had been trying, was nearly five times greater than the new process. "Mr. Poppleton, cautious as he is, desires to test the matter further, when the weather is hotter, and will report again. He adds : ' It looks as though your claim, that the new method gives extra toughness to the wax, is correct.' A.ny one who works the two kinds, the new and the old, in his hands can readily see the difference : and it is not surprising at all that the bees should discover the marked difference in favour of the new foundation. Incidentally it may be remarked that the bees can work this wax in a much cooler tempera- ture than the old dipped product." I feel sure that the spirit of fairness will lead Mr. Baldwin to withdraw his statement. I think he has fallen into an unintentional error. — R. F. Holtermann, Brantford, Canada, May 4, 189G. BEE-ASSOCIATIONS AND COUNTY COUNCIL GRANTS. BEE-VAN WORK IN SURREY. [2503.] Your very able article in the May number of the Record on " The Surrey Bee- keepers' Association and County Council Grants '' is of particular interest to myself as sec. of the Berks B.K.A. It is also a source of congratulation to this Association that our efforts on behalf of bee-keeping in the county of Surrey have borne abundant fruit. Our sincere hope is that the Surrey B.K.A. will act up to the standard necessary to secure the support and co-operation of the Surrey County Council. But without wishing to question your conclusions, I venture to traverse one or two of the statements in the article referred to so far as the history of the matter. I think we may without egotism say that the initiation and, practically, the organisation of the work done in 1894 and 1895 was carried out entirely by the Berks B.K.A , acting, of course, under the instructions of Mr. Macan, Organising Sec. of the Technical Instruction Committee of the Surrey C.C. Not only was this so, but so far as our work being judged, as in any degree unsatisfactory (as is implied in your article), we have testimony to the contrary. Mr. Halsey, speaking at Guildford, when the new Surrey B.K.A. was inaugurated, said:— "They had made arrangements for the Berkshire tee- van to go round the country, and he did not think that anything the Technical Education Committee had done had given so much satisfaction in proportion to the cost. It had marvellously increased the interest which bee-keepers took in the subject, and had probably paved the way for a successful issue of the movement they were about to make." I trust we shall not be accused of over - sensitiveness in this matter, but it is felt that in the face of Mr. Halsey's statement an imputation, such as I have referred to, may fairly be questioned. The work we carried out in Surrey had for its object— first, the promotion of bee-keeping, and, second, the revival of the Surrey B.K.A. The importance of the latter was constantly impressed upon the County Council in our reports, and we have ample evidence of success in promoting bee-keeping in the large number of new beginners in the districts visited. The result is that the new Surrey B.K.A. has started under such promising auspices. I shall watch with friendly interest this latest form of connection between an Associa- tion and a County Council, which, with judicious management, should prove an immense advantage to the bee-keeping industry. Having regard to the fact of there beingso much trouble from foul brood, the two bodies working together should go a long way towards stamping it out even before the advent of the much-needed legislative powers which we trust will be in force before the end of the present season. With this hope the committee of our Association at its last meeting passed the following resolution, which has been sent to each of the county and borough Members of Parliament : — ';That this Committee, having received a report from their expert, stating that foul brood has much increased during the last few years, and this committee having also good reasons for believing that in adjacent counties foul brood is also materially increasing, this committee respectfully request the Members of Parliament for the various divisions and boroughs of this county to give their active support to the Bill which it is expected Government will shortly introduce to Parlia- ment, having for its object the inspection of apiaries, and the lessening and ultimate extir- pation of foul brood therefrom." In wishing a long and prosperous life to our neighbour, the Surrey B.K.A., I speak for every member of our Association. I trust the 204 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 21, 1896. part we have taken in re-starting the Surrey ■will excuse this encroachment on your valuable space. — A. D. Woodley, Hon. Sec. Berks B.K.A , Beading, May 14. [We regret that anything in the article re- ferred to should even seem to imply a reflec- tion upon the effectiveness of the van-work carried out in Surrey by the Berks B.K.A. The idea we tried to convey was that, in view of " the experience gained," it was made clear to those appointed to deal with the matter, that the management or direction of any future work in the same line should be in the hands of such members of the new Associa- tion as were practical bee-keepers, rather than left to gentlemen who— however able in other ways — were entirely lacking in bee knowledge. We are therefore very pleased to print Mr. Halsey's appreciative remarks — in which we entirely concur — regarding the value of the help rendered to bee-keeping by the tours of the Berks bee-van, quoted by Mr. Woodley. For the rest, let us say the facts upon which the article in our monthly are based were obtained from an entirely reliable source. We heartily wish the same could be said for the otherwise commendable resolution passed by the committee of Berks B.K.A. so far as " the Bill which it is expected Government will shortly introduce to Parliament." Where this information has been obtained it is not for us to say, but we sadly fear it is far too good to be true. — Eds.] "NOTES AND QUERIES." [2504.] In a recent number of the B.B.J., the date of which I unfortunately cannot re- member, one of your correspondent?, in writing about non-swarming chambers, stated — if my memory doe3 not deceive me — that, in the same way as "super" denoted a chamber above the body box of a hive, so " nadir " denoted a chamber below the body box. Will your correspondent complete his information by telling ui to what language "nadir" belongs ? For the past six weeks most bee-keepers will have noticed a strong and almost un- pleasant smell coming from their hives ; this smell is frequently attributed— wrongiy, I think — to the honey that the bees gather from the gooseberries. The gooseberry-honey can- not, in my opinion, be the cause of this strong smell, as in most parts of England the goose- berry flower has been over for very nearly a month ; and until quite recently the hives have smelt quite strongly of the scent referred to. I think it most likely that the smell issues from the dandelion-honey, on which flower the bees have been busily eDgaged during the last month; and now that the dandelions aregoiDg over the smell also is becoming less and less obtrusive. It would be interesting to know if you or any of your correspondents support this view, and if so, whether dandelion-honey is as palatable as its aroma would lead one to expect ? Mr. Geo. Walls's letter (2496) on " Balling Queens '' is interesting, and it seems very pro- bable that his theory may be a correct one. But I cannot help thinking there is some- thing in the old protection theory that bees at first crowd round the queen to protect her, and their movements being mistaken by the other bees in the hive, they end by killing her. I have on two occasions induced bees t3 "ball'' a queen in an observatory-hive by introducing alien bees into the hive, though unfortunately I was unable to see whether it was the natives or " Uitlanders '' that commenced the "balling.'' This year I am using several of the old- fashioned reversible section-crates which I have never used before. The crates, as doubt- less you are aware, are in two parts, which are fastened by two wooden screws at one end, one in each part, being screwed tightly against the dummy-board of the crate. During the short time I have had the3e in use, I have found out a great objection to them, which is that after the crate has been on the hive a day or two, the screws work loose, and so, unless lifted off the hive very carefully, the crate comes in two parts. Will any one suggest a remedy ?— Cote Bank, May 16. [The "reversible super'' craze had its day, and having, as we think very properly, dropped out of use, we hope that no attempt will be made to start it again. — Eds.] AN APPEAL TO CUMBERLAND BEE-KEEPERS. [2505.] — Referring to Mr. Hutchinson's letter, 2466 (page 145) of B.B.J, for April 9, re his offer to make a map of Cumberland showing the districts affected w*ith foul brood, he informs me that his appeal has met with but scant response. Now this is certainly not as it should be ; and Cumberland bee-keepers must surely have overlooked the appeal, or they would not fail to recognise the desirability of having such a map as the one proposed to be got up for them 1 I ask, therefore, that all Cumberland bee-keepers will communicate with Mr. Hutchinson, who will sead them, gratis and past free, suitable forms, which the very simplest will have no difficulty in filling up. I wou'd also add that those desiring to join in the movement for the formation of " Cumberland Bee-keepers' Association " should communicate with him as early as possible. — H. Barrows, The Station, Eslcmeals, via Carnforth. REVIVING THE SCOTTISH B.K.A. [2506.1 — Referring to the appeal to Scottish bee-keepers (2485, p. 176), it is pleasing to note that Mr. McUlelland has given off what I may call the " first swarm," so far as rousing up our Scotch bee-keepers. I have not the May 21, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 205 slightest doubt that the Lanarkshire County As30ciition will not be the last to assist in the work of resuscitating the S B.K.A. Our president, Mr. Hosier, who as M.P. for South Lanarkshire takes an active part in the county association, and would no doubt consent to occupy a position in the revived S.B.K.A. Then there is the Hon. Lord Ruthven, who is himself an enthusiastic bee-keeper, he, too, would probably take a lively interest in it. Our chairman also, Mr. Gordon, who is one of the oldest members of S.B K.A., will surely give a helping hand to draw the committee together, and insert new blood in our ranks, including the local secretaries of the several counties of Dumfries, Berwick, Lanark, and Kirkcudbright. May I suggest that the rev. gentleman of Inchinnan, who hails from The Manse, will call a meeting at an early date in Glasgow through your valuable paper ? — M. H. Paterson, Larkhall, Lanarkshire. THE PEOPOSED B. K. ASSOCIATION FOE HERTFOED3HIEE. [2507.] The suggestion made last year for the formation of an Association in this County is likely to be shortly an accomplished fact. A meeting of bee-keepers and others interested was held on Saturday last at St. Albans, when the subject was discussed and the following resolution carried : " That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that an Association of Bee-Keepers should be established for the County." A small committee was appointed to draw up rules, to be submitted at a meeting arranged to be held on Saturday, 30 ih inst., at three p.m., in the " Bath and West '' Society's Showyard, by the kind permission of its Secretary, Mr. Plowman. A good attendance is anticipated to assist in the launch of the new Association on its voyage of usefulness to its members, and the furtherance of the honey industry throughout the County.— J. H. New, Watford, May 18. A SWARMING YEAE. AN EXPERT'S RECEXT EXPERIENCE. [2508.] S warms everywhere! Such h the order of the day. The rirst in this part carne oft' on April 29, but for tin last fortnight, while on my spring tour, I have found swarms very abundant. On the 12th inst. nearly every member visited had got a swarm or two, and I was greeted with, " I am so glad you have come, the bees have swarmed.''' As may be guessed, I had a busy time of it. Several novel cases of truant swarm? cropped up among my experiences. I saw one settle! in a tree in Poultney-street, Bath. A lot of p3ople were looking on, and one nnn had tried to hive them, but failed to secure the queen, consequently the bee3 returned to the tree again. I inquired if any one claimed the swarm, and founl that no one even knew from whence they cam?. I therefore obtained a small flour bag, borrowed a ladder, and ascend- ing brought the bag well up round the cluster, A sharp shake of the branch, and in went the bee3. Quickly closing the mouth of the bag, I descended, aid before the crowd had recovered from their surprise was on my " byke " and away, swarm and all. On the 12th I was at Timsbury, eight miles out from Bath. There was a swarm " off '' in the village street ; and several cottagers trying their best to capture them, "tanging the bee3 " with a vengeance. One had a saucepan-cover and a spoon, a second rattled away with a tray and poker, another performed with a kettle and fork. " For goodness sake," said I, " stop this din, it won't make the bee3 ' pitch ' (the term used in this part for clustering)." But all to no purp >se ; they banged away, and rather roughly asked " What I knew about bees 1 " How- ever, I stood in the thickest pirt of the now gathering swarm, keeping a look-out f jr the queen ; and, a* luck would have it, caught her. The fun then began. I at on said to the crowd, " Look here, I am going to make the bees ' pitch ' on my hand.'5 I held the queen for a few minutes between my fingers, and when the bees begin to cluster, I allowed her to run on the back of my hand, the bee3 clustering fastroundher. At the same time I jokingly calling out to the bees to "come on, and pitch on my hand." The surprised rustics actually thought the bees were obeying my orders. Anyway, they ceased their tanging, and one woman declared, "the bees will sting the man to death." I took the trouble, however, to explain to them that it was the act of catching the queen that made the bees cluster there. If I had not been on my expert round I should have been tempted to put the bees in my veil, and sling them round my ce^k, and carry them off, but having members in the same village, I tried to find an owner. This brought on an interesting episode. When I had the bees on my hand the vicar's gardener came round with skep in hand and claimed the bees, the " tangers " contending that they came from an opposite direction. To decide the point of ownership, I went roun 1 to see if a swarm had recently issued from the gardener's hive, only to find an empty hive wich foul broody combs, the bees having died of foul brood ! It was evident to me this truant swarm was making straight for this hive, as some of the bees had actually reached and had entered it. Thus my " trick " of catching the queen prevented the starting of another pest house, which would have proved a home of destruction for them, as it had done for a swarm put there last year, for so I learned from the gardener. This is how the pest is spread ! As regards the season, I have never known honey to come in faster than at the present time. One cottager's single stock bringing in 40 lb. in one week. I found 206 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 21, 1896. some stocks with two crates of shallow frames almost completed. I took off first sections on May 11. What we want now is forty- eight hours' steady rain, then I think '96 would be one of the best honey seasons we have had for some time. — F. Martin, Expert, Bristol and District B.K.A., May 16. SWARMING VAGARIES. [2509.] The following may perhaps he thought of interest. On the 5th inst. I had a large swarm from a glass hive which I call No. 6 (I have reason to believe that a swarm which issued on the 1st came from the same, but as I have no positive proof of it, this must pass). On the evening of the 5th my junior gardener — who until quite recently has done no more with the bees than keep as far away from them as possible —drew my attention to a queen on the ground behind the swarmed hive. I placed her on the floor board, and she went readily in. Two days later another heavy swarm came from the same hive. We took six queens from it and then returned the bees to the parent hive. Next day they came out again. We found one dead queen near the hive, and took two living ones from the swarm, after which it was again returned. Having supered the hive, I thought the excitement was over, but on the 13th the swarm came out again. This time we found four queens, took them away, and returned the bees as before. Thus we had found in all fourteen queens, twelve of which we know belonged to these three swarms. My head man, who has for the last few years been a distinct help, and was present assisting the whole time, joins me in vouching for the above, which is to us a unique experience. — F. V. Hadlow, Buxted, Sussex, May 14. Later. I add a line to my note of the 14th to say that to-day (15th) the same bees have again swarmed, and this time also two surplus queens were removed from the swarm before returning it, making sixteen in all. — F. V. H., Buxted, May 15. [The very troublesome experience of our correspondent — as detailed above — shows how futile it is to return bees with the view of pre- venting the issue of further swarms, without first cutting out queen cells. — Eds.] BEES IN NORT HANTS. [2510.] Not having sent you a line since last year, I want first to thank you for the good advice, which come 3 at all seasons, to your readers. My bees did fairly well in 1895, and I secured about 300 lb. of honey in all. Nor had I any trouble to sell it. I make it known in autumn that any one can have what they want at 8d. per lb., supplied in their own vessels, and, as it is warranted pure as taken from the bee;, I have no trouble in selling out. I have fourteen stocks in frame-hives and eight in skeps (two of the frame-hives are on the " Wells " plan). These I intend to make a trial of before going in for any more double-queened ones. My garden is large, and in it I have three large beds of white rock (arabis alpina), altogether four- teen yards long by one wide. These were in bloom early in February, and are not done floweriug yet. Wallflower and borage is out in full bloom with me. It does one good to see the thousands of bees working on them — ■ no better bee-plant than arabis, to my mind. I wish all the bees' friends a successful year, and hope those who give us such wise advice in Bee Journal will still continue to do so. — George Brealey, Grendon, Northants. SPARROWS AND BEES. [2511.] A few days ago I was stand- ing near an apple tree in bloom, upon which my bees were working — the hives being only a few perches away — when a sparrow dropped the enclosed skeleton showing that the head and the abdomen were eaten clean out. I tolerated sparrows, believing that they did not do much harm and that they were useful destroyers of in- jurious insects, but now I feel differently towards them. — T. G. Peel, Armagh, May 12. (fwrics and Unites. [1469.] Age at which Queens begin to Lay. — 1. I don't see it clearly marked in either of your journals or in Cowan on the Honey Bee, at what age a queen mates, I find no eggs on the twenty-first day after a swarm, I therefore do not know how to account for the time (i.e " we are told she lays three days after mating "), how long then intervenes between the top swarm leaving and the young queen mating ? 2. In sending a queen by post, what kind of food should I put with her, and how made ? If I give capped honey, it is liable to run all over box and smother bees. — E. B. Drought, Dublin, May 10. Reply. — 1. It is impossible to fix the exact date at which queens mate ; consequently we can do no more than repeat what has already been said, viz., that the time varies from five to twenty, or even more, days according to the weather. The average time of mating is five to seven days after birth ; and egg-laying usually begins from the third to fifth day after mating. All the information asked for above appears in the book to which you refer, viz., The Honey Bee (see pages 9, 14, and 141). 2. Moist, granulated honey will do, or failing this, mike a thick paste by kneading May 21, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 207 sufficient of the very fine sugar used for icing purposes with liquid honey. A proper travelling-cage, having a compartment for the food, should be used for sending queens by post. [1470.] Uniting Nucleus Colonies to Stocks after Swarming. — It is usually recommended that we should have young queens on hand ready to unite to a stock after swarming. Some advice on this point might be useful just now in view of coming swarms. Suppose I have a nucleus with young queen and three or four frames of bees, and a swarm comes off one of my hives, which I wish to keep separate from the parent stock, how is this nucleus to be united to the queenless stock ? It is impossible in a case of this kind to provide beforehand that the nucleus shall be close to the hive that sends a swarm off. If the queen be taken out of the nucleus and given to the stock, what becomes of the rest of the nucleus bees ? Or would it be possible to move the stock directly after sending off a swarm to the nucleus location without loss of bees 1 — C. E. C, Hull, May 5. Reply. — When the bees swarm, cut out all queen-cells from parent stock. Twelve hours afterward cage the queen in nucleus hive on a frame of honey ; scent both stocks, and join in the usual way. It would be well, if con- venient, to gradually bring the nucleus into close proximity with another stock, so that any bees returning to the old stand may find a home. If a warm corner is reserved for nuclei — as is usually the case in a fairly large apiary — no trouble need be taken. Any foraging bees returning home laden will be welcomed in the nearest hive. [1471.] Bees and Workshops. — Swarms for Comb Honey. — I have four hives in my garden close to a workshop, the extension of which brings the builders within about six or eight yards from the nearest hive. There has been no trouble with the bees yet, but I shall be afraid to trust them when apple - bloom is over. 1. What is best to keep them quiet? Would open-air feeding (with thin honey) have this effect ? If I can do nothing else I shall hang a large sheet to form a partition. 2. I have often seen swarms mentioned m connection with the production of comb- honey ; are these better for comb-honey than established stocks ? and, if so, why ? 3. Should the swarm (if artificial) be made before the honey-flow commences ? How many frames of foundation should be given to a swarm if spaced lj- in ? — A. P. Learner, Chelmsford, May Uth. Reply. — I. Disturb hives as little as possible, and use super-clearer when removing surplus. Beyond this very much depends upon your method of managing bees. Open- air feeding will give no help ; rather the contrary. A light lattice-work screen would answer better than a sheet. 2. We cannot say that swarms are better adapted for comb- honey than established stocks, but artificial swarms from which surplus is expected the same season must be made early, and fed for a week after hiving. 3. As many as the bees occupy on the day after hiving. [1472.] Claiming Swarms. — Can I claim a swarm of bees which I am certain came from my hive % The swarm " pitched " or clustered in a neighbour's orchard, but I did not see them go over there. The bees in my hive, however, were hanging out at twelve o'clock in the day, but two hours later were gone, and I could hear nothing of them until the following day, when I learnt that my neighbour had got a man to hive them in a skep. The orchard is about fifty yards from my garden, and the occupier does not keep bees, nor are any kept within a quarter of a mile. On my applying for the bees my neighbour refused to give them up. I should esteem your opinion on the matter very much as to whether I can claim them.- -Legal, Wilts. Reply. — The legal view of ownership in swarms is that the bees must be kept in sight from the time they leave the hive of the owner till they settle and are claimed. If lost sight of, as in your case, it is almost certain an action at law for recovery of the swatm would fail. (BrftoTS from Duns, Berwickshire, May 11. — I had a fine swarm to-day (May 11) from a bar-frame hive (ten standard frames). This is the first I have heard of in the district, and is much earlier than usual ; the end of the month being con- sidered about the earliest that swarms may be expected in this neighbourhood. The weather has been throughout dry this spring, and lately unusually warm ; and the bees have been enabled to take advantage of fruit and forest tree blossom (planes, &c.) with a vigour quite unusual in these northern regions. — Allan A. Falconer. Aspatria, Carlisle, May 16. — We are having extraordinary weather for May, from 75 deg. to 83 deg. in the shade, and in the forty-two years I have had bees I never saw such a flow of honey in May before, and so early in the month, too. I doubled five hives on the 9th, and put sections on three (two racks on one of them), and to-day I was astonished at finding both frames and sections quite half full of honey. There has been a good deal of swarming about, but I try to prevent that as much as possible, and have had none as yet. — J as. Thomson. 208 THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 21, 1896. Eeathficld, 11th May, 1896. — My first swarm of the year came off Sunday, May 10th. This is the earliest date that I ever had a swarm from a frame hive. I found my stocks on examining them 9 th inst. much forwarder than usual (I don't know if this is general this year), and I am also happy to say I could not fiud any trace of disease among them, which I am almost surprised at, but which I attribute in great measure to my persistent use of disinfectants in the hives. — Hy. Neve. More Early Swarms. — An exceptionally early swarm of bees is recorded at Heddon- on-the-Wall. A hive, the property of Mr. Thomas Berkeley, having shown sigas of swarming for some days, came off on Monday, May 11, at mid-day, and was successfully hived. The swarm, a very strong one, settled on a privit hedge, only twenty yards from the hive. Mr. Alexander Spark, Hutton, Ber- wickshire, and Mr. Allan A. Falconer, jun , Elder Bank, Duns, had swarms of bees on Monday. This is about three weeks earlier than usual for bee swarming on the Borders. On the afternoon of May 12 Mr. Jo3. Atkin, Wentworth, near Rotherham, had a swarm of bees. This is one of the earliest in the neigh- bourhood. A swarm of bees were hived from an Edinburgh street-lamp, in the globe of which they had taken refuge, on Monday night, May 12. }t\ $fam to (Bflme. May 27 to June 1.— Bath and West of England Agricultural Society at St. Albans. Bees, hives, and honey. Eatries closed. June 9 to 12. — At Eastbourne, in connection with the Royal Counties Agricultural Society's Show. For Schedules apply as below. Entries clo3e May 22. June 10 and 11. — Bees, hive3, and honey, in connection with the Essex Agricultural Society's Show at Brentwood. For schedules of honey department, apply E. Durrant, Hon. Sec. Essex B.K.A , Chdmsford. Eatries close May 27. June 22 to 28. — Royal Agricultural Society at Leicester. Entries closed. All letters relating to Bee Departirejt of above Shows to be addressed to Edwin H. Young, Secre- tary B.B.K.A, 12, Hanover-aquare, LondoD, W. July 1 and 2. — At Ramsgate, in connection with East Kent Agricultural Society's Show. Entries close June 18. Schedules ready shortly from Henry W. Brica, Hon. Sec Ker t B.K.A., The Apiary, Thornton Heath. TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. F. Sladen, Ripple Court Apiary, near Dover. — We venture to say there is not a similar " List of Bee-hives and Bee-keepers' supplies '' to Mr. Sladen's in the three kingdoms. It is in fact unique and, as a curiosity, will well repay the cost (2d.) of purchase. Instead of employing printer, draughtsman, or engraver to produce the book it has evidently been executed — text, blocks, and printing — entirely by Mr. Sladen himself. Moreover, it is printed by Sladen's patent electrostyle. There are also some good and original ideas in it in the shape of novelties in bee-appliances. George Hose, 50, Great Charlotte • street, Liverpool, and 44, Fishergate, Preston. — This list, though consisting only of eight pages, is very concise, and, for its size, comprehensive, everything needed in modern bee - keeping being included. It would be difficult to include more useful and varied information in a small list than in this. We are a^o glad to note that Mr. Rose makes a special feature of prompt despatch of all orders. A feature which will no doubt be appreciated. H. Hutchings, St. Mary Cray, Kent. — Some very moderate-priced goods are illustrated in this list of twenty-two pages. Among them the Cottager's Hive at 8s. 6d. is indeed — as described — a marvel of cheapness. Some other good and useful hiveg are illustrated and ful'y described. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. Litters or queries asking for addresses of manufac- turers or correspondents, 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 Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of usue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt of their communica- tions. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. Peter (Cambridge). — Date of White Clover Yield. — 1. It is not possible to give the " exact date '' asked for with reference to sectioning for clover honey. The plant blooms in warm southern districts as early as the first week of June, while in the north of Scotland it is well on in July before bees gather nectar from it. In Cambs. they will probably be storing from clover about the 6 th or 8th of June. 2. You had better set the " weeping " sections on before honey is plen- tiful outside, or the bees will not very readily appropriate contents in the way desired. May 21, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 209 H. A. C. (Wickham Market). — " Wells " Hives. — 1. Of course we do not know your views as to what constitutes a good " Wells " hive, but as readers of this journal have had full opportunity for seeing what manufac- turers consider to be suitable hives for the " Wells " system it forces the conclusion that you have but recently become a reader of the B.B J. 2. The perforated dummy can be had from Mr. Wells himself. Address— Aylesford, Kent. W. A. Warren (Hants). — Preventing Stearin- ing. — 1. Of the two small bits of comb sent, No. 1 was smashed flat in post, and we could find no trace of cell-contents. No. 2 had in it four or five larva?, which seem free from foul brood, but whether dead or not when taken from the hive we cannot say. 2. In endeavouring to prevent swarms, it is less labour to let the swarm come off and then cut out all queen-cells than to upset the hive every six or eight days to examine for and cut out any queen- cells found on combs. Neither course, how- ever, is a certain preventive of swarms, unless the same care and trouble is con- tinued, so long as drones continue flying. 3. See reply to Anxious Bee-keeper, p. 197 of last week's B.J. 4. Hon. Sec. of the Hants B.K.A. is the Rev. W. E. Medlicott, Swanmore Vicarage, Bishop's Waltham. R. R. Jones (Co. Wicklow).— Full Sheets of Foundation for Sivarms. Space below Frames in Stock Hives. — 1. Half an inch is not too much space between bottom bar of frames and floorboard. 2. No need to find water-troughs for bees with a running stream fifty yards away. 3. When swarms have full sheets of foundation given them it should be " wired " in. A. H. (North Bucks). — A Beginners Queries. — 1. Comb like that sent — very black and old, with cells full of mouldy pollen — are only fit for burning. 2. Beginners generally will do best by following such methods of bee-work as have been proved by expe- rience to be best. When you say, Why not instead do so and so ? we can only add it is open for all to try improved plans of their own, and advocate them if successful ; but meantime give orthodox methods a chance. 3. We do not quite "catch on'' to the meaning of this query as to bee-ways. 4. Sections need no sand -papering. Aliquis (Birmingham). — 1. What you call a "chalky deposit " is simply hard, dry pollen, placed in the cells by bees in the ordinary way. No expert worth the name would think of doing as you say. If he used cloths at all, and bad spread one over the frames of a hive found to be affected with foul brood, he would include burning the cloth in the precautions taken when disinfecting preparatory to visiting healthy hives. J. Jones (Newent). — Bunaivay Zwarms. — If swarm is not lost sight of until they " cluster '' you can follow and claim them. But should any damage be done you would be liable to make same good. (See p. 207.) William Ames (Norwich). — She of Holes in " Wells '' Dummy.— The perforations must on no account bo large enough to allow workers to pass through them, the object of the dummy being to keep worker bees as well as queens apart. As to propolisation of the holes by bees, and other points referred to, you ought to read Mr. Wells's pamphlet on his double-queen system in order to understand it properly. A. E. C. May. — We have made inquiry as to the appliance referred to, and fear it will be difficult to get manufacturers to take it up, except to make them to your order. The same may be said of advertising. We will be very pleased to do this, but the risk will be entirely your own. A. B. C. — In view of the large number of healthy hives contiguous to a single diseased one, Ave advise entire destruction of the latter so far as bees, combs, and frames. But if alternative measures are preferred, and bees are sufficiently numerous to make it worth a trial of curing the disease, get the bees off the combs at once, and burn the latter with the whole of the contents, frames and all. Confine the bees to an old skep for forty-eight hours, and then return them to a clean hive, having frames fitted with starters only of foundation, and feed with medicated syrup. Henry Lock (Tottenham). — The Hon. Secretary Es3ex B.K.A., is Mr. Ed. Durrant, Chelmsford. In painting use good quick- drying material and allow same to get thoroughly dry before introducing the bees. Scotch Bee-keeper. — Bad case of foul brood. As bees are apparently weak, we should burn bees, frames, and comb, and disinfect the hive. Regular Reader (Stoke). — Comb is badly affected with foul brood. See reply to " A. B. C." above. All hives are liable to infection, but frame hives are more easily dealt with than skeps by reason of their movable combs. W. J. Crook.— Comb is affected with foul brood. A. J. Watkinson (Preston, Hull).— We do not know if it is yet decided whether an examination of candidates for third class certificates will take place at the Yorkshire show ; but, if so, it will be duly announced. The question as to the examination of last year has been referred to the Secretary of the BB.K.A., who will no doubt reply. *** In response to numerous inquiries as to the date of issue of New Edition of the " Guide Book," we may say the book is now ready for press, and will be out in about a week. 210 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 21, 1896. Special Prepaid Advertisements. Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, &c. — Up to Twelve words, Sixpence; for every additional Three words or under, One Penny. STOCKS, Nuclei, Swarms, and Queens.— Address, Rev. C. Brereton, Pulborough, Sussex. QUEEN'S, 4s. 6d. ; Nuclei, 10s. ; Stocks, 20s. Apply, Frank Reed, Portslade, Sussex. l 82 FOR SALE, Strong STOCKS on frames at 21s. LEY, ' Easton, Stamford. L 74 WELL known Bee plants, Borage and Canadian BALSAMS, £0 mixed, post free Is. 3d. Apply, J. T. Hick, Sherburn, East Biding, Yorks. l 75 SWARMS Booked in Rotation, 3s. 6d. lb. ; Skeps, Is. 6d. ; Stocks complete in Bar-frame Hives, 25s. Weatherhead, Redbourn, St. Albans. L 5S STOCKS, 20s. Strong Healthy Swarms, 10s. Cd. Packed free. Rev. Jarvis, Stonehouse. Glos. L 59 PURE IMPORTED ITALIAN QUEENS 7s. each. Cash with order. J. S. Greenhill, 80, Graham-road, Wimbledon. BEEKEEPERS should try PATERSON'S SCOTCH- MADE MEDAL HIVES and APPLIANCES. Paterson, Pollokshields, Glasgow. l 11 EARLY SWARMS WANTED. State price and full particulars to George Rose, Great Charlotte- street, Liverpool. TWENTIETH YEAR.— Pure Black Swarms, 5s., 10s. 6d. ; extra, 15s. Nuclei, 2s. 6d., 5s. Queens, 3s. 6d., post free. Alsford, Expert, Blandford. WHAT OFFERS (stocks or hives), for strong SAFETY BICYCLE, thin tyres. Wallace, 20, Pall Mall, Manchester. L 97 ENGLISH BEES.— Swarms 10s. 6d. each, or 2s. 6d. lb. Safe arrival guaranteed. Thos/Denni-', Rempstone, Loughboro'. l 96 SCREW CAP, 16 oz., Honey Bottles. English make, 10 doz. for 12s. 9d. Order early. Garnett, Steade- road, Sheffield. L 93 HEALTHY SWARMS 3s. per lb. Prompt delivery. Packing free. Lemin, 294, Hoe-st. Waltbamstow. FOR SALE— New Standard FRAMES. Made up, saw cut in top, 9s. per 100, 5s. for 50. Walter Adams, Welwyn, Herts. BORAGE for Bees. Blooms all the Summer right up to Autumn. Seedlings now ready, 100 Is. 6d., 250 3s., 500 5s. Carriage free. Apply, Wm. Carr, Wilp- shire, Blackburn. L 90 BEE NECTAR all day long by planting Borage near hives. One dozen plants 6d. Battleford Farm, Axminster. t. 92 STRONG NATURAL SWARMS, 3i to 4 lbs., 12s. 6d. Never seen foul brood. Orpington eggs, Cook and Smith's strain, 2s. 6d. dozen. Middlemass, Stamford, Alnwick. L 91 FOR SALE, SECTION RACKS to hold 21 Mb. sections with tin dividers. Sample sent. 2s. 6d. post free. William Milne, Russell-street, West Hartlepool. L80 LACE PAPER for GLAZING SECTIONS. 100 strips, 7d., 200, Is. 2d., 300, Is. 6d., 500, 2s. 3d., 1,000, 4s. Post free. Best quality. Neat patterns. W. Woodlet, Beedon, Newbury. BEES now ready. Splendid Workers. From one- single hive last season I extracted 216 lbs. Guaranteed healthy natural Swarms; 3 Write for anything you want. We have again increased our Premises and Plant, and can supply promptly, in any quantity, " W.B.C." Ends, ordinary, §, or | wide, or £ inch ; _L Bars, various kinds, Smoker or Feeder Tins Springs or Leather, Buttons, Butts, Rings, Springs, Hive Clips, Tools, &c. I WILL QUOTE FOR ANYTHING REQUIRED. SWARMING SEASON, 1896. Why Bee-keepers use the Patent Hinge Plate SELF-HIYERI Because it is the only one in the WORLD that has been PROVED and found to be a Success!! Send post-card for Leaflet to G. W. HOLE, Patcham, Sussex. FLOWERS, VEGETABLES, & HONEY "HOW TO GROW FLOWERS FOR EXHIBI- TION." "HOW TO GROW CARROTS, PEAS, BEANS, POTATOES, fee, FOR EXHIBITION." "HONEY AS FOOD," &c. LEAFLETS BY MOST ADVANCED SCIENTISTS. By the distribution of these Leaflets better prices can be obtained by Bee-keepers, and any amount of first- class Honey can be disposed of. Send P.O. value Is. for Packets of Leaflets, &c, to T. HOLLIDAY, ASTBURY, CONGLETON. May 28, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 211 (fitftfarial, Ifrrfes, &t FOUL BROOD LEGISLATION. In the absence of the Chairman of the Joint Committee (Mr. Cowan), a copy of the draft Bill, published in our issue of last week, was sent to the Board of Agriculture, and the following favourable reply, containing valuable suggestions, has been received : — " Board of Agriculture, 4, Whitehall-place, London, S.W., May 19, 1896. " Sir, — I have laid before the Board of Agriculture your letter of the 25th ult., transmitting draft of a Bill for the better pre- vention of Bee Pest, and, in reply, I am to say that, although the Board are not in a position to express approval of the Bill on behalf of the Government, it appears to them, as it is now drafted, to be well calculated to elicit the opinions of those who are interested in the subject, and in the event of the Bill receiving the support of the County Councils' Associa- tion, it might well be introduced into Parlia- ment with this object by any private member willing to take charge o£ it. With regard to the form of the Bill, the Board would suggest, for the consideration of your Association, that paragraphs (ii.) and (Hi.), and the offence paragraph, should be struck out of Clause 4, that Clause 5 should be struck out, and that in Clause 6 there should be inserted powers to make bye-laws for : — (a) Prescribing and regulating the de- struction of any infected stock of bees, product of bees, hive or appliance used for bees, and the payment of the Local Authority of compensation for such destruction, the compensation for any stock of bees not to exceed ten shillings. (b) Prescribing and regulating the disin- fection of any infected stock of bees, product of bees, hive, or appHance used for bees, and the mode of such disinfection. (c) Prescribing and regulating the move- ment of any stock of bees, product of bees, and hive or appliance used for bees. ((/.) Prescribing and regulating the form and mode of service or delivery of notices and other instruments. Instead of the offence paragraph in section 4, there might be an offence clause extending to the obstruction of the bee expert or any offence against the bye-laws. Provision might also be made for making the bye-laws evidence (see section 37 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894), and possibly for giving power to the Local Authority to take proceedings for any offence under the Act. — I am, sir, your obedient servant, T. H. Elliott, Secretary. COMB FOUNDATION. EXPERIMENTS IN THE USE OF COMB FOUNDA- TION, AS CARRIED OUT AT THE GOVERN- MENT APIARY, ONTARIO, CANADA. We have been favoured by Mr. R. F. Holtermann, Lecturer on Apiculture at the Government Agricultural College, Ontario, Canada, with a copy of the Seven- teenth Annual Report of the work done at the College during the year 1895. So far as bee-keepers are concerned, the main interest in the volume before us will be centredin the "Report of theApiculturist," which deals with the several sections of work in the Experimental Apiary, headed respectively, " Wintering Problem," "Feeding of Bees," "Moving Bees for Fall Pasture," and "Comb Foundation." The last-named subject will be especially interesting to readers just now, in view of the recent correspondence in our pages on the question of bees refusing foundation, and the merits, or otherwise, of the flat-bottomed foundation known as the Van Deusen make. We therefore gladly avail ourselves of the privilege afforded for reproducing the results of Mr. Holtermann's experi- ments and observations in this particular section. He says : — The use of comb foundation has become general — in fact, few, if any, of those who now keep bees in the movable-frame hive attempt to do without it. At present comb-honey, owing to quality of the comb foundation, is not generally of a kind satisfactory to the con- sumer. Although it is desirable to get a foundation which — when utilised and added to by the bees — gives a comb as thin as the natural one, many claim that comb a trifle heavier is not noticed by consumers. When, however, the base and bottoms of side walls are materially thickened, and the comb has an artificial appearance, whUe the wax does not crumble when the comb is broken, the result is that the consumer objects, and the objection is intensified by the comparatively harmless nature of the change. Again, comb founda- tion and wax is wasted in the extra thickness, and this is no small item, as it is generally worth fifty to sixty cents per lb. i In our experiments, observations were taken along various lines. First, as to what extent — if any — the bees thin the base and side wall of the various thicknesses of comb foundation. Measurements were made, when- ever possible, of the weight of foundation compared with the number of square feet and the thickness of the base of the foundation dealt with. Measurements were taken of the comb at the base, the side wall close to the 212 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 28, 1896. hive, and half an inch up the side wall. The comb was put on ice, to harden it for the pur- pose of more accurate measurement ; three measurements were taken in this case. Again, to see just how the bees utilised the comb foundations, three tanks of melted wax were prepared. In one the wax was coloured with a preparation of alkanet, another with a preparation of carbon, and the third was pure beeswax, uncoloured. The various stages in the manufacture of comb foundation were the top of the cell. The heavier the founda- tion the darker the base and adjoining side wall. From the above it would appear reisonable to expect that bees keep adding scales of newly-secreted wax and then pulling the side wall, thus decreasing gradually the percentage of coloured wax. We also conclude that the quality of wax used in the foundation has an influence, not only on the base, but to a certain extent in almost the entire wall of the Fig. 1.— Section (/) of continuous piece of comb foundation, flat-bottomed (12 square feet to the lb.). One half covered over, the other half exposed and worked out by the bees. carried out, giving foundation from each tank, 10 ft., 12 ft., and 15 square ft. to the lb. These were placed side by side, and drawn out in upper stories by the bees. It was mani- fested in various ways that the bees objected to the foundation coloured with alkanet; so this kind was discarded. To that coloured black with the preparation of carbon the bees did not object. The idea in placing foundation made of ordinary wax alongside of the coloured samples was to make measurements cell. The heavier the, foundation the greater the influence on the side wall. Again, notes were taken daily when the bees were begin- ning to draw out the foundation, and although the heavier foundation was scattered about in various parts of the upper stories, they gave the preference to the heavier foundation, work- ing on it first. Great caution must, of course, be observed in coming to conclusions. The bees, if the heavier foundation had been taken away, might have been almost as willing to Fig. 2.— Section (e) of continuous piece of comb foundation, flat-bottomed (4 square feet to the lb.). One half covered, over, the other half exposed, as in Fig. 1. of each kind when drawn out by the bees. The measurements of the coloured and un- coloured being identical, gave us a basis for the statement that the bees did not object to carbon colouring, and the methods of drawing out this comb were identical with that of ordinary foundation. The base and lower part of the comb were not — as we might expect — of a black colour, and the fresh and added wax, white ; but instead there is a regular gradation from black at the base to white at begin work at once upon the lighter grade. At present no way appears open for conducting a satisfactory experiment to prove anything in this direction. The measurements — taken at the base of the wall, and half an inch from the base — all tend to show that the wall i3 thicker at the base, and tapers, becoming thinner at the mouth. So far as I am aware, no one has ever made similar measurements. The " Van Deusen " is a flat-bottomed (un- natural) foundation. The various specimens May 28, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 213 of this kind which were put into the sections were partially covered to prevent the bees from touching the covered portion. The remainder was left to the lees. In every case the bees changed the base from flat-bottom to natural. In the tables given below the measurements are one ten-thousandth part of an inch. Kind. Base. Wall at base. Wall Jin. up. Base of foundation before putting in. (a) (b) (c) (d)*. (e) 72 70 70 68 70 71 60 60 62 51 55 54 32 30 30 33 35 33 30 29 30 32 30 33 32 30 31 30 32 33 32 33 32 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 27 28 29 28 23 29 28 28 28 28 30 28 30 107 105 104 100 95 93 78 60 60 Could not get a piece large enough to measure. 230 (0 90 (S) 170 (h) 57 50 62J 52 55 55 (0 40 42 40 38 34 37 * Owing to the smallcess of the piece which could he secured free from the base at either side, it was impossible in this case to get a reliable measurement. It will be seen that, as far as the base is concerned, the measurements of (d) are practically as natural drone comb ; the side wall is even a little thinner. No measurements of the side wall of natural worker-ccmb have been made, and for this reason — the comparison has to be taken with caution, being between a worker side wall, built on Vandevort foundation, 12 ft. square to the lb., and a natural drone comb. The combs (c), (&), and (a) (uncoloured foundation, natural base), gradually increase in weight. The Vandevort foundation (d) had a light base but a heavy side wall. In the above specimens of foundation there is a vast differ- ence in the number of 4| by 4£ sections, which can be filled by a lb. of foundation. That with 4 square feet per lb. fills 36 sections. 6J „ » 68J „ ,. 10 „ i, 90 „ 12 „ „ 100 15 „ „ 125 In Canada 1 lb., which will fill thirty-six foundation sections, costs about 50 cents per lb., and that which will fill 135 sections costs about 60 cents per lb. With the latter nearly four times the number of sections can be filled ; yet the cost per lb. is increased only 30 per cent. Therefore, if only the question of cost of foundation per section had to be considered, it would pay best to take the lightest. ABOUT OUR BEES. BY HENRY W. BRICE. XIII. SUPERING. The placing of supers in position on our hives is a comparatively easy task, but, sc eing tbat bees naturally resent being deprived of their stores, the difficulty comes with many when they are to be taken off. I propose, however, to briefly describe both operations. When a stock of bees has reached the condition as described on page 173, and just a little in advance of their requiring same, proceed — lighted smoker in hand — to open the hive ; as at this season bees are usually good- tempered, very little smoke is needed. Remove a few frames gently, just to see that the queen is laying well, and has plenty of room for her purpose, and having satisfied yourself on thi3 point, re-adjust frames, and place the sheet of ex- cluder zinc in position with openings across the spaces between frames. Then set on the rack of section or of shallow frames — already at hard prepared for use — and cover down a3 warmly as possible. Allow no escape of heat through chance openings, because on the warmth of the surplus- chamber depends much of the rapidity in filling. When the honey flow commences some attention is required in the way of grading the produce, so far as noting the source from whence it is being gathered. This done, combs containing second-class honey should be removed when ready for the extractor, so that when honey of prime quality is coming in there is the satisfaction of know- ing we have done our part toward securing more than ordinal y results. It is a mistake to permit all honey gatheied to be extracted, stored, and sold without regard to its quality. The crop should be graded, valued, and sold at a price in keeping with its merits, not mixed and marketed just for what it chances to fetch. A general mixing up of gocd and bad honeys will never make a first class or even satisfactory article. The removal of supers also requires some thought and care, if perfect quiet is to be maintained in the apiary. I prefer the early morning for this work, bees at that time being generally quieter than later iu the day. The introduction of the super-clearer and the " Porter" bee-escape has, however, so simpli- fied what was once, perhaps, the most trouble- some part of bee-keeping, that removal of surplus honey has now become a merely 214 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 28, 1896. formal part of the business. The first necessity is to detach the super from the hive proper ; this is done by prising the former gently up with the point of a screw-driver " and inserting small wedges at each of the four corners, causing an opening all round, not sufficiently wide to allow of the escape of bees. This done, and having your super- clearer at hand in a convenient position, blow in a little smoke at the opening made by the wedges, grasp the super firmly, and, with a screwing motion, raise it bodily, stt it above the clearer, and at once replace super and clearer on the hive again. If an assistant is at hand, it is only necessary to raise the super sufficiently to allow of the clearer being placed between super and hive, when the bees will speedily descend into the brood-chamber below, with no disturbance in the apiary whatever. Of course, the super when placed on the clearer may, if desired, be removed to a distance for clearing of bees, in which case a carbolised cloth should be placed above frames to keep the bees down while quilts are being readjusted, when the carbolic cloth may be withdrawn from beneath without a single bee escaping. Never leave hives uncovered or supers unprotected about the apiary to attract robbers. For this reason it is far better to let supers be cleared of bees on the hives as mentioned. Where, however, this is not con- venient, supers must be put into an outhouse, if possible away from the apiary, and when the bees have escaped from the super remove the latter indoors out of harm's way. In removing section the bees should be dis- turbed or excited as little as possible, or some of the sections may be spoiled by having the cappings pierced by the bees. This fact makes it doubly necessary to get the sections cleared of bees by leaving the racks on the hives — after placing the ''clearer" in position — and letting the bees quietly descend at their leisure into the hive below. XIV. SELLING HONEY. Don't be too desperately anxious about tnis part of the business if you have a good article to dispose of. If in a very forward district, early sections are, of course, a desideratum, and will realise a good price, but unless you can have sections for sale in April or early in May, wait until the first rush is over; and then, during the period which ensues — when good English honey is not readily obtainable — a sure market will be found at fair price. To obtain this, however, much depends upon the way in which the product is prepared for sale. Cleanliness, neatness and attractiveness are essentials for early sale. Then, as already stated, all honey should be graded according to its quality, colour, &c. As to sections, freedom from defects in capping, whiteness of comb, &c, must be taken into account when selecting first and second grades. One bad section deteriorates the remainder, so that great attention should be given to these points. When selling in large lots, uniformity of jars and labels should be seen to. Very inferior honey should never be placed on the market at any price ; far better to use it for feeding the bees, or for such purposes as the making of mead, honey-vinegar, or to many other uses described iu the little pamphlets of our friend the Rev. G. W. Bancks, to which I would refer my readers on this head. By placing inferior honey in the hands of the public much harm is done, and an entirely wrong impression created regarding the merits of good British honey. Bee-keepers must aim at popularising our product, and removing the idea that honey is a luxury for the sole use of one class. The fact should be made known that it is one of the most wholesome of foods, for the hale and hearty and the invalid alike, and that honey should be found on the table of rich and poor without distinction. Another thing is quite clear, so far as selling honey, viz., that unless there is an utter inaptitude for trading on the part of the pro- ducer, good honey will always find a market. I therefore say if bee-keepers cannot them- selves make a market, sell to those who can. I am in touch with a good many who assure me they find a difficulty in meeting the demand at times during the season. Besides, honey properly stored will be sure to find a market when the supply runs short", as it usually does at some period of each year. — Thornton Heath. (To be continued.) 0mraptftuirna. The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily fot publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communicatio7is. \* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on ivhich it appears. THE NEW " WEED " FOUNDATION. [2512.] In a recent letter to us from Mr. J. H. Howard, he encloses a clipping from the British Bee Journal containing an adver- tisement of Mr. S. J. Baldwin, in which appears the following statement : — " I am offered Weed foundation delivered here at just about the price of good wax (Is. 7d. per lb.). This should explain why the Weed make is so highly recommended by some." Enclosed is a copy of a letter we have just written Mr. Baldwin, who, as we are given to May 28, 1896.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 215 understand, is perfectly aware that the price quoted (Is. 7d. per lb.) is about the ordinary figure charged in Great Britain to dealers by those who manufacture and sell wholesale. We do not know how Mr. Baldwin's state- ment impresses the general reader, but to us it seems to have been made with a view of giving the " Weed '' foundation a bad reputa- tion. We can, if necessary, furnish a sworn statement that the Weed foundation is made from pure bees-wax of the best quality, and if any impression has been conveyed to the contrary by Mr. Baldwin's advertisement, we hope it will be set right in the B. B. Journal. — The A. I. Boot Company, Medina, Ohio, U.S.A. (J. T. Calvert, Sec. and Treas.). N. B. — Weed's present method of wax sheet- ing is quite different from the one he used at Falconer's, when Mr. Baldwin was at their establishment, and they probably thought the present process was the one used in N.Y., and so explained to Mr. Baldwin. [Referring to the letter to Mr. Baldwin mentioned above (a copy of which was enclosed with the communication addressed to ourselves), we got no reply to it for inser- tion in B. J., and consequently wrote requesting a line on the subject for this week's issue, which duly came to hand, and is printed below. — Eds.] The Apiary, Bromley, Kent, May 25, 1896. Gentlemen, — In reply to your favour of 23rd inst., I beg to inform you that I received a letter from the A. I. Boot Company on 2nd inst. complaining of the wording of my adver- tisement in the B.B.J., and but for extreme pressure of business and indisposition, I should have written them ere this. I have the greatest possible regard for the members of that firm, with whom I have had none but pleasant business transactions for many years, and of whom I would not say a disrespectful word, especially when remembeiing their kind hospitality on my visit to their establishment. But after looking over my advertisement in the B.B. Journal, while it certainly does not commend the Weed foundation, I really don't see anything in it to which objection can be taken from an advertiser's point of view. My statements are strictly true, and I think should not be open to greater objection than statements in other advertisements in the B.B.J. I am informed by the A. I. Boot Company that Mr. Howard wrote them a statement of what he alleged I said at the meeting of the B.B.K.A. March 13, Now as Mr. H. was not present at that meeting it would, perhaps, have been wiser on his part to have relied upon the report of tbat meeting in the B.B.J, than to have accepted a statement made to him by another, which was given in banter or as a " bluff." I have also just had my attention called to a letter from Mr. R. F. Holtermann in the last issue of B.B.J, (page 202), which re- quires but few words of mine ; it is apparently intended as a gratuitous advertisement. Re- ference to B.B J. of March 26 will, however, onfute the statements attributed to me by Mr. Holtermann. Why should that gentle- man assume that I was at Mr. Falconer's place in October or November 1 I certainly never made such a statement. I much regret being unable to call, as my recollections of the kind hospitality 1 received from Mr. and Mrs. Falconer in 1893 was an incentive for another visit. Mr. Holtermann is correct in assuming that I was in the United States in October and November, but in order, as it seems, to suit his present purpose he has only told half the truth, as I was there also in December and the early part of January last. In conclusion, the substance of what I have said about the matter is tbat neither the "Weed'' process or any other process can turn out good reliable foundations unless really good bees-wax be used, and I conceded that the " Weed " process was undoubtedly labour-saving. If the " Weed foundation " proves to be so much superior to other makes there is no reason for either the maker or the dealers to fear competition. I always try to make the most suitable article for the bees and shall con- tinue to do so. — I am, Gentlemen, yours, &c. — S. J. Baldwin. [There is nothing in the report of meeting referred to which shows that Mr. Baldwin said he knew all about the process of making the " Weed " foundation, as stated in Messrs. Root's letter to him. The real objection lies in the words quoted from Mr. Baldwin's adver- tisement, which certainly would convey to some readers a doubt as to the purity of the wax used in its manufacture. We think, however, that the price quoted by Mr. Baldwin as that of the " Weed " foundation is about the ordinary wholesale trade price charged to dealers by those who manufacture comb- foundation in this country, and so the inference means nothing. — Eds.] BEES IN SOUTH BUCKS. [2513.] It is some time now since I sent you a line to say how our bees are getting on here in South Bucks. The weather, up to the present, has been all that could be desired for the rapid building up of stocks ; swarms now are very frequent hereabout, and everything looks promising for a good harvest from the white clover ; but this, like all other vegeta- tion, greatly needs rain to bring it to perfec- tion. Honey is rolling in, and sections and shallow frames are being rapidly filled from the chestnut bloom. On the 9th inst. I had the pleasure of taking off the first sections this year for a friend about a mile and a half from here. They were filled from the fruit-bloom, 216 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 28, 1896. of which there are hundreds of acres ; but, up to four years ago, there was not a bee located within a mile of all this wealth of bee forage. I am glad to say, however, that cottagers are now tajdng advantage of these early crops of honey, and many others are going into the craft. During a recent walk I came across a stock badly affected with foul-brood, and asked the owner to destroy it at once, which I am pleased to say he did. If all bee-keepers would agree as readily to do what is so entirely for the good of the whole craft, there would not be so many diseased stocks about ; but it is not the cottagers alone who are to blame ; I find those in a better position — and who really ought to know better — keep stccks when they are told and know they are diseased. — G. Sawyer, Expeit, Marlow, May 20. FOUL BROOD PREVENTION BILL. [2514] la your copy of the " Bee-Pest Prevention Bill " I have been trying to read Clause 7 so as to include the removal, sale or disposal of swarms or of queen bees. Doubt- less eggs or queen-cells would be included a3 " products of bees," but swarms or queen bees could not be denominated stocks of bees; and it is very questionable if, under a penal act, a conviction could be obtained on the ground that they were "products of bees," when " products of bees " is a phrase having a dis- tinct meaning of its own, and pretty obvious'y referring to honey, wax, comb, &c. The clause seems to require the addition of the words " or any infected bee or bees '' after the words "any infected stock of bees.7' — S. Jordan, Bristol, May 22. REMEDY FOR BEE-STINGS. [2515.] For the benefit of bee-keepers who have much to do with bees, I want to give a word of advice to those who get stung more often than is quite pleasant. That is — extract the sting as soon as possible and apply a little of " Hudson dry soap " — mixed into a sort of paste — over the place. I find it to almost instantly relieve the pain and stop the swelling. I am sure many bee-keepers will be thankful for the " tip." I will send you a detailed account of our bee-keeping in North Wales a little later on. — Thomas L. Smith, The Palace, St. Asaph. A WORD TO BEE-KEEPERS. [2516.] At this season of the year, when the bee-keeper is busy with his stock, I would offer a word of warning to those who find it necessary to use a fumigator. On Saturday I had occasion to use the ordinary bellows Bmoker, and inadvertently handled a piece of rag that had been used for dressing an oil lamp. Of course, instead of smouldering, a flame was urged up through the fumigator, igniting the netting, and enveloping my head and face in flames. I received a few nasty burns upon my ears and forehead. Trusting this may be a timely warning to other small bee-keepers — A. D. Collard, Bristol. EARLY SWARMS IN SCOTLAND. [251V.] Being a constant reader of the B.B.J., 1 see several giving notices of early swarming, and now write to say a friend of miue here had a fine swarm on the 6th inst., another on the 8th, a third on the 9th, and a last on the 13th. I think this is even earlier than any I have seen mentioned in your valued paper, bearing in mind that our part of the country is considered to be at least five weeks later than the South of England. I have had no swarms myself, as I am trying Mr. Simmins' plan of preventing swarms, and I hope to succeed. — D. Silver, Boseneath, Dumbartonshire, May 19. BEE-KEEPING NEAR MANCHESTER. OPEN' - AIR DEMONSTRATION AT FALLOWFIELD. A very interesting gathering of about 100 ladies and gentlemen interested in apicultuie took place at the apiary of the local hon. secretary of the Lancashire and Cheshire Bee- keepers' Association, Mr. F. H. Taylor, Birch Fold Cottage, Old Hall -lane, Fallowfield, on Saturday afternoon, the 16th inst. An oM- fashioned garden — the apple, hawthorn, &c, all in bloom — nearly a score of beehives scattered up and down, with a thatched black and white half-timbered cottage, seem to carry the visitor, not three miles from Man- chester, which was actually the case, but into the heart of England, and without a very great stretch of the imagination he might have believed himself at Ann Hathaway's old home at Stratford- on- Avon. Here, in Fallowfield, for two years, at his own expense without any aid from the Association or County Council, Mr. Taylor has conducted a school of practical apiculture, where ins true, ion in the craft from starting bee-keeping and profitable honey pro- duction to more complicated manipulation?, such as uniting, artificial, and nucleus swarming, queen-rearing, and other advanced branches could be learned freeof cost by all or any, rich or poor, who cared to ask for it. From being one of the poorest districts in the Association it is now, under the guidance of the L.H.S. and his assistant, Mr. Harrison, of Northenden, the largest centre in the two counties, and the two new districts, Sale and Stalybridge, have been made from it. That honey gathering can be profitably pursued on the south of Manchester we have already shown in our previous accounts of the results of Mr. Taylor's bees. But to ensure this favourable result one must pursue May 28, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 217 the industry in a systematic and scientific manner and with due regard to the principles of economics. How this should be done was the object of the gathering, which was the last lecture under the joint auspices of the County Council and the L. and C. B.K.A. Mr. Councillor Price, a newly-elected vice- president of the Association, presided, and, having briefly explained the object of the meeting, introduced Dr. Jones, expert of the British B.K.A., and lecturer to the AssocV tion. Dr. Jones then gave a thoroughly prac- tical demonstration of what modern be?-keep- ing really means, and illustrated his remarks by numerous up-to-date appliances and adjuncts, provided from the store-room (f the local hon. secretary. The lecture was rendered mo; t interesting by an object lesson of untold value to beginners. A Live of bees was placed at the services of the lecturer and visitors by their host, and Dr. Jones showed how easy it was to handle bees without fear of any one being stung. Comb after comb, seeth;ng masses of living bees, all armed with formid- able stings, were taken out without any of the visitors being hurt. The eggs, larvae in all stages of development to the newly hatch- ing-out bees, were pointed out by the doctor, and the queen, secured in a bottle, was rapidly handed round for inspection. A most instructive and enjoyable after- noon was spent, and a vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Taylor for his invita- tion, to use his grounds, bees, and appliances on the occasion. Mr. Taylor briefly expressed the pleasure it had given him to see so many ardent bee-keepers present, and declared his rexdiness to help beginners and all in difficul- ties so far as his time permitted. Dr. Jones announced that he and Mr. Taj lor would probably hold another open-air demonstration later on in the year. The visiting expert, Mr. W. Herrod, who has been through the whole of Lancashire, says of this apiary in his report : - " It has been a great pleasure for me to go through these stocks. I have not visited an apiary up to the present where the bees are looked after so well. The combs are beautiful and straight, and the Mve3 full of brood and splendidly clean, and reflect great credit on their owner, who does all the work himself.1' flkhow from the Stws. Chichester, May 19. — A very fine April and May so far, and bees doing well. Several stocks on the verge of crowding out brood-nest where supers have not been put on early enough. The hawthorn and snowy mes- pilus being profuse with bloom at present in this district, if the weather will but hold favourable for another week a quantity of honey will be obtained from this source. There will, however, soon be a cry-out for rain to help on the clover and olher grass crops, espec;ally on the uplands of Sussex. — J. Daniels. Hechfidd, WinehfieU, May 25.— Honey began to come in on May 10 in these parts, the source being, I imagine, charlock. It came in plentifully for a week, but the last six days have been cold and wet. I am rather ashamed to say that, in spite of all warning of B B.J., I had only one hive absolutely ready for the flow. I intend to do better another year. I think my queens are a little to blame. With two exceptions they made but slight progrrs? during the latter hilf of April and fir^t week of May. I shall get a few queens later on from the dealers to improve the strain.— H. E. S. Queries and lilies. [1473]. The " Wells " System.- Some time since I saw some copies of the British Bee Journal, and was much struck by the articles on the " Wells" system of bee-keeping. The idea seemed feasible, and I have been making some arrangements to test it. A recent number of Gleanings prints a " straw ;' from Dr. Miller to the effect that the B.B.J, says the <: Wells" system is not suitable for novices, and also that it is only adapted to weak colonies. Would you please let me know how this system is really regarded in England ? Has it stood the test and become a recognised system, and what can be the objection to using it with strong colonies % I hive Mr. Wells' book.— II. P. Joslin, Ben Avon, Alle- gheny County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Reply. — The most we can say is that — judging by the reports which have reached us — some in this country have succeeded remarkably well with the "Wells" system, while with others it has failed completely. The failures may also be noted as happening in a large majority of cases, to beginners. The mention of our views on the subject by Dr. Miller, in Gleanings, evidently refers to the opinion we have all along held and expressed, viz., that the double-queen system — while admirably suited to the practised hand — requires at times so much of what is known as "management" as to render it unsuitable for the inexperienced novice in bee-keeping. So far as the last point mentioned in our correspondent's query, there is nothing within our knowledge to warrant or justify the notion that the " Wells " system is " only adapted to weak colonies.'' At the same time it is claimed, as one of the merits of the system, that by concentrating- the working 218 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 28, 1896. forces of two weak colonies in one super common to both it enables the bee-keeper to secure an amount of surplus not obtainable by weak lots worked singly. We rather fancy that a " stray straw " in our pages pointing in this direction will have been the only founda- tion for Dr. Miller's remark. Anyway, there is nothing in Mr. Wells' book to justify the idea referred to, and the extraordinary results obtained by Mr. Wells and others point in an entirely opposite direction. [1474] Novices and Renewing Queens. — I hived a truant swarm, which clustered in my garden last week. Not knowing where they came from, I am therefore unable to tell how old the queen may be. 1. Should you advise me to kill the present queen and get the bees to rear another if I can? Or, would it be better to leave the matter to their own management ? If the former, how old should the queen-cell become before killing the present queen, and how many should be allowed in the combs ? 2. Can you tell me what kind of bee the enclosed one is?— Novice, Birmingham, May 21. Reply. — There is no reason why the queen of the truant swarm should be killed. If she proves a good and prolific one we should by all means keep her alive, and cause no stoppage in" the prosperity of the swarm by occupying the bees in queen-rearing. Besides, it is risky for novices to start queen-rearing too soon. 2. The bee sent is a cross between a carniolan and the ordinary bee. [1475] Bee-keeping Difficulties. — I have just taken charge of some hives of bees and find myself in somewhat of a pickle in consequence. On lifting off one of the roofs the bees came out like wild-fire, and, on further examination, I found the hive large enough to hold twelve frames, but it had only eight in, and these took up the whole space. Some frames had "ends" on and some were without ; fancy a standard frame with comb in it about 3 in. in thickness. I have got sections on to three of the hives (which are all similar to No. 1) with the help of rags to keep the bees in. My idea is to put them on to new frames with full sheets of foundation, and properly fitted with metal ends. Will you please say when I ought to do this? Should it be after the honey flow is over and then feel them up for winter, or is next spring the best time ? 2. How can I get the bees of the old combs ? I have driven bees out of skeps but never from bar- frames.— An Essex Bee-keeper, May 20. Reply. — 1. It would be a pity to upset the bees just now, and so lose the chance of surplus afforded by the present promise of a good honey season. Defer operations, therefore, until about the middle of July, when honey, swarming, and a good portion of the year's breeding will have ended. There will be ample time then for getting combs built out from foundation, and the necessary feeding will be the means of raising a lot of brood very useful for wintering and for next year's work. 2. The bee3 will have to be shaken from each comb, and allowed to cluster in the old hive as it is emptied of its frames. Remove indoors any brood without allowing it to get chilled, prior to tying it in the new frames for hatching out. This done, return it to the hive, and fill up with the new frames fitted &i proposed above. BEE-KEEPING AS A PURSUIT FOR WOMEN. It is said that women are orten the most successful bee-keeper?, and those who live in suitable districts should certainly give bee- keeping a trial, for the sake of either pleasure or piofit, or both combined. Those who have given themselves up to the study declare it to be most fascinating. There are, of course, difficulties at first to be overcome, especially as regards stings, but with the many modern appliances at hand the initial stages may be got over with perfect safety, and once an experienced operator jou know well enough how to avoid the stings. People who have never inquired into bee-keeping think that a large garden with an abundance of flowers in it is a necessary possession before they could undertake anything of the kind. As a matter of fact, bees can be kept in a corner of a small garden, or even a yard, so long as there is space to stand the hive and plenty of forage within a mile or so. The time one must devote to the care of the hive is really very little, and people engaged during the day can generally spare an hour in the evening to do this. Think of the enjoyment of having your breakfast-table laid with fresh honey from your own hive ! Of baking real honey-cakes and making that excellent drink called Mead. Then again, if the young wife likes to add a little to her income she will find bee-keeping a very interesting way of doing so. Many of the objections which the uninitiated are prone to urge are really almost groundless. To those who love the study of natural history bees will furnish any amount of interest. — " Butterfly," in Morning Leader. HONEY IN A HOUSE ROOF. An extraordinary discovery, says the London Echo, has been made at Dover. A Trinity pilot named Hood has had a considerable alteration made in his house in London-road, and while the workmen were engaged in their duties it was found that the interior of the sloping roof was entirely covered with honey- comb and honey, weighing several hundred- weight, evidently the accumulation of years. Much of it is black with age, but a great deal is good, and the removal of it was watched with interest yesterday. May 28, 1896.] THE BKITISH BEE JOtJBNAL. 219 5a| jwrwa to alome. May 27 to June 1. — Bath and West of England Agricultural Society at St. Albans. Bees, hives, and honey. Entries closed. June 9 to 12. — At Eastbourne, in connection with the Royal Counties Agricultural Society's Show. Entries closed. June 10 and 11. — Bees, hive3, and honey, in connection with the Essex Agricultural Society's Show at Brentwood. For schedule -i of honey department, apply E. Durrant, Hon. Sec. Essex B.K.A., Ch.dmsford. Entries close May 27. June 22 to 26. — Royal Agricultural Society at Leicester. Entries closed. All letters relating to Bee Department of above Shows to be addressed to Edwin H. Young, Secre- tary B.B.K.A., 12, Hanover-square, LondoD, W. July 1 and 2. — At Ramsgate, in connection with East Kent Agricultural Society's Show. Entries close June 18. Schedules from Henry W. Brice, Hon. Sec. Kent B.K.A., The Apiary, Thornton Heath. July 8.— At Redhill. The Surrey Bee- keepers' Association in connection with the Borough of Reigate Horticultural Society. Entries close June 30. Apply to C. E. Cuthell, Esq., Chapel Croft, Dorking. July 24 and 25. — Bristol, Somerset and South Glos. B.K.A. shows at Knowle. Schedules from Miss Da we, Hon. Sec, Long Ash ton, near Bristol. July 29. — Henbury. Entries close July 17 and July 22. Schedules from Miss Dawe, Hon. Sec, Long Ashton, near Bristol. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufac- turers or correspondents, 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 Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of iisuc, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt of their communica- tions. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. G. G. (Honiton). — Cutting out Queen-cells to Prevent After-stcarms. — If the judgment of the operator can be depended on — so far as choosing a reliable queen-cell — the removal of all superfluous ones will, no doubt, prevent the issue of after swarms. But it is well to delay the operation till the sixth or seventh day after the " top swarm " has issued, in order to assist in selecting a ripe- cell. All others may then be removed. Newport. — -Bee-books for Beginners. — If our correspondent will let us know — by name — what two books he already has, we shall be better able to judge whether or not they are suitable for his purpose. H. Mat (Tetsworth). — Overdosing with Naph- thaline.— 1. So far as cause of brood dying in combs, we can only repeat what was said on page 199, in reply to your former com- munication. There is no foul brood in comb sent, nor can we be quite sure the larvre was all dead when removed from the hive. To your other queries we reply : 1. Two balls of naphthaline are a proper dose, as printed on the packets sent out from this office. 2. The effect of giving an overdose, say of the common naphthaline used in some trades, would be to kill the brood in the cells by asphyxiation. H. E. S. (Winch/ield). — Honey Ripeners. — ■ For the purpose stated a honey-ripener is very useful, but certainly not a " necessity " in order to secure good extracted honey. Straining however, is a necessity, but thi3 can be done with the help of a bit of fine muslin tied over the mouth of the vessel into which the honey runs from the extractor. J. Ed. Roden (East Grinstead). — Bee- parasites. — The insects on bees sent are the Braula cceca or blind louse. Fumigating with tobacco-smoke causes it to drop off the combs, when it may be brushed from the floor-board. The climate of this country, however, is not favourable to the parasite, and it soon dies out. Rev. F. W. Toms (North Devon).— The only thing "wrong'' in the foundation ("Van Deusen " cell) sent in is that the machine on which it has been rolled wants adjusting, as the cell-bases do not fall in their proper relative positions. The wax of which it is made is all right. A few days of warm weather will soon see the bees in supers, all other conditions being favourable. J. H. H. (Oxford). — We find no disease in comb sent, which latter is full of sealed brood, either " chilled " or dead from some cause not plain from details given. Albert J. Conder (Ipswich). — Wax-Moth. — Securing Young Queens. — The fact of the larva) of wax-moth being found in combs at this season shows that the colony is not prospering, as strong stocks never allow the moth to get a footing in hives. That the queen is old and worn-out is also evidenced by the queen-cells, which show that the bees are preparing to replace her. If the sealed cells are peopled with hatching queens, you might kill the old one at once. 220 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [May 28, 1896. Special Prepaid Advertisements. Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, &c. — Up to Twelve words, Sixpence ; for every additional Three words or under, One Penny. STOCKS, Nuclei, Swarms, and Queens.— Address, Rev. C. Brereton, Pulborough, Sussex. BEES.— Healthy natural Swarms, a few to offer. —For price, apply, Giles, Cowsfleld Apiary, Salisbury. , EALTHY SWARMS 3s. per lb. Prompt delivery. Packing free. Lemin, 294, Hoe-st. Waltbamstow. L 88 PURE IMPORTED ITALIAN QUEENS 7s. each. Cash with order. J. S. Greenhill, 80, Graham-road, "Wimbledon. ^ BEEKEEPERS should try PATERSON'S SCOTCH- MADE MEDAL HIVES and APPLIANCES. Paterson, Pollokshields, Glasgow. Lll TWENTIETH YEAR.— Pure Black Swarms, 5s., 10s. 6d. ; extra, 15s. Nuclei, 2s. 6d., 5s. Queens, 3s. 6d., post free. Alsford, Expert, Blandford. SCREW CAP, 16 oz., Honey Bottles. English make, 10 doz. for 12s. 9d. Order early. GARNETT, Steade- road, Sheffield. L 93 GOOD SWARMS, superior Bees, packed free, price 15s. John Walton, Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington. M7 BEES.— Strong, healthy natural Swarms, 12s. 6d. each. Apply J. Craggs, Gilling, Richmond. M 6 YOUNG QUEENS, 3s. 6d., post free. Swarms, 10s. 6d. packed. Rev. Jarvis, Stonehouse, Gloucester- shire. GUARANTEED HEALTHY SWARMS, 10s., STOCKS, 20s., both packed free. QUEENS, 3s. 6d. TAYLOR, Derwent View Apiary, Hathersage (via Sheffield). M 3 BORAGE for Bees. Blooms all the Summer right up to Autumn. Seedlings now ready, 100 Is. 6d., 250 3s. , 500 5s. Carriage free. Apply, Wm. Carr, Wilp- shire, Blackburn. 1 90 STRONG NATURAL SWARMS, 3^ to 4 lbs., 12s. 6d. Never seen foul brood. Orpington eggs, Cook and Smith's strain, 2s. 6d. dozen. MlDDLEMASS, Stamford, Alnwick. L 91 LACE PAPER for GLAZING SECTIONS. 100 strips, 7d., 200, Is. 2d., 300, Is. 6d., 600, 2s. 3d., 1,000, 4s. Post free. Best quality. Neat patterns. W. Woodlet, Beedon, Newbury. NATURAL SWARMS. My well-known strain Pure Natives, 3jlbs. to 4 lbs., 12s. 6d. each. Guaranteed healthy and safe arrival. Packing included. WHITING, Valley Apiary, Hundon Clare, Suffolk. M 2 TWO SWARMS of BEES, issued on Tuesday. Splendid workers ; young queen ; 12s. 6d. ; skep Is. 6d. extra. Apply E. Philpott, 18, Bedford-road, Hitchin, Herts. ENGLISH BEES, Swarms, 12s. 6d. and 15s., or 3s. per lb., free on rail ; Fertile Queens, 4s. 6d. ; Virgins, 3s. post fiee. Robt. Ness, Certified Expert B.B.K.A., Sproxton Park Apiary, Helmsley, Yorks. Ml BEEii! now ready. Splendid workers. From one single hive last season I extracted 216 lbs. Guaranteed healthy Natural Swarms, 3£ to 4 lbs., 12s. 6d. each. Packing and box free. A. Twinn, Apiary House, Ridgwell, Halstead, Essex. HONEY AND ITS USES," ljd. ; 3s. 6d. per 100. Also "MEAD, AND HOW TO MAKE IT," and "VINEGAR FROM HONEY," each 2£d. Small sample bottle of Honey Vinegar, 7Jd. Rev. GERARD W. Bancks, The Green, Dartford. a A MERICAN ORNITHOLOGY" (4 vols.), 1831; rx "Baxter on Bees," 1834 ; Nutt's "Management of Bees," 1835 ; Taylor's " Bee-keepers' Manual," 1850 ; " Ants, Bees, and Wasps " (Lubbock), 1888. EXCHANGE small or strong Swarms. G. NEWMAN, 57. Coldharbour- lane, S.E. Prepaid Advertisements fConUwued) TWO Nearly New HIVES for SALE, cash or Sections- Dvd. Hale, Grayshott, SO., Hants. FOR SALE, 26 strong STOCKS of BEES in frame hives ; also 14 Spare Hives, with built-out combs. All the above with Lee's frames and W.B.C. ends. Also 40 crates (Abbott's) and 24 lifts, extractor, honey tins, &c, &c. All hives, &c, are inter-changeable and in perfect condition. No foul brood. Bid wanted for lot. Apply. Arthur J. H. Wood, Bellwood. Ripon. HONEYCOMB DESIGNS.— Special Price for June only. 1896 or 1897. Complete, ready for your Bees, 6s. each, or 4s. Blocks only ; 5s. any three letters ; complete blocks for any three letters, 3s. Remit cash, and be ready. Write name and address plain and save time. Every instruction sent free with either blocks or complete. CHAS. Cox, Brampton, Northampton. L 99 TO BEEKEEPERS THAT EXPECT SWARMS.— Having reduced my apiary of 120 stocks to 45, I have some Hives, &c, to spare. BLOW'S "DOUBLE- WALLED" COMBINATION HIVES, 15 Bar-Frames, worth 12s. 6d. each, price lis.; BLOW'S " WELLS " HIVES, worth 42s. each, price 35s. ; BLOW'S SUPERS for STRAW SKEPS, can be used as section crates, worth 5s., price 2s 9d. ; BEE HOUSE, to hold 10 stocks, cost £10, price £6 ; A Nicely Fitted Old MICROSCOPE, by Adams, of London, cost, I think, £8, price 30s. Descrip- tion forwarded on application. W. W. Pryor, Breach- wood Green, Welwyn, Herts. M 4 J. TREBBLE, ROMANSLEIGH, SOUTH M0LT0N (The oldest Establishment in Devonshire for Bee- Appliances — 25 years' experience) again offers his well known HIVES, FRAMES, &c "Cottager's" Hive, with Floor-board forming stand, 10 Frames, "W.B.C." Ends, 1 Dummy, and Crate of 21 Sections, roof, all com- plete for 8s. 6d. All of my Hives can be supplied with my 1-inch Top-Bar to Frames and " W.B.C." Ends. For this Frame I have received several testimonials. Cata- logue, 2 stamps (deduct off first order). For HIVES made of carefully selected and seasoned wood. For EXTRACTORS FOUNDATION, SECTIONS, SMOKERS, Manchester. M 17" FOUR STANDARD FRAME HIVES, bees working well in 21-lbs. section crates, £2 each. REV. A. Baldwin, Todhills, Willington, Durham. m 20 WANTED, SWARM in EXCHANGE for Biscuit Box. Quite new. Cost 12s. 6d. 50, Landon-street, Greenwich. M 16 WANTED, SECTIONS, EXTRACTED HONEY, and WAX. Packages lent free to Bee-keepers and Associations. Prompt cash. State lowest price. Address Rev. W. HANDCOCK, Hampton Hill, Middlesex. M 15 STRONG NATURAL SWARMS, 3J to 4 lbs., 12s. 6d. Never seen foul brood. Orpington eggs, Cook and Smith's strain, 2s. 6d. dozen. Middlemass, Stamford, Alnwick. L 91 LACE PAPER for GLAZING SECTIONS. 100 strips, 7d., 200, Is. 2d., 300, Is. 6d., 500, 2s. 3d., 1,000, 4s. Post free. Best quality. Neat patterns. W. WOODLEY, Beedon, Newbury. NATURAL SWARMS. My well-known strain Pure Natives. 3ilbs. to 4 lbs., 12s. 6d. each. Guaranteed healthy and safe arrival. Packing included. Whiting, Valley Apiary, Hundon Clare, Suffolk. M 2 230 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 4, 1896. Prepaid Advertisements (Contfomed) A STANDARD - FRAME OBSERVATORY HIVE ; also a Four-frame Extractor, been used ; will exchange for a Swarm of Bees for each article. Swarm boxes sent if desired. F. Walker, Cattle Market, Derby ENGLISH BEES, Swarms, 12s. 6d. and 15s., or 3s. per lb., free on rail ; Fertile Queens, 4s. 6d. ; Virgins, 3s. post free. Robt. Ness, Certified Expert B.B.K.A., Sproxton Park Apiary, Helmsley, Yorks. Ml BEE.3 now ready. Splendid workers. From one single hive last saason I extracted 216 lbs. Guaranteed healthy Natural Swarms, 3J to 4 lbs., 12s. 6d. each. Packing and box- free. A. TWINN, Apiary House, Ridgwell, Halstead, Essex. WANTED. Empty Frame HIVES with supers for shallow frames. Association sizes. Good condition. Free from foul brood. Full particulars and price, H. Hawkins, Rivelin Valley, Stannington, Sheffield. M 21 STRONG STOCK in good sound hive with sliding shutter in super for observation, containing 8 frames of comb and crown top super with nice lot of honey stored, 30s. Guaranteed never had foul brood in apiary. Woods, Normandy, Guildford. TWO Strong Healthy Natural SWARMS, each on 6 Standard Frames of drawn-out combs with brood and honey, £1 each. Healthy Swarm in box, about 3 \ lbs., 12s. 6d. One strong Stock in Skep, not yet swarmed, 15s. 6d. All guaranteed healthy as certified by Surrey B.K.A. Expert, Woons,*Normandy, Guildford. RELIABLE QUEENS of 1896, Natives and Hybrids (Ligurian and English). Prolific laying Queens, 5s. 6d. ; Virgin Queens, 3s. Sent post free in my intro- ducing cage. Safe arrival guaranteed. Orders filled in rotation. Henry W. Bkice, The Apiary, Thornton Heath. 'For HIVES made of carefully selected and seasoned wood. For EXTRACTORS FOUNDATION, SECTIONS, SMOKERS, &c. &c Is a very good Railway Centre for the West of v England. Illustrated Catalogue Free. E. J. BURTT, j GLOUCESTER. \ W. P. MEADOWS, ™"a, WHOLESALE MANUFACTURER of BEE APPLIANCES HI \7 P" Q Cottagers, 8/6 ; " X L all," 15/6 ; 1 V LO Guinea, 21/- ; Wells, 25/- EXTRACTORS ™s^15/ THE Many Novelties. Guinea, 21/- RAYNOR, 30/- COWAN, 50/- Send for CAT-A-LOG. SWARMING SEASON, 1896. Why Bee-keepers use the Patent Hinge Plate SELF-HI VER I Because it is the only one in the WORLD that has been PROVED and found to be a Success!! Send post-card for Leaflet to G. W. HOLE, Patcham, Sussex. CARBOLINE POMADE (FIFTH SEASON). Kills Bee-stings like magic. CARBOLINE POMADE Prevents the horrible smarting and burning inflammation. CARBOLINE POMADE Prevents*£etting stung, robbing, &c. CARBOLINE POMADE Is. per bottle, postfree^ T.HOLLIDAY, ASTBURY, CONGLRTON.. THE CENTRAL SUPPLY STORES. For Beemen in Lancashire^hesliire, &c. &c. 50, Great Charlotte Street, LIVERPOOL : and Hew Branch, 44, Fishergate, PRESTON. GEORGE ROSE, "Seeds and Bees" NEW ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUES, Gratis. Chapman's Honey Plant Seed and directions, 6d. packet. Seeds of 12 sorts of Bee Flowers and directions for Is. SPRING SLOW FEEDERS, each Is. 3d. (postage extra). THE VERY BEST. -THE NEW AMERICAN FOUNDATION. SECTIONS, WITH SPLIT TOP, 2/6 100. Headquarters for Great Britain. Buyers of big lots should write stating quantity wanted. I have no inland carriage to pay. "Add two and two together." This also applies to Honey Jars, Screw-cap, and Tie-over. "Porter" Escapes, each lOd. (postage extra). Queen Excluder, very low price for several sheets. HONEY AND WAX EXTRACTORS. NEW TRANSPARENT WINDOW BILL, very neat— " Honey from our own Bees on Sale Within.'' 4d. each, post free. Smokers, 3s. 6d. each ; Veils, Is. each ; well made Hives complete, with Frames, Ac. from 12s. Try my " Favourite Guinea" ("W.B.C.") Hive. Standard and Shallow Frames, Is. 2d. dozen. FOUL BROOD.— Naphthol Beta, with directions, per packet, Is. GEORGE ROSE, 50. Gt. Charlotte-street, Liverpool. GRIMSHAW'S APIFUGE. PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE. APIFUGE PREVENTS STINGS. Try a bottle, and prove it for yourselves. Thousands of unsolicited Testimonials. Prices Is. and 2s. per Bottle, post free. TO BE HAD OF ALL APPLIANCE MAKERS AND S. E. CRIMSHAW, Beeston Hill, Leeds. WEED'S NEW PROCESS FOUNDATION. (PROVISIONALLY PROTECTED.) MADE from the very best strictly pure American Bees- wax. It is superior to that made by the old process, because it is BEAUTIFULLY TRANSPARENT, more pliable, and therefore more quickly worked By the Bees. Nor will it sag or stretch. Recent comparative tests, made from same wax, in Florida, show that the old process-dipped wax will sag or stretch in the Hive nearly five times as much as that made by the new " Weed " Process ; therefore a lighter grade with a greater number of sheets in a pound may be used with safety. Sold to Dealers only through WM. B0XWELL Patrickswell, Limerick, Ireland, Who will quote prices and send free samples . W. B. is also Agent for ROOT'S NO. 1 WHITE EXTRA-POLISHED SECTIONS (the very best manufactured), and other Bee-keepers' Requisites. Every pound of the " Weed" New-Process Foundation offered for sale in Great Britain this season is *€§M th m^ Root Co- OhioTc^ ■3 -"■ It is now on sale to the public by:— J. H. Howard. Holme, Peterboro'; G. Rose, 50, Great Charlotte-st., Liverpool ; Jas. Lee & Son, 5, Holborn-place, High HolLorn, London, W.C- : and W. P. Meadows, Syston, Leicester. June H, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 231 (gdifariaJ, ^toM% to. USEFUL HINTS. Weather. — Up to a week or so from date of writing, bee-keepers and farmers alike were most anxiously hoping for rain, which has since come plentifully, and given the much-needed growth to all vegetation. The bee-keeper, however, is now beginning to consider that rather more moisture is being vouchsafed to us than is good for his purpose. It is, to say the least, disappointing to see a whole apiary bearing very much the appearance as if a general " strike " had been resolved upon by the bees. And this, too, with hives (as we have seen it) located right in the midst of a "wealth of bloom" no the acres of sainfoin by which the hives are surrounded. Bearing in mind the fact that seven or eight days hence will probably see the mowing- machine at work on that same "bloom," the bee-keeper may well be excused for wishing the rain " off," when every idle day caused by rain or clouds means the loss to him of scores of pounds of honey. Giving Surplus-room. — So fast has honey been coming in of late, whenever real working days have given the bees a chance, that every effort should be made to utilise time while the ingathering lasts. Do not, however, give too much surplus- room at a time even to strong colonies ; to do so only retards work. Keep every surplus-chamber as warm as possible, and only when the bees have made good progress in drawing out the foundation into comb, and have partly filled the cells with honey, should further surplus- room be added. This by no means implies allowing insufficient accommoda- tion for both active work and rapid storing ; it is only taking precautions against giving additional room until bees are strong enough, and the weather is warm enough to ensure of the extra room being taken possession of in force and at once, because in a half-empty super — with frames of foundation worked at by a small body of bees — work makes slow progress only. The comparative advantage of adding surplus chambers above or below those already on hives will always be regarded differently by bee-keepers, and, no doubt, something may be said on both sides. Personally, we adapt our method to the circumstances of each case at the time. But after setting on a first box of shallow- frames above brood-nests in the early season, we nearly always allow that box to remain in its original position next the excluder-zinc which separates it from the brood-nest. We do this for several reasons. It forms a storehouse for the earliest honey — often very medium in quality — and allows the bees to use this up for daily wants ; it allows this box to take all the "travel-stain" and dis- colouration usually found on combs close above brood-nests, and so keeps combs in the overhead boxes cleaner and brighter. The " W. B. C." Metal End.— Some nine years ago it was the privilege of the writer of this paragraph to bring to the notice of bee-keepers the little appliance n6w known as the " W. B. C." end. This was done in the Bee-Keepers' Record for February, 1887, the writer being then, as now, Editor of that paper. The sole manufacture of the article was handed over to Mr. W. P. Meadows, who bad — during the preliminary stages of its development — spared neither labour nor expense in order to secure the per- fect accuracy which I deemed essential to the usefulness of the invention. Since that time the " W. B. C."— the original illustration of which is here repro- duced— end has so completely fulfilled its mission and my expectations as to almost entirely supplant the heavy cast- metal ends formerly used, and its adoption as a distance spacer for frames has become general. Now, however, the protection afforded to Mr. Meadows — who registered the appliance in the usual way — has expired by effluxion of time ; and I have recently learned that others are manufacturing what purports to be the " W. B. C." end. Whether one or a dozen firms are making it 1 neither know nor care, but, while free now (as from the first) from all pecuniary interest in its manufacture, my paternal interest in the appliance is un- diminished. Having, therefore, no desire to see its mission fail because of substi- 232 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 11, 1896. tutes for the original article being put on the market — so badly made as to be entirely subversive of the purpose for which it was designed — I must enter my protest. The " ends " submitted to me are exactly similar in form, size, and material to the original, and had they been equal in other respects no word of complaint would have come from me \ but, as shown, they were so bad as to call forth this prompt repudiation of them, and I am perforce constrained to say they will give no satisfaction to users. They had no mark or letters of any kind upon them, otherwise they would to the inexperienced be undis- tinguishable from the original, which has impressed on it the letters " W. B. C." and the registration mark. I offer no apology for stepping from behind the editorial screen to offer this personal protest, which is made entirely in the interests of bee-keepers and of the " metal end " as designed by — W. Broughton Carr. (Remainder of Hints next Week.) YORKS. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. BEE AND HONEY SHOW AT YORK. We are requested to remind intending exhibitors that the general entry for the above society's show at York closes on Saturday next, the 13th inst. LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE B.K.A. STALYBRIDGE BRANCH. Since the inauguration of this branch on June 10 last year by the indefatigable exer- tion of the local hon. sec, Mr. James Bottomley, jun., it has become a centre of bee culture which promises to be one of the strongest districts in the two counties. Start- ing with a small nucleus, it now numbers a score of earnest workers, devoted not only to the production of honey, but to the higher stages of the craft, and scientific investigation of the habits and instincts of the bee itself. Meetings have been frequently held the whole year through, and no better guides could possibly be found [than Messrs. J. and A. Bottomley. During the winter months, for reasons of health, the local hon. sec. had to seek the milder climate of the south, but his society found a watchful foster-nurse in his uncle, Mr. Abel Bottomley, a gentleman who has attained some distinction in scientific pursuits allied to agriculture. We hope that Mr. James Bottomley will have found that desired for improvement in health, and will long continue to lead his fellow members in this d'stricfc. HONEY IMPORTS. The total value of honey imported into the United Kingdom during the month of May, 1896, was .£3,027.— From a return furnished to the British Bee Journal by the Statistical Office, H.M. Customs, June 6, 1896. <$imt$$att&Mt. The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to torite on one side of the paper onty and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. lllustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Stwws, Meetings, Echoes, Querist, Books for Review, dec, must be addressed only to " Th'. Editors of the ' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William- Street, Strand, London, W.C." All business' communi- cations relating to Advertisements, die., must be addressed to " The Manager, ' British Bee Journal ' OJlce, 17. King William-street, Strand, L&ndon, W.C." (see 1st page of advertisements). \* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of 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 ABNORMAL CASE OF FOUL BROOD. [2525.] As a contribution towards the sum of popular knowledge about " foul brood '' and its behaviour, a statement of the following case that has lately come under my notice in our county, and that I take to be abnormal, may be of value. Four years ago a stock of bees in a bar- frame hive was standing at Chislehurst, in Kent, its owner being then a member of the Kent County Association. At that time this stock was examined, among others, by the county expert, who announced to the owner that he found signs of foul brood in the early stages. Remedies were advised and applied, and one or more of the frames were destroyed. Since then the bees have been moved with their owner's apiary into this county, but they have never since been examined, and although ap- parently keeping up their strength— so far as outward appearances have gone — they have not thrown a swarm until this year. Rather more than three weeks ago an unusually good swarm came off, and upon my visit to the apiary last week (the swarm having been off 18 days) I opened the hive to find it in fine condition as regards the number of bees re- maining and with a young queen on the combs, not having yet begun to breed. Of the ten frames in the hive four combs were almost entirely given up to disease, most of it of old standing ; the cappiogs being sunk and ir- regularly perforated, and the dried-up matter being within. In at least one of these frames there could have been no room for recent breeding, and I doubt from appearances June 11, 1896.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. 233 whether any breeding at all had recently taken place on these four " rotten" combs, which were by themselves', at the back of the hive. The six frames in the front of the hive had evidently been alone used for breeding, and contained the small amount of capped brood remaining from the departed queen's family. But after a careful search I found only a very few, probably not more than a dozen, cells where the larvae had recently died of disease, and not many more capped cells at wide intervals containing diseased brood. Except for one piece of evidence, it looked as if the stock had successfully isolated the disease in the back part of the hive, and had of set purpose refrained from using the combs where disease had at some time or another been rampant. But, on the other hand, upon the bottom of one of the worst of the diseased combs a queen-cell had been formed, from which a queen had recently been successfully hatched. Under the conditions I describe above I ask, (1) Would not the issue of a good swarm be quite unusual, especially as it left the parent stock so well peopled ? (2) The present remedy is evident, viz., tbe entire destruction of the parent stock ; but what of the swarm ? Should that have a chance in a clean hive ? I think so, for the sake of ex- periment, if for no other reason. — J. W. Jacomb Hood, Surbiton, Surrey. [So far as the direct questions asked by our correspondent, we may reply to the first by observing that among the other things difficult to understand, is the fact of " an unusually good swarm " issuing and leaving " the parent stock well peopled " from a hive in which only six frames of comb were available for breeding and storage. The case, however, is interesting as showing how mysterious are the workings of these germ diseases incontestably proved to be so terribly infectious. To further illustrate this point we may quote a still more curious case within our own knowledge, in which some years ago a stock of bees badly affected with foul brood was so far advanced on the downward journey as to have yielded no surplus for a couple of years, growing weaker as time went by. But a good honey season supervened, and the stock probably requeened itself. Anyway, it did well, yielded surplus, and finally, when examined a year later, was found quite free from disease, without having been subjected to any treatment at all ! These exceptional cases, however, prove little or nothing, so far as adding one iota to the value of a let-alone system when dealing with zymotic diseases. Moreover, in view of known facts, it would be little less than madness to relax either present precautions or future efforts to combat the disease. These abnormal cases of cure, as we have said, provenothing in favour of negligence, and we beg readers to take special note of this. As well might it be said that sanitary regula- tions or precautions are of no value ia the prevention of fevers because the men con- stantly employed about foul drains, or persons engaged in nursing the sick, so often enjoy immunity from disease, while our most care- fully guarded princes fall victims. Finally, and in reply to the query regarding the swarm, there is no reason why the bees should not do well in their new home and on new combs. — Eds.] BEE NOTES FEOM SUSSEX. A PROMISING OUTLOOK FOR THE HARVEST. [2526.] On June 1, after a fortnight's absence, I noticed that in two of my hives the bee3 seemed to hang out and threaten swarming. So I opened No. 1, and found the topmost of three tiered-up racks of sections sealed over. On removing this, the underlying rack was seen to be in the same condition. When this was lifted the third, next to the brood-chamber, was also completed, and was likewise taken away. In sum total, I was enabled to remove three racks of finished sections, no one of which weighed less than 1 lb., most of them 18 oz., and some 19 oz., or even 19-| oz. Out of the sixty-three sections twenty-one were replaced, to have some slight defect, or " weeping," mostly due to the re- moval of brace combs, which are my great trouble, made good ; the remaining forty-two were in perfect order. The next day, June 2, I had the same ex- perience with hive No. 8. Here, out of sixty- three sections, only fourteen needed to be re- placed for repairs. None weighed less than 17 oz., but ranged again up to 19^ oz., averaging full 18 oz. Thus, out of these two hives, I have already secured ninety-one finished sections, weighing something like 100 lbs. I have filled the vacant places with two racks of sections with full foundation, placing another with the sec- tions to be finished off on top, in either case. During my absence one hive swarmed ; but the queen was cleverly secured, and the bees returned to the hive, where they are working with a will. In all my ten hives except two the bees are working up to the topmost of three lifts of sections or shallow frames, and are sealing over fast. I have had an awning fitted up over my hives, which I can easily adjust or remove at pleasure. I hope by this means and by giving plenty of room inside the hives to check the tendency to swarming. I find also that any overheating of the hives renders the bees very ill-tempered and troublesome. I cannot hear that any one in this vicinity has yet had any similar " take/' I attribute it mainly to having fed up the bees well all the winter, so that they have had abundance of stores to keep them in heart all the spring ; and also to having put on three tiers of lifts all round very early this year, so that comb- building began betimes. In this neighbourhood we have had none of 234 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 11, 1896. the cold winds of which some of your corre- spondents complain so much. The honey-flow has been steady and constant ever since the beginning of May, in spite of the long con- tinued drought, now of many weeks' standing. For agriculture, the effects are becoming disastrous, but it has suited my bees, at any rate, remarkably well ; and if the fine weather continues I can hardly avoid having a magni- ficent honey harvest, as the white clover is only just coming on, and on that we mainly depend — to say nothing of the second later crop. 1 have induced two neighbours to take up bee-keeping in bar-frame hives on modern principles, and have fairly started one, while 1 hope to transfer the bees of the other to a proper hive early next week. I find the great practical difficulties in the way of persuading others to attempt scientific bee-keeping to be — 1, the initial expense, which is certainly very heavy ; 2, the ladies, who firmly object to be stung while walking in their gardens by their husbands' or brothers' bees. One lady has been so discouraged by stings that she has actually disposed of all her hives. I myself have just had an eye closed up for three days by a chance sting ! So one sympathises a little. — W. R. N., Sussex, June 6. REMEDY FOR BEES' STINGS. [2527.] Replying to a paragraph on the above subject by a correspondent who advo- cates the external application of "Hudson's Dry Soap " (2515, p. 216) I hope I (as proprietor of perhaps the only professed perfect preventive against bees' stings) may be per- mitted to quote once more the antiquated adage that " Prevention is better than cure." Any one who has read Mr. Cowan's book on " The Honey Bee," knows that the hypo- dermic puncture made by the sting of the bee is microscopically minute and also that upon the withdrawal of the sting by the bee-keeper, the skins (plural) always at great tension, instantly close the minute opening perfectly, thus rendering the chemical action of any substance almost if not entirely inert, except perhaps as an allayant to inflammation caused by the action of the poison now entered into the whole circulatory system, and for this purpose the alkali in " dry soap '' is about as useful as a piece of dry manure would be if rubbed over a puncture in the bark of a tree when one wishes to get at the sap circulation. An alkaline drink, or a stimulating one— or both — stands to reason ; but prevention must be better than either. — S. E. Grimsiiaw, Leeds, June 4> BEE NOTES. DRIVING BEES.--rEAT AS FUEL FOR SMOKER. [2528.] In " Open Skep Driving " there i3 a matter which I have not scan mentioned in Guide Book", and which I find much facili- tates the operation, i.e., that the point of contact between the two skeps should be made at the entrance hole of the skep to be driven. My experience only dates from last year, when I drove some twenty skeps for transferring to frame hives, but every time I tried this method it only seemed half the trouble to get the bees up. They naturally make for the place they have been accustomed to use as a point of ingress and egress. Even when the combs have been built transversely to it, driving was hastened. Another thing I would invite attention to is this : — Living in part of the country where peat is used in place of wood for fuel, I have been utilising it for the smoker, and find it an excellent material. Peat has well-known anti- septic qualities, and as this and "wood smoke " are now beginning to be recognised as amongst the best of natural disinfectants, it will com- mend itself to bee-keepers in these days of " foul brood.'' If properly filled (I take small knob3 half lighted from the fire), the smoker will keep going for a couple of hours without attention. The cost is nil. I intend trying it for winter packing as allowing of ventilation and having no tendency to harbour vermin of any kind. — R. S., Devon. BEE-KEEPING IN LANCASHIRE. [2529.] I have been a subscriber to the Bee Journal and Record for many years ; indeed, I have the Record from the first number ; but I have never troubled you with a line because of feeling that I had nothing to say, all my bee-keeping having been learnt from the two periodicals mentioned. I have now twenty hives, situated on the con- fines of the town, from which I am able to get a surplus year by year averaging 50 lb. per hive. I have formed besides a small apiary in the country, three miles out of town, to show the old skeppists how to keep bees on modern methods. I have converted several, and made many start who had never thought about it before seeing what I was doing. There was a time, I believe, when a bee- stand could be seen on every farm, and I hope before long to see this state of things again, but under modern conditions. Bees are very strong here, but we are only just beginning to super, for the white clover is not yet out with us. After the fine showers of the last few days I anticipate grand re- sults. I am extremely pleased with the results hitherto attained from my "Wells" hives, and am adding each year to the number I work on this system. I send you a copy of our local magazine, The Bee, in which the article on " Bee-keeping " will give you an idea of what is being done here. I will, with your per- mission, send you a full report at the end of the season. Foul brood appeared two years ago in a hive here, not in my own apiary, and the owner allowed it to be destroyed. Juno 11, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 235 This is the only case I have met with, and how it can have arisen in a well- established stock that had gained a handsome surplus the year before, I cannot imagine. I may say that the owner about Christmas time closed the hive (a " W.B.O.") for a few hours to prevent the bees coming out in the snow, and the consequence was that the bees suffered very much from dysentery, a state of things which, I think, predisposes to foul brood. This one experience has made me an earnest supporter of foul brood legislation. — J. Stott, Head-Master, Leigh Technical School, June 7, 1896. FLOWERS AND LONDON TOILERS. AN APPEAL. ' [2530.] It has occurred to me that a quiet work which is being done to brighten the lives of our London toilers "behind the scenes " might be of interest to your readers. I refer to the Flower Mission to West End workrooms. Once a week a few ladies meet together to make up into tasteful little bunches the flowers sent up by country friends ; texts are also attached to the bunches, and they are then taken to the different workrooms belong- ing to the shops, to which an entrance is kindly permitted by the managers, in some of the principal West End streets. The flowers and their bearers are eagerly welcomed, and hearts are cheered by the little messages and loving words which are given with the flowers. One can understand that these workers, whose every-day lives are so monotonous and un- varied, would be gladdened by the flowers, few of them ever having the opportunities to see them growing in all their beauty. Perhaps some of your readers who have more than enough in their gardens to supply the needs of their bee3 might like to send a few flowers to cheer the busy workers in these London hives ; if so, would they kindly address " Flower Mission Secretary," Morley Hall, 316, Regent-street, London, W., and send so as to arrive on Wednesday mornings 1 Weekly or occasional gifts would be gratefully acknowledged, and hampers returned if ad- dressed label is enclosed. — E. C. C. [An appeal like the above will surely com- mend itself to all readers having gardens, and flowers enough and to spare. We trust it will meet with a liberal response. — Eds.] TO BEE-APPLIANCE MAKERS. A QUERY. [2531.] Could you or ono or other of your readers inform me and others of those who take your paper of a manufacturer of bee- appliances who would and does reply to orders at all events within a week from receiving them ? In my case, all my appliances stored in the house last winter were burnt with the house, and I had to get little and great things again as time required. I wrote to two of the best-known houses telling them of my diffi- culty, and asking for immediate sending off of the things ordered, but neither replied within the fortnight. I am wanting extractor and other things now, and should be glad to know where I can get them at once. — C. F. M. STRAY BEES IN NOTTINGHAM. [2532.] On the 2nd inst. I was fetched from business to take a swarm of bees which had settled on some rails in the main part of London-road, Nottingham. When I got there a policeman had been trying to burn the poor bees, and to destroy them. He had killed most of the swarm, but fortunately the queen, with some of the bees, escaped, and settled nearly at the same place. The people were quite astonished at seeing them taken. — A Constant Reader. WORKING FOR COMB HONEY. PUTTING ON SECTIONS. If we have been successful in working our bees for brood, so as to obtain a multitude of bees in time for the honey harvest, as I have advised should be done, if we would secure the best results from them, I often repeat this in the columns of the different bee-papers, to emphasise the great importance of this matter. By the time this appears before the readers of the American Bee Journal, spring will have given place to summer, and we are ready for the next step in working for comb honey. This will be putting on the section-boxes, or a part of them, for I contend that it is poor policy to give any colony (unless in the case of two prime swarms being hived together) too much surplus room at the start ; such tends to dis- courage them, as they do not as yet have a sufficient amount of bees to take possession of a large amount of room. I generally begin by giving surplus room amounting to from twenty-five to thirty pounds at the stait, and as much more room when the bees have fully taken possession of that fir3t given, and finally the full capacity of the hive (about ninety pounds), when the force of bees has so increased as to need it. However, as a rule, the swarming season arrives before all the sections are put on, when no more are added until the old colony has a laying queen. In managing bees, the apiarist should always have an eye on the future as regards his honey harvest, until the harvest arrives, and then bend his everp energy for the time which is present. For instance, my main honey harvest comes from bass-wood, which blooms from the 5th to the 25th of July, so all my operations previous to this time must be in reference to this harvest, or my efforts will result in failure. The time of the bees swarming also has a very important bearing on what J secure as cash 236 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 11, 1896. out of the apiary. If they swarm too early they defeat my plans, and if too late it is nearly as bad. " The thing is to have them all swarm at the right time, which is brought about as nearly as may be, by keeping back the strongest and building up the weakest. This is done by drawing bees and brood from the strong and giving to those which are weaker, until all are brought to a uniform strength at the desired time of swarming. "But," says one, "when is the proper time for increase ? V To which I reply, about fifteen to twenty days before the main honey harvest. Why 1 Because this gives time for the young queens in the old colonies to become fertilised, and not enough time to the new swarm to get so strong as to desire to swarm again. Kemembar, I am talking exclusively of producing section honey, for the production of extracted honey requires a somewhat different mode of procedure, in my opinion, and I have extracted as high as 566 pounds from a single colony in one season. Nothing can detract more from our crop of comb honey than to have our bees contract the swarming fever during the honey harvest, unless it is the having them so weak at the time that they are of little or no value. About the 1st of June, one year, I was accosted by a neighbour, saying, " Have your bees swarmed yet ? '' " No," I said, " nor do I expect them to generally for the next two or three weeks." " Well," said he, " I guess you won't get much from them, for Mr. S. is having lots of swarms." " All right," said I, " I shall be glad to have Mr. S. secure a good crop of honey." Well, the result was, during the height of the honey harvest Mr. S. was having lots of swarms, which he was putting back, cutting out queen-cells, &c, in the vain hope to get them to go to work, while only now and then a swarm was issuing in my apiary, with the sections being filled as if by magic. I have often said the securing of the bees in the right time for the honey harvest counts more toward cash and fun in the apiary than anything else, which is true, but next to this is the managing of those bees, so they will be only bent on storing honey during the honey harvest ; for the lack of either gives the apiarist only small return for his labour among the bees. After doing all in my power to secure all swarms between the 15th tD the 25th of June, if the season is an early one, or from the 25th of June to the 4th of July, should it be late, I frequently get a few from five to eight days earlier, and also a few that number of days later, but the great bulk come about as I have given. The date of swarming is put on each hive, thus : " N. S. 6 — 21 " being put on the swarm, and " Sw'd, 6 -21 " on the old hive, if that is the date. On the evening of the eighth day I listen for a moment or two at the side of the old hive, and if swarming has been done " according to rule," I hear the young queen piping, when I know a young queen has hatched, and an after-swarm will be the result if it is not stopped. If no piping is heard, I do not listen again until the evening of the thirteenth day, for the next rule is that the colony swarmed upon an egg or small larva being in the queen-cell, which allows the queen to hatch from the twelfth to the sixteenth day after swarming. If no piping is heard by the evening of the 17th day, no swarm need be expected. When it is heard, which will be in nine cases out of ten, on the eighth day, I go early in the morning and take every frame out of the hive, shaking the bees off of each (in front) as 1 take them out and return them again, so I shall be sure and not miss a queen- cell, but cut all off, for we know that a queen has hatched. This is a sure plan, while I have found by experience that none of the other plans given are sure of the prevention of after- swarms. The colony is now "boxed'' to its full capacity, and if the queen gets to laying all right it will produce a larger amount of comb honey than the swarm will. In twenty-one days from the time the swarm is hived, young bees will begin to hatch so as to reinforce that colony, so on the twenty-third to the twenty- fifth day after hiving, I give the full capacity of surplus room to this also, if I think it requires it, which tends to keep them from having a desire to swarm again. In this way the very best results are secured, the same being what I have practised suc- cessfully for the past twenty-five years. — G. M. Doolittle, in American B. J. (fete from tfo Barry Docks, June 2. — Honey coming in very fast in this district. My bees have been up in the sections this fortnight past, and I have already removed some finished sections as long ago as May 2, and am expecting to take a good few off the latter part this week.— J. Dawe. Norton, Stocldon-on-Tces, June 8. — Every- thing here is looking grand just now, so far as the bees. I shall have sections ready for taking off in a few days if present weather holds out. More swarms came off in May in this district than has been known for many years past. I caught a stray swarm myself on May 31. I am also glad to say we are, so far as I know, free from foul brood. But I am keeping an " open eye " for it, and if it makes its appearance among my bees, I shall give it short notice to quit by burning. I also man- age the bee3 belonging to a gentleman near here, and they are all doing well. — George Nicholson. June 11, 1896.] |THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 237 My Hives are well-known, and are sure to give satisfaction. SEVERAL NEW IDEAS. Yl AS I Complete, with Standard and 1E/C At nL.lt,, Shallow Bodies and Crate Sections, IW/w PIIIMEA on the "W.B.C." plan, with rt-t / UUHlCttj Outer Case and Fittings, as above, *• ■/" "WELLS" HIVE, c°»pi<*= EXTRACTORS Nearly every Bee-keeper has used these. We have made and sold nearly 4,000. Windsor, 15/- ; Guinea, 21/- The Raynor, 30/- ; The Cowan, 50/- We make nearly everything in Bee Appliances. SEND FOR CAT-A-LOC. June 18, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 241 Mortal $atim> &t USEFUL HINTS. (Continued from p. 232). The Honey Season. — So general has been the warmth since the late heavy rains have passed off that, except in the far north, by the time these lines are in print, honey-gathering will be in full swing. So thorough a soaking as the previously parched ground has received will be immensely helpful to the clover crop, and consequently to the bee-keeper, who, if judiciously watchful in making the most of his opportunities, has plenty of time in which to secure a good harvest, and — may we add — a fair price for his produce. Among the ways in which he may exercise his watchfulness is by steadily keeping his eye on the honey market. There is fairly reliable evidence that a large majority of bee-keepers are this year, to a great extent, giving up " sectioning," and instead are working mainly for extracted honey. The inevit- able result will be a scarcity of sections. Therefore, those who are fortunate enough to have on hand a good stock of the latter now in course of being filled, may take our "hint" and not be over eager to sell out at a low figure. Moreover, there is also comfort for the " other man " — i.e., he that works for extracted honey ; for the quality of the latter now being gathered is so excep- tionally good, that the bulk of it will be "first grade," and ought to bring top price in consequence. This will also not only assist sales, but increase the prefer- ence of consumers for the home-grown product. Creating a Honey Market. — While on the subject of honey-selling, it may be a useful " hint " to invite attention to the several ways in which a home market for his produce may be developed by the individual bee-keeper. We do not sup- pose— though it is not easy to say why — that the custom of " peddling honey," as it is termed in America, will ever de- velop in this country to any appreciable extent. In many parts of the U.S.A. the bee-man loads up his buggy with produce from his own " bee-yard," and in the cheeriest — but, withal, independent — fashion imaginable, vends his wares from house to house, and resolutely sticks to his job until he has " sold out." As already said, we quite admit that this sort of thing is what our bee-keepers don't shine at, but there are other, and perhaps more congenial, ways in which an effort may be made by way of pushing business in "a quiet sort of way," but effective withal. For instance, there are several leaflets — obtainable at a cheap rate — dealing with Honey as Food, Honey and its Uses, and such like, the free distribution of which, we are told by those who have tried it, is most helpful in creating a home market. We also notice another " want " often felt by the suburban bee-keeper, which is now supplied for a copper or two, in shape of a little window transparency having on it the words, " Honey on Sale. From our own bees." An unobtrusive notification like this would often cause a passer-by to step in and buy far more readily than they would enter a shop where probably only foreign honey could be purchased. Those who care to inquire as to the things we have alluded to may see particulars in the advertisements in this issue of the Rev. G. W. Bancks, of Dart- ford ; Mr. T. Holliday, of Congleton ; and Mr. George Rose, of Liverpool, respectively. "To Correspondents." — It may not be out of place to ask that corre- spondents, when writing for informa- tion on some puzzling question con- nected with bees and their management, will be as clear as possible in furnishing particulars. It should surely occur to those who write us in this way that they cannot be too explicit in giving details, because what would be perfectly plain to any one on the spot, becomes as difficult to understand as "double Dutch" by any one miles away from the scene of action, and with only a few half-expressed sentences in writing to judge by. So long as names are omitted, there can be no offence in quoting verb, et lit. a speci- men just received of the sort of inquiry we refer to, in order to show how far vagueness may be carried, and how little such communications assist in "diagnos- ing " a case. The writer says : — " Would you be kind enough to assist me 1 On the ISth of May I put several frames of brood and bees attached ; on June 1st I gave them eggs; on the 9th 242 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 18, 1896. I find there are several queen^cells. Do you think it likely there will be a good queen come from one of the cells 1 " Now, in the first place, we ask our- selves : 1. Where did the writer put frames of bees and brood on May 18 1 2. Why were they so put ? 3. What was the idea in giving eggs on June 1 ? 4. What object had the writer in view in these several operations 1 We can, of course, suggest a number of motives and objects which may have actuated him in what was done ; but the question is, . shall we hit upon the right one, and is it fair to inflict on us the task of puzzling our brains in the endeavour to find out what is meant 1 It is not easy to say too much by way of explaining matters, but very easy indeed to say too little. We may also refer to complaints occasionally made by correspondents whose letters are not printed, and ask why 1 Well, by way of reply we insert one intended by the writer as a contri- bution to the question of Foul-brood Legislation, which — but for the purposes of illustrating our point—would probably have been pigeon-holed along with others not considered useful in forwarding the object in view. Among other " argu- ments," the writer goes on to say : — When a cottager has bought a pig, and in a few weeks it faulters, he sends for a Vet., who condemns the animal and says, " Kill and bury it ; you shall have its value." But if I buy a stock of hees, say for 30s., just get them home, and they are attacked with the disease, I must let the inspector know ; he comes, passes the same sentence as the other gentle- man, and offers me the large sum of, say, 7s. 6d. or 10s. Now if I am to lose my stock for the pleasure of others I say it should be replaced by another stock, or the value of one. I would say (with all due respect to those who drafted the proposed Bill) the maximum compensation for stock should be 30s. If the unfortunate bee-keeper has to lose his stock for the sake of others around him, I say give him its full cost value, and sooner than take a mere trifle of compensation, I would rather give the bees the list cbance to live or die. If you compel me to send my children to the hospital when stricken down by fever, you provide for them, and if they live and get well you restore them from whence they came. If we are to have compul- sory laws with regard to bees, let us have the same sort of liberality. In publishing these extracts we have, in some measure, complied with the wish of the writer, who " trusts his letter may bring forth more opinions on the Bill." We sincerely hope not, for there is no doubt that his own contribution quite " fills the bill." BEE-APPLIANCE MAKERS AND THEIR CUSTOMERS. The question asked last week by our corre- spondent " C. F. M. " (2531, p. 235) has been replied to from so many quarters — embracing both dealers in bee-appliances and users of the same who recommend special manufacturers — that we could not possibly find room for their insertion, even were it expedient to do so. We have, however, before us sufficient evi- dence to make clear what we ourselves had no doubt of, viz., that the bulk of those who advertise in our pages are both reliable and prompt in dealing with customers who are reasonable and willing to comply with ordinary business rules. Several dealers ask, " Was cash sent with order " in the case referred to 1 It being found necessary to insist on this proviso, owing to the low prices for bee-goods brought about by close competition. We are also assured by several of those whom "C. F. M." terms " our best-known houses " — who send their names aud challenge contradiction — that nearly all orders are filled and despatched on the first or second day after receipt — small goods being sent off same day. Special articles or those not usually stocked, of course, take longer, but we are assured that our correspondent will have no difficulty whatever in getting the goods he names, i.e., " an extractor and other things " of an ordinary kind put on train the same day on which an order — with cash at catalogue price — is received. This may be taken as a reply on behalf of those who answer the query put on page 235, and will, no doubt, serve our correspondent's purpose. We cannot for obvious reasons make public and recommend particular firms for patronage, nor do we deny that there are exceptions to those who may be called reliable, but they are few and far between, and our experience — after inquiry — leads to the belief that — in most cases — where com- plaint is made, there is something to be said on both sides. BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. "Royal" Show at Leicester. Communications to the Secretary, posted from now till Saturday next, June 27, should be addressed to c/o Miss Hutton, " The Wood- lands," Syston, near Leicester. The Committee will be glad to be favoured with small consignments of flowers for the embellishment of the Bee Department at the Royal Show. Parcels may be consigned by Parcels Post? or by rail (in the case of short June 18, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 243 distances) addressed to the Secretary, Bee Department, Agricultural Show Ground, Leicester. The committee will be glad to refund the outlay incurred in posting such parcels. Keport of the usual monthly meeting of the Council will appear in our next. ROYAL CORNWALL AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. SHOW AT ST. IVES. This show was held on June 9 and 10, and a more beautiful site for it could hardly have been selected. The ground chosen was on a slope overlookiug Carbis Bay, with the fishing town of St. Ives picturesquely nestled in front of a projecting headland. The weather was perfect as far as the show was concerned, and the bright sunshine intensified the deep blue colour of the Atlantic Ocean rolling its huge waves just beneath ; but notwithstanding this we were painfully reminded by the burnt-up aspect of the grass all round that there had been no rain for some weeks. The honey show was held in the horticultural tent, and there was a very fair display of honey, some of the sections being very good indeed. It is a pity that the very liberal schedule did not tempt some appliance makers to exhibit ; so that owing to there being no collection shown, a complete set of appliances could not be seen. There was only one entry for the best observatory hive, but just credit is due to the exhibitor for the excellent way in which this exhibit was prepared and staged. The three combs contained worker and drone brood, as well as a queen-cell in process of construction, honey, and empty cells of both workers and drones. In the cottager's hive class, price not to exceed 10s. 6d., there were three entries, and owiDg to a misunderstanding, the hive exhibited by Mr. J. Bamlett, though far better made than any of the others, could not receive the prize, as there was too much work in it for the 10s. 6d.; indeed, we should consider it cheap at double the price. It was, however, highly commended for the excellence of workmanship. The success of the bee show is due to Mr. W. K. Baker, the chairman and secretary of the local bee exhibition committee. The manipulations in the bee tent were carried out by Mr. Brown, of Polyphant. On the first day of the show a meeting was held in the bee tent, and the Cornwall Bee-Keepers' Asso- ciation was re-started, with the Hon. Johu Boscawen as president. The following were named for the committee : Miss M. Williams, Mrs. Tomliuson, Rev. J. Sowell, J. A. Kempe, W. H. Hughes, A. T. Boscawen and Messrs. W. K. Baker, T. WT. Cowan and J. Gill. It was arranged that Mr. Baker should call a meeting at an early date to elect officers and strengthen the committee. Mr. T, Wr Cowan acted as judge, and examined four candidates for 3rd class cer- tificates on the first day of the show. The following are the awards : — Class 2. Observatory Hive. — 1st, C. C. Williams. Class 3. — Best and most complete Frame Hive.— 1st, C. C. Williams. Class 4. — Cottagers Hive. (Price not to exceed 10s. 6d.) — 1st, A. Curnow, Borea ; 2nd, C. C. Williams ; h.c, J. Bamlett. Class 5. — Honey Extractor.— 1st, W. 0. Meadows ; 2nd, A. Curnow, Borea. Class 6. — Six 1-lb. Sections gathered during 1896.— 1st, A. Curnow, St. Hilary ; 2nd, Rev. A. T. Boscawen; 3rd, J. Treloar. Class 7. — Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey, 1896.— 1st, A. Curnow, St. Hilary ; 2nd, A. Curnow, Borea ; 3rd, W. A. Curnow. Class 8. — Three Shalloxv- Frames of Comb Honey, 1896. — 1st, A. Curnow, St. Hilary; 2nd, A. King ; 3rd, A. Curnow, Borea. Class 10. — Best Display of Honey. — 1st, C. C. Williams. Class 11. — Beeswax. — 1st, C. C. Williams ; 2nd, A. Curnow, Borea. Class 14. — Miscellaneous. — 5s., Mrs. Tom- linson, for sponge-cake made with honey. ROYAL COUNTIES AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. BEE AND HONEY SHOW AT EASTBOURNE. The exhibition of bees and bee appliances was held on June 9 to 12, under the auspices of the British and Kent Bee-keepers' Associa- tions, one of the objects being to promote the industry by the formation of an Association for Sussex. The exhibition was most interest- ing, and some excellent honey and appliances were staged. During the first day the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire visited the Bee Section of the show, and had explained to them the various appliances, and the forms in which honey is harvested under the modern improved methods. His Grace was also interested in hearing of the efforts being made by Bee Associations in order to obtain legis- lative power for dealing with foul brood or bee pest, a great hindrance to the exten- sion of the industry. In a tent adjoining that in which the exhibits were staged, Mr. Roland Green, the expert, conducted demonstrations with live bees. The judges — the Rev. G. W. Bancks, Green-street Green ; the Rev. C. Brereton, Pulborough ; and Mr. J. M. Hooker, Lewisham, made the following awards : — Collection of Appliances. — 1st, J. S. Green- hill, Wimbledon ; 2nd, T. Lanaway & Sons, Redhill ; h.c, C. T. Overton, Crawley. Observatory Hive. — 1st and 2nd, C. T. Overton ; h.c, E. Drincqbier, Dover. Frame Hive. — 1st, James Lee & Son, Holborn-place ; 2nd, T. Lanaway & Sons ; h.c, J. S. Greenhill ; c, C. T. Overton. Cottager Hive. — 1st, James Lee & Son ; 244 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 18, 1896. 2nd, T. Lanaway & Sons ; h.c, J. S. Green- hill ; c, C. T. Overton. Tivelve 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, William Pether, Henley ; 2nd, H. W. Seymour, Henley ; 3rd, E. C. E. White, Salisbury ; h.c, E. Drincq- bier. Shallow-Frames Comb Honey. — 1st, Edward Longhurst, Longfield, Kent ; 2nd, G. Wells, Aylesford ; h.c, E. 0. 11. White. Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, H. W. Seymour ; 2nd, E. C. 11. White ; 3rd, E. Longhurst. Honey Trophy. — 1st, Edward Longhurst ; 2nd, E. Drincqbier. Beeswax. — 1st, E. Longhurst ; 2nd, E. C. R. White ; c, A. J. Carter, Billingshurst. Useful Inventions. — 1st, T. Lanaway & Sons (frame crate) ; 2nd, T. Lanaway & Sons (honey crate and stand). Honey Beverages, &c. — Is1-, T. G. Worsfold ; 2nd, H. W. Seymour. ESSEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL SHOW AT BRENTWOOD. This annual show took place as above on the 10th and 11th inst ., the weather on the opening day proving very unfavourable. In fact, the drenching rain which fell from opening until closing time prevented any attempts at bee-driving. However, an exceptionally ex- cellent show of this year's honey was on view ; indeed, such quantity and quality is not often to be seen at an Essex show. Many asserted that the collection was a record one in every way, the past fine weather being mainly responsible for such a highly satisfactory state of things. Every exhihit was splendid honey of the clearest kind possible. The second day of the show in some measure made amends for the untoward condition of things. Mr. J. M. Hooker was the judge, and made the following awards : — Hives and Appliances. — 1st, F. Tunbridge, Chelmsford; 2nd, H. Hutching?, St. Mary Cray. Useful Inventions. — 1st, W. P. Meadows, Syston, Leicester. Frame-hive for Cottagers' Use. — 1st, J. Lee and Son, Holborn-place, W.C. ; 2ad, F. Ton- bridge. Twenty-five 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, T. Colyer, Good Easter ; 2nd, F. J. Carter, Galleywood ; 3rd, A. Mayell, Bradwell-on-Sea. Twenty -five 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, T. Colyer ; 2nd, F. J. Carter ; 3rd, W. Loveday, Hatfield Heath. 12 lb to 20 lb. of Comb and Extracted Honey. — 1st, A. Twinn, Ridgwell, Halstead ; 2nd, F. H. Brenes, Brentwood. Three Frames of Honey for Extracting. — 1st, F. H. Brenes ; 2nd, Rev. E. Bartrum, Wakes Colne Rectory ; 3rd, T. Colyer. Twelve 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, C. M. Collins, Tillingham ; 2nd, Rev. R. T. Shea, Little Wakering Vicarage ; 3rd, A. Twinn. Six 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, A. Twinn ; 2nd, C. M. Collins ; 3rd, G. Alexander, Brentwood. Single Section. — 1st, A. Twinn ; 2nd, Rev. R. T. Shea ; 3rd, T. Colyer. Tivelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, T. Colyer ; 2nd, W. Loveday ; 3rd. F. H. Brenes. Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, T. Colyer ; 2nd, W. Loveday; 3rd, F. H. Brenes. Six 1-lb. Jars Granulated Honey. — 1st, T. Colyer ; 2nd and 3rd, W. Loveday. One 1-lb. Section. — 1st, A, Twinn. Bees wax.— 1st, T. Colyer ; 2 ad, T. J. Weston, Great Totham. cottagers' classes. 12 lb. to 20 lb. of Comb and Extracted Honey. — 1st, C. Bansey, Bulford ; 2ad, W. Loveday ; 3rd, H. Hale, Broomfield. Single 1-lb. Section. — 1st, C. Dansey ; 2nd, W. Loveday and C. M. Collins (equal). Six 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, C. Bansey ; 2nd, H. Hale ; 3rd, A. Mayell. Beeswax. — 1st, A. Mayell ; 2nd, W. Love- day ; 3rd, C. M. Collins. Bee-driving operations were in full swing throughout Thursday, and the lectures given by Mr. E. Durrant, with the assistance of Mr. F. Tunbridge, the County expert, were very largely attended, Mr. W. C. Girdlestone and Mr. Percy Gray, hon. sec, rendering much assistance in the arrangement of the bee-tent where the lectures took place. ^orrapfliulaa. The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily f 01 publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. BEE NOTES FROM CENTRA.L OXON. [2533.] The county of Sussex must be a delightfully paying one for bee-keepers, judging by the cheering report from W. R. N. (2526, p. 233). It makes one's mouth water to read of 50 lb. of honey per hive gathered before the clover season begins. We have had a scorching drought in these parts, only broken by a few slight showers, and we need a soaking rain badly. The sainfoin is cut, and clover hay crops are almost nil. Much of the last sown corn has not come up at all, neither will it until the ground is well saturated. Swarms, too, have been scarce with us. My bee3 did not winter so well as they should have done. Out of eighty-seven stocks — autumn count — I lost eight from queenless- ness, drone-breeding queens, dwindling, &c. As each stock was left with 20 lb. to 25 lb. stores, and a 2 lb. box of candy under its six quilts as a sort of " Hill's Device," I felt Juno IS, 1896. J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. A 245 somewhat puzzled at their lack of strength, seeing 'what an exceedingly mild winter we had had. But I have since discovered to my disgust and disappointment that the sugar with which I fed up last September was from beet instead of pure - cane, although I was assured that it was cane-sugar. I do not think that grocers, or their assistants, either know or possibly care what their sugar is made from, provided that it looks nice, white, and saleable. I wintered fourteen lots of driven bees — two lots in some hives, three in others — with a one-eighth thick perforated division-board between each lot ; but to my surprise they closed up the perforations in each case and did not cluster contiguously to each other. Neither did they come out any stronger for that treatment, although left with 20 lb. each of natural stores and a 2 lb. box of candy. Many of my queens were bred last year, and none are more than two years old. Bee-keeping and farming naturally go together, but if the best results are to be obtained from the hive, farming must take the second place, because, if one has a large apiary, the state of each hive varies so frequently that it should be looked into almost every other day during the honey-season, or it will have too much room or not enough. Another thing surprises me — many of my young queens are not so prolific as those two years old, and I have even occasionally had a three year-old queen beat the lot. — Apiarist, Fair- speir, Ascott-Wychwood, Oxford, June 15. APPLIANCE DEALERS AND THEIR CUSTOMERS. [2534] I see some one in last number of B.J. (page 235) asks for the name of a bee- appliance maker who will send goods within a fortnight. I hope there will be some response to the query, for I am in search of the same information. I also tried two makers — one Scotch, the other English. The first kept me waiting ten days, and even then sent me no receipt for my money. The second, to whom I sent a large order for bees and appliances, did not acknowledge receipt of cheque in any form for a fortnight, and failed to advise me of the sending off of the goods. I had at last to send a telegram asking for information, prepaying reply, and found the goods had been on the way lor four days, and the bees were not then sent off at all ! It is now three weeks since I sent the order, and not a single thing has reached me yet. The dealings I have so far had with manufacturers have not caused me to entertain a good opinion of their business qualities, and as other people complain of the same I begin to think they must be all alike. — E. D. A., Midlothian, N.B., June 15. [Notwithstanding our having dealt with this subject generally on another page, we insert above a3 (on the face of it) a fligrant case of bad treatment on the part of some one. We will be glad if our correspondent will furnish us with names of the persons complained of; not for publication, of course, but for purposes, may be, of subsequent attention on our part —Eds.] , REMEDIES FOR BEE-STINGS. [2535.] Referring to Hudson's Dry Soap for bee-stings I have not tried it, but I use Grim- shaw's Apifuge which is very good but not infallible. I tried it this morning and got stung, so I had to resort to my own simple remedy which I fiud suits my case better than anything I have tried. This is what it consists of : As soon as stung I lick the place with my tongue, rub a little moist earth well over it. The result is I have no swelling and" in five minutes no paiD. The remedy, too, is always at hand. My bees are doing very well; I got two swarms in May — a thing I have not had before. On June 14 1 took off some well-filled sections, and should this fine weather continue for a fortnight I should have a good take of honey. I think there is a good prospect for this district generally. — P. H. Kettlewell, Knaresbord1, June 15. [2536.] I have often seen remedies men- tioned for stings, but I have not seen any allusion to the simple one which I have found most efficacious, viz., to scratch the spot well for about half a minute with the hot nozzle of the smoker, rubbing in a little of the black fluid (a kind of tar, I presume) which collects there. I have found this to relieve the pain in a few seconds, and although the part used to swell with me considerably when I tried ammonia, &c, since trying the above the swelling is reduced to a minimum. — Fredk. Oldfield, Bomere Heath, Salop, June 9. SPARROWS AND BEES. [2537.] Referring to 2511, page 206, I find sparrows the greatest enemies to bees I know of. My garden is infested with them. They not only pick up every bee that happens to be on the ground, but fly up and take them from the alighting board. I believe scores of my bees are destroyed in this way every day. — ■ G. T.j Chippenham, June 12. BEE-KEEPING IN THE WOTTON- UNDER-EDGE (GLOS ) DISTRICT. [2538.] Honey has been coming in remark- ably well here, and if the weather continues good for some time this will probably be a record year. The honey is also of exceptional quality. Swarms, too, have been both nume- rous and strong. A week ago, at Tresham, a swarm settled on a cabbage-stump, and re- mained there 18 hours before it wa3 taken. Another was taken from a beanstalk, whilst 246 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 18, 1896. a third entered a hole in the wall of a house, followed the courie of a rafter, and is now busy at work behind a fireplace. " It is aa ill wind, &c." and, though some one lo3t a grand swarm, in May, the Wotton Association gained a new and enthusiastic member, through a queen choosing a garden-wall for a resting-place. At the May monthly meeting of the local association Mr. A. T. Brown read a very inter- esting paper relating to his experience in deal- ing with foul brood. Bacillus Alvei was shown in the rod and spore stages. It was also demon- strated that the process of making wax from diseased comb does not kill the spores. The chief feature of the June meeting was a paper by Mr. W. Hulance on "Profitable Bee-keeping." We congratulate our fellow- member, Rev. G. Jarvis, on his success in the examination for 1st Class Certificate. — E. W. Read. (Mtaw from i\\t Mm. Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington, June 11. , — During the last few days we have had a good dose of the much wished for rain, and with a change to fine, warm weather our bees will make the best of it, seeing that whole fields of beans here are now in full bloom. The probability is that we shall also have a lot of white clover bloom around us now that the ground has had such a thorough soaking. — Joun Walton. Boxted, June ] 2.— In "Useful Hints," you remark on the scarcity of honey in many districts, and this is true of South Suffolk. Early in May we had splendid weather, and while fruit-trees were in bloom, honey was coming in rapidly, so much so that some of us had to super in a hurry to prevent swarms coming off'. Many of my stocks were better provisioned and more forward at that time than to-day, June 12. Since the rain has come we are hoping it will bring later bloom, but up to the present our prospects are anything but good. — Geo. Hill. Ramsgate, June 13. — Bees are doing well here, I have already removed forty-two sections from one hive, and find the one under the last partly capped. From two others I have extracted about eighty pounds. — Alfred Vigar. ^mxm and J^jjfo. [1482.] Removing Bees from Hollow Tree. — A swarm of bees last year took possession of a hollow tree and built combs therein. The opening was very large and after the boards (which had been nailed on to protect them) are taken off the combs can be seen inside about a foot or more away. What is the best method of getting them out combs and all 1 If a bee-escape was fitted on the outlet to allow bees to get out but not in again would they cluster in the evening and leave combs clear enough to be taken out with impunity, or would it be safe, after merely smoking them, to break the combs away and lift them out bees and all and fix them into bar-frames 1 — " Phcenix.'' Reply. — We should on no account adopt the bee-escape plan — but just use smoke to keep the bees under while cutting out the combs one by one as proposed. Care should be taken not to chill the brood while transferring the combs to frames. The beee must be brushed off each comb as removed and allowed to enter the frame-hive in which the combs are placed as fixed in the frames. Keep a good look-out for queen during the operation, and see that she is safely housed in the new hive. [1483.] Transferring Bees. — Removing Bees to Heather. — About April 20 last I put a strong skep over a frame-hive, and the bees soon took possession ; but the queen did not go down until about the second week ia May, and I fancy she still continues laying in both skep and frame-hive below. 1. Do you advise my putting a super between skep and frame- hive, so that these two (skep and super) form the surplus-chamber 1 My difficulty is to know when the queen is down below, because if she is in the skep when I put on the super (2), would not this divide her from the brood-nest '{ 3. How can I get over this difficulty 1 4. Could you give me any idea, or approximate average, of the amount of heather- honey taken, as compared with that of the general harvest ? Of course this varies a great deal, but if you could give me a rough idea I should be glad. 5. Could you refer me to numbers of the B.B.J, in which I can find particulars about taking bees to the heather % — Two-Year-Old, Shrewsbury. Reply. — 1. By all means, in view of the rapid honey income during the present fine weather. 2 and 3. No harm can follow with plenty of bees at this season. 4. As a rule we should consider 20 lb. per hive from the heather a good return, but no average can be struck where so much depands on weather and con- dition of the heather bloom. 5. The subject has been dealt with so often in our pages as to render difficult a special mention, but the most recent lengthy reference to moving bee3 to the heather occurs in our issue of May 14 last, p. 197. [1484.] — Introducing Queens. — After killing the old queen of one of my hives on May 30, I, at same time, introduced a young fertile queen, protecting her by means of an ordinary pipe-cover cage. Forty-eight hours afterwards 1 released her by removing the cage, when she was immediately " bailed " by the bees, although I had taken the precaution to cut out several queen-cells, built by the bees in June 18, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 247 the interval. I liberated two other queens (dealt with in the same way) with precisely similar results. I therefore ask : — 1. Is this a critical season for introducing queens ? 2. Will the bees be more willing to accept a strange queen if I removed all sealed brood, or would they take to her more readily if I remove all brood with just enough bees to hatch it out safety, and then return these combs and bees when queen has been accepted by the broodless bees left in the hive? 3. May honey from a hive affected with foul- brood be used for household purposes ? Reply. — 1. The first mistake made was in giving a young queen immediately on removal of the old one. The bees should have been left queenless for at least twenty-four hours. A second error was to introduce two others in one day. This is not a " critical time,'' but rather the contrary, for queen introduction. 2. It is not necessary to remove brood when the introduction of a young queen is desired. Sometimes bees will object to accept a queen at all, and this may be the case here, though, as stated above, we think our corre- spondent has not gone about the matter in the right way, and should, therefore, read up a good guide book on the subject. 3. Honey from such stocks is perfectly wholesome for household use. [1485]. Show Schedules. — "We are going to have a local show of flowers, fruit, &c., in July next, and section 4 is an amateur class for honey and bees. Would you kindly define the follow- ing items in the schedule which are not quite clear to me : — 1. " Best three bottles run honey." Does this mean liquid or granulated ? 2. " Best dish of honey in the comb.'' Is this supposed to be fancy honey in the comb, or would shallow frames do ? In the latter case, should I cut the comb out of frames or leave them in ? How many should I put in a super over a fairly good stock standard size ? 3. " Best lot of bees in glass case." I have an observatory-hive holding one Standard frame. Would that answer the purpose 1 — T. G., Staffs. Reply. — The schedule has apparently been framed by persons not accustomed to bee-show phraseology, and we can only read it in the light of ordinary experience, which leads us to answer your queries a& follows : — 1. Liquid honey of the current year. 2. We cannot imagine anything is meant beyond what the words express. The combs may be cut from a straw super or a skep and set on a dish. On the other hand, unless the class is intended for skep-honey only, we do not see how comb- honey in frames could be disqualified without something to that effect being stated. The best plan would be to write and inquire of the secretary ; cutting the combs out of frames and setting them on a dish if that rule was to be enforced. 3. This is another moot point. It may be that a stock of bee3 in glass- sided hive is intended. Here again the officials of the show must be consulted to make the matter clear, for we cannot tell what they may have in mind. [I486.] Swarm-catchers. — As an amateur bee-keeper and reader of your valuable B.J., I send herein a dead queen found on the evening of 31st ult. along with a few dead bees inside "swarm- catcher," which I set on to a straw skep a week before in order to avoid loss of swarm. 1 . Is this the old queen of stock that would leave with the swarm, or could it be a young queen coming out to meet the drones killed in its endeavours to get through excluder 1 2. If so, will the loss of this queen keep the stock from swarming again ? 3. Would it be better now to take the " catcher " off hive altogether ?— M. Mack, Beauty, N.B. Reply. — Queen sent (a fine one) was the mother-bee of the stock which swarmed. Having no details as to make or form of " swarm-catcher," we cannot account for the mishap, but it is evident that from some cause the swarm failed to join the queen (when the latter got imprisoned in the catcher) and returned to their hive. The queen has no doubt worried herself to death trying to escape. Under all the circumstances, we should take off the swarm-catcher at once. The swarm will be almost certain to issue again in from eight to ten days after the first attempt, and it will not be advisable to risk a repetition of the mishap resulting in death of the queen. [1487.] Re-queening Stocks. — Three days ago I examined a hive which was evidently not progressing satisfactorily. I found a few patches of sealed brood, no larva in any stage, but a few eggs were seen irregularly deposited on the side of the cells, none being more than two or three days old. I also noticed empty queen-cells on a frame of brood and eggs given a month ago to strengthen this colony. From this it would appear as if the bees had set to work to raise a new queen immediately the frame of brood and eggs was given them, with the intention of superseding their own old and worn-out one. But why did they not do this before on their own combs ? and when they did start they confined themselves to raising queen from the new-added frame only, although they had plenty of eggs elsewhere in the hive. Seeing the stock was practically queenless (I suspected fertile worker) I united with a nucleus colony having a fertile queen which had been laying about a week. To-day I find the enclosed bee thrown out of the hive (three days after adding new queen). "Will you please examine this and say if I am right in sup- posing it to be " unfertilised '' ? Its wings also seem deformed, and this may account for it not getting " mated." — F. "W. Place (a twelve years' subscriber to B. J.), Betley, near Crewe, June 10. Reply. — It is not stated whether or not there was brood and eggs in the hive at the time of giving the frame from another time a month ago to " strengthen the colony." The eggs laid later — several in a cell — were evi- 248 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 18, 1896. dently regarded ' by the bees as abnormal (whether those of a worn-out queen or of a fertile worker does not appear), and were eaten by the bees as produced instead of being allowed to hatch out in the usual way. For the rest, and judging from what took place subsequently, we should suppose that at the time of " giving a frame of brood and eggs," in the first instance, the bee3 were queenless (or possibly a fertile worker was present). Consequently, when normal brood and eggs were offered them, queen-cells were at once started, and probably a queen raised from one of these. The queen thus raised has then either been lost on her marital flight, or has failed in mating. Any way, the queen cast out of the hive is an adult, killed apparently by "balling" (there is plain evidence pointing this way), and we take it she is the queen of the nucleus colony joined on to the other lot of bees — unfortunately, as we suppose, without the precaution of caging. The dead insect sent is too hard for examination as to fecunda- tion, but it has every appearance of a laying queen. [1488.] Doubling Stocks. — I have seven stocks of bees, and just at beginning of fruit trees blooming I doubled two of the strongest of them— i e., 1 took frames of brood (no bees) from the hive and put them in super over a second hive. Since that date the ground in front of the doubled stock has been nearly continuously strewn with dead bees. The two adjoining hives also slightly suffered in same way. I placed glass in front and reduced entrance to ^ in. or less (a zig-zag one, too). I also put cloths steeped in carbolic acid solu- tion on alighting board and on the porjh, as recommended for robbing in " Guide Book," but with little or no appreciable result. I have now come to conclusion it is not " robbing " at all in case of the doubled stock, which is a very strong one, and well capable of taking care of it?elf; but ask, is it not likely that as the bee? of one stock are from an English queen, and the other from a hybrid Italian, the bees of upper box, being of rather different breed, would fight with those of the box below ? I should like to have your opinion and any suggestions you may be pleased to make. — W. J. Brown, Bridport. Reply. — If the stock to which the combs of brood were given was sufficiently strong in bees, and the directions given in " Guide Book," carefully attended to, no such result as stated should have followed. As a matter of fact, all young bees are regarded (by their elders) as members of the community among whom they make their first appearance as bees, regardless of where they came from. On the other hand, if there were insufficient bees in the stock — to which the brood was given — to keep the hatch- ing brood at a proper temperature, it is quite reasonable to suppose that the baby-bees would come into the world of bee-dom starved, weak and consequently ill-fitted to get through the first few hours of their existence, during which warmth and food is of such paramount import- ance to the " baby." This is the only explanation we can offer to account for the dead bees being found outside, it being a well-known fact that bees, weak or defective from any cause, generally crawl out of the hive to die. You may rely upon it that — other precautions or conditions being at- tended to — the operation of Doubling as de- scribed in the " Guide Book " is perfectly safe. The preexutions taken against supposed robbing may hive conduced to the mischief, seeing that a " zig-zag " entrance, with a width of " | in. or less," is a veritable death-trap to bee3 under such conditions. e^ §$Um to dmne. June 22 to 26. — Royal Agricultural Society at Leicester. Entries closed. July 1 and 2. — At Ramsgate, in connection with East Kent Agricultural Society's Show. Entries close June 24. Schedules from Henry W. Brice, Hon. Sec. Kent B.K.A., The Apiary, Thornton Heath. July 8.— At Redhill. The Surrey Bee- keepers' Association in connection with the Borough of Reigate Horticultural Society. Entries close June 30. Apply to C. E. Cuthell, Esq., Chapel Croft, Dorking. July 15.— Home Park, Windsor. Windsor District Berks B K.A. show of bees, honey, and appliances, in conjunction with the Prince Consort's Association. Seven open classes with liberal prizes. For schedules apply Mr. W. S. Darby, Consort Villas, Clewer, Berks. Entries close July 8. July 14 and 15. — At Gainsboro', in con- nection with the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. Bees, honey, and bee-appliances. For schedules, apply S. Upton, Secretary, St. Benedict's-square, Lincoln. Entries close June 26. July 22-23.— At Longton. Staffs B.K.A. in connection with the annual exhibition of the Staffordshire Agricultural Society. Show of bees, honey, and appliances. Sixteen classes and fifty prizes. Entries closo June 27. For schedules, apply to Messrs. Smellie & Jones, Newcastle, Staffs. July 24 and 25. — Bristol, Somerset and South Glos. B.K.A. shows at Knowle. Schedules from Miss Da we, Hon. Sec, Long Ashton, near Bristol. July 29. — Henbury. Entries close July 17 and July 22. Schedules from Miss Dawe, Hon. Sec, Long Ashton, near Bristol. August 3 and 4. — At Delapre Park, North- ampton, Northants B.K.A. Annual Show. Eight classes for honey and five " special prize" classes open to all. Entries close June 18, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 249 July 28. Schedules from R. Hefford, Secre- tary, Bougliton, Northampton. August 5 and 6. — Chester Horticultural Show and Fete. Exhibition of honey, hives, and bee-appliances. To be held on the Roodee. Liberal prizes. Schedules from J. Wynne-Ffoulkes, Esq., Crypt-chambers, Chester. Entries close July 23. August 7.— At Strathpeffer, N.B. Strath- peffer and District Horticultural and Bee- keeping Society. Ninth annual show, which includes bees, hives, and honey. Schedules of prizes from J. H. Bisset, Schoolhouse, Fodderty, Dingwall. August 15. — South of Scotland B.K.A. annual show at Dumfries. ' ' Burns Centenary " classes open to all-comers. Schedules now ready. Entries close August 8. James Kerr, Secretary, Douglas-terrace, Dumfries. September 9 and 10. — At Derby. In con- nection with the annual show of the Derbyshire Agricultural Society. Fifteenth annual show of the D.B.K.A. as above. Liberal prizes for bees, hives, and honey. Six of the eighteen classes are open to all comers. Schedules for bee-section from F. Walker, Cattle Market, Derby. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. A. Bayley (Brightlingsea). — Returning Swarms. — Experts' Certificates. — 1. It is not at all certain that the bees will swarm again at all this year after cutting out queen- cells and returning the swarm, so we can- not " give you a date when they will swarm again." 2. Your part of Essex must be later as a honey district than the county generally if mid- June is the earliest date on which sections are ever got. For particulars as to experts' certificates write to Mr. E. H. Young, Secretary, B.B.K.A., 12, Hanover- square, London, W. Sidney Larbey (Shottermill). — Observatory Hives — The space between glass slides of an observatory hive should be about 2h in., so that no risk occurs of wedging tightly and constantly crushing bees between face of comb and the glass, as will happen if the combs inserted are over the orthodox 1J in. thick. J. A. C. (Dorset). — Queen-raising. — Without further particulars as to where and why the several frames of brood were put some- where not stated, aud the object aimed at in so doing, it is impossible to answer your query properly or fully. We may, however, say that if eggs and brood are given to a colony of bees, and sealed queen-cells are found eight days later, it may be pretty safely assumed that one or more queens will hatch out from such cells in fifteen or sixteen days after the time the eggs were laid. C. E. G. (Rugby). — Drones east out in June. — Though not of frequent occurrence, it does happen (we know of several cases this season) that drones are ca3t out of prosper- ing stocks. Nothing of any moment need be feared from it. George Leake (Ludlow). — Honey Labels. — The label sent is known as the " Tom Sells " label, and may be had from most dealers in bee-appliance3. T. M. G. (Chippenham).— Extractors.— The advantage of a cog-gearing to extractors is undoubted ; it reduces the labour very con- siderably. After having gone through the work of extracting for many years with and without the gearing, we should not like to dispense with the latter. Appliance Dealers and their Customers. — The question is so fully dealt with on another page as to make it unnecessary for us to do more than refer the many correspondents who have written in reply to 2531, p. 235, to what appears on p. 242. C. Charley (Ince, Chester). — Young Bees Thrown Out of Hive. — We cannot suggest either a cause of bees being thrown out or a remedy for the mischief without inspecting the hive or combs. Sometimes a crooked brood- comb will cause aborted brood and consequent imperfect bees, which crawl out of the hive to die ; but only examination of combs can settle such points. H. Otto Thomas (Kent). — Starting Bee- Keeping. — 1. The present is a very favour- able time for making a start with a couple of good swarms. We say two, because it is not quite safe to rely upon wintering the first stock possessed, and to guard against possible mischance a second one is advisable. 2. It does not follow that both swarms and hives need come from the appliance maker who supplies the latter. Good natural swarms are advertised in our pages, and can be bought by weight, thereby ensuring a strong one by proportionate payment. Full particulars as to hiving, &c, will be found in " Guide Book," the new edition— now just issued — having several illustrations from life photos of hiving operations. 4. We cannot send you any copies of Bee Journal so directly bearing upon practical bee work as the information contained in the above book. 5. So many of our adver- tisers are thoroughly reliable makers of bee appliances that we never single out special ones for recommendation. G. W. B. (Horncastle). — Bees Deserting Hive. — The fact of the skep being found foodless when examined — after its desertion by the bees — points to what is called a "hunger swarm," i e., bees which forsake their home in despair, in the hope of fiuding better quarters elsewhere. W. Morris Fletcher. — Queen is of the ordinary or native variety. She is an adult and probably fertilised, but too hard and dry for post-mortem examination. 250 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 18, 1896. Special Prepaid Advertisements. Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, pliances, 11. Interesting exhibits connected with bee - keeping, 4. In the various honey classes the entries were : — Honey of this year, sections, 44. Extracted honey, 34. Shallow frames for extracting, 11. Honey of any year, sections, 6. Granulaied ei traded, 23. And beeswax, 5. From various causes there were some exhibits not staged, but the season has been sufficiently favourable to make up a very fair display. It is always a imtfer for regret 252 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 25, 1896. to bee-keepers that the premier show of the kingdom should be held at a date altogether too early in the honey season for the bees to do themselves justice. This year, however, some districts have yielded not only early and well, but honey of excellent quality has been stored. Messrs. W. Broughton Carr, J. M. Hooker, F. J. Cribb, and R. A. Grimshaw, undertook the duties of judging; the two first-named taking the hive and appliance classes, while Messrs. Cribb and Grimshaw awarded the prizes for honey, excepting the classes for honey trophies and extracted honey of the present year, these being adjudicated upon by all four judges, as was the class for collections of bee-appliances. The following awards were made : — HIVES AND APPLIANCES. Collection of Hives and Appliances. — 1st, W. P. Meadows, Syston, near Leicester ; 2nd, C. Redshaw, South Wigston, Leicester ; 3rd, W. P. Meadows. Observatory Hive.— 1st, H. Hill, Ambaston, Derby ; 2nd, R. Brown, Somersham. Best Frame-Hive. — 1st, Jas. Lee & Son, High Holborn, W.C. ; 2nd, W. P. Meadows ; 3rd, C. Redshaw ; 2 h.c, C. Redshaw ; c. W. P. Meadows. Best Frame-Hive for Cottagers' Use.— 1st, Jas. Lee & Son ; 2nd, 0. Redshaw ; 3rd, C. Redshaw ; h.c, W. P. Meadows ; c. C. Red- shaw. Honey Extractors. — 1st, W. P. Meadows ; 2nd, W. P. Meadows ; h.c, W. P. Meadows. Interesting Exhibit connected with Bee- culture. —Silver medal, Miss H. B. Dawe, Long Ashton, near Bristol, for collection of articles in which honey is largely used ; h.c, Rev. G. C. Bancks, for honey vinegar. New Inventions connected with Bee-keeping. — Certificates to W. Dixon, Leeds, for new doorway for hives ; T. Lanaway & Son, Red- hill, Surrey ; W. P. Meadows, for new wax- extractor and for improved cottagers' honey ripener. HONEY. Twelve 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Stone, Cubley, Sudbury ; 2nd, W. H. Woods, Hemirjgford Grey, Hunts ; 3rd, E. C. White, Salisbury ; h.c, W. Woodley ; c, R. Brown. Six 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Stone ; 2nd, W. Woodley ; 3rd, W. H. Woods ; h.c, R. Brown; c, H. W. Seymour, Henley-on- Thames. 12 lb. Extracted Honey. — 1st, E. Cooper, Leicester ; 2nd, J. W. Painter, Reading ; 3rd, H. W. Seymour ; h.c, Albert Twine, Hal- stead ; Thos. Walker, jun., Howden, and W. H. Woods. 12 1-lb Sections of any Year other than 1896.— 1st, W. Woodley ; 2nd, A. Twine. 3 Shallow-frames for Extracting. — 1st, A- W. Weatherhogg, Lincoln ; 2nd, D, H. Durant, Acton; 3rd, R. Brown; h.c, Geo. Wells, Ayjesford. 12 lb. Granulated Honey. — 1st, R. Brown ; 2nd, E. C. R. White ; 3rd, D. H. Durrant ; h.c, W. Woodley ; c, J. H. Wootton, Here- ford. Honey Trophy. — 1st, W. P. Meadow3 ; 2nd, J. Waterfield, Kibworth ; 3rd, Miss S. Cooper. Beeswax. — 1st, R. Brown. OUR LIBRARY TABLE. Amongst the number of foreign books about bees there is one that has reached us which deserves more than a passing notice — it is " UAbeillc et la Ruche?' or Langstroth's " Honey Bee " translated into French. This is the second edition of a work that appeared in 1890, and it has been thoroughly revised and brought up to the knowledge of the present day. Langstroth's work is well known as a standard one on the subject of which it treats. It was revised under the able hands of Mr. C. Dadant, and when we add that it was also translated by this gentleman in conjunction with Mr. Ed. Bertrand (who also edits the French edition), this should be a sufficient guarantee of the value of the book, which consists of about 600 pages, divided into twenty-two chapters, and containing 183 illus- trations. The natural history of the bee is treated in a way which gives the reader a general idea of the anatomy and physiology, while the practical part of bee-keeping is very thoroughly explained. This is as' we should expect from two such advanced bee-keepers as Messrs. Dadant and Bertrand. There is to us a special value in this French edition, because Mr. Bertrand has, in slightly altering the American text — and by introducing methods employed in Europe — adapted the book to the requirements of European bee- keepers, whose methods, though equal to those of the Americans, in some respects differ con- siderably from them. The present edition is beautifully got up and printed, and inter- spersed amongst its pages are portraits of some of the leading bee-keepers of the world. We congratulate Messrs. Dadant & Bertrand on the production of this splendid work. We recommend all who are conversant with the French language to become possessed of a copy. YORKSHIRE, EAST RIDING B.K.A. AN AFTERNOON AMONG THE BEES. About sixty members of this Association, through the kind invitation of the president, the Rev. R. M. Lamb, met at the Rectory, Burton Pidsea, on Saturday, May 30 last, for the purpose of witnessing some practical de- monstrations with bees and bee appliances. The weather was everything that could be desired, and Mr. Lamb's apiary in the pink of condition. Bee-driving was successfully June 25, 1896.J THE" BKITISH BEE JOUENAL. 253 accomplished, and the various new appliances connected with bee culture were exhibited and the varied improvements pointed out. The visitors were subsequently entertained at a substantial tea in the schoolroom, and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the President for his generous hospitality and valuable in- struction. The President, in reply, expressed his pleasure at seeing so many bee-keepers present, and referred to the kind and generous way he had been treated in visiting bee-centres in the different parts of the Riding. In lecturing it was unfortunate he could not take many appliances with him, but he hoped the time was near when the Association would possess a bee-van for this purpose. The Secretary (Mr. E. Boardman, Welton, Brough), spoke of the advantages of such Associations, and of the great help the members received by regularly taking the Bee-Keepers' Journal or Record. At the conclusion of the pro- ceedings the company were photographed in the rectory grounds. — Communicated. ^ormpnkut The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. NOTES BY THE WAY. [2539.") The past fortnight has not been quite ideal bee weather by any means, the scythe and mowing-machines having cut the main crop of our bee-forage, causing the apiary to assume a much quieter condition than of late, but the splendid rains we have recently had has revived some of the clover plants, and fields bare of flowers ten days ago begin to show many buds of promise for the future, so that hope may still be entertained of some further income. Then we have the limes still to come, which in this part rarely bloom before the first week in July. This season there was a promise of an earlier blossoming period, but I find that the buds have not opened yet, so that with the present cool temperature we shall not get the flow of honey from them until about the accustomed time. The bees are bringing in a little honey, I think from the tares or vetches, and the bramble, which is just coming into bloom. Super Cleavers. — I think a word may not be out of place just now pbout these appliances. They are one of the greatest aids to " Pleasur- able Bee-keeping" that has been invented during the past decade. When they are being placed on a hive, don't forget to see that the springs are free, so that the bee3 can pass easily, Jf they have been in use two or three years, possibly the springs may be propolised, so much so that they have not free action, and this will prevent the bees passing. Should this be so, remove the clearer and see that the escape is in working order. If not, pour some boiling water through it ; this will remove any wax or propolis and make it as good as ever. Care in Storing Honey. — After removal from the hives, take the sections from the racks and carefully remove every particle of pro- polis and brace combs that may be attached to any part, and replace them in the racks without the dividers, first laying a piece of paper over the bottom of the rack. Always stand the sections of comb honey in the same position as they are worked. Store in a cup- board or box in a dry, warm place. I have a few sections of 1895 equal to those taken from the hives to-day, June 22. Some bee-keepers lack room in which to store their honey, and consequently are glad to sell their stock oft' quickly. To such I com- mend the remarks in last week's "Editorial Hints " re the short* crop of sections this season. This should enable us to hold out for a fair price (high prices are things of the past), and I trust every producer of comb honey will stand out for a fair price for the best quality sections. Those who only get dark and inferior ones cannot expect to receive so much as their brother bee-keepers in good honey districts. The Berkshire bee-van is in our parish to-day, so I must perforce cut these notes rather shorter than usual, as I want to go to Oakhouse Farm to glean a little bee knowledge, and secure, if possible, a wrinkle or two on bees and their management. — W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury. PACKING SECTIONS. A SEASONABLE HINT. [2540.] — I enclose a sample of my method of packing sections of honey which, though it has been most extensively used in Ireland on my recommendation for the past six years, will, I think, be a novelty to most of your readers. The improvement consists in wrapping each section separately in a sheet of waxed paper (i.e., tissue paper prepared with wax to make it transparent, waterproof, and air tight). Nearly everyone has experienced the annoy- ance caused by the honey which flows from one broken section soiling nearly all the others in the same case. Glazing each section is too expensive and heavy for general use, and wrapping each in stout paper retards examination, though both these prevent the trouble. A section wrapped in the waxed paper keeps perfectly clean. It can be examined sufficiently to absolutely ascertain its quality without unwrapping, and if one or more sections break or " weep," the damage is con? firjed, entirely to the broken sections, 254 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 25, 1896. Being excluded from air, sections also are less likely to weep or candy. If the sections are packed in a box imme- diately after they are papered it is not neces- sary to fasten the papsr, but to facilitate sub- sequent handling it is often advisable to do so. Gum, glue, or paste will not hold well to the waxed paper, but this offers no impedi- ment to the bee-keeper. A small chip of wax (as big as a pin's head or smaller) introduced into the folds and well pressed with a hard substance (a thimble is the handiest), fastens it instantly, or a piece of wax may be used in the same way as sealing-wax is used£; but the best method of all is to take equal parts of wax and rosin, keep them heated, say, in a patty- pan over a night-light, and apply as required with a thin slip of wood, one about half as thick as a lucifer match. Owing to the great convenience a section so packed is to a grocer or retailer, I always find that I can readily get 6d. per dozen more for such sections than for the same quality un- wrapped. I will be very pleased to give any particu- lars on receipt of post-card, or if it may save time and trouble if you will allow me to say I can supply the papers, post free, at 6d- per 100 ; 4s. per 1000.— J as. A. Abbott (Abbott Bros.), 23, Merchant's Quay, Dublin, June 18. [The method of packing (judging from sample sent) seems so likely to be of general service to bee-keepers, that we have no hesita- tion in giving room to Mr. Abbott to quote price, a3 above, outside our advertisement columns. — Ed.] BEE STINGS. [2541.] Bef erring to Messrs. Kettlewell and Oldfield's letters in last week's Journal, I am compelled to say that even yet I do not believe it is possible to cure a sting, once the poison has been inserted. I have spoken to several of my friends during the week and find that each has bis own alleged cure, some being most ludicrous. I cannot find out, how- ever, how these cures are supposed to work. Does Mr. Kettlewell claim that the "moist earth " positively gains access to the tissues in which the poison is lodged and neutralises its effect. If so, I can at once put him right on that point. Nothing but a hypodermic injection can get beneath the surface of the skin, and he has already had one of poison. Js he pre- pared to have one equally painful of " cure.'' I repeat that outside application as a cure for bee stings is about as proportionately efficacious as outside applications are on a snake bite, which we are given to understand are of not the slightest use, seeing that the blood, and with it the poison, are circulated through the whole of the body in about nine pulsation} of the heart. My own idea is, if any cure is needed, a saline drink is about as useful as anything, as it supplies those chemical principles which are antagonistic to most blood poisonings. Perhaps Mr. Cowan will favour us with his opinion on this subject. — S. E. Grimshaw. EASTBOUBNE SHOW. [2542.] Sussex bee-keepers were very back- ward ia supporting Eastbourne Show with exhibits of honey ; but nevertheless a great many Sussex bee-keepers came to the show. Most of the honey came from Kent, and some from Wilts. The local buyers took all that was there. A good many Sussex bee-keepers are joining the Kent Association, and there is no reason why the two counties should not join hands and work together, the same as Lancashire and Cheshire. — T., June 19. dthaes from tkt Mm. Chichester, Sussex, June 18. — Hawthorn bloom is now over, from which during the dry weather a quantity of good honey has been gathered, some stocks having filled supers from this source (Apiarist, Pairspeir — 2533, p. 244 — please note). A good downpour of rain just in time to arouse the clover into bloom. All that i3 required now for a good honey yield is fine, warm weather for the re- mainder of the clover and the limes, which close the season in this district for 1896, excepting blackberry. — John Daniels. (fumes and [1489.] Swarming from *' Wells" hive. — May I trouble you to inform me if the enclosed are three young queens ? I have a " Wells " hive, one compartment of which has swarmed twice and the other three times, but which end is responsible for the third swarm I do not know. " Piping '' went on vigorously up to Saturday, the 13th inst., and on the following day a third swarm issued. On Monday I found the enclosed dead queens immediately in front of No. 2 end, and the " pipiog" has now ceased. I wish to ask if it is probable either end may now be queenless ? seeing the enclosed were found dead in front of No. 2. Is it probable a queen from No. 1, when out mating, has mistaken her entrance, and got into No. 2 on her return and been killed ? I examined No. 2 to-day, but could not find a queen ; but may have missed her, June 25, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 255 as the bees were still very numerous, and plenty of drones present. I counted at least four empty queen-cells. — Novice, Westmore- land, June 16. Reply. — All three queen3 sent are young ones. There are no means of ensuring the presence of queens after swarming other than examining for either the queen or for brood and eggs. In the same way only examination will decide as to queenlessness in the two compartments of the hive. [1490.] Chilled Brood in Nuclei. — I have been' making some nucleus swarms, and have got some chilled brood in consequence. 1. Do you recommend removal of the dead brood if the bees don't do so themselves ? Some of it has turned quite black since last Friday. There were too few bees left in the nucleus, I suppose, they having returned to parent hive. I made the swarm on Friday afternoon, the 12th inst., and on looking at them two days afterward found a lot of brood chilled, some of which had turned almost black. 2. I think the discoloured chilled brood has not become foul brood, has it ? I took one frame of sealed brood away from the nucleus lot, and gave back to the parent stock, when I found there were too few bees. I also shook the young bees from two frames from the parent hive into the nucleus lot to strengthen them. 3. Was this right ? — L. T. Badcock, Bexhill-on- Sea, June 17. Reply.— 1. We should melt down for wax all combs containing black chilled brood. 2. Chilled brood cannot become foul brood unless the germs or spores of bacillus alvei are in the combs or are carried there by the bees. 3. Yes, so far as it went the action was quite right, but the successful management of nuclei requires not only care, but a thorough under- standing of the requirements of the case, and this, we fear, our correspondent lacks, or he would not term his action "making nucleus swarms," which is quite a different thing to forming nuclei by dividing a colony into two or more parts. [1491.] Bees Refusing to Enter Sections. Increasing Stocks. — I have two stocks which were fairly strong this spring. So I doubled No. 1 hive, taking five combs of brood from No. 2, replacing them with full sheets of foundation, which have since been drawn out and well filled with brood and stores. I have taken out two frames filled with honey, leaving ten frames. The hive i3 now full of bees, brood, and stores, but I can't get bees in the sections. 1. Why is this ? There are seven or eight queen-cells started, but do not appear to have been touched this last week. Bees in this hive have been killing drones for the last two or three weeks. 2. What is the cause of killing them so early ? No. 2 is also very strong. It has now nine standard frames of foundation (which bees are drawing out) above, and separated from brood-chamber by excluder zinc, and nine frames well filled with honey, raised above to allow of the second surplus- box being added. 3. I wish to increase to four stocks if possible. How and when will be best to do so ? — Novice, Hendon. Reply. — 1. Either you have failed to make the section rack sufficiently cozy — by warm packing — to induce the bees to take posses- sion, or honey is not coming in very plentifully. 2. It points in the direction of bees' disincli- nation to prepare for swarming. 3. Divide each stock in two parts when honey begins to fail, taking care to leave eggs and brood in such combs as are left queeniess. [1492.] Uniting Driven Bees. — 1. As I shall have several more stocks cf driven bees than frame-hives to put them in about the last week in July, would it be possible to hive two lots together in a skep and feed with syrup through bung-hole % 2. Are combs made from wax formed by feeding the driven bees on syrup too brittle to be effective in use? 3. Could a cast from skep be hived in skep, and (say two or^three days after, when combs had been started) be gently lifted on to parent skep as super with beneficial results ?— Wemb, Cambridge. Reply. — 1. It is always better to join up two (and sometimes three) lots of driven bees in forming new colonies for wintering. 2. If driven bees are hived at end of July, and fed liberally on syrup, perfectly effective combs will be built from syrup so far as strength of material ; but driven bees should, if possible, have full sheets of foundation given them in re- combing their hives. 3. If a cast is sepa- rately hived for so long as three days there is some risk of the bees being treated as aliens by the parent stock. Nor do we see much advantage over the plan of returning the cast in the ordinary way, because the chances of surplus honey from swarmed hives is but small. [1493.] Foul Brood in Skep.— I have for- warded a piece of comb taken out of a straw skep, and shall be greatly obliged for your opinion on the same. 1 bought the skep and bees, and had a new frame-hire made, fitted with comb foundation, in which it was intended to put them. An expert offered to transfer the bees. As soon as he saw them he told me they would be of no use to me, and advised the step I have taken in sending the comb to you. I may say the skep, combs, and bee3 were destroyed by fire. A report from you will be satisfactory to myself and the person I got the bees from.— J. R , Grimsby, June 19. Reply. — Though not in an advanced stage of the disease, foul brood is certainly develop- ing in comb sent. Under the circumstances, therefore, you took the wisest course in destroying siep and contents. [1494.] Stocking a " Wells" Hive.— I have three stocks of bees in skeps, one stock in 256 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 25, 1896. frame-hive (all very strong), one swarm (May) in frame-hive, one swarm (May) in skep, and an empty " Wells " hive— lately purchased — which I wish to get filled. Will you kindly advise me how to manage this from material at hand ? — Aspirant. Reply. — The simplest way of furnishing the " Wells " hive is to gradually bring the two stocks in frame-hives within three or four feet of each other. This must be done by moving a yard or so on each fine day. When near enough, set the " Wells " hive so that its two entrances will occupy nearly the same position as those of the two frame-hives Drought near together, and lift out the frames from the latter into the " Wells." [1495.] Bees and Arsenic Fumes. — The two pieces of comb sent have been taken from two hives belonging to a person who started bee-keeping three years ago. He has obtained comparatively little or no honey, although the hives are of good strength and plenty of store. I have come to the conclusion that the arsenic fumes which emanate from the works about a mile away is the cause of the death of large numbers of the bees which are found in the vicinity of the hives. Could you oblige us with an opinion on the matter ? Also, I observe here and there a cell of foul brood — am I correct? The few bees sent in the small box are some of the freshest I picked up amongst the number dead around the hives. Have you any meaDS of detecting the cause of their death? — J. Brown, Cornwall, June 17. Reply. — There is nothing in bees sent to account for death, and they are too dried up for microscopical examination. We think, moreover, that it is more than probable that the mischief arises from the proximity of the works referred to. There is no foul brood in comb sent. [1496. J Portugal Laurel as a Honey Vlant. — We have a great quantity of Portugal laurels on our grounds round the house, and they are out in full bloom now. I believe the honey secreted is said to be poisonous. 1. Is this really so ? and to what extent does it injure bees? 2. Has the honey a disagreeable taste to render it unsaleable ? — R. Hamlyn Harris, Hamlyn, near Bristol, June 16. Reply. — 1. It is quite a fiction to classify laurel honey as poisonous ; nor will it injure bees. 2. We do not know what the flavour would be if only Portugal laurels were the source from which the nectar was gathered,' but as grown in this country it only imparts a sort of nutty or almond flavour, which to some persons is not at all disagreeable. [1497.] Queenlcss Colony and Foul Brood. — I had a stock of bees which seemed to be going on well up to last month. I examined the hives, and found a good number of bees, but little brood. As they did not come on very well I yesterday overhauled them, and goon found foul brood (there was no queen), They were on eight frames, six of which were affected slightly. The two front frames were sound, with no brood but a little honey, which I extracted. I brushed all the bees off into a skep, and after extracting the honey from the two good frames I burnt the whole lot — later on, when the bees had settled in the skep, I then destroyed them, and brushed the hive out with carbolic. Can you tell me : (1) If the hive contained a fertile worker, as the brood was scattered very irregularly over the combs. (2) Did I do right in destroying them ? Was this the best course to pursue ? (3) Is the honey all right ? It is of good colour and flavour. — W. P., Ticehurst. Reply. — 1. Without examining the brood to ascertain whether it was worker or drone we cannot say. 2. You clearly did quite right in destroying same. 3. Yes. The honey is good for household purposes, but should not be fed back to bees. [1498.] Wax Extractors and Carbolic Cloth. — Will you kindly say : — 1. Are the wax ex- tractors as offered by dealers really efficient and useful machines ? 2. Is it safe to use a cloth soaked with carbolic acid on a clean hive after having been used on an affected one ? — East Coaster. Reply. — 1. The appliances in question are both useful and efficient. 2. Probably no harm would ensue ; but we should keep all appliances that come in contact with affected stocks distinct and apart from those used in connection with healthy ones. SEASONABLE QUESTIONS. answered by g. m. doolittle. Securing the Building of Worker-Combs. Question. — How can I secure worker-comb in frames without giving frames filled with foundation ? In taking out combs and insert- ing frames having only a starter, I find the bees invariably build drone-comb. I also find that swarms hived on frames fitted with starters only often fill whole frames with drone-comb. How can we secure extra frames of worker-comb without using full sheets of foundation ? Answer. — In this question we have a sample of the puzzling things which confront us in bee-keeping, and one which every bee-keeper is sure to run against, even though he inserts only a few frames in a hive which are not filled full of foundation. I have found from twenty-five years' experience, that it is folly to insert a frame, having only a starter in it, into a full colony previous to the swarming of that colony, with the hope of getting as much as one square inch of worker-comb ; and if frames must be inserted .in such colonies, at such times, it will pay the apiarist to purchas combrfoundatiori for each frame, even though June 25, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 257 he has to pay as high as a dollar a pound for it, rather than try to get them filled with worker comb by the bees. But if we have extra combs on hand to put in the place of those taken out then we are all right, and even better off than to put in foun- dation, had we a storehouse full of the same. So we come to the main question : " How shall we secure extra frames of worker-comb with- out using foundation V There are three con- ditions under which, if rightly managed, the bees will almost invariably build worker- comb. The first, and surest of the three, is when a colony is very weak, or what we term a nucleus. If such a colony is deprived of all its comb3 save one of honey and one of brood, and a frame with a starter in it is inserted between the two comb3 left in the hive, the bees will, ninety-nine times out of a hundred, fill that frame with worker comb, the said comb being as perfect as one built from foun- dation under the most favourable circumstances. Now, in all cases ^of uniting bees in June in order that two moderately weak colonies may make one strong one for the production of comb-honey, I am always on the look-out for these extra combs, for this is just the time to have them built. In fact, whenever I have any weak colonies in June or July, or when- ever I have any very strong nuclei in my queen-rearing, I always have an eye to this matter ; and in this way secure many extra combs of the most perfect kind, to be used in years to come. The second is at the time of hiving new swarms, which, when I wish them to build worker-combs, are treated in this way. The swarm is hived on the fall number of frames the hive contains, and left for thirty-six to forty - eight hours, the surplus - apartment generally being put on when the swarm is hived. The hive is now opened, and five of the frames which have perfect worker-combs started in them are allowed to remain, the rest being taken away, and dummies used to take the place of them. This throws the force of bees not needed below into the sections, and gives a place in the sections for storing all the honey brought in from the fields, so that the bees do not need to build any store-comb in the brood-nest, which store-comb, when built for that pur- pose, is generally of the drone size. By this time the queen is ready to keep pace with the bees in their comb-building, with her eggs, and thus nine times out of ten I get these five frames filled with worker-comb, besides secur- ing a good yield of section honey. This is very similar to the way W. Z. Hutchinson works to the same end, and, if I am not mis- taken, he agrees with me that combs so built are a clear gain to the apiarist. When a swarm having an old or laying queen is first hived, some of the combs started are liable to be of the drone size, because of the queen's not being in a condition to deposit eggs in the cells at gr»t? as all queens cease almost entirely to lay for twenty-four hours previous to swarming, in order that they may be reduced in weight and so be able to fly and accompany the swarm ; nor does full prolificness return under forty- eight hours after the swarm has commenced keeping house in its new home. As these combs having drone size of cells are just right for store combs, the bees generally keep right on with that size of cells till the bottom of the hive is reached. There is occasionally a swarm that seems determined to rear drones, and in this case they will build some drone-comb, no matter if they have all the room for storage necessary in the sections. Where, from appearances, I think drones are desired, I insert an old drone- comb at one side of the hive, in addition to the five frames started with worker-comb ; this satisfies their desire for drones, and I secure what I am after, viz., five frames of worker- comb. The frame of drone-comb is taken away at the end of ten days, or left, as suit3 me best. When the five frames are filled with worker-comb, I fill out the hive with extra worker-combs or frames filled with foundation, as I may elect, and thus have that hive filled with worker-comb. The third condition under which worker- comb will be built i3 just after the young queen begins laying in a colony which has pre- viously cast a swarm. If, after she has been laying a day or two, we take away two or three combs, and put frames with starters in their places, we shall find that said frames will be mainly filled with worker-comb. For it some- times happens that the bees will prefer to leave off storing in the sections, and build store-comb in the frames. The bees are also more likely to build worker-comb on a fall yield of honey than they are in the spring ; but I have never had anything really satisfac- tory along this line, save under the three conditions which I have given, and have spoken of them in the order of their worth, as I consider it. — Gleanings. LONG-TONGUED BEES. THE LARGE FOUNDATION WITH CELLS FOUR. AND A HALF TO- THE INCH. For some time the French have been experi- menting in the direction of having bees with longer tongues, and for a good while I was under the impression that it was merely by trying to breed constantly from the bees with longest tongues that the object was to be gained — a mistake that may be excused on my part, because the same mistake was made among French bee-keepers themselves. In- stead of that, the plan is to try to raise bees with longer tongues, not by merely stretching the tongues, but by increasing the size of the bee throughout, trusting that, as the size of the bee increases, the size gf £he tongue yri\\ increase in proportion. 258 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 25, 1896. The increase of size is sought to be gained by using foundation with the cells larger than the normal size, and the largest bees are selected to breed from, the glossometer being used to measure the tongues so as to make the selection. M. Legros has made a notable advance in the matter, the glossometer of his invention being one of the best ; but he dis- claims the idea that his gain in the size of bees, and consequently in the length of tongues, is by means of the glossometer alone. That's merely used as a test in making selec- tions, the gain in size being made by using larger-sized cells. If A. I. Boot was ahead of the times in seeking years ago to increase the size of bee3 by means of larger cells, he made the mistake of making too violent a break in the matter. The better plan seems to be to increase the cells gradually. At any rate, I see in Le Progrcs Apicole for January that M. Mees is to have foundation-machines to turn out foundation with cells of three different sizes — 26-5, 25 8, and 24'2 cells to the inch. It will be remembered that the normal size is about 28 to the inch. One would hardly think, however, that it was necessary to go so gradually in the matter. On the surface it would seem that all that's necessary is to use the largest size that will satisfy the bees, and not be used too largely for rearing drones. Although they may occasion- ally rear workers in drone-cells, they don't appear to like too much drone comb. As an experiment I once gave a colony pretty much all drone comb. They showed their disap- proval by swarming out. I think the com- promise foundation by A. I. Root was some- where in the neighbourhood of 23 to the inch. Possibly 24 to the inch might satisfy the bees to commence on. However, those Frenchmen probably know a good deal better what they're about than I do. It may be remembered that Dr. J. P. Mur- dock succeeded in getting bees of unusual size. If the attempt is to be made to breed for size it would be a great gain to have his strain of bees to commence with. He sent me some of the bee3, and also samples of comb about which there could be no question. Without taking time to hunt up the report I made about it in Gleanings, I remember that the cells were about medium between drone and worker size, some of them larger, and a few, I think, just about four to the inch. This comb was, of course, built by the bees with- out any foundation. I believe he made no mention of having made any gain through larger-sized cells, but mainly through selection of larger drones and some special feeding of the drones while in the larval state. At any rate he made an advance in size that was de- cisive, and I think it was ahead of anything yet accomplished in France. It i3 well known that b363 of reduced size can ba raised by having the size of cells re- duced. That the opposite rule would work doesn't necessarily follow. But the possibility is worth trying for. The question may be asked, What's the good of bigger bees ? I don't know of any except just one thing — they could work on red. clover. But it is possible there are other flowers besides red clover that longer tongues could reach. — Dr. C. 0. Miller in Gleanings. \t{ $hawis to dlflmc. July 1 and 2. — At Rimsgate, in connection with Eist Kent Agricultural Society's Show. Entries closed. July 8.— At Redhill. The Surrey Bee- keepers' Association in connection with the Borough of Reigite Horticultural Society. Entries close June 30. Apply to 0. E. Outhell, Esq., Chapel Croft, Dorking. July 15. — Home Park, Windsor. Windsor District Berks B.K.A. show of bees, honey, and appliances, in conjunction with the Prince Consort's Association. Seven open classes with liberal prizes. For schedules apply Mr. W. S. Darby, Consort Villas, Clewer, Berks. Entries close July 8. July 14 and 15.— A.t Gainsboro', in con- nection with the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. Bees, honey, and bee-appliances. For schedules, apply S. Upton, Secretary, St. Benedict's -square, Lincoln. Entries close June 26. July 22-23.— At Longton. Staffs B.K.A. in connection with the annual exhibition of the Staffordshire Agricultural Society. Show of bees, honey, and appliances. Sixteen classes and fifty prizes. Entries close June 27. For schedules, apply to Messrs. Smellie & Jones, Newcastle, Staffs. July 23, North Norfolk B.K.A , Annual Show at Meltoa Constable Park. Entries close July 16. Schedule* from C. J. Cooke, hon. sec, Edgefield, Melton Constable. July 24 and 25. — Bristol, Somerset and South Glos. B.K.A.. shows at Knowle. Schedules from Miss Dawe, Hon. Sec, Long Ashton, near Bristol. July 29. — Henbury., Entries close July 17 and July 22. Schedules from Miss Dawe, Hon. Sec , Long Ashton, near Bristol. August 1. — Helsby, Cheshire. Special class for one 1 lb. jar of extracted honey. Entries close July 18. Dr. Briant, secretary, Helsby, by Warrington. August 3 and 4. — At Delapre Park, North- ampton, Northants B.K.A. Annual Show. Eight classes for honey and five " special prize " classes open to all. Entries close July 28. Schedules from R. Hefford, Secre- tary, Boughton, Northampton. August 5 and 6. — Chester Horticultural Show and Fete. Exhibition of honey, hives, June 25, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 259 and bee-appliances. To be held on the Roodee. Liberal prizes. Schedules from J. Wynne-Ffoulkes, Esq , Crypt-chambers, Chester. Entries close July 23. August 7.— At Strathpeffer, N.B. Strath- peffer and District Horticultural and Bee- keeping Society. Ninth annual show, which includes bees, hive3, and honey. Schedules of prizes from J. H. Bisset, Schoolhouse, Fodderty, Dingwall. August 15. — South of Scotland B.K.A. annual show at Dumfries. "Burns Centenary" classes open to all-comers.* Schedules now ready. Entries close August 8. James Kerr, Secretary, Douglas-terrace, Dumfries. September 8 . — At Moorgreen. Notts B K.A., in connection with the Greasley, Selston, and Eastwood Agricultural Society. Open class for a 1 lb. bottle of honey. Schedules ready. Apply Geo. Hayes, Mona-sc, Beeston, Notts. Entries close August 29. September 9 and 10. — At Derby. In con- nection with the annual show of the Derbyshire Agricultural Society. Fifteenth annual show of the D.B.K.A. as above. Liberal prizes for bees, hives, and honey. Six of the eighteen classes are open to all comers. Schedules for bee-section from F. Walker, Cattle Market, Derby. September 16. — Wotton-under-Edge B.K.A. Annual Show of Honey. In the Church Mill. Schedules from E. W. Bead, Hon. Sec, Wotton-under-Edge. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only o} personal interest will be answered in this column. Rev. F. W. Toms (N. Devon). — Using Combs of Chilled Brood. — 1. The combs may be used if such cells as contain dead brood are cut out. 2. The only way in which chilled brood can lead to foul brood lies in the fact that larva? dead from what- ever cause forms a very suitable medium for the propagation of bacillus alvei. Dead and rotting lame will not of itself start the disease but supplies the nutrient matter in which the spores of foul brood vegetate and increase with marvellous rapidity. The title of our monthly is The Bee-Keepers' Record. G. Blake, jun. — Comb is affected with foul brood. " London " (Glastonbury). — 1. Both samples • are diseased. 2. Overheating on a journey, and consequent death of a large quantity of bee-larvse in the cells, tends to develop or propagate the disease, but will not of itself originate it in a healthy hive. 3. On no account must a comb of brood from a diseased hive be given to a healthy stock. J. Bamford (Middleton).— Swarm Smothered in Transit. — The liability rests, in the first place, on the sender, for if bees were improperly packed suffocation was sure to follow. Unless want of ordinary care can be proved against the railway company, no ground for compensation lies against them as carriers. For ourselves, the very few details given entirely prevent us from forming any opinion at all on the matter. You do not even say whether skep travelled bottom upward or not, or what material was used to confine the bees in the skep. Chemicus (Portsmouth). — Dead Drone Brood. — The drone larvae have evidently been chilled through lack of bees to cover them, caused by depletion of the hive through swarming. The comb, however, is so black and old that it sadly needs renewing. John Meynell (Horsley). — Transferring. — • Rather than drive the bees from skep and then set it above frame-hive, divided there- from by excluder-zinc to keep the queen below, omit the driving and the zinc below and let the bees transfer themselves. Other- wise, your plan will do all right. R. W. L. (Cornwall). — 1. Comb sent is slightly affected with foul brood. 2. So far as re- queening your ten to twenty hives, in view of there being disease in your apiary, we should not advise starting queen-rearing at home, but would either secure young queens from driven bees in autumn, or would buy virgins at a cheap rate when they are plentiful. W. H. Atkins (Cork). — The fact of one hive out of a total of twenty-six not doing well no doubt indicates something wrong with the stock referred to, but we cannot possibly say what it is without some fuller information. If you can send a piece of sealed brood it might help us, or give us some idea of the state of the brood-nest. It seems either a case of disease or a 'worn-out queen. Jas. Wallace (Cheadle Hulme). — Dark Honey. — The sample sent is very dark and poor in colour. It is probably got from horse chestnut, sycamore, and hawthorn, not from limes or strawberry. We rather fear there has been some green fly about the blossom from which the honey came. It would not sell well in sections, nor is the quality good enough to fetch anything but a low price after extracting. S.M. (Sheffield). — Brood in Surplus Chambers. — We should cut the brood out. Some bee- keepers shave off the heads of drone-brood an£ leave bees to do the rest, but it is a gruesome way of clearing cells. A Learner (Hexham). — See reply to C. E. G. in last issue. W. Norman (Bridport). — Transferring Bees. Our correspondent's letter is so indefinite as to what he has done that before we can advise him the " best thing to do " we must ask for further particulars ; such as — Where are the queens % In skeps or frame-hive ? And how was the transference carried out, &c. 260 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [June 25, 1896. Special Prepaid Advertisements. Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, &c. — Up to Twelve words, Sixpence ; for every additional Three words or under, One Penny. FOR SALE, the PLATE GLASS forming Exhibition stand and travelling case, price 30a. Full par- ticulars from H. Wood, Paradise, Lichfield. M 46 YOUNG CARNIOLAN QUEENS (untested), 4s., with nuclei, 10s. Frank Reed, Portslade, Sussex. m 45 WANTED, good large empty modern HIVE, with various appliances. C. Morgan, 7, Corbett-road, Cardiff. M 44 WANTED, several Dozens SECTIONS of new COMB. State price per doz. Pattinson, Tweedmouth Station, Berwick-on-Tweed. FOR SALE, second-hand HIVE, Wells' System or Single Stock (frame, &c.) Twin Hive, hold seven stocks (new), Span Body Box, 12s. 6d. lot ; also Granville Safety Bicycle (Dunlop's), equal to new. £10 bargain. F. Buroh, 93, Donald-street, Routh, Cardiff. SWARMS reduced to from 7s. 6d. to 10s. E. MiDDLE- mass, Stamford. M 40 NOTICE. — Berks and Bucks Bee-keepers can obtain the NEW " WEED " FOUNDATION at Webb & Brunsdon's, The Apiary, Belmont-road, Maidenhead. Send for a Catalogue. M 38 HONEY.— New Honey in bulk 6d. per lb. Carriage paid on 1 cwt. and over. Hives, Section-Crates, Rapid Feeders made to order. Terms cash with order. Owen Browning, Kings Somborne, Stockbridge, Hants. M41 STOCKS, Nuclei, Swarms, and Queens.— Address, Rev. C. Brereton, Pulborough, Sussex. GOOD SWARMS, superior Bees, packed free, price 15s. John Walton, Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington. M 35 PURE IMPORTED ITALIAN QUEENS 7s. each. Cash with order. J. S. Greenhill, 80, Graham-road, Wimbledon. SPLENDID NEW HONEY, one 56 lb. tin, 6d. lb. 5 dozen sections, 9s. dozen. Cram, Chorleywood, Rickmansworth, Herts. M 26 FOR SALE, strong SWARMS from Healthy Hives, packed in new straw skeps, 12s. 6d. each, packing free. Linstead, Garboldisham, Thetford. M 25 WANTED.— New SECTIONS, first quality, prompt cash. Also Beeswax and extracted Honey. Manager, Southdown Apiaries, Bexhill, Sussex. 197 LACE PAPER for GLAZING SECTIONS. 100 strips, 7d., 200, Is. 2d., 300, Is. 6d., 500, 2s. 3d., 1,000, 4s. Post free. Best quality. Neat patterns. W. WOODLEY, Beedon, Newbury. WANTED, SECTIONS, EXTRACTED HONEY, and WAX. Packages lent free to Bee-keepefe and Associations. Prompt cash. State lowest price. Address Rev. W. Handcock, Hampton Hill, Middlesex. M 15 HONEY AND ITS USES," ljd. ; 3s. 6d. per 100. Also "MEAD, AND HOW TO MAKE IT," and ' ' VINEGAR FROM HONEY," each 2*d. Small sample bottle of Honey Vinegar, 7Jd. Rev. GERARD W. BANCKS, The Green, Dartford. RELIABLE QUEENS of 1896, Natives and Hybrids (Ligurian and English). Prolific laying Queens, 5s. Od. ; Virgin Queens, 3s. Sent post free in my intro- ducing cage. Safe arrival guaranteed. Orders filled in rotation. Henry W. Brice, The Apiary, Thornton Heath. SYST0N, near Leicester, ROYAL SHOW, 1896. W. P. MEADOWS, WHOLESALE MANUFACTURER of BEE APPLIANCES ACAIN THE MOST SUCCESSFUL EXHIBITOR. Making 14 consecutive years prize taking at the 'Royal.' THREE FIRST PRIZES, including Appliances,. Several Second, Third, and Highly Commended. SWARMING SEASON, 1896. Why Bee-keepers use the Patent Hinge Plate SELF-HI YER I Because it is the only one in the WORLD that has been PROVED and found to be a Success!! Send post-card for Leaflet to G. W. HOLE, Patcham Sussex. SCREW-CAP HONEY BOTTLES, English Make. Cheap. Clean. Handy. 16-oz. size, per 10 doz., 12/9 ; 8-oz. size, per 6 doz., 7/-. Packing free. "EXPERT SMOKER" STILL THE BEST. Both hands at liberty to work frames. EASY to LIGHT and KEEP ALIGHT. W. T. GARNETT, Steade Road, Sheffield. A. W. HARRISON, Potters' Bar, FOR ALL BEE-KEEPERS' APPLIANCES. ALL HIVES OF BEST RED PINE, from 9s. 6d. to 30s. THE NOTED " W.B.C." HIVE, 17s. 6d. complete. «M<»»M<> H Best Brood Foundation, 2s. per lb., postage extra. Card Section Cases, 2s. per doz., postage Is. Metal Section Cases, 2s. 3d. per doz-, postage Is. All Goods despatched same day. Catalogues Free. NOW HEADY, new edition of MODERN BEE-KEEPING A HANDBOOK FOR C0TTAGER8. Thoroughly revised and brought up to date by the Council of the British Bee-Keepers' Assoc! atio n Eighth Edition. Seventieth Thousand. Price Sixpence. Post Free Sevenpence. Published for the British Bee-keepers' Association by Longmans, Green, & Co., Paternoster-row. May be had also from the Office of the "BRITISH BEH JOURNAL " and " BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD "17, King William Street, Strand, W.C. ; and all Booksellers. July 2, 1896.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. 261 dMifaral Utoticta, &t TO SCOTTISH BEE-KEEPEKS. MEETING IN GLASGOW. Referring to the communication on page 263 of this issue [2543], we have just re- ceived the following notice of a proposed meeting which explains itself : — " A meeting of all Scottish bee-keepers in- terested in reviving the S.B.K.A. will be held at Mclnnes' Temperance Hotel, Glasgow, on Wednesday, July 8, at 3 p.m. Secretaries of Bee-Keepers' Associations specially invited. — Robert McClelland, secretary fro tern" We trust that those interested will need no urging to attend the meeting named in such numbers as to demonstrate in no uncertain way their intention to make another and deter- mined effort to re-establish the S.B.K.A. on a firm footing. So far as our correspondent's protest against amalgamation with the British Bee-keepers' Association, he quite misappre- hends our view on that subject. Indeed, we may say that so far from desiring " annexation " in the sense implied by Mr. McClelland, the B.B.K.A. has more than cares enough at home for the moderate funds at its disposal without desiring to add to its responsibilities. It may therefore be taken for granted that the most pleasing outcome for all parties will be the resuscitation of the Scottish B.K. A. on sounder lines than before. This is the point we desired to emphasise in our article on the subject in B.J. of June 4. For the rest, by all means let the revived association be established on as purely inde- pendent a basis as the most patriotic Scotch- man could wish ; but we fear it will be necessary to divest it of the objection to which we referred in the concluding portion of our remarks on page 223 of the issue mentioned. This done, a long step forward will be made in the way of benefiting Scottish bee-keeping, and " British " bee-keepers who have not had the good fortune to be Scotchmen will, we are sure, heartily echo Mr. McClelland's " Scotland Yet » ! THE LATE JOHN HUCKLE. PROPOSED MEMORIAL. A circular— of which we print a copy — has been sent to us with a request that we should make its purport known to Mr. Huckle's bee-keeping friends. We gladly accede to the request, and will also be very pleased to take charge of any sums that may be contributed for the purpose. Large sub- scriptions are not looked for nor expected, but it is hoped that the sum being raised in Mr. Huckle's native place will be supplemented by contributions from those among our readers who will, no doubt, be pleased to think that a permanent memorial of one so highly esteemed as our late friend was will be erected in the village street to keep his memory green where he was born and lived all his life. Contributions, however small, will be duly acknowledged in our pages. The circular reads as follows : — "john huckle memorial fund. Committee. Rev. E. P. Anderson, Chairman. Mr. F. C. Fisher, Hon. Treasurer. Edwd. Toms, Hon. Secretary. A wish having been strongly expressed by the parishioners of King's Langley and other friends of the late Mr. John Huckle that some memorial should be erected to him, a public meeting was lately held, at which it was decided to raise £60, to cover both the cost of a tombstone and a small granite drinking- fountain, to be erected in the village street, this being suggested as a fitting memorial of his great interest in the welfare of the district generally, and specially in the recently-com- pleted Water Supply Scheme. Should there be any balance in hand, after carrying out the proposed memorial, it will be handed over to Mrs. John Huckle." ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. LEICESTER MEETING. Amid the most favourable surroundings the fifty-seventh annual exhibition of the Royal Agricultural Society opened at Leicester on Monday, the 22nd ult., and the general success of the meeting may be judged from the official figures, which, when made up on the following Friday, showed that the aggre- gate number of persons who passed through the turnstiles during the week was 146,277 ; the total sum received for admission being £10,622. 15s. On Thursday, the first popular or "shilling day," over 80,000 persons paid for admission. It gives one some idea of the magnitude of this show when we say that more than six hundred pounds' worth of catalogues were sold during the week. Leicester folks, therefore, had just cause for feeling very proud at so splendid a result following the visit of the premier Agricultural Society of England to their town. Favoured with fine weather and for the most part brilliant sunshine, the profuse and tasteful decorations with which, in honour of the Royal visit, the main thoroughfares of the town were decorated, looked gay in the extreme, and the near proximity of the show- yard to the station enabled the greater portion of the visitors to reach the ground in comfort on foot and see the decorations on the way. On Tuesday the Prince of Wales, accom- panied by the Duke of York — who has been elected president of the society for the coming year of 1897 — visited the show and spent 262 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 2, 1896. some time inspecting the exhibits, the Prince and his son being themselves exhibitors and prize winners in several classes. The bee-section of the show — with which we are more particularly interested — looked ex- ceedingly well, and, although the familiar figure of John Huckle was missed from his usual place, Mr. Young, the new secretary of the B.B.K.A., made a more than creditable first appearance at the " Koyal " as successor to Mr. Huckle, in the completeness with which the arrangements were carried out. During the whole five days the show lasted the bee de- partment was, as usual, a rendezvous for bee-keepers, for whom it possesses attractions amounting almost to fascination. We are always pleased to meet the many enthusiastic bee-men who never fail to put in an appear- ance at this the main show of the year. It was also gratifying to see how great an amount of interest was taken in the exhibits by crowds of persons desirous of knowing " some- thing about bees." We understand that those dealers who were represented at the show were more than satisfied with their bookings of orders and sales. THE BEE EXHIBITS. Class 315. Collection of Hives and Appli- ances.— Four collections were staged in this class, and so closely balanced were the merits of those to which the prizes were awarded, that only a few points divided them, after a most thorough investigation of each collection by the judges. Messrs. Meadows and Eed- shaw are old competitors on the show- bench, and so close do they keep together that it becomes a knotty point to decide who will take the pride of place. In this case it was found that Mr. Meadows had got first and third prizes, and Mr. Eedshaw second, for collec- tions which included well-made goods of the most up-to-date type, everything of real use in the apiary being included. A strong point, as usual, with Mr. Meadows was the number of novelties introduced since the last " Eoyal " Show. Mr. Varty, of Burnaston, near Derby, who made his first appearance as an exhibitor of a collection at the " Koyal " staged a small, but very fair, display of useful things. Class 316. Observatory Hive with Bees and Queen (6 entries). — This was a fairly good class, but one that would give little trouble to the judges. Mr. Hill's was a good hive, well combed and stocked, and well merited its first place, as did Mr. Brown's, second. One of the exhibits failed to comply with the rule that all combs should be visible on both sides and was in consequence passed over. Class 317. Best and most Complete Frame Hive (12 entries). — This was a very excellent class, most of the hives staged being admirable specimens of workmanship, and fully adapted to the end in/view. Anyone of the hives to which prizes were awarded well merited a first, but as all cannot take this, it comes to a very small matter dividing them. Messrs. Lee & Son's hive, which took first, showed a hive with its outer case in parts, made wider at bottom than top, thus overlapping at the joints and doing away with plinths. This is a return to a style in vogue some years ago, and is intended to remedy the fault of badly-made plinths for keeping out wet. It secures the end in view no doubt, but at the expense of symmetry and good looks. The internal arrangement of the hive were on what is known as the " W. B. C." plan. Mr. Meadow's second prize hive was a very complete one, comprising also one or two new ideas useful in their way. One was the floor- board, which could — by withdrawing from the rear and reversing — be made to give space below the combs for winter. By the same means any dead bees dropping from the combs, and the general debris usually accumulated on floors in the winter months, could be removed for clearing away without disturbing the bees. Mr. Bedshaw's third prize hive was an admirably made one of his last year's type. Several of the unplaced hives had faults quite impossible to overlook, and unaccountable if made by practical bee-keepers. For instance, the inside measurement of one was as near 15 inches as need be, thus giving too much space between side bars and true sides. Another had a section rack with no adequate means of keeping the bees warm while work- ing it. So little was this 'matter seen to that a penny piece could be inserted from the out- side of the rack in several places. Class 318. Frame Hive for Cottagers' Use (9 entries). — Another capital class, every hive recognised by the judges being both well worth the prices affixed and thoroughly efficient for cottagers' use. There was no running away with the prizes here, a very little dividing the best of them in point of merit. So we need not particularise. Class 319. Ho'ney Extractor (8 entries). — Mr. Meadows was in full form in this class, taking first and second prizes and a H.C. for a " Cowan Reversible,'' a " Raynor,'' and his well-known " Guinea " extractors respectively. One good machine was much lowered in merit by having the caps of galvanised iron, the maker evidently being unaware that the acid, in honey is liable to set up oxidation with the zinc used in galvanising, and so damage the product. The remaining classes, apart from honey, com- prised the one for Useful Inventions Connected with Bee-keeping (11 entries). An interest- ing class, but not calling for special comment, except to say the prizes as recorded in our last issue were well merited by the respective recipients. Class 329. Most Interesting and Instructive Exhibit of any Kind Connected with Bee- keeping, produced only four entries. Miss Dawe's large and comprehensive exhibit of articles in daily use in which honey is an ingredient was very interesting, and deservedly July 2, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 263 got a silver medal. Mr. Banck's modest but exceedingly interesting exhibit of a single small bottle of honey vinegar received a certificate of merit, and, as they say, " might have had more,'' for it is one of the utmost value to bee-keepers to know how beautiful a sample of pure vinegar of the finest quality may be made at home from honey useless for table purposes by reason of its fermenting through unripeness, or of little value commer- cially through poor flavour or colour. The honey classes may be dealt with in general terms by saying that some very beautiful samples were shown, along with others of very unequal merit. The early date on which the " Eoyal" is held makes a " win '' there especially meritorious, if obtained by a quality of produce which would win later on in the season. And so we may say the sections were not of the uniformly high quality which may be looked for at later shows, but very good, nevertheless. The same may be said of the extracted honey of '96. The second prize sample of Mr. Painter, but for a little want of consistency, would, we think, certainly have been placed first, as it was of superior flavour to the first prize lot of Miss Cooper ; the latter, however, was of that dense con- sistency as to require what some people describe as " eating ; " Mr. Seymour's third prize honey was also a very good sample. Some exceedingly good honeys were among the commended ones. Taken altogether, the exhibits at the " Eoyal " reflected much credit on those who staged them, and it is obvious that our exhibitors are now well up in preparing their produce for market, and for show purposes. ^am^smkut The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice mil be taken of anonymous communications, and coirespondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily foi publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. TO THE BEE-KEEPERS OF SCOTLAND. a Scotchman's appeal. [2543.] The bee-keepers of the United King- dom are under a deep debt of gratitude to you, Messrs. Editors, for the editorial of June 4, 1896. Your whole statement is well worthy of the consideration of all who desire to see bee-keeping put upon a proper footing as one of the smaller, though by no means unim- portant, cultures of our country, and who are anxious that under the Technical Education Grant it should at least have a fair share of the public money voted for this purpose. To my knowledge, there are still many counties in Scotland where a good deal of funds are spent upon subjects in which the people show but the slightest interest, and where even the results themselves are somewhat doubtful ; while not one single farthing is spent on the smaller industries such as bee-keeping, poultry rearing, fruit husbandry, and the like, which almost everybody, if they have a wish, might do a little at. At the same time, I am bound to admit that the fault lies mostly with our bee-keepers themselves ; for, as far as my knowledge goes, wherever these have banded themselves together and respectfully but earnestly approached the County Council, something has either been done or been promised to be done, or, better still, both. Neither is it any want of enthusiasm or success on the part of our bee-keepers that hinders us ; it is simply want of cohesion and organisation. Like our multifarious churches and sects, our associations and districts follow their own sweet will, every one doing that which is right in its own eyes. What we want is a Bee King to bind us together and guide our affairs. Your kindly criticism of the late S.B.K.A., and our general condition and par- ticular methdds of bee-working, is altogether fair, and on the whole quite correct. I could, if controversy were my object, traverse some of the details of your statement anent Scot- land, but what I want is to use the article as a lever to resuscitate the S.B.K.A., not to pull in pieces your contribution, as writers too often do valuable hints. But, Mr. Editor, you must forgive me for saying that your well-meant proposal to tack us on to the B.B.K A. won't go down in Scotland. We note your careful (not to say naive) use of the term " British " ; you have an idea of our sensitiveness, and we thank you for it. But we must remind you that although we love you and are proud of you English, we could never allow ourselves to be annexed by you. We maintained our national independence till we could treat with you on equal terms for Union ; we stuck to our national Kirk in spite of the beauty, gran- deur, and antiquity which gather round the Church of Eugland, and in spite of the power behind it ; and even yet we have our Scotch Office, and Scotch Education Department, specially to look after our own affairs. So you see Scotland has been, and ever will be, a nation, your neighbour. I am pleased to notice that Sir T. D. Gibson-Carmichael has joined your association, and I am quite sure that he will still be ready to help us ; but from the onerous duties of the Hon. Member for Midlothian, and from his not over robust health, which we regret, we cannot expect much aid from him. But " God helps them who help themselves," and I venture to make the following practical suggestion to bring the present subject to an issue. The time for talking and writing, it seems to me, is past ; the time for united, hearty action has come. Let us have a meeting iu Glasgow, say, on any day from July 6 to 8j 264 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 2, 1896. and between the hours of two and four in the afternoon. Let every important bee-district in Scotland, and every bee-keepers' association throughout the country send at least one re- presentative to the meeting. I will take upon myself to send a post-card to all the influential bee-keepers whose names I can get hold of, and I am willing to act as secretary pro tern. We have the remains of the former associa- tion ; we have hundreds of intelligent bee- keepers ; our noblemen, M.P.s, and county gentlemen will help us. " Let us do or die." Our flag waves proudly. " Scotland yet ! " — Rev. Robert McClelland, The Manse, lnehinnan, Renfrew, N.B. DO BEES TRANSFER EGGS? [2544.] That bees occasionally transfer eggs from one part of a hive to another has been from time to time asserted, but can hardly yet be considered an accepted fact. The following notes of what seems to me a fairly convincing instance will, it is hoped, be of interest. In the spring of this year I had two colonies side by side in " Paragon " hives. These hives have their bodies, section-racks, &c, square and similar in outline, so that they can be piled up indiscriminately. In summer use they have a drone and queen-trap below the floor-board. On May 27 I determined to join the two colonies — we will call them " A " and " B." At that time each body-box was fairly well filled with brood and stores, and each carried a rack of sections over excluder-zinc. Early that morning " B " queen was removed, and what may be called an " introduction- board " placed over " A " section-rack. It is something like an old-fashioned honey-board, but is made of ordinary perforated zinc, and has a slide in its framework, which can, by re- moving a plinth, be worked from outside the hive, giving such passage-way as may be desired, or cutting it off altogether when pushed home. " B " body-box and section- rack were then lifted up together and placed on the introduction-board. The same evening the slide was drawn out, and a glance at the hive-front next morning showed that the colonies had been peaceably joined, without disturbance of either brood nest. On June 2 the introduction-board was removed and " B " body-box placed above its section-rack. It was also carefully examined for possible queen-cells, but there were none, nor was there any brood unsealed ; a good deal had hatched out. On June 8 a section-rack was added between the two already in position. The disposition of the hive was then as follows : — Floor board with drone and queen trap below ; shallow chamber with starters ; " A " body-box, a sheet of best excluder zinc with two-inch plain margin completely covering the body ; three section racks, and on the top of all, "B" body-box. On June 20 a swarm came out, leaving the queen and a handful of bees in the queen-trap. On examining the lower body, 1 found about ten queen cells, one only beiDg as yet sealed. In the top body-box " B," I found on one of the middle frames, in a suitable position towards the bottom of the comb, a large, newly-made queen-cell. It contained a healthy grub just about ready for sealing in. There were no other queen-cells. All the brood had hatched out and every cell contained honey. It will be granted, we may assume, that the queen cannot have placed the egg in that cell. She was not a small queen ; the excluder- sheet was perfect, and of the full size of the hive ; it had kept her from the temptations of sections filled chiefly with drone foundation, and she had not been able to get through the excluder-zinc of the queen trap. I regret that, being on the point of leaving home, I could not entrust the top- queen cell to a nucleus. Had the young queen hatched out there could have been no question of a fertile worker. But I do not think that any expe- rienced bee- keeper who may have had the patience to go through the details given above will doubt that the grub was a prospective queen, and that the egg which produced her was laid by the mother bee in the bottom body- box. The two brood-nest3 had not been in any way mixed up or their arrangement dis- turbed, and a lingering sense of proprietorship had, doubtless, induced some of the original " B " worker bees to start a queen-cell, and to stock it with an egg conveyed through three section-crates to their old brood-nest on the top story from the body-box below. I shall be glad to learn whether the above account seems as convincing to the editorial mind, or to other bee-keepers, as it does to South Devon Enthusiast, June 26. REFUSED SUPER FOUNDATION. [2545.] Allow me again to refer to this matter. I am still being written to by bee- keepers who are supplied with super founda- tion that their bees refuse, and having a similar experience again this season myself, it might be of value to some to know how I have successfully met this trouble, and having the promise of a good season in consequence. I got foundation from several dealers, and use it alternately in each rack of sections, initial- ling each section with the dealer's name. In this way I was able to inspect two different makes of foundation before much harm was done. It was most remarkable to see how the bees never touched one section, and worked in the adjoining one fitted with foundation made by another maker, and when the refused section was removed, and another with the approved foundation substituted, the bees at once accepted it, and worked it out ; the first I iuspected was a very thin, flat-bottomed make. I also remarked that any of this kind they did accept they changed the flat into July 2, 1896.J THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. 265 natural base. Full sheets of very thin founda- tion I found a great mistake; it expands and bulges, causing badly-built sections, and ofteu forcing the bees to swarm. The reverse side to the "bulge'' is always fixed to the separator, and gets torn when taken out. Where full sheets are used I also find that by attention to the proper fixing of the sheet so that it will give the bees no trouble, double the number of good sections may be secured com- pared with those wherein it is so fixed as to make it impossible for the bees to finish it perfectly, or without trouble to them- selves. The dealer who during the past two years supplied me with the foundation which was such a failure, this season (unasked) sent me a small quantity to try. I used it with my best stock ; the bees at once accepted it, and is now oft' the hive in beautifully finished sections. This induced me to try more of it, to go there where it is annually retailed. Some of this answered well, but all at once the bees absolutely refused to touch it, fortunately in time for me to stop its use. This left me with one kind only, of which no siDgle sheet has so far been refused, and that is the natural based one. I have over a thousand sections to form my observations from, so they ought to be reliable. At first I put only the foundation of one particular maker on one hive. This I found a mistake, and the bees, though strong, never went up at all into the sections. I then used alternately a few sections fitted with the foundation the bees liked so well, and it acted so strongly as an inducement that the bees at once went up and started work in each case where I tried it. But the delay caused those two particular hives to swarm — the only swarms from my twenty-two stocks. I never had so large a number of sections so nearly finished thus early in a season as I have just now ; this hopeful state of things seemed near being as great a failure as were the last two seasons had I not taken the precautions that I now recommend any bee-keeper to follow. And in justice to all bee-keepers I ask any one who has refused bad foundation to return it to the maker ; it is only by so doing that dealers will be compelled to supply such as is unobjec- tionable to the bees. It is a pity that bees cannot be relied on to make perfect sections from " starters," for I believe they would not refuse very small ones from the very founda- tion. " Refused super-foundation," I am afraid, will be again this season complained of when I see the names of those who continue to supply this useless " stuff.'' I am sure, were it only properly impressed on them, they would never do so again another season. Bee-keepers have themselves the remedy in their own hands. — T. Kirwan, Dunmore, co. Gahvay, June 26. [Let us say at once that we have not only deleted some portions of the above communica- tion, but have (notwithstanding the request of our correspondent that the name should appear) omitted the name of the dealer from whom the foundation recommended was ob- tained, No apology on our part is needed for this, for several reasons. First, it is our rule not to allow the goods of any one dealer to be specially recommended in these columns, and second, because to have complied with the request made would almost, if not quite, imply that the only reliable foundation to be had in the kingdom was that of the firm he named. This would in itself be bad enough, but it is infinitely worse, in view of the strong impres- sion in our mind, amounting to something very near certainty, that identically the same foundation may be got from a dozen or so other dealers in the country. Anyway, in the remote event of being wrong in our impression, we have no hesitation in saying that we can name not a few dealers from whom may be had foundation which will be as readily accepted by bees as that he refers to, and in view of this, it would have been gross injustice to publish our correspondent's communication in its entirety. — Eds.] PLEASE TELL ME WHY ? VAGARIES OF UNRULY SWARMS. [2546.] On June 11 I had a very large swarm which settled high up in a walnut-tree (my swarms generally cluster on the lower shrubs). They more than filled my largest skep, but were safely hived and placed on stand B. Another smaller swarm was hived and located the same day on stand 0 ; A, which stands between the two, having been established on June 8, the next morning I observed a large cluster of bees under the board of B, which (supposing them to be merely an overflow) I swept off with a butter- fly net and put them to run up into C, which they did as obediently as any congregation could go into church. This I did three times at intervals of half-an-hour. Now, see how evil communications corrupt good manners ; for these strangers from B, being discontented Socialists, infected C with their spirit of rest- lessness, and about 11 a.m. every bee left both B and C in a huge swarm. Captured again, they were restored to B, this time to a doubled skep, but the next morning they were out again. On the third and fourth days they did the same, but this time of their own accord. They somehow managed to cram themselves into A, which had hitherto been behaving quite properly. The next morning they issued forth from A in undiminished numbers. Was it that bees accustomed for some generations to a comfortable frame hive, dis- dained the humble skep in which necessity had driven me to house them ? So I knocked together an emergency hive, in which they are now quiet, being partly engaged in nursing a ready-made family of children taken from another hive. Can any one suggest a reason for this 266 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 2, 1896. unusual flightiness ? Cheshire (vol. ii. p. 138) says " they sometimes appear to be dissatisfied with the hive, and refuse to remain." This can hardly have been the cause in this case, as I gave them a different skep on the third occasion. Mr. J. Howard explains that " they came off at first with a virgin queen, and ea;sb. time she went forth to meet her consort, whom she missed the first four flights, the bees had to go also." I suppose because they would not remain queenless. This seems pro- bable. Any other explanations offered ? — C. C. James, Wortham Rectory, Diss. [We shall be very pleased to insert any suggested reason " why'' the bees behaved in such unruly fashion, sent by readers in re- sponse to our correspondent's request. Our own view largely inclines to the belief that the subsequent confusion — as well as the bad behaviour of the bees— arose from the, no doubt kindly meant, act of our correspondent himself, who as a bee-keeper ought to have remembered that (unlike " discontented Social- ists ") bees are loyally amenable to order and government. They also dearly love " home " and their " mother ;" but strongly resent having uninvited " foreigners " domiciled upon them. Bearing all this in mind, then, the unfortunate act of sweeping off the bees of B from the underside of their own floor-board (where they had considerably clustered to allow room, air, and comfort in the hive for the rest of the family), and " running them in " — as the policemen say — into an alien colony, was the indirect cause of all the trouble and upset which followed. We, too, as well as any of our readers, could suggest several reasons for the after-occurrences ; but, seeing that such "flightiness" on the part of bees so rarely happen in the apiaries of expe- rienced bee-men, any such suggestions are mere guesses, which may be very far removed indeed from the real cause of trouble.— Eds.] TREATMENT OF FOUL BROOD. A QUESTION FOR OUR READERS. [2547.] In the midst of this beautiful bee season one seems compelled to utter a wail. Late in June of 1894 I became suspicious of one of my stocks. I examined and found foul brood. Transferred bees on to starters of foundation in new hive. In the fall of the same year I found the disease in some skeps ; this caused me to examine all. Having, as I thought, discovered all that were affected, I promptly destroyed brood combs and frames. Hives were disinfected, naphthaline placed in all hives, and those requiring food were given naphthol beta in syrup. In the spring of 1895 some stocks had perished, others were weak, but with a little feeding some of the stocks did very well, and gave some surplus. Others, upon being examined, were found to be still diseased ; these were promptly dealt with. In the autumn, and again this spring, all were fed with medicated syrup. The first week in May I examined, when all appeared right. Last week in same month, before supering, I examined a double queen stock, and found my enemy on both sides of dummy. Frames were burnt, hive disinfected, bees placed in quarantine for two days. Two days later found another stock diseased ; this was a swarm last year. Put on to clean whole combs, and dis- infected by means of spray diffuser with salicylic acid. This was badly affected. After starving the bees two days I rehived them with the other lot in clean hive, and now they appear to be doing well. Yesterday, 18th, I took rack of sections off my best stock. In a rack of shallow frames I found a little drone brood (a thing I never saw in a super before, although I never use any excluder). One cell contained a coffee-coloured mass which showed that my enemy was again to the fore, and this when I was just beginning to hope for a good season. I have a few stocks at a distance from home. They are all healthy. But, alas, two of the best swarms decamped. Will some of the readers of the B.B.J., who have had good experience in the treatment of foul brood, kindly give me a plain plan which has proved effective, and say what they would do in a case like mine just in the midst of the season. — East Caister. BEE STINGS. [2548.] In reply to Mr. Grimshaw's letter (2541, p. 254), I may say that I do not quite understand his expression, " Cure a sting." I believe it possible to counteract the effects of a sting by outward applications, but the application must be applied so that it will penetrate into the capillaries. In the "Manual for the Medical Staff Corps," the paragraph relating to the treat- ment of poisoned wounds, under which bee- stings come, says : — ' ' Firstly, to prevent the poison spreading beyond the wound by tying a string tightly round the part, if possible, immediately above the wound, between the wound and the heart ; secondly, to remove the poison from the part by suction, or by burning or cutting out the flesh immediately around the wound. In less severe cases, as the stings of small insects, the treatment is to allay irritation by applying aromatic spirits of ammonia." Again, in " Quain's Dictionary of Medicine '' Ave find : — " Innu- merable applications have been suggested as specifics in cases of stinging. Their efficiency, without doubt, depends mainly upon their being applied to the seat of the sting quickly after infliction. The modus operandi of many is quite enigmatical, but others would seem to decompose the irritating material, and so pre- vent or arrest its effects." " In the case of bee-stings it is important to search for and remove any parts of the July 2, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 267 penetrating organ which may have been left in the wound.'' In face of the above authorities, I think Mr. Grimshaw can hardly hold that local applications are practically useless. For myself, I should consider the effects of a sting as causing any or all of the three following : — (1) Pain (local) ; (2) Swelling (local) ; (3) Constitutional effects extending to any part of the body. If therefore we can nnd an applica- tion which will relieve any one of these effects, we must consider it in the light of a remedy, or else all our medicines are a farce, as, after all, nature must effect the cure, but by the use of drugs, internally or outwardly, as the case may be, she is assisted in her work. It is probable that very few, if any, drugs fully counteract the disease on which they act, but by partially counteracting it they help nature to overcome that which, if left to itself", might overcome nature, or, at any rate in the struggle, leave the body impaired for life. I think, with Mr. Grimshaw, that it is im- portant to reach the capillaries by scratching the skin before applying remedy, and of course this amounts to a hypodermic injection, as with the syringe the drug is only inserted just beneath the skin. — Fred H. Oldfield, Bomere Heath, Salop, June 27, 1896. CURE FOR BEE-STINGS. [2549.] One or two stings on the hand would formerly cause me immense swelling of both hand and arm ; with irritation and inflam- mation extending over my side ; these con- tinued for days, but for nearly two years I have used for myself and others a saturated solu- tion of common washing soda in vinegar (soda to be shaken in vinegar occasionally until no more will dissolve). The sting being removed the solution is rubbed in ; it should leave a coating of white when dry. Now, if bees are at all irritable, I rub my hands over before manipulating ; this prevents many stings, and those I do get give little or no trouble. — Ned Swain, Fordwich, Canterbury, June 22. AT THE "ROYAL" SHOW. SENDING HONEY AT " HALF-PARCEL RATE.'' [2550.] My visit to the "Royal" and the pleasant acquaintances one meets there, dis- poses me to put my impressions on paper. Travelling by Peterboro' going and Market Harboro' in returning, one need not wonder that Leicester has come out first as a honey county, for it is devoted to sheep-feeding, and consequently almost full of white clover, which the late rains have brought to perfec- tion. I say to readers — if your pocket can stand the outing and you can afford the time, — always go to the " Royal.'' One can there exchange ideas with, and see in the flesh, some of the pioneers of the craft who are not seen at our local shows. We there met both our Editors, and, among others, Messrs. J. M. Hooker, R. A. Grimshaw, our old friend John Walton, and quite a number of bee-friends from Nottinghamshire, besides plenty whose names I don't know. The judg- ing of the appliances and honey gave such satisfaction that I heard no sign of a grumble. The arrangements were, to my mind, perfec- tion, thanks to the new secretary of the B.B.K.A., Mr. E. H. Young. In fact, taking everything into consideration, 1896 is a record year. One thing I noticed particularly was that many of the exhibitors do not avail them- selves of the half-parcel rate (owner's risk). It applies to all railways. I had to send mine (seven entries) on three railways, and it arrived in good condition. The saving in the carriage is about one-half, if you can send per passenger train both fruit and honey in spring crates. I have not sent either ripe fruit or honey in any other way for twelve months past and I have despatched as many packages as some and have not had one lost or sustained any damage. I want all bee-keepers to send their consignments in this way, for the concessions of the railway companies are, like angels' visits, few and far between. But now my best of " queens " gives me the news of " Some one waiting to see you on business," so I am reminded of another useful saying, viz., "business first, pleasure after," therefore I must close. — R. Brown, Flora Apiary, Somer- sharn, June 29. SPARROWS AND BEES. [2551.] I have a large number of sparrows in my garden, and see them constantly flying from one tree to another over and between the hives catching the bees. Will anyone give recipe for a good bird-lime ? — Ned Swain, Fordwich, Canterbury. FOUL BROOD HARDSHIP. [2552.] It has this week come to my knowledge that foul brood is within a stone's throw of my hives. Some of this party's bees have died quite out, and an empty skep is left in the garden to catch any stray swarms, if such should come that way, so I was told. This was news to me, and, seeing that I have spent about £10 on bees in various ways, annoying. It made me give a good look at a weak stock in my garden, and the result of that inspection I will not give here, but it was anything but pleasant. These people appear to be doing nothing to remedy the mischief they are causing, simply letting the bees " take their chance," and this means risk of infection to all neighbouring hives. Although we have kept naphthaline in our hive3, and used carbolic acid, the disease has been conveyed into us at last, and now to get rid of it is the task before me. This appears but a poor locality for bees, no honey, and one cannot wonder there was a short supply of Sussex honey at the East- 268 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 2, 1896. bourne Show, the bulk going mostly from Kent, although I have fed my bees well to get them strong this spring, I have not, as yet, taken a siDgle finished section ; none being completed on looking at them a week ago. The gentleman who, writing from Sussex, states, in your paper, that he took 100 lbs. so long ago must be in a honeyed part of the county. — B., Bexhill, June 25. [1499.] Arranging Observatory Hive. — Age of Queens — Working Sections. — 1. I have just had an observatory hive given to me, and a swarm is just working out the frames ready to transfer to it. The hive holds six standard frames, and revolves upon a central pivot. How ought I to arrange the combs with regard to the disposition of the brood, honey, pollen, &c ? 2. What are the usual guides for deter- mining age of queen, particularly with regard to the appearance of queen herself? 3. I have had ten bar-framed hives — for the last two years — but am uncertain of the ages of the queens, except those in the three hives which have swarmed. I am anxious to raise queens and re-queen them. How should I best set about it, and when ? 4. I have some partly-finished sections, which I am about to return to the bees, together with others fitted with full sheets of foundation. Does it matter how they are arranged ? Should the partly- finished ones be put altogether in the centre of the crate, or alternately with those having sheets of foundation in them 1 5. Is there any advantage gained in working three tier8 of sections ? So far, I have only used two. — Gutiilac, Passcnham, June 24. Reply. — 1. It is only necessary to keep the combs containing brood as close together as possible, so that the bees may cover it in a continuous cluster. 2. There are no " guides w beyond general appearance, except that old queens are almost devoid of the usual pubes- cence or hairyness on the upper side of the abdomen. A practised eye can tell a young queen, but no one is able to more than guess at the actual age after the adult stage is reached, so different are the appearance of queens under certain circumstances. A very old fjueen usually betrays age by sluggishness of motion, and sometimes torn wings. 3. A guide-book is absolutely necessary for this. 4. It makes little or no difference how they are placed. 5. If bees are sufficiently strong to work in three racks, or even four, it is no doubt advantageous to use thera. [1500.] Nucleus Swarms. — Foul Brood Troubles. — Referring to your remark respect- ing nucleus swarms in reply to query 1490 (page 255), would you consider the following a nucleus swarm :— Take from hive queen and frame of brood on which she is found, put in fresh hive on the old stand. The combs of brood of parent hive is then put upon the stand of a third hive, which latter is removed a few yards away ; this to be done in swarm- ing season and plenty of drones flying about. Badcock, Bexhill, June 25. Reply. — The plan of procedure given above is perfectly correct, and in accordance with instructions given in Guide Book for making an artificial swarm, but that is quite different from nucleus swarming, which was the subject dealt with on page 255. To accomplish the latter operation requires first a nucleus colony of bees with laying queen. This — after caging its queen — is placed upon the stand of a strong stock, which ig set upon the stand previously occupied by the nucleus hive. The flying bees of the strong stock form the swarm ; hence it is termed a " nucleus swarm." SAD END OF A BEE-KEEPER IN RHODESIA. The Press Association's Wakefield corre- spondent says that Mr. Norton, who, with his wife and child and the latter's nurse have been murdered at Norton, near Salisbury, by the Mashonas, is the eldest son of Mrs. Norton, of Pledwick House, Newmillerdam, near Wake- field, a well-known Yorkshire lady. The deceased gentleman and his wife recently visited Yorkshire, and after the birth of the child they returned to his estate in Rhodesia, taking with them a trained nurse from York. The above press-cutting, just received, has a melancholy interest for bee-keepers, the gen- tleman referred to having taken out with him to Rhodesia in March last a hundred hives and all necessary appliances for bee-keeping, sup- plied to him by Messrs. Geo. Neighbour & Son, of High Holborn. Mr. Norton was sanguine of making a success with bees in S. Africa, and now comes the sad news referred to above, which once more illustrates how truly " man proposes," &c. BEES AS CRIMINALS. We have before had occasion to comment upon the delightful freshness and accuracy of the views "about bees " as expressed in press- cuttings kindly sent us by correspondent? from time to time. Here is one — headed as above— just received which affords a fair sample of the "up-to-date" bee-wisdom dis- played in such effusions : — " In Pearsons for June, a writer raises the question of animals as criminals. Among other cases he refers to the criminal doings of bees, which he says, in order to save themselves the trouble of work- ing, have been known to attack well-stocked hives in masses, kill the sentinels, massacre the inhabitants, rob the hives, and carry off the provisions. ' Repeated success in these nefarious enterprises,' he goes on to say, i ' begpts in them such a taste for robbery July 2, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 289 and violence that they recruit whole com" panies, which get more and more numerous until regular colonies of brigand bees, are formed. The most curious fact is that crime can be produced by drink among bees just as it is among men. By giving working bees a mixture of honey and brandy to drink you can introduce brigandage into an otherwise well-conducted, moral hive. The bees soon acquire a keen taste for this bever- age ; they become ill-disposed and irritable, losing all desire to work ; and, finally, when hunger comes upon them, they attack and plunder the well-supplied hives of their sober neighbours. One variety of bees live entirely by plunder. They are born -with defective organs of nidification, and are what Professor Lombroso would call bom criminals." Without quite admitting the hereditary principle so far as handing down the criminal instinct, we have no hesitation in voting the writer of the above a " born " penny-a-liner. BEES " TAKING POSSESSION." On Friday last Mr. E. A. Morley, butcher, in the High-street, Royston, Herts, had a novel experience by receiving a swarm of bees. The visitors settled around a dormer window in the roof of the house, and quickly took possession of a spare room, and established themselves under the rafters, from which somewhat commodious " hive " they have been improving the shining hours during the week, and have evidently come to stay. ^4 litotes to dame. July 8.— At Redhill. The Surrey Bee- keepers' Association in connection with the Borough of Reigate Horticultural Society. July 15. — Home Park, Windsor. Windsor District Berks B.K.A. show of bees, honey, and appliances, in conjunction with the Prince Consort's Association. Seven open classes with liberal prizes. For schedules apply Mr. W. S. Darby, Consort Villas, Clewer, Berks. Entries close July 8. July 14 and 15. — At Gainsboro', in con- nection with the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. Bees, honey, and bee-appliances. July 22-23.— At Longton. Staffs B.K.A. in connection with the annual exhibition of the Staffordshire Agricultural Society. Show of bees, honey, and appliances. July 23, North Norfolk B.K.A., Annual Show at Melton Constable Park. Entries close July 16. Schedules from C. J. Cooke, hon. sec, Edgefield, Melton Constable. July 24 and 25. — Bristol, Somerset and South Glos. B.K.A. shows at Knowle. Also at Henbury, July 29. — Entries close July 17 and July 22. Schedules from Miss Dawe, Hon. Sec , Long Ashton, near Bristol. August 1. — Helsby, Cheshire. Special class for one 1 lb. jar of extracted honey. Entries close July 18. Dr. B riant, secretary, Helsby, by Warrington. August 3 and 4. — At Delapre Park, North- ampton, Northants B.K.A. Annual Show. Eight classes for honey and five " special prize" classes open to all. Entries close July 28. Schedules from R. Hefford, Secre- tary, Boughton, Northampton. August 5 and 6. — Chester Horticultural Show and Fete. Exhibition of honey, hives, and bee-appliances. To be held on the Roodee. Liberal prize?. Schedules from J. Wynne-Ffoulkes, Esq, Crypt-chambers, Chester. Entries close July 23. August 7.— At Strathpeffer, N.B. Strath- peffer and District Horticultural and Bee- keeping Society. Ninth annual show, which includes bees, hive3, and honey. Schedules of prizes from J. H. Bisset, Schoolhouse, Fodderty, Dingwall. August 13. — At Goole, in connection with the Agricultural and Horticultural Show. Bees and Honey. Entries close August 8. J. Luddington and H. S. White, sees., Lindum House, Goole. August 15. — South of Scotland B.K.A. annual show at Dumfries. "Burns Centenary" classes open to all-comers. Schedules now ready. Entries close August 8. James Kerr, Secretary, Douglas-terrace, Dumfries. September 8 . — At Moorgreen. Notts B.K.A., in connection with the Greasley, Selston, and Eastwood Agricultural Society. Open class for a 1 lb. bottle of honey. Schedules ready. Apply Geo. Hayes, Mona-st., Beeston, Notts. Entries close August 29. September 9 and 10. — At Derby. In con- nection with the annual show of the Derbyshire Agricultural Society. Fifteenth annual show of the D. B.K.A. as above. Liberal prizes for bees, hives, and honey. Six of the eighteen classes are open to all comers. Schedules from F. Walker, Cattle Market, Derby. ! September 16.— Wotton-under-Edge B.K.A. Annual Show of Honey. In the Church Mill. Schedules from E. W. Read, Hon. Sec, Wotton-under-Edge. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. Inquirer (Staffs.). — Queen Cast Out of " Wells " Hive. — The queen is evidently a virgin, and has no doubt been run in to what you call No. 2 hive among the other bees when uniting. R. C. Smith (Biggar). — It is so rare an occur- rence for au old fertile queen to leave her hive as stated that we should advise you to examine the combs to see if the queen has come to grief in some way, and a young one raised in her stead. It will easily be proved if queen-cells are seen. 270 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [[July 2, 1896. Geo. M. Saunders (Keswick). — Measure- ments of " W. B. G." Hive.— By keeping to the instructions given in "Modern Bee- keeping," you will not go wrong. H. Clarkson (West Hartlepool). — Forming Bee Associations. — Mr. E. H. Young, Secre- tary of the B.B.K.A , 12, Hanover-square, London, will supply the information needed for the purpose. Special Prepaid Advertisements. Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, &c. — Tip to Twelve words, Sixpence; for every additional Three words or under, One Penny. H ONEY.— 1 Cwt. Extracted. 140 Mb. Sections. D. Davies, Trevecca Farm, Talgarth. Si 52 TO BE SOLD, Cheap, 7 old STRAW HIVES, 2 old Wood Hives. 4 New Swarms. Apply, H. WILSON, Grocer, Methley, Leeds. M 53 WANTED, HONEY EXTRACTOR in good working order. State lowest price. Turnbull, Town- head Gardens, Workington. M 54 STUDLEY ROYAL LAWN MOWER; 18in., splendid cutter. Useful EXCHANGE, or sell £2. TURN- BULL, Townhead Gardens, Workington. H 55 HEATHER SEASON.— 40 Shallow Frames filled with clean COMB. Offers. FORD, Warboro', Walling- ford. OBSERVATORY HIVE, new three-frame, made in oak, walnut, and gilt. 30s., or Exchange. DAVIS, Pilton, Shepton Mallet. m 48 A FIRST-PRIZE WINNER.— Two-Framed Observa- tory HIVE, black and gilt, What offers? H. SEAMARK, Willingham, Cambs. 31 50 1 QQA QUEENS, 3s.; Swarms, 10s. lOt^U On pot Sa fid. Wmn A Tn Nuclei with Queen, 8s. Od. Wood & Taylor, Apiary, Hathersage, Sheffield. M 46 HEALTHY, Clean, Shallow COMBS for Heather, 5s. doz. ; 4 gross Standard Frames in flat, 8s. gross, 30s. lot. Garner, District Sec, Dyke, Bourne, Lines. M47 WANTED, Three Standard Frame (one above the other) Observatory HIVE ; mahogany preferred ; revolve on axis, with tunnel, ventilated, for bees to pass in and out, such as used at shows ; plate glass sides ; must be in good condition and cheap, fit for show table. J. Price, 253, Dial-lane, West Bromwich. m 51 STOCKS, Nuclei, Swarms, and Queens. — Address, Rev. C. Brereton, Pulborough, Sussex. GOOD SWARMS, superior Bees, packed free, price 15s. John Walton, Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington. M 35 SPLENDID NEW HONEY, one 56 lb. tin, 6d. lb. 5 dozen sections, 9s. dozen. Cram, Chorleywood, Rickmansworth, Herts. M 26 FOR SALE, strong SWARMS from Healthy Hives, packed in new straw sleeps, 12s. 6d. each, packing free. Linstead, Garboldisham, Thetford. m 25 WANTED.— New SECTIONS, first quality, prompt cash. Also Beeswax and extracted Honey. Manager, Southdown Apiaries, Bexhill, Sussex. 197 LACE PAPER for GLAZING SECTIONS. 100 strips, 7d., 200, Is. 2d.. 300, Is. 6d., 500, 2b. 3d., 1,000, 4g. Post free. Best quality. Neat patterns. W. WOODLBT, Beedon, Newbury. Prepaid Advertisements (Continued) WANTED, SECTIONS, EXTRACTED HONEY, and WAX. Packages lent free to Bee-keepers and Associations. Prompt cash. State lowest price. Address Rev. W. Handcock, Hampton Hill, Middlesex, m 15 RELIABLE QUEENS of 1896, Natives and Hybrids (Ligurian and English). Prolific laying Queens, 5s. 6d. ; Virgin Queens, 3s. Sent post free in my intro- ducing cage. Safe arrival guaranteed. Orders filled in rotation. Henry W. Brice, The Apiary, Thornton Heath. "notice. A, MBSTIHO- OF ALL SCOTTISH BEE-KEEPERS Interested in Reviving the SCOTTISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION WILL BE HELD AT McIMES' TEMPERANCE HOTEL, GLASGOW On Wednesday, July 8, at 3 p.m. Secretaries of Bee-Keepers' Associations specially invited. ROBERT MCCLELLAND, Secretary, pro tern. SWARMING SEASON, 1896. Why Bee-keepers use the Patent Hinge Plate SELF-HI VER I Because it is the only one in the WORLD that has been PROVED and found to be a Success I! Send post-card for Leaflet to G. W. HOLE, Patcham Sussex. W. P. MEADOWS, ""ESSSb. Address Letters SYST0N, near LEICESTER. Wholesale Manufacturer OP Bee-Hives AND Appliances. \\\\\ww\« My Hives are well-known, and are sure to give satisfaction. SEVERAL NEW IDEAS. YJ fl_ I Complete, with Standard and "IK /ft AIL nLb| Shallow Bodies and Crate Sections, iiM/V PIIIMFA on the "W.B.C." plan, with n-fl / UUinEn, Outer Case and Fittings, as above, *»jr" U 11 HSVE Complete EXTRACTORS Nearly every Bee-keeper has used these. We have made and sold nearly 4,000. Windsor, 15/- ; Guinea, 21/- The Raynor, 30/- ; The Cowan, 50- We make nearly everything in Bee Appliances. SEND FOR CAT-A-LOG. July 9, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 271 (ftdttarial, $fcrfim, &t GOLDEN PROFITS FROM BEE- KEEPING. The British Bee Journal is ob- viously far more interested in, and more anxious for, the success of the pursuit to which its pages are wholly devoted than any one — or, indeed, all — of the scores of magazines and periodicals now allotting more or less space to bees and bee- keeping. But persons who " don't know " are not seldom led to imagine that we regard with some sort of jealousy or alarm the fact that, at the present day, ten — aye, fifty — times more appears in 2>rint about bees than could be read or learned of them three or four years ago ; and seeing that so many other papers are taking np " bees," they suppose that the circulation of our journals must be per- ceptibly diminished thereby. The very opposite is the case. Nothing so much helps us. as the publicity given to the pursuit in papers circulating, as some do, by hundreds of thousands, because of the many recruits it brings in. But once a reader becomes a bee-keeper — in the proper sense of the term — and his novi- tiate days are over, the recruit becomes an efficient soldier of the army, wants his Bee Journal, and takes a lively interest in all that is going on in the bee- world. We thus regard every addition to the list of papers having its regular " bee- column " as another agent for pushing our own circulation, and welcome such aids very heartily. But — and this is the point we are driving at — we do not desire to see spread abroad ridiculous and absurd statements descriptive of imaginary enormous profits to be made out of the keeping of bees in this country, or, indeed, anywhere else. Bee- keepers of any experience can, and do, laugh at the calculations sometimes seen in print, and the beautifully clear manner in which it can be shown — by figures— that the way to fortune is through the bee-hive. If our own only object was to increase the number of persons who keep bees, we, too, might at least allow the mischief we are deprecating to work out the end aimed at ; we have, however, no such object. Our mission is to teach that bee-keeping can be made a pleasant and fairly profitably pursuit, full of interest for its votaries, but not very specially fitted for filling their pockets to over- ilowing with wealth. Indeed, so far from encouraging the propagation of utterly fallacious ideas on the subject, we have repeatedly in these columns done our best to expose the folly — to give it no worse a name — of spreading abroad fabulous or ridiculous state- ments on the subject such as the following, which appeared a few days ago in one of the most popular and widely-circulated weekly periodicals of the present day. It is headed : — GOLDEN PROFITS FROM MY BEE-HIVES. AN EASY ROAD TO AFFLUENCE FOR EVERYBODY. It is open to nearly every energetic man to increase his yearly income by at least £20 by keeping bees. He need not have much time at his disposal, and he may live in town or country, as he pleases. Three years ago I bought a bar-frame hive for 7s. 6d., a veil, a smoker, and a few extras, running to 10s. Four pounds of Italian bees, costing about 10s. more, and there I was, fitted out for one of the easiest and most profitable businesses in the country. I live near the outskirts of a large town, and I fixed my hive in the back-yard, facing the south-east. There were about 40,000 bees in my swarm, and they started work right away. The weather was bright ; the Dees worked from sunrise to sunset, and the honey came rolling in. In August the honey flow ceased, and I tied myself up in a net veil, and started to reap the harvest. It was about mid-day, and the bees were in a noble good humour. I trod gingerly, and did my best not to arouse their ire. A vile-smelling chemical mixture was fomented in my deadly bellows, and I stuck the nozzle in at the hole and pumped the stupefying vapour in among the industrious insects. In about five minutes the bees were subdued, and I turned up the hive and extracted the honey. There seemed no end to it. I sepa- rated it afterwards, and found I had over 80 lb. of honey and 12 lb. of wax. 1 canvassed round the neighbourhood, and sold the hoDey retail at 9d. a pound, thus realising £3 from the honey alone. The wax, at Is. 6d. a pound, made 18s. more, and on the proceeds I bought two more hives. Out of these I made fifteen guineas, and resolved to increase my number of hives to eight. I opened business with a London grocer, and the hives regularly brought me in £44 a year. The work required to bring me in this result is scarcely noticeable ; the bees did nearly everything for themselves. I had merely to feed them in the winter on pea-flour and sugar-syrup. I increased the number of 272 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 9, 1896. hives to ten, and the profits to nearly £40 yearly. During the three years I have managed the bees I have never once been stung, though a friend who knocked down one of the hives came off rather badly. The expenditure each year amounted to less than £1, inclusive of feeding arrangements, and everything went on swimmingly. Many of my friends, seeing my good fortune, started hives on their own account, and all are doing well. One man, who can spare an hour a day in winter, keeps thirty hives, and scoops in an income of nearly £120 annually. Most of the amateurs I know, however, keep between twelve and twenty, and reap a harvest of £36 to £80 a year, without in any way interfering with their regular business. Several of them live in towns, keeping the hives on the housetops, and the bees make long journeys to reach the flowery parts. They do quite as well as the country dwellers, and have better facilities for disposing of the honey and wax. Those who dwell in a heather district can make half as much again out of their hives, for the heather sends in a supply of honey after the regular flow has ceased. Heather honey, moreover, will fetch a shilling a pound instead of ninepenee. Queen bees, the most important of the whole hive, sometimes die, and must be replaced at once, or the stock dwindles. They can be bought for a shilling or two. They can be sent by rail in little cages, and often travel across the world in them. There is always a brisk trade running in queens. Swarms, too, are valuable ; and if you have as many bees as you require, the superfluous swarms, or gather- ing of overcrowded bees, are always saleable at about seven shillings apiece, or half-a-crown a pound. Bees are sold by weight. A beginner can often get a start for nothing, for cottagers are often willing to give away swarms which they cannot keep. It is easily seen, therefore, that the ordinary man can easily add a very respectable sum to his yearly stipend by keeping a few hives on his roof or in his garden. Readers of any experience as bee- keepers will have no difficulty in detect- ing the hand of the " Interviewer " in the above beautiful picture of " golden profits." The frequent " slips " in the narrative betray the fact that no bee- keeper has written it — unless he was "daft." A few possible facts have, no doubt, been related (rather glowingly put though, even for an ardent bee-man), and are so daringly " written up " as to turn them into absurdities. Our main complaint, however, is that such writing on bee-keeping tends to lead people astray, to cause bitter disappointment in results, and, finally, to disgust them with the whole business. This is what we protest against with all the force we can command ; and, so far as speaking out plainly on the subject, the onus of bringing about such regrettable results shall not lie at the door of the British Bee Journal. WINDSOR DISTRICT, BERKS B.K.A. POSTPONEMENT OF SHOW IN THE HOME PARK, WINDSOR. We are requested to state that by command of her Majesty the Queen the above show is postponed from Wednesday, the 15th, to Monday, the 20th inst. Entries for honey close July 13. KENT BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. SHOW AT RAMSGATE. The show of honey, bees, and appliances of the K.B.K.A. at Ramsgate, held m connection with the East Kent Agricultural Society on July 1 and 2, was very well supported by entries, and the shed was thronged with visitors on both days, as well as the bee tent, where Mr. R. Green lectured. A grand lot of fine honey was staged, and the competition very keen ; but the prizes mostly went out of the district, as will be seen by the list of awards. The silver medal of the B.B.K.A. was adjudged to Mr. E. Longhurst, of Long- field, for general excellence in the honey and other classes, consisting of five prizes and three commends, Mr. Drincqbier, of Dover, taking the bronze medal, while the certificate went to the S.E. Agricultural College, Wye. There were almost double the number of visitors compared with Canterbury last year. The experience at Ramsgate, however, so far as honey sales, was the reverse of Eastbourne, scarcely any honey being sold locally, although the exhibits were priced low and were of fine quality. Messrs. W. Broughton Carr and J. M. Hooker kindly undertook the duties of judg- ing, and made the following awards : — HIVES AND APPLIANCES. Collection of Hives and Appliances. — 1st, Jas. Lee & Son, Holborn-place, W.C. ; equal, 2nd, T. Lanaway & Son, Redhill, Surrey, and J. S. Greenhill, Wimbledon. Observatory Hive. — 1st, E. Drincqbier, Dover ; 2nd, W. Gutch, Eynsford ; 3rd, E. Drincqbier. Best Frame-Hive. — 1st, Jas. Lee & Son ; 2nd, T. Lanaway & Son ; 3rd, J. S. Greenhill. Cottager's Hive. — 1st, H. Hutchings, St. Mary Cray ; 2nd, T. Lanaway & Son ; 3rd, Jas. Lee & Son ; h. c, J. S. Greenhill. Objects of Apiarian Interest (New in Design). — T. Lanaway & Son. Certificates of Merit for swing case for three shallow franieB and for combined packing-box and show-case for twelve bottles of honey. July 9, 1896.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 273 HONEY AND HONEY PRODUCTS. Twelve l-lb. Sections— 1st, Eev. W. E. Nightingale, East Preston ; 2nd, Horticul- tural College, Swanley ; 3rd, S. E. College, Wye ; v. h. c, Lieut. -General Edwardes, Farningham ; h. c, W. Smith, Shepberdswell ; Rev. G. W. Bancks, Green-street-Green ; and E. Longhurst-, Longfield ; com., Miss Griffiths, Westgate, and A. J. Carter, Newfields, Sussex. Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, E. Drincqbier ; 2nd, Eev. W. E. Nightingale ; 3rd, S. E. College, Wye ; v.h.c, E. Long- hurst ; h.c, H. A. 0. Grimbly, Minster ; G. J. Wright, Eamsgate ; Mrs. Mascall, Newing- ton ; c, E. W. Wood, Chislet ; Eev. W. E. Nightingale ; The Horticultural College, and E. Smith. Three Frames of Honey for Extracting. — 1st, South Eastern Agricultural College ; 2nd, E. D. Till ; 3rd, E. Longhurst ; h.c, Mrs. Mascall, Newington ; and H. A. 0. Grimbly ; c, W. Smith. Honey Trophy. — 1st, E. Longhurst ; 2nd, E. Drincqbier ; 3rd, E. Longhurst. Single l-lb. Bottle of Honey. — 1st, Elvey E. Smith, Southfleet ; v.h.c, W. A. Balcombe, Faversham, Mrs. Mascall ; h.c, E. Long- hurst, Eev. W- E. Nightingale, G.J. Wright ; c Mrs. Eichford, H. H. Brice, S.E. Agricul- tural College, and W. H. Drinkwater. Single l-lb. Section. — 1st, Horticultural College, Swanley ; h.c, II. W. Seymour, Henley-on-Thames, W. Smith, E. E. Smith, Eev. W. E. Nightingale, C. E. Smith, and A. J. Carter. Beeswax. — 1st, E. Longhurst ; 2nd, A. J. Carter ; 3rd, E. Drincqbier ; c, C. Langley. Mead, &c— 1st, Eev. G. W. Bancks ; 2nd, C. Langley ; 3rd, E. Longhurst. Cottager's Classes. Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, F. S. Bensted, Newnham ; 2nd, H. Dobell, Harden ; 3rd, J. Friend, Temple, Ewell ; c, F. Langley. Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, J. Friend ; 2nd, F. S. Bensted ; 3rd, J. Playford, Staplehurst ; c, F. Langley. Three Shallow-frames of Comb Honey. — 1st, J. Friend. — {Communicated.) TREATMENT OF FOUL BEOOD. [2553.] The appeal of "East Caister'' (Mo. 2547, p. 266) cannot be resisted by one who, like myself, has gone through a long and weary struggle with the bee-keeper's curse — foul brood. I may be able to help him. As to the present, he may as well let his bees complete their summer work, being careful to remove all supers before there is any chance of robbing. Then I should overhaul every colony and treat them as he has done hitherto. It is not dear how he disinfects his hives. It should be thorough. I scalded mine with a strong solution of washing soda, scrubbing them the while, and, when dry, I lightly charred all the inner surfaces with the scorch- ing blast of a painter's lamp. If the enemy in any stage can stand that it must be in- vincible. Now, in this way, " East Caister " may feel fairly sure of getting his apiary apparently free from foul brood by the coming of winter ; but the question i is, How is he to prevent its re- appearance in next spring or early summer ? Here lies the difficulty, and I firmly believe that in my case it was surmounted by outdoor feeding with strongly medicated syrup in the spring. The idea is this— you want the bees to take into every hive a strong antiseptic for general consumption at the time when most wanted — i.e., when young brood is being reared in the spring. In no other way can this be done so well as by outdoor feeding ; for in the greedy struggle between the various colonies the bees will readily lick up syrup so strongly dosed that nothing Avould induce them to touch it if offered inside their own hives. It must be left to the bee-keeper, aided, no doubt, by the natural instinct of the bees themselves, not to poison his pets by out- rageous doses. I am aware that many good bee-keepers — including, if I mistake not, Mr. Brice — are strongly against outdoor feeding. I hardly know why. Care and personal attention are necessary ; but if these cannot be liberally given, a man may get on very well as a fair- weather bee-keeper, but he need not hope to cure an apiary of foul brood. In the spring of '95, for weeks together, I fed a row of ten hives from an open feeder placed against a wall some ten yards in rear of the middle hive, without any robbing and with a very small loss of bees. If it be urged that disease may be spread by the crowding together of the bees, I must reply that at this stage of the cure there should be no actively diseased hive in the apiary. It is quite possible that foul brood may be conveyed from bee to bee by personal contact ; but if so, the danger is incurred every time such a bee rifles a flower of its nectar, for she may leave the germs behind her to be caught up by the next bee that follows her. In the feeding I recommend, the great good done by the distribution of the antiseptic may well be taken as outweighing the remote possibility of evil. Should the "free- feed " to a neighbour's bees be a deterrent to the bee-keeper, I have no consolation to offer except that his own bees will have the first chance. Feed on fine mornings only, and a little at a time. Begin with small doses of the medicine, and increase the strength by degrees. I can- not believe that any particular antiseptic has all the virtues claimed for it, and probably any of the well-known ones which have carbolic acid for a basis, such as phenol, for instance, or 274 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 9, 1896. those readily soluble, like " Soluble Phenyle," which is easily mixed with cold syrup as wanted, and the bees take it readily up to a great strength. Use one of those feeders divided off by thin wooden partitions, without the lid, and place it in a dry, sunny, and sheltered spot free from dust, so that any bees which may get smeared with syrup will have a full chance of recovery. In a few minutes the syrup will have been quite consumed ; then shake out the remaining bees and remove the feeder. If this be neglected there will be fighting. Very few bees will remain on the field ; but even should there be a dozen, more or less, there is no cause for dismay. It is the wear and tear of bee-life. Every fine spring day scores of bees leave the hive never to return. They die in harness, and whether it be by your feeder, in the corolla of a flower, or elsewhere on their busy journey, they are not altogether to be pitied. The above is the treatment that I believe freed me from foul brood two years ago, and since then I have seen no trace of it. May any who think it worth adopting be as successful. — South Devon Enthusiast, July 3. [There can be little doubt that open-air feeding with medicated food is most advan- tageous in keeping an apiary free from disease if properly carried out in spring. But, unless carefully and judiciously done, it often leads to much mischief. So far as the method, the food must be made much thinner than ordinary syrup ; it should be given warm, and the feeder only exposed for a few hours in the middle of fine days, removing it entirely when feeding-time is over. Then the visits of neighbouring bees in large numbers must be taken into consideration ; particularly if they come from diseased hives. In short, where foul brood is known to exist in the neighbour- hood, it is like tempting Providence to bring about one's apiary hordes of bees from diseased colonies on the look-out for a " free feed." We grant that the wholesale distribution of strongly medicated food is bound to assist in keeping disease down in all the hives within reach, but it has its attendant risks to the distributor of the food, by way of bringing prowling bees from neighbouring hives about his own colonies, thus opening up an almost certain source of danger. Our personal knowledge of " South Devon Enthusiast '' assures us that in his hands — and it may be with his surroundings — open-air feeding will be safe and proportionately effec- tive, and its dangers minimised ; but it is too risky to be recommended for general adoption. This, at least, has been our experience. — Eds.] ENEMIES OF BEES IN SOUTH AFRICA. [2554.] Enclosed please find box of insects for identification, and I shall feel much obliged if you can give me some information as to their habits. The larger of the two kinds of insect sent (No. 1) is very destructive to bees here, sitting near to a hive on a stone and catching the bees as the latter fly away from the hive. The hotter the day the more active the insects appear in their work of destruction, and they so intimidate the bees as to make them appear too frightened to leave the hives. I have not been pestered with these insects myself, but other bee-keepers inform me they will soon ruin a hive. The smaller kind of insect (No. 2) does not appear to catch bees, but confines its attention to small flies. Your Bee Journal and Becord afford much useful information, although the conditions of bee-keeping are somewhat different here to what they are in England. The last season here was a very indifferent one, owing to drought, but some stocks do well no matter what the season is. Besides the insects enclosed, the greatest enemies of the bees here are the birds, especially the large and swift, "bee-eaters," and shrikes, also several varieties which corre- spond somewhat to the stone-chat in England. Thanking you in anticipation. — E. T. Wills, Queenstoivn, Cape Colony, June 1, 1896. [The insects sent are both wasps (palorus). No. 1 is palorus lepidus, and attacks not only bees but other insects, carrying them off when caught, and consuming the edible portion of the body of its prey.— Eds.] DO BEES TRANSFER EGGS? [2555.] As your correspondent, "South Devon" (2544, p. 264), has opened this ques- tion again, may I be allowed to say I had a certain proof recently (to my own satisfaction at least) that bees do remove eggs under some conditions. I bought an Italian queen from Lucio Paglia, and, desiring to raise some queens from her, I, on June 16, deprived a small lot of bees of their queen and all their brood, and next day went to the Italian hive and cut out a piece of comb from bottom of frame (about 3 in. by 1 in.) containing eggs and young larvje. I then took a frame of comb quite empty (one that has not been in a hive this year) and cut a piece about 3 in. square from the middle of it, fastened the piece con- taining the eggs in its place and gave it to tde bee3, along with a frame of food and other frames fitted with starters only. On June 24, when examining for queen cells, I found, to my sur- prise, the piece of comb had fallen from the place where I fastened it (but was still within the frame) and had only one queen cell on it. On a piece of drone comb in this eame frame, however, three queen -cells were formed. There was also some larvae in the same comb in both worker and drone cells. So, you see, the bees must have transferred the eggs from July 9, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE 'JOURNAL. 275 which these larvse were raised from the fallen piece of comb. I examined the hive to-day, July 3, and found all the brood capped over, and some of the Italians just hatched out. — Jno. Bkruy, Llanrwst, N. Wales, July 3. HONEY LABELS. [2556] I notice that in B.J. of 18th ult. (page 249), you refer to the "Tom Sells" honey-label as being obtainable from all dealers in appliances. I purchased the copyright of this label, paying a good round sum for it, and the label can only legitimately be purchased of myself or my brothers. I trust you will find space for this correction . I am aware that pirated copies are being sold, and intend to take action against vendors. — Jas. A. Abbott (Abbott Brothers), Merchants' Quay, Dublin, June 30. [In stating that the label referred to was to be had from most appliance dealers, we supposed that the latter bought the labels wholesale from whoever sold it so, and retailed them in the ordinary course of business. — Eds.] BEE-KEEPING IN DURHAM. TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION UNDER COUNTY COUNCIL AUSPICES. We understand that Mr. W. Crisp has been appointed by the Durham County Council lecturer on bee-keeping to the Technical Instruction Department of that county, and is at present engaged in delivering a course of twenty-four lectures in the districts of Stan- hope and Walsingham. Similar courses of lectures may be arranged for in any other parishes where such are desired, on applica- tion to the clerk of the County Council, Durham. LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE B.K.A. STALYBRIDGE BRANCH. On Friday last the members of the above and many of their friends assembled to hear a lecture on Bees and Bee-keeping by Mr. W. Jones Anstey, first-class expert, who was invited to give a lecture and demonstration. Mr. Abel Bottomley presided, and in intro- ducing the lecturer said he was very pleased to see so many present, and informed them that their association was a branch of the Lancashire and Cheshire, and although they had only been in existence about twelve months, they already numbered twenty bee- keepers, and were still increasing their membership. Mr. Anstey then proceeded with his lecture, which being both interesting and practical, was listened, to with the deepest interest, and a number of questions were satis- factorily answered by the lecturer. At the conclusion, — Fentom, Esq., ex- Mayor of Stalybridge, said he had much pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. Anstey. Personally, he felt that his own thanks were especially due, having learned a great deal that evening of things he knew nothing of before. The subject dealt with had been most lucidly and clearly described, and he hoped they might be favoured with another visit from Mr. Anstey. He was glad to say the lecturer was giving a demonstration in bee-keeping on the following afternoon in his (Mr. Fentom's) gardens, and he would heartily welcome all among those present who could attend. The vote having been heartily accorded, the meeting was brought to a close. On the following afternoon a still larger gathering met in the beautiful gardens of Mr. Fentom, and Mr. Anstey gave a very instruc- tive demonstration of the art of managing bees, the easy style in which the bees were manipulated giving confidence to the onlookers, some of whom were strange to their ways, and had never seen the inside of a hive before. At the conclusion, Mr. Fentom and the lecturer were heartily thanked, and the utmost satisfaction was expressed by all present with what they had seen and heard. — (Com- municated.) JOHN HUCKLE MEMORIAL FUND. Referring to the notice of above in our last issue, the following subscriptions have already been received or promised : — £ s. d. Mr. T. F. Halsey, Mr. R. Henty ... Mr. A. Hughes Mr. C. H. Little M.P. ... 1 0 0 110 0 10 6 ... 0 10 6 Mr. E. H. Loyd Mr. S. Martin . . . 110 0 10 6 Per Bee Journal : — T. W. Cowan ... 10 0 John Walton ... ... 0 5 0 W. B. Carr ... ... 0 5 0 B. E. Jones 0 2 6 ^mfm and JH^Um [1501.] Bees Refusing to Work in Sections. — One of two hives I have was extremely weak at the beginning of the season, but I examined it about eight days ago and found the brood-frames very heavy with honey and brood. Still the bees do not go up into the sections, although I reduced the number in the rack to about ten sections, all of which have in them comb of last year half worked out. 1. Now that the clover season is getting on, would you advise me to take off the queen- excluder and try if that will bring the bees 276 THE BRITISH. BEE JOURNAL. [July 9, 18%. up ? 2. My second hive has heen strong all along, and soon pretty well filled a box of shallow frames, over which, by your advice, I put a rack of sections ; but the bees did nothing in them. In consequence, I took off the shallow frames a few days ago and put the box of sections underneath, replacing the frames above. I think the bees are now working in both ; but what was my disgust to find the shallow-frame box protruding an inch beyond the section rack. They were both bought at the same shop, and yet we are told everything is made to be interchangeable in modern hives. Is not this so 1 — J. D. F., Hooton, Cheshire, June 28. Reply. — 1. In view of the brood-frames in lower chamber being heavy with brood and honey, the probability is that the queen would accompany the bees into the sections if queen-excluder is removed, and so spoil them with brood. If the section rack is well and warmly packed, so as to allow of no escape of heat, the bees will very likely take possession soon if they have not already done so. It usually only needs warmth, bees, and honey- weather to cause work to be started in a cosily wrapped rack of sections. 2. Interchange- ability is very desirable in surplus chambers, but it frequently happens that a box of shallow frames which is, on its lower side, the same size as a ten-frame body-box, will not " sit '' properly on a rack of twenty-one sections. This should always be seen to when purchasing, or before using. No doubt we had this in mind when advising you to put the sections " over " the shallow frames. [1502.] Uniformity in Hives. — Transfer- ring Bees. — As a constant reader of your useful journal, will you please instruct me what is the best course to follow with my bees, which are unfortunately in hives of all sizes. Will it be best to shift them into new hives on full sheets of foundation, and start feed- ing this month, or what would you advtse 1 — A. Flett, Hanworth, July 1. Reply. — If you have hives in which combs of brood removed from other stocks could be hatched out, the bees of such stocks as are intended to be got into proper workable order may be brushed off their combs into a new hive fitted with foundation as proposed, and as soon as convenient. The combs of brood (when cleared of bees) would, as before stated, have to be given to other stocks to hatch out. The comb on which the queen is found should be placed in the new hive, in dentre, and feed- ing begun at once, unless honey is plentiful in the fields. [1503.] Sivarm building Queen-cells. — Last Saturday week I hived a swarm on new combs, and on looking at them a week later I found on one comb two queen-cells, both empty. Can you kindly explain the reason of this ? — Stanley Waus, West Dulvnch, June 30. Reply. — We should suppose that it was not a " top," but a second swarm, and that the young queen got lost on her mating trip. It may be that it was a top swarm, and that the old queen by some means has come to grief ; but, as a rule, swarms desert the hive if the queen is not with them. In any case you should see to the bees having a queen, or the colony will be useless for any purpose. [1504] Bees Dying in Front of Hives. — Using Improper Naphthaline — 1. Do you think the cause of bees crawling in front of hives, apparently unable to fly, and so dying off from cold, is due to naphthaline which has now been removed from top of straw skep several days ? 2. Would prepared naphthaline, such as you send out, have had the same effect 1 3, Can you advise anything to give the bees as a remedy for the " overdose " of naphthaline got from chemist ? 4. Would you advise me to remove the bees from skep into box-hive fitted with foundation (I have not comb to give them), or is it too late in the season for this 1 They are fairly strong, and I have seen no dead bees removed from hive. But still every day there are more of these poor crawling bees chilling to death on the ground. 5. I have been told since that one ought to use naphthaline spe- cially prepared for bees which is not costive like that bought from chemists. If this is so, surely bee-keepers ought to be warned of this. — Marcus W. B. Osmaston, Dover, July 3. Reply. — 1. It may be that the very young bees have got chilled in consequence of bad packing when setting sections on top of skep. 2. We cannot say what the effect of over- dosing would be on young bees beyond per- haps causing them to crawl out of hive from aversion to the " overdosing " referred to. 3. Nothing beyond removal of the cause of mis- chief. 4. Unless bees are fairly strong now and are fed liberally they would not be likely to do well transferred so late from skep to frame-hive. 5. It is surely more reasonable that bee-keepers should themselves take care to procure the kind of naphthaline we recom- mend, than that we should be constantly uttering the warnings referred to. We only undertook to supply a suitable article to prevent the mischief complained of — and often mentioned in our pages before — and thought this was now well-known to our readers. [1505.] Transferring from Sleeps. — I started bee-keeping this season for the first time by buying a stock in skep, and had everything ready to transfer them to the breeding-box of a frame-hive ; but, acting under advice, I merely placed the skep in outer-case of the hive and left it there. The consequence was that after a time the bees began to build combs within the case. I have now placed in the breeding-box with the skep on top for bees to transfer themselves. They have been thus for a week, and I should now like to know : — 1. Have I acted rightly ? 2. Can I take the skep out at the end of three weeks and drive any bees that may not have gone down into July 9, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 277 breeding-box? 3. Would any brood be left after the three weeks, and, if so, what would be the best thing to do with it ? Or would you advise leaving the skep as it is till next spring ? I want to get everything in proper order before the season is over, if possible. — A. E. Ellis, Weymouth, July 6. Keply. — From what took place we should suppose you do not possess a book on bee- keeping, and if this is so, the first thing we advise is to get one, for no one can hope to manage bees well without some guidance. For the rest we answer 1 and 2. Your first act ("under advice") was altogether wrong, as the subsequent event showed, and it is now too late in the season to afford much hope of the bees taking possession of the brood-chamber of frame-hive this year. 3. The bees will no doubt continue breeding in skep, and, as we have said, not transfer the brood-nest below this season. We fear your transferring will have to be deferred till next year unless some reliable bee-keeper, on inspecting the skep and contents, thinks it a desirable case for trans- ferring bees and combs to the frame hive by the ordinary method of driving and cutting out combs. [1 506.] " Wells* Hives and their Manage- ment.— I have a "Wells" hive, one compart- ment only containing a stock of bees. Unfor- tunately, there are shallow-frames beneath those of standard size, and only entrances and a fixed porch to this shallow-frame body. This stock being very strong, I propose dividing it by placing half the brood and bees on the other side of perforated dummies ; at the same time removing the old queen and introducing a young hybrid queen to each compartment. Of course I can diminish the number of standard frames by removing some and replacing them with dummies ; but to do likewise with the shallow-frames below will give me a lot of trouble, and I have no shallow dummies. 1. All things considered, will it be best time to divide stock and intro- duce young queens when lime-tree blossoms are over ? 2. May the bees then have all the shallow-frames left below, and a few standards above 1 3. Will the bees winter best with all the shallow bars below ? 4. What is the best method of checking wax moth ? 5. Is there not great danger — when removing the shallow- frames below in a" Wells " hive — of queens and bees mixing and fighting 1 6. May queens when received in travelling cages be detained in them several days before intro- ducing to a stock 1 7. What is the space that just prevents a worker bee from passing through it ? 8. Can you give me any help in finding queens ? I am, I think, naturally quick-sighted, but sometimes have been uncer- tain as to worker and sometimes drones being the desired queen ? — Albert J. Conder, Ipsivich, Julg 4. Reply. — Before replying to queries as pnumerated, we cannot promise success in working such a " Wells '' hive as the one described. Having, as we learn, Mr. Wells's pamphlet, on the working of his double-queen system, by you, the first desideratum ought to be a hive in which that system can be properly carried out, and however we might manage to overcome such difficulties as present them- selves in the " Wells " hive referred to, it cannot be easily made clear to one who is manifestly inexperienced in bee-management. Having said this much we reply as follows : — 1. Seeing that it is now the second week in July the sooner the attempt is made to estab- lish two colonies from one the better. 2 and 3. We should have the shallow-frames away from below before dividing the colony at all. 4. Keeping stocks strong will prevent moths getting a foothold, but a few pieces of naph- thaline placed among the quilts is also helpful. 5. Yes, very great danger indeed in any but skilful hands. 6. Though queens will live for several days in properly-prepared travelling cages it is not wise to keep them so any longer than is absolutely necessary. 7. A shade under ^th of an inch. 8. Only practice will enable any one to pick out queens readily. There is no rule that can be stated in words beyond saying that size and general appear- ance enables a quick eye to detect a queen with ease. [1507.] Making Artificial Swarm from Skeps. — For the past four or five weeks I have had a skep " hanging out '' near to swarming, but failing to "come off," and so, losing all patience at their delay, I drove them on Saturday, along with the bees of two other skeps, and united the lot in a frame-hive. Just as I had completed the affair, and was about to refresh with a cup of tea, I noticed a bee with sluggish flight hovering round me. It proved to be a queen, for after some trouble I captured her, and was much surprised at the circum- stance. In driving I saw neither queen (besides this one) and have searched in vain for queen-cells in the skep from which the swarm appeared about to depart. I therefore ask : — 1. Is it usual for the queen to take flight, as this one had done ? 2. Did I do right in putting the queen into a queenless hive, leaving the chance of there being two others with the driven bees ? I have not yet looked for a queen in the frame-hive, but I see to-day they have five full frames of foundation drawn out and honey stored. I am very pleased with the new " Guide Book," and note the many and useful hints it contains. — W. H. Murch, Glastonbury, July 1. Reply. — 1. After three lots of bees have been driven and united it would not at all surprise us to see a queen on the wing, though it cannot be called "usual.'' 2. Yes, just what we should have done ourselves, unless a spare queen was badly wanted, in which case the presence of a queen with the driven bees would have been assured before giving them the stray one. 278 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 9, 1896. [1508.] Increasing Stocks. — I have three stocks of bees and am anxious to increase them to four. I do not want to disturb the bees until after the honey flow, i.e., the middle or end of this month, when I should like to make an " artificial swarm," as described in query No. 1500, p. 268, in last week's issue of the B.B.J. But it appears that a requisite for success is that the operation be performed in the swarming season. Would you kindly advise me whether this course would be prac- ticable now ? Or, if not, is there any alterna- tive method of increasing my stocks ? — R. Dymond, Southgatc, July 6. Reply. — The end of July is late for making artificial swarms (which means getting queens mated in mid-August) ; but there need be no difficulty in making up a fourth stock from three on hand at the cost of trifle for a surplus queen. These may usually be had at " driving " time for a couple of shillings. With such a queen it only needs to take a couple of combs from each of the three stocks, cage the queen on one of them, and make a nucleus swarm as described on page 268. WEATHER REPORT. Westbourne, Sussex, June, 1896. Rainfall, 1*75 in. Heaviest fall, '59 on 12th. Rain fell on 12 days. Above average, '08 in. Maximum Tempera- ture, 79° on 14th. Minimum Tempera- ture, 38° on 1st. Minimum on Grass, 31° on 1st. Frosty Nights, 0. Sunshine, 263 '4 hours. Brightest Day, 1st, 15 1 hours. Sunless Days, 1. Above Average, 43*3 hours. Maximum, Minimum, Temperature, Mean 67-4°. Mean 49-8°. Mean 58-6°. Above average, 11°. Maximum Barometer, 30-35° on 29th. Minimum Barometer, 29-37° on 9th. L. B. BlRKETT. $m ghauts t0 (fijjme. July 14 and 15. — At Gainsboro', in con- nection with the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. Bees, honey, and bee-appliances. July 20. — Change of Date. — Home Park, Windsor. Windsor District Berks B.K.A. show of bees, honey, and appliances, in con- junction with the Prmce Consort's Association. For schedules apply Mr. W. S. Darby, Consort Villas, Clewer, Berks. Entries close July 13. July 22-23— At Longton. Staff's B.K.A. in connection with the annual exhibition of the Staffordshire Agricultural Society. Show of bees, honey, and appliances. July 24 and 25. — Bristol, Somerset and South Glos. B.K.A. shows at Knowle. Also at Hen bury, July 29 — Entries close July 17 and July 22. Schedules from Miss Da we, Hon. Sec, Long Ashton, near Bristol. July 23, North Norfolk B.K.A, Annual Show at Melton Constable Park. Entries close July 16. Schedules from C. J. Cooke, hon. sec, Edgefield, Melton Constable. August 1. — Helsby, Cheshire. Special class for one 1 lb. jar of extracted honey. Entries close July 18. Dr. Brian t, secretary, Helsby by Warrington. August 3 (Bank Holiday).— Berks B K.A. (Newbury District), in connection with the Flower Show. Twelve classes. Liberal prizes. Special open class for comb honey. Entries close July 31. Schedules from W. Hawkes, Hon. Sec, Newtown-road, Newbury. August 3 and 4. — At Delapre Park, North- ampton, Northants B.K.A. Annual Show. Eight classes for honey and five " special prize" classes open to all. Entries close July 28. Schedules from R. Hefford, Secre- tary, Boughton, Northampton. August 5 and 6. — Chester Horticultural Show and Fete. Exhibition of honey, hives, and bee-appliances. To be held on the Roodee. Liberal prizes. Schedules from J. Wynne-Ffoulkes, Crypt-chambers, Chester. Entries close July 23. August 7.— At Strathpeffer, N.B. Strath- peffer and District Horticultural and Bee- keeping Society. Ninth annual show, which includes bees, hive3, and honey. Schedules of. prizes from J. H. Bisset, Schoolhouse, Fodderty, Dingwall. August 13. — At Goole, in connection with the Agricultural and Horticultural Show. Bees and Honey. Entries close August 8. J. Luddington and H. S. White, sees., Lindum House, Goole. August 15. — South of Scotland B.K.A. Annual Show at Dumfries. "Burns Centenary " classes open to all-comers. Schedules now ready. Entries close August 8. James Kerr, Secretary, Douglas-terrace, Dumfries. August 22, at Royton, Lancashire. — The Royton Agricultural Society, in connection with the Manchester and District Bee-keepers' Association. Entries close August 15. Schedules from A. S. Ormerod, 37, Rochdale- road, Royton, Lanes. September 8. — At Moorgreen. Notts B.K.A., in connection with the Greasley, Selston, and Eastwood Agricultural Society. Open class for a 1 lb. bottle of honey. Schedules ready. Apply Geo. Hayes, Mona-st., Beeston, Notts. Entries close August 29. September 9 and 10. — At Derby. In con- nection with the annual show of the Derbyshire Agricultural Society. Fifteenth Annual Show of the D. B.K.A. as above. Liberal prizes for bees, hives, and honey. Six of the eighteen classes are open to all comers. Schedules from F. Walker, Cattle Market, Derby. September 16. — Wotton-under-Edge B.K.A. Annual Show of Honey. In the Church Mill. Schedules from E. W. Read, Hon. Sec, Wotton-under-Edge. ... July 9, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 279 Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. W. Norman1 (Bridport). — Transferring Bees. — It is probable that the queen will go down into the frame-hive, and an examina- tion should therefore be made every few days until either the queen or eggs in the cells are seen in the hive below. When it is made clear that breeding is going on below, excluder zinc should be put on and skep placed above it, and lefc there until all brood has hatched out. Should the queen, however, not take possession of the lower hive, the bee3 must be driven as mentioned. G. G. (Honiton). — 'Harvesting Honey. — 1. It is now too late to give foundation in surplus- chambers and expect it to be drawn out and filled this season. 2. Sections in bulk are invariably sent out in the flat ; the foundation being fixed in them according to the various makes, which include split top- bar, grooved on all sides, single grooves at top, and plain ones without auy grooves at all. The " Guide Book " gives full informa- tion on all these points. M. U. G. (Wellington). — Transferring Bees from Skep to Frame-hives. — The sooner this is done the better now that the honey season is drawing to a close. Some trouble must, however, be taken to get any brood found in comb after driving bees hatched out in an extemporised box set above frames in the new hive, and warmly packed till the young bees have come forth from the cells. (We had 2d. postage to pay on your letter.) Schoolmaster (Sheffield). — Black Bees Cast Out. — Bees like those sent are occasionally found in hives, not born members of the colony in which they are found, but really belonging to other hives. These " black shiny" bees give up honey gathering and develop ju9t such persistent stealing habits as are found in wasps. The pulling about they receive, by bees trying to stop them from helping themselves to stores they have had no hand in gathering, robs them of their pubescence or hairyness, hence the black " shiny " appearance they always bear. You can do nothing with them. C. Thompson (Pickering). — Cane for Sleep- making. — Perhaps some reader will kindly inform our correspondent where, and at what price per lb., cane for skep-making may be bought. W. Crisp. — The communication referred to did not appear because of its not being couched in quite suitable terms for print. Anything of that kind should come in our correspondence column as a letter, and with writer's signature at foot. F. R. Little (Wellington). — 1. Bees are of the common or ordinary kind, and only notice- able for their small size. Being so vicious, we should re-queen them. 2. 47 lb. in section is a fair average take. 4. Brace- combs are not wholly preventable, but the evil is minimised by allowing only a bee- space | in. between super and top-bar3 of brood nest. W. C. H. (South Devoto).— Expert Help Wanted. — We know of no expert in South Devon, nor is there any Bee Association for that county. Perhaps some one of our readers might be willing to help a beginner. G. M. Saunders (Keswick). — Swarms at the Heather. — 1. Only established stocks or combless swarms must be subjected to the risks of a journey to the heather. To at- tempt taking a swarm on tender, just-built combs would entail an almost certain break- down. If you could unite and take a couple of good lots of driven bees, and put them on full frames of foundation after reaching the heather it would be quite safe, and if season turns out a good one they would do well. 2. Put some holes at ends of body-box as in surplus-chambers. Enthusiast (Stonehouse). — Wasps1 Nest for Exhibition. Moving Bees. — 1. The wasps will require to be killed by exposing them to either burning sulphur fumes, or of cyanide of potassium. A shade over the nest to keep in the fumes will be needed to ensure suffocation. 2. It is always best to move bees long distances in frosty weather, and when the combs are as free from brood as possible. H. B. — Treating Foul'tBrood. — 1. So long as the disease is kept in check by the remedies used and treatment adopted, there is every encouragement for continuing, and if you would like to give a fair trial to the "Bertrand Fumigator," which has proved very effectual in careful hands — we will be very pleased to lend you ours. 2. The combs would be safe to use if sprayed with one of the solutions named in " Guide Book." D. S. (Dover). — Cane Sugar for Bees. — Pure cane sugar may be obtained through this office at prices which appear at intervals in advertisement pages. J. W. Laidlaw. — 1. Comb is affected with foul brood of old standing, but not of a very bad type. 2. The restlessness of bees while raising queen is quite normal. South Devon (Newton Abbot). — Honey sent is largely mixed with honey dew, and will not sell for table use in consequence. A. H. Young (Southport). — Suspected Foul Brood. — It is quite impossible for us to give any opinion as to the healthiness or otherwise of the fifteen stocks on hand without having a sample of comb containing brood from one or more of the hives sus- pected. The natural inference, however, is that any colonies doing so well as to be "working in four surplus chambers " are very healthy indeed. 280 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 9, 1896. H. A. Cabb (Wickham Market).— Comb con- tains nothing 'worse than healthy pollen. Some of the bees sent are hybrid Carniolans, and one a fairly-marked Ligurian. F. G. (King's Lynn).— Foul-brood is rapidly developing in comb sent. H. W. (Higham Ferrars). — Comb is touched with foul-brood, slightly, it is true, but there without any doubt. If bees aie strong, you might try the plan proposed, but we cannot add anything (so far as treat- ment) to the article which appeared in our pages a few weeks ago on that subject. Inquirer (Moresby). — If box with postmark, " Parton," is yours, the answer to " H. W.," above will apply to your case. Name and address should always accompany samples. W. W. Sulivan (Longford).— Your letter will appear next week. Special Prepaid Advertisements. Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, dsc. — Up to Twelve words, Sixpence ; for every additional Three words or under, One Penny. THIS Season's Fertile Native QUEENS. 3s. by post. Salmon, Bee Expert, Lower Tuffley, Gloucester. M 55 WANTED, Good HONEY EXTRACTOR; makers name ; lowest price. F. G. Kirkby, 123, Arundel- street, Sheffield. WANTED, BEES or APPLIANCES. EXCHANGE two Turbit Cocks, short thick beaks, &c, stretch, and ropers. Stobo, Low Fell, Gatesheud. M 59 ITALIAN (Ligurian) QUEENS. Price for July, 6s. 6d. each ; English, 3s. 6d. ; Hybrids, 5s. 6d. Carriage paid and safe arrival guaranteed. W. B. Webster, Binfield, Berks. M 56 WANTED, Swarms of LIGURIAN S. EXCHANGE Black Rosecomb Bantam Cock, a perfect gem ; took v.h.c. recently in strong competition ; and black and red Hen. Lewis Lee, Tiverton, Devon. M 58 WANTED, HONEY EXTRACTOR and RIPENER. EXCHANGE Prize-bred Pedigree Spaniel Puppies, ten weeks, or sell 20s. each. Thomas, Trevethan- terrace, Falmouth. M 61 " TTONEY AND ITS USES," ljd. ; 3s. Cd. per 100. ll Also "MEAD, AND HOW TO MAKE IT," and "VINEGAR FROM HONEY," each 2£d. Small sample bottle of Honey Vinegar, 7Jd. Rev. Gerard W. BANCKS, The Green, Dartford. M 57 FOR SALE, EXTRACTOR, thorough working order, cost 35s. ; sell 21s. Also large Iron Fly-wheel, fitted with shaft, for amateur sawbench or lathe ; cost 25s. ; sell 10s. Both delivered Lynn station. Carritt, South Wootton, King's Lynn. STOCKS, Nuclei, Swarms, and Queens.— Address, Rev. C. Brereton, Pulborough, Sussex. TO BE SOLD, Cheap, 7 old STRAW HIVES, 2 old Wood Hives, 4 New Swarms. Apply, H. Wilson, Grocer, Methley, Leeds. M 53 WANTED.— New SECTIONS, first quality, prompt cash. Also Beeswax and extracted Honey. Manager, Southdown Apiaries, Bexhill, Sussex. 197 LACE PAPER for GLAZING SECTIONS. 100 strips, 7d., 200, Is. 2d.. 800, lg. 6d., 500, 2s. 3d., 1,000, 4s. Post free. Best quality. Neat patterns. W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury. Prepaid Advertisements (Continued) WANTED, SECTIONS, EXTRACTED HONEY, and WAX. Packages lent free to Bee-keepers and Associations. Prompt cash. State lowest price. Address Rev. W. HANDCOCK, Hampton Hill, Middlesex. M 15 RELIABLE QUEENS of 1896, Natives and Hybrids (Ligurian and English). Prolific laying Queens, 5s. 6d. ; Virgin Queens, 3s. Sent post free in my intro- ducing cage. Safe arrival guaranteed. Orders filled in rotation. Henry W. Brice, The Apiary, Thornton Heath. KEELE (STAFFS.) AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. SIXTH ANNUAL SHOW, Thursday, Aug. 6th. Cattle, Horses, Sheep, Poultry, Pigeons, Dogs. OPEN AND COUNTY BEE AND HONEY SHOW. Entrance Fee, Is. each Class. Schedules of W. A. BENSON (Sec), Silverdale, Staffs. CREATING A HONEY MARKET. LEAFLETS BY MOST ADVANCED SCIENTISTS. See Editor's Article in British Bee Journal of 18th June, 1896, recommending these Leaflets, " Honey as Food," to Bee-keepers for distribution. Send P.O. value Is. for packet of Leaflets, T. H0LLIDAT, Astbury, Congleton. SWARMING SEASON, 1896. Why Bee-keepers use the Patent Hinge Plate SELF-HI VER I Because it is the only one in the WORLD that has been PR0YED and found to be a Success!! Send post-card for Leaflet to G. W. HOLE, Patcham Sussex. ROYAL SHOW, 1896. W. P. MEADOWS, SYST0NLSter, WHOLESALE MANUFACTURER of BEE APPLIANCES AGAIN THE MOST SUCCESSFUL EXHIBITOR. Making 14 consecutive years prize taking at the 'Royal.' THREE FIRST PRIZES, including Appliances, Several Second, Third, and Highly Commended. SCREW-CAP HONEY BOTTLES, English Make. Cheap. Clean. Handy. 16-oz. size, per 10 doz., 12/9 ; 8-oz. size, per 6 doz., 7/-. Packing free. "EXPERT SMOKER" STILL THE BEST. Both hands at liberty to work frames. EASY to LIGHT and KEEP ALIGHT. W. T. GARNETT, Steade Road, Sheffield. WEED'S NEW PROCESS FOUNDATION (PROVISIONALLY PROTECTED.) WADE by the A. I. Root Co., Medina, O., is sold to Dealers only through WM. B0XWELL, Patrickswell, Co. Limerick, who is aldo Wholesale Agent for ROOT'S WHITE EXTRA POLISHED SECTIONS, a consignment of which has now arrived at London. The above goods are sold to the public by Messrs. J. H. Howard, Holme ; D. Raitt, Blairgowrie ; G. Rose, Liver- pool ; J. Lee & Son, London ; W P. Meadows, Syston ; J. S. Greenhill, Wimbledon. July 16, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 2S1 dfclitorai $|tatk£8, to. USEFUL HINTS. Weather. — It cannot be truly charged against the weather just now that it is adverse to bees or to honey gathering. Unfortunately, however, for many, the forage is for the most part gone ; conse- quently, heat and sunshine will avail us nothing in filling honey tanks, and most southern bee-keepers will need to be content with such results as are already secured. No doubt better and more satisfactory accounts will be heard from districts further north. Lincoln- shire, for instance, we are told, has had a fine honey-crop from clover, which is also yielding nicely in some other parts of the Midlands, and thence northward. From the southern Midlands and nearer south, however, the weather has, on the whole, been against a big crop, the limes having, at the last, failed to do anything towards redeeming the season from one of " fair only." Referring to the lime honey — which is in some years so helpful in the south — it has been curiously dis- appointing in the several counties close on to the Metropolis. The trees every- where showed a profusion of blossom- buds quite abnormally early in the season ; but the bloom "hung fire," as it were, for an unusually long time, and when at last the hanging bunches of blossom did expand, the bees, for some reason, quite neglected what to us seemed a veritable feast, but what, in their superior wisdom, they, no doubt, knew to be nectarless flowers. Later on the green-fly got possession, but the bees were fortunately still shy of the limes, and the sticky exudation with which the leaves were covered fell to the ground in such quantities as to present the appear- ance of a heavy fall of dew. No doubt many would much rather see it there than harvest supers filled with honey- dew. However, the end soon came, for, in the shortest time within our recollec- tion, the blossom "set," and in our neighbourhood the lime harvest is prac- tically nil. It may or may not chance that the same result has occurred else- where, but the above comprises our experience of the limes in '96. Deposing Unsatisfactory Queens. " — At this season there will be little difficulty in gauging the qualities, bad and good, of the respective queens head- ing the various colonies worked during the present year. Our best queens are valued simply for the all-round qualities of their progeny, while the mothers of unsatisfactory stocks are regarded in an exactly opposite light. This is as it should be. The survival of only the fittest is a law to be ruthlessly applied by the bee-man, and no scruple felt at " pinching " any queens proved to be of no real use in the apiary. In a word, good queens are a sine qiui non to a good bee-keeper, and the time is now at hand for deposing and replacing all unsatis- factory ones by either raising, begging, or buying. If you have time and ability for the task, rear queens ; if a friend has more than he needs, go a-begging; and if other conditions favour the remaining alternative, buy from a reliable queen- raiser. But in any case do not neglect or overlook the importance of getting ;i good queen safely domiciled in every colony before the season closes. Apart from the "queen" question, hoAvever, attention should be given to every hive in the apiary which during the past year has failed to make pro- gress in comparison with contiguous colonies. There may be a dozen reasons for failure, but the actual cause should, if possible, be ascertained and remedied. Combs may be old, dirty with age, misshapen, or pollen-clogged. Worse than all, foul brood may be spreading within the hive, and where this is the case it is downright folly to put up a stock so affected for wintering among a lot of healthy ones. But be the cause what it may, do not pack the bees of non-prospering colonies away for winter- without an attempt to remedy the failure. Granulation of Honey. — The con- siderable variation in time during which honey will remain liquid is a constant source of puzzlement to bee-keepers, and the cause of a regular repetition of the inquiry, how long a time elapses before honey granulates or becomes solid 1 Those who have had much experience of the matter, however, know that the length of time cannot possibly be fixed. A fairly accurate calculation may. no doubt be made, under certain circumstances, by those who have handled honev gathered 282 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 16, 1896. in various districts where special kinds of bee-forage are regularly grown, as to whether a particular crop is likely to granulate soon, or keep liquid for a year or so. But it is little beyond a more or less safe guess in any case : a guess ventured upon in view of the weather conditions at the time of gathering and the source from whence the honey is ob- tained. This is about all that can be done in "timing " granulation without the need for dipping more deeply into the science of the subject than the ordinary bee- keeper cares to do. We may, however, just touch upon the scientific view of the question by observ- ing that honey consists of two distinct saccharine portions, viz. : dextrose (grape- sugar) — this may be termed the c^ystal- line portion — and levulose (fruit-sugar), which is incapable of crystallisation. Chemically, however, these two sub- stances, though dissimilar in the respect mentioned above, are identical in compo- sition. Both containing particles of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in the pro- portion of six to twelve to six ; the chemical formula being C6 H12 06. They are also identical in most of their chemical reactions, while possessing widely different physical properties. The crystalline portion (dextrose) turns a ray of polarised light to the' right, and the non-crystalline (levulose) turns the polar- ised ray to the left. The great bulk of normal honey consists of almost equal parts of dextrose and levulose — or invert sugar as it is usually called — water, and a minute quantity of formic acid; but the actual proportions sometimes vary, and, according to the source from whence the nectar is gathered, one may predominate over the other, thus either retarding or accelerating granulation. Another cause of variation in the time during which honey granulates may be brought about mechanically, as it were ; as whenever it happens that honey, while in the comb, begins to granulate, and is afterwards ex- tracted, some portion of the crystals may remain behind in the comb, thus causing the non-crystallisable sugar (or levulose) to predominate. Such honey — from which the dextrose is partially separated — will, no doubt, remain liquid for a long time. The widely-varied action of time so far as affecting granulation, is also shown by noting its effect on honey gathered from different sources. To illustrate the point let us take two types of honey, each having distinctly different charac- teristics in this line, viz., that from white clover and from mustard. Clover honey — -collected in a good season for that product, i.e., one of continuous warm, dry weather during the gathering time — will, if well kept in a suitable place, generally retain its liquid condi- tion for one or two years (often more) without any appreciable deterioration in quality, whether in comb or in jars. (Within the last few days we partook of a section of clover honey gathered in 1894, the condition and quality of which was simply perfect in every respect.) But the same variety of honey gathered under different weather conditions will, in some seasons, granulate before the end of the same year. On the other hand, honey from the mustard-fields of Lincolnshire, gathered in the finest and driest of weather, will become quite solid in a couple of weeks after being extracted. The difference, then, in time of granulating largely de- pends on the component parts of the honey dealt with, and for the rest upon the weather condition at the time of gathering. And these facts should make clear the impossibility of fixing the time for granulation by rule of thumb. Regarding the temperature for keeping comb honey liquid as long as possible, about 65 to 75 deg. is generally con- sidered best for the purpose. To store it either at a much higher, or at, say, ten degrees lower than the temperature stated is not nearly so effectual as a preservative. But the keeping properties of extracted honey are largely dependent on the bee- keeper himself, so far as knowing what samples are likely, to remain in good condition, and those in which fermenta- tion is sure to be set up if kept beyond the season in which they are gathered. Thin honey — we mean thin when ex- tracted— never keeps well. Moreover, the watery portion which rises to the top of honey in bulk, should never be mixed along with that intended for keeping. A small portion of such thin watery stuff, instead of being itself ripened by blending with ripe honey of good consistency, will rather tend to spoil the lot by setting up fermentation. July 16, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 283 " A Novel Bee-smoker." — It may be remembered that there appeared in our issue of March 19 an illustrated descrip- tion of a bee-smoker shown at the conver- sazione of the B.B.K.A. by the Chairman. Very soon afterwards several inquiries were made as to where the appliance could be purchased. As a result of these inquiries we communicated with the maker on the Continent, and in the end obtained a supply of the articles, not exactly like the one shown on the occa- sion referred to, but of a larger make, suitable for burning the ordinary fuel used here in lieu of tobacco with which the smaller one was charged for use. To cheapen the cost of carriage we got a few more over than were actually ordered, and these we will be very pleased to for- ward to applicants, so long as they last, at 3s. 6d. each post free. This price does not include the adjuncts for spray- ing with insecticide or other liquids ; these extras not being considered neces- sary for bee-keepers' use. They may, however, be ordered for 9d. extra. BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The monthly meeting of the Council was held at 105, Jermyn-street, S.W., on Friday, July 10, Mr. Cowan occupying the chair. There were also present the Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligb, Messrs. R. T. Andrews, W. Broughton Carr, W. O'B. Glennie, W. H. Harris, J. H. New, E. D. Till, with J. M. Hooker (Kent B.K.A.), R. Hamlyn-Harris (Bristol B.K.A., ex- officio), and the secretary (Edwin H. YouDg). The minutes of the meeting held on June 12 were read and confirmed. Letters of regret at enforced absence were read from the Baroness Burdett-Coutts and the Rev. G. W. Bancks. The folio wing new members were elected, viz., Professor J. R. Ainsworth Davis, Univer- sity College, Aberystwyth ; Mr. John Barnes, 78, Pendle-street, Blackburn. Mr. Cowan presented the report of the Finance Committee, recommending payment of various accounts, including the prize moneys awarded at the recent "Royal" Show ; arid, on the motion of Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Carr, the recommendations of the committee were agreed to. The results of examinations for third-class expert certificates at St. Ives, Cornwall, and at Leicester, were made known to the meeting by Mr, Cowan and Mr. Carr respectively. The Chairman, as steward of the department, reported favourably upon the show of honey and appliances recently held at Leicester, which certainly proved to be one of the most interesting and attractive features of this ever increasingly popular exhibition. It was satis- factory to be able to report that the whole arrangements passed off without a single hitch. A discussion ensued relative to simple packages for transit of honey by rail to or from shows, &c, and a sub-committee was appointed to draw up suggestions in regard to the matter. Mr. Cowan stated that, in an interview with Major Craigie, the latter had promised to con- sider the matter of the collection of statistics by the Inland Revenue Department relating to the bee-keeping industry in the country. On the motion of Mr. Till, seconded by Mr. Harris, a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Cowan for his trouble in preparing the leaflet on " Foul Brood" for issue by the Board of Agriculture. The Council then adjourned till September 10. IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION The Committee met on the 2nd inst, Mr. Read in the chair. It was resolved that an examination for experts' certificates should be held in the latter half of September at the Instructive Apiary on the Model Farm of the Commissioners of National Education at Glasnevin. Special arrangements were made for the examination of those attending the Association's lectures at this apiary, and it was resolved to increase the number of stocks there. HERTFORDSHIRE BEE - KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The first annual general meeting of this Association, as newly constituted, was held on Thursday, July 9, within the Hatfield Horticultural Society's show grounds. Though the attendance of members was limited, con- siderable interest was shown and the business of the meeting carried through satisfactorilv. The committee would be very pleased to receive the names of bee-keepers in the county wishing to join, and if they will com- municate with the Secretary, 14, Essex-road, Watford, copies of the rules, together with the privileges of membership, will be forwarded them at once. The Secretary would also be glad to have the names of experienced bee-keepers who are willing to act as local secretaries or advisers in their respective districts. The thanks of the Society are due to the Rev. Lord William Cecil and Messrs. F. C. Harrison and J. Gregory for their assistance and interest on the occasion. — (Communicated,) 284 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 16, 1896. (tymttytrnkwi. The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. *** In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. NOTES BY THE WAY. [2557.] The opening of July was anything but genial for bee-work ; winds, boisterous as a March gale, with showers of rain and cold enough to confine bees indoors. All this while the lime blossoms were spending their sweetness in vain so far as the honey-bee was concerned. On the 5th a change for the better occurred and the bees worked hard and long. They have also worked well on the limes for a week past, adding considerably to the number of finished sections. I don't remember a greater profusion of lime-bloom than this year. A sprinkling of white clover, too, has made a fair show in some fields, and by footpaths and road-sides ; there has also been plenty of blackberry-bloom where allowed to grow. The present fashion of closely- clipped hedges, however, curtails the bloom of this plant and also of the " May-blossom" in this district. I notice that the quality of super-foundation is still engaging the attention of bee-keepers. So far as this season's foundation, I have myself nothing to complain of. A parcel from one maker, however, had white paper between every sheet, and the said paper was " weighed in" as foundation. Now, however necessary it may be from the dealer's point, I do not consider it necessary to weigh paper as wax at a good price per lb. even to prevent the sheets sticking together; and it is not fair to customers. Now that the crop is harvested, attention will be concentrated on the sale of same at best prices obtainable ; these best prices are generally secured in the "home market,'1 and every endeavour should be made to extend this market and foster a taste for home- grown honey. The output increases every year, and a glutted market makes prices rule low ; hence the urgeDt need for extend- ing the consumption. If the bee-industry suffers it is not from over-stocking but under- consumption. Let us educate the multitude to eat honey as food and use it as medicine in many diseases. How to start a home honey- trade may seem difficult to some, but the first thing is to let neighbours know that you have honey for sale. This can be done either by advertisement in the local paper or by distri- bution of leaflets on " Honey and its Uses." Then there are neat transparencies for display in your window, if your house faces the road. These can be seen by day, or after dark by lamp-light in the evening, and will set tongues wagging and bring some customers. Particu- lars of all these things and where obtainable may be gathered from the advertising pages of the B.B.J. I feel sure that, with a little push, bee-keepers with a few hives may sell all their produce in this way, while those owning a dozen or more hives may develop a growing trade at a good price in the provincial towns around them by inducing grocers, chemists, confectioners, dairymen, and fruiterers to stock a few sections and jars of honey Here, again, is an opening for Mr. Rose to publish a neat window bill, lettered :— "Pure English Honey, from the Apiary of Mr. or Mrs. , Sold Here." These might be sup- plied to tradespeople, and would call attention to the fact that the honey was produced in the neighbourhood. Then, again, the placards also give a continuous free advertisement of your apiary and product, which tells in due course. The honey trade will surely grow if only that of uniform good quality is put up for sale at one fixed price, second quality being sold at a correspondingly lower price. The bee-keeper who hopes to succeed in establishing a market, must put his honey up in a commercial package. Sections may be put in either tin or cardboard boxes glazed both sides. The only objection to this method is the cost, which should be kept down in every possible way. So far as I know, there is only one altei native plan that is cheaper and yet efficient, i.e., by glazing each section. But this is a big job, and means close applica- tion to work for many hours, or even days where a good quantity of honey is produced. The question may be asked, " Does it pay ? " I say yes ! And I will try to show how : — It pays, 1st, by improving the appearance, i.e., making the honey more presentable to the buyer ; 2ndly, by protecting the honey from contamination with strong-smelling articles standing close by, also by preserving its purity until sold. Then, to sum up. The materials for glazing, &c, can be had at a cost of about 6d. per dozen sections ; and as honey, when glazed in lace paper, will be equal, if not superior, to the sections put into cases, you can charge Is. per dozen more for glazed than unglazed sections, thus having 6d. per dozen for the labour of glazing, and enabling you to sell the honey, with the same profit to yourself, at Is. per dozen less than if put up in cases. There are not many bee-keepers who pro- duce the quantity of comb-honey I do myself. There are probably fewer still who possess a wife that will stick to the work of glazing sections — week after week as orders come in during the greater part of the year — as I am proud to say Mrs. Woodley does. This is one of the secrets of my successful bee-keep- ing.— W. Woodlet, Beedon, Newbury. July 16, 1896.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 285 SCOTTISH B.K.A. SUCCESSFUL MEETING IN GLASGOW. [2558.] A meeting of bee-keepers interested in the reorganisation of S.B.K.A. was held at Mclnnes Hotel, 12, Hutcheson-street, Glas- gow, on Wednesday, July 8, at 3 p.m. There was a good attendance. Mr. James Johnston, Touch, Stirling, was voted to the chair. The chairman then called upon the Rev. Robert McClelland (secretary, pro tern.) to make a state- ment. Mr. McClelland began by pointing out the noble work done by the Pioneer Bee Society, the Caledonian, and specially referred to the efforts of R. J. Bennett, Esq. He then men- tioned the important work inaugurated by the S.B.K.A., the zeal and munificence of Sir T. D. Gibson-Carmichael, and the marked ability and untiring energy of Mr. John Wishart in connection therewith. At the same time he pointed out certain defects and mistakes which the existence of the S.B.K.A. had brought to light, and which would be avoided in future. These were very fairly set forth in the article in a recent issue of the British Bee Journal. The questions before them were these : Was a National Association necessary 1 Would such an Association find proper support ? And, if so, how was the thing to be done ? Mr. McClelland showed most conclusively that there was never more need of the S.B.K.A than now, that it never bad a better chance of succeeding than at present, and indicated the main lines of action to be taken. Thereafter a conference took place, in which every one present had a part. It was unanimously and most enthusiastically agreed to continue the S.B.K.A-, and for the present to adopt its constitution and rules en bloc. A very strong executive committee from those present, and including the former members of committee, was appointed to act with Mr. McClelland in the work of reorgani- sation. It was hoped that an autumn exhibi- tion of bees, hives, and honey might be arranged in connection with the Caledonian Horticultural Society in Edinburgh. Mean- time, bee-keepers and bee associations through- out Scotland, and friends south of Scotland, are most earnestly requested to send their names and such personal subscriptions and collections from others as they can gather to the hon. secretary, Mr. McClelland. A very special financial effort is needed at once. Letters promising help and offering handsome subscriptions were read. The meeting was graced by the presence of ladies. — Robert McClelland, The Manse, Inchinnan, Ben- frew, N.B. THE BEE-STING AND ITS ANTIDOTE. [2559.] On the afternoon of July 5 I watched one of my hives turning out the drones ; is not this unusually early 1 and do you think that it may be in consequence of an old drone-breeding queen ? I have about thirty hives in all, and none of the others have as yet commenced the execution of the mas- culine innocents. It has been frequently asserted that when a bee inflicts a sting it thereby loses its life. I observed the drone- killing business for at least an hour : a few escaped, but the majority were stung, and fell lifeless over the alighting board, the execu- tioner, in every instance, so far as my observa- tion went, flying away to all appearance un- injured. When a bee inflicts a sting it usually leaves its weapon behind with the poison-bag attached ; ignorant bee-keepers seize the latter between finger and thumb in order to pull out the sting, thus squeezing the poison-bag, and giving them- selves a double dose of its contents. When manipulating bees, have a small bottle of strong solution of ammonia (liq. ammon. fort, of the British Pharmacopoeia) in your waist- coat pocket ; the instant you are stung apply a drop or two of this solution, then take a knife and scrape out the sting without squeezing the poison-bag. The success of this operation depends entirely upon its immediate application. It is, therefore, not a question of minutes but of seconds, and the remedy must be at once to hand if it is to be of any good at all. The bee-poison is chiefly, if not entirely, due to formic acid, so called because it was first obtained from the red ant (Formica rufa). This acid also exists in the leaves of the common stinging-nettle ( Urtica urens). It would be interesting to know whether a bee, having parted with its sting and poison-bag, is ever able to reproduce the same during the short period of existence which is allotted to it. That the bee dies after stinging is an unde- niable fact, but whether post hoc, or propter hoc, is a question which I think is not yet satisfactorily determined.— R. K., Spalding, July 10. [The casting out of drones from the hive referred to was a safe indication that all idea of swarming or of queen- raising by that par- ticular colony is over for the present season. Drones, however, are far less frequently stung to death than most people suppose. It would be more correct to say they are starved and worried to death than stung ! As a matter of fact, the poor drones, if not fed by the bee?, become weak and helpless ; while refused their usual food and allowed no rest — through being continually pulled about by the bees — many of them huddle together in some out-of-the-way part of the hive and die there, others are dragged out half-dead by the bees and dropped on the ground to die. Very few, indeed, however, are actually stung to death. Referring to our correspondent's question, whether a bee "is ever able to reproduce " either its sting or poison-bag after having been deprived of the same, we entertain no doubt of the impossi- bility of such reproduction by the bee. Nor can there, to our mind, be any uncertainty as to the subsequent death of the insect, being a 28 6 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 16, 1896. direct consequence of the mutilation suffered. and our correspondent may, we think, safely accept propter hoc as the correct phrase. — Eds.] BEE-STINGS AND REMEDIES. [2560.] I have read with interest the various communications which have lately appeared in the B.B.J, on the above subjects, the net result of which appears to be that, while in- dividual bee - keepers have each their own specific for alleviating the pain caused by stings, there is no infallible remedy yet dis- covered which will meet all cases. There is, however, a point in regard to bee- stings on which some of our scientific bee- friends may be able to throw some light, more particularly as it is a matter which I do not remember to have seen noticed by any writer on bees which I have come across, and, in order to bring out the better what I mean, to state my own case. For some time after start- ing bee-keeping, fifteen or sixteen years ago, every sting got in working amongst my hives was to me a source not only of pain but a good deal of discomfort, from the surrounding parts becoming swollen and inflamed, and, when the eye or nose was the object of attack, the alteration made on these organs was the opposite of improving to the countenance ; by and by, however, and after two or three severe attacks by angry bees, when the stings received would run from a dozen to a score, I seem to have got inoculated, and all but proof against the poison, so much so that in the course of ten or fifteen minutes after a sting the acute pain is gone, and there is no swelling. But while this the general rule with me, now and then an exception occurs, and this is the point 1 wish information or opinion upon. In these excep- tional cases the pain and swelling caused by a sting are as bad as ever they were ; the other day, in removing a crate of sections, I got three stings, two on the back of the hand, and one on the forearm. Within a minute or two after sweding set in, and it took thirty-six hours to restore the hand and arm to a normal condition, and how this should be the case at one time and not at another is what puzzles me. Possibly you, Mr. Editor, or some of your readers, may be able to throw some light on the subject. Is it due to some particular con- dition of bodily health ? Or from the bees being in an angry mood ? Or from the sting penetrating some part more susceptible to the poison i Or, is it one of those things, of which there are many in all departments of science, which, with our present knowledge, cannot be explained ? — J. Anderson, Selkirk, N.B., July 14. EXPERT HELP WANTED. [2561.] With reference to "Expert Help Wanted," mentioned in your reply to W. C. H. on page 279 of last week's Journal. I am not an expert, but have had many years' experience with bees, and would there- fore render your correspondent any help I could, provided he is within easy distance. — E. Wide, Hemyock, Collumpton, Devon. P.S. — It is to our discredit that you should be able to say " nor is there any bee associa- tion for that county.'' e that the skep had been roughly handled in transit, as there was not a whole comb lett. I wrote to say it was plainly gross careless- ness on the part of the Rail Co., as I had sent bees to different parts of England and not had a mishap like it before. They were packed according to directions given in the B.B.J. The Company refuse to make any compensation. Now, as the bees were packed aid labelled all right, I cannot see that Ave should be the losers through their neglect. They undertook without demur to carry them, and must be held responsible for damage which followed. Ought I, being the sender, to have made the claim ? The station-master tells me he would not take in any more bees packed similarly unless put in a slatted crate. If any brother in the craft has had a similar grievance, I shall be very pleased to hear how he mended matters ? Trusting you will kindly append your views of what is best to do at foot — John Lyon, Cambs. [The question of liability is one which depends entirely upon the County Court Judge before whom your claim against the Railway Co. would come if brought to trial. There- fore our own opinion will have little or no weight. It is one thing to give directions for packing bees in print, and quite another to decide whether or not the directions have been properly carried out. So that even though the directions in Bee Journal were quoted, the real point would be the value of the evidence offered by those who had handled the bees, yourself, of course, included. — Eds.] BEE NOTE3 FROM MANCHESTER. [2572.] The season here opened most pro- pitiously. Swarms early, stock? strong, surplus honey from spring blossoms, every- thing to cheer the heart of the bee-keeper, who, piling up his supers, hoped to reap a bountiful harvest from the clover. And then, when the fields — nay, the very lanes and road- sides— were one mass of whiteness, when the moment of the realisation of bis hopes was at hand, he was treated to choice selection of weather " samples," which brought low his hopes. Cold, dull weather and rain kept the bees at home, and the clover harvest " was not." Still, from the limes we got a week's gather- ing, and with the gleanings from the clover aftermath, our tale of surplus will pay a mode- rate " divi." on the year's working. Bees Refusing to enter Sections. — I have noticed frequent queries under this heading, and am frequently asked by members about here how it is the bees won't go up into the supers. I generally tell them I am not good at conundrums ; but an inspection of their supers speedily supplies the answer. A couple of thin quilts over the top of the crate, and absolutely nothing round it, nor over the ends of the frames of the brood-nest, and then often so slovenly spaced that scores of dead bees are found between them. Per- sonally, I never experience any difficulty in 306 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [July 30, 1896. getting bees up. Super at the right time, before preparations for swarming have com- menced. Lightly pa^k round the crate with felting — old newspapers will do — and cover over the top with several layers of old carpet or old garments (cast-off under-vests make excellent top packing), and a layer or two of straw wine-bottle covers, and the bees will go up ; at least, I find they do. There is another thing to be observed, though, and that is to put your excluder on in a proper manner. I do not allude to the direction in which the slots run, for I find them equally taken to whether at right angles or parallel to the frames of the brood chamber. There is a right and a wrong side to the excluder, and if you Avill pass your hand over each side of it you will find one side perfectly smooth, but the other is quite rough, and almost cuts your hand as it passes over. A little consideration will show you that this rough cutting edge must impede the bees ; therefore see that the smooth surface is placed next to the body-box. Flat - Bottomed Foundation. — I have again to report non- success from the use of this. Several racks on different lines were fitted up with this, interspersed with "natural base" and "starters" only. In every case the flat-bottomed has been refused, while the natural base and starters have been worked on. I have taken off racks in which "flat-bottomed'' foundation has been entirely ignored whilst all the others have been finished. From other members, and especially beginners, I have heard the same tale, and the melting-pot this year will see a great quantity of this commodity. Foul-Brood Preventives. — I always use naphthol beta in my syrup, and naphtholine in the hives, and counsel all bee-keepers to do the same ; indeed, when on my rounds I carry the latter with me, and present some to those who don't use it or have run out. I firmly believe in it — yet what can we do when a " first-class expert '' and " foul-brood specialist" tells people it is no good, and asks them " Why they use that stuff ? " taking it out of the hives and stamping it under foot ? In the face of the teachings of the new editions of " Modern Bee-Keeping " and " Cowan's Guide Book," how do you reconcile this ? — Frederick H. Taylor, Local Hon. Secretary. [We should be very pleased to have the name of the "first-class expert'' referred to. It might be useful information to get at the soundness or otherwise of the particular views he expounds on the subject, with the object of testing his capacitv for retaining the certificate he holds. — Eds.] SECTIONS FOR SHOWING. WIDTH OF EDGING AT YORKSHIRE SHOW. [2^73.] I should be much obliged to you if you could find room for a few words from me in your Journal about the making-up of sections for shows. I have just returned from the Yorkshire Agricultural Society's Meeting, at which there has been a magnificent display of honey, and after conversations with bee- men there I feel that the matter of making-up sections needs the consideration of those in high places among us ; of course I mean in regard to the width of the covering case and " lace-edging " across the face of the comb. Should there not be some maximum limit to the hiding of pop-holes in this way ? I think so. At York there were some sections covered for as nearly a3 possible three- quarters of an inch each side. In the interests of judges (who cannot possibly take each section out of its case), and of competitors alike, there should be some rule on the subject, and the breaking of it should dis- qualify an exhibitor. The best of all ways of showing sections, in my opinion, is to put them iD the old-fashioned folding glass-case, which hides nothing ; but if this cannot be, let there be a limit to the width of lace-paper edging. I am not writing as a discontented exhibitor, for my own help to tha York Show received ample notice from the painstaking judge, and I am quite willing to give my name and address. — Sidney Smith, Wheldrake Bectory. York, July 25, 1896. [So far as width of edging for sections, it is quite a customary rule at important shows to limit the width to % of an inch. Why this was not done at the Yorkshire we cannot say. The Yorkshire Bee-Keepers' Association would no doubt get the matter righted if appealed to. — Eds. J EXPERT HELP WANTED. [2574.] If your correspondent " W. H. C." (p. 279 of B.J. for July 9) is resident in this district I shall be very pleased to help him, if I can. The fact of such help being required leads me to ask, Why cannot this magnificent county for bees raise and support a bee- keepers' association ? — Fredk. P. Smith, Digbys, Exeter, July 21. TRANSPARENT WINDOW BILLS. [2575.] Referring to Mr. W. Woodley's suggestions on pige 284 of Bee Journal for the 16th inst., I have seen my printers upon the matter. The difficulty, of course, is that to print transparencies " Pure English Honey, from the apiary of Mr. (or Mrs.) , sold here," means specially printing the whole trans- parency for each Mr. or Mrs., as it is not practical to print and leave vacant space to be filled in by indiarubber stamp, or even ordinary printing. There is nearly the same labour and use of machines for, say, 100 as for 1,000 ; the cost of 100 specially printed will then be proportionately higher. July 30, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 307 If large honey producers will respond to Mr. Woodley's suggestion I will undertake to supply to all applying 100 transparencies printed as suggested, with the producer's name in bold letters, for 10s. per 100. I think with Mr. Woodley it would be a remunerative outlay, and it would have the one effect at least of holding customers to the producer. A tradesman who once puts such a trans- parency well on his windows will find it a difficulty to get it off, and is likely, having thus publicly given out whose honey he sells, to be very reluctant to change.— George Rose, Liverpool, July 20. eatb ot flibr. Walter /ifcarrin, OF WAINFLEET, LINCOLNSHIRE. The sad news of the almost sudden death of the above-named gentleman, in the very prime of life and apparently robust health, will, we are sure, be received with profound sorrow by a large number of our readers, by whom he was well known and highly esteemed. For many years prior to the death of his father (Mr. Jas. Martin, of Wainfleet Hall, Lines.), Mr. W. Martin was an active and influential supporter of the bee-industry, not only in his own county, but as a prominent member of the B.B.K.A. His latest work in connection with the Htter body was in his capacity of County Councillor for the Lindsey Division of Lines. ; being appointed a member of the Joint Committee on foul brood legisla- tion, now preparing a Bill for presenting to Par- liament. Mr. Martin also officiated for a long time as one of the judges of the bee and honey department of the " Royal " show, in which capacity it has been our pleasure for a good many successive years to have him as a col- league. He was too much occupied with the manage- ment of the large business and estate ^eft him by his father, to allow of devoting so much time as formerly to the bees, but even up to the last " Boyal " show his well-known and commanding figure was seen, looking the picture of health and strength, only to be cut off in a few weeks. The Hon. Sec. of the Lines. B.K.A. sends the following further particulars relating to the sad event: — " Mr. Walter Martin died at Skegness on Tuesday, August 11, at the early age of 39. lie was quite well and attended to business at Louth on August 6, and was present at a meeting of the Lindsey County Council the following day. He recently suffered from an abcess at the root of a tooth, which he had removed. But on Sunday erysipelas in- tervened, which rapidly spread to his brain, and he breathed his last as stated above, and was interred at Wainfleet on Friday last, August 14. By his decease the bee-keepers in Lines, have lost a staunch friend and a strong supporter of our craft. It was entirely through his generosity that our County Asso- Aug. 20, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 333 ciation was re-organised in 1889 ; he made an offer of £5 to the funds of the " new '' Asso- ciation if a suitable secretary could be found ; one was soon forthcoming, and so the Associa- tion, which had been allowed to lapse for several years, thus started into new life, and on so firm a footing that it is now one of the most flourishing in the kingdom. As a member of the council of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, he also started the Honey and Bee-Appliance Department at this great show, and his influence as a mem- ber of the Technical Education Committee of the Lindsey CO., secured a grant of £25, which sum has been annually given to the B.K.A. for lectures on Bee-keeping in these parts of the county He was a member of the Committee of the L.B.K.A., but through pressure of business he was not able to spare the time to attend the meetings, but ha had the welfare of the Association at heart, and no one but myself knows the assistance he has rendered by his kindly counsel and friendly advice." On our own behalf, and for numerous friends who are readers of this Journal, we tender our deep and sincere sympathy to the widow and family in their great sorrow. HUNTINGDONSHIRE B.K.A. The fourteenth annual show of bees and bee-produce was held at St. Ives, in conjunc- tion with the exhibition of the St. Ives Horticultural Society, on the 30th ult. For a small show it was a very satisfactory one indeed, especially as the county of Hunts is this season unfortunate in having — along with so many other good honey counties — its honey of a darker shade than usual. Some very good honey was, however, shown, and in the Trophy class two very good dis- plays were made by Mr. Woods and Mr. Brown respectively, the former carrying off the silver challenge cup for the second time, so that one more " win " will make it his own property. There is an interesting fact in connection with one exhibitor who was present at the show. Mr. E. Allen — who took 3rd prize for wax — has been a bee-keeper fifty-three years. He commenced with a stray swarm which settled in the stump of a tree. Equipped with stockings on his hands, and aided by no intimidant, he changed their domicile to a straw skep, and only once since that time has he been without bees. Mr. W. Broughton Carr judged the exhibits, and also conducted an examination for third- class experts' certificates of the B.B.K. A. Awards. Observatory Hive. — 1st, E. Brown, Somer- sham. Twelve 1-lb. Sections.— 1st, W. H. Woods, Hemingford Grey; 2nd, A. Sharp, Brampton; 3rd, R. Brown, Somersham. Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, W. Woods ; 2nd, J. Osborn, Buckden ; 3rd, R. Brown. Twelve 1-lb. Jars Granulated Honey.— 1st, R. Brown ; 2nd, W. H. Woods. Three Shallow Frames for Extracting. — 1st, R. Brown. Beeswax. — 1st, R. Brown ; 2nd, J. Osborn, Buckden ; 3rd, E. Allen, Godmanchester. Display of Honey (Silver Challenge Cup). —1st, W. H. Woods ; 2nd, R. Brown.— C. N. White, hon. sec. Hunts B.K.A. SHOW AT KINGSBRIDGE, DEVON. The Kingsbridge Cottage and Horticultural Society held its annual exhibition of bees, honey, &c, on August 13, and it is gratifying to note the increase in this section of the show for the second year. The Rev. T. F. Boultbee, who judged the exhibits, made the following awards : — Twelve 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, H. Patey, Chil- lington ; 2nd, C. Marks, Frogmore. Six 1-lb. Sections.— 1st, C. Marks ; 2nd, J. Parkhouse, Kingsbridge. Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, C. Marks ; 2nd, H. Patey ; Com. Rev. W. T. Adey. Collection of Honey. — 1st, C. Marks. Beeswax. — 1st, C. Marks ; 2nd, H. Patey. The show was a complete success, the whole of the arrangements being carried out under the personal supervision of Mr. Jno. Blackler, senr. During the afternoon the Rev. W. T. Adey gave at intervals inteiesting lectures on bee- keeping, &c. — {Communicated ) HONEY SHOW AT NESTON, WILTS. The bee-keepers of Neston and neighbour- hood have, by their exhibition of honey at the AtAvorth and District Flower Show on August 5th, shown they have a good article in that district, and are determined to make the best use of their products. The show was held in the beautiful grounds of Neston Park, Wilts, by permission of G. P. Fuller, Esq. The great improvement in the exhibits may be attributed to the demonstrative lessons by Mr. Owen, of Corsham, during the last two years, and the lectures of Mr. Martin, as over 700 lbs. of honey were shown in the twelve classes, making it difficult work awarding the prizes. Mr. Martin, of Bath, again officiated as judge, and made the following awards : — Twelve 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, A. J. Bird ; 2nd, H. Frankham ; 3rd, F. Sheppard. Six 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. W. Spencer ; 2nd, J. Barnett ; 3rd, E. Davis. 334 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 20, 1896. Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, H. Frankham ; 2nd, T. Owen ; 3rd, A. J. Bird. Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, J. Barnett ; 2nd, F. Sheppard ; 3rd, E. Davis. Honey Trophy.— 1st, A. J. Bird ; 2nd, H. Frankham ; 3rd, T. Owen. Super of Honey. — 1st, T. Owen ; 2nd, R. Pearce. Shalloio Frame of Comb Honey. — 1st, J. Barnett ; 2od, T. Owen ; 3rd, H. Frankham. Honey Comb above Albs. — 1st, H. Frank- ham ; 2nd, J. Barnett ; 3rd, T. Owen. Single l-lb. Jar Extracted Honey (Open). —1st, T. Owen ; 2nd, E. Davis ; 3rd, S. Barnett. Single l-lb. Section (Open). — 1st, Kev. W. E. Burkitt ; 2nd, J. Barnett ; 3rd, T. Owen. Beeswax. — 1st, H. Frankham ; 2nd, T. Owen ; 3rd, E. Davis. Greatest number of Queen Wasps. — 1st, H. Hulbert ; 2nd, E. Davis ; 3rd, J. Mortimer. Best Exhibit by Members of Bee Class. — 1st, J. Barnett ; 2nd, E. Davis. — (Communicated ) THE SHOW AT CHESTER. Referring to our report of the above show as printed on page 323 last week, we were obliged to rely on the local press for list of awards in the honey classes. And, as the commended exhibits were not included therein, we append the full list as being necessary where the competition was so keen and close among the large number of entries staged. HONEY (OPEN CLASSES). Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Stone, Cubley ; 2nd, Wm. Woodley, Beedon ; 3rd, W. P. Meadows, Syston ; h.c, Fred. Dutton, Huxley ; c, John Davies. Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Homy. — 1st, Wm. "Woodley ; 2 ad, W. P. Meadows; 3rd, Rev. T. J. Evans, Hargrave Vicarage ; v.h.c, Jas. Williams ; h.c, Thos. Evans, Sanghall ; J. Hughes, Sanghall ; J. Cotgreave, Har- grave ; J. Shelton, Syston ; and 0. Roberts ; c , H. W. Herrod, .Newark-on-Trent ; and P. Cotgreave. Two Shallow Frames for Extracting. — 1st, J. Sheltoa ; 2nd, W. P. Meidows ; 3rd, J. Cuanah, Marford ; c, Mc3. Knowles and Dr. B. E. Jones. MEMBERS ONLY. Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, Rev. T. J. Evans ; 2nd, R. Dodd ; 3rd, F. Dutton ; h.c, F. J. Williamson ; c, J. Hughes. Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, 0. Roberts ; 2nd, W. Forrester ; 3rd, Rev. T. J. Evans ; v.h.c, S. Eatoa, 0. Roberts, and J. Williams ; h.c, Rev. T. J. Evans, J. Hughes, T. Evan?, and Mrs. E. Jones ; c.; P. Cotgreave. ' ABOUT OUR BEES. BY HENRY W. BRICE. XVI. WINTER NECESSITIES. As the season draws to a close it becomes necessary to give attention to preparing for the safety and comfort of our bees during the long period of rest. Few fully appreciate the importance of timely and carefully preparation of our colonies to bring them out in the best condition for work in the new year. With the advent of September stocks must have attention before the nights get too cold. The first necessity is to remove all frames but such as are well covered with bees ; this done, be quite sure that there is sufficient food within the hive for at least six months' consumption. Twenty pounds is the lowest estimate I can put down as rendering a good colony safe for that period, and this should be supplemented by a two pound cake of soft candy placed over the frames. Anything below this amount should be supplied rapidly that it may be sealed over, and every preparation within and without the hive finished by the first week in October. Colonies having more than sufficient stores, may have a frame or two of food removed and given to those stocks which are short, if the bees from which the food is taken are healthy. In feeding, use only pure cane sugar ; 10 lbs. to 5 pints of water, boil for a minute, then stir in a teaspoonful of salt and a few drops of naphthol beta solution, made as directed on the packet. After feeding up is completed, remove a central comb (broodless, of course) and replace with a frame of empty worker- comb, for the bees to cluster upon. The reason for this will also provide breeding-room for the queen, and, further, as cold weather comes on, much of the most recently-stored food will be used for the daily wants of the colony, so that every vacant cell in particular comb so placed in centre will contain a live bee, thus making the cluster more compact, and tending greatly to preserve the heat within a limited space. As the weather becomes colder, remove every frame of comb not covered with bees, and place a well-fitting dummy board in position to close all up. And after setting on the cake of candy mentioned above, cover all down. Do not disfigure combs by cutting winter passages through them ; the bees will eat passage-ways through the candy-cake for themselves better than any we can provide them with. Never attempt to winter weak stocks ; and as for winter packing, as has been well said, the best packing for bees is bees. My experience with regard to packing is that, whilst advocating outer cases and inner walls to all hives, the air-space between these two is all sufficient, and that it is unnecessary to pack the sides of hives at all. The one spot that requires packing is the top of brood-nest ; here we cannot well put on too much; a chaff cushion and a few Aug. 20, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 335 porous quilts on top is about right ; then over all a waterproof quilt or a newspaper ; finally, a good sound roof ; and if the bees and stores in the month of October are in good condition we may content ourselves with knowledge that, however severe the winter may be, our bees are safe and snug. Many recommend spacing the frames wider apart than ordinary for winter, this is good in its way, but where metal ends are in use I should not recom- mend the plan. Another "fad" of mine is never to remove the brace - combs from tops of the frames when preparing for winter. I simply place the candy above any projecting pieces of comb, and thus natural winter passages are formed at once. When the spring is well advanced, the frame- tops are scraped clean, so that quilts lie close down and keep in the warmth of brood-nest. In the absence of brace-combs a couple of pieces of stick are laid crossways along the frames before placing the cake of candy there- od, thus ensuring passage-ways over the frames. Make the candy cake as per recipe on p. 160 of the " Guide Book," but with the addition of a J lb. of honey to every 18 lb. of sugar. Even small stocks with young queens may be successfully wintered under a well- made cake of candy. As an instance of this, I became the possessor last November of a nucleus colony, in which the bees barely covered two frames, and had hardly any stores at all. I placed a big cake of warm candy on the top, piled on a lot of coverings, and left them alone all winter. The bees came out well, and made a good stock during the present season. Another great point to see to is that the queen is kept breeding quite up to the end of August, or, if possible, well into September. These young, late hatched bees form our sheet- anchor in the following spring. A hive full of old bees in October stands no chance of doing well later on, but, by keeping the old hands hard at work rearing young bees, we replace them with vigorous young workers, which will all survive the long dreary months and bring the stock well on the way to pros- perity in the following spring. Damp in winter is disastrous to bees, therefore make it a sine qua non that roofs are watertight ; when wet penetrates to the bees from the top while they are in quiescent state, the stock will almost certainly be ruined. Plenty of ventilation is needed in tbe hive equally as in the summer-time, but winter ventilation must be of the right sort, i.e., by porous coverings above and 2 in. or 3 in. of open space below the frames. All hives are not capable of being so arranged, but I am convinced that the space at the bottom is most advantageous, and the entrance can either be narrowed or left wide open, as the space pro- vides abundant room for air to slowly percolate through the cluster of bees, and finally take its exit, via the quilt, without loss of any heat whatever, as the body of packing above retains the warmth, and the cake of candy immediately over the bees causes the air to escape round its outer edge, and not directly over the bees. Should the entrances become covered up with snow, let it remain while the severe weather lasts, but when the change comes clear all away, and shade entrances from bright sun. Under any circumstances, in the winter season, it is only necessary to make sure that the bees have plenty of stores, and this can be ascertained by pressing the paper covering the candy cake, or by just turning up the corner of the quilts without disturbing the bees at all. Should food be required, take another cake of candy, tear an opening in the paper covering of the old cake, fold it back, and quickly place the new cake over the aper- ture so made, and if the cake is slightly hollowed out in the centre it saves even the crushing of a single bee. I have placed cakes of warm candy by this method over my bees in most inclement weather, and always with success, and beneficial results. — Thornton Heath. (To be continued.) tysxmpvikML The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. Communications relating to the literary department reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, dec, must be addressed only to " The Editors of the ' British Bee Journal, ' 17, King William- street, Strand, London, W.C." All business' communi- cations relating to Advertisements, die, must be addressed to "The Manager, ' British Bee Journal' Office, 17, King William- street, Strand, London, W.C." (see 1st page of advertisements). *** In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. MY THREE SEASONS' BEE-KEEPING. A SUCCESSFUL START. [2594.] A short outline of my three sum- mers' experience of bee-keeping and its results may be of interest to some of your readers. After attending five lectures on bee-keeping in the spring of 1894, I, in the following May, bought a swarm and, not having a frame-hive, kept them for a time in the skep. When the skep was full of comb, I put on a super hold- ing seven shallow frames, and as soon as bees had filled these frames, I removed them and transferred bees and combs into a frame-hive, and prepared them to pass the winter. In the June of same year (1894) I bought a 336 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 20, 1896. second swarm and put them into a frame-hive, the bees filling the six frames given them on hiving in about ten days, and completing the full complement of ten less than a week later. They then had a box of shallow frames put on, and quickly filled eight, which, after ex- tracting, were replaced and again filled, but the honey flow was over before the capping was down. This hive is No. 2 in my apiary, and I mention it as I shall have something further to say about it. The shallow frames I use are wide-spaced, and weigh from 4 lb. to 5 lb. and over when full ; but I only allow each to hold, when extracted, 3 lb., as I wish to be well within the mark in estimating the quantity of honey I get. At the end of '94 1 drove some cottagers' bees ; this was done in August, and I put them on frames of foundation, which they worked out into combs, and came out in '95 a fine strong lot. Of course, they were well fed while drawing out the foundation. I started '95 with three lots of bees in frame-hives, and also bought a small stock in skep. From these I filled during the summer two double hives, the only single one (No. 2 of last year) left turning out a really splendid lot of bees, and they alone, besides giving an enormous swarm — which no tiering up would prevent — also gave me forty-two sections, twenty shallow frames, and two deep frames of honey. From one of the double hives I obtained ten sections, thirty-six shallow-frames, and five deep frames (this hive is No. 3) ; and from the other double hive (No. 5) I got six shallow frames and eighteen sections. Allowing for brood that got into some of the shallow frames of No. 2, and allowing at the rate of 3 lb. of honey [for each wide-spaced frame, I consider that this hive gave me 100 lb. of honey besides the great swarm. No. 3 hive gave 131 lb., and No. 5 hive 36 lb. As the bees were fresh to the two latter hives, I consider they were handicapped, and therefore the yield was not a fair estimate of a summer's work. I have had no swarm this year (1896), and started with No. 2 (single), No. 3 (double) (one side empty from robbing by its partners ; but this I filled with bees on four frames, which had thus wintered, having been driven in August 1895 from a straw skep, and this side of the hive had, of course, to work out several sheets of foundation to make up the requisite number of ten frames. I had two or three worked-out frames by me, and this, of course, saved them some labour), and No. 5 hive (double). From these I have taken the following : — From No. 2, 21 sections, 7 shallow-frames completed, and 8 shallow- frames not completed. From No. 3 hive, 31 shallow-frames, 8 deep-frames, and 34 sec- tions. From No. 5 hive, 27 shallow-frames, 2 deep-frames, and 21 sections. They are all wide-spaced, and, at my estimate of 3 lb. each, I get from my three hives as follows, viz. : — No. 2, 54 1b.; No. 3, 151 lb. ; and No. 5, 108 lb, or a total of 313 lb. From this it will be seen that No. 2, single hive, has given in the three summers 1881b. of honey besides a large swarm, while No. 3 (double hive) has given in two summers 282 lb. This hive has a iy inch division board, with all the holes blocked up from the time I first put the bees in. I cannot see the advantage of these per- forations, for my small experience is that the bees fill up the holes at once. This hive, being the first double hive I made, has a floor- board from which the brood-chamber has to be lifted off, a fatal mistake, in my opinion, for two reasons — it is too heavy to be easily lifted off, and, if it is, there is the fear of the queens getting together. To clean this hive I have to put all the bees into a spare hive, which is a rather long process. The second double hive (No. 5) I made, I remedied this defect by making the floor-board freely moveable, and putting it on with hinges, the hinges being on the outside so as to be easily unscrewed. I fear I shall be very much trespassing on your valuable space, but the great interest in the subject leads me on to write more than I intended. — F. L. Nicholls, Fulboum, August 16, 1896. [We congratulate our correspondent on his success, which shows him to be possessed of aptness for the pursuit. — Eds.] LIGHT v. DARK HONEY. EFFECTS OF SOIL ON COLOUR. [2595 ] Referring to Mr. Attfield's letter, which appears on page 321 of last week's B. J., and your notes thereon, I may say the discus- son arose on account of the samples of honey sent to you being exhibited at our show at Newbury on August 3, which place is in the centre of our best bee-keeping district, and it naturally aroused some curiosity as to what it came from. Mr. Attfield, who very kindly brought with him a beautiful collection of flowers representing the flora of his district in addition to his exhibit of honey, and in which, as coming from Ascot, heather largely pre- dominated, Mr. Burkett and myself, as judges, thought at first that this accounted for the colour, but when it came to flavour we were, like yourselves, disappointed, and in discuss- ing the matter afterwards we found from Mr. Attfield that having been gathered early in the season there was but very little heather honey in it. Thereupon arose the question why the honey was so dark, Mr. Attfield contending that the soil of a district largely affects the colour of the honey ; and, given the same plants in two districts, but grown in different soils, the colours would be as markedly different as his sample is from the best honey produced in West Berks. While agreeing that it may have some effect upon the colour, we held that it could not possibly do so to the extent of the case we were discussing. But it raised a very Aug. 20, 1896.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 337 interesting question which perhaps some readers of the Bee Journal may like to ventilate and investigate, viz. : The effect of soil upon the colour of honey. It was this rather than the commercial value which was discussed, as the latter must be left to public taste and fashion to decide. — A. D. Woodley, 17, Marketplace, Beading, August 17. [The above reaches us when preparing for press. We may, however, refer to the matter next week, and in the meantime will be glad to have any opinion — based if possible on ex- perience— that readers may favour us with. — Eds. 'J LIGHT v. DARK HONEY. [2596.] Thank you for Editorial in last week's Journal in support of separate classes at shows for dark honey. If those in authority could only arrange a class for dark honey at the Dairy Show, it would be a great assistance to bee-keepers in dark honey districts. The honey staged at the Dairy Show is accepted as a guide by the public of what, at any rate, honey should look like. If it is once seen that dark honey always receives recognition, the demand will, as a matter of course, in- crease. In deciding between a light and dark honey, equal in all respects except colour, judges must necessarily give preference to the light, and any objection to this would be un- reasonable. This is the dark honey pro- ducers' grievance, and will be so until dark honey classes are instituted. Very little dark honey is staged at the Dairy Show, but plenty would be if there was a class for it. — A. N., Upper Clapton, August 14. BEE-KEEPERS AND THE DAIRY SHOW. [2597.] May I be allowed to suggest the advisability of asking through your columns that those who intend visiting the forthcoming Dairy Show at the Agricultural Hall will record their names in the B.J. ? I do this, believing it would be useful as conducing to friendly intercourse among the members of our craft. Customers will meet dealers and dealers meet customers, and those of small experience would touch those who have a reputation, and per- haps it would induce more to contribute to the special fund for that occasion. Anyway, I offer the suggestion for what it is worth. — John Brown, Bolyphant, nr. Launceston, August 11. THE SEASON IN IRELAND. [2598.] My black bees have done splendid work (about 50 lb. per hive to August 1) ; all collected after that remains in brood chamber for winter. Four Italian stocks have done nothing but breed ; they are not, however (as described in page 132 of " Guide Book"), " similar in size to the black bee,'' as ?ny blacks are very much larger and more bulky than the Italians I have. The Italian drones went through excluder to supers while young. At the Flower Show held recently in Ennis by the Clare County Horticultural Society, there were general complaints by honey exhi- bitors of bees having done badly ; very little honey and no swarms. This, in my opinion, was due to the extraordinary fine weather which commenced on April 18, the bees in a short time filling up the brood-combs with honey and depriving the queen of laying room, so that the regular honey flow about the middle of May found those who did not attend to their hives, with very weak stocks to collect the harvest. Could you give, in your next issue, the address of a queen breeder in Carniola, and what language com- munications should be written in ? — Wm. Halpin, Jun., Newmarhet-on-Fergus, August 13. [Reply to query re Carniolans will appear next week. — Eds.] EXPERTS AND FOUL BROOD PRE- VENTIVES. [2599.] Your correspondent (2588), p. 326, opens his letter with this remark, " As there are only two first-class experts in the L. & C.B.K.A. — of whom I happen to be one." This statement is misleading. 'lhe gentle- man, whose name appears at foot of letter quoted from, is no longer employed by our Association, and has no official connection with it whatever. As to the paragraph in my communication of the 30th ult., being in possession of certain information, and being also the sworn enemy of foul brood and pledged to wage war against this ravaging foe, I deemed it my duty to ask your opinion on the matter. I carefully avoided all reference to any county or indi- vidual, as I was and am not desirous that any individual should suffer the " extreme penalty of the law," but hoped that the warning con- veyed in my letter and your footnote appended thereto would serve. I cannot oblige your correspondent by withdrawing one iota of the paragraph, seeing that to do so would be to cast imputations on the truthfulness of my informant, whose veracity is undoubted. Nor can I gratify his curiosity by revealing the name that was given me, as this would be a grave breach of confidence. — Frederick H. Taylor, Birch Fold Cottage, Falloivfield, near Manchester, August 14. HALF RATES FOR HONEY BY RAIL- In response to inquiries for particulars as to half rates mentioned on page 267 of our issue for July 2, we append particulars as given by the South-Eastern Railway Company, which 338 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 20, 1896. may be taken as those now adopted by all Companies offering the "half rate " at owner's risk. The official notice reads as under : — The South-Eastern Railway Company has adopted the following reduced scale of rates for the conveyance of small consignments of farm produce, such as fresh butter, egas, cream aod cream cheese, fresh meat, dead poultry, dead rabbits, fruit (outdoor), mush- rooms, and honey, at owner's risk, by passenger train between aoy two s'ations on the line. Distances Weight not Exceeding not exceeding 141b 211b 281b'321b 1 361b 401b 441b 481b 521b 561b 30 miles . . 31 to 50 -/6 76 -/6 -16 76 76 76 76 77 77 miles . . 51 to 100 76 -/6 ■P -/8 79 710 711 V- 1/1 1/2 miles . . Above 100 ■n 79 -1X1 1/- 1/2 1/3 1/5 1/6 1/8 1/9 miles .. -/io V- 1/2 1/4 1/6 1/8 1/10 2/- 2/2 2/4 The above rates include delivery within the usual radius where that service is performed by the Company, minimum as for 14 lb. ; no less charge than 6d. Live poultry and pigeons (for consumption), vegetables (other than hot-house), and cheese are carried at the reduced scale, with a mini- mum cha-ge as for 56 lb. ADULTERATED HONEY AT MAERDY. A correspondent sends a cutting from the Glamorgan Free Press, Pontypridd, which reads as follows : — " Mr. Thomas Roberts, grocer, Maerdy, was summoned UDder the Food and Drugs Act at the Pontypridd Petty Sessions on Wednesday for selling honey in which was mixed fifty per cent, of dextrose, or starch-sugar, a substance of the value of 4d. per pound, as compared with Is. per pound, the price of pure honey. The sample was taken by Mr. Superintendent Jones, D.C.C., on June 30, and he now pro- duced the analyst's certificate. " The defendant said the honey in question had been in stock a considerable time, having been bought with the goods from his mother when she gave up the business. He believed it to be of pure quality. " Dr. Hunter, who was on the Bench, re- marked that patients were often advised to take honey for certain complaints, and added sugar, such as was found in the present sample, had a very injurious effect upon them. "A fine of £3. lis. 6d., including costs, was imposed." DAIRYING AND BEE-KEEPING IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. The Board of Agriculture have recently received a copy of the annual report on the work and proceedings of the Agricultural Bureau of South Australia for the year 1893-94. In respect of bee-keeping, it is stated that the expectations which had been entertained that a market would soon be opened in England for the surplus honey products of the colony have not been fulfilled. It seems that many inquiries have been made by travellers for British provision merchants, but they cannot be referred to any firm in South Australia which will undertake to receive, grade, and consign honey and wax ; and the output at present is not sufficiently large to tempt any English firm to establish a depot for these products alone. The total yearly production of honey in South Australia is estimated at about 600 ton?, and, at the date of the report, it was calculated that probably 200 tons were held in stock, which would be gladly sold at 2^d. to 2|d. per lb., free on board at Port Adelaide. It is believed that with caution in grading, and proper treatment in the markets, there would be an excellent outlet for South Australian honey in Great Britain. (fumes arui Inputs. [1531.] Ligurian Queen Cast Out. — En- closed queen is one I bought and had sent direct from Italy a fortnight ago. I introduced her safely, and on Saturday thought I would have a look to see how sbe was progressing, and on examining the combs was much sur- prised to find neither brood nor eggs. I saw the queen on the combs, and she looked all right then, but about two hours afterwards I found her thrown out on the ground. After warming I got her round and put her back on the top of the frames, but the bees again threw her out, this time almost dead, and in spite of all my efforts at restoration she soon died. I cannot understand why she was cast out, after fourteen days unless I hurt her badly whilst examining the hive. 1. 1 should be mucn obliged if you can say if she is a fertilised queen, because if not, I think it unfair to advertise fertile queens and then to send out virgins, especially so late in the season when there are no drones flying here 1 2. 1 think the fact of her not having laid any eggs at all proves her to be a virgin, does it not 1 — Un- fortunate, Manchester. Reply. — 1. We fear the queen has received some internal injury during her first introduc- tion to the stock. 2. By no means. In fact, any injury to the genital organs might easily stop egg- laying entirely in a hitherta prolific queen. §q j^hmra ta (flume. August 22, at Royton, Lancashire. — The Royton Agricultural Society, in connection with the Manchester and District Bee-keepers' Association. Entries closed. Aug. 20, 1896.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. 339 August 29. — Iu the Corn Exchange. Biggar Bee-keepers' Association. Annual exhibition of bees, honey, wax, &c. Thirteen classes open to all. Entries close August 25. Schedules from Win. Ormiston, sec, Biggar, N.B. August 29. — At Tides well, in connection with the Show of the Floral and Horticul- tural Society. Open to members of the D.B.K.A. Entries received up to day of Show. J. T. Jackson, hon. sec, Tideswell, via Brixton. September 2 and 3. — At Birkenhead. In connection with the Wirral and Birkenhead Agricultural Society. Show of hives and honey. The bee-tent of the L. and C.B.K.A. will be on the ground and lectures given each day. September 5. — Lancashire and Cheshire B.K.A., in connection with Bramhall and Woodford Horticultural Society. Annual show of honey at Bramhall Hall. Open to district and members of the L. and C. B. K. Association only. Schedules from secretary. J. Bell, Davenport, Stockport. September 8 . — At Moorgreen. Notts B.K.A., in connection with the Greasley, Selston, and Eastwood Agricultural Society. Open class for a 1 lb. bottle of honey. Schedules ready. Apply Geo. Hayes, Mona-st., Beeston, Notts. Entries close August 29. September 9 and 10. — At Derby. In con- nection with the annual show of the Derbyshire Agricultural Society. Fifteenth Annual Show of the D.B.K.A. as above. Liberal prizes for bees, hives, and honey. Six of the eighteen classes are open to all comers. Schedules from F. Walker, Cattle Market, Derby. September 16. — Wotton-under-Edge B.K. A. Annual Show of Honey. In the Church Mill. Schedules from E. W. Bead, hon. sec, Wotton-under-Edge. September 26. — At the Corn Exchange, Jedburgh. Annual show of Roxburghshire B.K.A Twenty-eight classes, all open to members free of entry-fee. Entries close September 22. Thos. Clark, secretary, Pleasants Schoolhouse, Jedburgh, N.B. October 20, 21, 22, and 23, at the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington, London, N. Twenty-first Annual Show of the British Dairy Farmers' Association. Eight classes for honey, with liberal prize money, and a class for interesting and instructive exhibits connected with bee culture. Entries close September 21. Schedules from the Secretary, Wm. C. Young, 12, Hanover-square, London. NURSE BEES. There is quite a difference between old field bees and bees which come out of win- ter quarters, as regards their making good nurse bees. The vitality, and different parts or offices performed by the bee, become exhausted, or change in accord with the amount of labour performed, not in accord with the number of days which go by ; hence a bee which has seen five months of winter, where a colony has win- tered to the best advantage, may be no older in reality than the same bee would be at from ten to fifteen days were the date of the season June or July. All know that bees which have been wintered over become good nurse-bees, while nearly all admit that a bee which has been in the field as a worker for two weeks is almost wholly incapacitated for such work ; and, if forced to nurse the larvae, does it as a " make- shift." I have found that a colony losing its queen soon after coming through the winter will rear a very fair queen, though I have never found them to be among the best ; but in order to raise such a fair queen it seems necessary that the nurse-bees should be feeding some larval bees before they set about raising a queen. I have often taken a colony of queenless and broodless bees in the spring, and built them up in this way. As soon as possible after spring opens, give them a frame of eggs and larvae, and in eight or ten days open the hive and break off all queen-cells started, giving brood to them once a week if possible, till plenty of young bees hatch from the first brood given, when I give a frame of choice brood and allow them to raise a queen from the same. In this way I have succeeded in getting queens that would prove of value, and saved a colony which otherwise would have been lo3t. Had I allowed them to perfect a queen from the brood first given, she would have been a makeshift queen, and, in all probability, a drone-layer, as she would have been perfected long before there would have been any drones flying. I firmly hold this belief, coming from long experience along the queen-rearing line, that good queens can not be reared except where there are nurse-bees in the hive, feeding larvae at the time they are required to rear queens. To force any bee, which is not in the habit of preparing chyme, to immediately prepare chyme for a larva intended for a queen, is out of the ordinary course of nature, and the result can be only an apology for the better article. But here is a point I have never seen mentioned, viz., that, so far as my experience goes, the bees, when in the proper shape as to nurse bees, can rear a really good prolific queen from the progeny of this makeshift queen, so that the colony will be a thriving one with a queen reared by supersedure from her brood. In fact, I have often found such queens to equal those reared from the very best of mothers, although I do not advise using such as mothers for a whole apiary. REPLACING AGED QUEENS. First as to the when : This can be done at any time ; but I find that the bees supersede more queens just after the main honey-flow for the season is over than at any other time of the year ; consequently, where I wish to supersede queens for any reason I do it just after the basswood blossoms drop off, as the most of the honey in this locality comes from basswood. Now as to the how : Unless a 340 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. .20, 1896. change in variety of bees is desired, I would advise the beginner to leave this matter of supersedure of queens to the bees, as they will make fewer mistakes, if this matter is left to them, than the smartest bee-keeper in the land —especially where there is any Italian blood in the bees. But if we wish to change the breed of bees, then, of course, the apiarist must do it. The plan I use most, and like best, is to start queen-cells just before the basswood honey-yield closes, when the bees are in the best possible shape to raise extra good queens ; then, two clays before these cells are about to hatch, I go to the colonies having queens which I wish to supersede, and hunt out the queens and kill them. Two days later the nearly mature cells are placed "in queen-cell protectors and placed in these colonies ; and my experience has been that, in nineteen cases out of twenty, young, thrifty, vigorous queens will be found laying in colonies thus treated, fifteen days later. If we do not wish to raise our own queens, we can send away for them ; and to make sure that none shall be killed in introducing (and as a few days without a laying queen in any colony is of little consequence at this time of the year), the old queen should be killed nine days before we expect the new queens to arrive. When thev arrive, open the hive and cut off all queen-cells, when the queen is to be introduced by letting the bees eat the candy away till the queen is liberated, according to instructions generally accompanying the queen. Another way, which is usually successful, is to remove the old queen in the forenoon of a pleasant day, and at night, after the bees have all returned home, give them a little smoke ; and when they are filled with honey allow the new queen to run in at the entrance. Do not open the hive for four or five days, and you will rarely fail. — G. M. Doolittle, in Gleanings. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. Letters or queries asking for addresses of manttfae- turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be rrchased, or replies giving such information, can only 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 Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of iisue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt of their communica- tions. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. W. Shepherd (Tadcaster). — Messrs. Jules Lang & Co., 2, Charterhouse-street, Holborn Circus, are wholesale dealers in honey jars. Write them for list of prices. E. J. Broucjii (Thornton Heath). — Sugar for Bees. — Any pure cane sugar is suitable for bee-food. If, therefore, the kind named is guaranteed as such, you need have no hesi- tation in using it. H. G. Latten (Croydon). — Dark Honey. — The prevalence of dark honey this year is referred to on front page of the present issue. The sample sent is neither better nor worse than many we have received. For household use it is quite good, so long a3 its flavor is not objected to. Wm. Briggs (Abinger) and H. Neve (Heath- field). — No. 2 is the true " ling " or honey heather in Mr. Briggs's samples, No. 1 in those of Mr. Neve. F. W. Osman (Wells). — Honey Samples. — (a) only medium, (b) slightly better in flavour than (a), but neither samples are above third or fourth rate in quality. M. E. Williams (Essex). — Gleaning up Wet Gombs after Extracting. — If the field where it is proposed to put the wet combs is fifty or more yards away from the hive3, they may be cleaned up with little or no disturbance ; but we much prefer to have it done on the hives, putting on the combs after dusk. Sam (Dover). — If the new comb3 are sprayed with the solution named on page 163 of '•' Guide Book " (14th edition), they may be again used with safety. Puzzled (Aspatria). — No sign of disease in comb sent. Young bees have been hatching out freely since comb reached us. D. John (Swansea). — Honey Samples. — Both samples being marked " No. 2 '' we cannot do more than say the light-coloured sample is a nice honey, better than the darker one, which latter is, however, fair in quality. Special Prepaid Advertisements. Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, &c. — Up to Twelve words, Sixpence; for every additional Three words or under, One Penny. B EES WANTED, free from Foul Brood. Must be cheap. GRIMBLY, Minster, Thanet. TEN DOZEN Fine SECTIONS. Offers to CATERER, Model Farm, Shirburn, Tetsworth, Oxon. n 9 HEALTHY DRIVEN BEES, Is. 3d. lb. in 5-lb. lots. Boxes to be returned. E. Long, Fulbourn, Cambs. TWENTIETH YEAR.— Pure Black '96 Tested Queen, 3s. 6d. delivered ; with Swarm, 5s. on rail. Alsford, Expert, Blandford. M 85 EXTRACTED ENGLISH HONEY, in J cwts., 6id. per lb. ; tins free, sample 2d. Deposit. Dutton, Terling Withani, Essex. n 10 WILL EXCHANGE Wheat Mill (will also grind coffee) for Sections of HONEY. Care of JACK, 26, Pall Mall, Manchester. n 12 YOUNG CARNIOLAN HYBRID QUEENS, 3s. Cd., with Nuclei, 10s. Frank Reed, Portslade, Sussex. WILL EXCHANGE White Leghorns (four hens and cockerel), Wades, Tathams, strains worth ]f>s., for two 5-lb. lots of Driven Bees. Must be healthy. Barker, Winton, Kirkby Stephen. N 7 Aug. 27, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 341 Editorial, IfoficeB, &t BEE ASSOCIATI ONS AND THEIR SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT. It becomes more and more evident that the success, or the want of it, attending the working of the great majority of associations established for the promotion of the bee -industry depends almost entirely upon the few individuals who generally constitute the working committee. We use the word " working " in its full sense, and quite apart from the kind of work which con- sists in doing nothing. Given a secretary — made of the right stuff, one moreover who undertakes the task for love of the work — and a couple of clear-headed committee-men, constituted like himself, who act harmoniously, yet with singleness of purpose ; given, we say, these few moving spirits, and how usual a thing it is to find the association under their control successful ! On the other hand — well, we need not particu- larise, but somehow, with no better materials, or more advantageous sur- roundings, the result in too many cases is that things go slow, there is no " push " about the association, and more or less of failure is attributed to " lack of interest," or " too few bee-keepers," "novelty worn off," "poor district for bees," and such like. Without in the slightest degree casting any reflection, or indeed knowing any- thing of the case mentioned below, we are led to these reflections by the receipt of a copy of the Belfast News Letter of the 20th inst., in which appears a letter which explains itself. We rather naturally infer that the paper is sent to us by the writer of the communication referred to, who no doubt feels — as we do ourselves — very keen regret at the winding up of an association which had for its object the promotion of bee-keep- ing, and has for some years past done more or less useful work in the cause, but which now collapses, we suppose, for the reasons given. The letter reads as under : — "Sir,— Mr. W. J. Anderson, The Ards, Caledon, sent me a circular with above head- ing, the purport of the document being the winding up of the Ulster Bee-keepers' Associa- tion. Not being a member I have no right to dispute the proposal, but of the two reasons given for 'winding-up' I dispute one of them, it is stated that ' there are apparently a small number of bee-keepers in Ulster.' 1 am sure that the committee fully believe in the truth of the statement, but if they were more con- versant with the ' bee-keepers of Ulster ' they would not have put that in print, or given it as a reason for throwing up the sponge in a good cause. I have been working frame-hives for eighteen years, and during that time have had ' ups ' as well as ' downs,' but the former more than outweighed the latter, and upon taking a retrospect of my bee years I would, if I had the chance, travel the same over again. We do have an annual show in Armagh in July, and it is always a success. A large tent is set apart for honey and butter, and the tables are covered with exhibits. My friend, Mr. Anderson, took several prizes this year, and there were quite a number of entries. Being- appointed steward of the honey tent, I had but one entry, which was one of 140 lb., but I sold every section and bottle of this at lOd. per lb. During the last few years I have in- duced several to follow my steps, and seven farmers about here are doing so successfully. One farmer to whom I have spoken frequently, who has twenty skeps, but who does not smother bees, or even sell honey, has started with frame-hives, and I hope to have him soon upon the honey-making path. It is, I suppose, quite true that little, if any, interest has been taken iu this Association, but what did the committee or members ever do to let beemen in the country know that they were alive 1 What have they done to pro- mote apiculture1? I am not saying this by way of complaint, but when use is made of a high-sounding name, and nothing more is done, and when the result of this do-nothing policy is fruitless, besides being told that we 1 bee-men are small in number,' I claim the right to make moderate use of my string. But the committee (not one of whom I know even by name) will, I hope, understand that I write in the most friendly spirit. There are hundreds of tons of splendid honey going to waste every year in Ulster, and if farmers were educated into the way of gathering this harvest, the men who would do this con amove, would deserve more than a leather medal. Farmers, I admit, are very slow in adopting any industry introduced for their benefit, especially the bee industry, where they would have to spend a few shillings in appliances, and have little faith in results. I hope, how- ever, that some of the energy of the present Government will be devoted to an Irish industry which will pay the rent. Our money is going for one thing or another into the hands of the foreigner, and we do not seem to see that, for all our financial woes, the remedy is in our own hands. Every month the British Bee Journal publishes the value of honey imported from abroad, and the annual sum paid thus comes to about £70,000 for the 342 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 27, 1896. United Kingdom, not one penny of which should have left this country. This Associa- tion, if it had energy, time, money, and men, could have done a vast amount of good, and with the same materials it can jet do good. There is a vast field before it, and the harvest truly is great. Why, then, ' dissolve ' ] Rather let them review the past, and after such an examination confess that much has been neglected, and resolve that, having put the hand to the plough, they will not turn back. If they do this, and take active steps to ' spread the light,' they will reap the reward. —I am, sir, yours, T. G. Peel, Armagh, August 18.'' Whether Mr. Peel's letter will have any effect so far as causing a reconsidera- tion of the dissolution proposals, we, of course, are unable to say, but it would afford that gentleman an excellent oppor- tunity of trying the effect of putting his own hand to the plough; and, if sup- ported by a few, public-spirited bee- keepers, we might see a repetition of what has, in several instances, occurred in this country, viz., a thriving and suc- cessful association built on the remains of what could not be claimed as either one or the other. BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. A meeting of the representatives of the Northern District was held in the Lecture Tent at Shrewsbury Honey Show, on Wednes- day, August 19th. Miss Eyton on being voted to the chair, extended a welcome to the Committee on behalf of the Shropshire Bee-Keepers' Associa- tion. The Secretary made a statement with regard to the work of the Sub-Committee on " Foul Brood," and read a letter from Mr. W. Lees McClure on the subject, enclosing statistics in respect to the existence of the bee pest in various counties. The list not being yet com- plete, the co-operation of bee-keepers and county .secretaries was asked for in order that the desired information may be in readiness at the time of the introduction of the measure into the House of Lords early next session. Mr. Scattergood expressed satisfaction at the advance being made in foul-brood legislation. Mr. Garrett said he had been applied to by the County Council of Kent for information as to the prevalence of bee pest in bis county, and he had no doubt that the particulars he was able to supply could be largely augmented by the Kent L. K. Association. Mr. Can- stated that this was so, as it was within bis knowledge that the collection of statistics in Kent had been most thorough in its character. Miss Eyton suggested that in addition to County Councils, the county secretaries should in future be communicated with on all matters relating to foul brood, as much infor- mation not otherwise obtainable might be furnished by these officials. The suggestion was endorsed by those present. In response to an inquiry, a copy of the im- proved classification for honey at the ensuing dairy show was placed before the meeting, and it was generally agreed that the extension was such as would be welcomed by all intending exhibitors. A discussion ensued relative to a proposal for including in the Bee and Honey Depart- ment at the Manchester meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society in 1897 a County Honey Trophy Competition, for which good prizes are likely to be offered, provided suffi- cient support in the way of entries is promised by affiliated associations. The proposal was well received, and a suggestion was made that the quantity of honey to be exhibited in each trophy should be limited to about 300 lb. As honey of 1896 would necessarily figure largely in the competition, and would have to be " held over :' by its. owners for the purposes of the exhibition, such limita- tion was considered eminently desirable. A vote of thanks to Miss Eyton for pre- siding terminated the proceedings. SHROPSHIRE B.K.A. ANNUAL SHOW AND HONEY FAIR AT SHREWS- BURY. The above important honey show was held as usual in connection with the Horticultural Society's great fete in the Quarry on the 19th and 20th. Notwithstanding the adverse weather, an enormous number of visitors attended. So far as the Bee-show and Honey Fair — which department was, as heretofore, under the management of the S.B.K.A. — the collection of honey was inferior to that shown in previous years, the season in the Shrewsbury district having been somewhat unfavourable. The falling off in quality was especially notice- able with regard to colour of the honey. The cottagers' exhibits were perhaps the strongest section, and this class was equal if not superior to previous years. One of the best classes was the collections of bee flowers, some of which were very artistically arranged. It would, however, have added to the value for educa- tional purposes had the exhibitors appended the names of the flowers, and wo hope to see this done at the next show. The trophy class attracted some good displays, and the quality of the exhibits was as good as at any previous show, but this competition was open to all counties. Mr. Meadows took first prize with an excellent collection. Miss M. E. EytoD, the hon. sec. and treasurer of the Association, was as U9ual most indefatigable in promoting the success of the honey section of the show, efficient help being rendered by several members of the committee. Aug. 27, 1896.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 343 At intervals during the afternoon Mr. Meadows gave an interesting lecture on bee- keeping, and was able to impart a good deal of information to those interested in the subject — a very numerous body, judging by the many visitors to the tent. The judges were Mr. W. Broughton Carr, of London ; • Mr. Jesse Garratt, Meopham, Kent ; and the Rev. T. J. Evans, Hargrave Vicarage, Chester, who made the following awards : — HONEY CLASSES (OPEN). 24 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, S. Cartwright, Shrewsbury ; 2nd, H. M. Bryans, Malpas, Cheshire. 12 1-lb. Sections of Comb Honey. — 1st, not awarded ; 2nd, A. Hamer, Llanarthney. 24 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, Edward Clowes, Stone ; 2nd, M. Horton, Much Wen- lock. 12 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, H. W. Seymour, Henley-on-Thames ; 2nd, E. W. Jackson, Wilton, Staffs. ; h. c, Mrs. E. Jones, Ellesmere ; c, F. W. Dunsford, Frodshani. 24 1-lb. Jars Extracted Granulated Honey. — 1st, H. Morris, Leebotwood. Extracted Honey from Different Flowers. — 1st, A. Beale, Meole Brace ; 2nd, A. W. Rollins, Stourbridge. 24 1-lb. Sections Jars (Members). — 1st, Phil Jones, Chelmarsh Valley ; 2nd, F. W. Horton, MuchWenlock. 12 1-lb. Sections.— 1st, F. W. Horton ; 2nd, Phil Jones ; c. H. M. Bryans. ' 1 1-lb. Section. — 1st, A. Hamer ; 2nd, Phil Jones. 24 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey.— 1st, F. W. Horton ;''2nd, Mr. Cartwright, Shawbury. 12 1-lb. Ditto.— 1st, Mr. Brocklehurst, Ludlow ; 2nd, Mr. Norris ; 3rd, P. Graham, Montford. 24 lb. Dark Extracted Honey. — 1st, Mr. Clark, Chyknell ; 2nd, Mr. Oakes, Broseley ; h.c, A. Beale. Novelty in Honey or Wax. — 1st, Mr. Hill, Donnington ; h.c, John Bradley, Stoney Stretton. ARTISANS' CLASSES. 2il-lb. Sections. — 1st, Phil Jones ; 2nd, A. Hamer. 12 1-lb. Sections — 1st, Phil Jones ; 2nd, P. Graham ; h.c, Mr. Hill. 24 lb. Extracted Honey.— 1st, P. Graham ; 2nd, Phil Jones. Comb Honey in any Kind of Super. — 1st, Mr. Hill. cottagers' classes. 12 lb. Sections. — 1st, J. T. Croxton, Church Stretton ; 2ad, Mr. Hammonds, Hope Bowdler. Best Exhibition of 12 lb. Bun Honey. — 1st, Geo. Croxton, Yorton ; 2nd, Mr. Ward, Shine- ton, Cressage. Best Six Sections of Comb Honey. — 1st, J. T. Croxton; 2nd, Mr. Hammonds. 6 lb. Extracted Honey. — 1st, Geo. Crox- ton ; 2nd, J. T. Croxton ; 3rd, Mr, Wand. P. W. 1 lb. Jar Extracted Honey. — 1st, George Croxton ; 2nd, Mr. Hammonds. Honey Cake. — 1st, Mrs. Geo. Lloyd. Best 1 lb. Section. — 1st, J. T. Croxton ; 2nd, Mr. Hammonds. Bee Flowers. — 1st, George Lloyd. Honey Trophy (Open). — 1st, W. Meadows ; 2nd, Mr. Bradley ; 3rd, A. Rollins ; c Mr. Pritchard, Bucknell. HIVES AND APPLIANCES (OPEN). Frame-hive (price not to exceed 15s., com- plete).— 1st, Lanaway & Son, Redhill ; 2nd, W. P. Meadows.; h.c, G. H. Varty. Frame-hive (price unlimited). — 1st, W. P . Meadows ; 2nd, G. H. Varty ; h.c, Lanaway & Son. Best Collection of Appliances. — 1st, W. P. Meadows ; 2nd, G. H. Varty ; h.c, T. Whit- tingham. Nciv Invention. — 1st, W. P. Meadows ; h.c, Lanaway & Son, for two exhibits ; c, T. Whittingham. 1-lb. Stock Foundation. — Equal 1st, Messrs. Lanaway and Beale ; v.h.c, W. P. Meadows. 1-lb. Super Foundation. — Equal 1st, bronze medal, Messrs. Lanaway and Meadows ; b c, T. Whittingham ; c, Mr. Beale. Soft Candy. — 1st, Lanaway & Son. Honey Beverage. — 1st, Mr. Beale ; c Mr. Seymour. Whole Fruit in Honey. — 1st, Mrs. George Lloyd ; h. c T. Whittingham. Honey Cake. — 1st, T. Whittingham. Beeswax (Salop only). — 1st, Edward Oakes ; h. c, Mr. Horton. Honey Vinegar. — 1st, T. Whittingham. Bee Flowers.— 1st, J. Bradley ; 2nd, Mr. Beale ; 3rd, George Lloyd. Bees, &c Pure English Bees with Queen. — 1st, Mr. Beale ; 2nd, Mr. Hill. Special Prizes to Winners of First Prizes in Honey Classes. — 1st, Phil Jones ; 2nd, J. T. Croxton ; 3rd, G. Croxton. The first special prize was taken by an artizan member, and the 2nd and 3rd by cottage members. ROYAL LANCASHIRE AGRICUL- TURAL SHOW. The above show was held at Southport on July 31 and August 1 and 3, in fine weather. Owing to the combination of favourable con- ditions under which the show was held, including Bank Holiday on the 3rd, the attendance was, we believe, a record one. The honey department, though well filled in some classes, was scarcely up to the usual standard as far as number of entries. The quality of the exhibits, however, were excel- lent, some very fine specimens being staged. Mr. P. Scattergood, jun., Stapleford, Notts, staged a collection of articles of food, &c, in which bee-products figured as ingredients, 344 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 27, 1896. and Mr. F. IJ. Taylor, Fallowfield, Man- chester, a collection of various kinds of bees, &c. (in spirits) an interesting specimen of comb showing the circular formation of cells when not compressed into the hexagon, with other interesting specimens. Mr. Geo. Rose, of Liverpool and Preston, staged an extensive and excellent collection of hives, appliances, &c, not for competition. The Lancashire and Cheshire Association bee-tent was on the ground, lectures being given each day by Dr. E. Jones and Mr. F. H. Taylor, very large and interested audiences gathering round the tent on each occasion to listen to the lectures. From the interest exhibited in every minor detail ex- plained after the lectures, it would appear that bee-keeping is decidedly on the increase in the County Palatine. The Rev. J. F. Buckler, of Bidston, Cheshire, as judge, made the following awards : — Twelve, l-lb. Sections (open). — 1st, Win. Woodley, Newbury, Berks ; 2nd, John Stone, Cubley, Derby ; 3rd, W. H. Woods, St. Ives, Hunts. Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (open). — 1st, W. H. Woods ; 2nd, Wm. Woodley ; 3rd, B. W. Crisp, Henley-on-Thames; r., Jas. Cragg, Gt. Eccleston. Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (county only). — 1st, Wm. Forrester, Huyton ; 2nd, Jas. Cragg ; 3rd, Dr. B. E. Jones, Freckleton, near Preston ; c, Robt. Rymer, Besketh Bank. Twelve l-lb. Sections (county only). — 1st, Dr. B. E. Jones ; 2nd, Chas. Ashton, Orrell, Seafortb. Interesting Instructive Exhibit connected with Bee-Culture.— V. Scattergood, jun, Stapleford, Notts, and F. H. Taylor, Fallowfield, Man- chester— equal first. — (Communicated.) SHOW AT STRATHPEFFER, N.B. The annual exhibition of the Strathpeffer and District Horticultural and Bee-keeping Society -was held in the Pavilion, Strathpeffer, on the 7th inst., and while the show generally was a good one, the honey and bee-keeping section was to many its chief feature. In fact, the display in this particular department was larger and better than ever before, the season having been a very favourable and lucrative one for honey gathering. All the exhibits were good, Mr. Paterson's especially so. Mr. Reid, Mary bank, judged the bee and honey exhibits, and made the following awards : — Display of Honey from One Apiary. — 1st, A. Paterson, Scotsburn ; 2nd, D. Macvenish, Ferry Brae, Beauly. Honey in Sections.— 1st, A. Paterson. Design in Honey Comb. — A. Paterson. Straw Super. — 1st, D. Macvenish ; 2nd, M. Mackay, Knockfarrel. Super in Wood or Glass — 1st, D. Mac- veDi-h ; 2nd, A. Paterson. Twelve l-lb. Sections (local).— 1st, D. Munro, Dingwall; 2nd, John Matheson, Contin ; 3rd, M. Mackay. Extracted Honey in l-lb. or 2-lb. Jars. — 1st, A. Paterson ; 2nd, D. Macvenish. Beeswax. — A. Paterson. Observatory Hive, Stocked with Bees. — 1st, H. Fraser, Coulwood ; 2nd, A. Paterson. Collection of Humble Bees. — 1st, A. Pater- son ; 2nd, D. Clarke, Strathpeffer. Collection of Bee Appliances, — D. Mac- venish.— (Communicated.) HONEY SHOW AT MARLOW. A most successful show of honey and appliances was held at Marlow, at Court Gar- dens, by permission of R. Griffin, Esq., in conjunction with the Marlow Horticultural Society, on August 19. This is the first special show of honey and appliances held in the Marlow district. The Rev. S. R. Wilkinson deserves the greatest praise for his untiring energy in the cause of modern bee-keeping. The schedule was compiled and the show pro- moted and carried out by him. The judges were Mr. W. S. Darby, lion. sec. Windsor district of the Berks Association, and Mr. Wm. Carter, of the Berks County Committee, whose awards were as follows : — Six l-lb. Sections (local classes). — 1st, J. Carter ; 2nd, J. Maskell. Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey.— 1st, Wm. Maskell ; 2nd, C. Waikling ; 3rd, H. Sawyer. Bell Glass Super. — 1st, Levi Silvey ; 2nd, T. Swadling ; 3rd, Wm. Maskell. OPEN CLASSES. Collection of Appliances. — 1st, Jas. Lee & Sons, London ; 2nd, Webb & Brunsdon, Maidenhead. Best Frame Hive at 10s. — 1st, Jas. Lee & Son ; 2nd, Webb & Brunsdon. Observatory Hive. — 1st, George Sawyer. Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, W. H. Woods ; 2nd, Geo. Sawyer. Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, W. H. Woods ; 2nd, Geo. Sawyer. Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, W. H. Woods ; 2nd, Geo. Sawyer. Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, W. H. Woods ; 2nd, Geo. Sawyer. We are glad to learn the Berks County Council have resolved that the Marlow district in future shall enjoy all the privileges of the Berks Association, so that we may now look forward to that strong support in the cause of bee-keeping which characterised this district when they were connected with the old Asso- ciation of Berk3 and Bucks. — (Communi- cated.) SHOW AT LYTHAM (LANCS.). The first annual show of the Lytham Dog, Poultry, and Pigeon Society was held on August 15 in Lytham Park — honey, butter, Aug. 27, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 345 cheese, eggs, &c, being included in the schedule. As the " Fylde " is known to be a good honey-producing district, the honey department will most probably be a permanent and successful item in future shows. For a first attempt the entries were very satisfactory, and many of the specimens staged of the first quality. The bee-tent of the Lancashire and Cheshire B.K.A. was present, and a lecture and demonstration given by Dr. B. E. Jones, the association lecturer. The day being fine, a large number of visitors were present, and a good audience collected around the bee-tent. The show as a whole was a decided success, and no doubt exists as to it becoming an annual affair. This year the classes were all open, but local classes will in all probability be added in future. Dr. B. E. Jones, of Freckleton, near Preston, judged the honey department, the awards being as follows : — Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, John Roe, Poulton- le-Fylde ; 2nd, Richard Wharton, Treckleton ; 3rd, J. and W. Herrod, Sutton- on-Trent. Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, J. and W. Herrod, Newark ; 2nd, A. Thomas, Ince, near Chester ; 3rd, John Roe. Special prize, silver medal, given for the best exhibit staged, John Roe, for his six sections. — (Communicated.) (S/tsrm^onkut The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the Opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to ivrite on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. *** In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. A CLASSIC COLONY OF BEES. [2600.] At Pompeii, a day or two ago, while examining the ruins of the public baths, I noticed a number of bees flying across one of the open courts, and traced them to their abode. The entrance doorway had recently had a stout wooden lintel put in to support the ruined masonry above. This the bees used for an alighting board, and had established themselves in the wall, just at the corner, not 8 ft. from the ground . It struck me as being a curious spot to select, right in the centre of the city, with at least half a mile of stones, &c, in every direc- tion, with not a sign of vegetation or water nearer. The spot chosen is also one of the most frequented points of interest, while the doorway is one through which almost every visitor passes. From the guide's behaviour and his horror when I made a close inspection, I gathered that the bees had already given practical proof of their existence to inquisitive globe-trotters and tourists bent on seeing everything — even the Pompeiian bee-hive. — Malta, August 18. EXHIBITORS' DIFFICULTIES. WHAT IS A NON-SECTIONAL SUPER ? [2601.] Would you kindly give your opinion in the following case : — At our flower show, in the honey exhibits there was a class " for the best super of honey, not sectional." For this I showed a bar-super made of glass, holding six bars. The bars of honey were fastened to the glass at each side, and were not encased in wood, which would have con- stituted it a bar-framed super. Would you call this a sectional super ? In the same class there wa3 a similar made glass super, but without bars, having a piece of wood on the top, on which foundation was fixed, and the comb worked in frames. I was awarded first prize, but my right to it was dis- puted, as mine was considered to be a sectional super. Would you define mine as sectional as compared with the above 1 Your opinion will greatly oblige. — William Allen, M.B. and C.M., Hawkshead, August 24. [The question of what constitutes a " non- sectional " super so frequently arouses conten- tion among exhibitors that it should be very clearly defined in show schedules ; and, but for the fact that such supers are rapidly and justly disappearing from show-tables (they have already " gone " from all important shows), it might be worth more attention. The case of our correspondent, however, i3 interesting as showing how opinions vary. But we have no hesitation in upholding the judges' award. In fact, of the two supers we consider the one in which all the combs — though on separate bars — were attached to the glass, and, consequently, inseparable with- out cutting the comb and causing the honey to run, is more truly non-sectional than that in which the combs are built in frames, capable of being parted without any fracture or breakage of the combs. Cutting would be required in either case in order to make the super " sectional." And it is far less damaging to the contents to cut wood than combs. — Eds.] ODDMENTS. QUEEN-REARING BY LEARNERS. [2602.] I was much interested in " Learner's " letter on queen-rearing (p. 327), as my ex- perience is similar. I made my first essay in this fascinating branch of the art of bee- keeping in the autumn of '95, with fairly good results. This year I began raising queens in July, and my first difficulty was to get eggs 346 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 27, 1896. laid. I inserted a frame with 2-in. starter in a very strong stock of Italio - Carniolans, having a fine prolific queen of 1895 ; but although the frame remained for a fortnight, her majesty carefully avoided it, so I got no eggs from her ; and in two other ten-frame hives I had similar experience, while in nuclei I obtained eggs easily. In two batches of queens the cells were small ; but while the Italian (hybrid) queens were a fair size, the black ones were perceptibly smaller. In one case, however, the queen is much larger since mating. I did not feed my queen- rearing stocks. Another curious point was that my black queens hatched out in thirteen and fourteen days. I scarcely ever use a smoker. A little carbo- line pomade on my hands and gentle movements generally prevent stings, and I do not mind one or two. It is much easier to find queens without smoke, and, although virgins are supposed to be extra difficult to find, I can generally succeed even with them, though, as a rule, they are very nervous. If, on looking closely over a comb, one bee is seen rushing about and trying to hide, that is generally " her majesty '' in my experience. What a nuisance propolis is ! The man who will invent a preventive will deserve some better reward than a "leather medal." I find this abominable stuff is less used in "W.B.C' hives than in others, and that Italian hybrids are much the worst sinners in its use. I have this season tried the wide frames recommended by Mr. Woodley, and I like them very well. The bees do not waste their time and my temper in building brace- combs upon them. I hope eventually to use no others. — Edward K. Ellcott, Toivcester, August 21. THE GUIDE BOOK. VALUE OF ILLUSTRATIONS. [2603.] I am much pleased to see the letter (2582, p. 323) in Bee Journal of the 13th inst. under this heading. There are, perhaps, few ordinary bee-keepers who have read more books upon apiculture than myself, and from my earliest experiences to the present time I have met with no book on bees which equals in general excellence the present edition of our " Guide Book." The illustrations of work among bees are invaluable, and are practical lessons to all in themselves alone, well worth, in my opinion, all the money. But there is, to my mind, one illustration still wanting in it in order to make the book perfect, and that is a portrait of its much-esteemed author, Mr. T. W. Cowan. A few years ago portraits of " prominent bee-keepers " appeared in the Bee Journal, but even among these our "chief did not figure. I would respectfully ask why ? Hundreds of readers of your columns are un- known to you, Messrs. Editors, and now that the " Guide Book '' has gone, and is going, forth daily, not only over these islands, but over all the bee-keeping world, it does seem to me a thousand pities that some one did not press upon Mr. Cowan that the one thing to make his and our " Guide Book " complete was his own portrait as a frontispiece, even to the displacement of the admirable picture of Mr. Carr " driving " the bees. I feel sure that gentleman will be delighted to take an " inside place" to make room for Mr. Cowan, and thus give readers the pleasure of arriving at some idea of the author, so far as his por- trait will tend to help us. I am not without hope that the next edition — which should soon be needed — will see my suggestion adopted. — H. W. Brice, Thornton Heath. EXPERTS AND FOUL BROOD. [2604.] Lest the first three lines of letter numbered 2,588 (p. 326), in your issue of the 13th inst., should lead your readers to believe that Mr. W. J. Anstey is in the service of the L. & C.B.K.A., the Committee have instructed me to state that Mr. Anstey is not, nor has he been during the present year, in their employ- ment. The Committee have no wish to cast any reflection upon Mr. Anstey, but simply that the fact shall be known. — Wm. Tyrer, Chair- man L. & C.B.K.A., Prescot, August 18. QUEEN INTRODUCTION. [2605.] A rev. gentleman to whom I supplied a queen the other day writes me the following novel description of his method of introducing which may interest and amuse your readers. — A Queen-Rearer, August 24. "Dear Sir, — Her majesty arrived safely this morning. I kept her in her state prison until the evening, to which treatment she made some protest, which, however, convinced me she was able to bear it. "I then took her to the palace where she was to find her home, one built of straw, and, placing; her and her retinue at a little distance, fired deadly missiles at her from the diffuser — for a queen should be prepared to undergo the same treatment as her subjects. I then let her be, and approaching her palace fired upon the sentinels, and drove them back, with no loss however. Having waited a minute or two, I renewed the attack, this time with fire and smoke, that all the inmates might be aware of the importance and solemnity of the occasion. Again I paused in the attack before sending in another volley from the vapoury bath right into the domain. Being satisfied that they were duly submissive, and would be prepared to meet the unprecedented event with a proper dignity and attention, I liberated the royal captive, and she and her escort took possession. A few minutes after a herald, made up from the royal guard, approached the entrance and Aug. 27, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 347 calmly announced that the new arrival had been proclaimed queen. Perhaps I ought to say that to take upon myself the responsi- bility of this somewhat novel method of intro- duction, seeing that I had ten minutes only given me for the ceremony. "Latest. — Aug. 22, 10 a.m. — Peace esta- blished. First royal orders : Double sentry. General spring cleaning. Goodwill to all but the queen's enemies." HOW SWARMING IS CONDUCTED. A correspondent writes me thus : " A friend of mine and myself have just started in bee-keeping, and we have been having a dis- pute over the matter of swarming ; he claim- ing that the old bees go out with the young queen to make the swarm, while I maintain that the old queen goes out with the young bees when a colony swarms. Who is right ? or is neither of us correct." It is not surprising that beginners are puzzled about how swarming is conducted when we find such statements in print as : — ': Only old bees go out with the swarm ; " or again : " the first young queen hatches in the old colony twenty-four hours after the swarm leaves." Misleading statements like these often find their way into papers outside of the bee journals, and it may be therefore useful to correct them, and so make the matter clear from the practical bee-keeper's standpoint. I always used natural swarming as a means of increase, and have experimented largely to ascertain under what conditions swarms issued, and as a rule I have found that bees of all ages, in about equal proportion, leave the parent hive, from the old forager to the bee that has not been out of its cell but a few hours. Hundreds of times have I seen the ground in front of a hive nearly covered with bees so young as to be unable to fly, and as often observed the veterans with their jagged wings hanging with the clustered swarm, along with bees loaded with pollen. Thus we have field bees, wax workers, and nurse bees in about equal proportions, ready to perform every kind of work necessary in a well-regulated colony. If it were not for young bees going with the swarm, the new hive would be nearly depopulated by the bees dying of old age before another batch of brood was ready to take their places. It takes about twenty-three days before any young bees hatch where a swarm has to build its own comb, and bees die of old age in the working season in less than thirty days after they become labourers in the fields. Again, if the bees were all old, where would the comb come from to fill the hive, for when in normal con- dition this work is done by bees between the ages of eight and twenty-four days? Then again the youngest bees produce the chyme to feed the larva? ; and so we find that this division of bees in a swarm is just as it should be, and this is the reason why I prefer natural swarming to any division of bees by colonies by the bee-master, or to what is known as artificial swarming. But let us look inside of the hive when preparations are being made for swarming, and see if we cannot arrive at the truth as regards the conditions under which the swarm issues, and when the first queen hatches, &c. The first indication of swarming is the laying of eggs in drone-comb. While drone eggs are not a sure sign that a swarm will issue, yet I have never seen swarms issue without eggs laid therein. If the weather is propitious the next step is the building of queen-cells, after which the queen soon deposits eggs in them. In three days these eggs hatch into larvae, and said larvre is fed with abundance of food by the nurse bees for six days, when the cells containing the embryo queens are sealed over. If no bad weather has intervened the swarm issues the next day, the old queen going with the swarm. Now, bear in mind that this is the rule with the black or German bee, and generally with Italians ; still, the Italians often swarm when the eggs are first laid in the queen-cell, and sometimes without the least preparations at all except that drones are in the hive. All good authority allows that the queen larvae remain seven days in the cells after they are sealed over ; this being my own experience, and I cannot see how any one could make the mistake in print, saying that the first young queen emerges from her cell in less than twenty-four hours after the swarm leaves the parent hive. When a week of bad weather occurs, after swarming is decided on, it is just possible for the swarm to be kept back so as to issue six days after the sealing of the first queen-cell, in which case the first young queen would hatch in twenty-four hours after the swarm left. But I never knew this to happen, for in cases where the weather is so bad that bees cannot swarm for six consecutive days, there is no honey coming in from the fields, and from the scarcity of honey the bees conclude they must retrench ; consequently they destroy the cells and postpone swarming for an indefinite period. A week of entire honey-dearth during the swarming season is also generally enough to upset all swarming calculations with the bees, and very often results in the killing off of the drones and no swarms issuing that season, unless it be in time of a yield from buckwheat and of fall flowers. I therefore find, as a rule, that the first queen emerges from her cell about seven days after the first swarm has left the hive. If more swarm3 issue they usually come out two days later, or from the ninth to the tenth day after the first, and never later than the sixteenth day. The old queen goes with the first or prime swarm, and a young queen with all after-swarms, while bees of all ages accompany all swarms, whether having a young or an old queen. — G. M. Doolittlr, in American Bee-keeper. 348 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 27, 1896. <$ttm*a and D^jfc [1532.] Carniolan Queens direct from Abroad. — As the friends of every bee-keeper, I ask if you can tell me in B.J. where I can purchase a pure Carniolan queen direct from abroad, as some English dealers and their queens are so unreliable 1 I had a genuine Carniolan queen, eight years ago, from a dealer abroad (now out of the business), whose de- scendants have been the best workers I ever did see. I could easily beat every one about here ■with them, but they are now about bred out, so I want a new start. I got a so-called pure Carniolan from a well-known English dealer, and introduced it for a friend two years ago ; but I think the seller must have made " a mistake on purpose,'' as they were as black as coal ! One day they made an attack on my friend, and a flock of sheep which happened to be near at the time, and a nice " war " it was, I can tell you. So no moie black Car- niolans for me ! P.S. — It has only been a moderate summer here for honey — I think too dry generally, yet a regular income, just suffi- cient, about three weeks out of every four, to keep breeding going on at top speed, and supers at a standstill. My stocks have just about averaged 24 lb. each for the clover season, and now the heather is at its height, but the weather is at fault, scarcely any sun- shine, and the bees seem to be decreasing fast. No doubt a large quantity lose their lives every day, what with the hard work when it is fine, and often being caught out in drenching showers with high winds. — Thomas Kendall, Kirkby-in-Furness, August 24. Reply. — Write to R. Ruffy, Delamont, Jura Vernois, Switzerland ; or (in German) to M. Ambrosie Moistrana, Carniola. If unable to write in German, or get it done, we might help you. [1533.] Ford Brood in Driven Stocks. — I am a beginner at bee-keeping, and, unfortunately, on Saturday last I drove a hive of bees that I afterwards found out were infected with foul Irood. I, in ignorance of it, placed the driven bees along with another driven lot of my own, and although they did not stop in the hive more than one night, I am led to ask — Can I do anything with them ? I do not want to destroy the bees, as they are a fine, strong lot, and I am feeding with medicated food. — C. B. Kettering, August 19. Rei'LY. — Under all the circumstances de- tailed, we should not hesitate to rely on the use of preventives for keeping the stock free from disease. A careful inspection of the brood-combs should, however, be made, so soon as young bees are due for hatching out in quantity. [1534.] Measuring Naphthol Beta. — 1. Please say how I am to guess the number of grains of naphthol beta necessary for medi- cating one or two pounds of sugar ? I have no means of weighing the naphthol, so cannot measure out the number of grains mentioned in directions on the packet. If you could give me any idea of measuring some quantity by bulk, such as what could be lifted on a small coin, I would feel much obliged. 2. My apothecary says he cannot supply "pure methylated spirit," and asks me would spirits of wine not answer the same purpose ? Per- haps you would enlighten him on this point. — Jas. Weir, Castlefaucauld, August 19. Reply. — 1. To " guess the number of grains," when dealing with such drugs as the one referred to, is to entirely upset the pur- pose for which they are used. Nor need there be any difficulty in measuring correctly a proper portion for medicating any smaller quantity of syrup than is mentioned on the packet. Any chemist will supply an 8 cz. bottle marked off in h oz. divisions — as described on page 159 of '• Guide Book "— and by filling to the fourteenth line on bottle, 7 oz. of solution is obtained. Bearing in mind then that a half-ounce equals one tablespoonful (or four teaspoonfuls) a very simple calcula- tion gives the right quantity of solution for any smaller quantity of sugar than 10 lb. 2. Spirits of wine (alcohol) is the best liquefy- ing medium for naphthol beta, and it was only on finding out the extreme difficulty expe- rienced by readers in procuring it, that methy- lated spirit was substituted as being easy to obtain and not harmful to bees. This same matter was referred to on p. 317 of our is me for the 6th inst. [1535.] Bees Casting out Drones. — Extracting from Brood Chambers. — Yesterday my bees were busy all day long throwing drones out of the hive, besides many like the enclosed, which I take it are drones ready to hatch out. 1. Is there anything unusual about this ? 2. There are eight frames in the hive crowded with bee3. Six are about a quarter full at top with honey, the seventh has a little brood, the rest honey ; and the eighth no brood, but not quite filled with honey. Would you advise me to extract any honey ? If not, will there be any necessity to feed next month 1 — W. Doleman, Nottingham, August 18. Reply. — 1. Throwing out drones and drone brood at this season is perfectly natural and need cause no alarm. 2. We strongly depre- cate extracting from brood-combs in autumn and replacing natural food with syrup. If the combs as described are left untouched, no feeding will be needed, and this is by far the best course to follow, seeing that the, trouble of extracting a few pounds of honey, only to replace it with syrup which requires labour on the part of the bees in evaporating mois- ture from the food and sealing it over, makes the whole operation a loss. Aug. 27, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 349 IN CLOVER. Some sing of the lily, and daisy, and rose, And the pansies and pinks that the summer- time throws In the green grassy lap of the meadow that lays Blinkin' up at the skies through the sunshiny days ; But what is the lily and all of the rest Of the flowers to a man with a heart in his breast, That has dipped brimmin' full of the honey and dew Of the sweet clover-blossoms his babyhood knew? I never set ejes on a clover-field now, Or fool round a stable or climb in the mow, But my childhood comes back, just as clear and as plain As the smell of the clover I'm sniffin' again ! And I wander away in a barefooted dream, Where I tangle my toes in the blossoms that gleam With the dew of the dawn of the morning of love Ere it wept o'er the graves that I'm weepin' above. And so I love clover — it seems like a part Of the sacredest sorrows and joys of my heart ; And wherever it blossoms, oh, there let me bow, And thank the good God as I'm thankin Him now ; And I pray to Him still for the strength when I die, To go out in the clover and tell it good-bye, And lovingly nestle my face in its bloom, While my soul slips away on a breath of perfume. James Whitcomb Riley. \t\ ^hvu% to <&mt August 29. — At Tides well, in connection with the Show of the Floral and Horticul- tural Society. Open to members of the D.B.K.A. Entries received up to day of Show. J. T. Jackson, hon. sec., Tideswell, via Brixton. September 2 and 3. — At Birkenhead. In connection with the Wirral and Birkenhead Agricultural Society. Show of hives and honey. The bee-tent of the L. and C.B.K.A. will be on the ground and lectures given each day. September 3.— At Castle Douglas, N.B. Galloway Horticultural and Honey Society. Open class for Three l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. 1st prize, 30s. and handsome silver medal ; 2nd, 20s. and bronze medal ; 3rd, 12s. 6d. ; 4tb, 7s. 6d. ; 5th, 5s. Also open class for Three l-lb. Sections, with four good money prizes, and in each case championship honour?. Entries close August 31. For schedules, apply Thos. Myers, Castle Douglas. September 5. — Lancashire and Cheshire B.K.A., in connection with Bramhall and Woodford Horticultural Society. Annual show of honey at Bramhall Hall. Open to district and members of the L. and C. B. K. Association only. Schedules from secretary, J. Bell, Davenport, Stockport. September 8. — At Moorgreen. Notts B.K.A., in connection with the Greasley, Selston, and Eastwood Agricultural Society. Open class for a 1 lb. bottle of honey. Schedules ready. Apply Geo. Hayes, Mona-st., Beeston, Notts. Entries close August 29. September 9 and 10. — At Derby. In con- nection with the annual show of the Derbyshire Agricultural Society. Fifteenth Annual Show of the D.B.K.A. as above. Liberal prizes for bees, hives, and honey. Six of the eighteen classes are open to all comers. Schedules from F. Walker, Cattle Market, Derby. September 16. — Wotton-under-Edge B.K.A. Annual Show of Honey. In the Church Mill. Schedules from E. W. Read, hon. sec, Wotton-under-Edge. September 26. — At the Corn Exchange, Jedburgh. Annual show of Roxburghshire B.K.A. Twenty-eight classes, all open to members free of entry-fee. Entries close September 22. Thos. Clark, secretary, Pleasants Schoolhouse, Jedburgh, N.B. October 20, 21, 22, and 23, at the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington, London, N. Twenty-first Annual Show of the British Dairy Farmers' Association. Eight classes for honey, with liberal prize money, and a class for interesting and instructive exhibits connected with bee culture. Entries close September 21. Schedules from the secretary, Wm. C. Young, 12, Hanover-square, London. Notioas to Correspondents & Inquirers. All queries fortoarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. Rathaus (Atherton). — Starting Bee-Keeping. — We don't know what book on bee- management declares that " bees should not be kept near a mill," but, to our mind, the perusal of a book conveying more en- lightened views would be helpful before you make the contemplated start in bee- keeping. Meantime, there need be no fear as to the proximity of a mill doing harm to the bees provided the said mill be not ajam factory. Of the two positions shown on sketch sent we should judge the "shed"' to be the best, if the entrances to hives could be cut in back wall of shed. This would give the bees a free flight over the flower-gardens behind without them having to cross the path in front; as would be the case if the hives faced towards the east. There is no need for the sun to shine upon the hives, so the trouble anticipated from this is nil. 350 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Aug. 27, 1896. Cory Pym (King's Lynn). — Pollen - choked Combs. — 1. The comb sent is free from disease, but so completely pollen-choked as to render it useless for breeding or storage purposes. It is one of the drawbacks attendant on giving built - out combs to swarms that, if honey is scarce after hiving and pollen plentiful, the bees fill the cells to repletion with the latter and so spoil their usefulness iu the hive. We should get the bees to build out a few new combs from full sheets of foundation by giving a couple of frames at a time between the combs now in centre of the hive, removing the latter for the purpose. 2. Medicate all food given for wintering on. Geo. Hinchcliffe (Huddersfield). — Re-queen- ing Weak Stocks. — Buying Driven Bees. — 1. Weak stocks are not worth re-queening at this season. Unite bees — if healthy — to another stock. 2. If carefully and pro- perly dealt with, it is more likely to be advantageous to buy driven bees now than to buy a swarm next year, the chances of securing surplus being greater. 3. Only analysis would prove whether sample sent is cane sugar or not. Does seller guarantee it pure cane 1 If so, use it. " World's End " (Oxford). — Comb received contains chilled brood only. Whether dead or net when removed from the hive we cannot say, seeing that the "chilling'' is quite recent. There is, however, no diseased brood in comb. T. F. Eveleigh (Manchester). — Medicating Bee-food. — The recipe No. 8, on page 163 of " Guide Book,'' is simply an alternative one for medicating syrup to those given in recipes Nos. 6 and 7, to be used at the option of readers. Like the others it is suitable for food given in any season. R. Myers (Leeds). — Judging by sample the combs in hive must be very old, black, and much needing renewal. Most of the brood has been " chilled " for some time, and there are also traces of foul brood in the dried-up remains at bottom of a few cells. We should, in any case, destroy the combs by burning, and, unless the bees are sufficiently strong to draw out new combs from full sheets of foundation, they are not worth saving. J. A. C. (Longtleet). — Bending Samples of Brood- comb. — A decent piece of comb con- taining brood must be sent before we can give an opinion whether or not it is worker- cells in which the drone-brood appears. The sample received has, for some unaccountable reason, been crushed into a shapeless lump (before putting it into the tin box), which renders it impossible for us to decide whether it is worker or drone-comb, and also as to foul brood therein. We are always pleased to render what help we can, but correspondents should themselves do their part by sending a clean-cut sample of brood in comb as nearly in the condition in which it stood in the hive as possible. E. T. Clarkson (Craigellachie, N.B.)— Ex- tractor for Loose Combs, &c. — For the pur- pose described, the machine must have loose folding cages for holding the pieces of comb cut from skeps. Louth's "Unique" Ex- tractor has cages of this type, but no doubt there are others on the market with cages of similar pattern. A. Pollock (Hyde). — The plant is right, but if the land oa which it grows is low-lying, marshy ground, but little honey will be gathered from it. By far the best results are obtained from heather when grown on the hills. T. Harris (Newport). — Comb received is very old and pollen-clogged, but free from disease. If all the combs in skep are similar to piece sent, the queen will have almost no empty cells in which to deposit esjgs, and this being so, it may account for bees dwindling in number. W. P. H. (Biggleswade). — Quadruple Hives. — It has been clearly demonstrated, after many trial?, that three, four, or more colonies of bees cannot be successfully worked iu one hive divided off by partitions only. A. L. Y. M. (Northants). — Comb received is " pollen-choked," and infected with wax- moth ; but there is no disease in it. A. G. Dale (Lowestoft). — Mead-making. — Refer to B.J. for February 28 last year (p. 83), and March 21 (p. 117). Felix Bridgett (Stoke-on-Trent). — Queen- lessness. — A crowded stock at this season, with " no brood in combs, but plenty of stores," may be almost safely declared to be queenless, unless there is a young queen, not yet fertilised, at its head. Examine a week hence, when, if no eggs are seen, the stock should be re-queened. Special Prepaid Advertisements. Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, » c o o o <** C ~ •5 a "« 3? w CO M to '3 c _fcp '3 CD a 0 1 O O <6 O rH 4^ Up *~ c oT £0 O W SS •0 0 0 u to >> I2 ; 0 a 0 ■S 0 H Artificial Swarms hived June 6, 1896. w Fdn. 16* 16J 3i 5| 3 '6i 30f 294 31 141 14* 5 64 44 61 8J 5| 8 3? 8| 8 10? 8£ Total 12 6* 19 20 204 27 Natural Swarms hived June 6, 1896. H * 17 17* 164 17J VI 61 71 7 22J 20 23 141 27 274 26* 29 10 10 10 Hi 8 S 8 10 10 10 111 •'•" Total 28J 79} 4U 79f Hived June 23, 1896. n Str's. Fdn. 15J 14| 15* 164 7 6fc 9} 14| 12i 144 18i 24J 29 1 224 29 9 15 7 124 5 44 5 5 61 5f 61 6i 21 6| 1 61 174 21| 154 244 Natural Swarm. Artificial Swarm. Natural Swarm, Virgin Natural Swarm. [Queen. June 23, arrive at a tentative conclusion, and, perhaps, open the way for a satisfactory solu- tion of these questions hereafter. First a few words in explanation of the table. Of the swarms of June 6, the first three are artificial ; that is, made by shaking the bees with the queen from a hive in which no preparations for swarming had been made, and hiving as in the case of a natural swarm. Colonies 4-7, inclusive, are natural swarms of the same date. As the table indicates, all were given brood chambers, consisting of a single section of the Ueddon hive, each fur- nished with full sheets of foundation. As will be seen, hive?, bees, and supers were carefully weighed separately, so that at the end of the experiment, July 11, it was easy to determine the amount of the increase in each. At the same time the hives were gone over carefully to determine the amount of brood in each, which is expressed in Heddon frames, and the weight of the brood is determined from the showing in the case of the colonies 4 to 7, number of pounds of honey in each case, will show sums taking second and fourth places in a true proportion wherein the numbers repre- senting the weight of the bees in both classes are the other two terms. Jn other words, to find the value of X in the expression : 12 : X 20 + 27 : : 28£ : X 4l£ + 79|. The value of X will be found to be almost exactly 2f. But it is| thirty-five days since the bees were hived, and if we allow five days for the time that elapses before active feeding begins, thirty days remain — nearly time enough for a generation and a half. Making proper allowance, we may say, till some crucial experi- ment is made, that it requires nearly two pounds of honey for the production of a pound of unhatched brood. Of course, much pollen is used in addition. If the mature bees during their active life use any considerable amount of honey with their more substantial pollen diet, that complicates the matter. If the same line of reasoning be applied to the colonies of 358 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 3, 1896. June 23, proper allowance being made for the difference in the length of time during which feeding has been going od, and for the greater proportion of uncapped brood, they will fur- nish strikingly corroborative evidence. That the assumption made above is not a violent one is shown clearly, so far bs the per- formance of one colony can do it, by No. 9 of the table. In this case an artificial swarm of about the average strength of others of the same date the total amount of its honey pro- duct is considerably above the average. The results in the case of this colony prove, so far as they go, that artificial swarms may do fully as effective work as natural ones. It is only necessary to point out further that No. 10, the colony with a virgin queen, in pro- portion to its strength, outdid all its com- petitors in the production of comb honey — the point where excellency was least looked for — a result which seems at least to call for a suspension of judgment on the question of the desirability of virgin queens in colonies used for the securing of comb honey. — R. L. Taylor, Government Experimental Apiary, Lapeer, Mich., U.S.A. — Bee-Keepers' Beview. MANCHESTER NOTES. The first annual show of the South Man- chester Horticultural Society was held on the 22nd ult., in the grounds attached to the residence of E. Donner, Esq., at Fallowfield. Lectures and practical demonstrations in bee- keeping were given during the afternoon in the large bee tent of the L. & C.B.K.A. by Mr. F. H. Taylor, the energetic local hon. sec. of that Association, he being assisted in the demonstrations by his colleague, Mr. T. F. Harrison, of Northenden. The lecturer was favoured with fine weather, and large crowds were attracted to the tent at every lecture ; indeed, the bee tent was de- clared to be the attraction of the show. Up- wards of 500 persons attended the lectures. Mr. Taylor dealt very fully with the subject in hand, and is to be congratulated upon the very able manner in which he handled it. dftertcs and [1536.] Dealing with Skeps in Autumn. — I have several lots of bees in straw skeps (old stocks and swarms), and am desirous of taking the honey from them. Could I drive them and put the bees into empty straw skeps if they were fed ? And if so, how long would I feed them ? 2. Will the bees live the winter through if dealt with in this way, or would it be better to put them into movable-comb hives— with frames fitted with comb founda- tion—and fed 1 3. After removing the combs from ?keps, would you advise me to sling the honey out, and keep the comb for use in other hives ? or shall I melt it down for wax ? — E. Cottingham, Horncastle, August 31. Reply : — 1 and 2. We should adopt a course midway between the plans proposed, for two reasons — first, skep honey from "old stocks " is far from nice for cutting out and extracting, while that from swarms of the current year may do very well. Second — It is a rather cruel and not often satisfactory proceeding to rob bees of the whole of their combs and food, and turn them into an empty skep to make a re-start in autumn. If, there- fore, there are two old stocks and two swarms to be dealt with, we should take the heaviest swarm and select one of the old stocks which had thrown a swarm this year. Drive the bees of swarm (capturing the queen in the process), and unite them to those in the selected old stock. Thus the bees will be saved and the stock put in order for wintering well and casting an early swarm next year headed by a young queen. The other two skeps may be dealt with on the second or alternative plan, i.e., drive both skeps, capture the oldest queen, and unite the bees in a frame-hive — fitted with foundation as proposed — and fed till combs are drawn out and food stored for winter. Compare results of the two plans at close of next year. 3. The combs of skeps after extracting honey had best be melted down for wax. [1537.] Utilising Driven Bees — Uniting in Skeps. — I have driven cottagers' bees for two seasons successfully, but my operations have usually been confined to one lot at a time, the bees being brought home and united to weak stocks by the flour-dredging method. This year I want to join two or three lots together and build up stocks from them by giving them combs and feeding up well, but I am not quite clear what to do in order to prevent an upset when dealing with more than one lot at a time. I will state my ideas and ask you to kindly point out flaws if any. I should drive two lots, then throw both lots on to a sheet and let them run up into a ?' Hudson's Soap " box, as described on page 295 of B.J. for July 23, having, of course, first taken away one queen. 1. Will this joining of two lots in each box work right without dusting the bees by the flour method, while they are running into the boxes ? When home, I will run them in front of hives as I previously have done. 2. Can I use a skep — with clean combs in it two years old — for wintering two or three united lots of driven bees, if I feed them up with 20 lb. of syrup 1 I ask this because of being short of worked-out frames of comb. If it can be done I will make a frame-hive during the coming winter and set the skep and bees above the frames in spring for them to work down into the new hive. 3. Will a " Hudson's Soap" box be large enough to hold two driven lots ? — "Battle," Sussex, August. Sept. 3, 1896.J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 359 Reply. — 1. Yes, if properly managed, but if any difficulty occur use the flour again. 2. If combs are clean and healthy they 'will be very helpful for the purpose. 3. Yes, unless they are very large lots. You will soon see if there is room for the bees of a second driv- ing after one lot has entered. [1538.] Uniting Driven Bees. — I drove seven lots of condemned bees from an apiary l£ miles distant from here the other day on the close-driving method, and let three lots run into a " W. B. Ob'1 hive, sprinkling them with flour as they entered, the other four lots being put into another " W. B. C." hive, flouring as before, but could not see a queen (the hives contain foundation and several combs wet after having had the honey extracted). Both hives showed signs of swarming to-day, and if they do I hardly know what will be the proper thing to do with them. I have another hive with foundation and two frames comb with a little honey. 1. Would you put a swarm into that or put the bees back again 1 I have " Modern Bee-Keeping '' and the new edition of the " Guide Book,'' but I have not seen in either where it is explained how to unite driven bees. 2. Am=I right as to the omis- sion? I fully endorse the remarks of Mr. Brice on page 446 as to portrait of Mr. Cowan in " Guide Book," and will have one if it appears. I was under the impression that the frontispiece of " Guide Book " was the photo of Mr. Cowan. — Nemo, Detldington, August 27. Reply. — 1. We have no doubt the bees will have settled down before this reply is in print if queens are safe. 2. The chapter on " Uniting " in " Guide Book," and further re- ference on page 140, we think, cover all the ground as to " Uniting.'' [1539.] Age of Queens. — I see it often re- marked in the Bee Journal that " second- year queens are considered best." But I am at a loss to know how you calculate the age. Suppose a queen is hatched out this year, when do you consider she will be at her best ? Your reply will be esteemed. — Wm. Small, Stonehouse, N.B., August 27. Reply. — A queen is at her best in the second season of her egg-laying or ovipositing. In other words, suppose a queen is hatched in May, '96, she will commence her maternal duties in a week or so after birth, and before the end of the season will have become the mother of some scores of thousands of bees. After a short period of rest during the winter months, breeding again begins, and the queen starts egg-laying for her second season, and, though less than one year old in the spring of '97, she is a second-season queen, at her best during the whole of '97. Then, as her breeding powers are on the wane by the following swarming season of '98, she is considered " old," and need3 replacing. This is about as clear a definition of a second-season queen as we can give. %t\ #frmt!8 is (Sam*. September 3.— At Castle Douglas, N.B. Galloway Horticultural and Honey Society. Open class for Three 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. 1st prize, 30s. and handsome silver medal ; 2nd, 20s. and bronze medal ; 3rd, 12s. 6d. ; 4th, 7s. 6d. ; 5th, 5s. Also open class for Three 1-lb. Sections, with four good money prizes, and in each case championship honours. September 5. — Lancashire and Cheshire B.K.A., in connection with Bramhall and Woodford Horticultural Society. Annual show of honey at Bramhall Hall. Open to district and members of the L. and C. B. K. Association only. Schedules from secretary, J. Bell, Davenport, Stockport. September 8 . — At Moorgreen. Notts B.K.A., in connection with the Greasley, Selston, and Eastwood Agricultural Society. Open class for a 1 lb. bottle of honey. Schedules ready. Apply Geo. Hayes, Mona-st., Bees ton, Notts. Entries closed. September 9 and 10. — At Derby. In con- nection with the annual show of the Derbyshire Agricultural Society. Fifteenth Annual Show of the D.B.K.A. as above. Liberal prizes for bees, hives, and honey. Six of the eighteen classes are open to all comers. Schedules from F. Walker, Cattle Market, Derby. September 15, at Blenheim Park, Wood- stock.— Oxfordshire B.K.A. in connection with the Agricultural and Horticultural Society's Show, 12 classes for Honey, including two open classes, one for 12 1-lb Jars Extracted Honey (entrance fee Is.), and one for Single Jar of Honey (no entry fee). Entries close September 12. For entry forms, apply E. F. Turner, 5, Woodstock-road, Oxford. September 16. — Wotton-under-Edge B.K.A. Annual Show of Honey. In the Church Mill. Schedules from E. W. Read, hon. sec, Wotton-under-Edge. September 26. — At the Corn Exchange, Jedburgh. Annual show of Roxburghshire B.K.A Twenty-eight classes, all open to members -free of entry-fee. Entries close September 22. Thos. Clark, secretary, Pleasants Schoolhouse, Jedburgh, N.B. October 17, at the Town Hall, Rutherglen, N.B. — Second Annual Show of Honey, Appliances, Fruit, Vegetables, &c. For schedules, apply to John Stevenson, Secretary, Maryton Braes, Larkhall, N.B. October 20, 21, 22, and 23, at the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington, London, N. Twenty-first Annual Show of the British Dairy Farmers' Association. Eight classes for honey, with liberal prize money, and a class for interesting and instructive exhibits connected with bee culture. Entries close September 21. Schedules from the secretary, Wm. C. Young, 12, Hanover-square, London. 360 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 3, 1896. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those vnly of personal interest will be answered in this column. H.'R. (Herts). — Dealing with neglected hives. — Since the hives have been allowed to get into such filthy condition as described, it would seem as if burning the lot would be the best course. But nothing, is said as to the bees 1 If the foulness of the combs is not the result of disease but of neglect only, it might be worth while joining two lots together and feeding up to enable them to build out new combs from full sheets of foundation before the warm weather goes. For the rest we can only advise complete destruction for all such combs as " full of great maggots and smelling very bad." Ciieshirk (Tarporley). — Dark honey for showing. — So far as colour the sample sent would be all right, but the quality is hardly good enough to class its chances of winning as favourable. The aroma is poor, and flavour only third rate. In fact there is some "honey-dew'' in it. F. Derrick (Tenterden). — Honey sample is pretty fair in quality, though flavour is coarse and aroma poor. It is from mixed sources. We should judge it to be mainly from field beans from the flavour. A. Conder (Ipswich). — No. 1, a very small Ligurian queen, looks like an unfertilised one, but too dry and shrivelled to judge correctly. Nos. 2 and 3 are smashed in part, but they seem to be the common bees of this country. G. 0. Bee (Littlehampton). — 1. Foundation received has been made for use in supers, not for use in brood-nests, as your note implies. It is of good quality, but thicker than the best kinds of recent make, and there is no reason why bees should refuse it. 2. There is at present no Bee Asso- ciation in Sussex, but bee-keepers located in that county can join the Kent B.K.A., of which Mr. H. W. Br ice, the Apiary, Thorn- ton Heath, is hon. sec. A Novice (Doncaster). — Mead, Honey- vinegar — Several recipes for mead-making have appeared in our columns, a very good one being given on page 83 of B J. for February 28 last year. The best method of making honey-vinegar is that given in the pamphlet published by the Rev. G. W. Bancks, Dartford, Kent. In moulding wax, the mould should be slightly damp when wax is poured in, and allowed to cool very slowly. G. R. Cathro (Kirriemuir). — Bee Books. — The only " books on bee management " sent out from this office are " The Bee-Keepers' Guide Book," price Is. 6d. (postage 2d.) ; and " Modern Bee-keeping," a handbook for cottagers, price 6d. (postage Id.). I? Attitude (Sheffield) — Suspected Disease in Comb. — We can see no very visible signs of foul brood in comb, but really the sample sent is so smashed up, foul smelling (not from foul brood), and altogether unfit ft r handling or inspection, that we must ask for a clean cut, fresh, and decent piece of comb before passing an opinion, on receipt of which we will gladly tell you of it3 real condition and give best advice we can. Ten Year Old Subscriber (Wycombe). — Honey Sample. — Both samples are light in colour and quite good enough in quality to stage in competition for light honey. J. Gaddes (Longtown). — Honey Samples — Both are good honeys and nearly alike. If anything, we prefer No. 2. Boynton. — Sprig of leaves sent are not from the lime tree. Special Prepaid Advertisements. Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, «fcc. — Up to Twelve words, Sixpence; for every additional Three words or under, One Penny. TWO STOCKS for SALE on Ten Frames. F. MoREY, Ventor, I. of Wight. N 20 N EW BLOOD. — Tested QUEENS, Is., post free.' Brayshaw, Brixworth, Northampton. N 32 HEALTHY DRIVEN BEES, Is. 3d. per lb., and their Queen ; extra Queen, 2s., box returned. E. Garner, Broom, Biggleswade, Beds. N 22 WANTED, 1S96 HONEY. Good Mb. Sections and extracted. Samples and price delivered to H. J. Wisbey, Whittlesford, Cambs. N 23 FEEDERS.-A few Abbott's Is. 9d. Bottle FEEDERS, sent post free, Is. 4£d. W. Shepherd, Oxton, Tadcaster. GUARANTEED HEALTHY DRIVEN BEES, Is. 3d. lb.; Three Stocks in skeps, from 25 to 30 lbs., 15s. each. Woods, Normandy, Guildford. HEALTHY STOCKS, Bar Frames, 25s. ; Young Queens, 2s. 6d. ; Gilt Section Bands, Is. 100. Wood & Taylor, Hathersage, Derbyshire. N 31 WANTED to EXCHANGE Bees in Bar-frame Hives or Skeps for BICYCLE, cushion or pneumatic. Butler, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove. n 29 FOR SALE, SECTIONS of fine quality. Apply, stating quantities required, to Percy Wilkins, Belmont, Wantage. N 28 BEDFORDSHIRE PRIZE HONEY, lib. glasses, 9s. doz. ; 28-lb. tins 7d. per lb. carriage paid. Partridge, Stores, Harrold, Beds. N 25 HONEY.— Five doz. SECTIONS ; also quantity of extracted Honey in 1 and 2-lb. glass jars, excellent quality. J. Lund, Corn Stores, Burnham, Bucks. __ N24 FOR SALE, 8 doz. best quality SECTIONS, 7s. Cd. doz. ; two cwt. good quality Extracted HONEY, 6d. lb. Cash or deposit. C. Adams, Weston Under- wood, Olney, Bucks. N 33 NEW HONEY WANTED, any quantity, clean, well- filled and sealed 1-lb. Sections. State quantity and price for cash. Address, M. CHARLTON, Fruit Merchant, Fawcett-street, Sunderland. N 30 Sept. 10, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL, 361 tiMrial $atim, tot USEFUL HINTS. Weather. — We read in Tuesday's Standard that the last weekly weather report issued by the Meteorological Office, which gives the summary of rain- fall, temperature, and bright sunshine to the end of August, shows that since the commencement of the year the number of rainy days is in excess of the average in the north and west of Scotland, but below the average in all other districts, the least number of rainy days in the whole kingdom being ninety-three in the south of England, while the largest number is 163 in the north of Scotland. The total rainfall for the first eight months of the year is 35 in., or 4 in. in excess of the average, in the north of Scotland, and 24 in., or nearly 1 in. in excess, in the north of Ireland. So far as the weather now, it may be said that unless we have a speedy cessation of the almost daily heavy rain- fall of the last fortnight, little or no addition will be made by the bees to stock of food on hand, and where there is any known scarcity of winter stores more or less feeding becomes an absolute necessity. Once this need is realised the sooner it is set about the better for the bees and all concerned. A wet and "growing" autumn usually brings a green summer, and so far as the pastures just now they are thick with bottom growth and full of clover root, this being about the only comfort afforded to the bee-man in such an autumn as the present. The Heather Honey Crop. — We are not' hopeful as to the honey crop from the heather this season, the fre- quent rains having sadly interfered with the bee-labourers at a time when every single day's ingathering is of so much value so far as the final result. We are the more sorry for this because of the evidence reaching us of a considerably increased interest taken this year by bee-keepers located within reasonable distance of the heath-clad hills. More samples have been sent us of bloom from the several Ericas, supposed to yield honey, by readers anxious about the right sort, than we remember before. Nor can we wonder at this. Good heather honey is, and always will be, "in demand." There need be no fear of an over supply of choice heather sections of comb-honey in the British market ; they may be safely counted on to bring a good price even when the best comb-honey from other sources will only command a low figure. The reason is not far to seek. The special bee- product referred to above is, and will continue to be, regarded as a luxury for the breakfast table of the well-to-do, who never grudge paying a good price for what is so regarded. Moreover, there is the other advantageous feature of the case ; good heather sections seem procurable only in comparatively limited quantity. Nor is there any reason to expect a change in this respect, in so far as moorland bee-pastures are much more likely to decrease than extend, and the increase of consumers will more than keep pace with increase in production likely to accrue from any addition of bee-keeping moor-men. However this may be, we have thought it well, in order to meet the views ex- pressed above, so far as showing the several kinds of Ericas indigenous to this kingdom— and by way of saving trouble to ourselves while conveying useful in- formation to readers — to give illustra- tions, together with authoritative botani- cal descriptions of the three kinds of Erica (commons or heaths) usually found on the hills and moorlands of these islands. We place them in their order of merit as honey- producing plants, but bearing in mind that as E. tetralix (Fig. 3) grows only on damp bog-land, it cannot be regarded as of any practical value to the bee- keeper. The en- larged blossom of each variety, to- gether with illustra- tions of the anther stigma, pollina, &c, at sides of each cut, are introduced to make plainer the structural parts of the flower and its fertilisation by bees. Fig. 1.— Erica, or Calluna, vulgaris. (Ling.) 362 THE BRITISH BEE. JOURNAL. [Sept. 10, 1896. Fig. 2.— Erica cinerea, or Bell Heather. 1. Erica, or Calluna, vulgaris (Ling), Fig. 1. — A low, straggling shrub, seldom growing more than a foot high. Leaves very small and short. Flowers small, H^l. and of a purplish pink colour, often pale approaching to white. Erica vulgaris is the most widely - distri- buted of all the heaths and very abundant. 2. Erica cinerea (Scotch heath)Fig. 2. — More bushy and fuller than Erica vulgaris, leaves finer and more pointed, usually three in a whorl, with clusters of small leaves in their nails. Flowers a reddish purple, in twice terminal ra- cemes. Covering immense tracts of country on the Scotch, Irish, Welsh, and some of the Western English moors. 3. Erica tetralix (Cross - leaved Heath) Fig. 3.— Generally lower than E. cinerea, bushy at base ; short, erect flower- ingbunches, leaves in form shorter and less pointed than in preceding. Flowers rather larger and more pink in colour, forming little terminal clusters or close umbels. Ranges all over Britain, and very common in the West. By preserving these illustrations, readers will be enabled to distinguish between the several heathers by com- paring a sprig of bloom with the cuts. Elevation and soil, however, has appa- rently much to do with the quality of heather honey, that from the Scottish Highlands being undoubtedly best. ,*SsP 1'ig. 3. —Erica tctralix. HONEY IMPORTS. The total value of honey imported into the United Kingdom during the month of August, 1896, was £2,412. — From a return famished to the British Bee Journal by the Statistical Office, H.M . Customs, September 7, 1896. MID-LOTHIAN BK.A. The hall of the Cowan Institute, Peni" cuik, was on the 22nd ult. a scene of much attraction, the occasion being a triple exhibi- tion by societies devoted to horticulture or the kindred study of bee-culture. The Peni- cuik Horticultural Society, bearing lightly its fifty odd yeaizs of existence, held its own annual exhibition, when at the same time it made the necessary arrangements for the show of the Mid-Lothian Kose and Pansy Society. It further acted as the host of the Mid-Lothian Bee-keepers' Association. The arrangements for the honey exhibition on Saturday were entrusted to the local secretary, Mr. T. H. Welsh, and were entirely sat'tf- factory ; 106 entties of honey were staged, the display occupying the Avhole of the plat- form side of the building. Lady Gibson Car- michael offered two handsome sdver medals for competition, both being won by Mr. Weir, Ileriot. In the Society's clas?es the following awards were made by Mr. C. Chouler, Dalkeith Park, and Mr. Craig, Jedburgh, who officiated as judges of the honey section : — Twelve 1-lb. Sections. - — 1st, Mr. Weir, Her;ot ; 2nd, Mr. Craik, Dalkeith ; 3rd, Mr. Brindle, Whitehill. Twelve l-lb. Sections Heather Honey, — 1st, Mr. Craik ; 2nd, Kev. J. W. Blake, Temple ; 3rd. Mr. Weir. Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, Mr. Weir ; 2nd, Mr. Craik ; 3rd, Mr. Marrs, Whitehill. Best Super (non-sectional). — 1st, Mr. Weir ; 2od, Mr. Marrs ; 3rd, Mr. Headridge, Esk- bridge. Best Super (non sectional) Heather Honey. — 1st, Mr. Craik. Design in Honeycomb. — 1st, Mr. Craik. In the classes for members not owning more than three stocks in spring, prizes were taken by Messrs. Brindle ; Mackay, Carnethy ; A. S. Huth, Whitehill ; Badger, Pcncuik ; Ford, Marrs, Watson, and Lawson. Bed Frame- Hive for Removal to Heather (made by an amateur). — 1st, A. S. Huth ; 2nd, Mr Brindle. Honey Cake. — 1st, Mr. Weir ; 2nd, Mr. Brindle. Tbe annual general meeting of the Mid- Lothian Bee-keepers' Association was held ia the afternoon in the gymnasium of the Cowan Institute. There was a large attendance, and a satisfactory financial report was disclosed. Various technical matters affecting the Society Sept. 10, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 3~63 •were discussed, and office-bearers were elected as follows :— President, J. W. Blake, M.A., Temple ; vice-president, Mr. Craik, Dalkeith ; secretary and treasurer, Mr. Weir, Heriot. — {Communicated ) HONEY SHOW AT DUNFERMLINE. The Dunfermline and West of Fife Horti- cultural Society held their sixteenth annual autumn flower show in the East End Park on the 28th and 29th ult. It was one of the best exhibitions of flowers (and certainly the best for honey) the Society has ever had. The displays of honey from 30 lb. to 50 lb. was a new feature of the show, and attracted great attention, the judges declaring them excellent. Indeed, the whole of the honey staged was far above the average. There were sixty-four entries for the various classes. The Rev. Robert McClelland, Renfrew, and Mr. James Johnstone, Stirling, who judged the exhibits, made the following awards : — Six 1-lb. Sections. — 1st and 2nd, J. Heggie, Baldridgeburn ; 3rd, Andrew Chalmers, Oakley Station. Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, J. Heggie; 2nd, J. McDonald, Oakley; 3rd, J. Heggie. Tivo Shallow Frames of Honey. — 1st and 3rd, J. Heggie ; 2nd, Thos. Brown, Baldridge- burn. Super of Honey. — 1st, Wm. Reid, Carnock. Observatory Hive with Bees. — 1st, J. Heggie; 2nd, Wm.Reid. Three 1-lb. Sections and Three 1-lb. Jars Honey. — 1st and 2nd, J. Heggie ; 3rd, J. McDonald. Single 1-lb. Section and One 1-lb. Jar of Extracted Honey (all for the Cottage Hospital). —1st, J. Heggie ; 2nd, J. McDonald ; 3rd, Thos. White. Display of Honey 30 to 50 lb. in weight. — 1st, Wm. Reid ; 2nd and 3rd, J. Heggie ; v.h.c, Mr. Cunningham, Kelty ; com., Mr. Cormac, Kelty. cottagers' classes. Three 1-lb. Sections.— 1st, Thos. White; 2nd, A. Chalmers. Three 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, J. Hamilton, Inzievar Lodge ; 2nd, Thos. Brown. — (Communicated.) GALLOWAY HORTICULTURAL AND HONEY SOCIETY. SHOW AT CASTLE DOUGLAS. The annual show of the above Society was held on the 3rd inst., and is regarded by all concerned as a very complete success. The Castle Douglas honey show has long been regarded as one of the most important held in Scotland, and this year it appears : to have maintained its reputation, the honey depart- ment proving one of the most attractive in the whole exhibition. The first two classes in the jrize list ■which follows are, for some reason, called " Champion Classes,'' and in these the competition was very keen. But the whole of the exhibits staged were regarded by the judge as of the highest quality. The Rev. R. McClelland, of Renfrew, again undertook the duties of judging the honey, and made the following awards : — Three 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (other than heather). — 1st, J. Richardson, Trailflat, Shieldhill; 2nd, W. Hogg, Castle-Douglas; 3rd, W. H. Woods, Hcmingford Grey, Hunts. ; 4th, T. Myers, Castle - Douglas ; 5th, W. Callender, Clarebrand ; v.h.c, A. Maxwell, Dumfries; he, W. Raphael, Kirkandrews ; c. R. Ness, Helmsley, Yorks ; Sam. Gass, Kirk Patrick-Durham; Ross and Kerr, Dumfries ; T. Myers ; Jas. Austin. Three 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, Jesse Garratf, Meopham, Kent ; 2nd, J. Richardson ; 3rd, A. Maxwell ; 4th, W. H. Seymour ; v.h.c, Sam Gass ; h.c, A. Irving, Annan ; c, Ross & Kerr; W. H. Woods, W. Hogg, and J. Waugb, Newabbey. Best Super. — 1st, W. Hogg ; 2nd, S. M'Monnies, Bridge-of-Dee ; 3rd, J. Skelton, Leicester. Three 2-lb. Sections- — 1st, W. Hogg ; 2nd, J. Learmont, Balmaghie ; 3rd, S. M'Monies ; h.c, T. Myers. Six 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, W. Hogg ; 2nd, S. M'Monies ; 3rd, J. Learmont. Six 1-lb Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, S. M'Monies ; 2nd, W. Callender ; 3rd, W. Hogg ; h.c. and c, T. Myers ; c, J. Johnstone, High Park. Three 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Henderson, Ma.xwelltown ; 2nd, J. Johnston ; 3rd, Miss Johnston ; h.c, James Austin ; c, James Day. Three 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, J. Henderson ; 2nd, T. Veitcb, Spottes ; 3rd, J. Johnston ; h.c, W. Muir ; c, W. Callender and G. Benson. Three 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (non- prize-winners only). — 1st, W. Callender ; 2nd, T. Veitch ; h.c , W. Walker, ToDgland ; c, James Day. BEES AND LIME TREES. A correspondent sends us a cutting from The Field of August 29, referring to bees and certain lime flowers, which reads as under : — " I have read with interest of the bumble- bees being found dead under lime trees in flower. We have at Rainworth a good many lime trees of various sizes ; these generally have many flowers on them, and are frequented by bumble-bees, yet only under one lime are they found dead. On either side of the entrance gate are lime trees, which form an arch covering the gate and carriage drive, and it is under one of these that every year great 364 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 10, 1896. numbera of bumble-bees and a few hive-bees are seen lyiDg dead ; and, though these two trees are close together, I have never found one bee dead under the one on the left hand side of the gate, or under any of the other numerous limes dotted about the house and grounds. — J. Whitaker, Raimvorth, Notts. " The note of Mr. F. Boyes is interesting, but he is undoubtedly wrong. These bees have not died under the ordinary lime tree?, but they died in hundreds under the white lime trees (Tilia petiolarts)]; and as it was not at the end of summer, but just as the flower was in per- fection, I think there can be no doubt that the honey poisons them. It seems to have no ill effect on any other insect. There have been, and still are, plenty of other flowers to support the bees, nor has there been any cold at night to injure them ; and, since the flowering of the limes is over, no more have died under them. Medway." We do not remember the question having been raised before, but there can be no doubt that the blossom of ordinary lime trees is in no way injurious to bees. — [Eds.] tymtspwikvitt. The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should, be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. *** In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of theletter, as well as the page on which it appears. QUEEN-KAISING BY ARTIFICIAL INCUBATION. [2610.] I beg to thank you for the answers to my questions on queen-raising in your issue, Aug. 13 "(query 1,527, p. 327). And a=* you expressed a desire in your reply to know the result of the artificial incubation, I write to say that it has not turned out very satisfactorily. I think, however, that my want of experience is to blame for this. As stated in my previous letter the queens hatched out in nineteen to twenty days, and I kept the frame in the hot- water nursery until the worker-brood hatched out, which was in twenty-five to twenty-six days. Both these times are in excess of that stated in the (Juide Book, but it is quite pos- sible and likely that my temperature of about 85 deg. was somewhat low, and might retard hatching. The queens were small, and I did not like the look of them, so decided not to use them. Another plan I tried for getting queens was as follows : — I selected a strong stock, and finding the queen, put her with the comb she was upon along with another comb of the youngest brood in the hive and a third frame of stores. All three combs were placed in the front of the hive, the stores being next the entrance (the hive was the " Combination " one). I then put in an adapter, i.e., a dummy made of ex- cluder zinc, so as to keep the queen on the front three frames. In nine days all the brood in the frames behind the adapter were sealed over. I then took away the three front frames with the queen, and in about two days inserted a frame of eggs and got queen-cells by this plan. I kept the queen laying on the front frames, and the bees worked on a? usual. The only objection was that the drones were confined for the nine days, but I did not notice any trouble from that fact. 1. Do you see any objection to the above plan ? Another matter which has bothered me has been the failing of queens to mate. Although drones were flying, I have had two virgin queens over a month in three and four frame nuclei, and they have never laid an egg. I have killed them and united bees to other hives. I should be pleased if you would say, 2. What you consider the longest time that virgin queens should be kept if they do not begin to lay ? 3. What is the cost, delivered here, of imported Carniolan queens 1 I had the slow-feeding bottle on with one hole only exposed. Many problems that arise in bee-keeping are abstruse and subtle, while at the same time very fascinating. I am only a learner and a beginner, but to give up keeping bees would be the greatest trouble to me. — Learner. [1. No, so long as the queen and bees re- moved were judiciously dealt with. The value of the plan must, however, be gauged by the general result. 2. Much would depend on the suitableness of the weather, together with the general surroundings, favourable or other- wise, so far as mating. Starting with the fact that a virgin queen ought to be laying in about seven days after hatching, the time for killing off as failures is entirely one for the bee- keeper after the normal time has expired. 3. We do not know the prce charged for Carniolan queens ; probably it will be about same as that of Ligurians. — Eds.] DEALING WITH FOUL BROOD. [2611.] For two years I have contended against the bee-keeper's enemy, foul brood, and after destroying several weak lots of bees, and giving naphthol beta and naphthaline perse yeringly in the proportions you direct, I have driven the enemy away. To any one who, like myself, has not been a bee-keeper long the discovery of foul brood is most dis- couraging ; but it evidently can be got rid of, though it requires time and patience. I used to take combs from strong hives and give them to weak ones ; but this has been the Sept. 10, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 365 cause of mischief, I think, though it was only honey and not brood. Is it not possible that the spread of foul brood is partly due to the ease with which one can transfer bees from hive to hive and from place to place ? I am not able to say whether much disease existed years ago, when bar-framed hives were the exception and bees were generally killed with sulphur ; but at all events the skeps were disinfected to a certain extent with unfailing regularity before the next lot took possession. Then again, the combs were never kept as long as we are tempted to keep them in the modern hive ; nor was there danger of chilled brood. In my own case foul brcod broke out in some old combs, and I am inclined to think it originated there. — W. S. Trapp, Marsham, Norfolk, September 3. [There can be little doubt that the periodical destruction of bees and combs — as practised by the skeppists of the old school — did tend in a great measure to limit the spread of disease. The knowledge of this fact ought, therefore, to stimulate the frame-hiveist — with his increased facilities for detecting the mis- chief— to deal out the same destruction when- ever disease is discovered. — Eds.] CARNIOLAN QUEENS AND ENGLISH QUEEN-BREEDERS. [2612.] As the remarks of "A Queen Breeder," (2608, p. 355), are well pointed and sharp I ought not to let them pass with- out a word in reply. The writer seems to know quite well what kind of queens I pur- chase, and also concludes that all purchases will include a guarantee of fertility. I may say, however, that some queens I have pur- chased with this guarantee did not fill it, and would have been improved — had the chance occurred — of a mating-trip with some of the descendants of the " imported insect " which I got from abroad. If this is not plain enough for the writer of 2608, and my inference is correct, I will say that in August of 1891 or '92 I purchased a queen (with guarantee of safe arrival, fertility, and safe introduction), on certain terms, but after the queen had been in the hive twelve days and no brood was visible, I began to suspect something wrong, and eventually she turned out a drone-breeder. This queen was not put among my own bees, but into the hive of a friend, and so the position began to be rather awkward for me so far as getting justice, but by a little stratagem which some " breeder '' may find in bis sale-book of that date (if he has it still by him) he got the drone- breeding queen and I got a fertile one instead ! Regarding so-called Oarniolan queens gene- rally, he says : "And should it happen that the (untested) queen had not a native drone, of course her bees would be dark and scarcely as amiable as natives." Why, mine were scarcely as amiable as wasps ! In his concluding paragraph, " A Queen- Breeder " shows some interest as to why English-bred mismated queens should be worse than my own mismated ones. Well, I can only give my experience of the queen sent me. Her progeny did not seem to care particularly about work, but employed their time in using their spears just as savages do, whereas mine — bred from the foreigner — have always been gentle as any bees I have ever seen. — Thos. Kendall, Kirkby-in-Furness, September 7, 1896. P.S. — I had one good queen out of three from the dealer I have mentioned. BEE NOTES FROM DEVON. EFFECT OF ELEVATION ON QUALITY OF HONEY. [2613.] On an isolated farm in Dartmoor at about 1,000 ft. elevation, a colony of bees has been established in the trunk of an old ash tree near the farmyard for fully twenty years. My own knowledge extends to twelve of this period, and from inquiries I have made I am convinced it must be quite that time, if not more, that they have existed. When one takes into consideration the short summer there, together with the severity of the climate and the heavy rainfall (I believe it approaches the maximum for England), it speaks well for the hardiness of the native race that they have managed to hold their own during all that length of time. Last week they threw off a strong swarm which have established themselves under the roof of the farmhouse, and were on Sunday, when I saw them, busy with the heather, which is just now in its prime. The honey-take this year will be excep- tionally heavy in my immediate neighbour- hood, i.e., on the border of Dartmoor, though the drought has been unprecedented. I have had an occasional section of dark honey in some of the racks, but, as a rule, I think it is of fine quality. Last year there was some discussion in your columns on the relative merits of Southern compared with Scotch heather honey. May it not be, perhaps, a question of elevation in a great measure 1 Mine is gathered at from 1,200 to 1,400 ft. above sea-level, and I will gladly forward a sample if of interest to you. — R. S., Devon. [We shall be very pleased to receive a small sample of the honey referred to for com- parison.— Eds.] A REMEDY FOR STINGS. [2614.] Though not requiring the use of any antidotes against disagreeable result?, being almost bee-proof, having only to ex- tract the sting and be done with it, I know | others who are not so fortunate. To these 36G THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 10, 1896. I would recommend the following simple "cure" : — Get some bicarbonate of soda, and, ■when stung, having first extracted the sting, apply a little extemporaneous moisture to the finger, 'which must then be dipped in the powder, and this rubbed well into the wound. I have it, not only on report, but from per- sonal observation on one who formerly suffered terribly from the after effects, that this course of treatment is very effective. Syrup Cosy. — Experienced bee-keepers know how important it is that the bottle should be kept warm, and they always pack over care- fully with felting, carpets, and other con- venient materials ; but these, unless we have a big stock on hand — and a big apiary would require such a stock — do not always have the wished-for effect. Knowing this, and that many complaints reach me about this time that the bees refuse to take down syrup, although stores are short, I venture to submit to you a very simple contrivance which costs next to nothing. Get a 4-lb. treacle tin, and hammer down the rim on which the lid fits. Line it round the sides, and on what will now be the top, with wadding, and slide over the bottle. Voilii tout, and there's a perfect " cosy." N.B. — I claim no originality for the idea, and no doubt many will know of a similar contrivance ; but I offer it for what it is Avorth. — Frederick H. Taylor, Fallowfield, Man- chester, September 5. BROODLESS BUT NOT QUEENLESS. [2615.] Ten days ago, on examining six of my hives, I found that four of them, though crowded with bees and having plenty of stores, were absolutely broodlees. Not thinking it likely that they were queenless, I put on feeders and began slow feeding almost nightly in order to induce the queens, if present, to lay, so that there might be a crop of late- hatched bees ready for duty next spring. On weeing your reply to F. Bridgett, on page 350 of Journal, I at once resolved on a further examination of these four hives as soon as possible. This was accomplished on August 31. In the first a few eggs and the queen were seen, in the second and third eggs only, while in the fourth I am almost prepared to state that there is not a single egg or larva, and no sealed brood ; but I found the queen. This queen is one raised by myself last season, so cannot be worn out ; moreover, if old she might have laid drone eggs. Again, on Saturday last I drove two skeps of bees for a neighbour, intending to unite them and place them in a frame-hive, and also to tie any into frame-comb containing brood. In driving, both queens were caught and removed ; in each case they were young queens, but uot a particle of brood in any stage could be found in the combs. Both the skeps were strong in bees, and had a considerable quantity of honey. Of course, I know that the amount of brood in a hive at this time of year is usually small ; but I send these particulars, as I venture to think that its entire absence, with fertile queens in the hives — which I can vouch for in every case mentioned — is somewhat rare.* Excreta of Queens. — I see that it is stated, page 112 ot Cowan's "Honey Bee," that the feces of a queen " are liquid and of a pale yellow colour,'' and also that, " according to Vogel, they are sucked up by the workers." I have recently had an opportunity of confirm- ing this. Having a queen and some workers in a box one evening. I saw her void faeces which were as described — liquid, though by lamplight the colour appeared to me to be white ; in fact, exactly the appearance of a drop of water. The workers immediately closed round the drop, and removed it entirely in a very few minutes with their tongues. — Percy Sharp, Expert to the Lines. B.K.A., Brant Broughton, September 1. * [We are not quite clear as to what is in- tended to be conveyed by this paragraph of our correspondent's letter referring to the absence of brood in August. To say that the entire absence of brood along with fertile queens in hives at this season is somewhat rare, is to agree with our reply on page 350, and yet the general tenor of the above com- munication seems to question the correctness of our view. Are we right in this inference ? For the rest, we should judge that the early cessation of honey income, which, we learn, has been the case in Lincolnshire this year, must be held accountable for the stoppage of breeding in the cases mentioned. — Eds.] THE DAIRY SHOW AND INTENDING VISITORS. [2616.] With reference to the suggestion as to intending visitors to the Dairy Show, I think it is too much to ask our kind Editors to publish in the B.B.J, a list of all bee- keepers who intend to go to the show in October. What I do suggest, however, is that all bee-keepers arrange to visit the Agricultural Hall on the same day, say, on the second day, Wednesday, October 21, and that it be understood that the question, <;Who are you?'' be not considered impolite bj- the party questioned. — R. Dymond, South- gate, September 7. BEE-DRIVING EXTRAORDINARY. AN EXPERIENCE OF A THIRTY YEARS' PRAC- TICAL BEE-KEEPER. [2617.] To the best of my recollection it was in the year 1869, long before modern bee-hives were in use in the Eastern counties, that I had the most extraordinary, and in some way disastrous, experience of bee- driviny that I have ever known or heard of, Sept. 10, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL, 367 and it may, perhaps, amuse your readers if I relate the actual facts as under : — I had then been a bee-keeper for only about two or three years, and, consequently, had only a small part of the experience I now possess. Having been asked by a friend if I would assist him in driving some bees, I readily assented, and went down to his cottage the following evening as appointed. The weather at the time was very unsettled, heavy clouds being seen travelling through the air ; and, as rain began to descend, my friend suggested that we should remove the bees into the back room of the cottage, and thus be undisturbed by the elements. The bees were accordingly removed indoors, and a very few minutes found me sitting on the floor with a pail between my knees in which was placed the full skep, and above it an empty one for the bees to run into. After tying a cloth round the junction of the two skeps — in those clays the plan followed was that known as " close " driving — I commenced " drumming '' on sides of the lower skep. My friend, at this time, ventured outside to see what the weather was like, and on returning, remarked, " My eye, we shall get it in a minute ! " and we did, indeed, "get" it, in a way not anticipated. The room was now almost dark, the storm that had been for some time threatening having burst in sudden fury upon us. I was still at my task of " drumming," but by some mishap tbe binding round the two skeps had slipped, and the topmost hive had shifted its position sufficiently to allow the bees to es- cape! Standing at my elbow was my friend looking on, while leaning leisurely against a large tub, two-thirds full of soap suds — it was ■washing day, and the utensils had not been cleared away. In less time than it takes to relate, several bees had made their exit from the skeps, and one settled itself behind my friend's ear. With an oath he yelled out, " I'm stung ! " and made a rush from the room, pulling over the tub-full of "suds" in his haste to escape, and I found myself de- luged in dirty water ! Nor was this the worst. In the hurry to get away his foot caught the pail, and the two skeps were knocked apart, while the room swarmed with bees ! His better-half and several friends rushed in from the other room to sec what was amiss, only to beat a hasty retreat, considerably the worse for their visit. Never shall I forget that scene ; what with the Hashing lightning, the pealing thunder, and the cries of the victims of the bees' stings, mingled with the buzzing of the flying bees, it was indeed one to remember. All were stung more or less, I myself suffering considerably. Indeed, the next morning my worthy friend, who had been the chief cj,use of our misfortune, was past recognition. I sat and chatted with him, poor fellow, tie could not see me : his eyes were completely closed for the time from the effect of the stings. He tried to speak calmly on the subject of bee-driviDg generally, but I fear his remarks were too forcible for publication. Like myself, he to this day well remembers that interesting episode of bee-driving 27 years ago. — Another Norfolk Dumpling, Norwich, September 3. WEATHER KEPORT. Westbourne, Sussex, August, 1896. Rainfall, l'9l in. Heaviest fall, '80 on 30 th. Rain fell on 14 days. Below average, "62 in. Maximum Tempera- ture, 74° on 12th. Minimum Tempera- ture, 44° on 28th. Sunshine, 1702 hours. Brightest Day, 16th, 11 "5 hours. Sunless Days, 2. Below Average, 38 '9 hours. Mean Maximum, 64-7°. Mean Minimum, 491°. Mean Temperature, 569°. Below average, 2'1°. Maximum Barometer, 30-35° on 11th. Minimum Barometer, 29-70° on 26th. L. B. BlRKETT. (fhtOTes and Jj^utss. [1510] — "Driving1' Mishaps. — Kindly give me an opinion on the following unsuccessful " driving " case : — ■ We were to drive two stocks in a cottager's garden. The day was showery and windy, the time about 4 p.m. I am of opinion we drove the bees too near the apiary, as there was a good deal of robbing going on. The first stock gave some trouble for various reasons, but the second lot left their hive very quickly ; more readily than usual perhaps. There was plenty of honey and brood in the old hive. As many of the bees seemed to be gathered on the old stand, we placed the driven bees on it in hope of their going up and joining the rest. We then cut the combs out of the old skep, and just at the end of this operation, quite unexpectedly, the queen was observed alone on the side of the skep. We took her carefully to the driven bees, and she quickly ran into the skep. We then left the garden for half-an-hour, and on returning to pack up we were dismayed to find nearly all the bees had left the skep without any one noticing it. The floor board was still pretty thick with strangers and stragglers, among whom we noticed a small ball of perhaps a dozen bees. On disturbing them we found what we believe to be the queen dead or nearly so. The bees let go her body very unwillingly. What had become of the rest of the bees I cannot say, though there was some excitement at the doors of the neighbouring hives. I have my own ideas as to thi§ 368 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 10, 1896. untoward experience, but should be glad to have your opinion. Is there any branch of the B.B.K.A. in Devon 1 If not, what would be the best way to start one ?— A. W. Barker. Reply. — In driving cottagers' bees, if several stocks are to be " taken," it is always best to carry the stock to a quiet, shady corner, as far away from the bee-stands as convenient. On such unfavourable days, too, as the one referred to, when no bees are flying, it is advisable to confine the bees of all stocks, except the one being operated on, by covering the entrances with wire-cloth or perforated zinc. An emjity skep must also be at once set on the stand from which the bees are removed, to gather in any that return to the old spot. In the particular case referred to above, and before venturing an opinion, we should have been told what was done with the first lot driven, because we suspect the bees of that lot had something to do with the " balling " of the second queen when she was returned to the hive. We. say this because, under the condition stated, it is very unusual for driven bees to fly off and leave their queen balled on the floorboard. It strikes, us the deserters were unaware of the presence of their queen, and departed accordingly. Anyway, it is evi- dent the poor queen, on being run into the hive, was at once seized and balled by alien bees. There is no county B.K.A. in Devon, though there was one a few years ago. The question of a revival has been mooted several times in our pages, but it wants a few active spirits apparently to take the matter up before anything tangible comes of it. [1541.] Transferring in Autumn. — Queen Introduction with Skeps. — 1. Is it too late in the season to transfer bees from a straw skep into a frame hive if I fitted with full sheets of comb foundation and give the^hout 30 lb. of syrup ? 2. I had a s warn -u sPrinfe -iven me late" last year ; cot a very f™> on Pa«c ud the skep was very old and fr^T e£ 0Q a tU7m well, but they neither swa. lr mves f.e much honey this year. I ha\ ^ccoraPl,"them into a new skep with comb i 'V ^ition, and am giving them as much syrup as they can take. Will it be advisable to give them a new queen, and, if so, how am I to do it ? — W. Smith, Bow, N.B., September 5. Reply. — 1. It is decidedly late to put bees into an empty hive and give them new combs to build out in September ; but if the bees are now strong in numbers and you confine them to about four frames, they may do all right with liberal and judicious feeding. 2. If the bees have not progressed well this season, it may be fairly assumed that the queen is at fault and needs replacing by a young prolific one. Introducing alien queens into skeps is, however, so much more difficult than when frame-hives are used, that we should recom- mend enlisting the help of some experienced hand before attempting it. The bees would need to be driven from skep, the queen cap- tured, and while the driven bees were out of their domicile, the new queen is caged on a comb with honey in reach. The bees are then returned, and in thirty-six hours the queen released. If this plan could not be carried out, she would have to be secured in a suitable cage and set over the feed hole in skep, and the bees allowed to release her themselves by eating away the intervening food placed be- b ween her and the bees. [1542.] Dealing with Diseased Stocks. — Having among my seven stocks one hive which is more or less affected with foul brood, I got the bees off the combs into a skep, after which I destroyed the inside boxes and their contents — frames and all. I next washed the outer cases, roof, and all remaining parts with strong carbolic acid solution, and in three days I shall put the bees into new inner-boxes properly prepared, and feed well with medicated syrup. There is no trace of the disease in my other hives. I also intend to extract all combs with honey but no brood from the other six, and supply medicated syrup in its place. Will my plan of procedure be likely to rid me of the mischief ? — S. Church, Nantwich, August 1. Reply.— If thoroughly carried out, the plan proposed should effect all the good possible under the circumstances. [1543.] Honey as Bee Food. — 1. I have a good deal of well ripened honey from old straw skeps, very good, only flavouring of bee- bread. Would it be equally good to feed driven bees up with this instead of syrup ? 2. Could one medicate it by adding naphthol beta ? 3. Would the bees find it easier to draw out foundation with this honey than with syrup 1 — Rev. Marcus Osmaston, Dover, September 5. Reply. — 1. Yes. 2. It would require thinning down with water and heating before the solution could be properly mixed with the honey. 3. No doubt they would be saved the labour of evaporating the excess of moisture in syrup. [1544.] A Cottager's Queries. — I ask if you will kindly give me a little information through your Bee Journal. I am only a cottager, but am greatly interested in bees, and have kept them for a long while in old- fashioned ways in skeps. I have now five skeps and three boxes, one box being full of honey, but I can't take the frames out because the bees have built combs cross-ways. 1. Will it strengthen or injure them to let it remain as it is ? I only had one swarm this year, and very little honey. 2. Could I drive the swarm and put the bees back to the parent stock, or drive both and sprinkle with flour when joining the bees together ? The swarm weighs 50 lb., and is a fine stock ; but if you Sept. 10, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 369 think it best I would keep it for swarming if I could get an early swarm from it. Which way do you think would pay best 1 — Samuel Hales, Brawn's Farm, Stack, September 6. Reply. — 1. We advise you not to disturb the box of combs built " cross-ways." It is too late in the season for you to undertake the job of cutting out transferring combs into frames, and besides you might easily ruin the stock in the attempt. Write us again in the spring to say how the stock is getting on, when we will advise you. 2. If the young queen at head of parent stock is prolific, and tbe bees and combs healthy, we would " drive " the swarm and " take " the honey, which if 50 lb. gross should yield over 30 lb. net. Cap- ture the old queen when driving, but do not hill her till the bees have been safely joined to the parent stock. In uniting, dust the bees with flour while on the combs, then shake them oft* in front of entrance, and when half of them have been thus treated throw the driven bees, after dusting them too, on to the others, and let all run in together. Next day see that the queen is safe ; if not, return the old one. \t% $hmra to dtomt. September 15, at Blenheim Park, Wood- stock.— Oxfordshire B.K.A. in connection with the Agricultural and Horticultural Society's Show, 12 classes for Honey, including two open classes, one for 12 1-lb Jars Extracted Honey (entrance fee Is.), and one for Single Jar of Honey (no entry fee). Entries close September 12. For entry forms, apply E. F. Turner, 5, Woodstock-road, Oxford. September 16. — Wotton-under-Edge B.K.A. Annual Show of Honey. In the Church Mill. Schedules from E. W. Read, hon. sec, Wotton-under-Edge. September 26. — At the Corn Exchange, Jedburgh. Annual show of Roxburghshire B.K.A. Twenty-eight classes, all open to members free of entry-fee. Entries close September 22. Thos. Clark, secretary, Pleasants Schoolhouse, Jedburgh, N.B. October 17, at the Town Hall, Rutherglen, N.B. — Second Annual Show of Honey, Appliances, Fruit, Vegetables, &c. For schedules, apply to John Stevenson, Secretary, Maryton Braes, Larkhall, N.B. October 20, 21, 22, and 23, at the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington, London, N. Twenty-first Annual Show of the British Dairy Farmers' Association. Eight classes for honey, with liberal prize money, and a class for interesting and instructive exhibits connected with bee culture. Entries close September 21. Schedules from the secretary, Wm. C. Young, 12, Hanover-square, London. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufac- turers or correspondents, 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. W* wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of iisue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt of their communica- tions. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. L. S. (Elstow). — Experts and Antiseptics. — The communication received conveys ideas so utterly inconsistent with the posi- tion held by our correspondent that we decline to publish it in our columns. In other words, when it is known that all the leading members of the medical profession invariably use antiseptics in surgical cases, and fully realise the enormous advantage thus gained in subduing the mischief which would otherwise result from disease germ?, it is absolute folly to argue — as our corres- pondent does — that all scientists are wrong, and that he is right. In fact, it reminds one of the wise person who, not many years ago, proved to his own satisfaction that the world was not a sphere at all, but perfectly flat 1 It will be remembered, too, that this same gentleman, having the courage of his convictions, offered a large sum of money to any one who could prove him in the wrong ! In the end, one of the things proved was the truth of the remark that all men are more or less mad on some point, and we may be allowed, without offence, to advise our cor- respondent to be careful, lest antiseptics prove his weak spot. Seriously, however, we do not here enter into the question whether auy one can retain the certificate of the B.r plen"v under such conditions as have arig»>. As ma^ase, seeing that the matter mayl on the lih later on by the body most direfeees on it in L. Andre/.'16 re^ -Bee-candy. — 1. We can- not think tL s * ja have adhered closely to instructions ior making soft candy given in " Guide-book," seeing that samples have been sent here — made from the same recipe — of as good soft Cindy as could be wished for or made. That sent is just as granular as if the sugar had not been boiled at all, and we cannot wonder at the bees carrying it out. 2. Mr. R. Hefford, Boughton, Northants, is secretary of the Northants B.K.A., and will supply you with all par- ticulars as to membership. Novice (Liskeard). — Sugars for Bee-food.— 1. We should on no account use beet sugar for bee-syrup. Of the other two kinds, No. 1 is known as icing sugar, and even if "pure cane," as stated, is not so suitable for the 370 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 10, 1896. purpose as fine white crystals. 2. No sugar does well for " dry feeding " but that known as Costa Rica, and it is very difficult to obtain. 3. We would dispense with dry sugar feeding when syrup is being given to bees. 4. Yes. Boyes (Ryegate). — Buying Ligurian Queens. — We have known queem to be received by post from the breeder named (Silvio Galletti) in eight days after writing. But the time cannot be relied on to a day or two. Our preference would be for two queens rather than a queen and 1-lb. of bees at same price for each, if good stocks are on hand for in- troducing them to. H. L. (Wadebridge). — Destroying Wasps' Nests. — If convenient to get at, a pint of gas tar or of paraffin oil poured in at entrance (covering the latter with a clod of earth) will generally put an end to the nest at this season. Cyanide of potassium will destroy the nest in a minute or two, but needs care in using. J. S. L. (Salop).— We are sorry to say our space is too much occupied at this season for reports of shows where only three small prizes are awarded for honey. A. Vallet (Cardiff). — Doolittle's Queen-cell Protector. — This useful adjunct to the queen- raiser's " tools " is simply a wire cage made sufficiently large to encircle the cell and protect it from being tern down or the queen damaged by the bees. We do not know if any of our dealers make or stock these cell-protectors, which are in common use in America. G. L. L. (Weybridge).. — Wax from old combs —which always melts down "very dark in colour "■ — cannot be made light, but may be improved in colour by pouring it into cold water while hot. Some clarify it by adding a few drops of oil of vitriol after the wax has boiled for a few minutes. H. M. W. (Dover). — Honey sent is of ex- cellent quality, and 50 lb. of such from a swarm nivtd on June 1 is obviously a very good result. Full particulars of the advantages of membership of the Kent B.K.A. will no doubt be forwarded on application to the hon. sec, Mr. H. W. Brice, the Apiary, Thornton Heath. H. Neve (HeatMeld). — Heather Honey in Sussex. — The sample of this honey in comb is excellent in colour and cocsistency, while the flavour is good. A. B. C— (Cambs.). — Pollen Combs. — Any unused pollen in combs will become hard and unfit for use next year if kept till then ; so if many cells ate filled by it we should melt the combs down. J. 0. W. — Both samples are very fair in quality, but flavour is not very good, especially that of No. 1, which is a bit rank or coarse. T. W. (North Lonsdale). — Non-sectional Supers. — See reply to 2,601, page 345, of issue of August 28. W. Lidget.— So far as household use, the honey is perfectly good and wholesome. Special Prepaid Advertisements. Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, ice. — Up to Twelve words, Sixpence; for every additional Three words or under, One Penny. WELL-FILLED SECTIONS for SALE. Apply A. Godsland, Bovey Tracey, Devon. N 34 GUARANTEED HEALTHY DRIVEN BEES, Is. 3d. lb. ; packing case, Is. Woods, Normandy, Guild- ford. N 40 STRONG STOCK ITALIAN BEES for SALE. Par- ticulars on application. Clarkson, Church-street, West Hartlepool. N 35 HONEY WANTED. Send sample and price to J. J. W. ROGERS, Bernard-street, St. Albans, Herts. N 37 WANTED, Press complete, for Heather Honey. " Garstang " preferred. Price and particulars to J. MACDONALD, Bonaly, Clynder, Roseneath, N.B. N 36. GOOD CLOVER HONEY for SALE, in 1-lb. Sections. C. MiLBURN, Holborn, Lowick, Beal, Northumber- land. N 45 TWO PAIRS BLUE TURBITS, 6s. EXCHANGE for Driven Bees or Books.- 6, Totteridge-road, High Wycombe. N 43 TWENTIETH YEAR.— Pure Black '96 Tested Queen, 3s. 6d. delivered ; with Swarm, 5s. on rail. Alsford, Expert, Blandford. 31 85 BEAUTIFUL HARDY PLANTS. Specially marked list, showing the best kinds to grow for Bees, sent on application. Hakborne Plant Co., Birmingham. N 3S HEALTHY DRIVEN BEES, 5-lb. lots or over, Is. lb., including Queen (Skeps 2s. extra). Spare Queens 2s. each, post free. R. NESS, Sproxton Apiary, Helmsley, York. N 40 SURPLUS BAR-FRAME STOCKS, 25s. ; 16-oz. Screw- top Bottles, 2s. dozen ; Gilt Section Bands, Is 100 ; Clover and Heather Honey. Wood & Taylor Hathersage. CHOICE 1890 Natural-raised English QUEENS. I can send by return post, at 3s. each. Safe arrival guaranteed, and healthy. A. J, CARTER, Newfields Apiary, Billingshurst, Sussex. STRONG STOCK HYBRID LIGURIANS, fertile 1896 Queen, with Frames and Honey complete for wintering, £1. Also "Little Wonder" Extractor, nearly new. What offers? Mrs. BKUNE, Rowner Rectory, Gosport, Hants. N 44 GARDENER, incapacitated from very arduous work by injury, seeks position of responsibility. Age 33 ; married. Advertiser is a Certificated Expert of the B. B.K.A. and has a good general knowledge of all branches of agriculture. Recommended by late employer. GAuhener, li.B J. Office, 17, King William- street, Strand, London, W.C. FOR SALE, 50 well-filled Sections, slightly coloured ; 25 well-tilled Sections, first grade ; 1 glazed Super, about 28 lbs., awarded first prize in strong competi- tion ; 4 Straw Supers, about 9 lb. each ; 10 strong, healthy Stocks in large Straw Hives ; 6 strong, healthy Stocks on Bar Frames ; 20 Bottles fine Extracted Honey. Full particulars on application to H. LiNSTEAP, Garboldisham, Norfolk. N 39 Sept. 17, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 371 aMtferal UWiceB, kt SENDING HONEY TO SHOWS, AND CHEAP RATES FOR HONEY, ETC. BY RAIL. At the monthly meeting of the Council of the B.B.K.A., reported on page 283 of our issue for July 16, a small sub-com- mittee was appointed to consider the question of simple packages for the safe transit of honey by rail to and from shows, &c, and to draw up suggestions in regard thereto. This sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. E. D. Till (Vice-Chairman of the Council), W. Broughton Carr, and Edwin H. Young (Secretary), met at 17, King William-street, on the 4th inst., Mr. Till presiding. After fully considering the matters entrusted to them and in the light of information gained subsequently to the meeting, the following report was placed before the Council at their meeting on the 10th inst. : — Keport of Sub-Committee. — In consider- ing the question of facilitating the safe transit, unpacking, staging, and re-packing honey sent for exhibition, the committee are of opinion that some uniformity of method is very de- sirable, and therefore recommend : — (1) Cheap packages, which need not necessarily be re- turned to exhibitor if honey be sold, nor be paid for by buyer at an extra cost. (2) That screws be used for securing the lid — not nails. (3) Not more than twenty-four glass jars, or twenty-four sections be sent in one package ; or at most the gross weight of each package not to exceed 56 lb. for convenience of hand- ling. (4) That rope handles be used to the boxes. (5) That corrugated paper be used for wrapping round bottled honey. (6) That where hay or straw is used, it be made into cushions by enveloping it in paper, so that no loose hay, straw or dust shall soil the jars, or stick to leaking honey. (7) That each package have affixed to it a bold "label (printed if possible) and lettered in large type— HONEY. FRAGILE. THIS SIDE UP. The " trade labels " on packing-cases used should also be removed, or pasted over, so that contents may not be mistaken in transit, by reason of original labels left on the boxes (8) The adoption of used " Condensed Milk " boxes, for twenty-four glass jars or twelve sections. These boxes are strong and can be procured from grocers for about 2d. each. A tall screw-cap bottle (6 in. high), or a short screw-cap (5^in.) will pack readily in these boxes, which are 18 in. long by 12 in. broad, and 6f in. deep inside clear measurement, and are formed of two ends, 12 in. by 6| in. by | in. ; two sides, 19| in. by 6| in. by tin. ; four pieces, 19|in. by 6| in. by -,*„ in. (for bottom and lid). In using this box for but twelve 1-lb. jars, the sides, bottom, and lid should be reduced to 10£ in. long, otherwise a partition in box will be needed. Glass jars should, as before stated, each be encircled by a piece of corrugated paper, 11 in. by 5 in., so as to lap over. Twenty-four jars will then exactly fill the box, on the bottom of which a piece of corrugated paper, 12 in. by 18 in. is laid, and a similar piece placed on top of jars before closing down. This involves the use of H yards of corrugated paper. Newspaper, several layers thick, answers the same purpose, but not so well. In packing a dozen 1-lb. sections in one of these boxes, tie them in half dozens ; then make a paper parcel of the whole and a cushion of hay, shavings, or straw all round to prevent concussion. (For general instructions as to packing, and also Mr. W. Woodley's plan of packing sections, see Bee Journal, June 7 1894, page 224.) Cord handles should be arranged so that the knots (inside) come just 3 in. from the outside edge of box. The knots then fit between the shoulders of the bottles. Mr. Young produced for the inspection of the sub- committee a light wooden box, 16jin. by 11 in. by 5 in., and gave detailed particulars as to the system adopted by the Great Eastern Eailway Co. of carrying certain goods, including honey, if packed in boxes pro- vided by the Company, at very low rates. The box shown was one of a series of four sizes, similar in make and the strength of wood used in manufacture. No. 1 (price 2-id.) is made of eight pieces, viz :— ends, £ in. thick, each 1 Of in. by 5 in., one piece; sides, \ in. thick, each 16| in. by 5 in., one piece ; lid and bottom (each in two parts), \ in. thick, measuring respectively 16J in. by 6 in. and \Q\ in. by 5 in. It is unfortunate that the size of No. 1 box unfits it for sending screw-cap glass jars of honey. The other regulation- sized boxes sold by the company are No. 2, 16fin. by lljin. by 5*- in. deep, price 3d. ; No. 3, 18^ in. by 13 in. by 6 in. deep, price 4d. ; No. 4, 21| in. by 14 in. by 7 in. deep, price 5d. The Company's regulations further provide that these boxes are to have lids nailed on when filled, not tied with rope. If sent in the Company's boxes, produce will be carried (owner's risk) at the following rates :— 20 lbs. for 4d. to any distance on the Company's system, including delivery in usual limits, 372 THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 17, 1896. •with Id. additional for every 5 lbs. up to 60 lbs. Excepting that the size of No. 1 box unfits it for holding 1-lb. honey jars or sections, and sides, bottom, and top, of the Great Eastern Co.'s boxes seem too thin for the safe transit of honey in glass jars — although it is stated that honey is now regularly sent in these boxes — one could hardly hope for a cheaper or more convenient method of carrying suitable farm- produce — including honey — direct from pro- ducers to consumers. It will be a welcome tncouragement of the minor rural industries concerned if the example of the Great Eastern Co. is followed by all our leading Railways. The suggestions contained in the above report — since adopted by the Council of the B.B.K.A. — will, no doubt, receive the attention of exhibitors, and we hope meet with general approval. But to venture beyond the scope of the special question with which the sub-committee had alone to deal, viz., conveyance of honey exhibits to shoAvs, the rates quoted by the G.E.E. Company are so excep- tionally favourable, not only to bee- keepers, but to all minor rural industries, that, if taken advantage of and appre- ciated to the extent we hope they will be, it> becomes reasonably certain that, sooner or later, they will be adopted by other leading railways. In these days of keen competition the fact that a simple arrangement between producer and consumer will enable the latter to have delivered at his own door a neat new box containing, say, a couple of country-fed fowls, several pounds of freshly-made butter, a dozen new-laid eggs, and a few pounds of honey, along with fruit or anything else, not exceed- ing a gross weight of 20 lbs., at a cost of fourpence for carriage, or up to 60 lbs. for eightpence, comes upon one as a sort of revelation ! And when, as we say, this arrangement becomes quite an easy matter, it only needs working out on sound business lines to render it capable of development to an enormous extent. The establishment of weekly deliveries of home-grown produce would be most advantageous to all concerned, seeing how largely cost of carriage handicaps the home grower in the race with his foreign competitors. Quality is admit- tedly on our side, and facilities in the way of convenience and cheapness of carriage such as are here brought to notice are well worth the earnest con- sideration of all in whose interest these lines are written. Nor is there any reason why British honey should not be far more frequently seen upon the British breakfast-table, as one good result. BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The monthly meeting of the Council was held at 105, Jermyn-street, S.W., on Friday, September 11, 1896, Mr. E. D. Till (Vice- Chairman) in the chair. There were also present Messrs. R. T. Andrews, H. W. Brice, W. Broughton Carr, Major Fair, T. J. Weston, J. M. Hooker (ex-officio), and the Secretary. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Thos. Mellor, Beehive Villas, Kingsley, Cheadle, was elected as a member of the Association. The Finance Committee reported that they had examined the accounts to August 31, and recommended payment of accounts amounting to £59. 9s. 7d. The report was adopted. A discussion ensued on the report of the Education Committee as to the necessity for more definite rules in regard to the examina- tions for the Association's Experts' Certificates, and eventually it was resolved to authorise the Committee to draft regulations in accord- ance with certain suggestions made by the Council. It was thought that at present insufficient notice was often given of approach- ing examinations to allow of satisfactory arrangements being made by the Committee under the sanction of the Council. A ques- tion arose as to the position occupied by the holder of a lst-class Expert's Certificate who, almost immediately after passing the examina- tion, proclaimed views in direct opposition to those necessary to the gaining of such certifi- cate. The matter was referred to the examiners for a further report, which will be considered at the next meeting. The Secretary reported upon the result of communications with affiliated associations in regard to the proposed County Honey Trophy competition at Manchester in 1897. The replies received to the queries sent out were considered eminently satisfactory, and the Exhibitions Committee were asked to deal with the points raised when preparing the prize schedule. The consensus of opinion was decidedly in favour of limiting the weight of honey in any one trophy to about 300 lb. Mr. Till presented a report of the sub-com- mittee on " Simple Honey Packages " for transit to and from shows, &c , and it was resolved to ask that this report be printed in the columns of the British Bee Journal, to give opportunity for discussion on the question. THE COMING DAIRY SHOW. Some doubt appears to exist in the minds of intending exhibitors of honey as to whether their personal attendance is necessary for the Sept. 17, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 373 purpose of unpacking, staging, and repacking. It seems, therefore, desirable to state that all this is undertaken by the Show authorities, who will also offer exhibits for sale, when so instructed. The Dairy Show affords an ex- cellent market for bee-produce, but competi- tors who do not wish their exhibits returned are recommended to fix a reasonable price, instead of a fancy one. As we go to press we are glad to learn from a note sent by the Secretary that a more prominent position will this year be assigned to the honey department, which will be located in a newly-erected building leading from the ground floor of the Agricultural Hall, instead of in the galleries as in recent years. This alteration is likely to be widely appreciated by bee-keepers, and we anticipate a large display of honey and kindred exhibits. Let it not be forgotten, however, that entries close on Monday next, the 21st inst. REDUCTION IN PRICE OF CANE SUGARS. We are glad to announce that the sugars supplied through this office are, until further notice, reduced in price from Is. to 2s. per cwt., according to the kind selected. See revised price list in usual column for full particulars. DERBYSHIRE B.K.A. ANNUAL SHOW AT DERBY. The fifteenth annual exhibition of the D.B.K.A. was held in connection with that of the Derbyshire Agricultural Society on Sep- tember 9 and 10 in the show-ground of the latter at Derby. The wet weather prevailing generally throughout the county unfortunately interfered with the comfort of visitors on the first day, but neither reduced the dimensions of the show nor the excellence of the exhibits. In the bee department a large display of honey, excellent in quality, was shown, notwithstand- ing the fact that the season of '96 is regarded as notable for dark honey. The [schedule comprised in all eighteen classes, twelve of which were confined to " members of the D.B.K.A. only," while six were open to "all comers," and the competition for the prizes was very keen. Mr. C. N. White, of Somersham, judged the bee exhibits, assisted in the open classes by Messrs. R. Giles and T. W. Jones, of the D.B.KA. Mr. White also conducted an examination for 3rd class certificates of the B.B.K.A. AWARDS (MEMBERS' CLASSES). Single-frame Observatory Hive. — 1st, H. C. Jacques, Horninglow ; 2nd, A. Cooper, Derby ; 3rd, H. Meakin, Newthorpe. Observatory Hive, two or more Frames. — 1st, Thos. Richards, Church Gresley ; 2nd, H. Hill, Ambaston. Display of Money. — 1st, John Stone, Cubley ; 2nd, H. Joyce, Smisby ; 3rd, H. Hill ; 4th, G. Sale, Smisby; 5th, G. H. Varty, Burnaston ; h.c, A. Cooper. Three Shallow-Frames of Honey. — 1st, J. Stone ; 2nd, J. Pearman, Derby. 12 1-lb. Sections.— 1st, J. Stone; 2nd, T. Richards ; 3rd, G. Sale. 12 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, J. Pearman ; 2nd, J. Stone ; 3rd, C Wootton ; 4th, R. Bridges, Hartstoft. 12 1-lb. Jars Granulated Honey. — 1st, J. Stone. Beeswax. — 1st, H. Hill ; 2nd, J. Stone ; 3rd, G. Thornhill, Alport; 4th, C. Wootton, Draycott. 15 lb. of Comb Honey (labourers only). — 1st, J. Pearman. 15 lb. Extracted Honey (labourers only). — 1st, not awarded ; 2nd. H. West, Boylestone ; 3rd, J. Pearman. Six 1-lb Sections (in Blow's Sections). — 1st, J. Stone. Six 1-lb. Jars Bottles Extracted Honey (in Blow's glass jars). — 1st, C. Wootton ; 2nd, H. West. OPEN CLASSES. Twelve 14b Sections. — 1st, J. Stone ; 2nd, W. H. Woods, St. Ives ; 3rd, R. Brown, Somersham ; h.c, H. 0. Smith, Louth, Lines. Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted, Honey. — 1st, W, H. Woods ; 2nd, H. 0. Smith ; 3rd, W. Petty, Hants. ; 4th, Chas. Anger, Caistor ; v.h.c, J. Sopp, Crowmarsh ; and J. Hook- way, Somerset ; h.c, J. Waterfield, Kib- worth ; and H. W. Seymour, Henley-on- Thames. Twelve 1-lb. Jars Granulated Honey.— 1st, H. W. Seymour ; 2nd, R. Brown, Somersham ; h.c, J. Sopp, Crowmarsh. Single 1-lb. Sections. — 1st, R. Brown ; 2nd, H. 0. Smith ; 3rd, J. Sopp. Single 1-lb. Jar Extracted Honey. — 1st, W. H. Woods ; 2nd, J. Sopp ; 3rd, W. Hogg, Castle-Douglas, N.B. Collection of Appliances. — 1st, G. H. Varty, Burnaston, Derby. — {Communicated.) NOTTINGHAMSHIRE B.K.A. The above Association held their annual show at Moorgreen in conjunction with that of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society on the 8th inst., when over 900 lb. of excellent honey was staged, and proved a very attractive department of the show, the tent being crowded most of the day. Mr. T. W. Jones, of Etwall, Derby, was the judge, assisted by Mr. S. W. Marriott, of Nottingham, and made the following awards : — Best Hive. — 1st, G. E. Puttergill, Beeston ; 2nd, G. H. Varty, Burnaston, Derby. Best Hive {made by Amateur). — 1st, J. T. Faulconbridge, Bulwell ; 2nd, J. F. Simpson, Underwood. 374 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 17, 1896. Single \-lb. Jar Extracted Honey (Open). — 1st, J. Sopp, Crawmarsh ; 2nd, H. 0. Smith, Louth ; 3rd, T. Blake, Broughton ; 4th, G. Marshall, Notts. Honey Trophy. — 1st, J. and W. Herrod, Newark ; 2nd, G. Marshall, Norwell ; 3rd, J. W. S. Kawson, Selston ; 4th, J. T. Faul- conbridge. Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (Local). —1st, J. W. S. Rawson ; 2nd, Wm. Brooks, Eastwood ; 3rd, G. M. Bolton ; h.c, J. Raw- son, sen. Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (Notts only).— 1st, G. Marshall ; 2nd, J. and W. Herrod ; 3rd, P. Scattergood ; 4th, H. Merry- weather ; 5th, G. E. Puttergill ; h.c, J. F. Simpson, C. M. Lindley. Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, G Marshall ; 2nd, J. and W. Herrod ; 3rd, G. E. Puttergill ; H.C, J. W. S. Rawson. Six l-lb. Jars Granulated Honey. — 1st, J. W. S. Rawson ; 2nd, H. Wiggett, J. and W. Herrod. Shallow Frame of Comb Honey. — 1st, T. Marshall ; 2nd, G Marshall ; 3rd, J. and W. Herrod. Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, G. M. Bolton ; 2nd, Geo. Hayes ; 3rd, Wm. Poxon ; 4tb, J. McKinnon. Six l-lb. Sections (Beginners only). — F. Wygett, Annesley ; 2nd, G. Reeve, Moorgreen. Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (Blow's Jars).— 1st, G E. Puttergill. Twelve l-lb. Sections (in Blow's Sections).—: 1st, J. W. S. Rawson. Honey Vinegar. — 1st, G. E. Puttergill ; 2nd, P. Scattergood. Honey Cake. — 1st, P. Scattergood ; 2nd, J. and W. Herrod. Observatory Hive. — 1st, H. Wigget ; 2nd, J. Annable; 3rd, G. E. Puttergill; 4th, P. Scattergood. Wax. — 1st, G. Marshall; 2nd, G. E. Puttergill ; 3rd, J. Gray, Long Eaton. — (Com- municated.) PERTHSHIRE B.K.A. The annual exhibition of bees, honey, &c., under the auspices of this Society, was held in Perth on Friday the 28th ult. The entries this year were about the same as last year, and the total honey staged amounted to 1,200 lb. In all the classes of honey there was a very re- presentative display. The prize for the most artistic display of honey was won by Mr. 0. Cross, Luncarty, with a beautifully-arranged trophy weighing 06 lb. The second prize was gained by Mr. Duncan Stewart, Luncarty. Both these gentlemen took prizes in all the classes, and Mr. P. M'Whannell, Perth, secured a number of prize3. Heather-honey this year was very good, and a trifle better than the ordinary class. Mr. William Logie, Perth, carried off first honours. The medal for the most successful competitor was won by Mr. C. Cross, who carried off 4 firsts, 3 seconds and 2 thirds. The judges were Mr. Lorimer, Dundee, and Mr. Campbell, The Durn, Perth, and their awards gave great satisfaction. — (Communicated.) tyamtyonhnzt The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. Comrtwinications relating to the literary department reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries Books for Review, &c, must be addressed only to " The Editors of the 'British Bee Journal,' 17, King William- street, Strand, London, W.C." All business' communi- cations relating to Advertisements, dec, must be addressed to "The Manager, ' British Bee Journal' Office, 17, King William-street, Strand, London. W.C." *** In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. ERRORS IN TEACHING. [2618.] In this month's Practical Teacher appears an article on " Apidae '' by Prof. J. R. Green, Sc.D., F.R.S., and Miss F. L. Green, as part of a course of instruction in Agricul- tural Zoology. Some of the statements do not appear to agree with what we are accustomed to read in our bee-literature, and you may be willing to clear up the apparent discrepancies or contradictions. Here is a statement which sounds strange : — " Two sorts of females have been observed, among bees, a large one and a small one, but the latter is of rare occurrence and has never been observed to lay eggs." We bee-keepers certainly know of two sorts of females, queens and workers, large and small ; and the workers are sometimes found to lay eggs. But the statement, in so far as it differentiates sexually developed females, or queens, is not within our reading in such books as Cowan's " Guide Book " or Cowan's " Honey Bee." Again. " Each cell is a distinct, separate, and independent structure, agglutinated only to the neighbouring cells, and capable of being completely detached from them without in- jury." I have never seen this statement before. Have I been wrong in considering that the cell walls are party walls ? Do the bees raise two agglutinated walls at the same time between each pair of cells 1 And can the single cell be so detached as to leave the six cells round it entire ? We are then told that — " Huber was the first to discover that there are two kinds of working bees, the nurse bees and the makers of wax." Our books teach us that the difference is a matter of age, some of the organs, it is true, being modified, but in all alike according to age. The same paragraph goes on to say that " the fonner " (the nurse bees) " build the combs and cells after the latter have laid the Sept. 17, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOUENAL. 375 foundation, collect honey, and feed the larvae.'' Again we are pulled up by our books, and by our own observations, which teach us that the nurse bees do not collect the honey ; this is work for the older ones, who, on occasion, may also be wax-producers. A little later it is stated again that the nur3e bees do the work of shaping the bottoms of the cells with the wax deposited by the others. Is the inference a reliable one, that this work is restricted to the nurse bees ? We are told, "They appear to give the proper forms to the bottom* of the cells by means of their antennae." I have read of the operation of the mandibles in scooping ("Honey Bee," p. 175), but not before this of those delicate sense organs, the antennae, being used for shaping cells, though the antennae would freely play their part in testing the work going on. The gauge which tests rail fixing does not lay down the permanent way. The strength of older combs is attributed to their being smeared with propolis. Is this so ? And, if it be so, are the combs smeared over the cell edges or over the cell walls 1 " It should be noticed that the queens are all liberated in order of seniority." No doubt this would practically be so, but has the order of seniority been so exactly ascertained by queen-raisers that they could be sure of it ? " The old queen is never interfered with by the workers.'' This rule is open to exceptions. "BalliDg" is one._ Supersession is another. " In tine weather the drones pair with the queens in mid-air, after which they are destroyed by the workers.'' The step here is evidently one of condensation or boiling down ; the writers could not have meant to associate the pairing and the destruction of drones by the workers as a sort of inevitable sequence, as the pairing and the death of the mating drone form a distinct sequence of their own. I should like to ask another question, arising by suggestion in considering the development of the worker bee. Supposing nurse bees are not wax -producers to any material extent, is the development of the power of producing wax co-incident with the on-coming atrophy of the glands which the nurse bees find very essential in the production of brood-food ? — S. Jordan, Bristol, September 9. [A perusal of the extracts quoted from Dr. Green's article leads us to suppose that he is not himself a bee-keeper, and, in getting up the subject for literary purposes, has con- sulted only such books on bees — -presumably old ones — as were within reach. Whether this be so or not, he has apparently failed to study more modern works, and is consequently quite behind the time. There is not much difficulty in perceiving that the writer had in mind Huber's work — written over 100 years ago — the information given dating from that period. Anyway, if the extracts quoted refer to the honey-bee, Apis Mellifica, all the statements pointed out by Mr. Jordan are at variance with known facts. The " two sorts of females " mentioned may apply to the genus Bombus, or humble-bees, but they are not " rare '.' among these latter insects. So it is more than probable that the honey-bee is meant by Dr. Green ; and if this is so, we do not understand him. It is, however, quite evident that the writer of the article dealt with is not at all well-versed in the hive-bee portion of his subject. The concluding question put by our corre- spondent could only be definitely decided by close examination of swarms, seeing that even the youngest bees have their wax glands per- fectly developed, and, this being so, it is reasonable to assume that they could produce wax if it were necessary for them to do so. — Eds.] BEES AND LIME TREES. [2619.] Referring to the subject of bees found dead under lime trees (page 363 of B. B. J. for September 10), I have noticed that all the bumble bees thus found have two or three of the abdominal rings enclosing the sting re- moved. It therefore appears to me that they are killed by birds and the honey bag extracted. There are a number of lime trees round my house and I find dead bees under most of them. All the limes do not flower exactly at the same time, which may be the cause of the dead bees being found under some trees more than others. — N., Kintore, N.B., September 12. TALL GLASS VASES FOR HONEY. SHOULD THEY BE ALLOWED IN "SHOWING?" [2620.] As a constant reader of your interest- ing and valuable journal, I have hitherto been satisfied to leave contributions to its pages to others. Just now, however, I am moved to ask you to ventilate a grievance which up to the present, so far as I know, has only found expression in semi-public growls. I refer to the disposition shown to seek undue advantage on the show-bench by putting up honey in tall vases. I have heard this described as " unfair competition,'' and I endorse this description, inasmuch as honey in a tall, narrow vase appears lighter than the same honey in the usual 1-lb. screw-capped glass jar. In the interest of the honey show, I say let us have some restriction placed upon the height of the vessel — as at the coming Dairy Show — or a separate class for each ; or, perhaps better still, one class for the " Standard " jar (the best form so far) and an " any "other variety class." — Novice, September 4. [The Council of the B.K.K.A. have already taken action in the matter referred to by our correspondent, as seen in the schedule men- tioned by him. It is also intended that the same restriction shall extend to all shows with which the parent association is directly con.- 376 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 17, 1896. cerned. Nor have we any doubt that County Associations will see the wisdom of restricting the height of glass honey jars to six inches for show purposes. There is, however, no " Stan- dard " honey jar, nor do we think it advisable to recommend the adoption of such. In fact, after limiting the height of jar, exhibitors should not be compelled to procure those of a particular make, but be allowed a free market so far as choosing for themselves from whom they will purchase. — Eds.] ENEMIES OF BEES IN S. AFRICA. [2621.] Referring to my letter inserted in B.J. of July 9 last (2554, p. 274), I beg to thank you for the information contained in your reply thereto. There was, however, a slight printer's error in my letter re- ferred, to, which it may be well to put right, in that I am made to say — when referring to the enemies of bees in S. Africa — "large swifts bee-eaters," whereas it should have been "large Swifts, which are bee-eaters." I enclose a specimen of this bird, which I consider is one of the greatest enemies to bees anywhere. In the crop of the specimen sent I found eight or ten bees, and the gizzard was filled with the remains of bees. — E. C. Wells, Qucenstown, Cape Colony, August 24, 1896. LATE FERTILISATION OF QUEEN. [2622.] Apropos of your remarks (Septem- ber 10, 2610) to "Learner," the following instance of late fertilisation may be of interest. On July 13 I transferred a larva, a day or two old, to a queen-cell in another hive. The resulting queen was active enough on the 27th, and I should think was hatched on the 24th or 25th. On August 21 she had laid no eggs. Having a nucleus ready to unite with another hive headed by an old queen, I determined to give a week's respite, and then, if neces- sary, let the old queen keep possession, and unite the nucleus instead with the stock where my new queen was. On August 28, over a month after hatching, my bonny rotund queen was laying well, and Dot much before then, for I saw no larva;. The identity of the queen there is no doubt about, as she was my only queen raised from a hybrid, and she is not a drone-breeder, as might have been expected from Huber's observations, quoted on p. 141 Cowan's " Honey-Bee.'' — S. Jordan, Bristol, Sept. 14. SEASONABLE QUESTIONS. ANSWERED BY G. M. DOOLITTLE. PURITY V. WORKING QUALITIES. Question. — I understand that you are sell- ing queens and bees, Do you guarantee your stock to be pure or is not purity of stock the greatest essential in bees ? Answer. — Much has been said in years past about a standard of purity for our bees ; and some of us have often been led to ask ourselves the question, " Can we adopt a standard of purity that will always secure to us the best working qualities in our bees ? '' It would, of course, be easy for those who follow nothing but queen-breeding as a business to adopt a standard of purity, or secure something which would be called " thoroughbred " at least ; but for the rank and file of honey-producers to adopt the same standard would be quite another thing. The workers from different queens of the same colour and general appear- ance show a vast difference as to working qualities — at least, such is my experience. In the spring of 1877, while changing a colony from one hive to another, I noticed a fine- looking orange - coloured queen, with the workers all well-marked. A neighbour, who kept several colonies of bees, was present, and remarked that he preferred a darker-coloured queen for business ; and I agreed with his decision. No further notice was taken of the colony than of others till about June 25, when the swarming season was nearly over. This one had not swarmed, but had 60 lb. of section honey nearly ready to come off. July 3, they gave a fine swarm which was hived. Although the parent colony had none of its queen- cells cut, it never offered to swarm again ; and the result at the end of the season was 195 lb. of section honey from the parent, and 1141b. from the swarm, or 309 lb. in all. The queen reared in the old hive was very much like her mother, and both colonies wintered with the loss of but very few bees, and consumed com- paratively little honey, according to many others. The next season they showed the same disposition not to swarm till late ; and from the colony with the old queen I obtained 1511b. of section honey, while but few other colonies yielded over 1001b. I then reared nearly all of my queens from this old one, as long as she lived, and found the majority of them very prolific layers and their workers great honey-gatherers. After she died I began getting queens from other parties who reported good honey-yields through our bee-papers, to cross with mine, as in-and-in breeding is generally considered injurious to bees. Many of these queens did not prove to be equal to my own, and were soon superseded. Some proved to be good and were used in connection with the above strain, which I have kept largely in the majority ever since. By this mode of crossing I have bred up a strain of bees which pleases me ; and after years of trial I believe them to be second to none as honey-gatherers, although for their purity I can give no guarantee, neither do I think it. necessary to guarantee the positive purity of any stock, except that it be good in every spot and place where you wish goodness. I am still striving to advance further along the Sept. 17, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 377 honey-gathering line, bo each year finds me securing queens from the most approved sources, although it is seldom I find one I care to use as a breeder ; but as this " seldom one " is of great value, I consider myself well paid for ail my trouble. There is nothing in all the realm of bee-keeping that gives me more pleasure than this work of improvement of stock for its honey-gathering qualities ; and as we have several of our most prominent apiarists at work along this line, if perfection can be attained with bees I doubt not that America will stand at the head one of these days. But I have my doubts about "standing at the head '' meaning purity of stock. UNITING BEES. Question. — Will you please tell us in Glean- ings how to unite two or more weak colonies so that they may be strong enough for winter ? I have some small colonies which I wish to put together this fall; and as I am only a beginner in bee-keeping, any advice would be acceptable. Answer. — The uniting of two or more weik colonies of bees for winter is the proper thing to do ; for two weak colonies, kept separate, will consuni9 nearly twice the stores that both together would united, and very likely perish before spring ; while, if put together, they would winter as well as any large colony. The way to proceed is as follows : If one of the queens is known to be inferior, remove her, so that the best queen may survive; otherwise pay no attention to the queens, for one of them will soon be killed after uniting. Having the queen matter disposed of, go to the colonies you wish to unite, and blow smoke quite freely in at the entrance, pound- ing on the top of the hive at the same time with the doubled-up fist. When both hive been treated in this way, wait a moment or two for the bees to fill themselves with honey, when one is to be carried to where the other stands, and both opened. Now select the combs from both hives which contain most honey, and come the nearest to filling the frames, setting them in one hive. In thus setting in, it is always best to alternate the frames, whereby the bees are so mixed up that they have no desire to fight, for each bee touched by another is a stranger. After the hive is filled, arrange the quilt and put on the cover. Next put a wide board or sheet in front of the hive, leading up to the entrance, and proceed to shake the bees off the remaining frames, taking first a frame from one hive and. then one from the other, thus mixing the bees as before. After all are in, set a board up against the front of the hive, sloping over the entrance, so that the next time the bees fly they will be compelled to fly against it or crawl out around it, thus causing them to mark their location anew ; they will then not be so liable to return to their old place. The nfixing and causing them to fill with honey has a tendency to make bees look after their location ; but the board helps also in this direstion. Also remove all relics of the old hive likely to entice them back to their old s^and. Put the remaining combs away in so ne safe place for the next season's use, and the work is complete. If this uniting is done near sunset, and the bees are caused to fill themselves thoroughly with honey, very few will fly away in the process. —Gleanings. LECTURES ON BEES. A series of lectures on bees were recently delivered in the New Bank Rooms, Stanhope, on twelve respective Monday evenings by Mr. Wm. Crisp, of Eaglescliffe, formerly of Great Ayton. The lectures were given under the auspices of the Durham County Council, and, judging by the number attending, were thoroughly appreciated. Lectures on this interesting subject should be given in every village and country town in the land where bees are kept, and working men encouraged to take up bee-keeping, not merely as a hobby, but as a pleasant means of adding to their income. The Durham County Council are to be complimented on devoting a portion of the funds at their disposal for objects like these, and thus spreading abroad knowledge of a subject so important to working men dwelling in rural districts. — (Communicated.) ^nr'm anil JjUjjKts. [1545.] Sending Honey to Shows. — Please iaforni a novice through your valuable journal (1) How to extract heather honey and put it up in form for showing ? (2) Which kind of bottle is best for travelling a long dis- tance ? (3) Are sections shown best in cases or glazed ? (4) Do the " half-rate " charges for which honey is conveyed to the dairy show extend to Scotch railways ? — Donald McGeachy, Pennyfair, Oban, N.B, Sep- tember 8. Reply — 1. We have heard of " dropped " heather honey (the term is a Scotch one), but confess our ignorance of the method by which good heather honey can be extracted from combs other than by pressure. This seems to be now generally admitted, even in Scot- land, seeing that presses are now made ex- pressly for the purpose of extracting the con- tents of combs filled at the moors in this way. It is put up for showing in glass jars, just as any other honey. 2. The ordinary screw-cap jar is best. 3. If by "cases" you mean single cases holding a dozen sections, we think these latter less suitable for showing generally than glazed cases holding a single section. " Glassing " the section on both sides 378 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 17, 1896. by means of lace-paper edging, without a case at all, however, does as well, and is as neat as any form for showing. 4. We cannot say if "half rates" for honey extend to Scottish railways, but should suppose the latter are not behind English companies in this respect. [1546.] Suspected Foul Brood. — I send you by this post a box containing a small piece of comb, in one cell of which you will see a dead and rotten grub. I shall be glad to know whether it is a case of foul brood. The county expert spotted it this afternoon, and on careful examination we failed to discover any other suspicious symptom, this being the only cell of the sort we saw. The capping was removed in order to see what was inside. The hive is strong, in good condition, and has given 65 lb. of sections in the past season. I only keep three hives, arid all were examined. — G. Edward Wilson, Kidderminster, Septem- ber 14. Reply. — The fact of there being only a single ceil containing dead brood in the whole of the combs is, of itself, sufficient to remove serious alarm, for which we think there is no cause at all, though the expert was quite right in pointing it out and even suspecting mis- chief. [1547.] Black Specks in Honey. — Will you kindly give your opinion as to what the enclosed small black specks are which I found in uncapping a super of standard frames 1 They were in all the frames, one or two in each cell. I have not found them in any other frames except those on this hive. The honey was sathered in the early part of the season. A. Moyes, Pewsey, Wilts, September 11. Reply. — Careful examination of the " specks '' in honey received shows them to be the usual " traces '" left in combs which have 'been infested by the larva; of the wax mo'h. \(\ $Uw% to dJflmt September 26.— At the Corn Exchange, Jedburgh. Annual show of Roxburghshire B.K.A. Twenty-eigbt classes, all open to members free of entry-fee. Entries close September 22. Thos. Clark, secretary, Pleasants Schoolhouse, Jedburgh, N.B. October 17, at the Town Hall, Rutherglen, N.B. — Second Annual Show of Honey, Appliances, Fruit, Vegetables, &c. For schedules, apply to John Stevenson, Secretary, Maryton Braes, Larkhall, N.B. October 20, 21, 22, and 23, at the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington, London, N. Twenty-first Annual Show of the British Dairy Farmers' Association. Eight classes for honey, with liberal prize money, and a class for interesting and instructive exhibits connected with bee culture. Entries close September 21. Schedules from the secretary, Win. C. Young, 12, Hanover-square, London. November 18 and 19, at Newcastle- on- Tyne. —Northumberland and Durham B.K.A., in connection with the Horticultural Society's Chrysanthemum Show at the Town Hall. Three open classes. Entry fee, Is. each class. Schedules from J. N. Kidd, 29, Windermere- street, Gateshead. Entries close November 13. A RECORD HONEY GATHERING. WEIGHT OF HONEY GATHERED DAILY BY A COLONY" OF BEES. Inclosed I send you a record of a colony of bees that I had on scales during basswood bloom, from June 20, in evening, to July 16, in evening. The record shows the weight every morning and evening, also the gain during day and loss during night. This colony is all the product of one queen, and I took two frames of hatching brood from it about June 1, to help other weak swarms. Can any of you beat it ? RECORD OF COLONY OF BEES FROM JUNE 20, IN EVENING, TO JULY 16, IN EVENING. Date. June 20 21 22 23 24 25 20 27 28 29 30 July l 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 83 8S} 95 101} Put 120 125} 129! 137 144 154J 151 1 159J- 159} I74i 186? 160 175* 189^ 143? 161! 185$ 170! 189! 152 162] 16S} n 19| 40 57 35* 50* 5i 8} 84 12J 18* m 22" 17:! 16* 15} 17* 161 13! 84 89} 96i 102 105* on 2nd top story, 15 126 130* 138 145* 156* 153* 1614 161J 177 189! 162 177* 192 146 164 188 179 1911 153} 164 1691 170 lb. 20? 2} 26} 21 29 2i 14! 2 14? i! 12 if 6! li 1! G. W. Wilson, in Gleanings. [It will, no doubt, astonish British bee- keepers to think that so large a daily " gather- ing " as the above— reported from Wisconsin, Sept. 17, 1896.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. 379 S U.S.A. — is possible by a single colony of bees. The average for the whole twenty-six days is about 13 J lb. per day, while in the four best days the bees stored nearly 100 lb. ! — Eds.] EARLY AND LATE REARED QUEENS. One often reads in the various bee journals about the advantages of late-raised queens over those raised earlier in the season. For the last six years I have tried to find out the difference, if any, and what it was, between a queen raised early in the season, one raised in the middle of the season, and one raised as late in the fall as it was safe to expect them to become fecundated (that was October), all from the same mother, and under the same conditions as regards number of bees in the hive, and feeding, if required ; also, as far as possible, with selected drones, and drones from selected queens. I find that queens raised late in the season are, as a rule, larger in circumference, by measurement with a very finely adjusted pair of calipers ; also that they are from T*g to £ inch longer. They are more fully developed in a general way, the same as a queen that is raised by a colony to supersede the old one. If raised in the fall I find that the next spring they commence to lay earlier, and are more prolific ; that, as a rule, their progeny are larger and more industrious ; that they are not so apt to swarm ; they live from three to four years, and perform their work as queens better. In other words, as a rule they rear more and better brood. We now might ask, " Why is this so ? " If we look at it from a physiological point of view I think our question is answered by a little reflection and thought on the subject ; that is, that the queen raised in the early or middle part of the season goes to work at once, and is forced, by the demands made on her, to furnish brood for the full capacity of the hive for four or five months, and to com- mence to do it from the time she is ten or twelve days old, thereby impairing her vitality and strength, taxing them to their utmost, while the late-raised queen has a long winter's rest during the corresponding five months, thereby developing into fall strength and womanhood before she is required to draw on her vitality to the extent of her earlier-raised sister. If we look at the queen's oviduct with a powerful microscope, we see the lining mem- brances of the early-raised queens are thinner than those raised late in the fall. I think this shows impaired vitality. From my observa- tions I have come to the conclusion that a queen raised in the fall is stronger, and has, through the winter, become more vigorous before being called upon to perform her natural functions to their fullest extent, thereby having time to store up vital force. Having gained strength, and developed to their fullest capacity all of her organs of productiveness before she is called upon to use them — when she does that by the strength gained by her rest and development in early life, she is better pre- pared to stand the strain that is required of her during the following season ; and when that ends she has another long rest to recuperate her vitality before she is called upon to go through another season's work. — G. L. Vinal, in Gleanings. HONEY VINEGAR. AN AMERICAN RECIPE FOR MAKING IT. You can hardly miss in making vinegar of honey. All that's necessary is to have some water with the honey, keep it reasonably warm, and let the air get to its surface. The stronger it is the longer it will take to make, and the cooler it is kept the slower will be the acetous fermentation. Probably most of the honey vinegar is made from the washings of cappings, in which case it would be hard to say how much honey is used to a gallon, and different persons make it of different strength. In the chapter on vinegar in Root's " A B C of Bee- Culture," E. France says it takes two pounds of honey to make a gallon of vinegar, and it takes two years to make it. " To know when the water is sweet enough, put in a good, fresh egg, and make the water sweet enough to float the egg so there will be a patch of the shell out of the water about as big as a gilver 10- cent piece ; then it is about right. We keep ours standing in barrels, with one head out, to give it air ; for air it nfust have to make vinegar. Tie a square yard of cheese-cloth over the top of the barrel, to keep out dirt and flies and other insects. Keep under cover out of the rain, in a warm, dry, airy place.'' — American Bee Journal. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufac- turers or correspondents, or where 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 wish our Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of iisue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt of their communica- tions. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. *x* We are requested by Mr. S. J. Baldwin, who left Southampton on the 8th inst. for America, to say that personal letters in- tended for him should be addressed care of Mr. A. S. Campbell, 554, Madison-avenue, Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S. A. Mr. Baldwin hopes to be home again in December. 380 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 17, 1896. H. Moore (Holmbush). — Suspected Loss of Queen. — The abdomen of dead bee for- warded is so abnormally extended and distended that we cannot wonder at your mistaking it for a queen. It is, however, only a worker bee, which by its appearance would lead one to suppose had by some means overcharged itself with honey. A close examination of the abdomen would have shown our correspondent wax-scales exuding from the several segments, and thus at once have proved it a worker. Fanny L. Tull (Newport). — Bee Appliances at the Dairy Show. — -1. It is almost certain that one or more dealers in appliances will have a stand at the Agricultural Hall on the occasion of the Dairy Show. Moreover, there will, no doubt, be practical bee- keepers present every day, who will be very pleased to afford information on the subject of bees. 2. As one of the objects of the Show is to promote sales of honey between producers and buyers, it is also certain that plenty of sections will be on sale. T. W. Paton (Kilmarnock). — Bees and Brains. — Bees certainly have at times a tendency to visit such places on account of the saline properties in the moisture found there. The idea — however excusable — that the honey in hives near will be affected in any way is entirely a sentimental one, having no foundation in fact. H. E. (Birmingham). — The Wells System. — The only publication on thi3 system is the pamphlet published by Mr. "Wells himself. This may be had from the author, Geo. Wells, Aylesford, Kent, price 6^d. post free. Escowbeck (Caton). — Fixing Frames for Winter. — If by "lifting frames'' you mean giving space below combs in winter by this means, we do not see how it is practicable in the hive referred to. Space is usually given below frames by setting an "eke'' below, or else by lowering the floorboard. Some bee-keepers who use the combination hive move the frames about six inches rear- ward from the entrance in winter, fixing a dummy in front of them ; but we do not think the practice is largely followed. M. C. Clutterbuck (Brighton). — Sending Bees by Goods Train. — If purchaser asks that stocks of bees in frame hives be sent by goods train, it should certainly be at his own risk. On no other terms would we be inclined to send them so. Carton (by Warrington). — Feeding Bees up for Winter. — So far from leaving this operation over till end of October as pro- posed, you will do much better by starting to feed at once, and let the- bees have their full supply before the first week in that month. Special Prepaid Advertisements. Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, die. — Up to Twelve words, Sixpence; for every additional Three words or under, One Penny. WANTED, HONEY and WAX. Send price and sample to E. Lowe, Helsby, Cheshire. n 58 SIX " RAPID " BEE-FEEDERS, new ; list 3s. each. Accept 9s. Cooper, 71, High-street, Burton-on- Trent. n 50 WELL-FILLED SRCTIONS WANTED. State lowest price delivered. Lee, 5, Holborn-plaee, London, W.C. N48 WANTED, few Stocks of BEES, Skeps or Bar- Frames. Price and particulars to John Mac- DONALD, Bonaly, Clynder, Roseneath, N.B. N 51 PROMPT CASH for Extracted HONEY. State price and send sample to F. Sladen, Ripple Court Apiary, Dover. N 55 FINEST ENGLISH HONEY, in i-ewts., 7d. per lb. Tins free. Sample 2d. Deposit. DUTTON, Ter- ling, Witham, Essex. N 54 FOR SALE, 80 Sections splendid quality HONEY ; weight 68 lbs. 36s. the lot, carriage paid. Ernest E. Davis, Great Bookham, Surrey. n 60 EXCHANGE Cushion-Tyre BICYCLE, good condi- tion, for BEES in Bar-Frame Hives. Particulars on application. C. Gould, Havilland Hall Farm, Guernsey. h 59 LIMNANTHES DOTJGLASSII, Hardy, well-rooted Bee-Plant. Stands all weathers, blooms early spring. Is. per 100 ; 8s. 1,000. " C," Sunnyside, Par Station. n 49 FOR SALE, few strong, healthy Stocks BEES. Fetl (medicated) for winter and spring, £1. Or Ex- change for cross-bred Pullets. H. Hill, Ambaston, Derby. n 63 SURPLUS BAR-FRAME STOCKS, excellent stores, 25s. ; 16-oz. Screw-top Bottles, 2s. dozen ; Gilt Section Bands, Is 100. Wood & Taylor, Hatbersage, i Derbyshire. FIVE Healthy STOCKS, in Bar-Frame Hives ; young Queens ; plenty of stores ; never had a case of foul brood ; good honey gatherers ; price 25s. eacli. Ernest Eddison, Shireoaks, Worksop, Notts. n 57 FOR SALE, 3 New "Guinea" HIVES, enamelled, two Colonies Stocked with Bees, all '96 Queens, strong and healthy ; one Straw Skep with Bees ; one new black and gilt " Observatory" Hive ; 15 new Straw Skeps. What offers V H. Seamark, Willingham, Cambs. N 52 HEALTHY DRIVEN BEES, Is. 3d. lb. in 5-lb. lots. Boxes to be returned. E. Long, Fulbourn, Cambs. STRONG STOCK ITALIAN BEES for SALE. Par- ticulars on application. Clarrson, Church-street, West Hartlepool. N 35 GOOD CLOVER HONEY for SALE, in Mb. Sections. C. Milburn, Holborh, Lowick, Beal, Northumber- land. N 45 BEAUTIFUL HARDY PLANTS. Specially marked list, showing the best kinds to grow for Bees, sent on application. Harborne PLANT Co., Birmingham. N38 Sept. 24, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 381 % ttifarial, $farfi#s, kt USEFUL HINTS. Weather. — There is nothing good to chronicle — so far as bee-weather — beyond the fact that pastures are now in such excellent condition as to go far towards ensuring a good crop of bee-forage for next year. For the rest, the autumn has been altogether unfavourable for bees, more or less rain falling almost daily, and putting a complete stop to September honey gathering for '96. The breadth of autumn-reared brood will, in consequence, be considerably reduced where bees have not been fed to keep queens laying. There is still time, however, to get a few thousand young bees reared by judicious feeding, and as a good deal of the dark, poor flavoured honey — of which such frequent complaints are this year heard — will be given back to bees, after its quality has been gauged through the extractor, the sooner it is done the better. It is also more than probable that for the same reason brood-chambers will be less closely stripped of the season's gathering this autumn than is sometimes the case ; and it will save outlay in sugar, besides affording more time to look after the bees' requirements in other ways, when feeding is thus in some measure dispensed with. The Dairy Show. — It is pleasant to note the increasing signs of interest taken in the coming show which opens at the Agricultural Hall on October 22 ; not the least gratifying item of news being the intended change "of location from the upstairs position formerly occupied in the Gallery to the newly-erected annexe to the building leading from the ground- lloor of the Hall. This -should be an immense improvement, and if bee-men muster in such force on the occasion as it is hoped they will, much good to all con- cerned will undoubtedly follow. An annual gathering in the metropolis, at which all classes of bee-keepers can meet in friendly intercourse, and, let us add, without quite losing sight of the business side of the meeting, is what has been long wanted, and we hope the Dairy Show will be the means of bringing; about the consummation wished for. So much, however, of the success or otherwise of the gathering is in the hands of bee- keepers themselves, that it is to our own people we must look for the support which alone can secure a satisfactory result. All that lies in our power to do shall be done, so far as giving prominence to all that concerns or will contribute to the success of the event. A united effort among our readers will ensure the rest. Honey Trophies at the "Royal" SHOWr of '97. — We have yet another appeal to make, in support of the special class, which — as stated on p. 351 — there are good reasons for supposing will be included in the schedule of the "Royal " Show at Manchester in June next. Many County Bee-Keepers' Associations are taking the matter up warmly, encouraging promises of support having been received; but we must not lose sight of the fact that if promises are to culminate in actual entries steps must be taken now to provide the produce wherewith to make up the "Trophy." It will not do for individual members — whose help is relied upon — to sell their own " best stuff " and depend on their fellow-members for filling the gap. We must bear in mind that too much of this will end in there being a "gap "on the show-bench which should have been filled by the county exhibit. If the value of the prizes offered in the Trophy class can be made com- mensurate with the importance of the occasion, and the weight of produce in each exhibit is kept within reasonable limits, it is not too much to expect to see so numerous a display of honey trophies at Manchester as will make the occa- sion memorable in the history of bee- craft. On the other hand, we are afraid that any attempt to fix the total weight at a very high figure would so tend to reduce the number of entries as to spoil the affair entirely as an aggregate display. On this account alone we say it will be infinitely better to have twenty or more entries of moderate size than half-a-dozen big ones. Wax Extracting. — It is a frequent complaint among our readers that they cannot extract wax from their own combs at all comparable to that usually seen in prize samples exhibited at shows. There are, we may be sure, many reasons for this ; an important one being the fact that, for show purposes, only the cleanest combs (never bred in) are selected. In many 382 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 24, 1896. cases only the cappings of such combs are used when preparing a show sample. Artificial colouring is, no doubt, also frequently used, otherwise it would be difficult to account for the beautiful pale yellow wax often met with at exhibi- tions. As with cheese, butter, &c, so also with beesAvax Ave suppose the same thing is done, and so long as only colouring matter entirely harmless in every respect is used, this item of the exhibitors' art is, we suppose, allowable. But we are here less concerned with the " art " of preparing beeswax for show purposes than for the eye of the chemist or other tradesman to whom it is offered for sale. This is what most touches the majority in the matter. We have, in our pages at various times, repeated all we know of simple and effectual methods of melting down combs into saleable wax, and those who go about it in the right way no doubt succeed, so far as producing a good article from the tradesman's standpoint, even though they fail when pitted against the " old hand " at preparing it for the show-bench. One thing, however, has struck us as not a little remarkable, and that is the rarity with which we find a bee-keeper in this country making even an attempt to utilise the sun's rays as a means of extracting wax from combs. No doubt the comparative fewness of real hot days with us will, in a great measure, account for this, but there is no reason why a simple home-made solar extractor should not be tried by those who happen to possess a suitable warm corner in which to place such an appliance. The weak spot in this kingdom is, of course, lack of sunshine, but we are not often denied snatches of really hot days, which in the aggregate would tot up three weeks in which the apparatus would work ; and few of us possess so many combs and cappings as to make this an insufficient time to extract the wax from them. "VVe are told by men of great experience among prominent American bee-keepers that the solar extractor beats any other yet made for the purpose ; that cleaner and better- coloured wax can be got from combs not touched by water in melting, and that the simple action of the sun's rays is the best of all means employed in wax ex- tracting. This being so, it is with peculiar pleasure we reprint on another page of this issue particulars of the home-made " Sun Extractor," used by Mr. G. M. Doolittle, as described by him- self in the American Bee Journal. The wide experience of the writer lends value to his words, and when we learn that the appliance referred to produces cleaner and better-coloured wax than the " Gerster," or any other, it is well worth a trial. A neat solar extractor is described and illustrated on page 84 of the " Guide Book," which may suit some ; but if a good-sized article is made, thoroughly bee-proof, and kept ready for setting outside in suitable weather, we have no doubt whatever that very satisfactory results will be obtained. HEREFOED HONEY FAIR. The twelfth annual honey fair, under the auspices of the Herefordshire Bee-keepers' Association, was held at the Hereford Butter Market on Wednesday, September 2. The quantity of honey staged was not so large as usual, and the quality, taking it all round, was under the average, although the prize exhibits were quite up to the usual standard. The deterioration in quantity and quality is ac- counted for by the dryness of the season. There was a brisk sale, however. In pur- chasers' own jars the honey sold at 8d. per lb., and up to Is. in jars and sections. Mr. Alfred Watkins, secretary to the Association, undertook the management, the Rev. E. Daven- port and Mr. J. Palmer adjudicating on the exhibits. With the exception of the "Cham- pion Class" (open only for winners at previous shows of the H.B.K.A. this season), the com- petition was restricted to members of the Association. The following were the awards : — Exhibit of Honey, not exceeding 200 lb. (open). — 1st, M. Meadham, Hereford ; 2nd, W. Tomkins, Burghill. Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey {open). — 1st, Mrs. Blashill, Bridge Sollars ; 2nd, R. Grindod, Whitfield ; 3rd, W. Tomkins. Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey (novices only). — 1st, E. J. Thomas, Hereford ; 2nd, W. Baker, Hereford ; 3rd, E. Fox, Garnons. Twelve 1-lb. Sections (open). — 1st, Mus. Blashill ; 2nd, W. Mattey, Maiden ; 3rd, C. Turner, Byford. Six 1-lb. Sections (novices). — 1st, H. Man- waring, Brimfielcl ; 2nd, R. Grindod ; 3rd, A. Farr, Llandinabo. Three Shallow Frames of Sealed Honey. — 1st, R. Grindod ; 2nd, W. Tomkins ; v.h.c, D. Frost, Kingstone. Exhibit of Honey in any shape (cottagers Sept. 24, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 383 and previous non-winners only). — 1st, 0. Edwards, Logaston ; 2nd, A. Arming, Birch. Exhibit of Honey not exceeding 12-lb. (Cham- pion Class) in l-lb. Jars or l-lb. Sections, or made up of both. — W. Williams, Canon Froome. — (Communicated.) LEICESTERSHIRE B.K.A. The second annual exhibition of honey "was held in connection with the Loughboro' Agri- cultural Society at the show ground, Southfield, Loughboro', on Wednesday, September 16. Competition was very keen in each class, and the display was considered one of the best. Mr. H. M. Riley, of Leicester (assisted by the secretary of the Association, Mr. J. Waterfield) gave an exhibition of bees with demonstration of their management on modern methods in a special tent, and short lectures on the busy in- sects, also in a netted-off enclosure. The judges were Mr. J. R. Truss, Ufford Heath, and Mr. H. M. Riley, Leicester, whose awards were as follows : — Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, Miss A. Throsby, Leicester ; 2nd, J. Wakefield, Kibworth. Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, W. A. Godby, Melton Mowbray ; 2nd, Miss Throsby ; 3rd, Mrs. T. Walker, Glen Hall. Display of Honey. — 1st, Miss Cooper, Leicester ; 2nd, W. P. Meadows, Syston ; 3rd, Miss Throsby. Extra prizes for members of L.B.K.A. (non- prize-winners at previous shows). Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, F. Pickersgill, Withcote Oakham ; 2nd, W. Spence, Loughboro' ; 3rd, J. H. Topley, Wal- ton-on-the-Wolds, and A. H. Peach, Oadby, Leicester (equal). Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, Thos. Earp, Jun., Loughboro' ; 2nd, W. C. Lowe, Rothley Plain, Loughboro'. — (Communicated.) WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE B.K.A. The above Association held their annual ex- hibition of honey at the Church Mill on Sep- tember 16. The Rev. E. Davenport, -who officiated as judge, expressed his satisfaction with the quality of the honey exhibited, which was of a very high standard. The following is the list of awards : — Twenty-four l-lb. sections. — 1st, Mrs. Till ; 2nd, General Burn. Twenty-four l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, C. W. Workman ; 2nd, W. Hulance ; 3rd, F. Tilley. Twelve l-lb. Sections. — 1st, General Burn. Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, Mrs. Burford ; 2nd, C. W. Workman ; 3rd, A. J. Brown. Exhibit of Honey not over 60 lb. — 1st, C. W. Workman ; 2nd, G. Venn. Beeswax. — 1st, C. W. Workman ; 2nd, W. Griffin ; 3rd, G. Venn. Wasps' Nest. — A. Brown. A public tea, held in the upper room, was well attended by members of the Association and friends, and later in the evening the Rev. E. Davenport delivered an interesting lecture on "Some Conditions of Success in Bee-keep- ing," illustrated by means of a lime-light lan- tern, manipulated by Mr. E. W. Read, the hon. secretary of the Association, who was presented by members of the Association with one of the collections of honey. This presentation was made by Mr. V. R. Perkins on behalf of the members.— (Communicated.) BEE SHOW IN CUMBERLAND. An Exhibition of Honey, Bees, and Appli- ances was held in connection with the show of the Gosport District Agricultural Society, Cumberland, on the 11th inst. The prizes in the bee and honey section were offered through the generous liberality of the President of the Society, Miles Postlethwaite, Esq., who presented the sum of ten guineas for the purpose. The awards were as under : — Observatory Hive Stocked with Bees. — 1st, J. Branthwaite, Arlecdon ; 2nd, F. Palethorpe, Holmrook ; 3rd, J. Finlay, Hensingham (7 entries). Collection of Bee Appliances. — 1st, J. Cowan, Egremont ; 2nd, J. Wilson, White- haven. Frame-hive (made by an amatetir). — 1st, J. Cowan ; 2nd, W. Townson, Ravenglass ; 3rd, J. Finlay (7 entries). Display of Honey. — 1st, J. Moore, Langhorn Farm; 2nd, J. Finlay; 3rd, A. J. Hutchinson, Millom (8 entries). Twelve l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, W. Barrows, Eskmeals ; 2nd, H. Dickinson, Seascale ; 3rd, J. Moore, Langhorn Farm (8 entries). Twelve l-lb. Sections of Heather Honey. — 1st, I. Hail, Calderbridge ; 2nd, H. Dickinson, Seascale ; 3rd, Tom Logan, St. Bees (14 entries). — (Communicated.) ABOUT OUR BEES. BY HENRY W. BRICE. XVII. Happy the bee-keeper who is not troubled with disease amongst his bees. To such I say do not treat the matter lightly, as although bees have fewer ailments than most animals, yet when once a colony is attacked with one special malady — which I need hardly name, so well is it known to bee-keepers — it may mean ruin or its equivalent to that and all adjacent stocks. Once foul brood appears in an apiary there is no knowing where it will stop ; no pains, therefore, should be spared to keep this bete noire of the pursuit out of our hives. It does not follow, however, because one hive is 384 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 24, 1896. affected that all will be ; but the risk is great, and on the first appearance of an outbreak vigorous steps should be at once taken to deal with it ; and in most rases destruction will be found the best " cure." We are often urged to disturb our bees as little as possible, but, having in view the rapid spread of this disease during the last few years, I cannot admit that this dictum is quite sound, and, therefore, strongly advise that stocks be examined periodically if for no other reason than that of ascertaining whether they are in perfect health. If this is not done, and disease once gets a firm hold upon a stock, treatment by remedies are, in my opinion, extremely diffi- cult. On the other hand, if disease is detected in its early or incipient stage, then and then only may we hope to cope Avith it and ultimately to remedy the evil. The two diseases to which bees are most subject are dysentery and foul brood (bacillus alvei). With regard to the former, want of care and attention is the primary cause, including improper stores, and damp or badly-ventilated hives. Tbe absence of the cause is the best remedy, and this is entirely in the bee-keeper's own hands. In foul brood, however, we have a very different set of circumstances to deal with. No one is safe, and unless precautions are taken, the most careful bee-keeper may some day find that he has fallen a victim to the scourge. The pos- sible spread of the disease is known to be rapid, and hives wherein no disinfectants are used may easily fall a prey to its ravages. The "Leaflet No. 32," published by the Board of .Agriculture, and reprinted in B. J. of July 30 last, gives full and detail particulars of the disease, and instructions as to dealing there- with. The gratuitous distribution of this leaflet — which, though necessarily dealing with the subject very briefly, is one of the best treatises on foul brood yet published— should do much in checking the progress of this disease, and its recent publication relieves me of the necessity of going over the whole of the ground here. There are, however, one or two points upon which I wish to lay particular stress, the fore- most being to warn all against the practice of buying second-hand hives, &c. Under no circumstances, I would say, buy such articles without a guarantee that they have contained only healthy bees. I believe that very few realise how frequently disease is spread by using second-hand hives, &c, offered some- times at a very low price for reasons best known to sellers. The temptation to go in for bargains is great, but where the risk is still greater, such goods should be considered dear at any price. The next point is the difficulty in thoroughly disinfecting hives which have contained diseased stock*. The inherent ■vitality of the foul-brood spore is so marvel- lous— while the spore itself is so difficult to destroy by any means nob fatal to the bees as well — that it be?ome3 a mo3t arduous ta«k to secure thorough disinfect;on of hives. My advice is to hold the infected hive in the flame of a wood fire until well charred inside and out, especially in all corners, and after letting it cool paint it within and without, first with carbolic acid solution (two parts water to one of Calvert's No. 5 acid), and then with a coat of good oil paint. Set it aside for a time (twelve months if possible), when it may b* used again. If the hive be an old one don't trouble to remove it from the fire at all, its destruction will save a world of anxiety. Don't forget either, that although many known remedies will arrest the growth of bacilli, they have no effect whatever on the spores of foul-brood. As a means of keeping the disease at arm's length, no effort should be spared so far as increasing the vigour and strength of our bees. Stocks not doing well should be examined, and, if healthy, re-queened and brought up to full sttength without loss of time. Failing queens produce bees of low vitality, as also does too close inter-breeding. Unwholesome food, and want of cleanliness, too, are con- ditions highly favourable to the spread of the disease. In attempting to cure a stock, bear in mind that the queen may be a fruitful source of infection, and, as such, should be destroyed, and a healthy queen given in her stead. Knowing, as I do, that spores of foul brood have been found in the tissues and ovaries of queens taken from affected colonies, I regard the renewal of the queen as an essen- tial step in attempting to cure ; for, although bees may be starved to rid them of food taken from an affected hive, it must be remembered that the queen is about the last to be "starved out." Moreover, the latent ova (in thousands) of a diseased queen will not of necessity be free from taint, even though she be herself starved, should she eventually recover sufficient vitality to resume her maternal labours. We often hear of the foul smell issuing from stocks infected with foul brood, but this is no safe guide so far as detecting disease. I have seen badly-affected stocks, having no strong offensive odour at all about them. In some cases, no doubt, the peculiarly offensive smell is present, but this test only should never be relied upon. In concluding this series of articles, I would just say, do not, under any circumstances, neglect to keep naphthaline in all hives, and when feeding is necessary see that a proper dose of naphthol beta is used in syrup making. Never open hives unnecessarily, but have a definite and sufficient reason for so doing. When an examination is really necessary make it thorough, and be sure you master every detail as to the hive's condition. This done, make a written note thereof for future guidance. Endeavour to have all hives in a profitable condition, with young queens and strong in bees at all seasons. This is the keystone to success. Get the " Guide Book," master its contents, Sept. 24, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 385 and act up to it? teachings, and you can't go wrong. Finally, if you can, help others seeking after light in bee-keeping. — H. W. Brice, Thornton Heath. tifcmspntfau& The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. Communications relating to the literary department reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries Books for Review, &c, must be addressed, only to " The Editors of the ' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William- street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi- cations relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to "The Manager, ' British Bee Journal' Office, 17, King William-street, Strand. London. W.C." \* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, ivhen speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, tvill oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. EARLY AND LATE RAISED QUEENS. [2623.] May I ask if the remarks of G. L. Vinal (page 379, B.B.J, of September 17) apply to this country equally with America ? Last year I raised three queens, having com- menced operations about July 13. One of these was so long before beginning to lay that I had given up all hope of her fertilisation, no eggs being found until September 8. Then, however, the bright weather continuing, breed- ing went on rapidly, and by giving the nucleus wherein the queen was raised some frames of hatching brood from another hive, and vigorous feeding they were in fine condition when packed for winter. An examination on March 9, 1896, showed neither brood nor eggs, very few bees, but plenty of stores ; while on March 21 three frames were found nearly full of brood and eggs. From this time onward they left my other stocks far behind, so that by the middle of July this stock became half as strong again as my next best. Thus the weakest in March was the strongest in July. Thinking, therefore, that some " princesses " raised from this good queen would do nicely to replace all others in my hives, I, on July 13, divided a strong lot, and having caged the queen on a comb, gave her to the queenless half (the old bees), where she has given a good account of her maternal powers. I hoped thus to get a large batch of queen-cells to form sufficient nuclei, but, like other human plans, it failed, for the perverse colony built one cell only, from which an apparently prolific mother has been produced. This failure compelled me to remove queen from another hive, and in this case the bees raised cells ad lib. A fortnight later another batch were started in case of accidents. . I have now six queens of 1896, two of 1895, and two of unknown age. Four have been lost on their mating flight. One strange thing noticed has been the great difference of time between hatching and starting egg laying. Of queens from three ripe cells put into nuclei on August 3 one was lost, one began lay- ing August 10, and one not until September 8. I have thought that this uncertainty was due to fickle weather and fewness of drones, and had made a mental resolve to commence queen- rearing earlier next year, instead of waiting until most of the honey crop was gathered, but our American friend's note has set me thinking that, if late-hatched queens are the best, other difficulties can be put up with. Will you kindly oblige by giving an editorial opinion on the subject % I am but a beginner, having bought a skep in August, 1894, begged another in October, bought a swarm in May, 1895, and begged one again in November, 1895. I increased to thirteen by artificial swarming, but have united some, leaving ten to pass the winter. I have used 130 lb. of sugar since July 18, so they ought not to suffer from want of stores. Although I have never seen driving done by an experienced bee-keeper, I liave tackled the job about ten or twelve times for neighbouring cottagers with success, and very few stings. My last effort in that direction being during a heavy thunderstorm one Saturday afternoon (August 8). The bee? were smoked, and as each skep was pulled off its stand, a carbolised cloth was allowed to fall over its mouth, and, having carried it into a shed (an assistant holding the umbrella during the performance) the driving skep was affixed, the carbolic cloth drawn half way off, and drumming commenced. Four were successfully driven in two. hours, in spite of the untoward weather, without any StiDgS. The person for whom they were driven is feeding two lots in skeps, which I fear will be a failure. I advised two lots being put into one as beiug more likely to succeed, but he determined to run the risk with them singiy and await results. Please pardon this most egotistical com- munication, taking into consideration the fact that I am just now somewhat of an " Enthusiast." Hereford, September \S. P.S. — Kindly ^ive dates of B.B.J.'s con- taining Mr. Brice's articles on queen raising. [There are a few exceptionally favoured districts in this country where — owing to their being sheltered from high cold winds — the observations of Mr. Vinal might apply in their entirety if September be subslituted for October, and precautions were taken to keep drones alive later than the bees would allow if left to themselves. As a matter of fact, we know of several young queens having been successfully mated within the last week or two in the south of England. As a rule, however, queen-rearing in some parts of 386 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 24, 1896. America is continued much later in the year, besides covering a season extending for several months beyond that of this country. The articles referred to commenced in B.J. of September 20, 1894, and were continued weekly till October 18.— Eds.] CARNIOLAN AND ENGLISH BREEDERS. [2624.] As it is well known that no other dealer guarantees safe introduction of queens, the remarks in the letter of September 10 (2612, p. 365) are distinctly personal. No dealer would assume the responsibility of gaaranteeing safe introduction of queens with- out being fully prepared to act up to his agreement if only a satisfactory reply were forthcoming ; and as it is always understood that queens bought as fertile are sent out warranted to be such, one fails to see a reason for the misrepresentation of facts for the purpose of securing another queen, as no object is expected to be gained by the dealer in knowingly sending out an unfertilised queen. It would not, however, be at all an unusual thing for a queen inserted in autumn to be even more than twelve days before showing any sign of laying. On the other hand, it not unfrequently happens that a virgin queen is in the hive all the time, and being overlooked, the new queen is destroyed, and ultimately a wseles3 queen being found, the dealer gets the blame for the purchaser's own oversight. Thus mistakes are liable to occur on either side, and my only regret is that our friend did not make a straightforward complaint at once, so that a better understanding might have been arrived at, instead of indulging in that " want of con- fidence which breeds suspicion," as appears, on his own confession, to have been the case. — A Queen-Breeder, September 21. [We do not see that any good purpose will be served by continuing this controversy, and it is quite possible that a few words of mutual explanation at the time might have cleared the matter up ; but as it deals with transactions of several years ago, it is difficult to get at the exact facts, and we trust our correspondents will now be content to let the matter drop. — Eds.] VISITORS TO DAIRY SHOW. [2625.] With a view to facilitate meeting old acquaintances, and forming new ones, would it be troubling the Secretary of the B.B.K.A. too much to ask him to have "a visitors' book " in which bee-keepers might enter their own names, and of those they wish to meet, and the time at which they may be found in the honey department ? Would it be a good plan for hon. secretaries and " experts " of County Associations to wear their badges, so that those previously un- acquainted may recognise each other ? — A County B.K.A. Hon. Secretary, Sep- tember 19. THE DAIRY SHOW AND INTENDING VISITORS. [2626.] T consider R. Dymond's suggestion (2616, p. 366) an excellent one. I hope to attend the Dairy Show and, for one, should be pleased to be olten asked, " Who are you 1 '"' for I have often wanted to meet those whose acquaintance I have made on paper by reading their contributions to the B.B.J. So, Mr. R. Dymond, be prepared to hear in reply to your interrogatories — " Percy Leigh, of Bee- mouDt, Stoke Prior, Worcestershire." BROODLESS AND QUEENLESS. [2627.] I am very pleased with the answer you gave me on page 350. The stock referred to was both broodless and queenless. I examined the hive in a week, and on September 6 requeened it. On September 12 I found eggs on one comb ; and on the 19th there was sealed brood on two combs. I found two other hives in similar condition and have requeened them. I notice on page 366 that a correspondent seems to question the accuracy of the answer you gave me, but he was certainly wrong so far as my case, for I found the hive, as I half expected, both broodless and queenless. This is why I asked for your opinion, and thank you for the same. — Felix Bridgett, Stoke-on-Trent, September 21. BROODLESS BUT NOT QUEENLESS. [2628.] I notice your footnote to my letter (2615, p. 366), in reply to which I beg to state that I do not in the least wish to ques- tion the correctness of your views regarding the absence of brood in August. I merely wished to show that even the entire absence of brood at this season is not an absolute proof of queenlessness. — Percy Sharp, Brant Broughton, September 16. [We are very pleased to learn that no divergence of opinion exists on the point between ourselves and Dr. Sharp. — Eds.] BEES AND VALERIAN. [2629.] Can any bee-keeper say whether bees are partial to valerian, and also whether the honey resulting is of acceptable quality ? I refer to the red spur valerian (Cenlranthus ruber), which flowers continuously from May to September, and propagates itself by self- sowing with great rapidity — thousands of seedlings are now coming up around each plant. It likes chalk districts, and grows profusely in some railway cuttings. — A Kent Bee-keeper, September 20. Sept. 24, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 387 THE SOLAE WAX-EXTRACTOR HOW TO MAKE IT. An old bee-friend of years ago writes me as follows : " I hear that you have thrown away the Swiss wax- extractor you used in the early eighties, and now use a sun wax-extrac- tor. I suppose you like the latter better than the former ; aDd, if so, and you think the sun wax-extractor a really good thing, I wish you would tell us in the American Bee Journal how to make one, for I know that you can tell it so plainly that any of us can make one. Please do this and oblige." Yes, I now use a sun, or solar, wax-extractor, altogether, and had it one of the nicest things about the apiary. The Swiss extractor was good for its capacity, and the time as to api- cultural advancement, when it made its advent, but there was no comparison between it and a good solar wax extractor, as to ease of manipulation, cleanliness of use or capacity for work. As to the " how " of making, I will, in order to make it plain, give the size and number of pieces contained in the ex- tractor, by numbers, and then tell you how to put them together, as I find it in an old diary of the time when I made the one I have been using ever since : — Length in No. Pieces Inches. 1 2 30 .. 2 2 14 .. 3 3 15:} .. 4 2 .. 30 .. Width in inches. . . . 10 . . . .. 10 .. . . . 10 ... 01 .. Thick- ness. m not .. 32 4 16 4 .. 34 0| .. 18 ........ — .. 34 19| .. 10 1 18 164 9 2 10 .. 1 11 2 straps . . .„ 1 f sheet American " (.stove-pipe iron.. 20 13 2glass .... 30J , Having these pieces cut to the dimensions above given, take No. 1, which is for the sides of the body of the extractor, and nail to the ends of No. 2. Next nail No. 3 on to one side for a bottom. No. 3 should be made from matched lumber, and all joints put to- gether with white lead, so no loss of heat •will occur from its escaping through the cracks or joints when the extractor is put together. Nail No. 4 to the outside of the extractor, at the sides, i inch from the top, for the glass frame to rest on, and then nail No. 5 to the ends of No. 4 and the extractor. Now nail No. 6 to the ends of No. 7, for the glass frame, putting the glass, No. 13, into the grooves previously cut for them, before nailing. These grooves should be i in. deep, the upper one being § in. from the top, and the next one f in. below the first, so as to make a dead air space between the glass. Perhaps it would be better to put this glass frame together with screws, for in this way there is less danger of breaking the glass. If you cannot handily get glass sheets as large as stated, any number of pieces 167 in. long and of the right width so that a certain number when placed side by side will make 30f in., will do, if you have the upper and lower glass so arranged that they will break joints ; still single sheets are better where they can be readily obtained. The frame for these glass sheets is to be put together with white lead, the same as the body was;, but there is no lead put in the grooves, as we could not get the glass out should it ever be broken, as mine has been twice. I find that air, passes very slowly where it has to go around anything in the way it does the glass sheets when fixed. Next nail No. 11 to the centre of this glass frame at each end, nailing them in such a way that they will form loops or handles, for the frame is to be bandied by these, slid off and on, when putting in bits of wax, or when manipulating in time of scarcity of honey, when robbers would bother getting in, were the sash to be lifted off bodily, instead of sliding it. Now nail No. 8 to the ends of No. 9, nailing No. 10 to the side of the frame made by nailing Nos. 8 and 9 together, for a cover to go over the glass frame when the extractor is not in use. This cover will keep the glass from being broken by hail- storms, or from any other cause. It is not necessary to have No. 10 all of one piece, as narrower stuff, with the cracks battened, will do very well. Now take No. 12 and spring the middle down till the edges come even with the top of the body of the extractor, and snugly against what is to be the back of this body, when it is to be nailed along each side to the side of the extractor. This will give you a hollowing trough on which to put the material which is to be rendered into wax, and the black surface to the iron will so absorb the rays of the sun that it will become very hot in a short time after the cover is taken from over the glass. Fit a piece of half- inch stuff under No. 12, a little back, say 5 in. from the front or open end, so as to keep the hot air from going under the iron, and it will help very much about keeping the wax melted in the dish into which it runs while being extracted. This keeping the wax melted in the dish helps much about securing our wax cakes in nice form. Having all in readiness, set the extractor in or near the apiary, in some handy place, and as often as you have any bits of comb or scraps of wax, slide the cover a little forward and drop them in. When any amount has accu- mulated, remove the cover and in an hour or two the sun Avill have reduced all to a nice lot of clean wax in your dish. Of course you will prop the extractor up at the back side so it will face the sun at the right angle, and, if, in the fall of the year the inclination is so great that the refuse slides down into the wax dish, you can remedy it by fixing a piece of wire- cloth at the lower end of the iron bottom, so that the melted wax may run through, but the refuse be held back. After a little you 388 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 24, 1896. will find many kinks about its use not given here. — G. M. Doolittle in American Bee Journal. ^ueras ami [1548.] Weight of Food for Winter.— On page 111 of the "Guide Book'' it says: — " The hives should have about 2 superficial feet of sealed honey." 1. Does this mean that I am to measure the surface on both sides of each frame ? For instance, supposing a frame measured 12 in. by 12 in., both sides full of sealed honey, would it contain 2 or 1 super- ficial feet ? On same page it also says : — " When one hive contains about 30 lb. of sealed stores," &c. Now I ask : — 2. Could 30 lb. be stored in 2 superficial feet ? 3. Does not a completely filled standard frame weigh only about 5 lb. ? 4. Is it possible to extract uncapped syrup without an extractor ? I do not wish to buy one till next year. — -George M. Saunders, Keswick, September 17. Reply. — 1. One foot. 2. The paragraph quoted is meant to be read from the practical standpoint, and bee-keepers know that combs in brood-nest, having in them a total of 2 ft. of sealed stores, will, practically, contain several pounds over that weight in all. 3. We should imagine that 14 in. by 8§ in. of sealed honey would weigh between 7 lb. and 8 lb. 4. We should rather advise leaving uncapped syrup in combs than attempting to extract it without the aid of an extractor of some known form. [1549.] Temperature at tvhich Napthol Beta Volatilises. — Can you tell me the temperature at which napthol beta volatilises ? I have at timfs thought that it may be driven off by adding it to bee- syrup while the latter is too hot. — T. I. Weston, Great Totham, Sep- tember 16. Reply. — Napthol beta volatilises at about 253 deg. Fahrenheit, and this being consi- derably above boiling point (212 deg.), no harm can follow adding it to syrup when removed from the fire. [1550.] Feeding-wp Driven Stocks. — On looking into a hive that ha? been very strong in bees all through this season, I noticed that the floor-board appeared to be rather messy. This stock was a lot of driven bee? which built up last autumn, and I have not examined the floor-board or inside of hive since. 1. Do you advise me to disturb the bees by putting them in'o a clean hive now, or had I better let them go until spring? I have given my fresh-driven stocks a 2-lb. bottle of syrup every night for the last ten nights, and intend continuing this until the end of month. 2. Ought this to be sufficient, and do you call it " rapid feeding," or would they do better if I £ave them, say, 4 lb. a night for the last five or six nights ? 3. I notice in a dealer's catalogue a frame-feeder for Costa Rica sugar or candy, for using with driven bees. If 1 gave each of my driven stocks one of these after finishing syrup-feeding, would they be helpful, or do you prefer candy under the quilt1? 4. Do hives holding fifteen frames give good results in working sections, or frames for extracting at back, behind the excluder, or do you prefer the ordinary 10- frame hive for tiering-up 1 — Novice, Liskeard, September 19. Reply. — 1. We should cert linly clean away all accumulated debris from floor board before packing the bees for winter. 2. Two pounds of food per night cannot be called other than "rapid feeding," though with very large feeders an increased quantity could be taken down if desired. If the driven bees have combs to build or draw out they will need more than 20 lb. of syrup. We should examine the condition of combs and stored food after about 25 lb. have been given, and regulate remainder of feeding by results. 3. Some bee-keepers use dry sugar in feeding up driven bees, and you might give it a trial if genuine Porto Rtco sugar can be got. In establishing stocks from driven bees, however, syrup should always be used, as being so much more readily utilised than either dry sugar or candy. Our personal preference is for giving candy directly over the cluster in winter. 4. We do not think the plan of working for either comb or extracted honey at rear of brood- nest meets with much favour nowadays. For ourselves, we certainly prefer to work for surplus on the storifying plan, and using a hive holding ten or eleven frames. CUTTIN' A BEE TREE. A CALIFORNIAN BEE STORY. Shasta Mountains, Cal. — Editor, Forest and Stream ■ — Sir, — I feel considerably stuck up. That phrase is not to be taken as slang, and I am sure I have seen too much of the world to feel as though I was anybody in particular. I have merely been " cuttin' a bee tree "and getting some wild honey and some of the things that go with it. I have noted from time to time what you and your contributors have been giving us about bee-hunting, the last article I remember being in your number of February 1, and signed by "Hermit.''' I would like to have his full name, also his photograph, so when I meet him I will be sure that I have got him. I am a hermit myself, but I never monkeyed with a bee tree until to-day, and I followed some of Hermit's directions. Hermit writes a very graphic and pleasing epistle. No doubt he told all he knew about bees, and something more ; but there is a quantity of wisdom and knowledge that is evasive. I am quite positive just at present that Hermit let some of it get away. He may Sept. 24, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 389 know something about some bees, but if he will call around in this vicinity and chop down a bees' nest he will get some " points." You see, it was this way. I've been hankerin' after honey. I wanted to get some myself, and, besides, I wanted a few bees to help fix up my ranch with. Forest and Stream talked about bees and honey, and when they commenced coming to my garden this spring I commenced to pike around after 'em. I fixed up some bait and got 'em to coming to it all right, and then 1 witched them. I got several course'. In fact, as near as I could tell, every one of tbem had a coarse of his own. Once in a while one of them would go up the creek; so I went up the cre?k. After chasing them for two or three da^ s I had coursed them about 300 yds. Then they began to go wild. Most of them would fill up on my bait, make two or three false motions, then zigzag around a few times, shoot up toward the sky, and neither I nor my dog could tell where in thunder they made for. Finally, I left my bait out and there came a big rain and destroyed it ; then I quit for awhile. I was not completely discouraged, but I thought I was losing my interest in bees. One day a man came by my shack. I don't see a man very often in this vicinity, so I had a talk with him. After a chat he said : "Wal, how is it ye never cut that bee tree up thar 1 " " Well," I replied diplomatically, " it's most too far, and in a kind of a bad place to get at." " Fur ? " said he. " Why, it ain't more'n a quarter, and right alongside of the creek and the road. Couldn't be in a better place." " Oh, you mean that dead white oak near the crossing ? " "Naw, I mean the big black oak, with the top broke, near where some feller has been makin' cedar post?." " Oh," said I, in a sneaking kind of a tone, " I've calculated to cut that tree, but I thought I had better wait and give the bees a chance to get some honey." I added con- scientiously to myself, "besides, I'll be hanged if I knew that tree had bees in it.'' " Wal," said the man, " I'd cut it now and save the bees ; they'd have time to fix up for winter. They're workin' stroDg now." Then my visitor commenced telling bee- yarns. As soon as he left I went up to seethe tree. Sure enough, they Avere there, " b'ilin' out of it by bandfuls," about 30 ft. from the ground. The tree was just out of my road up the creek, and I had passed it about 1,100 times. Then this man, passing it for the first time, had seen the bees at once. Such is life. It was a large tree, about 2 ft. in diameter, and I thought it was sound at the base. It looked like a big contract for me to cut it down alone, and 1 waited two or three weeks for some one to come along who would like to take a hand. Finally a party of surveyors came along. I asked them if they would like some honey. Oh, yes, they would. Then I told them about how by cutting the tree we could get some. Well, they rather guessed they didn't have time ; besides, they didn't understand cutting bee trees no how. I then worked three days and made two first-class bee-gums, with two compartments and numbers of frames, air-holes, &c. I still look with pride on what I consider a neat job. When I had finished the gums I couldn't wait any longer. I wanted honey bad — having been entirely out of it for several years — and, besides, I wanted to see those bees in my new hives working for me on the ranch. I got all the things together that I expected to nesd, took my axe and a bee-gum, and went up to see the bees. I reached their front yard about four o'clock in the afternoon. I could see from the ground that they were open to business. It was one of the warmest days we have had this year, and I think bees are lively on warm days. I figured on the tree and thought I could chop it down in an hour and a half, and I wanted to monkey with the bees about sun- down. I thought it would be pleasanter in the cool of the evening. The tree was in the shade of some tall pines, and I went to work. I chopped out a good-sized chip, and listened. I didn't hear anything buzz or whiz, so I kept on. The bees acted very civilly — they were sa high up in the world they simply ignored people on the ground. But they didn't know I was going to take 'em down a little. The tree was hollow to the ground, and when I had blocked out one side I saw I had time enough. I rested awhile. I sort of like to rest while chopping, which is a good deal like labour. I never labour without resting whenever I have a good, square chance. But the mos- quitoes were so bad I thought I might as well chop, and before I expected it I cut through into the hollow so far that the tree began to crack, then it squeaked, tottered and fell with a crash — an hour ahead of time ! There was a granite boulder 30 ft. from the tree. The bees seemed to be doing business in the honey line about 30 ft. up. I calculated to drop them on the boulder, which would open up their works in all probability without further use of the axe. The tree fell on the boulder and burst like a pumpkin ! The entire domi- cile of the bees was opened up to the public, which was, at this place, two dogs and myself. I sneaked up a few feet to see how things looked before I put on my prepared armour, which I had near by. I didn't get a very good view. I came away too soon. The air all at once seemed to be one solid whiz, and was so full of bees that my dogs gathered a lot of them without trying, and went off as though they wanted to get away from there. One of the dogs was a small, short-haired dog, and very black. When he left I could see he was full of little 390 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Sept. 24, 1896. yellow spots that looked like spangles. They were bees, and they clung to him as though they had never had a dog before. The dog acted as though he had never had bees behind before. (Conclusion in our next.) Sq $ftmra to &mt September 26. — At the Corn Exchange, Jedburgh. Annual show of Roxburghshire B.K.A. Twenty-eight classes, all open to members free of entry-fee. Entries close September 22. Thos. Clark, secretary, Pleasants Schoolhouse, Jedburgh, N.B. October 17, at the Town Hall, Rutherglen, N.B. — Second Annual Show of Honey, Appliances, Fruit, Vegetables, &c. For schedules, apply to John Stevenson, secretary, Maryton Braes, Larkhall, N.B. October 20, 21, 22, and 23, at the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington, London, N. Twenty-first Annual Show of the British Dairy Farmers' Association. Eight classes for honey, with liberal prize money, and a class for interesting and instructive exhibits connected with bee culture. Entries close September 21. Schedules from the secretary, Win. C. Young, 12, Hanover-square, London. November 18 and 19, at Newcastle- on- Tyne. — Northumberland and Durham B.K.A., in connection with the Horticultural Society's Chrysanthemum Show at the Town Hall. Three open classes. Entry fee, Is. each class. Schedules from J. N. Kidd, 29, Windermere- street, Gateshead. Entries close November 13. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufac- turers or correspondents, or where appHances can be purchased, or replies giving such information, can only oe 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 Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of iisue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt of their communica- tions. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. M. B. 0. (Dover).— 1. We fear the piece of comb sent for inspection has miscarried in post, as it is not yet to hand. For the rest, it is quite common for some brood to hatch out, even in hives rather badly affected, with disease, while in many instances by far the greater portion of the brood is quite healthy amid a small quantity of larvae affected with foul brood. 2. The red "parasitical growth'' noticed is probably not a growth at all, but the parasite known as braula cceca, or blind louse. See if they do not move on being touched, and write us again. 3. There are found at times bees much blacker in colour than the ordinary insect of to-day. These dark bees are usually small in siz-1, but good workers. We have heard them called the " old English bee ; " they are also declared by some to have been quite common in this country fifty or sixty years ago. F. B. Thompson (Boston). — Amount of Food for Winter. — 1. If skep now weighs 25 lb., it will do for winter. 2. The " box '' tenanted by bees should have 15 lb. of sugar made into syrup before it can be reckoned safe so far as stores, and, if well protected from wet and cold, may do well. 3. Feed- ing may be needed in spring. 4. There is no sure way of preventing smarming. Escowbank (Caton). — Space below Frames in Winter. — By making a frame of wood two or three inches deep, and the exact size of brood-chamber, it only needs the hive lifting on to this frame and leaving it there until April next to secure all the advantages you desire. Nemo. — Though nit at all a bad case, we find traces of foul brood in comb sant. S. H. Lawrence (Cheltenham). — Medicating Bee-food. — We should not think of going so far as to extract all unsealed food in comb because of learning that there is disease in the district, and the syrup given was not medicated. We should merely medicate what food is required, and feed again in spring as soon as breeding starts. W. Horton (Flixton). — Eggs Failing to Hatch. — When eggs are found in cells still uahatched, after a period of " two or three weeks'' has elapsed since they were deposited therein by the queen, it may be very safely assumed that they will not hatch at all. There must, however, be a mistake some- where, seeing that eggs not intended for hatching, or which from some cause have been left uncovered by bees for some time, and so allowed to "perish," will be cleared out of the cells by the bees them- selves in course of a day or two. Special Prepaid Advertisements. Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, er (not under 10 lb.). — 1st, Chas. Irvine. Six lb. Extracted Honey. — 1st, J. K. YouDg ; 2nd, W. Weir. Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, J. K. Young ; 2nd, A. Scott. Six 1-lb. Jars Extracted Heather Honey. — 1st. J. Kerr. Six lb. Extracted Honey. — 1st, T. Clark ; 2nd, T. Dodds. 1-lb. Jar Extracted Honey. — 1st, J. K. Young; 2nd, R. Sinton, jun. Bees-wax. — 1st, G. Ormiston ; 2nd, A.. Oliver. Wasps' Nests.— 1st, J. Kerr ; 2nd, Wm. Sinton. The proceedings concluded with a prize- drawing, the first prize super being won by Mis. Alexander Wilson, Royal Hotel, Jed- burgh.— (Communicated.) IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The Committee met on 8th inst. Present, Mr. Gillies (in the chair), Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Drought, and Mr, Chenevix (hon. sec, 15, Morehampton-road, Dublin). It was reported that thirty-one persons instructed at Glas- nevin bad passed an examination in elementary bee-keeping held there on 3rd inst., and that Mr. Morony had given a very successful lec- ture lately at Lough Rynn. The Royal Dublin Society having agreed to give their prizes for honey at the winter (instead of the spring) show, it was resolved to send special notice to that effect to all members of the Association. The purchase of another extractor for loan to members was approved. CJtrrasspmtec. The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be draicn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. Communications relating to the literary department reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries Books for Review, &c, vnust be addressed only to " The Editors of the ' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William- street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi- cations relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to "The Manager, ' British Bee Journal' Office, 17, King William-street, Strand. London. W.C." *,t* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when sjieaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number oftheletter, as well as the page on which it appears. BEES AND FRUIT-GROWERS. ARE BEES A NUISANCE 1 [2644] There are some questions about bees which happily only spring up once in a while, yet which should be repeated again and again in all papers — at least, those claiming to be classed among bee periodicals. To my mind, the two questions — " Are bees a nuisance to fruit-growers ? " more especially grape- growers, is the first and most interesting, and the second in a less degree, " The irrita- bility of bees." The question of nuisance to fruit-growers is often raised by such vineyard- owners or other fruit-tree growers, who, seeing the comparative good revenues of their col- leagues in agriculture, and also by an entire ignorance of the nature, of the bee, are led by jealousy to rouse the mind of the more timid class of agriculturists to complain of the nuisance of bees. It is not to be denied that bees visit fruit trees in the autumn when loaded with fruit, but never will sound, well- conditioned fruit, be it apple, pear, or grape, be attacked or damaged by them. The bees will suck the cracked or opened berries of grapes, figs, or any other fruit previously opened by birds, wasps, or the like, but never 414 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 15, 1896. have I seen them roaming about healthy, ripe, and sound fruit of any kind ; whilst very often grapes hanging in damp or shady places rot before they are gathered, and become the rendezvous of the whole insect world. The ill-will entertained at times by some towards a prosperous neighbour is often the cause of a casting about by the envious for some other than the natural cause of success and prosperity as well as failure, and in this way blame is too often put where entirely undeserved. It should therefore be the duty of every bee- keeper or friend of bee-culture to make it known that bees are completely free from the charge of being a nuisance to the fruit-grower so far as damaging his crops is concerned. It should be made known to all interested that the bee is created and adapted for the fecundation of the flowers. Wherever I have been called upon to talk about bees, in private or publicly, I never let slip an opportunity for explaining that the natural food of bees is nectar (i.e., honey), deposited or secreted in the flowers as an attraction for bees and other insects, who unconsciously carry with them the pollen necessary for fertilisation from one flower to another. Bees almost in- variably visit the same species of flower on one trip, and even the mass of bees will visit the same kind of plants during their blossom- ing period in preference to others less con- spicuous, or less to their taste, flowering at the same time. As a consequence of this instinct, the bee-keeper who works for ex- tracted honey can frequently extract a dis- tinctly flavoured honey at particular times, in which the intelligent onlooker or impartial observer can easily detect the odour of the flower from which it is gathered. It must be here remarked, however, that there are excep- tions so far as the odour corresponding with that of the flowers from which it is gathered, and also that certain volatile qualities evapo- rate sooner or later after the honey is gathered. On the other hand, some honey retains the specific taste and smell more definite and decided as time goes on, and perhaps develops still more when the honey crystallises. "Wild thyme abounds in almost all Mediterranean countries, but especially in the east and south. The renoAvned Thymettus honey is gathered from the fragrant thyme abounding on that mountain ; as is almost all the honey I have tasted or raised myself from the Grecian Isles and the whole Levant. Yet most of the highly aromatic honies of these parts do not remind one of the thyme at all, though gathered, beyond doubt, from these blossoms. The same may be said of the equally aromatic honey gathered from the lavender blossom of the Alps, which bears no trace of the lavender odour. This latter honey has a very specific taste, finer than that from the thyme. The chaste tree (agnus-castus) growing along the banks of rapid rivers generally dry in summer, has an almost intoxicating odour, emanating not only from the hemp-like leaves, but also from the flowers. This tree yields a very aromatic honey, and in the first few weeks after being gathered, the store-room is filled with its odour, which acts the same on the brain as when walking amongst the plants. The honey, however, crystallises very soon, and in this condition the obnoxious effect referred to disappears, never to be felt again. Hore- hound honey, and more especially that from the orange blossom, have very different qualities from the one j ust mentioned While fresh, the horehound or the orange blossom flavour is respectively very weak, but soon after extracting, when the honey begins to take some consistency, the orange blossom, horehound, or the (as the case may be) aroma and the flavour becomes strongly pronounced. So strong is the aroma that many persist in declaring the honey to be simply perfumed with that odour. The second question as to " Irritability of Bees " is also often interpreted in a vicious way. Everybody knows that bees sting. They are furnished with a weapon wherewith to defend themselves, and sometimes use it very vigorously. But horses, too, can kick persons to death who imprudently put them- selves in reach of the animal's hind legs after having sufficiently teased it. Dogs also can and will bite if irritated, yet horses and dogs are kept in all lands and by all conditions of men without any serious complaint of them being a nuisance to mankind. Why, then, should not bees be allowed the same tolerance ? I have known bees in so terrible a temper as to kill camels, horses, donkeys, and in one instance ducks and chickens. Fortunately, for the reputation of the bees at least, all these animals belonged to ourselves. In this way we have lost, on separate occa- sions, far apart, a camel, a mare, and two donkeys. The camel went about among the bee-hives pasturing, and in its ramblings managed to knock over a few hives. You can guess the rest. The next disaster occurred to a fine mare tethered near the hives on a rainy day — when all was quiet in the apiary — as abundant grass was growing round them. Whilst we were at dinner, however, the sun suddenly came out, and the sunshine brought out the bees, which covered the poor mare by the thousand ; the consequence was death three hours afterwards. In the third case a donkey was tethered some distance from a dozen hives which had been just previously brutally thrown down by some camels, and the infuriated bees were boiling forth ready to vent their rage on anything. The poor donkey, being stuog, and seeing the hives, galloped up to them to rid himself of the bees by rubbing against the hives — and so multiplied his enemies by the thousand. The scene is impossible to describe. Killed bee3 covered the ground, the air was alive with others, and the poor donkey patiently let himself be stung to death without even trying to escape. He seemed stunned by the Oct. 15, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 415 pain not more than a quarter of an hour after the attack. The poultry killed were attacked by the bees of some twenty hives just put down, and the entrance-holes opened after a journey of many hours. When liberated, the bees boiled forth and made havoc among the feathered inmates of the yard. By the above it is clearly seen that the accidents were all either preventable or were provoked in some way in which the bee3 were not entirely to blame. Indeed, but for a stray sting here and there, we have never had any- body molested by our bees while standing in the apiary, or while the bees were about their work, notwithstanding the large number of hives gathered together in one spot. But when bees are once thoroughly aroused, or provoked by such causes as have been stated, it is easy to understand that they can become dangerous, and on such occasions it is necessary to keep out of harm's way, as any sensible person does from dogs or horses when it is risky to venture near without knowing them or how to treat them. The prudent bee-keeper will himself never disturb his hives without first lighting his smoker and having his veil ready for use ; for although many colonies of bees may be so managed as to become quite tame whilst being carefully handled, yet much time is often lost in taking all precautions to prevent the bees from stinging. The frequent use of the smoker is also necessary, especially in the south, where Braula cceca (or blind louse) abounds. As mentioned in the B.B.J, of October 8 (page 408), it sometimes infests frame-hives, but far more frequently those without movable frames, where no manipula- tion can take place, and where the smoker is never used. In such hives just bought from the country-people — who very rarely have bar- frame hives — half a dozen or more of these parasites may be detected on a queen. In earlier years we used to hold the queen while blowing a few puffs of tobacco smoke on her, when the little insects would fall off her body and die. It is rare to find the Braula in movable comb hives, whereby we may con- clude that the frequent use of the smoker cleans the bees from these parasites. — Ph. J. Baldensperger, Nice, Italy, Oct. 10. FREE VENTILATION IN WINTER. [2645.] Having for a long period carefully observed the various queries and replies of our bee-keeping friends in your pages, I now ask to be allowed to say a word or two about our own bees and bee doings. Without having kept a full account of all the season's transac- tions, I may say we began the year with twenty-eight stocks of bees, and have since had about half a dozen swarms. Bee forage of all kinds was a full month earlier here than usual, so that the hives were crowded with bees by the end of April, and we had to put on supers at once fqr storage and to make room for the increasing numbers of bees. Honey was not so plentiful afterwards as we expected, owing to the dry summer that followed, but we have taken off an average of about 56 lbs. of honey per hive all told ; the crop being about half sections, and the rest extracted. I suppose this is good according to the season. Straw skep bee-keepers from whom I have made inquiries report that it has been a very bad saason for bees. Regarding the sale of our honev crop, I am glad to say we have dis- posed of more than the half of it already at prices ranging from 8d. to Is. per lb., some wholesale and some retail, and expect our stock to run short before the new honey of next year comes in. We distribute a lot of leaflets about honey, and are always careful to wrap one around each parcel before it is des- patched, as I find but few people understand the granulation of honey. When first I offered it for sale, some purchasers would inquire very suspiciously, " What did I put Indian meal in it for 1 '' Others thought granulation meant mixing sugar with the honey. Talking recently to an old bee friend, who believes in nothing but skeps, I showed him a jar of honey gathered three years ago. He would hardly believe that it was honey at all, much less that it was Irish honey in its purest state, and as good to-day as it was when bottled three years ago. I never saw the honey so thick and good before as it is this year. We have sold a few swarms, and go into winter quarters with thirty stocks. The autumn has been very wet and cold, but I never saw our hives better supplied with honey for winter at this time of the year without any feeding at all. Bees also are unusually strong, though queens have been completely crowded out (with honey) from breeding in some of the hives. We are always careful to keep none but vigorous young queens by introducing new blood and crossing them by new strains of bees. We have been packing up some stocks for the Avinter in what is to us rather a new style of wintering. If the hive is fairly strong in bees we take av/ay no frames from brood-chamber at all, but pack as follows :— If the frames run parallel to the entrance we put them all to the back of the hive, after first removing the division-board — ordinarily in front — to rear of the hive, pack if necessary between it and the back wall of hive. As many frames as the bees can cover are then spaced a quarter inch wider apart than usual, and with no division-board or protection of any kind in front. The combs are left so all the winter. Whatever frames the bees cannot cover we carefully place flat on top of the other frames, with two pieces of wood between to form bee-passages ; thus allowing the bees free access to the honey, and preserving the comb from being broken. The hive-space in front of the combs we leave open in order to give free ventilation without cold draughts. To protect the bees somewhat we, however^ kt 416 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 15, 1896. thequilt hangwell down in front of thelastcomb to about H in. off the bottom of the hive, but leave it free from the sides ; then pack carefully and warmly the top of the hive well forward, and over the open space in front, but allow a clear space from the bottom to the roof of hive. Besides giving full and proper ventila- lation, there is another advantage in the above mode of wintering, for when snow is on the ground in spring the bees will not be enticed out so readily by blinks of sunshine, only to fall in the snow and be lost. For various reasons, which the intelligent bee-keeper will observe, in the foregoing method of pack- ing the sun's rays cannot reach the bees, and even if the cluster expands a little, they will not fly out, because the lower temperature of the open space in front is nearly the same as it is outside, and they will be able there to judge for themselves whether to retreat or fly out. Frames fixed at right angles to the entrance will of course have to be put to the one side, and pack the same as before men- tioned. Now I have tried to make the foregoing as clear as possible, and I ask you, Messrs. Editors, to give me your opinion on the sub- ject, and I would also be glad of the opinion of any of our experienced bee friends who may or may not have tried anything like the plan men- tioned above. — " Free Ventilation,'' Gastle- derg, co. Tyrone, October 10. [We have had no personal experience of wintering bees as described. It has, however, been made known and advocated by Mr. S. Simmins. — Eds.] ASPECT FOR HIVES. " KEEP YOUR EYES TOWARDS THE SUN-RISING, NOT TOWARDS THE SUN-SETTING." [2646.] My hives are located on two sides of a lawn, i.e., if a plot of grass which is never mown can be called a lawn. It is an ideal spot, from a bees' point of view, because, between each hive here is a large pyramid pear or apple-tree, or a great holly-bush, and as the greater row of hives face east, the sun at midday is screened off them by these trees. Bees are sun-worshippers, it is true, yet I am sure on blazing July days they are grateful for this kindly shade. Extending on either hand except south, there are large orchard trees which hold back the too boisterous winds of autumn or winter, or indeed till their arching boughs are made heavy with pink and white and creamy petals in spring. It is generally understood that bees will do as well in one position as another, facing north or south — on the top of a house or in the corner of a field ; yet all my experience goes to prove that this is not a fact. The row of hives that face north-west and which do not get the sun upon their entrances till late in the afternoon have never done so well as their neighbours on the opposite side of the street — I mean the lawn. To my mind such a result is as right in theory as in practice. The sun is the great invigorator, the oldest and most renowned patent medicine, the only life-giver. He peep3 in through the diamond pane in the early morning, and from that moment Farmer Trampledaisy is desirous of smelling once more the sweet odour of the farmyard. He darts a ray through the tiniest crevice of the fowl-roost, and Mr. Chanticleer thirsts to lead his wives through a gap into the garden of Will Have-'em-smooth, esquire. He sends a gleam into the hive entrance and the bees make haste to rub the miller's dust out of their eyes, to shake their wings, to get out among the diamond dew, and the topmost blossoms of the apple boughs, the dear busy bees. But in the back attic facing north, Sarah Jane, our domestic (aged eighteen), lifts a weary eye to the brown-paper-patched window, and seeing no sun, she says, " He haven't rose yet, so I've got another 'our," and straightway she falls aslumber. And so, likewise, the bees who have the windows of their domiciles facing north or west turn over in their cells and have another nap. The worst and laziest hive of all is one I made, I do not like to think how many years ago. It is on the "Cowan-hive" principle, the body-box being some three inches from the outer walls. I call it the " Esquimaux hive," because, to reach their combs, the bees have to go down on their knees and crawl along a long dark passage. Probably it is too com- fortable, when they get there, to hurry out again (it is warm in winter and cool in summer), for I have noticed every spring for years that on some days, when the bees of other hives are busy, these never turn out at all, and although I have had various stocks in it each year for ten years, not one ever prospered. As a contrast, another hive (which is on the sunny side) has only half-inch walls on two sides, and the inmates of this in- variably render a good account of themselves. In fact, all the hives (ten) facing east do much better than those facing west or north- west. So, in conclusion, I say stand the hives where they will get plenty of sun and air about them, and never face their windows to the west or north. Bees are deep drinkers of the sweetest and best of wines — air and sun-warmth. In their passionate love of the open air, the short sward of the thyme-clad chalk hills, the ling that glorifies the moor and fell, they go hand in hand with their master and friend. — Lordswood, October 8. TAKING QUEEN TO SOUTH AFRICA. [2647.] The following note may possess interest for readers of the B.J. — H. W. B. " I am very pleased to tell you the queen- bee is alive and doing well with her new companions. We had a very rough passage out, which lasted five weeks, and then the Oct. 15, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 417 journey up country took three days, so that altogether the queen-bee was imprisoned for six weeks, and now looks none the worse for it. I gave her every attention during the voyage, and I feel sure it would be impossible to send queens to Africa unless in charge of a passenger,- everything is treated so badly on board. " Your cage I still keep as a novelty ; should like to hear from you, and Avill send notes to the British Bee Journal occasionally on bee-keeping in Africa, if they would possess any interest for its readers. 1 am making it a study, and am tryiDg to find out the various enemies and diseases African bees are troubled with." — Charles H. Farman, Lovedale, South Africa, September 5, '96. items ami J^ltes. [1565.] The Eyesight of the Bee.— At the meeting of our Literary Society yesterday (Friday) evening I read a short paper on bee- keeping. Later on in the evening I had a question addressed me to which I was un- able to give a satisfactory reply. I shall feel extremely obliged to you if you can answer it for me in your valuable paper, as I am only a beginner, and not very well versed in the anatomy of the bee at present. The following is the question : — " Is it true that a bee can only see to a distance of twenty yards V An instance was given that a bee on flying home, if there were a high fence or wall in its way, that bee would keep straight on in its flight till within about twenty yards of the obstruc- tion, when it would rise perpendicularly in the air and pass over the obstacle, and would then resume its former elevation. — C. W. Tiller, Thornton Heath, October 10. Reply. — All the information we can afford on the subject maybe gathered from two short paragraphs in the chapter on the " Eyes and Sight " of bees, pp. 104 and 5 of The Honey Bee, by T. W. Cowan, which read as follows : — "Our knowledge with regard to practical vision in bees is still very imperfect, although no one will deny that sight is highly developed. Lowne has calculated, by the angle formed by the lenses of the compound eyes, that bees can at a distance of twenty feet distinguish objects from half to one inch in diameter. These eyes are, therefore, necessary for long vision." " With respect to the ocelli (or simple eyes), Miiller considered that from their structure the power of vision was ' confined to the per- ception of very near objects.' The simple eyes bear a similar relation to the compound eyes as the palpi do to the antennoe. Both the antennae and compound eyes, he says, are absent in the larvse." If, then, the compound eyes are "neces- sary," and specially adapted for " long vision," and, on the other hand, that the powers of ocelli, or simple eyes are " confined to the perception of very near objects," there are strong grounds for the assumption that bees are enabled to see long distances, and that the fact of their flying at a low altitude before mounting a wall or obstruction of any kind arises from their wisely seeking shelter when heavily laden on the homeward journey. [1566.] Caring for Bees in Winter. — As the coming winter will be the first I have known as a bee-keeper, I am uncertain whether I have done everything under the circum- stances to ensure their safety and coming out strong and healthy in the spring. Below L give the positions of the hives and what I have done towards wintering them, and should be glad of your opinion and advice in the matter. My hives are divided into two gardens or apiaries. In one (A) I have three skeps and six frame hives. In the other (B) six frame hives. All the hives are fairly strong in bees, and I consider have plenty of stores. The hives in A face due south, and are sheltered from the north by a yew hedge 5 ft. high. (By the way, is there any truth in Virgil's state- ment that yew trees are injurious to bees 1) Those in B face south- east, and are sheltered from the north-west by a high garden wall. 1. I have prepared the skeps by merely wrapping them round from the stool to the crown with straw bands (as used for tying trusses of hay) and then replacing their cover- ings of inverted milk bowls. Is this enough ? The bees in the frame-hives are on from six to nine frames. Seven of the frame-hives are very large and capable of holding fifteen frames each. In these I have moved the frames so that they occupy the central portions of the hives, placing a division board in front of the first frames, and fronts of the* hives in the same manner as division-boards are placed behind the last frames. These division boards, of course, allow of the entrance and exit of the bees. Consequently, as the sides of the hives are double, there is an air-space all round the combs. The spaces between the division boards and the fronts and backs of the hives I have stuffed with clean, dry hay. I have covered the frames in all hives with two or three quilts of calico or other light material, and two or three layers of bass matting, such as is used for fish baskets, though, of course, never put to that use. 2. It is possible the snow driving one night may fall deep enough to reach and cover the flight boards of several of the hives, but, I presume, if cleared away in the morning no damage will be done. Would you raise the hives ? If it shohld be thought advisable, I could remove all hives into a large hay barn open to the weather on one side (the N.E.) only. This barn is some 50 yards from one and 100 yards from the other garden. 3. Do you recommend such a removal ? If so, when should it be done ? The winters here, though protracted, are often 418 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Oct. 15, 1896. not so cold as even further south. 4. I have heard, though from people knowing little of the subject, of double hives, but as yet have been unable 1 o clearly understand their manage- ment. Would it be asking too much of you to give a lucid description of a double hive, and to state -what (if any) are the advantages ? — H. V. Baines, Bell Hall, Yorlc, October 12. Reply. — 1. Yes. 2. There is no real need for cieai'ing away snow until it begins to melt, and causes d7 on the subject of " corrections,'' we (by request), wake another, viz., in the class for Heather Sections, Mr. Macdonald's address (1st prize winner) is Kingussie, Invernes3-shire, not Aberdeenshire, as printed on page 432. — Eds.] CHEAP CARRIAGE FOE HONEY BY EAIL. [2694] Mr. E. Brown (2764, p. 437) asks why bee-keepers do not take advantage of the " Owners risk rate '' in sending honey by rail ? Well, for my part I 3hall do my best to do so in future, but I should like to ask why the dozen jars of honey returned here from the Dairy Show should cost 3?. 7d. ? And by the way, the package has come to the wrong place, for instead of being sent 100 miles south, it has been sent over 200 miles north. The box is mine, with my number upon it, but the jars of honey inside had another number upon them. Surely the responsible people at the Dairy Show are at fault here ? Comparing the numbers with those in the catalogue I w;« able to communicate with the owner, and am wondering if he will be able to obtain any redress for the unnecessary expense of carriage he has been put to. — E. Ness, Hgm. Sec. Helmsley and District B.K.A. NUMBEEING HIVES. [2695.] I think Mr. Brice's " Doings in the Past Month1' will be very interesting to a large number of your readers, as other articles from the same pen have been in the past. I have tried numbering my own hives consecu- tively, as mentioned in " Doings " (on page 422), but all my numbers are upset when I come to "join up '' in the autumn. It would be a great help to a lot of bee-keepers if it was explained in next " Doings" how the numbers are arranged to avoid confusion. Supposing Mr. Brice loses a hive during the winter, does he fill its place with a swarm in the spring, and does the swarm take the number of the old hive ? If so, the slip of paper kept for .indoor reference will want alter- ing accordingly. I have no doubt your contributor has some method which works all right, and which, if known, would be useful to all of us. — W. W., Yorlcs, November 3. SELLING DISEASED STOCKS. [2696.}r-Thanks for your advice in answer to my query No. 1575 (p. 428) re "Danger of Buying Stocks of Bees," . Everything hau been burnt, except the stand the hive rested on. The hive itself was old aud hardly worth saving, and the brood chamber literally stank I I found out from the seller that he had previously been troubled with " foul brood," and that his method of curs hid consisted in- cutting out affected part, and ttta use of_ salicylic acid. He seemed to think I was premature in burning the stock, although he was told that it was done by your advice, and also that I ought not to have done so without giving him an opportunity of examining it. As a matter of fact, I burnt it at once, as I feared it might be some time before such an examination took place. Being quite a beginner in apiculture, I felt rather diffident about offering any remarks concerning the disease and the drastic measures it appears sometimes necessary to take to check it, so I procured a copy of the Board of Agri- culture's leaflet and sent it to the original owner of the martyred bees. Eeferring to an earlier query of mine, No. 1511, on page 287, I would like to tell you that the stock there spoken of appears to have good prospects of wintering well, also, that when packing it I noticed some empty queen cells. May I take this as evidence that the bees have re-queened the hive of their own accord? [Yes.— Eds. J.— M. W. S-, Slough, November 6. ,■ COUNTY LABELS AT THE DAIRY SHOW. [2697.] — On some of the exhibits at the above show I noticed the county label. In my opinion this should not be allowed. The county labels look very nice and proper On exhibits at a county show, but certainly out of place at an exhibition open to all comers. I hope the judges will not for one moment think that I insinuate the presence of a label would in any way influence them in their awards. — Percy Leigh, Beemount, Stoke Prior, Nov. 9. [County labels, or any label or mark by which exhibits could be identified, or even localised, were not allowed at the Dairy Show, and it was with much regret that the judges saw some most excellent exhibits disqualified at the late show on that account. We are, in fact, enabled to say that they expressed a wish to have the reasons for disqualification placed on the exhibits, in order to make the matter clear. — Eds.] A BEE EXCURSION IN OHIO ENDING IN A SQUIRREL HUNT. [2698.] I paid a visit to the establishment of the A. I. Eoot Company the other day, and was kindly entertained by Mr. Ernest Eoot, who showed me over their extensive works, and freely explained everything to me. Mr. E. Eoot, Mr. Weed, and myself went out shooting on the Thursday morning, but unfor- tunately met with little success. Mr. Weed then suggested that v/e should go and cut down a bee-tree he had found — said to be. about 150 ft. high — growing some distance away in the . woods. This agreed upon, we returned to dinner. After which, the horse and buggy being-got ready, and supplied with $se, saw, and. other necebiary implements, fop 458 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 12, 1896. bringing the tree down and securing the bees and honey, we rnadfl a start. Arrived at the tree we requested the owner's permission to cut it down : this was declined, but he gave us leave to hunt in the woods. Before starting, however, I took a shot at the place in the tree where the bees were going in and out, and my shot caused a piece of wood to fall down, and it dropped upon a fox squirrel's nest. The animal immediately jumped out and nimbly ran up to the very top of the tree. We peppered away at him with No. 6 shot, but failed to bring the little fellow down, and finding it was getting too hot for him he scampered rapidly down and rushed up another hollow tree, where he evidently knew of a hiding place, into which he went like a shot ! Not to be baulked of our game, however, we set to work, and in about half an hour had the tree down, but had to cut it up into several sections before we could get the squirrel out. He was eventually secured by running into a bag held for him. The hard work with the axe was accompanied with much fun and laughter. The bagged squirrel was given in charge of Mr. Weed, who could not refrain from taking a look at him, and finding the little chap coolly washing his face after its late hard work, he laughingly ealled Mr. Eoot to " come and have a look." All at once, and seizing desperately at another chance of liberty, our prisoner sprang from the bag, and in an instant was off across a stream, Mr. Weed after it right through the water — the squirrel jumping on ahead— the pursued and pursuer making up the most comical picture I ever saw ! Eventually the squirrel scrambled up another large tree which was hollow, and there we decided to leave him in acknowledgment of his pluck and perseverance in the fight for freedom. We returned home very hungry, our total " catch " being a small chip-munk, a species of diminutive squirrel, which we have caged, and which is now a source of much amusement to Mr. E. Boot's little boy. I hope to be back in England by the middle of November. I am staying over to see the election of next U.S. President. — E. H. Taylor {of Wclicyn, Herts). Boston, Mass., October 2G. (fumes m& Holies. [1585.] Leaving Stored Supers on for Winter. — I am in trouble just now becau.se of not being able to remove the surplus honey from my eighteen hive?. The weather was wet and stormy all the time the honey should have been taken off, and at last I had to go round on my usual journey for condemned bees, &c. Then, after finishing that job, the weather was still cold and wet — utterly unfit for such work as taking honey. Now, though I am much in want of money, the l tores gathered by my bees is all on the hives. Can ybu advise me, please, what is the best plan to - take in this state of things'? Will it keep well through winter if left on the hives, and could I extract it in the usual way about February or March next ? — H., Pwllheli, November 7. Eeply. — We certainly think it would have piid our Welsh friend to have postponed his driving expedition until such time as he had got the surplus from his eighteen hives indoors. In these days of super-clearers there seems no sound excuse whatever for any one pleading either bad weather or want of time as a reason for not getting honey off hives ; and when the bee-keeper is much in " want of money,'' as stated, the absence of effort at the right time is to us unaccountable. It is, moreover, not easy to say what is best to be done. The like- lihood is that much of the honey will have granulated in the comb if left where it is until March next, unless the bees cluster on it, in which case breeding will be started among the super combs in early spring, and the trouble will be worse than ever. We should remove some, at least, of the combs now ; get them into a warm room for a couple of days, and try extracting. If this succeeds, continue until more or less is taken from every hive which can spare a few combs. [1586.] Disturbing Hives in November. — I lately bought three stocks of bees in bar- frame hives, and the sender packed them with a board fastened over the top of the frames. As it is late in the season, which would be best— cover the boards so that no draught can enter, or take them away and cover with carpeting in the usual way ? I am afraid if I pull them about too much the queens may get " balled." — Sainfoin, St. Albans, October 30. Eeply. — For several reasons we advise removal of the boards from frame-tops after receiving stocks of bees bought in frame- hives. Some damage may have occurred in transit, food may not be right, or other con- tingencies have arisen which a slight inspec- tion would set right. Besides, warm quilts will make a better winter covering Lhau boards, while, if the removal and inspection is carefully done, there need be no fear of "balling.1' [1587.] " Wells " Hives and Methods.— Your preliminary remarks, in reply to query 1506 in B.J. for July 9 last (page 277), in answer to my too numerous questions were rather confusing, and I think you were a little hard on me. Commencing with the remark, " We cannot promise success in working such a ' Wells ' hive as the one described,'' you pro- ceed to say : "And however we might manage to overcome such difficulties as present them- selves in the ' Wells ' hive referred to, it can- not be easily made clear to one who is mani- festly inexperienced in bee - management." I may say my hive is precisely as recom- mended by Mr. Wells, and was made and sold as such by a well • known manufacturer. Nov. 12, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 459 Hitherto, however, the shallow- chamber under- neath has been practically a fixture, as there were neither porch nor entrances to the standard-chamber above, which the hive should have had. I think of making a shallow dummy the thickness of six frames to place in centre of shallow-body with the ordinary standard perforated " Wells '' dummy resting on it above. This will leave seven frames on each side, which I imagine will be the most that will be ever required. Then, as I may often wish the shallow chamber completely away, with the standard frames close dowa oa floor-board, I propose to fit a platform or second floor-board under the standard frames in groove made for the shallow frames, leaving an entrance ia the platform of some sort. Please be good enough to give me advice as to size and shape and position this entrance should occupy, and if a board should slope from same to lower floor-board to assist the bees to travel, and if this attempt is likely to be a success ? — Thanking you in anticipation, Albert J. Conder, Ipswich, November 9. Keplt. — On referring to reply given in our issue for July 9 last (page 277) we really can- not see in what way we are even " a little hard " on our correspondent. The replies are brief, but as he admits, were rather " too numerous " coming at a busy season. And for the " confusion," does it not come from his side ? His query begins " I have a ' Wells ' hive ; '* but the details which follow deal with parts and arrangements in construction en- tirely absent from the Wells hive as it is generally known. We have read Mr. Wells' pamphlet describing his system, have seen and personally handled the hives in his own apiary, and heard the gentleman describe his methods of bee-management many times and often, and in view of all this it is " news '' to us when we read in the above communication that the hive dealt with therein is made " pre- cisely as recommended by Mr. Wells." Any- way, we are reluctantly compelled to confess our inability to give advice as to how the pro- posed alteration in construction and manage- ment are likely to effect the object aimed at, or to say whether the " attempt is likely to be a success." If the hive is one Mr. Wells re- commends, that gentleman, or, may be, the manufacturer, can afford information, which we will be very pleased to print if forwarded. [1588.] Length of the Bee's Tongue. — Is it the fact, as attested by some writers, that the length of the tongue, or proboscis, differs in the varieties of domesticated bees, and that it is loDger in the Italian than in the black bee, enabling the former to exploit flowers which are useless to the latter ? — Sceptic, Oxford, November 2. Reply. — The idea referred to is now gene- rally, and rightly, regarded as a fable. No doubt it originated from the fact of the Ligurian bee seeming at times to work on red clover when the ordinary brown bee neglects that flower. In the same way the Italian bee was said — by those interested in its sale — to begin its labours earlier, continue working longer, and possess numerous other advantages over the common sort. On all these points opinions vary, but so far as length of tongue, careful measurements have failed to discover any difference in the two varieties. [1589.] Spring Cleansing Flights. — Would you kindly inform me of what does the yellow coloured substance consist that is so freely scattered about by bees in taking their first cleansing flights in spring ? I have heard it is digested pollen, but am anxious to have your definite opinion on the matter. — Arthur H. Peach, Oadby, near Leicester, November 4. Reply. — The " substance " referred to is simply the ordinary fa?cal matter voided by bees after long confinement. Beyond being less watery and more copious than at other times, there is no difference in spring " cleansing flights '' to those of any other season, but the effects are, of course, much more plainly seen for the reasons given above. [1590.] Examinations for Second-class Cer- tificates.— -In view of the fact of second-class experts examinations being fixed for November 20 and 21, might I ask on behalf of myself and other third-class experts if a syllabus has been decided upon for the guidance of the candidates 1 I was told that this was so, and would like to see it. — Third-class Expert, Yorlcs. Reply. — If by "syllabus" our corre- spondent means questions, we may say the several questions placed before candidates for second-class experts certificates are sent to the gentleman who acts as superintendent of the exam, in a sealed envelope. This is opened when the candidate is prepared to begin ; prior to which time the nature of the questions are unknown to both candidate and superin- tendent. REMOVING POLLEN FROM COMBS. As a rule, nearly all apiarists sooner or later find themselves supplied with a super-abun- dance of brood-combs containing more or less pollen, the quality or quantity being such that it is not desirable to again return them to the bees. To those who may desire such combs relieved of their contents, I may here state that I have succeeded to my heart's content, and herewith give the method, so that others having the same facilities may follow that practised by myself. The generally-adopted plan heretofore used was to first soak the combs in water for a few days, and then throw out the water-soakud pollen by means of the honey-extractor. In order to force the air out of the cells so that the water would find its way to the bottom, the combs were held over some large vessel (I used a large square tin uncapping-can), while 460 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 12, 1896. yet another vessel containing a quantity of water was close at band. A small corn-broom or whisk was dipped into the water and swished or thrown over tbe surface of the combs, they being held at an angle of about 45 deg. during the operation. As soon as thoroughly filled they were set side by side in the uncapping-can, when it was filled with water so as to completely cover the combs, the same being held in position by having a board and large stone placed thereon, and allowed to remain thus for thirty-six or forty-eight hours, or more if desired. The above method has been practised by myself in the past, but a more expeditious and much more satisfactory plan has been used of late, and any one having the advantage of a town or city water-works system I would cer- tainly recommend its utilisation for such a purpose. The mode of procedure in this case is the same as just outlined up to the time of the applying of the water, to the surface of the combs, but instead of whisking it into them a nozzle is attached to the water-works hose, capable of throwing a fine stream or spray, that will cover the surface of the comb, five or six inches in diameter, every cell inside of that compass being thoroughly drenched to the septum with such force as in some instances to throw out the dried pellets of pollen, which are sometimes seen in such combs, almost instanter ; the filling and washing out of a whole comb being accomplished in a very few seconds. The same method in regard to the saturating of the solid pollen is carried out with all combs not thoroughly cleansed by the first spraying, and in forty-eight hours the stream or spray is again brought into requisition, this time, however, before the combs have been revolved in the extractor, as the stream, when directed on to the water- soaked combs, forces anything and everything contained in them to make a hasty retreat, leaving all as clean and sweet as if new. Nothing now remains but to give the'cleansed combs a few turns in the extractor to get rid of the remaining water they may contain. A wire-cloth screen, such as is used when shipping or removing bees to "fields anew," is now laid on two pieces of 2 in. by 4 in. scantling, and the hives, containing seven combs in each, and perfectly spaced, are tiered five or six stories high, with another screen on top, so that a current of air can pass through and thoroughly dry them. The above plan was so satisfactory that I was almost sorry when it was finished , indeed, my son, who assisted me in the work (he being an awfully lazy fellow, like myself), remarked that he never saw me like to boss a job so well before. You know I could sit down to it while he had to stand up and rua the extractor. I will conclude by saying that the combs treated as stated were all wired brood-combs, four years old, or thereabout ; but I see no reason why, with care, unwired combs could not be treated in like manner. For cleansing combs containing small quantities of sour honey, which sometimes accumulates if left too long unoccupied by the bees, as they were last season (I not having swarms to hive them on), the spray is a capital way of making them sweet and clean, and also for cleaning the basket of the extractor. — F. A. Gemmill, Canadian Bee Journal. $j# $ham lo (Hffme. November 18 and 19, at Newcastle-on-Tyne. — Northumberland and Durham B.K.A., in connection with the Horticultural Society's Chrysanthemum Show at the Towa Hall. Three open classes. Entry fee, Is. each class. Schedules from J. N. Kidd, 29, Windermere- street, Gateshead. Entries close November 13. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only oj personal interest will be answered in this column, F. E. B. S. (Lines.), Experts Certificates and the B.B.K.A. — If our correspondent possesses any authentic warranty for the statement he makes as to the action of the Council of the B.B.K.A. in the matter referred to, and will furnish U3 with par- ticulars therof, we may be disposed to publish his comments on the subject. Other- wise, we think the only proper and right course for our correspondent is to follow our example, and defer any observations he may feel disposed to make until the matter . has been decided by the body who alone have the right or the power to deal with it, viz., the Council of the B.B.K.A. ► -•• • John Newton (Co, Wicklow). — Comb received is badly affected with foul brood. If, as stated, all the hives are affected in the same way, there is no other course that can be followed, we are sorry to say, but destroying the bees and combs of the whole lot, and disinfecting the hives before using again.. H. F. Beale (Andover). — Honey sent is a very good sample ; not specially character- istic of either sainfoin or lime except in colour. Its consistency is first rate. J. Martin (Bristol). — Lucerne as a Honey' Plant— -This is a very good honey-plant. It blooms for several weeks, and in a favour- able season yields well. E. S. Blake (Leeds). — Selling Honey. — For reply to the question whether British honey is saleable or not, our issue of last week furnishes as good an answer as we can give, Nov. 19, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 461 #£itarial, $«tim, && USEFUL HINTS. , It is eminently satisfactory to us, and we trust it will be no less so to our readers, that at a time when things in the world of bee-dom are supposed to have lost their interest even for members of the craft, that, as we say, at such a dead time, there is much in our pages not only of interest for readers of to-day, but which points to a continuance of the same for some time to come. No one can say that our correspondence " lacks fire," and although there may perhaps be a trace of friction here and there, it is only on the surface. The correspondence on the question of Bees and Cottagers has been productive of information such as we trust will settle the point as to whether or not substantial profit is or is not made from keeping bees, by cottagers and labouring men possessed of intelli- gence and the small business aptitude, without which no one can hope to get on in these days. Among many topics of interest now calling for attention, a prominent place may be claimed for the Schedule of the — " Royal " Show of 1897, which will be held at Manchester in June next. We may — without any lapse of proper official reticence — say that the Council of the B.B.K.A. has had still further powers given them so far as the allocation of the grant of £50 towards the prizes from the local fund. And that, in consequence, there will be five substantial money prizes to be com- peted for in the important County Trophy class ; the first prize exhibit in which will receive, in addition, the silver medal, and the other four winning trophies the bronze medal of the B.B.K.A., with an engraved inscription commemorative of the " event." It is also intended to include new classes for dark honey, heather honey, mead, hone}*" vinegar, &c, besides some- what increasing the value of the prizes in most of the honey classes. In view of the combined effort needed to make the County Trophies a big success it was not deemed advisable to retain the trophy class for individual exhibitors, and we think that the public spirit of these gentlemen— who could, of themselves, stage a good trophy if they wished — may be relied upon to sink personal prefer- ences and lend a helping hand to make their county "win." After all, the good of the greatest number is what we should seek, and the doing of this in 1897 will be a source of satisfaction in the time to come. The schedule, though well advanced, is not fully completed, and, subject to the approval of the Royal Agricultural Society — to which body it will, of course, be submitted — we hope to give full par- ticulars very shortly. " Spare the Editors." — Our esteemed contributor, " Lordswood," whose ire Avas supposed to have been aroused the other day out of pure sym- pathy for what he called the "Reply to Querists' Editor " of this journal (vide p. 424) can again help us if he will. First, however, we should explain to our friend that one reason why the particular editor to whom he refers was selected to fill his present "lofty" position (five flights upstairs) was the supposed pos- session of such gentle — almost lamb-like — qualities of mind and heart, that when dealing with, and penning replies to, bee- keepers, he would ensure their embracing one another (and himself) instead of springing at each other's throats — as the late Mr. Peel once said bee-keepers were at times prone to do. But a communication has just reached us which rudely dispels even the confi- dence we had in our own suaviter in modo method. We print the letter verb, et lit. (to alter would spoil it) and here's what the writer says : — Sibs, — Without saying you are "hard on me,'' as says Mr. A. J. Conder (1587, p. 458) I must say you are toplofty, a trifle arrogant, and scoffing, with your longer experience of bees and bee-keeping. Now, I wish particularly to know in what respect my frames are not of "Standard'1 shi I They are 14 in. by 8-i- in., § in. by $ iu. side and bottom bars and li in. by | in. top bar reduced in middle to lj in. by | in. Top-bar is 152 in. long and as I said before self-spacing. As to the relative merits of these and metal ends, I challenge you to produce any with metal ends with less pollen than on mine. (Bear in mind I am a joiner of 40 years practice, and when it comes to that, I am prepared to give you — or any one else — lessons in practical hive making). I can quite understand A. J. Condor's difficulty in his "Wells" hives. Because that little detail occurred to me, and I solved it easily. The 462 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. . [Nov. 19, 1896. plan can be applied to any hive with a movable floor, it is perfectly simple. I cannot see how it is easier for a beginner to drive bees from skeps into empty skeps than to drive them into frame-hives direct, and with all due deference to your longer expe- rience, I hold to my opinion until you give me a good reason to alter it. It is a lifelong habit of mine to want to know the •why and wherefore of everything. My mother used to say : " Boy, you want to know more than everything.'' — A. H., North Bucks. Full of anxiety as to what wo had done to merit this " scorcher," we referred to back numbers and found our offence recorded on page 440 of B.J. for Oct. 29 last. But what are we to say in reply 1 We may assure "A. H." that Ave are not "toplofty" (whatever that may mean), at least we don't try to be ; that we entirely agree with the opinion of his good mother regarding her " boy," and as for the ability to teach him "more than everything," which is, we suppose, the least that will satisfy his craving for knowledge, we give it up and wonder if "Lordswood " will help us ? By the way, though, that " Standard "- frame question put to us we cannot get away from, and therefore hasten to add : — The outside measurements are : — 14 in. long by 8Jin. deep; top-bar 17 in. long, fin. thick, fin. wide; side- bars \ in., and bottom-bar J in. thick, both being f in. wide, same as top-bar. Our correspondent will, no doubt, see wherein the difference lies. Photos of Apiaries. — In response to the invitation on page 441, several photographs have been forwarded, for which senders will please accept our thanks. Further contributions of a similar kind will be esteemed. _ Price of Sugar. — The further reduc- tion in price of pure cane sugar, as per revised list, will no doubt be as welcome to readers as to ourselves. BRITISH BEE - KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The monthly meeting of the Council was held on Friday, November 13, in the board- room of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 105, Jermyn-sfcreet, S.W. Letters of regret at inability to attend were read from the Baroness Burdett-Coutts (Presi- dent), Mr. H. Jonas, and Mr. T. I. Weston. The chair was occupied by Mr. E. D. Till (Vice- Chairman), and there were also present the Hon. and Rev. Henry Biigh, Messrs. R. T. Andrews, H. W. Brice, W. Broughton Carr, W. O'B. Glennie, W. H. Harris, J. H. New, J. M. Hooker (ex-officio), and the Secre- tary, Edw.'n H. Young. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Three new members were elected as fol- lows : — Mr. J. W. Averv, High-street, Ripley ; Mr. F. Bertram White, 1, Blenheim Villa?, Redhill ; Mr. Cha?. Carter, Gsvynne Apiary, Newmarket. The Education Committee reported that arrangements had been made for holding ex- aminations for second-ebss expert certificates on November 20 and 21, in the following centres, viz., Bristol, Great Haywood, Mario w, Northenden, Southwell, Sutton- on-Trent, and Tamworth. The names of nine candidates had been received, and the superintendence of the examinations had been entrusted to the nomi- nees of the local associations. The Council then proceeded to the considera- tion of the improvements in the prize schedule for the bee-department of the Manchester meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society in 1897. A number of suggestions were made, which the Exhibitions Commit tee were requested to embody in the draft schedule to be submitted to the R.A.S.E. for approval. The Committee were also asked to hold a meeting at an early date and to formulate the rules and regulations governing the competitions. The schedule will be very comprehensive, the Council having decided to allocate nearly £80 in prize money in the various classes, this sum, of course, including the £50 kindly voted by the Man- chester Local Committee. The Chairman announced that Mr. Cowan (their chairman) would be leaving England on the day following the meeting, and that he had very generously contributed a donation of ,£10 to the funds of the association. This was another token of the great interest Mr. Cowan continued to manifest in the welfare of the society, and for the gift they were not lacking in gratitude. CONVERSAZIONE. {Conclusion from page 453. The Chairman then referred to the ques- tion of sending queens by post, which had caused some trouble of late. He would like to know whether any gentleman present had ordered queens from abroad which he had not received. He had heard recently of several bee-keepers who were in that predicament, the bees having been stopped by the Eoglish Post Office authorities, but it was not quite known to what extent this had happened. The Council of the Association were consequently anxious for information, in order to take steps therein. Four years ago he wrote to the Secretary of the Post Office about this same matter, and was informed that since the Parcel Post had been established between foreign countries and Nov. 19, 1896.1 THE BEITISH BEE JOUENAL. 463 our own there was no restriction so far as sending queens by Parcel Post, but he was afraid there had lately been a departure from that rule detrimental to bee-keepers. Mr. Ness said that last week he received eight queens instead of eighteen. The con- signor said he would forward the second batch on the first or second day following. That was ten days ago. It was just possible they _ had not been dispatched. Mr. Price was informed that Mr. Webster had had five consignments of queens addressed to him from abroad during the List few weeks, none of which had reached their destination. He (Mr. Price) had been awaitirjg several con- signments himself since the first week in October, oDly one of which had arrived. He had communicated with two or three queen- rearers in Italy, who complained that the English Post Office stopped their packages containing bees. The Chairman said his letter to the Post Office was to the effect that, as bees were sent by post from abroad, the postal restrictions should be removed so as to permit of the transmission of bees in England or anywhere by ordinary letter post. He received a reply, dated March 16, 1892, stating, as he had already said, that bee3 might be forwarded, but by Parcel Post only. As to the non- arrival of queens from Italy, some allowance must be made for the season, which had baen wetter than any during the last thiity or forty years. While we were having beautiful weather here last summer it was wet there, to the detriment of the queen-breeders. The best course, perhaps, would be to countermand unexecuted orders and wait till the spring. He proposed to again inquire of the postal authorities about these delays, but did not know whether much good would be done. Mr. Erice thought it might be interesting for the company to know that he had received a few consignments of bees from the Caucasus. Some had died on the long journey, while others came in perfectly good condition, and although he now had the queens safely domiciled in his apiary he could not say much aboat them at present, but would report later on. His plan, when sending away queens, was to forward with them only young nurse-bees, so far as he could choose such from the hive, and he believed it was due to that plan that he had been fortunate in avoiding mishaps. He sent a queen in July to - Scotland, but having omitted an essential part of the address, the queen was returned through the post office, after eleven days absence, in as perfect condition as when she left. In another case he sent a queen to a gentleman, who put the package on top of the nive intending to open it later, he was, however, obligtd to leave home, and de- tained away a fortnight ; meantime he forgot all about the queen. On returning, he found the queen and accompanying bees in splendid condition. In another case, a gentleman wanted a queen to take to South Africa. This being a very trying journey, he devised and had a special cage made. In this he put about 150 bees and the queen with food for the journey. After a five weeks' voyage, and another week's journeying up to Johannesburg, he had been informed that this queen was now the mother of a flourishing colony there. With regard to the Caucasian bees which he had mentioned, in one case half of them were dead, although the queen was all right, while in another, all the accompanying bees and queen were dead. He informed the consignor of what had happened, and gave certain sug- gestions as to future packages. The result was that on the 7th ult , after seven weeks' journey through St. Petersburg and Germany to England, a queen arrived wiih some nurse-bees, all in splendid condition. He thought it most important that nurse-bees should be sent with queens when a long journey was in prospect. The Chairman hoped that Mr. Price would be able to keep his Caucasian bees pure and distinct, so as to give them a fair trial in this country, and let the company at the Conver- sazione, in October, 1897, hear how he had succeeded with them. He (Mr. Cowan) had Eeen a colony of these bees at work. They were nice looking bees, and perfectly quiet to handle. On the first occasion when li8 manipulated a Caucasian stock he prepared himself with veil and smoker, both of which, however, were found to be quite unnecessary. On opening the hive the bees shook themselves a little, but never attempted to sting, and he made an artificial swarm from the colony with- out difficulty, and without the need for either smoker or veil. In fact, the Caucasian bees were less irritable than English ones. Mr. Erice said he would do his best to keep the foreign bees quite separate, and report on them next autumn. The Chairman said they would be very glad to hear that the county honey-trophy class at the Manchester Exhibition had been settled, in so far that the local committee had made a grant of £50 towards the prizes at the Eoyal Agricultural Show next year. He was also very pleased to tell them that the local com- mittee had lefo the arranging of the extra prizes entirely ia their hands, subject to the approval of the Eoyal Agricultural Society, which meant there would be no difficulty, because the B.B.KA. worked in thorough harmony with the E.A.S. Now that the disposal of the money was settled, a schedule would have to be drawn up during the month of November. The B.B.K.A. Committee would meet prior to then, in order to make the arrangements. It had been propo-ed that the weight of honey on each trophy should be limited to 300 lbs. They would be glad to make the prizes as large as possible, so as to induce the counties to show. Mr. Seymour and Mr. A. Sharp both advocated a class for mead, the former observing that he knew several who would- exhibit in the class, while- 464 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 19, 1896. Mr. Sharp was sure that mead would become popular if better known. Dark honey made better mead than light honey, and thus a market could be found for the darker sort, which at present could not be satisfactorily disposed of. A good profit could be made on mead, and he thought that he and Mr. Sey- mour could guarantee a good number of entries for such a class. Mr. Till suggested a class for 2-lb. sections, and thought a ready sale for these might be obtained among wealthy people. Mr. Scattergood considered that 2 lb. sec- tions were unsaleable at a profit. An animated discussion here ensued between several gentlemen, who spoke for and against Mr. Till's proposal. A large majority, how- ever, advocated retaining the 1-lb. section in deference to the popular preference for the smaller size. The Chairman, referring to the class for 2-lb. sections at the " Royal " show, said the sale of 2-lb. sections was very limited, and the class was abandoned because, for several years in succession, very few entries of 2-lb. sections could be obtained at the Royal show, which proved that the tendency of the market was in favour of 1-lb. sections. The B.B.K.A. did all it could to encourage the larger size, but without success. A conversational discussion followed, in which Messrs. Till and Hooker still supported the production of 2-lb. sections, while Messrs. Sharp and Truss declared that, up to this time, they had been unable to dispose of 2-lb. sec- tions, except at a price very little above that of 1-lb. sections. Messrs. Carr, Seymour, and other speakers, as well as the Chairman, were agreed that it would not pay to produce 2-lb. sections, all declaring that they were never able to dispose profitably of them. The proceedings, which had throughout been full of interest, were brought to a close by a vote of thanks to the chairman, proposed by Mr. Pugh and seconded by Mr. Brice, followed by a similar motion in favour of the judges at the Dairy Show, proposed by Mr. Seymour and seconded by Mr. Woods, both votes being carried, and the meeting then closed. LUDLOW CHRYSANTHEMUM AND FRUIT SOCIETY. The second annual exhibition of this society was held at Ludlow, Salop, on Thursday, the 12th inst. The Town Hall presented a beautiful and brilliant spectacle, but, owing to the large number of entries, the Secretaries were much tramped for room. The honey classes did not, therefore, occupy so prominent a position as they might have done. Still, the stand at the entrance to the tea-room was appropriate, and did not fail to attract atten- tion. The exhibits were very good, and the prize lots in each class excellent. The Com- mittee another year intend their classes for dozens to be reduced 0 sixes, thus lessening the expenses of exhibitors from a distance. Mr. John Palmer acted as judge, and made the following awards : — Twelve 1-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, P. Scott, Broseley ; 2nd, J. H. Wootton, Byford ; 3rd, J. Lewis, Cold Weston. Twelve l-lb. Sections.— 1st, J. H. Wootton ; 2nd, J. Sopp, Wallingford, Berks ; 3rd, J. Lewis. — (Communicated.) IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The Committee met on 5th inst. Present : Dr. Traill (in the chair), Mr. Read, Mr. O'Bryen, and Mr. Chenevix (hon. sec, 15, Morehampton-road, Dublin). Experts' certifi- cates were granted to Mr. Jeremiah Deane and Mr. David MacLurg. Mr. O'Bryen reported that he' had been instructed by the Congested Districts Board to judge the honey exhibits at the County Kerry Show last month, and had awarded, the two prizes offered by the association in a class open to members only. tyamtymkm. The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Beview, Ac, must be addressed only to " The Editors of the ' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William- street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi- cations relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to " The Manager, ' British Bee Journal ' Office, 17, King William-street, Strand, Lcndon. W.C." *»• In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by mentioning the number oftheletter, as well as the page on which it appears. RUSSIAN APICULTURE. [2699.] The Times of 16th inst. contains a report of an address by Mons. Alexis Yermoloff, on Russian Apiculture. He has been Minister of Agriculture and State Domain in Russia since 1893. In this report our queen - rearers will be particu- larly interested, as some Caucasian queens have recently been imported by Mr. Brice, and probably of the same variety as those bees which Monsieur Yernioloff refers to in the following paragraph. He says : — " Apiculture has made substantial progress since effective measures were taken to prevent the adulteration of beeswax ; Russia possesses a fine race of bees — very productive and quite harmless — that originated in the Caucasus." I would remark that Russia seems before England in protecting the purity of her bees- wax. The recent decision on appeal in an Nov. 19, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 465 English court of law that beeswax is not a drug, and therefore not under the Food and Drugs Act, will be harmful. Bee-keepers ought to stir themselves on the question. — E. D. T., November 16. BEES IN DURHAM. " CAMPING-OUT " AT TIIE MOORS. [2700.] I was glad to see a report from Durham in the Bee Journal from Mr. Rochester (2683, p. 446). Speaking for myself, I have just had such a season at the heather as your correspondent. I extracted most of my cloArer-honey before removing the bees to the heather, taking from one stock ten shallow frames and forty-one good sections. I extracted the lot, and put the frames and sections back for the bees to travel to the heather with and refill there. I also removed the queen (an old one) at the same time, think- ing it best to re-queen at the heather. Well, beiog busy extracting, packing for moors, with bees " boiling over " and in quite an uproar, I put on queen-excluder and replaced the ten shallow frames and sections to give more room for travelling to the heather. I got all fairly well to the journey's end (Danby, Yorkshire), opened entrance, and let the bees get calmed down and well to work. I then took the new queen and run her in at the entrance, allowing her to take pot luck ! I went over about three weeks later to the moors to see how the bees were getting on, and, to my amazement, found the ten shallow frames and sections packed with sealed brood ! I could have kicked the whole lot down the hillside, so annoyed did I feel. To me this proved that bees do carry eggs when in an excited state, like ants do when their nest is turned out. I hope bee-keepers will take the hint not to let bees have access to surplus chambers till settled down at the heather. The other stocks that had the supers put on at the heather had not a trace of brood. I am thinking of " camping-out " with my bees on the moors during my holidays next year during the heather harvest, and hope to have an enjoyable time, and also avoid risk of loosing good queens, and not being there when wanted or at the right time. I am convinced it will pay. Where a large number of hives are put down, a good "camp'' could be formed, and, with jolly bee-men, plenty of enjoyment found. It is all moonshine to think of just taking bees to the heather and expecting they will come back with surplus chambers full of sovereigns. We have got to work as well as the bees, and to an old camper it will come in fine, not to forget the commissariat department or the ex- tractor. A sharp, handy man could arrange for all sorts of pleasant excursions and picnics amongst bee-men, besides holding a meeting to compare notes. Above all, for those half worked to death in an office, if a few could afford to rent a moor and gun, &c, think what a lung-opener to tike one's gun on the pure heather, far from the busy town, and do what you like ! I was pleased to see in " Editorial Notes " that you are commencing a series of photo- graphs. I shall be pleased to send you some if you will accept them. — Geo. Robinson, Stockton on-Tees. BEE NOTES FROM CUMBERLAND. [2701] The season in this district opened splendidly, May blossoms being very abundant, and these bee-keepers living farther inland took a nice lot of early honey. There were also a good few May swarms, and altogether things promised well for a record year. My own hives being kept near the sea, the bees store little or no surplus from the early blossoms ; the slight income just keeping the queen going so as to have a fairly populous hive for clover yield, which commences about second week in June, and it yielded fairly for just five diys, when the weather changed for the worse— rain and cold winds — and the bees began to draw on their stores before the month was out, and, of course, all sections were promptly removed, the result being eighty completed sections and about 40 lb. extracted, the surplus of eleven colonies carried from clover a full mile away. July and August being very cold and windy the bees scarcely kept themselves, and those taken to the heather did little more than fill the brood- chamber, which came in handy for eking out the stores of the other hives without any feeding. I managed to rear six young queens and safely re-queen the same number of hives, and I had things fairly snug for the winter, when lo ! the great wind and record tide came and my poor bees got a sad " dip," eleven out of fourteen were floating about in the water like so many corks, two of them turning completely over ; another wa3 bobbing about without the bottom, but sailing right way up. After fish- ing them out and carrying them to a place of safety, we put dry covers on the top of wet ones, '■opened entrances full, raised back dummies, and left them to drain and dry. Fortunately, three dry, warm days followed the storm, and the bee3 began in earnest to clean up their disordered homesteads. All day long they were flying and I suppose drying them- selves thoroughly in the air, and on examining the comb3 after the bees had bad a week's drying and cleaning all to themselves, I was very glad to find them in the condition they are, so that, apart from reducing the fourteen to twelve, I am not so badly hit as I expected. How will they winter after having their combs and honey damped 2 That's the ques- tion, and perhaps it is rather too early to crow yet. I am sorry to say tbe County Associa- tion for Cumberland that was talked of is, I feir, going to miss fire. Cumberland bee- keepers don't appear to realise the need of 466 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL, [Nov. 19, 1896. co-operation for mutual benefit, or else don't care to give financial help to support the scheme. I am very sure there are plenty of bee-keepers in Cumberland to keep an associa- tion goirig. Keferring to the Gosforth annual Agricul- tural Show, held on September 11, the com- mittee made a new venture this year and offered £10 in prizes for honey, bees, hives, &c, and judging by the entries for the diffe- rent classes and the number of people that visited the bee-tent, it seemed to take very well, and I hear that it is proposed to keep the venture up, and make an annml thing of it. I certainly hope they will. — W. Barrows, The Station, Eskmeals, November 12. [It is difficult to believe that — with so many of the elements at hand which go to command success— it should require more than two or three active and earnest individuals, possessing good organising power3, to establish a district bee-keepers' association in a place where such encouraging local support is offered and ap- preciated. And if a Gosforth district associa- tion became an established fact, one would think that others would surely follow. — Eds.] AWARDS AT DAIRY SHOW. [2702.] Allow me to apologise for inad- vertently stating that Worcester was a non- winning county, and to express my regret that one who had taken so much pains to stage a really instructive exhibit should for a time, at least, have been deprived of his due ; but "all things come in time to those who know how to wait.'' Mr. Percy Leigh will now see that the blame does not rest with the B.B.J. My analysis of the catalogue was made before the Class which contained this exhibit had been judged on the second day of the Show, and I unfortunately omitted to complete it properly. Next year we must take care tbat no such mistake is repeated, and we must also see that a Class containing such interesting exhibits is not staged in close proximity to trading stalls, but prominently apart. Mr. Leigh had not arrived at Jermyn-street when I made the statement, and therefore had no opportunity to correct me. A source of frequent error in apportioning exhibits to the proper county arises from the fact that the postal town in the catalogue address is often in a different county to that in which the exhibitor usually resides. — E. D. Till, Eynsford, November 16. EXHIBITS AT THE DAIRY SHOW. LOSS OF HONEi\ [2703.] Since the Dairy Show • I have watched the B.B.J, as it appeared each week to see if any other exhibitor had been a3 for- tunate as myself, but until now I see no reference to a similar occurrence, so I suppose I must have been most favoured in that direc- tion. One correspondent, commenting on the duties of the judges at the Dairy Show, re- marked, " They mu3t have eaten pounds of honey," in the manner of tasting. But I can- not think they showed an especial liking for mine and thus swallowed the whole of the con- tents of oae of my twelve jars, insomuch as not even the metal cap or anything was left to show that the twelfth jar had ever been with them ! But such was the case ; only eleven bottles came back, nor did I receive these until Tuesday of the following week, and I am oaly about 45 miles away on direct line. Another thing seems to put my "cap" on — respecting carriage to and from the show. To the show I paid lOd. for twelve jars, while for eleven jars back home from the show the charge was Is. 9cl. ! I think some of our friends about 200 miles north had better leave theirs entirely at the show if they were charged at this rate. I don't know if this is the cheap rate, but this was the rate charged by the Great Western, and I claim the Englishman's right to grumble when compelled to pay. — W. H. Drinkwater, Chinnor, Oxon. BEES AND COTTAGERS. [2704.] My communication re " Bees and Cottagers '' (2670, p. 436) has called forth so many comments that I feel bound to give some farther particulars to justify my assertions, and I feel sure you will allow me the use of your columns to do so. My contention is that there is very little profit to small producers of honey, and that they are driven from the markets by the large producer. Honey, to find a market, must be put up in the most modern form, whether comb or extracted, and I contend it doe3 not pay the man who has only a small quantity to dispose of to go to the expense of bottles, labels, section-cases, &c, because he only wants a few of each, and consequently has to buy them the dearest way, for the cottager cannot afford to keep a stock. Of course, the man who buys honey jars, &c, by the gross can get great reductions in price, and, being able to keep a large stock of all goods, can lay himself out to meet every competition. Another thing those who laud bee-keeping so much seem to forget is the risk of disease. I had a stock given me with which I started, and I bought another last autumn, guaranteed healthy then ; yet when examined this spring I found one lot rotten with foul brood and the other slightly affected, so I promptly made a bonfire of my whole stock. Not daunted, I bought two more stocks, hives and all, and have had a very fair yield ; but, alas ! I have still a large porcion of it unsold. I am not too proud to solicit custom, as " Sainfoin '' suggests, for I have had a large board up by my front door all the season, with '''Pure Honey for Sale" painted on it. One bee-man here has sold his entire apia,ry because he could not get even Nov. 19, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 467 6d. per lb. for his honey, and this man has been a bee-keeper for over forty years, and had no difficulty until the last few years. Another man has his whole 3 ear's yield on hand, and no customers for it. Nevertheless, I am cheered by the fact that some of my fellow-cottager bee-men have had better times, and must hope for better times myself. I was rather surprised that friend Wocdley disagreed with ine, for he told us in his "Notes," a little while ago, that he thought apiculture was, like agriculture, getting "played out." I have had considerable experience of the ways of the world, and am rather afraid some of those who say so much about the profits of the craft are not wholly disinterested in the increase or decrease of the industry. — A Disappointed Cottager, Stroud, Glos., November 12. NUT A "DISAPPOINTED COTTAGER.' [2705.] I do not often take up your valu- able space, but should like to say a word on the above subject. We can sympathise with " A Disappointed Cottager " (2670, p. 436) as to price of honey, because I take it a good many have been, and are being, led into bee-keeping through being told that largo profits are made by so doing. Maybe your correspondent is one of these, and when he has a few pounds of honey to dispose of he finds he can only sell at a very low price. Now I think that not less than 6d. per lb. nett should be get for our honey if bee-keeping is to pay for time and labour. All must admit that a few stocks do take up a lot of time from the beginning of the season to the finishing up of it, and if you have to find tins and pay carriage there is not too much profit in selling at 6d. It may be said that we are working in our leisure time. Quite so ; but that fact should not make our labour of no value, and in selling at above price Me shall be paid badly for it. Here let me say I am not " A Disappointed Cottager." I have produced about 3 cwt. of honey this year, and have retailed about 60 lb., and sold wholesale about 100 lb. I retail clover at 8d., and darker qualities at6d. I have sold all the former except what I want for my regular customers, but I have about 1 cwt. of hawthorn honey left, which I may offer through the advertising columns of the B.J. later on. Here let me say, few living in the country can hope to sell as quickly and at so good a price as your corre- spondent " Sainfoin " (2681, p. 445). It is no use my trying to get lOd. per lb. for my best honey ; I cannot get it. Let me, in conclusion, say a word as to agricultural labourers and bee-keeping. We often see labourers advised to take up bee-keeping ; but my humble opinion is, labourers will never make a success of the pursuit for the following reasons : — (1) They have not the time to give to it at the proper seasoD, because of hay time and harvest work ; (2) they (the majority) have not cottage-room enough to store the necessary appliances ; and (3) because they have no money to invest in the business to make it a success. That, sir, is my opinion after a careful survey of country life, in fact ; I don'c know of a really successful bee-keeper who is an agricultural labourer. — Chas. Wells, Oxen don, Market Harboro\ November 9, 1896. [Agricultural labourers, as a rule, are not fond of even trying to put their experiences on paper for print ; but we are hoping that some who ate readers will reveal their identity for the information of our correspondent. For ourselves, we have ofcen been an eje- witness of the hours of toil gone through nightly by farm-labourers in their lood or two of "allot- ment,'' rented and worked a3 " overtime,'' for the purpose of adding a few shillings per year to the man's wages. And when we have seen the garden-stuff as grown, marketed to neigh- bours—by the labourer himself or by his chil- dren—for a few pence per tasket, have often thought how, by the expenditure of cne-third the labour on a few hives of bees, three or four times as much of profit could be realised — and with far less trouble, too — in selliDg the produce, by reason of the few competitors for custom, in the pound or half-pound of home-grown country honey. The following letters, we hope, will fully answer the general question.— Eds.] AN ESSEX LABOURERS REPORT. [2706.] I have been asked to send you a short account of my experience in bee-keeping this year, and gladly give it for what it is worth. I started the year with sixteen stocks of bees in twelve hives (four being double lots with " Wells " division-boards) of my own make. The bees seemed fairly strong in early spring, so I had supers on the strongest stocks by the middle of May. The bees worked well up to the beginning of June, then had a month's rest, so I had to close the entrances to about l^in. to prevent robbing. In the first week of July, however, the white clover came out — I forgot to say we had some heavy rain in the middle of June, after the hay was cut. All over the meadows and second crop of clover and rye-grass, I never saw bees work like they did for about three weeks, and only having two empty shallow frames left on hand, except those on the hives, there was some work for yours truly. Coming home one night I found the bees of five hives hanging out wanting room. Of these, two were double and three single ones. I removed two frames from each one and extracted them that night, and then work was kept on the whole time whilst the honey flow lasted. Well, for my results : — Counting sections as 1-lb., I have taken about 1.240 lb. of honey, and sold over 1,100 lb. at about 6d. per lb., leaving me not a great deal of 112 lb. This does not include what was used for home consumption, nor that I have given away to friends ; and I have also left the bees with all their brood-frames untouched, and sold 16 lb. of wax from the " cappings ; " had two 468 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 19, 1896. swarms (which were put back) and reared five young queens for the " Wells " hives. I am only a labourer, working from 6 am. to 5.30 p.m. This compels me to do all my work mornings and evenings, so I rise with the sun, or as soon as it is light, and go to bed thoroughly tired. I have to do all the bee- work, for my wife likes bees best dead ; or at a distance. You must excuse mistakes and correct bad spelling, for I am more used to a crowbar than a pen. If this report has any interest for readers you are welcome to insert it in the B.J. — G. A., North Weald, November 14. A CHESHIRE COTTAGER'S REPORT. [2707.] I should like to add a word of en- couragement to a "Disappointed Cottager " for another year's bee-keeping by giving my own experience for the past season. I am only a working man with not much spare time, and only keep three hive', and prevent increase to that number by persistently returning swarms or disposing of queens. On April 10 our " expert " visited me, and reported my hives as " Excellent : bees remarkably strong and for- ward," so I looked forward to having a grand season. Unfortunately, however, just at the height of the clover bloom — in mid- June — the weather became dull and cold, .which was a great drawback ; but I managed to secure an average of 49 lb. per hive. My receipts for the year are : — Prize money at shows ... ... £6 2 6 Three dozen jars at 10s. 6d. ... 1 11 6 Eight odd jars 0 6 3 Three dozen sections at 10s. ... 1 10 0 Six sections at Is 0 6 0 £9 10 9 Expenses include — Extractor ... £1 10 0 Drainer and ripener ... 0 12 6 Section racks ... 0 8 5 Foundation ... 0 4 n Total expenses at shows ... ... 1 13 2g £4 8 9 Balance (beiDg profit) ... 5 2 0 I strongly advise a " Disappointed Cot- tager " to let only the best honey go to market, then he will get a good price with repeated orders ; any inferior honey can be used in various ways. I am looking forward for a good season in 1897, as the clover is in grand form at present owing to the wet back-end. Hoping we may all come safely through the winter. — Small Cottager, Tarporley, No- vember 10. CARRIAGE FOR HONEY. OWNERS RISK RATE. [2708.] In answer to the inquiry of Mr. R. Ness (2694, p. 457), I beg to say he can minimise the danger by writing on reverse side of his label, " To be Returned at O wner's Risk." This will not only relieve the secre- tary of the show in a measure, but answer the desired purpose. As a rule, the secretary is a hard- worked man, both before and after a large show. Our friend " Lordswood " says, u Spare the Editors." I say, "Spare the Secretaries.'' Make everything as clear as you possibly can and send your honey in the simplest of packages. See that it is properly sent off by rail, giving the stationmaster to understand that you appreciate the advantages of forward- ing honey in packages at " Owner's risk'' rate. This done all -will end well. In conclusion, my two packages from Dairy Show weighed 84 lb., and cost me Is. 8d. — R. Brown, Somersham, Hunts, November 16. " WAX " AT THE DAIRY SHOW. [2709.] —In my recent visit to the Dairy Show I was struck by the poverty, both in quantity and quality, of wax shown. Surely a show of such magnitude might have at least one class for such an important product of the hive ? What there was of it being relegated to a clas^i in which mead, vinegar, frame-hive 3, sections, &c, were all trying to convince the judges that each was "the most interesting and instructive exhibit."— F.R. B. S., Lines., November 3. AMERICAN HONEY CONFECTIONERY. [2710.] When at the G. B. Lewis Com- pany's Factory, Watertown, Wis., a few days ago, I was introduced to Mr. Stone, of Woodward & Stone, owners of a biscuit and confectionery works there. This firm uses about ten tons of honey each year in their business. Mr. Stone was good enough to give me the recipes for two of their products, which may be of interest to readers of the Bee Journal in the confectionery trade. honey jumbles. Flour, 1 barrel (196 lb.) ; lard, 10 lb. ; honey, 1 2 gals. ; molasses, 3 gals. ; carbonate soda, 4 oz. ; salt, 1 lb. ; water, 3 gals. ; vanilla extract, 1 pint. honey gems. Flour, 1 barrel (196 lb.); lard, 101b.; honey, 7 gals. ; molasses, 7 gals. ; brown sugar, 15 lb. ; carbonate soda, 3 J, lb. ; salt, 1 lb ; water, 4 gals. ; vanilla extract, 1 pint. I will show you the sample of honey cakes on my return home. Mr. Stone tells me that nearly all baker3 and confectioners use honey in America, and that the United States could not produce enough honey, but had to import from Jamaica and. Cuba. I was always under the impression that the United States ex- ported a lot of honey. I am sorry I could cot get a collection of honey cakes over in time for the Dairy Show, which I hope has been a success. — Edw. H. Taylor, of Welvyn, Herts. Nov. 19, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL, 469 (ftamta m& ^t$lm. [1591.] Distance between Hives in Confined Spaces. — The tables upon which I stand my hive3 are 12 ft. long, and if the hives are placed closely together, each table will accom- modate six hives ; in this case, the distance between the entrance of each hive is 2 ft. Will you kindly inform me whether hives thus arranged are packed too closely together ? I may say that, in view of this possible con- t'ngency, my hives are painted red, white, and blue, alternately, and I believe that it is an acknowledged fact that few bees are colour- blind. At the same time, as I am only a novice, I should be glad to have your valuable opinion on the subject. — R, K., Spalding, November 11. Reply. — We do cot know that there are any reasons for the 6 ft. of space between hive entrances advocated as advantageous (wherever possible) by all experienced authori- ties, other than the mischief resulting from loss of queens at mating time. For the rest, all the space actually needed is just so much as affords convenience in working to the bee- keeper himself. Wherever space is limited and hives must be close together, it no doubt minimises the mischief referred to if entrances are made to look as different as possible both in form and colour. [1592.] Wintering Bees in Sleep. — 1. Might I ask why the bees I forward have died ? They are in a straw skep, and, as far as I can judge, a fair lot. I bought them as an " old stock" last August, and got a little honey from them, but did not touch the stores in body of the skep. They have not swarmed at all this year. 1 found a few dead outside the hive during some days of the last week. Do you think I should feed them ? and if so, which receipt in Cowan's " Guide Book " should I follow. 2. Would it be well to winter the bees inside a small greenhouse, occasionally lighted by an oil-stove ? I gave them a little candy, made according to receipt No. 4 (page 162) last September, and put a piece of camphor under the quilts this morn- ing. 3. Is it too late for bees to turn young drones out? I thought I saw some turned out to-day. 4. A skep of bees is going t® be sent here from Suffolk. Will they take any harm if put into a big box, skep and all, travelling by train 1 5. Is there a Surrey Bee-keepers' Association, and what is the address of the secretary ? — P. H. E. Wilder, Sutton, Surrey, November 12. Reply. — 1. It is quite common for a few dead bees to be found outside hives at this season, and need cause no alarm. The skep should, however, be lifted in order to get some approximate idea of its weight. Old skep3 below 20 lb. to 25 lb. gros3 weight may need help to tide them safely over the winter and until next March. If food is required, soft candy (not flour candy) is the only suitable food at this season, and will need to be given at feedrhole in top, covering all carefully to prevent up-draught. 2. On no account move the bees inside greenhouse for winter. 3. You are probably mistaken in this, it being very unusual indeed to see drones cast out in November. 4. The skep should travel bottom upwards, and be covered with open cheese- cloth or scrim. 5. The secretary of the Surrey B.K.A. is E. H. Cuthell, Esq.," Chapel Croft, Dorking. [1593.] Hay- chaff for Winter Packing. — I have had bags of unbleached calico made and filled with hay-chaff fairly thick placed over double quilts on top of frames. Will it allow sufficient ventilation, as the bag fills up the space above frame ? — Courtenay F. Wilson, Tatchbury Manor House, Hants, November 11. Reply. — If the hay-chaff is thoroughly dried — so as to free it fiom possible moodi- ness— bags so tilled will make excellent cover- ings of even single quilts above frames in winter. Pack close down at sides, as the chaff will afford plenty of ventilation. [1594.] Glass Covers for Frames.—11 W. R. N.," Sussex, writes in B.J. of July 30 last (pige 305), saying he finds his glass quilts answer perfectly. Now will you, for the benefit of a beginner, give in next issue the address of the writer if he is get-at-able by letter ; or will you, better still, give particulars of the glas3 quilt in B.J. ? — A Beginner, Liphook, Hants, November 11. [We will be much obliged if our correspon- dent, "W. R. N.," will kindly answer the above query. — Eds.] [1595] Bees of Driven Stocks Dying.—' I commenced bee-keeping in the autumn of '94 with four stocks of driven bees. In the following April 1 discovered that two of the stocks were infested with small winged insects, and about ten days later the bees were all dead, though there was brood and eggs in the cells. A few days afterwards the young brood gave out a very offensive odour. How- ever, in the following July I put a swarm into one of the hives on the old combs, and it has done well. 1. Can you say what was the disease, and suggest a remedy 1 2. I enclose a few of my bees ; can you say of what species they are ? 3. Do Italian bees gather honey from red clover 1 4. Which do you consider most profitable, sections of comb honey or frames for extracting ? 5. What is the best early bee-pasturage for sowing in the garden i 6. Do you approve of allowing bees to enter supers through an opening above the excluder zinc ? — C. K , Kilkenny, Nov. 13. Reply. — 1. Small *• winged insects" in a hive can in no sense be called a " disease," and only inspection of the hive would enable us to suggest a cause for the death of bees. Dead and decaying brood, however, will, of cour.se 470 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 19, 1896. give off an offensive odour ; but we. trust the cause of this was removed before hiving a swarm on the comb?. 2. Bees were smashed out of recognition in post ; as they always are when sent in letters unprotected. 3. At times they do, but ordinary brown bees do the same, though not so readily as Italians. 4. It depends on the demand for comb, or for extracted honey in your district. 5. Beyond a few crocus, wallflowers, white rock, and such early flowering plants yielding a little stimula- tive feeding in early spring, it is of little use sowing early garden flowers for bees so far as profit from them. 6. No. Let the bees enter by the ordinary doorway. [1596.] Lace Paper for Sections. — Can you tell me where I can obtain paper edging for glazing sections with a wider plain part that goes on to the wood. I use four-way sections, and find that the usual sort is too narrow to wrap over and hold properly. — A. J. Boheiits, Harling, Petersfield. Beplt. — Perhaps some reader who can fur- nish the information asked for will kindly send a line in answer to the above for publication. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. All queries forwarded wiU be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. F. B. B. S. (Lines.). — Experts' Certificates and the B.B.K.A. — The communication re- ceived in reply to our comment of last week in this column brings the matter no nearer than before, except so far as our correspon- dent admitting that he had made "a mistake," for which he is sorry. We can only say here that he — along with the friend whose views he apparently shares- makes another mistake in attributing to this journal powers, duties, and responsi- bilities connected with the B.B.K.A. which belong only to the Council of that body, and to which the Bee Journal, makes no claim whatever. Beyond being recognised as the official organ of the B.B.K.A., this journal possesses no power over the Council exceed- ing that of any member of the Association, nor should it be needful to make this fact plain to any one of ordinary intelli- gence. In view of these fac's, we must therefore ask our correspondent to address any communication dealing with the juris- diction or the powers of the B.B.K.A. to the Secretary, Mr. E. H. Young, 12, Hanover- squave, W., who alone, on behalf of the Council, is empowered to give official infor- mation as to the intentions of the Council of which he is Secretary. Ernest E. Davis (Gt. Bookham). — Foreign Queens by Post. — Our correspondent will receive some explanation of the delay in delivery of queens from abroad by referring to the concluding portion of report of the B.B.K.A. Conversazione on another page* From what hai come to light — and subse- quent to the mention of postal difficulties — at the meeting, it would appear that the breeders of foreign queens referred to, viz., Messrs. Lucio Paglia and Silvio Galletti, are themselves entitled to some share of com- miseration, in view of queens — sent away by them to purchasers in this country — being returned dead through refusal of our postal authorities to deliver them here. Any way, we can assure our correspondent of the perfect respectability and bona fide3 of both advertisers in question, and the delay in reply to remonstrances regarding non- delivery is, no doubt, in great measure due to linguistic difficulties, combined with scarcity of queens to replace returned dead ones, owing to the bad season in Italy and Switzerland. Novice (South Wales). — 1. Comb contains nothing worse than pollen, and has never been bred in at all. 2. If by " top of hives" the roof is meant, the wire-cloth will do very well ; but so far as actual brood- chambers, properly constructed hives need no ventilating holes, either in winter or summer. Jas. Cowie (Lesmahagow, N.B.). — Clarifying Wax. — It is not possible to "get " bright yellow wax" from dark- coloured brood combs. The colour may be improved by repeated melting, and running the wax, while hot, into clean cold water. The dark- coloured debris on the under side of the cake should also be removed at each melt- ing. Some add a few drops of oil of vitriol on removing the boiling wax from the fire, but we do not like adding chemicals in this way. It is best to clarify by boiling in clean water as often as needed. A long article on wax - extracting appears in our issue of October 22 last, page 428. M. L. (Lockerbie). — Soft Candy. — Though scarcely so "buttery " or smooth in grain as we like, the sample sent is a fairly good candy for winter. D. J. B. (Swansea). — Foul Brood,— The disease is certainly present in comb sent, but in view of there being so very few cells in which the brood has failed to hatch out right, we should not advise destruction in view of the bees being " very strong now and thickly covering five frames on both sides.'' Let them- remain on as few frames as you can crowd them on to, leaving only combs as nearly free from sealed cells as can be found. Use naphr thaline on floor-board and feed in spring with medicated food. Carefully watch the hatching brood in April next, and be guided by results as to the future of the colony. W. W. Law (Bermondscy). — Making Dark Honey Light. — We have personally demon- strated that this can be done, but the process is so troublesome as to render its. practical value nil. Nov. 26, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 471 % tonal, Uuiiass, ku SPARING- THE EDITORS. Without intending to be taken too seriously when writing last week in the person of the individual sometimes designated as " Mr. Useful Hints," there is a real and not unsubstantial grievance on our side which we, in all seriousness, ask correspondents to bear in mind. Whether or not our friend "A. H." — whose letter appeared on page 461 — takes offence at the manner in which his com- munication was dealt with, Ave need not stop to inquire, because most persons will agree that such offensiveness, of a sort as there is, appears in his own letter. But we do think that some, at least, of our correspondents are insufficiently alive to the responsibility attaching to the management of a public journal, or the obvious need for much caution regarding Avhat appears in print. We are some- times — innocently enough — asked to publish matter which would promptly land us in an action for libel. At others we get severely "handled" because of declining to give publicity to communi- cations withheld for reasons which the no-doubt well-meaning writers either fail entirely to grasp, or cannot understand because of not knowing quite so much of the subject from all sides as ourselves. Another part of our grievance arises in consequence of a lack of the amount of consideration to which we are fairly entitled. Some (happily, not many) correspondents not only don't " spare the Editors," but are equally oblivious to the feelings of the great majority of their fellow readers. In saying this we wish it to be clearly understood that in no way do we depart from our idea of what we conceive to be the duty of an Editor of a technical paper like the Bee Journal. We assume that bis best services are at the command of readers, so far as impart- ing to them whatever knowledge he may have acquired in the subjects dealt with ; and according to the wisdom or other- wise of the teaching, so will his advice be valued and his paper esteemed, or both advice and paper be regarded as worthless. Moreover, he must bear with — and endeavour to do justice to — the oft-repeated and purely elementary ques- tions put by beginners, while not failing to take into account the natural " touchi- ness " of the old hand at the craft, who resents the idea of space being occupied with what he deems childish questions. Bearing all this in mind, then, we re- turn to the particular class of corre- spondent referred to above, whose want of consideration has mainly led to the writing of this article. A letter reached us a few clays ago which is so directly opportune as furnishing a case in point where a line may be drawn, that we may deal freely with it, without a suspicion of intending the slightest offence to any- one. Our correspondent, without going so far as "A. H." did last week, has a rather persistent habit — unconsciously so, maybe — of wanting to know " why the ' Guide Book ' " (or the B. J., as the case may be) says so and so 1 Or why methods advocated are considered supe- rior to others not mentioned 1 Now it should "go without saying" that text- books of limited size on any subject are supposed to be read in the light of ordinary intelligence, and of common- sense. They must also, perforce, have their meaning expressed as concisely and tersely as possible. Any attempt to explain paragraphs dealing with special operations, or special methods of perform- ing such operations, from the different points of view from which a dozen or so individuals might regard them, would be simplyabsurd. Itis therefore assumed that readers will accept the assurance of the author that such methods as are recom- mended and advocated are the outcome of his personal experiment and ex- perience ; that they will test them in practice without having it so fully ex- plained why they should do so. If — after carefully adhering to the instruc- tions laid down in the text — failure results, then, and then only, should com- plaint be made of want of clearness in detail or lack of thoroughness, as the case may be. The " large order " in queries which, as already said, is a main object of these remarks was being replied to in the usual way when, on reaching question No. 5, we began to contemplate the pro- bable length of the whole, which ex- tended to no less than fifteen queries. The result was our resolve to point a moral : and hence this article. We can- 472 THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 26, 1896. not afford space for the queries in full, and therefore indicate their tenour by a sub-head to each. These, together with replies, read as follows : — Measuring Vinegar for Bee Syrup — 1. There is no reason for alteration in wording of recipe in " Guide Book " as suggested, and no alarm need be felt at having used a table- spoon holding seven drachms instead of six, the precise size of the particular tablespoon used being of no consequence at all. The dislike of the bees to the food must therefore arise from some other cause than too much vinegar. 2. Returning Combs to Hives. — The suggestion that combs be returned to same hives and to same position in hives is made for two reasons : — first, in case of dis- ease lurking unseen, and second, because of it so often happening with ordinary bee- keepers that combs are not built perfectly fiat and level on the face ; consequently if any portion of one side of a comb projects too far towards its opposite comb, the bees join the two. 3. Direct Introduction of Queens. — The several methods of queen introduction given in " Guide Book'' serve to show that the author is not wedded to one particular plan ; but to give the " reasons why a queen must be kept alone for thirty minutes," as advised by Mr. Simmins, would only serve to lengthen the book for no obvious purpose. 4. Will cutting out queen- cells prevent First Swarms? — Our correspondent may be quite sure there are good reasons why the " Guide Book " limits effec- tual prevention to " swarms beyond the first." 5. Doubling and Storifying. — This method is obviously suitable only for working for ex- tracted honey. We cannot, therefore, say " why it should not be applied to Section honey " except that it isn't suitable. Having said this much, and without in the slightest degree wishing to dis- courage beginners from putting their queries as usual, we leave to corre- spondents themselves the question whether or not we are justified in asking for some consideration at their hands, so far as the " Guide Book." It is claimed as one of the chief merits of that book that every item of bee- work detailed therein has been tried practically by the author himself, and it is only asked that his instructions be closely adhered to and carefully carried out in order to ensure success. HONEY IMPORTS. The total value of honey imported into the United Kingdom during the month of October, 1896, was £1,747. — From a return furnished to the British Bee Journal by the Statistical Office, H.M, Customs. SHOW AT WELLINGBOROUGH. The twelfth annual show of the Welling- borough Chrysanthemum Society was held at the Corn Exchange on November 13 and 14, and in point of quality the exhibition was re- garded as the best on record. Chrysanthe- mums and fruit, of course, formed the greater part of the show, but a section was devoted to honey, of which a very creditable display was made. Dr. Bellow, of Wollaston, judged this de- partment, and made the following awards : — Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, G. Siddons, Park Farm ; 2nd, J. Adams, West Haddon ; 3rd, W. Winterton. Six l-lb. Jars Extracted Honey. — 1st, G. Brealey, Grendon ; 2nd, J. S. Partridge, Wol- laston ; 3rd, W. Winterton. (Special prizes by the Northants B.K.A.) : — Single l-lb. Section. — 1st, J. Adams ; 2nd, W. Winterton. Single l-lb. Jar Extracted Honey. — 1st, G. Brealey ; 2nd, W. Winterton. Mr. Winter- ton had also kindly sent (not for competition) a dozen cylinders of extracted honey, and a show-case containing a dozen sections. — {Com- municated). The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, dee., must be addressed only to " The Editors of the ' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William- street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi- cations relating to Advertisements, dec, must be addressed to "The Manager, ' British Bee Journal' Office, 17, King William-street, Strand, London. W.C." \* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when speaking of any letter or query previously inserted, will oblige by 'mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the page on which it appears. GLASS COVERS FOR FRAMES. [2711.] I have much pleasure in complying with the request of the Editors of the B.B.J., and, in reply to the inquiry of " A Beginner '' (No. 1594, p. 469, Nov. 19th), describing my experience of the glass covers I use in my hives. Well, personally, I am as contented with them as ever. They are so delightfully clean ! The four-year-old quilts and wraps, which, of course, I heap up several thicknesses deep above them, are so free from stickiness, pro- polis, mess, mildew, or damp. Then I find it such a convenience to be enabled to take a peep at my bees whenever I like, and, in suitable weather, to study their interesting proceedings myself, and show them Nov. 26, 1896.] THE BEITISH BEE JOUENAL. 473 to friends. It is quite amusing to note the alarm of a freshly-hived colony from a skep when I first raise the wraps and look down upon them through the glass. In about three weeks' time, however, they become quite used to the inspection, and have learned to take it calmly, wondering, no doubt, much at the un- accountable ways of mortals (I dare say we should feel much the same if a superior power took off our roofs and lifted our ceilings), but resigning themselves to what they cannot pre- vent on finding no harm is done them. The advantage is, of course, that, at any time, summer or winter, an inspection of the state of the stock can be made almost instantaneously, and not only without disturbing the bees, but also without letting in cold air and lowering their temperature. As to wintering, I have in four years lost none but a couple of queenless stocks. If the colony is large, covering, say, not less than six frames pretty fairly, the heat generated is sufficient to keep the glass warm enough to allow the bees to cluster freely up against it. The smaller the stock, the colder the glass becomes, and the bees then retire from it down between the frames. Hence I think glass, being a chilly substance, might be dangerous to the bees in a long spell of very cold weather, although I did not practically find it to be so during the very severe winter before last ; and possibly the usual carpet or felt quilt is safer for the comfortable wintering of small stocks. As far as I can ascertain from an almost daily inspection, strong stocks rarely ever cluster, except in the severest weather, if then. Weak stocks will be clustering, or even fanning, when strong stocks are running freely about the hive. Hence is shown the wisdom of the pithy saying, " the best covering for bees is bees." .But as to the difficulty of keeping hives strong and full of bees, and the extraordinarily rapid vicissitudes in the strength of stocks experienced (at any rate, by myself) this year, I should like to say something on another occasion. The disadvantages of glass covers are due mainly to the persistent, complete, and baffling way in which the bees propolise them firmly down. They would certainly not suit those who are constantly overhauling their stocks, changing frames, hunting up • queens, &c, unless, perhaps, instead of being in one piece, each cover consisted of several slips placed side by side. This has been suggested to me by the handiness of glass covers which I have happened to crack. So long as the pieces fit close they are rather more convenient than the whole sheets. After many experiments I now detach them easily from the tops of the frames, burr combs, &c, by using a very thin, even- bladed, long-spring capping knife, running it first all round beneath the glass, and then from either end underneath down the top of each frame, where necessary, but working with the greatest care and patience whenever the hive is full of bees. By taking time it is easy to take off the sheets quietly, with surpris- ingly little disturbance of the bees, and with- out maiming any. Beplacirig the carpet quilts and waiting a little will do wonders. In my own case, if I laid the sheet of glass flat on the top of the frames, it would sink below the level of the outer edge of brood- boxes, and I could not insert a knife as above described to remove it. I therefore first lay on top of frames a square, or, rather, oblong, rim of wood, as thin as possible, and about 1^ in. wide, like an empty picture-frame. This I always leave on frame-tops, laying on it the excluder zinc whenever I make the change from winter to spring arrangements. By adroitly using a carbolised cloth, I never find it very difficult to prize this up, when- ever necessary, in order to overhaul the brood- chamber. This plan also allows the bees free access over tops of frames (winter passages) at all times, and it certainly seems comfortable to them. In the middle line of each sheet of glass, at two-thirds of its length (not the centre, as the bees nearly always cluster at the front of the hive, over the entrance), I have a hole cut of about 2 in. diameter. This is expensive, and brings the cost of each sheet to about Is. 6d., in the best glass. Thin glass breaks to pieces in taking off. One sheet broke in my hand from its own weight. When feeders are not 5n, I stop up this hole with a bung cork ; and at all times I pile up carpet and felt thickly over the glass ; the success of wintering, as of comb building and storing, depending upon keeping as much warmth as possible in the hives. I have thus once more described my own procedure. During the honey season, I simi- larly cover both shallow extracting lifts and section crates with glass sheets. Here, again, this enables me to judge at a glance of the state of the harvest and the treatment needed. In conclusion, although the system suits me admirably, I should not recommend it to everybody, and perhaps, above all, not to " A Beginner." I have applied it to all my own fourteen hives, but it needs some experience and a good deal of patience in the actual working, and is a trifle expensive. I have learned that if I want honey I must pull my hives about as little as possible ; but this is not the view of all. My bees have a tiresome knack of balling their queens on the slightest provocation, and I dare not interfere much with the interiors of their homes. I have sometimes wondered whether sheets of mica would answer better than gla«s, but have never tried the experi- ment. I have no trouble from condensation or mildew whatever. I hope I have now given " A Beginner " the information he desired ; but, if not, as I think this communication has run to quite a sufficient length, I hope he will address a letter to me under cover to the Editors of the B.B.J., and I will endeavour to satisfy any further inquiries 474 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 26, 1896. on his part. He will find other letters of mine on this subject in the B B.J. for October 4, 1894, p. 396 (2081), and for September 26, 1895, p. 385 (2201), and these may possibly also help him. — W. R. N., Sussex, Nov. 20. [2712.] Possibly my experience may help "A Beginner" (1594, p. 469), so I send it in case the Editors' footnote may not be noticed by " W. R. N." Seeing " W. R. N.'s '' first communication on the subject, I set to work to fit my hives with these covers. First procuring sheets of 21 oz. glass (size 16| in. by 15 in.). I pro- ceeded to cut feed holes near the centre. This I found a difficult job, but got over it as follows :— Resting the piece of glass on the end of an iron rod (a poker) I gave a slight blow with a hammer. This made a small hole for a start, which was enlarged bit by bit by pinching around with a pair of plyers. Some of these pieces of glass were fixed permanently in frames of wood § in. thick, the glass resting in a groove in the centre. (These I found difficult to remove when propolised to the frames.) Others were laid loosely on slabs of wood, and these answered splendidly, except that, from pressure on the feeder and other manipulation, it caused cracking to start at the feed hole, which spread until the glass was ruined. Since then I have fitted some hives with sliding tin-feeders at bottom (which, by the way, I consider superior to all other arrangements), thus doing away with the necessity for a hole in the glass. Now for details : — First and foremost a sliding feeder in the bottom. Then four strips of wood, 1 in. wide and J to | in. thick. One of these pieces, 14| in. long, to be laid on the front frame and pushed tightly against the hive front. A piece of the same size is tacked to the top of the dummy board ; the remaining pieces, of whatever length the particular hive may require are then laid one on each side, forming a frame on which the plain sheet of glass is placed. Before putting the strips in position, rub both sides with vaseline, and no amount of propolising will fix them. The glass can be readily removed by running a knife along between the strip and the glass, when, the two side strips being taken away, the frames can be examined. In this way a hive can be opened quite as quickly, and with less disturbance of the bees, than when the quilt is used, and there is no risk whatever of crushing or imprisoning bees. After overhaul- ing a hive, I place the wood strips in position, then lay the carbolic cloth over all, except the front strip ; now, resting the glass on this strip, I pull away the carbolic cloth, at the same time lowering the glass to its resting place. On the glass I lay quilts f in. to 1 in. thick, made from old garments sewn together roughly, and cut to fit the inside of hives, naphthaline being cruxhed to powder and put among the folds. I find these " pads " better in every way than loose pieces, but if used with the quilt proper, all bees must be allowed to get from under the lighter covering before putting them on. — J. G. G., Hereford, November 21. THE DAIRY SHOW. RE DARK HONEY CLASSES. [2713.] The experiment of offering prizes for dark-coloured honey at the late Dairy Show resulted in bringing a large quantity of exhibits together. But, looking back on the whole display in the light of experience gained by the grouping together of good and bad samples, I fear the verdict of many will be that the character of English honey has been lowered by it. I mean, chiefly, lowered in the estimation of some at least of the British public who visited that corner of the Dairy Show in which the honey section was located. Pressure of business prevented me from spend- ing more than a few hours in the Show this year, consequently I was not able to exhaus- tively scrutinise the whole of the exhibits ; but as I had a word to say in my erstwhile " Notes by the Way " on establishing a class for dark-coloured honey, I shall not overstep the mark by giving my opinion on the probable result of that exhibition on the future of honey sales. In the first place, I feel that the awards gave satisfaction to the exhibitors in that par- ticular class — or at least to those who troubled to sample the winning exhibits — but I must say that some of the exhibits ought never to have been staged as samples of pure British honey. I do not infer that the honey staged was — every ounce of it — not gathered by bees and from natural sources, but it was not the nectar of flowers resolved by bees into honey. I should rather consider it the exudations of insects and of such plants as yield what was yclept by our forefathers, " honeydew." The choice of the judges for the lighter grades of the dark honey will, I trust, show future exhibitors the futility of staging such inferior samples another year. Unfortunately for the craft honey has not yet become a staple article of diet, and if some of the exhibits at the Dairy Show found their way to the breakfast - table of the "Britisher," I fear the flavour would not increase his taste for the home product. In the second place, I would suggest that honey of such quality be used for manufac- turing purposes only. Possibly such firms as Day & Martin would buy such for putting a polish to their blacking. Or others in the wholesale tobacco trade— who, I understand, consume a quantity of honey in their manu- facturing processes — might use it in producing the "fragrant weed." There are also other outlets such as manufacturing chemists, dis- tillers, and wholesale spirit dealers, who also use honey for sweetening and "improving" their wares. To some such uses should such dark rank stuff as I refer to be consigned, instead of being offered in 1-lb. jars as pure English honey. Nov. 26, 1896.1 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 475 Finally, I would again impress on bee- keepers the duty they owe to the craft, to themselves, and to their neighbours, viz., to grade their honey fairly and to do unto others as they would be done by — i.e., send out their produce equal to sample. Especially in the case of comb-honey the " grading" should make the individual section of each dozen or parcel equal in value throughout. Your customer will then know what to expect, and repeat orders will come another season. To the bee-keeper with only a small quantity I say, create a " home market/' and so do your- self a service, and add a little ''pelf" to the pocket. But don't undersell your neigh- bour ; charge retail market value for your product, and don't let one fellow have half a dozen pounds of your honey at (3d , and then charge another 8d. or 9d. for the same quality. We have not only to compete with the foreigner but the "Colonial" also, and, from what I can gather, we shall have to bestir ourselves if we are to hold our own. I notice that at a recent exhibition a large display of Colonial honey was on view, every jar bear- ing the certificate of purity and the seal of the packers, every case being submitted to official analysis by H.M. Government before shipping to the Government bonded warehouse in London. We must remember that it is not the opinion of a few British bee-keepers as to the flavour of the Colonial honey but the public at large. If they once learn to appreciate the flavour of the Colonial honey the British will have to come still lower in price, and then we shall have more " Disappointed Cottagers '' when they find the honey trade as well as the corn trade drifting into other lands. — W. Woodley, Beedon, Newbury. BEES AND COTTAGERS. [2714.] Why must we always dangle the bait of £. s. d. before the eyes of intending beekeepers ? Cottagers may take my word for it that there is no particular enjoyment in the possession of many £. s. and d's. Better to keep a few hives and consume the produce in your own cottage, and make a little present to your friends, than produce a huge quantity of an article that you have not the ability to place satisfactorily on the market. In jour last issue a "Disappointed Cottager" states that he has only two hives, and of the honey produced this year he has still a large portion unsold. But I say, why try to sell it at all ? Eat it on your own bread instead of so much butter, use it with porridge, in cakes, give it the children on their bread instead of lard and marmalade, and leave a little more in the hives for the bees themselves. It is absurd to fe"ed bees with foreign sugar in this land flowing with milk and honey. Let us put the question of £. s. d. on one side, and regard bee-keeping from a higher point of view. The intellectual enjoyment that is to be had from the music of their wings as they ply their trade, bartering pollen, shall I say, protoplasm ? for bags of honey. It is not the body only that requires food ; that is proven by the way cottagers (and others) decorate the window with sweet-leaved geraniums and graceful fuchsias, or suspend from the ceiling painted china-ware, or put china dogs on the mantel, or, outside, have their little beds of lilies-of-the-valley, lads- love, primroses and polyanthus. These things minister to a dim craving for what is beautiful, they feed the eye, the ear, the brain. The flowers are gathered, and breaths a sweet fragrance in the tiny room. They require attention, such as repotting and watering, but this is done ungrudgingly for love. And so we should not grudge the time or count the money spent on bees, remembering that they, like flowers, feed the eye, the ear, the mind. SPARING THE EDITORS. Your querist, " A. H.," North Bucks (poor North Bucks ! ) is far too clever for me to tackle. Fancy inventing a frame-end that does not get stuck over with pollen I and driving bees out of skeps into bar-frames ! It shows that a man who has been a joiner over forty years can do, and say, anything. I mean " everything," of course ! — Lordswood. DOINGS OF THE PAST MONTH. [2715.] We are told that a certain very dark-complexioned gentleman has a happy knack of " finding mischief still for idle hands to do," and I have been lately thinking how good a thing it must be — so far as giving a wide berth to our coloured friend — for a man to turn bee-keeper. Why, I never knew an idle hee-Jceepcr yet ! (that is, so far as I under- stand the word italicised), and although the last month is perhaps the dullest of the whole twelve, so far as work in the apiary is con- cerned, yet, instead of having an easy or idle time of it in November, I am busier now than ever. In the days of my novitiate — good old days — with pound jars (not screw- caps either) of honey selling at Is. 9d., unglazed sections at 2s. 6d. apiece ! There were no " Disappointed Cottagers " then. But were we all contented ? Not a bit of it ! High prices were the rule, and we looked for them, and expected them as a matter of course. In fact, prices were high a!l round. Why, the first numbers of our own Bee Journal used to cost lOid. each ! and a mouth to wait for each issue. Other neces- saries also in the same ratio. No grumblers in those days, say you 1 Well, just a few, but they couldn't ventilate their grievances in your columns at that price, and so we small fry had to stand aside, listen to our betters, and be thankful ! Good old times, no doubt ! I see Mr. Wells has favoured us on page 454 with his report for 1896. He still gets that " big cake " of was ! From about the same 476 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 26, 1896. weight of honey as his " take '' amounted to this year my " cappings '' weighed 3J lb. ! Fancy the difference between Mr. Well's £1. lis. 6d. and 5s. 3d. ! No need to ask if he is a " cootented cottager " — by the way, I should be "contented" too, in the way of wax, with 21 lb. of it in harvesting 4 cwt. of honey. Two important events have come and gone during the last month — viz., the Dairy Show and the Conversazione. As to the former, I wonder who mixed up the honey and packages 1 Is this one of the " owner's risks " 1 I suppose the attendance at the Conversazione was a " record'' one, and, as a whole, the proceedings were most enjoyable ; although they did extend from 4 to about 8.30 p.m. Outdoor work in the apiary is now practically at a standstill. I paid two visits to the " works " in Kent and carefully examined contents of the " comb cupboard." This was a long but, as it proved, a very necessary task. Mice had visited four or five of the outside combs of the rows (the inside ones do not pro- vide a " mouse space ''), and removed a little pollen that happened to be in each, but beyond this did no harm. I repacked the frames twelve in a row, and then set burning a little sulphur placed below in a metal tray, and closed the doors for an hour. This would destroy any lurking moth or offher insect pest therein. Fumigation is a certain preservative of stored combs, and should be done twice or thrice during the winter months. I also examined the stores of candy on a few stocks and found the 2 lb. cakes — put on a few weeks ago — removed downstairs. A fresh supply was given, because, though possibly not wanted, it makes assurance doubly sure should we get a long spell of hard weather presently. The convenience of the plan I adopt as to making these candy-cakes has, in my opinion, much to recommend it. I take an empty section, and place paper therein to form a " dish," into which the hot liquid candy is poured. When set, turn the candy out, with its paper casing, and when on the hive it can be at once ascertained whether the bees have carried the food down. If they have, then a three-sided hole is cut in the paper and turned back, and a fresh cake quicklyput on top, and it is done before a single bee has had time to think of what has happened. I renewed many of the cakes in this way the other day, and only two bees took wing in doing it. In the good old days (I can't keep them out of my mind), when hives cost a couple of guineas or so each, and a cart was needed to get them home, I made my own, but now it not only encroaches too much on my time, but somehow the wood seems harder to work on than it used to be, or it may be the bad workman's usual com- plaint about " the tools,'' &c. Anyway, hives and appliances are so cheap nowadays — espe- cially if ordered when the " considerable re- duction on orders placed during the dull season" is in force — that I prefer to buy. Thi3 caused me to sum up my probable re- quirements for 1897, and the additional goods for that year are now being made for me ; and my advice to others who are likely to require goods next year is to go and do like- wise. It is such a comfortable feeling to know that you have got a sufficient stock of work- ing material on hand for any emergency. Your correspondent " W. W.," Yorks (2695, p. 457), asks for further information as to my system of numbering hives. In reply I would say when, as " W. W." anticipates, a hive becomes tenantless — as it occasionally will by my joining its bees to those of the next stock or from other causes — when, as I say, this takes place the hive retains its original number, and is re-stocked on the first opportunity. The paper for indoor reference is an unstable quantity. It is always altering. For this purpose I take a sheet of note-paper, rule, and head it as follows • — Lq. s. f. Qc V.q. V The sign in the corner of each square agrees with the record on the hive. In the space under each heading appears the number of the hive, with date above thus : -^— - under 41 the letter S shows that No. 41 hive was 1.5.96. , , , supered June 1 ; or T — under the letters L.q., indicates that hive 36 has a Ligurian queen which commenced to lay on May 1, 1896. When a hive has its queen removed the numbers are obliterated by being scored with a cross in pencil, and its number is placed under the sign #>. When a queen cell is given, the number is shifted to the Q.c. section, and date of probable hatching-out added. When the young queen is safely hatched the number is again moved, this time to the V.q. division ; and finally, when queen is mated, it is returned to the first portion of the paper. The last section is for Nov. 26, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL, 477 queries and stocks requiring special attention ; in this I place the numbers below one another and add a few words as to what the query in question may be. When the paper has been much altered and becrossed, I make out a new one showing the then present conditions of the apiary. I hope this is clear, but if it is not so, or any other point occurs to the mind of any of your readers, I hope they will not be backward in communicating with you, Messrs.Editors, as it may be a matter of interest to others besides themselves, and I will do my best to elucidate the queries raised. — Henry W. Brice. THE LAUREATE AND BEE-KEEPING. [2716.] Having lately read that charming little book by Mr. Alfred Austin, "The Garden which I Love," which, by the way, is quite inimitable and, as you may suppose, in- terspersed with some exquisite poetry, notibly those lines which I can only quote from memory and inexactly :— " If love could last, The future would be as the past,'' and the concluding stanza no less chaste than consolatory : — " But love can last," I took the liberty of writing to the author, who is a Kentish man, to say how much I had enjoyed his book, and that, although I observed that bees were only incidentally men- tioned (for instance, a bee is described entering within the golden chalice of a gorgeous tulip, whose closing petals effectually imprison the little labourer), I felt convinced that the garden which he loved possessed an apiary, for, if I might be allowed to say it, "no garden was complete without one/' I expressed the hope that our County Association might have the honour of numbering him among its sup- porters. To this letter I promptly received a polite reply from the Poet's private secretary. It ran thus : — " Sir, — The Poet Laureate desires me to say that he shall be happy to be a member of the Kent Bee-keepers' Association, and assumes he can pay his subscription to the Honorary Local Secretary for Ashford." I think the K.B.K.A. fortunate in having its claims recognised by so distinguished a poet. Goethe has sounded the bees' praise in a very prosaic line, "For industry the bees' thy model." I venture to say that if ever our Laureate does devote a lyric to the hive, it will be thoroughly worthy of the subject. — E. D. Till, Eynsford. NOTES FROM THE WEST. IMPORTED FOREIGN QUEENS. TESTIMONIAL TO MR. J. MARTIN. [2717.] I began to think I was served worse than other people, re foreign queens, until the various reports and experiences ap- peared in the B.J. For myeelf, I sent early in September for a Camiolau to a party — name and address given in your columns though not an advertiser— -and, in spita of two or three subsequent letters, have never had even a line in acknowledgment of receipt or cash sent. There may be unavoidable delay in despatch, but i3 it not altogether unbusinesslike to deal in this manner with people's money ? I mention this in order that if others are similarly situated it may be an advantage to know of them. M. Paglia served me very magnanimously re an Italian. I sent for one queen, which duly arrived in nine days from despatch of order, but in such a condition that the bees would not accept her. I at once sent word to sender, when, to my agreeable surprise, another came to hand with the utmost haste, without a word of murmur or comment. On Friday last, those of us who are the favoured members of the Bristol B.K.A. Com- mittee had a sort of " lump-in-the-throat " experience when a farewell was taken of Mr. John Martin, the faithful and devoted expert of the Association, who was then presented with a purse of money as a testimonial from the members, who have in him lost a sincere friend' and adviser. At the meeting several spoke in warm acknowledgment of his always ready services, and wished him a hearty " Godspeed " in his newly-adopted home in South Africa, whither he is setting sail on Saturday. In reply, Mr. Martin mentioned the fact of taking out some English queens with him, and promised to report himself to us, through the B.J., from time to time. I believe he is already engaged to start one or two large apiaries there. We all feel, some- how, that we shall " ne'er see his like again.'' Bees were on the wing to-day (23rd), and on turning up corners of quilts all appeared in splendid condition, including my long hive of ten nuclei of three frames each which I men- tioned ia last " Notes." Referring to revised rates for honey by rail, I have just paid four shillings to the Midland for a hundredweight from Alford, in Lines, which, by the way, is "rare good stuff." Is this " revised " ? If so, I don't care how soon they revise again. — Amateur, Totterdoivn, Bristol, November 23. [Regarding cheap transit for honey by rail, we trust readers will take careful note of Mr. Brown's letter (2708, p. 468). The writer has a large experience of sending goods by rail, and his advice thereon may be taken as reliable. -Eds.] BEES AND COTTAGERS. selling honey: do bees pay? [2718.] I do not quite agree with your cor- respondent, " A Disappointed Cottager," even in his reply in B.J. of last week (2704, p, 466) concerning the profits of bee-keeping. It was certainly unfortunate for him to lose his first two stocks by foul brood; Moreover, it 478 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 26, 1896. shows pluck on his part to try again, and I trust he will meet with better success in selling his produce. For myself, I am a small producer, having only five colonies of bees, and rarely take less than 40 lb. from one stock. This season I got sixty-six sections after losing a swarm from a single hive, and left abundant stores for winter. 1 contend that a small pro- ducer can compete with the large one, locally. There are several large bee-keepers close to me that sell their honey for what they can get — 5d. to 7d. or 8d. per lb. — yet all my own and about 50 lb. of purchased honey has been sold by me at 8d. for run honey and 9d. to Is. each for sections, according to quality. The plan I adopt is this : — As soon as I have sections or run honey ready to come off the hives, I get all indoors, put clean and neat lace-paper on the sections, put them in a basket with a 2 lb. jam-bottle of run honey, and my son (aged twelve years) takes them round to houses likely to purchase. Being a sharp lad, he generally succeeds. I allow him -hd. per lb. as commission for all he sells, to keep up his interest in the task, and I assure ycu, he has earned a nice little sum for pocket money that way. I have not bought two dozen bottles in eight years ; my only expenses lie in sections, lace-paper, and comb-founda- tion. I also study strict economy in bee- keeping, making my own hives, frames, supers, racks, and "lifts'' out of old boxes. Three cube-sugar boxes used with care make a hive with 6 in. lift and frames complete for 9d., for " ends" I drive fV shoe-nails into top bar over runner, which acts well, and if top bar is short a hob-nail driven into side of frame does for spacing. A good and cheap feeder can be made in the following manner : — Take a 1-lb. mustard- tin, pierce two or three holes in bottom the size of a pin. Take a bit of § in. board, 6 in. square, bore a hole (two-thirds the size of bottom of tin) in centre, and drive four small nails round at equal distance to keep tin firm, and you can place same on hives and fill as often as required without disturbing bees. With regard to foundation I only use full sheets in brood nest in spring, and \ in. starters for swarms, shallow frames, and sections. My experience is that bees build out starters nearly as quickly and more perfectly when stocks are strong than full sheets. My ex- penses for five hives this season has been 15s., and my sale of honey per hive bas averaged 30s. per hiye, or £7. 10s. for the lot, so that my bees pay. — A Lover of Bees, Newbury, Berks, November 23. EXHIBITS AT THE DAIRY SHOW. [2719.] For Mr. Drinkwater's information (vide 2703, p. 466), I may say that some one (not by any means " a bad judge '') had shown a decided preference for part of his exhibit very early on the second day of the show, and I called the stewards' attention to the circum- stance. It certainly would have been more consolatory to Mr. Drinkwater if some relic of his lost " one " had been spared to return, but the metal cap was doubtless found convenient for the conveyance of the honey to its destina- tion.— E. D. T., Eynsford, November 19. SAYING GOOD-BYE. A Correspondent, dating from Bedminster, sends a cutting from the Western Daily Express of the 12th inst., wherein the writer of " Agricultural Topics " in that paper refers to a bee-keeper well-known to our readers as a contributor to the B.J., and who is on the point of emigrating to South Africa. The cut- ting reads as under : — ''saying good-bye. " When friends part to meet again, in a few days good-bye seems but a small matter ; but it bears a far different meaning when friends part with the knowledge that they shall never see each other again in England. Here the tide of competition ever flows in strong force, and some one or something must yield to it. Work gets scarcer in rural England year by year, and if tillers of the soil drift into large towns and cities they find the labour market overcrowded, and emigration is the only hope left for them. Consequently, they leave our shores to strengthen and enlarge our Colonies, or else land on alien soils and help to swell the ranks of foreign competitors. The worst feature of this emigration is that the best men go and the weak ones are left behind. Those that emigrate are men endowed with true British pluck and perseverance, who know how to work and are not afraid of it. They should make a living anywhere, even in rural England ; in fact, they are the bone and sinew of our native land, and the loss of them should awaken more apprehension than it does at present. The other day I drove into Bristol, and heard a lecture on " Bees and their relation to Man,'' this lecture being given at the afternoon discussion class at the Old King-street Baptist Chapel. I was sur- prised at seeing the rapt attention with which this essentially country topic was listened to by city men ; in fact, to many of them it opened up quite a new phase of country life. Farmers often wonder why townsmen are so utterly callous to agricultural difficulties ; perhaps it is because they know so very little about rural life. The reason for my visiting this class was to wish good-bye to the lecturer, Mr. J. Martin, who leaves in a few days for South Africa. For many Mr. Martin has been a well-known man in North Somerset as the Expert to the Bristol Bee-Keepers' Association. He was equally welcome in the garden of either the squire or that of the humblest cottager who had a straw skep and a swarm of bees. With him was a young farmer, who sails in a few days for Australia, and I could not help thinking that such men as these Nov. 26, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 479 we cannot afford to lose. They carry their skill and craft elsewhere, and in the end the British farmer feels the effect." A contribution referring to Mr. Martin appears on page 477. We have also just received a letter of "farewell" from him, which will appear in our next issue. — Eds.] ^mx'm and J^ltess. [1597.] A Beginners Queries. — [The follow- ing queries are sent by a correspondent who writes each on a separate sheet and signs it " Melissa." In order to avoid useless repe- tition we enumerate the questions conse- cutively, giving reply to each with one general number for the whole as above. — Eds.] 1. Carbolic Acid Vapour for Quieting Bees- — Is there any objection to the use of carbolic acid vapour as a substitute for smoke in quieting bees ? Reply. — Carbolic acid vapour now and then is not harmful, but for regular use in quieting bees, smoke is, for many reasons, far superior. 2. Prevention of Swarming. — Where bees are inclined to swarm in spite of supers being put in, would not swarming be made impos- sible by putting excluder - zinc over the entrance, so as to prevent the queen quitting the hive ? Is there any objection to this 1 Replt. — The above plan and various modi- fications of it have been tried many times only to fail completely. 3. Double - queened Hives. — What is re- ported of the '' Wells " hive seems to suggest that though bees are content with one queen in a hive, they do not object to several fertile queens in the same hive at the same time, pro- vided the queens are kept from destroying one another by division - boards which allow workers to pass, but not queens. Do you regard this inference as warranted ? Reply. — The perforated division-boards in " Wells " hives do not allow worker-bees to pass through them as stated. The perforations prevent this, while causing the bee3 of both compartments of the hive to possess the odour or scent. It is only when this has been secured that they are permitted to mix in a super common to all. 4. Heating Hives with Paraffin Stove for Rapid Feeding. — Mention is made of this in books on bee-keeping. Can you kindly explain in detail how it is done, so as to avoid risk of over-heating the hive ? Reply. — As a general thing, heating hives artificially is not recommended. At special seasons — and for very special purposes — it is useful, but rapid-feeding should always be completed in September, and if this is done no artificial heat is necessary. 5. Sugar Required for Bees. — Can you say, roughly, how many pounds of sugar would be required in an average year for feeding a strong colony of bees, including spring, sum- mer, and winter feeding ? Reply. — We see no possible good in our attempting to answer the above question. What should be borne in mind is that a colony of bees needs about 20 lb. to 25 lb. of food to carry it over from end of September to the following March. For the rest, it may be said that in an average year a strong colony needs no feeding at all. 6. Feeders for Bees. — Feeders made of tinned iron are apt to rust. Is the rust in- jurious to bees ? Zinc doe3 not rust, but it is on other grounds objectionable for feeders ? Wooden feeders absorb syrup, and therefore seem likely to lead to sour syrup. If a zinc or wooden feeder were coated over the inside with beeswax or paraffin, would not this tend to keep the syrup untainted ? Reply. — We quite admit that, while theo- retically there are no objections' to iron rust about bee-food, it is not the same with zinc, because of the oxide given off from the latter being poisonous. In the same way, wooden troughs may "lead to sour syrup." Practically, however, feeders, whether of tin, zinc, or wood, answer the purpose of holding the syrup while being carried down by bees, and the harm, if any, is so entirely unappreciable as to render the trouble of waxing the insides unnecessary. [1598.] Waxed Paper for Wrapping honey. — Would you or any of your readers kindly state in your next Bee Journal where may be obtained the wax tissue-paper for wrap- ping sections, referred to at the recent Conver- sazione ? It would be useful also to many of us to hear of a cheap casing in which a single section can be sent safely by post. — Bdrley Beacon, Hants. Reply. — Waxed tissue-paper is now used for so many purposes that it should not be difficult to obtain, but so far as we know, the only dealers in bee-goods who stock it for the use of bee-keepers are Abbott Bros., Mer- chants' Quay, Dublin, and Wood & Taylor, Hathersage, near Sheffield. Mr. Jas. Abbott, of Abbott Bros., Dublin, was the first to call attention to this paper as a wrapping for honey, in our issue for June 25 last (2540, p. 253), and Mr. Taylor, of Wood & Taylor, again referred to it at the Conversazione the other day. [1599.] Wintering Bees in " W. B. C' Hives. — Please inform a novice — 1. How to pack a " W. B. C." hive, amply provided with stores for winter 1 2. What is the proper di- mensions of " splashers " 1 3. Are they placed next the bees, and can they be used with " Hills Device " ? 4. If drugget or 480 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Nov. 26, 1896, house-flannel be used, what are the dimensions' and how are they best put on, in an eke or otherwise 1 5. What width should entrance be for -winter if eke be used ? 6. In any case should there be any packing between outer case and body box ? — Constant Header, Talgarth. Reply. — 1. If well covered above the frames no other packing is needed. 2. If by "splashers '' is meant the material used to pro- tect walls behind wash-stands in bedrooms, they should be cut same size as outsides of body boxes. 3. Yes ; but they will not allow of anything underneath which prevents them from lying flat on frame tops. 4. Quilts may be cut a little larger than hive top, to allow of cover- ing well over all. The '•' eke " is only put above frames when adding extra packing in spring. In fact, its use for this purpose at all is a matter of choice, not of necessity. 5. The entrance to outside need not be more than one inch wide in winter so long as there is a full width entrance to the hive proper and an eke below frames. 6. Warm packing between outer case and hive may be added when build- ing up stocks in early spring, but in winter the air-space between hive and outer-case is sufficient protection. [1600.] Bees' Cleansing Flight. — Refusing Flat-bottomed Foundation. — I have been rather disturbed by observing on alighting board of two of my hives a lot of small yellow spots, and from what I read in " Guide Book '' I feared dysentery, but on reading your answer to 1589, on page 459 of B.J. for November 12, I am hoping that the spots are simply from ordinary causes. For a couple, of weeks we had sharp frosts every night, with a certain amount of sun in the day, but not many bees about. Previous to seeing the spots, we had a change to mild weather, and a lot of bees were flying. 1. ' How am I to discover whether the bees have dysentery ? I finished off feed- ing early in October, and packed them in for winter. 2. Is it unusual for bees to refuse to work out flat-bottomed foundation in sections ? Do you recommend its use 1 It i3 certainly much cheaper, or, rather, it goes further than the natural base. — Novice, Lisheard, Corn- wall, November 18. Reply. — 1. If the spotting noticed on alight- ing boards is excessive and the " spots " are circular in form rather than rod-shaped, there may be some fear of dysentery. But we rather think that no alarm need be felt on that score. 2. Some correspondence which ap- peared in our columns a few months ago, tended to show that bees did not take kindly to flat-bottomed or " Van Deusen " founda- tion. We think, however, that the fault lay with either the manufacture or the material used rather than the shape of the cell. The American flat-bottomed foundation of Messrs. Van Deusen's own make is taken to readily by bees, and is used by many experienced bee- men in preference to any other. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. All queries fonoarded will be attended to, and those only o/ personal interest will be answered in this column. R. T. (Plymouth). — Zinc Covering for Hive- roofs. — There is no better covering than thin sheet-zinc for hive-roofs. It is entirely water- proof, and if tacked on to a faulty or leaking roof makes a thoroughly sound covering. Painted light stone colour after fixing, it is neither so hot in summer or cold in winter as to do any such harm as you suggest. M. H. Fordati (Farnham). — Bees Deserting Hive. — The most reasonable explanation we can give is that the bees have joined them- selves to the other stock. If you are quite sure that, when candy was given, there were "plenty of bees," as stated, the pre- sumption is that giving food has excited the bees and, perhaps, those of the contiguous hive at same time, and that the excitement ended by the bees " uniting.'' The deserted hive has either been " robbed," or else was near starvation point when fed, and this may account for their deserting. Beta (Dublin). — Patent Split Sections. — The section split on three sides is patented (not registered) by Mr. F. Sladen, Ripple Court Apiary, near Dover. G. M., " A Beginner " (Guildford). — Honey in Store-combs. — 1. Bees do, at times, store honey in a few cells in frames of comb given them to clean up after extracting. We should either put any so found through the extractor if a few pounds of honey is so stored, or put them away as they are for next year's use if not more than a few ounces. 2. Honey for Bee-food.— -Honey got while extracting wax may be used for feeding bees, if it has not been burnt in the process. 3. Rapid Consumption of Candy. — Taking down candy at the rate of 1 lb. per week tends to show that the candy is made too soft, but it will do no harm if needed as food. The bees will not continue to carry it off so quickly as weather becomes colder. 4. Frost will not damage empty store- combs. R. Godson (Tothill, Lines).— Experts' Certifi- cates.— The gentleman you refer to already has a certificate. E. Willoughby (Southport) and John Bradley (Shrewsbury). — Honey Samjiles. — Honey sent is fairly good, but it is im- possible to speak reliably as to its purity without analysis. In sending honey for our opinion, it should be stated where it is from, and if gathered by sender's own bees. Articles on " Technical Education in Corn- wall," " Wasps' Nests for Exhibition," " A 1 lioyaV Bee-keepers' Society," " Cyclopean Bees," together with several queries, are in type and will appear next week. Dec. 3, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 481 (Ktoral $jtatiai$, && HOMES OF THE HONEY-BEE. THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS. The intimation made on page 441 of our issue of November 5 has met with such cordial approval, and has, moreover, been so heartily responded to by readers, as to justify the anticipation that we shall, in course of time, be enabled to present a collection of pictures from nature sufficient in number to place on perma- nent record a faithful representation of the out-door aspect of the bee-industry in this country at the present day. Our intention is to insert an illustra- tion once a fortnight in the Bee Journal, and reproduce two in each issue of our monthly, the Record, thus meeting the wishes of readers of both journals. In view of the number of photos already received— and of those we are hoping to get — the publication of the whole will occupy some considerable time ; our desire being to make this series of bee-garden pictures as full and complete as our readers will help us to make it. There will thus be plenty of time — for those who do not now possess a photo of their hives — to have one done in the coming summer when everything looks at its best. We have before us as we write, proofs of the blocks already prepared — very well they look, too — and, being some- what concerned as to which picture should take precedence, have decided to get over the difficulty, and remove all " feeling " (if any such exists) by pre- senting one we would for several reasons gladly have seen last, viz., another por- tion of the Orchard Apiary familiar to readers of the Guide Book as being shown on page 141 of the 14th edition. Before closing, we might mention a little difficulty we are in regarding a few of the photos sent a good many months ago. There was no name written on cards when received, and the particulars which accompanied them have, we regret to say, got inadvertently mislaid. We will therefore be glad if our corres- pondents would kindly furnish us with the desired information, both for identi- fying the views, and for the few lines of explanatory letterpress which must necessarily accompany each illustration. TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN CORNWALL. AN EXPERIMENT IN BEE-KEEPING. Mr. John Brown, of Polyphant, Launceston, sends us a cutting from a recent issue of the Western Morning News dealing with tech- nical education in Cornwall. On the general subject of agriculture our contemporary says : — '■ A valuable report on the work of the Tech- nical Instruction Committee of the Cornwall County Council has recently been issued. It contains not only a record of the progress made in the classes held during the session 1895-6, but gives the results of the manual instruction offered in agricultural districts, and the ex- periments in fruit culture carried on under the auspices of the committee ; while, as regards the fishing industry of the county, it embodies, in an easily accessible form, a mass of informa- tion which cannot fail to be of interest and value to every one who takes an intelligent in- terest in the subject. As regards the classes, it is enough to say that the number of students has increased from. 6,367 in 1891-2 to 15,678 in 1895- 6, the latter number including 1,292 agricultural demonstrators and 1,620 attending lectures to fishermen." The report then goes on to state particulars of the work done by the Dairy School, £0 far as the great improvement in the quality of Cornish butter, made in accordance with the system taught at the County Dairy School. The point, however, to which 'we would invite attention is the part of the report dealing with the experiment in fruit culture, to which is added bee-keeping at Callington. Here, with a very modest outlay, the results have been very satisfactory indeed, as will be seen from the following statement : — " There are three plots in the occupation of the committee— at Callington, Helston, and Penryn. At Callington the plot was originally an acre in extent, and was in pasture when acquired three years ago. An additional half acre has since been added. The capital expenditure is represented by a sum of £84, laid out in 1893-4 on trees, plants, manure, and labour, and six hives of bees, while to this is added interest for three years, making the total £97. The subsequent expenditure on seed, labour, manure, rent, and taxe3 has amounted to £46, and the receipts for the same period, from sales of plants, fruit, vege- tables, and honey have totalled £103. The profit, which amounts in the whole to .£57, is divided over the three years as follows : — 1894-5, £15 ; 1895-6, £13 ; 1S96, £29. It is admitted that if the full rent had been paid on the land the profit would have been reduced to £50. This surely is satisfactory, and bears out the contention that good fruit will 482 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 1896. command high prices, though inferior qualities are worthless. The District Committee report that the work is keenly watched by people in the neighbourhood. A large number of them have been supplied with new varieties of potatoes for seed, with grafts of fruit trees, and with strawberry plants, the effect of which has been ' a great improvement in the crops produced, and a decided effort to improve the character of the fruit grown.' Another result has been the revival of the bee-keeping, which was almost extinct in the locality. The com- mittee's example in the use of the modern system of bar-hives has been so extensively followed that bee-keeping in the locality has increased thirtyfold in the past two years. The committee's original investment in bees, six hives, was £11. 10s., and in three years they have sold h oney and bees to the value of £22. 3s, 3d., while they have now seven hives, which they value at .£12. The investment has, therefore proved very profitable.' tymmptikntt The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, &c, must be addressed only to " The Editors of the ' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William- street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi- cations relating to Advertisements, dec, must be addressed to " THE MANAGER, ' British Bee Journal ' Office, 17, King William-street, Strand, London, W.C." CYCLOPEAN BEES. [2720.] I once agreed with Mr. Cowan that the cyclopic bee was a freak of nature, due to the fusion of the five eyes into a large one with facets, and that this curiosity was very rare. Now, however, I believe that cases of cyclopean bees may be seen rather often, when the observer's eyes and ears are sharp enough to discover them. I myself believe that they occur more frequently than do instances of hermaphrodite bees. I only discovered a single hermaphrodite bee this year — head and breast with limbs of a worker-bee, abdomen of a drone, with the appropriate genital organs — but I have seen during the same time more than half a dozen cvclopean worker-bees. By their colour I found out that they belonged to different populations. All of them active, well-formed, and, with the exception of one, outside the hives and trying to fly. The single eye in their forehead was soon a thin half- moon, soon after becoming more compressed and nearly triangular. The movements of this bee-monstrosity are most characteristic when in the open air. With nervous haste they dash themselveB on the ground, get up again with a rapid swing in the air, forming but one sharp semi-circular flight little more than the length of a hand, but reaching further at times, then falling back to the ground in the same circular flight. The excited sound they make helped me — after discovering the first flying cyclopean bee — to find out all the others. They seem to possess some instinct of light so far as being able to distinguish obstacles on the ground ; but in flying I think they cannot measure distances. This fact might help to strengthen the notion that the net of their single eye is not used for gauging distance, but rather as a magnifying power. All this might, however, be the result of their abnormal struc- ture. In any future edition of Cowan's " Honey Bee," the chapter on hermaphrodite bees some further observations on cyclopean bees might be added to the numerous cases of abnormal structure. — F. Klein, Vicar, Weyer, Alsace, November 5, 1896. WASPS' NESTS FOR EXHIBITION. [2721.] It may interest some readers if I tell how 1 got a wasps' nest built under a bell- glass for exhibition. In the spring of 1895 I found a nest just commenced in an empty straw skep lying outside. When first noticed it was about the size of a walnut, and a few of the cells had eggs in them. Thinking how interesting it would be to see the insects at work, I removed the nest, while the queen was " at home," to my own garden, placing it on a piece of wood cut to size of a bell-glass in my possession, and covering the tiny nest over with the said glass. The queen luckily did not desert the nest, and in due time, a3 young wrasps hatched out, they extended the nest in an upward direction. I should have said that, in the first place, the nest was simply laid on the board. I tried various experiments with my movable nest during the summer. At one time I moved it ten or a dozen yards away to see how the wasps would act ; they were puzzled for a little while, but soon discovered its new loca- tion. I think this confirms the opinion of Sir John Lubbock, who believes that wasps have a greater capacity or sharper instinct for finding their home than is possessed by bees. I several times removed the bell-glass cover to examine the nest, as the wasps made no attempt to join the nest on to the glass, nor did they at all resent this interference on my part. At last the time for holding one of our shows drew near and I intended exhibiting the nest as a curiosity. My intention was, however, spoiled by what happened on one particular morning, which I have good cause to remember. It came about thus wise :— The glass, when laid over the nest, on what I may call the floor- board, overhung the latter a little, and thus formed an entrance for the wasps. Well, when prepared to carry my nest to the show I neglected to move the bell-glass so as to cover Dec. 3, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 483 this entrance-way and shut the wasps in. A few of the insects, not relishing being carried off without leave, came out and showed their resentment by stinging me on the face. I care so little for a few bee-stings that a few wasp-" prods " gave me small concern, but when I had got altogether about twenty stings, dis- cretion got the better of valour and the intended " exhibit " was returned to its stand, and neither it nor the " exhibitor " put in an appearance at the show that day. In fact, my face in a short time had swollen to such an abnormal size that I should, perhaps, have been an object of more interest at the show than the wasps and their nest. Fortunately, however, the bee-tent was not engaged at that show, and as I only exhibited honey my personal attendance was not needed. But I had much difficulty in preventing my people from wreaking vengeance on the wasps by destroying the nest. Beyond a certain stiffness about my face I felt no actual inconvenience or pain, and next day I was quite myself again. I preserved the nest and kept the wasps alive until our county shows were over ; but when the extracting season arrived the wasps became an intolerable nuisance in their per- sistent attacks on the honey, so I had to de- stroy them. This I did without damaging the nest, by moving the glass cover so as to allow of suffocating the inmates with burning sulphur fumes. I have promised the nest as it stands to a friend for a museum. Referring to wasps' nests at shows, I should like to remark on the cruel and frequent prac- tice of staging nests of live wasps without the least provision for ventilation, the heat, &c, of a show tent sometimes causing them to be suffocated. A hole in floor-board, covered with perforated zinc, prevents this cruelty by allowing plenty of air. — J. Martin, Expert, Bristol B.K.A. A ROYAL BEE-KEEPEES' SOCIETY. A SUGGESTION. [2722.] I have a suggestion to make which, if practicable, should be of the greatest benefit to bee-craft generally, and the B.B.K.A. in particular ; the welfare of both being of great interest to me. Let me divide it into two parts : — 1. Would it be possible for the Council of the B.B.K.A. to obtain permission from H.M. the Queen to make our Association into a Royal Society, with H.M. the Queen as Patron? Such an alteration from British Bee-keepers' Associa- tion into "The. Royal Bee-keeping Society of Great Britain,'* under the patronage of her Majesty the Queen, would be a great stimulus and elevate the cratt by leaps and bounds. Moreover, the present title " British " is somewhat misleading in that it implies in- fluence throughout the whole British Isles ; whereas, though there are doubtless members in all parts, I believe that Scotland and Ireland each have their parent or national association. Then, having obtained a Royal Charter, would come (2). Instead of, as now, having three degrees of experts, power should be obtained to grant diplomas as Fellows, Members, or Associates of this Royal Bee- keeping Society ; the Fellows being at first all (now) first-class experts, together with the present Council — the latter honoris causa. Second-class experts would become Members, and third-class Associates. The Examiners being in future elected from the Fellows. The present members would then have to take a back seat merely as subscribers. Perhaps this suggestion is " tall," and may be premature. I offer it for what it is worth. — F. R. B. S., Lines., November 3. . [Without entering into the desirability or otherwise of an effort to form a " Royal Bee- Society," as suggested by our correspondent, the consideration which occurs to us — as demanding first consideration— i3 the probable need, in such an event, of securing some one willing to give a donation of a couple of hundred pounds or more to cover the cost of obtaining a charter, and for defraying the other necessary expenses connected with it. — Eds ] PROFITS OF BEE-KEEPING. GOOD AND POOR PASTURAGE. [2723.] Some of your correspondents, I think, are seemingly too severe on "A Bis- appointed Cottager " (2670, p. 436). It is all very well to laud successful operations, but it is not given to every one to be equally so. Poultry-keeping also has been represented too much as a profitable industry, with the result that many rue their experience. But did it occur to any of the writers that there are many districts deficient in bee-pasturage 1 My locality is a naked, open country, across which you can look uninterruptedly some ten to fifteen miles or more. Observe the fields and hedgerows — rather huge banks — slovenly and broken fences, the by far greater portion of land under grass, white clover not cultivated and very little of other kind, nor yet mustard ; fruit-trees sparingly grown, and no broad acres of beans, this cereal being entirely confined to tbe limited few planted in the kitchen garden. True, we have heather, gorse, white and black thorn, the two latter being most lavishly profuse in bloom, as likewise the few apple-trees this year — yet, strange to say, I did not see the bees working on either thorn, though frequently watching, and for the first time in my experience did I find them on the heather. But though sur- rounded with such an abundance of spring bloom, the bees showed a determined pre- ference for that of the limnanthes, and it would be no exaggeration to say they visited it by the thousand. Of all my skeppist acquaint- ances, there is not one around here who has much honey, some even have not taken any for two seasons ; one at a distance hadmone 484 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 3, 1896. from his frame-hive. Why is so much stress laid upon the monetary question of bee-keep- ing ? Jt is constantly asked will or does it pay ? Is there anything to be got out of it ? And as often urged it is a very profitable in- dustry. The bait of 40, 60, or even 100 lb. weight of honey being obtained from a single hive. Rather let it be understood that the cottager may reasonably expect 10 to 20 lb. from one hive, and fewer disappointments will be complained of. "When I formed my apiary it was done as an adjunct to occupy time, with a prospect of some return for outlay, and food to supply the wants of the table. Various success has fol- lowed from a lean and poor, to a fat and good quantity. I have not bought fresh butter for two years ; the honey has supplied its place admirably, and friends who have dropped in for the social and " cheering cup '' have greatly enjoyed the change. I drove one lot for a neighbour, and the result was about 5 lb. of very dark and strong flavoured honey, such that I should not care to use other than to feed the bees. My grocer, too, complained of similar uneatable quality being offered for sale. My own taking is considerably below the expectation, beiDg about one-fourth of last } ear's;. and as I have five or six frames of sealed food for their winter use, the surplus is small, still the quality is good, and fetches a good price. I have not at any time sold for less than Is., and have rfalised easily Is. 6d. a pound ; sections according as they Avere filled from Is. to Is. 6d. In other parts of the county the price has ranged — skep-honey — from 6d. to lOd. Several of my London friends complain of the poor and indifferent honey they buy ; so very unlike the genuine aiticle. Now here, then, I ask, why not persuade cottagers to keep bees primarily for the wholesome food they gather, and they may then save the money usually spent for butter or laid, both of which sometimes are unfit to eat 1 That which I do not sell is consumed by ourselves. As far as I know of the people here, honey is chiefly used as a medicine, so where a family might consume twenty or forty pounds in the year, one or two pounds or less is made to suffice to administer in case of sore throats or colds. — J. Q-, New Hedges, November 25, 1896. BEE-KEEPING IN NORTHERN LANDS. [2724.] The sixtieth parallel of north lati- tude, with its long and very cold winter, does not suggest, I dare say, to the average bee- keeper, a suitable locality for successful bee- keeping, if, indeed, he has ever given the subject a thought ; yet that this fascinating hobby or industry can be carried on under such adverse conditions, on a comparatively large scale, I have had ample opportunity of witnessing during a prolonged residence in Sweden. When I mention that a temperature of - 25$ deg. F., or 57$ deg. of frost, at 8 ft, from the ground — a temperature far below anything usual in this country — occurred on two days during the winter of 1894-95 ; and further, that 0 deg. F. to - 15 deg. F., or 32 deg. to 47 deg. of frost, are quite common, and that the mean temperature for the six months, November to April, is 31 deg. F., or 1 deg. of frost, and for the year 41 deg. F., your readers may judge of the difficulty in rearing such sensitive organisms as bees under such adverse conditions. In the little village of Kolback, in the province of Westmanland, Sweden, I became acquainted with the enthusiastic secretary and treasurer of the Westmanland's Bee-keepers' Union, Mr. Johan Forssell, who has in his garden thirty strong colonies. His hives con- sist of one ''Wells" hive constructed on the model of one got by him for the Union from Mr. Meadows, twenty frame hives, of Danish pattern I believe, and the rest straw skeps. The hives have all double walls, the space between being filled with non-conductiDg material, and they stand out in the garden alt the year round. Mr. Forssell is a man of original idea3, and has many interesting theories on the subject of bees. This year h« commenced to rear queens on an original system, I believe, and has already sent two to Canada. This northern stock is no doubt very hardy. If your readers would care to hear more about Mr. Forssell's system and theories, I shall be glad, with your permission, to describe them to the best of my ability. Should any of your readers happen to travel in the fair land of Sweden, I should advise them to pay Mr. Forssell a visit, and I can assure them of a hearty welcome, and an interesting remembrance. — J. Baillie Hamil- ton, " Barwic," Pollokshields, Glasgow, November 30. PRICE OF CANE SUGAR. [2725.] I have noticed with great interest your frequent mention of a reduction in the price of pure cane-sugar, and the welcome which such an announcement would meet with from your readers, as well as being gratifying to yourself (page 462 of B.J., November 19). But, may I ask, what about those who are greatly dependant upon sugar from the West Indies fetching a good price and ready sale ? So there are two points to this important question, of which perhaps many of your readers have never thought. There must be some bee-keepers who, like myself, are greatly affected by this change in prices, although it is nice to be able to buy cheap sugar .; but to those who possess sugar plantations it is more than a very serious matter. I hardly know if this comes within the range of apiculture, but it is often well for us to be alive to these things. — R. Hamlyn Harris, The Conifers, Hambroolc, near Bristol, November 25, 1896. Dec. 3, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 485 HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE. THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS. The apiary depicted below consists entirely of the type of hive known as the " W. B. C," so called from its having — as most readers know — been designed by the junior Editor of this Journal. Located a dozen miles outside London, on a hillside just above the village of Orpington, in Kent, it will be seen that the hives occupy a very unorthodox position — so far as general opinions go — under the trees in a fruit orchard. But we can only say that bees do very well so placed, and if circumstances or convenience necessitates such an arrangement, there is no reason why an orchard apiary thus engaged in, so to speak, so completely " a round peg in a square hole," that we could not get on, and gave up the task. We, there- fore, fill up the prescribed space by quoting instead a few lines — descriptive of a friendly visit to the place paid some time ago by our friend and erstwhile regular contributor, " 'Xtractor,'' which appeared in our pages at the time, and may be more or less appropriate for the purpose. He says : — " Among the scores of bee-gardens I have visited, yours is the first I ever entered down a flight of steps ! — and, stranger still, you have, of distinct set purpose, all your hives under trees, the fruit-trees in the orchard bee- garden. MR. W. BROUGHTON CARR S APIARY IN KENT. should not be more often heard of than is now the case. We desire to encourage those of our readers whose apiaries are to be included in Ihe " Homes of the Honey Bee " to send us for publication so much of written description of the place and of the owner's bee-work as will about fill one page, inclusive of the illustra- tion. With this end in view, we set out as above to write something which might serve as a sort of model (for length only, of course). Nor is there anything in such a task which contributors or ordinary readers should find uncongenial or other than proper and pleasant. But after penning the dozen lines or so which head this page, we found that an editor "Thus do you suit yourself to your sur- roundings, and modify the hard-and-fast dictum so often given out, ' No hives under trees.' So it ought to hs, but I quite agree that this law may be broken occasionally with advantage, as in the case of your ' garden,' on which a southerly sun strikes remorselessly in a hot furnace-like valley, in a scorching southern county. What but swarming could result from such an aspect, and what . better could you possibly do to minimise the evil than place the hives so cunningly under the shade of trees, where they will not catch the drip of the leaves, and where the light and tempered warmth come filtered through the green network ? It was well thought out before the step was taken 486 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 1896. of so placing them ; how the leaves would pro- tect them in summer, whilst iu winter the bare bunches kept the hives warm on bitterly cold nights, by preventing the radiation into space of the heat the earth had absorbed in daylight or in sunshine. " And then I found what ' I went out for to see-' — what everybody would expect to see in an editorial bee-garden — hives the perfection of neatness, uniformity, and completeness. What struck me most was the exceeding deliberation and calmness exercised in manipulation. Compared with that of other noteworthy bee - masters, it, at first sight, seemed excessive ; but when one saw how ' tame' the bees were, the truth of your teaching that it is almost impossible to be too easy, slow, and steady even in the least manipulation, came back to me with full force. The bees, franus, and sections were handled as the angler's worm ought to be when carefully impaled on the hook — as if you loved it. " It might be thought that sections and shallow-frames three stories high, and rasp- berry honey coming in at such a rate on July 2 that it was determined to ' mix it in ' with the rest in autumn, would make me envious when I thought of my bee 5 ' up and doing nothing ' in my district, nearly destitute of good bee- fodder ; but I am so much advanced in years that envy (upon which I wrote my first essay) now finds but little place with me." The inexorable and increasing demands of editorial work on our time of late have neces- sitated "moving in" nearer to town, and a consequent moving out of our bees further away into Kent, where they are located under the eye of a friend — who has kindly given them house room. We are thus perforce compelled to keep just a few at home, to keep in touch with the bees, and visit the others as often as time permits and season requires. NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM B.K.A. A honey show under the auspices of this Association was held in the Corn Exchange, Newcastle-on-Tyne, on November 18 and 19, in connection with the Newcastle, &c, Botanical Society's exhibition of chrysan- themums. This, probably, is the first exhi- bition of honey held in Newcastle for many years, and the enthusiastic support given by local bee-keepers was very gratifying, especially so when it is considered that, generally-speak- ing, poor returns were obtained from the bees during the past Beaaon, the heather harvest bein^ a complete failure in many districts. The exhibits staged by the eighteen com- petitors in the class for heather sections was pronounced by the judges to be of specially excellent quality. Mr. Wm. Codling, Hart- burn, and Mr. T. Fenwick, Netherwitton, officiated as judges, and made the following awards : — Six l-lb. Sections. — 1st, J. Cuthbertson ; 2nd, R. Youngman. Six l-lb. Sections Heather Honey — 1st, R. Huggup ; 2nd, J. Cuthbertson ; 3rd, J. L. Balniora. Single l-lb. Section Heather Honey (Members only). — 1st, R. Huggup ; 2nd, J. Youngman. Display of Honey. — 1st, E. Middlemass ; 2nd, J. Youngman ; 3rd, S. Lightfoot. — ( Communicated. ) SURREY BEE-KEEPERS' ASSO- CIATION. At a meeting of the Executive Council of this Associatioo, held at Clapham Junction on Saturday, November 21, 1896, amongst other important business which was then transacted. Mr. Archibald Seth-Smith and Mr. J. W. Jacomb-Hood were elected representatives of this Association on the Council of the British Bee-keepers' Association, to attend the Quar- terly Conferences. The office of hon. secre- taryship having become vacant owing to the resignation of Mr. C. E. Cuthell, Mr. F. B. White was asked to undertake the duties, and haviDg consented to do so, that gentleman wa-j duly elected hon. secretary. It is therefore requested that in future all communications should be addressed F. B. White, Hon. Secretary Surrey Bee-keepers' Association, Blenheim Villas, Redhill. GOOD-BYE, AND A RETROSPECT. I never realised before what a world of meaning the words good-bye convey ! I have often used them when parting from friends in this couutry, but, on leaving home for South Africa, they seem to have a new meaning. To break away from friends and old associations — perhaps for ever — is harder than I at least anticipated ; and as I leave the dear old country on November 28, I take a retrospective glance at my bee-expe- riences during the years that are gone, my earliest being fiuding a stray swarm of bees in the orchard on the farm where my father worked for twenty years : hiving and carrying home the bees in the evening to our cottage garden, where for the next five years they in- creased and replenished the sweetness of our cupboard. Sugar 4d. per lb, in those day?, and when all the common necessaries of life had to be provided for a long family out of 7s. per week, you may guess that sugar was scarce, and honey much appreciated in con- sequence by the youDger members of the family. Not much consideration was, how- ever, shown for the poor bees. We repaid their labours with sulphur fumes, and I can remember the horrid " whizz " when my father used to put them ever the "pit." After Dec. 3, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 487 leaving home I again got some bees, but each autumn the sulphur-pit confronted me, when, about the year 1882, I first saw a " bee tent," and bees driven, seeing a queen for the first time. This fairly aroused the bee-fever in me, and step by step I advanced in the craft until an association was formed in our county, when I was chosen to do the expert work, which I have continued to do ever since. I was anxious to get the coveted certificates of the B.B.K.A, and passed for the third very easily. Then, after failing once, got my second. Concerning these certificates, I have sometimes asked myself are they worth all this trouble ? but I am now glad I persevered, for there is something in the certificates after all, and 'It was shown curiously in the number of inquiries I received in answer to an advertisement put in a South African paper. I have been offered several good engagements to start apiaries for gentlemen in connection with large frait farms over there ; I refused one at Madeira, as I had made my mind up for Africa, and am now thinking of starting an apiary of 100 hives in connection with a fruit farm, and shall be pleased to let you know how I am getting on. I am taking out two lots of bees with their queens with me. And now, in saying good-bye, let me thank the members of our Association for all their kindness, and not forgetting your- selves, Messrs. Editors, and all the con- tributors to your esteemed journal, from which I have learnt much. — J. Martin, Expert B.B.K.A. <$nmes and Jjtejto [1601.] Working With Double - Queened Hives. — 1. Is it necessary to use a perforated dummy in a box of shallow-frames worked above the two compartments of a " Wells " hive 1 I ask this because all the illustrations of these hives Avhich I have seen show a dummy ; but if bees may safely mix in a rack of sections I fail to see why not in a box of shallow- frames. 2. I have a " Wells " hive which has been used this year for two separate stocks, the bees never having mixed. Will it be safe to admit both lots of workers into one super next season, seeing that the holes in perforated dummy now dividing the body-hox are so propolised as to cut off all chance of bees acquiring the same scent ? Entrances to " Wells " Hives. -3. Do you advise having the entrances to " Wells '' hives at each end — which necessitates one facing either north or east — or is it better to have both doorways in front facing south 1 Queens Hatched late in Autumn. — 4. Will queens hatched too late in the autumn of '96 to begin breeding this year have any chance of being fertilised without my knowing it ? I have two stocks, each with young, late bred queens, but am not sure as to whether they are mated or not. Yeur replies will oblige Windmill. Reply. — 1. On reference we find very few illustrations as our correspondent states ; on the contrary, nearly all show the super without a dummy at all. In fact, allowing the worker bees of both compartments of the body-boxes to mix in a super common to all is one of the fundamental principles of the " Wells " system. 2. We should advise careful removal of perforated dummy the first fine day, and freeing-perforations from propolis so as to allow the bees to form one cluster during the winter. If this is succe? sfully done it will secure one great point Mr. Wells aims at, viz., early breeding, and prepare the bees for work- ing amicably together in early honey-season. 3. Personally we should prefer one entrance in front and the other at side of compartment, the hive being placed with its length facing south. By doing this and making the side entrance face east, the two doorways may be — at critical times — placed as far apart as the extreme corners of the hive will possibly allow. 4. Queens not mated now will be useless for next year's work. If, therefore, any uncer- tainty exists on the point of fertility, the only thing is to keep an eye on the earliest brood seen in the early spring, when it will be easily seen if drone-brood is being reared in worker-cells. [1602. j Moving Bees from Outside into Bee- house. — I don't like to trouble you with frivo- lous questions, but there are one or two points I should like your opinion on. I am thinking of putting up a small bee-house about 10 ft. by 6 ft., and I want to erect it on the exact site of my present open-air hives, so that I must move them before beginning the house. I have been offered a dry, dark cellar, but it is not under my own house ; there are also children in the house over the cellar, and I am afraid that their noise might disturb the bees if they were romping or playing about, and I feel a bit shy of cellars after reading some- one's experience a few weeks ago in B. J. Or would it be safe to move them, say, a quarter of a mile away while I was erecting the house Another trouble is that the present hives can- not be used in the house even temporarily, as one is a " Wells " and others are combination hives, and with the bees flying from the ends and consequently facing opposite quarters of the compass. Therefore when the bees are brought back they must be at once transferred to new hives, and I am afraid that to move them from one hive to another, say about January, would be risky. Could I do it if I were to heat the new house, say to 60 deg. by means of a stove, and have the new hives nicely heated too ; or could the transference be done in a warm greenhouse ? What I am afraid of is that many of the bees would fly, and consequently get lost through cold. Is it best, in making the new hives for the house, to 488 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 3, 1896. let the ends of frames project beyond the sides, or to put on plinths, so that there will be, say, ^ in. of wood beyond the frames 1 It seems to me that doing so makes them appear clumsy, as they would be only 16^ iD. at bottom if made of 1 iD. stuff, and 18 in. over at top. After this long explanation of the "condi- tions,'' you might, in order to save your time and space, answer me in this way. 1. Is the cellar, or moving a quarter of a mile away preferable ? 2. Can the bees be moved safely into new hives, say in January or February 1 3. If so, is the new house or a greenhouse pre- ferable ? 4. Is it better to let the ends of frames project, or have plinths. — G. C. Lyon, Hastings, November 27. Reply. — 1. We should only move the bees a sufficient distance to permit of the house being erected, and, when finished, replace them with their entrances as close to the per- manent position the hives will occupy in the new house as possible. 2. No. 3. Wait until spring is well advanced, and then transfer. 4. The ends of frames must be enclosed if a 17-in. top-bar is used with "W.B.C." metal ends, otherwise a " short," or \o\ in., top-bar will be needed, worked in a rabbet formed in hive side. [1603] Yellow Deal as Material for Hives. — Yellow deal, on account of the quantity of resin which it contains, will bear exposure to weather well, and so would " seem well suited to make hives ; but it is said that; the bees dislike resin and turpentine, and therefore that yellow deal is objectionable for hives. At the same time, bees seem to frequent fir trees for propolis or bee-glue, which seems inconsistent with their disliking resin and turpentine. What is the truth as to the advisability of making hives of yellow deal 1 — Philomel, Oxford. Reply. — If we were ordering hives from a manufacturer, and the latter offered to make them of yellow deal — or pine, as we under- stand the term — we should be rather pleased than otherwise. But if he proposed to use " white deal," or " spruce," we should decidedly object, because of the tendency to shrink and crack in the last-named timber. " Pitch pine " might possibly be a little objectionable to a swarm when first hived, but no one thinks of using that particular material for bee-hives. Yellow pine is the best and most suitable wood for the purpose. [1604.] Populating a Wells Hive Advan- tageously.— I am the owner of two stocks of bees in bar-frame hives, and this winter have ordered a " Wells " hive, and would ask — how can I populate this hive and keep my two stocks to most advantage ?— C. C. Turner, Kempston, Beds, November 29. Reply. — Presupposing that the stocks now in hand are strong in the coming spring, the simplest and perhaps most advantageous plan will be to get the bees into as forward a condi- tion as possible, super in good time, and let both stocks swarm. Then, as each top swarm comes off hive it into one compartment of the " Wells '.' hive, contracting the space to about five frames. When the swarm is comfortably " fixed up," place queen excluder above frames and set on the supers previously removed from the parent bive. Repeat the operation when the other hive swarms, using, of course, the second compartment of the " Wells " for the purpose. You will thus probably get nearly as much surplus honey as if your present stocks had not swarmed at all, and by making up a couple of nuclei from the swarmed hives may be able to re-queen the " Wells " hive with queens of the current year, thus closing the season of '97 with young queens to all your stocks. [1605.] The Comparative Merits of Native and Italian Bees. — What is the truth about this 1 Virgil, who had no pecuniary interest to serve, distinguishes the two varieties, and extols the superiority of the Italian kind. But the experience of some modern bee-keepers seems to leave the matter at least doubtful. Is it possible as yet to arrive at any definite con- clusion about it 1 — Melissa. Reply. — No " definite " conclusion is ?ossible, so far as the comparative merits of talian and native bees for use in this country. We can only say that the former — while still imported and seeming to find favour with a few — makes no real headway among practical men of long experience. We make no attempt to enter into the " why and wherefore " of this fact, but that it is a fact few will deny. On the other hand, the value of the Italian bee for crossing with our own is undeniable, and is, moreover, generally admitted. [1606.] Honey v. Syrup. — Some assert that bees if fed with syrup will hang about the hive and neglect to gather honey. Others say that bees will not take syrup if they can find honey abroad in the fields and gardens of the country. Which Statement is correct ? — Philomel, Oxford, November 21. Reply. — The first assertion contains j ust the modicum of truth which prevents us from saying there is no foundation whatever for it. As a matter of fact, if the syrup-feeder is con- stantly on a hive at a time when natural food is scarce, bees will, of course, do less " search- ing '' for honey flowers abroad than if unfed at home. Regarding the second statement, it is a fact well known to bee-keepers that at cer- tain seasons, when honey is abundant in the fields and gardens around, bees will frequently refuse to notice syrup food if offered to them. [1607.] Uniting Queenless Bees in December. — 1. I have two queenless hives in my lot ; could they be united to others so late in the year with safety 1 Trees and Plants use- ful to Bees. — 2. Which is the best lime for bees, scarlet or yellow-twigged ? 3. Does maple produce a good class honey ? 4. What Dec. 3, 1896.1 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 489 is the botanical name of the willow that is so much praised for honey ? Is it Salix alba, or are all willows equally good ? 5. Is the poplar a honey tree ? And if so, which of the varie- ties is best ? 6. Is the common furze useful as a honey plant ? I have seen the bees col- lecting pollen from it during the fine hours of the past week. — " Inquirer," Newmarket- on- Fergus, November 27. Eeply. — 1. If care is taken they may be joined as desired, but these operations should never be delayed so late if it can be possibly avoided. 2. The best for honey is the common lime, Tibia Europea (var. intermedia). The others you name — red-twigged (var. rubra) and golden-twigged (var. aurea) — are not nearly so good for bees. 3. The maple is not regarded as a honey-yielding tree at all. 4. Salix cuprea. This willow yields pollen very abundantly in early spring, but very little honey. 5. No ; none of the poplars are of any value for honey. [1608.] Removing Bees from Hollow Trees. ^Could you or any reader of the B.B.J, tell me how to get a colony of bees out of a hollow tree with only one entrance, without damaging the tree, into a bar-frame hive ? I have thought of fastening a box with frames of foundation and a cone escape at the entrance to make them work through the box. Would you advise me to put a frame of brood if the queen did not come out, how long to leave it there, and the best time of the year to operate ? — G. H. Brooks, Ashletvorth, Gloucester, November 23. Eeply. — We confess our entire inability to say how the removal can be effected as desired without damaging the tree, but so far as our correspondent's own proposal is concerned, it Would not succeed at all. SECURING AND MANAGING SWARMS. The season of 1896, in point of swarming, has been a remarkable one. The bees lightly set at naught all the accepted canon3 of bee- keepers respecting that function. Lack of great strength had little restraining influence, and abundance of room, even in the brood- nest none at all. Swarming began the last of May, continuing just a month, during a very moderate flow of nectar, ending abruptly when that flow was at its best at the height of basswood bloom, though even then the secretion of nectar was very light. Not more than one or two per cent, of the colonies did anything at all in the supers before casting swarms, and many did not wait to fill the combs in the brood-nest. Under such circumstances it is safe to say that it would be wise to cease efforts to determine the best methods of securing and managing swarms, on account of any bright prospect of speedy success in breeding out the swarming instinct, or even of any satisfactory invention that will practically allay it. Indeed, it is a very serious question whether, if this object could be secured in either of these ways, it would be satisfactory to more than a very small percentage of apiarists. There are always more or less losses from various causes to be made good, and there is no cheaper or more satisfactory way of doing this than through the increase by swarming. The loss of even a few colonies each winter during a series of unfavourable years, where there is little or no swarming, with occasional failure of queens and lack of stores, ofcen best met by the uniting of colonies, sometimes makes the aggregate reduction in numbers rather startling. Then the serious item of the rearing of queens come3 in, which must be done artificially if increase is secured without swarming. No doubt as good queens can be secured in this way as those obtained from cells built and cared for under the swarming impulse, but how few, comparatively, are the apiarists who have the aptitude, skill, and punctuality required to do it. Nineteen out of twenty, for one reason or another, would fail, and in these times of financial stringency and uncertain honey crops, they cannot afford to purchase. Besides, it can hardly yet be safely denied that bees receive an impetus to work by finding themselves in their newly- pitched tent destitute of brood and provisions. That there are some weighty objections to swarming, if it could be safely repressed, is not to be denied ; but these may be reduced to two, namely, the time and labour required for watching and hiving swarms, and the danger of loss from swarms absconding. Some may hold that undesirable increase is another and more serious one still, but one should be easily able to obviate that, and indeed thereby reap a decided advantage. It is only a question of the disposal of the brood in the hive from which the swarms issue, and that is generally very valuable, especially in early swarming. To accomplish this, it is not necessary — as might be inferred from some discussions of the subject — that the brood, when hatched, or before, should be returned to the identical colony that produced it ; indeed, it may usually be used with greater advantage in other ways. There are always at the opening of the honey season some colonies not up to the strength required for the best work in the supers. Let the hives full of rapidly-hatching brood be distributed among such deficient colonies as fast as they can be obtained, first driving out of each all the bees left behind in the hive which with its swarm is, or is to be, put on the stand. Thus, in a few days, if swarming con- tinues, all may be got into excellent condition. Frequently, also, there are colonies out of condition on account of being possessed of superannuated or otherwise worthless queens. Destroy such qneens as fast as hives of brood 490 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 1896. can be obtained, and place a good one on each now queenless colony, and in a few days it 'will be rejuvenated both in its strength and its queen. In some of these operations the advantages of a horizontally-divisible brood- chamber are especially apparent, for if one wishes to help two colonies with the brood of one, it can be done without extra labour ; or if one wishes to rear a few surplus queens to meet emergencies without driving out the bees re- maining after the swarm issues, by simply dividing the brood-chamber he may secure two queens as easily and as cheaply as one. Other ways of disposing of the brood thus obtained through swarming will occur to every oae in practice, so that soon instead of de- ploring its abundance one will be likely to wish for more. There is one principle that is valuable in this condition which I should recall before passing, and that is, that a colony having a laying queen of the current year's rearing can be pretty surely relied upon not to desire to swarm, no matter how strong it may be made within any reasonable bounds ; and the same rule holds if it has a virgin queen, if there be not also occupied queen-cells ia the hive. This fact may be taken advantage of to safely make some of the strongest possible colonies, and at the same time the most profitable ones, notwithstanding the notion which some cherish (but without good reason, I believe) that the possession of a virgin queen renders a colony unprofitable for comb honey. (Conclusion next week.) ' BEES AND BAILIFFS. " I hear from Oxford of a laughable trick to get rid of bailiffs, which was played the other day in a village near the university city. A couple of these myrmidons of the law took possession of a householder's dwelling, and ignored both cajolery and threat to induce them to begone. The invaded one, having consulted a lawyer as to the legality of his proposed plan, returned home, and appeared in the house with a hive of bees under his arms. Again he commanded the intruders — once, twice, thrice — to get them hence. They were obdurate, and the householder forthwith flung the hive on the floor. Alarmed at this rough handiiDg, the community issued forth on mischief bent, and the bailiffs, deeming discre- tion the better part of valour, turned tail and beat a precipitate retreat, leaving the victorious householder to chuckle over the success of his scheme and to barricade the house against future descents. There he still is, I am told, with a good stock of provisions, and deter- mined to hold out to the last. It is to be feared he has shown more intrepidity than discretion, for sooner or later he is bound to capitulate." — Western Morning Nevs. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. Letters or queries ashing for addresses of manufac- turers or correspondents, or where 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 wish our Correspondents 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 of their communica- tions. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column , W. J. Farmer (Yorks).— 1. Examinations for Experts' Certificates. — The Secretary of the B.B.K.A. (whose address is 12, Hanover- square, London) will supply information as to these. 2. Standard hives. — There is no such thing as a " standard " hive. The " standard frame,'' however, is* generally adopted in this country because of the immense advantage of a uniform size of frame for all hives of whatever capacity, 3. Bee-pasture. — It is the merest guesswork to say how much land planted with bee-flowers will support one average colony of bees. Besides, no one in this country ever thinks of devoting land exclusively to bee-flowers. F. V. Hadlow (Sussex). — Caucasian Bees.— No doubt our correspondent will, have noticed the reference to these bee3 in the report of B.B.K.A. Conversazione, together with the letter on the subject of Russian apiculture on p. 464. Geo. M. Saunders (Keswick). — "Large Or- ders" in Queries. — We will deal with the remaining queries in your list as occasion offers. But does it not strengthen our con- tention that you are not sufficiently observant of printed details in your possession when you now complain of our " saying (on page 472) that an ordinary tablespoon holds seven drachms instead of six " as stated in your note before us 1 As a matter of fact, we merely quoted your own words, as written in query, wherein you say : — " I found out that the ordinary spoon holds seven drachms, and a chemist tells me that the majority hold six drachms.'' Now, however, you say " it should be four drachms, and the dif- ference between seven and four is rather far from precise ! '' We, however, again ask our correspondent — and all who read the " Guide Book " — when making bee-syrup, to just "add two tablespoonfuls of vinegar to every 10 lb. of sugar used," and take no heed whatever to the particular holding capacity of the tablespoon nearest at hand. We will answer for it that no harm will follow. As for " pure methylated spirits " being a nuisance which "caused a smile from jyour chemist," all we need say is the bottles we purchase are so labelled. Dec. 10, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 491 dMfomal Ifcrfea, &t USEFUL HINTS. Price of British Honey. — This question continues to disturb the minds of some of our readers, and we would gladly see some way of meeting — by argu- ment— the views of all who entertain opposite or conflicting opinions, if that were possible. To one section we might say, What is the good of our trying to popularise the use of honey as an article of household consumption if any attention is to be paid to those who insist on the " good old figure of a shilling a pound " as the price a bee-keeper should get for his produce 1 Our main hope for a more just conception of the needs of the present day — and the absolute necessity for adapting one's self to the progressive times in which we live — lies in the proof positive, to be found in recent issues of this journal, showing that bee-keeping, when properly conducted, is still one of the most profitable of our minor industries ; and that — in spite of changed conditions — it now realises larger aggre- gate returns in cash to individual bee- keepers than any recorded in the days of high prices for honey. As already said, our pages record solid facts which justify these assertions, and it is encouraging when so many readers are willing to demonstrate, by details of their experience in the past very moderate season, such satisfactory results by way of profit. On the other hand, no one can reasonably take objection to the main- tenance of local market-prices so long as consumer and producer are alike content. To another section we would observe, Where real trouble meets the too enthu- siastic upholder of the superiority of British honey over all others — Avithout any reservation whatever — is the failure on his part to use the word good before "British " when so describing it. There is no doubt that some districts in this country yield only honey dark brown in colour, and so lacking in — good — flavour as to be quite unsuitable for table Use. Yet quite serious complaint is made — by some of those unfortunately located in such districts — if this quality of produce is not allowed to take its place as repre- sentative of British honey. On the other hand, a certain section (small, luckily) of bee-keepers regard the neces- sary care, so strongly insisted on, in putting up honey for market as so much time wasted ; and take a sort of pride in the " home-made " appearance presented in a roughly put-up jar of honey, or a soiled and altogether unsavoury-looking section of comb. We have ourselves seen in Covent Garden Market sec- tions of "pure English honey" offered for sale, which as sections, were a disgrace to the producer, and which no one who took an honest pride in his "stuff" Avould offer to a shopkeeper at any price. Cases like these are unmistakable impediments to the well-doing of the home-industry, and in the latter instance are so easily of remedy as to be inexcus- able. Moreover, we cannot afford to ignore the extreme care and trouble taken by those who are honestly endea- vouring to create a demand for colonial and foreign honey in this country. Touching the former, we have before us a circular — issued by a London firm of produce packers — in which colonial honey is put on the market in the best possible form, so far as get-up and appear- ance. Its virtues and good qualities are highly extolled in well - printed slips ■ sent to tradesmen who deal in it, while its purity is declared to be "guaranteed by H. M. Government." Yet, with all these accessories and credentials, it is offered at a low price. Surely, then, it is time for our own people to take com- mon care so far as grading their produce and putting it up in decent form for the market, if British honey is to maintain its hold on the public. What we desire to lay stress upon is the fact that carelessness, or worse, on the part of a few often entail consequences very disadvantageous to the many. In fact, there is no getting away from the bad impression created in numerous instances by the action of persons who seem to think that so long as they offer what they know to be unadulterated British honey it must be good. There are, thank goodness, among us a large majority, who are not only proud of the fine quality of the honey their bees gather, but who would on no account offer for sale, for table use, any not up to their standard grade ; preferring rather to use inferior grades for other purposes, or give it back 492 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 10, 1896. to the bees. These are the men who may be relied upon to increase the popu- larity and sale of our native product. The others work in an exactly opposite direction by affording the opportunity of comparing foreign honeys with our own, to the manifest disadvantage of the latter. Buying Stocks of Bees. — We have been reminded by a correspondent of the great need for our advising caution when buying bees without guarantee as to their being healthy when purchased. It can hardly have occurred to the writer how invariably we do give this advice whenever our opinion is asked, or an opportunity afforded for offering it arises. Seeing how prevalent foul brood is in a good many districts, and how few — if any — counties are entirely free from the pest, it would be the height of folly to buy stocks without either guarantee or personal examination of the combs. This is a rule that should in no case be departed from. Price of Stocked Skeps. — As bear- ing on the value or prices of bees and honey to-day compared with those of over a quarter of a century ago, we have just dropped across a letter received from the late Mr. A. Pettigrew (author of the '"Handy Book of Bees") in response to our application for the price at which he could supply us with stocks of bees in skeps. We had just been reading Mr. Petti- grew's book, and being full of the enthu- siasm of our novitiate days, we resolved to try the system advocated. This is his reply :— My Dear Sir, — The price of our hives (beautifully made skeps) with plenty of honey in them, run from 25s. to 35s. each. Of course — owing to the weather being warm and fair during the last four weeks — they are much lighter than they were, but all have ample stores to keep the bees till April. Now I do not charge by weight, but simply by value. A month ago the price was about 7d. per lb. gross. To-morrow or next day (as we may have time) I shall send two good ones to Surrey at 33s. each. Six more are going to South America next month. If you are merely making a commencement in bee-keeping, I would suggest the desir- ability of beginning with more than one hive, for we have seen, from some accident to the first hive or its queen — not uncommon — lead to bankruptcy and collapse in bee-keeping. This is eaid not with a view to sell my own hives, but for your sake. — A. Pettigrew, Ilusholme, Manchester, October 5, 1870. Prices of Sugar. — The letter of our correspondent, Mr. Hamlyn Harris (2725, page 484), serves to show how easily one may overlook one or other of the many ways in which reduction of prices affect individuals, of whose existence one takes no account when writing. Any way, our thoughts were for bee- keepers who are not interested in West Indian sugar plantations, though it is not quite certain that we have ever regarded the question of prices for pure cane-sugar other than being sorry — from the bee-keeper's point of view — when it is dear, and glad when it is cheap. Curiously enough, we had the impression that our gratification— in the latter case — would be shared by those interested in the production of colonial cane-sugar, because of deeming it more advantageous to have a large demand for their product, even at a lower price, than to see it swept off the British market by bounty-fed and cheap beet-sugars, manufactured abroad and imported into this country. In other words, we want to popularise the use of good pure cane- sugar in preference to the inferior and less wholesome beet product, and the lower the paying price at which an article can be put upon the market the more largely will the sale be increased. IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The Committee met on 3rd inst. Present : Capt. Millner (in the chair), Dr. Traill, Mr. O'Bryen, and Mr. Chenevix (hon. sec, 15, Morehampton-road, Dublin). Mrs. O'Loghlen, of Lifford, Ennis., was appointed District Hon. Sec. for co. Clare in place of Mr. T. B. O'Bryen, who has resigned the District Secre- taryship for that county. The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. BEES "BALLING" QUEENS. [2726.] I have been much troubled during the last two seasons by bees " balling " their queens. Has this matter ever been fully dealt with in your columns ? Dec. 10, 1898.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 493 I know that " balling " is usually accounted to rough handling, or disturbing hives at im- proper seasons, &c, but as none of these causes apply in the following cases, I shall be glad of your opinion and advice, or that of your correspondents, should you consider the matter of general interest. About a month ago, on taking an evening walk round the apiary, I noticed a good deal of excitement at the entrance of one of the hives. On going closer, I could easily detect the peculiar " hissing " sound denoting queen " balled." It was too late then to do anything, but next morning I opened the hive, and sure enough found the queen still encased in one corner of the hive. On releasing her I found she was not much damaged (to outward appearance), and gave her to another colony, uniting her bees to the next stock. In the second case, on going to the apiary to set some new hives in position on Saturday afternoon last— all other stocks being quiet — I noticed unmistakable signs of recent loss of queen about the entrance of a strong colony. As the excitement was continued on the follow- ing day I then opened the hive, but could find no trace of a queen ; in fact, the behaviour of the bees plainly denoted queenlessness. Now as both these queens were of the present year, and the stocks strong, what can have been the cause ? The second stock in question having been covered down for winter last month in splendid condition. In my novitiate days, when, in common with (as I suppose) most novices, I used to open hives at nearly all seasons, and did not then know what it was to have a queen "balled." Now, however, my bees seem to have developed a habit of killing queens, as during the last two seasons I have had several otherwise good stocks come out queenless in the spring without apparent cause. — A. R., Pewsham, Wilts, November 23. [We will refer to this subject in an early issue. — Eds.] BEE-NOTES FROM SUSSEX. [2727.] I have at last found time to make up accounts, and, as far as I can* now ascertain, the following is my return for the past season. The figures relating to the sections are accurate ; those relating to the extracted honey are mostly estimates, as I got " mixed '' during the straining, which was a very tedious and difficult business this year, owing to the thickness of the honey. The gross totals at foot are, however, quite correct, as I have checked them by the quantities sold and on hand. One stock (No. 2) became queenless early in the season, and died out. Towards the close, one of the stocks in the " Wells " hive amalgamated with the other. Upon my removing the united colony to a fresh hive for cleaning-up purposes, apparently the queen was injured or "balled," for that stock has now greatly diminished. I have filled up the blanks with driven bees, as being cheaper and less troublesome than queen introduction, and a little benefit to my cottage neighbours. The returns from hives as enumerated are as follows : — Total. 1. 78 1-lb. sections, 2 lb. extracted honey 80 2. 10 lb. „ „ 10 3. 51 lb. „ „ 51 4. 10 1b. „ „ 10 5. 33 1-lb. sections, 1 lb. „ „ 34 6. 50 1b. „ „ 50 7. 17 1-lb. sections, 2 lb. ., „ 19 8. 113 „ „ 9 lb. „ „ 122 9 and 10. ("Wells" hive) SO lb. „ „ 80 Total. 456 All stocks are black bees except No. 6, which aie hybrid Ligurians. The gross totals are 241 sections aad 215 lb. extracted honey, or an average all round of 46 lb. per stock. In considering results I ought to say that in the spring I put sections on the strongest stocks, which accounts for the poor returns from some of the hives worked for extracted honey. Nos. 6 and 8 I divided, I believe successfully, in August ; and all these ten hives, together with the restocked " Wells," are doing well. Most of the honey came from early fruit and May-blossom, yellow clover, and other spring blooms, up to middle of July. The white clover was an utter failure, and I have had to feed up rather heavily. The recent long-continued rains weakened some of the stocks frightfully, added to which fighting has been going on freely at one or two hive doors, strangers from a distance appar- ently trying to gain an entrance, no doubt impelled by famine. They are smaller than any of my bees, and get the worst of it, poor things ! The strangers must, however, have been successful in effecting an entry in at least one case, for the stock in question is not only doubled in numbers, but the hive is now full to overflowing, and the bees have cleared out a 2-lb. box of candy in less than a fort- night, although otherwise well provided. I cannot believe they can have successfully reared brood through the recent spell of severe cold, and can only account for their sudden increase in this way, as in a similar instance last year. What the effect of the recent rigorous weather may be I hardly like to anticipate, but am afraid I shall lose one or two addi- tional weak stocks I have been trying to nurse up. In conclusion, but for the long-continued drought, 1896 would have been a splendid honey year. As it is, it has been only mediocre, but the quality of the honey here- abouts has been superb. It may encourage cottage bee-keepers to know that I sold the bulk of the sections at 494 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 10, 1896. 8d., some at 10d., and a few 1-lb. sections at Is. They also took me a first prize at a show, and I have given manv away. I have likewise sold all the extracted honey 1 wished at lOd. per lb, after gaining two second prizes, for this. I have reserved some 2 cwt. for show next year, and have also given much away. In spite of this, the money return is upwards of £12. I do not give a debtor and creditor account, because I have gone in for many luxuries this year, such as expensive glazed cases for standard and shallow frames, &c, and the statement could answer no useful purpose. I sell all my honey to one buyer, a chemist in a large town, who says he is delighted to have it, and dispose of it himself to his cus- tomers, or to other chemists, because the quality is so fine, and he is sure of its purity, and is relieved of any anxiety about adultera- tion and consequent troubles. In addition, without going into wearisome details, my fourteen stocks are all supplied with ten well-filled standard frames of comb (I never extract from brood-combs) ; and I have a fine reserve stock of built- out sections and shallow combs for next year's harvest, besides about 5 lb. of good wax. Hence I, for one, am well satisfied with the bee bill for 1896— W. R. N, Sussex. CHILIAN HONEY. [2728.] I notice in yesterday's Bazaar about lj cwt. of pure Chilian honey is adver- tised at a trifle over 3d. a lb., and cannot refrain from asking (1) How can this, if pure, be produced at the price ? (2) what sort of stuff is this honey supposed to be ? The Apis Mellificct, I suppose, inhabits the Chilian Re- public, but owing to only a small portion of the country being fertile, coupled with the intense cold and terrific storms prevalent, bees could hardly be expected to flourish to a great extent. A few of the fourteen volcanic peaks are still in activity, and only during the present century has volcanic agency attested its power by frequent and occasionally tremendous earth- quakes, altering the relations of the land and the ocean by permanently elevatiDg a large extent of the maritime region several feet abo* e its former level. This state of things would, I fear, be anything but favourable to bee- keeping. Can any reader say if the Apis Meliponac and Trigonal are still to be found there ? I should very much like to have a little more information as to bees and the bee flora of this western state of South America. — R. Hamlyn-Harris, The Conifers, Hambrook, near Bristol, December 5. [Without being conversant with the bee flora of South America, we know that large importations of honey reach this country from Brazil, Chili, Peru, and other states in that part of the world. As a matter of fact, we have personally inspected barrels of granulated honey from the places mentioned, just as im- ported into Liverpool. South American honey is regularly consigned to produce brokers in that city, and there sold either by public auction or privately by sample at very low prices indeed. The fact of dead bees being pretty numerous in the honey Ave have seen, makes it certain that it comes, not from apiaries where frame- hives are kept, but from bee-trees found in the woods, and inhabited by wild bees of the Apis Mcllifica genus. — Eds.] BEST MATERIAL FOR HIVES. [2729.] Pine, in the ordinary or commercial sense, means American pine, and is distinct from pitch pine, white deal (spruce fir), and yellow deal (Scotch fir). Hives are seldom made of pitch pine or of white deal, but pine and yellow deal are both used for that purpose. Pine is more expensive than yellow deal, and is superior to it as a timber in many respects. Yellow deal, however, being more resinous than pine is better fitted to stand exposure to weather, and in other respects it is well suited for making hives. It is, however, often asserted that bees dislike the resinous smell of yellow deal, and that, therefore, pine and not yellow deal should be used for hive making. Can any of your readers say if there is any evidence to support the above assertion ? The fact that bees are never tired of collecting resinous matter from fir trees, and daubing it over the interior of their hive, seems to tell the other way. Moreover, the instances are not rare in which bees, being put in possession of hives made of yellow deal, have taken to them with every appearance of contentment. The question is one of practical interest for the poorer and more numerous class of bee-keepers to whom every sixpence is of importance, for yellow deal is certainly cheaper, and more durable than pine, when exposed to weather, as bee-hives are. If the notion that bees dis- like the smell of yellow deal is as fanciful as t^e idea that they take delight in the clatter of pots and pans, it is doing a service to bee- keepers to dispel the delusion. — Afiarius, Oxford, December 5. FREE SEEDS OF BEE PLANTS. ' [2730.] My offer of free seeds of melilotus and Chapman honey-plant (on page 455) has brought me a large number of applications for a supply. I had, however, enough on hand to fill all " orders," but in reading the letters it has struck me that many of the writers must have only recently become readers of the B.J. I say this because of the many who ask for particulars as to cultivation, height, colour, suitable soil, time of flowering, whether Dec. 10, 1896.1 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 495 biennials, and many other questions far more than I have time to reply to. In consequence of this, I have written a good many to say that I would ask you to reprint what has appeared in your pages on the Chapman honey plant, adding that the same treatment will apply to the melilotus. To grow good plants of the former, fresh seed should be sown every year, and by good cultivation they will reach as high as 10 or 11 ft, the melilotus attaining about 6 to 8 ft. — Geo. Wells, Aylesford, Kent, November £0. [Since full particulars of the Chapman honey plant (Echinops splmrocephalus), with illustra- tion, appears in B.J. of April 11, 1895, and may be had for three-halfpence in stamps, it hardly seems necessary to reproduce the article. — Eds.] A MAY MORNING. [2731.] It is delightful on a May morning, after many months of city life, to break the ink-bottles and kick over the office stool (!) with schoolboy gusto, and hasten down to those blessings of this life, a railway train, which, with much bluster, soon lancta one out of bricks and smoke and cat-scratched gardens, past fields of daffodils grown for market, past snug homesteads and happy cows, by meadows now knee-deep with grass and flowers in- numerable, meadows that have drowned their footpaths, meadows that are now high above you and now low beneath you. Meadows that in Quixotic fashion you take a " header " under, and come up to find lady-ferns looking at you from ledge3 of brown sandstone, meadows with movable hedges that swing and shift from side to side ! Past fields of corn, of barley, of oats, of beans, of red clover, and rye grass ; by coppices and woods which are blue with the blue of a million bluebells, by winding streams and pale-green painted pools, which we know is duckweed, amongst which dive coot and moor- hen. By Worcestershire orchards, whose trees bend beneath their weight of flowers, by straw bee-hives with bulging sides in a cottage garden, and now the Malvern Hills and hop- yards, in which the bine begins to mount the poles. By the Avon's placid stream and Breedon's mounds (not high enough for hills), till we cross the border and dash into rich Gloucestershire, and now appears the long range of the Cotswolds ; and now our hearts beat a little faster, for this is the land of promise — one of those many spots where we have made up our minds to retire to when we grow rich — one of those spots where the sun seems always to thread its way safely through the maze of clouds, where the buoyant air comes straight from the sea, and where the light is never obscured by smoke, or fog, or dust. We change at Stonehouse, and in a few minutes arrive at Stroud (our journey's end), where lives your correspondent, "A Disappointed Cottager." He is disap- pointed because his honey does not sell freely. In other words, bee-keeping does not roll in the £. s. and d's. But, my friend, think what you have to compensate you in other ways. Here it is only the 25th of May, and yet I found white clover out in blossom. And it was worth coming all these hundred miles to see your honeysuckle and your roses, and the double dame's violet before your cottage doors. Your pleasant sun and pure atmosphere had filled all your vales and covered your hills with flowers a full fort- night before our land more northward had become warmed. I had to drag my friend past your cottage doors. He would suddenly stop and ejaculate, " Great Scot ! Do look at those peas, ready to pick ! " or, " I say, old fellow, you must have a look at these potatoes and scarlet runners." And theD a huge clump of paeonies, glowing over an old stone wall (the very stones were like salve to our red brick-blinded eyes) would act upon him the same as a red light to a train. He came to a full stop, and, resting his elbows on the wall and his face in his hands, he said, " Well, that takes the cake. I've made up my mind now that when I get back I'll dig up and burn all my plants, and only grow cabbages ! '" And so, by slow degrees, breaking the tenth commandment at every step, we reach the hills — the hills whose massive forms have overlooked the rich Severn valley, with Abergavenny's dome beyond, since the Romans came — and how many centuries before that ? From about 500 ft. to 1,000 ft. in height, these hundred hills do not draw down the clouds. Nor have they any leaping torrents or raven's crags. Old Father Time has smoothed all their wrinkles long ago. To their very tops, and all along their sides, Dame Nature has dressed them in a coat of green — not so much of grass, but dwarf herbs of all kinds : the sun cistus, the burnet, the wild thyme, the lady's-finger, the horse-shoe vetch, the purple milk-vetch, the harebell, orchids of various kind, and here and there a tuft of sweetbriar or a shrub of colon- easter, or dotted about the dense turf, the pasque-flower (now in seed) and even tiny plants of cowslips. Perhaps the most abundant plant of all was the stemless thistle, which blossoms in July — one single flower without a stem in a rosette of leaves. This purples all the hill-side, and it would be in- teresting to know whether it is of much value as a honey plant. As we ascended breath- lessly the slope, common blue butterflies, alike indifferent whether they went up or down, so easy did their wings fit the warm May breezes, abounded on every side, while garden whites, on the look out for cabbages, and dingy and nut-brown skippers, and swift tortoise-shells flew before us, to show the splendour of their dress. After a few miles— breathing all the time an atmosphere that must have astonished our lungs — we crossed a high road-, and entered 496 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 10, 1896. a blazing field of sainfoin, which was literally a roaring swarm of bees and wasps and flies, and even great day-flying moths, like the wood tiger ! What a delicious sight for a bee- keeper is a field of sainfoin. Why, it is worth going from John-o'-Groats to Land's End to see ! Happy ought the bee-keeper to be whose workers are toiling for him there. Happy are the bees who buzz from one crimson floret to another. Our way now lay towards the southern side, where lies a deep basin or depression in the hill — a great vase which Nature has formed to fill with flowers. This was our paradise, the place we had dreamt of and longed for, and still remember and hope to visit again and again. A great vase which is burnished all along its mighty sides with a million golden flowers of sun cistu3, of horse-shoe vetch, and lotus, and painted crimson with wild thyme, into which no harsh winds can ever enter, because the hills behind it keep them out and hold them away at arm's length, and the sun pours down his lustrous light and life-giving heat until the Avhole vase moves with life — the life of gay companies of butterflies, of a whole starry heaven of hawkweed flowers (which, like the stars, borrow their light from the sun), above all, the life of happy hive bees, bees of all kinds, not forgetting our old friend the humble dumbledore ! Around on every side for many a mile lay hill behind hill, and dale beyond dale, and winding streams, and vast beech woods, stretch- ing almost from Dursley to Stroud, and in the plain of Gloucester below many a rich meadow — great bouquets of flowers. Yet my little vase, set upon the table of the hill, was dearer than them all. It was as a rose gathered, compared to one out of reach upon the high wall, or as a hive of bees is better than a whole hillside of labourers. Insect villages there were in plenty dotted about that fair expanse, but this was the metropolis, where, on a May morning, all the brave, and noble, and beautiful in the insect world met. Kings richly dressed, such as Vanessa Io, or royal princesses, like Lyccena Adonis, or gay red admirals and painted ladies. So much beauty everywhere ! The soft, hair-fringed foliage of the beech trees, the creamy flowers of helleborine that blossomed in great breadths beneath them, the spires of butterfly orchis, or of that rarity, the birds'- nest orchis, forty Adonis butterflies with their dazzling blue wings expanded on one foot of moist turf ; the iridescent wings of the rock- rose forester (a moth) ; butterflies, such as the whites, the green hairs-streak, the brown argus, the pearl-bordered fritillaries, and many more ; yellow moths ftying among the thin under- wood ; great mullein rosettes, with the beautiful caterpillar of the mullein moth feeding on the woolley leaves ; here a great carpet of wood-sanicle or ramsons or sweet- scented wood-ruff ; there, bushes of the laurel spurge and quaint butcher's broom. And now a curiosity : an albino specimen of a young beech, every leaf pure white. And now a peep through a rift in the foliage — a peep into the deep vale below, with its great cloth-mills, built over the winding stream which turns their wheels ; a peep at the Severn's broad stream and the hills of Wales away in the distant blue, and at every turn a new, and, as it seems to me, a more beautiful pic- ture of the great body of the Wolds, now curving up steeply, and hiding half the world, and then, on turning a bend, the world again in view, save for a slice cut off by the outline of the wolds, many miles away— outlines which are ever changing but always beautiful. So much of beauty, indeed, everywhere, that one would imagine the clustered cottages held no soul who could be discontent, or otherwise than happy ! No one living the quiet life therein who would rather ride than walk. No one thirsting for a villa residence, servants, electric-bells, and an autocar ! All teetotalers, therefore happi- ness and peace and sweet content ! Discontent and the thirst for wealth is the ruin of half our lives. Happier is the cottager in his cot on the Cotswolds than the Mayor of Mudborough in his manorial hall ! — LORDSWOOD. WEATHER REPORT. Westboubne, Sussex, November, 1896. Rainfall, 1*00 in. Heaviest fall, "29 on 7 th. Rain fell on 9 days. Below average, 2 '62 in. Maximum Tempera- ture, 48° on 12th. Minimum Tempera- ture, 24° on 7th. Minimum on Grass, 16° on 7 th. Frosty Night?, 15. Sunshine, 97 '1 hours. Brightest Day, 5th, 7 '6 hours. Sunless Days, 8. Above Average, 37 4 hours. Maximum, Minimum, Temperature, Mean 42-9°. Mean 32-9°. Mean 37-9° Below average, 4 9°. Maximum Barometer, 30-66° on 24th." Minimum Barometer, 29-3° on 15 th. L. B. BlRKETT. ^mxk% and J^jutss. [1609.] Measuring " Spoonfuls." — Referring to your reply on page 490 of last week's B.J., I do not seem to have expressed myself well. What I would say is this : An ordiuary table- spoon holds from six to seven drachms (mine hold seven exactly), whereas a medicinal one holds four, so that mine are nearly twice too large (75 per cent., to be exact). I note that this is immaterial for vinegar, but how about giving a double dose of naphthol beta solu- Dec. 10, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 497 tion ? In the " Directions for Use ;' sent out from your office by you, it is stated that one ounce equals two tablespoonfuls ; but if by chance (which is possible to happen) one got an 8-oz. bottle, not marked in divisions, and instead relied on an ordinary tablespoon for a measure, the bees would get a double dose. — George .M. Saunders, Keswick, December 5. Reply. — The above forcibly recalls the fable of " The Man and the Ass." In earlier editions of the " Guide Book '' the quantities for recipes were given in ounces, it being supposed that the liquid o::. would be taken for granted and so understood. But that did please some readers, and so, in order to meet the views of all sorts and conditions of men, the latest edition was supplied with what we supposed would be a simple way of over- coming all possible difficulties which no one could misunderstand. A marked bottle — such as is already at hand in nearly every house- hold, or can be had at any chemist's for a penny — was adopted, each division represent- ing a certain weight or, to be still more com- plete, a certain measurement in tablespoonfuls. In consequence of similar divergence of views, the same course was followed in the " Direc- tions for Use " in the case of measuring naphthol beta. Now, however, our corre- spondent raises the question of " tablespoon " capacity ! We cannot reply better to his query than by asking another, viz. : — How is it that in medical prescriptions the term " table- spoon''is so invariably used, when no table- spoon in ordinary household use is of anything like the capacity of what he terms a " medicinal " spoon ? [1610.] Removing Queen from her Escort. — 1. How do you remove a queen from the escort which accompanies her in the travelling case when carrying out the method of " Direct Introduction V I read that the "queen must be kept alone for half-an-hour." I had a lively escort with one queen and found it so awkward to catch her that I just put the lot over the frames with no ill result. 2. Should I have smoked the accompanying bees to prevent them from stinging the ungloved hand ? 3. Queen Stings. — If a queen stings the manipulator does she die ? She seems to be able to sting rival queens without damage to herself.— Geo. M. Saunders, Kesivick. Reply. — 1. Our correspondent asks how we remove a queen from her escort ? Well, we just vary our method according to the circum- stances of the case at the time, so that without any set plan we never have any difficulty. It is easier, however, to say how we think those less inexperienced should act. For instance, in the case of the " lively escort " described above, the operator would do well to get inside a room, and face the closed window thereof ; then so open the cage as to allow the escort to escape one by one till only the queen remained. As to " catching the queen," what more easy than to allow her to fly from the cage if lively — or walk out of it if quiet — on to the window- frame and then gently take hold of her by the wings or the thorax ? Any one ought to be able to do this who attempts queen introduction. 2. No ; smoking at such a time is undesirable. 3. Though queens have been known to sting while being handled it may be said that prac- tically they never sting the operator, the exception only serving to prove the rule. [1611.] Moving an Apiary. — I want to move my bees a distance of about a quarter of a mile away. About what time during the winter or early spring would you advise me to do this 1 2. Hives on Continuous Stands. — I am putting my hives in an orchard ; is there any great objection to placing them in rows on long stands ? They would to me be so much more easily manipulated than each on its own stand. 3. I enclose a sample of honey received from an advertiser in the B. J., hailing from the Eastern Counties ; he describes it as first grade sainfoin honey. Can this be so ? I have never had any honey anything like this flavour, and I reckon quite 75 per cent, of what I produce is sainfoin. — H. A. 0. Tiumbly, Isle of Thanet, December 5. Reply. — If advantage is taken of a fairly long spell of cold (say three weeks or so) during which the bees have not flown, the hives may b8 moved any time from December to [February. 2. The only objection to con- tinuous stands is the more or less "jarring'' of all stocks placed thereon every time a hive is disturbed by manipulating. We do not know, however, that the objection is a very serious one. Curiously enough, we take an entirely opposite view to our correspondent, so far as manipulation. " Each hive on its own stand " is our idea for comfort and ease in handling. 3. Honey received is very good, and has sainfoin in it, though we cannot agree as to its being so entirely from that plant as to warrant being called " first grade sainfoin." [1612.] TJie "W. B. 0." Hive.— Can you kindly refer me to any source where is to be found a detailed and accurate description of the " W. B. C." hive as at present approved by its inventor 1 — Agricola, Oxford. Reply. — Particulars referred to are given in B.J. of February 1 and 8, 1894. DEATH OF A CUMBERLAND NATURALIST. humble bees and red clover. " The death ha? been announced of old Mr. Duckworth, of BlackwelL Though he has beea excelled in breadth and accuracy of attainments by his sons, one of whom was collaborator with Mr. Macpherson in a book on native birds, his knowledge of the Cum- brian flora and fauna was perfect within a limited range, and his assistance was sought by distinguished naturalists, of whom we may 498 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 10, 1896. mention Sir John Lubbock. Sir John's specialty — if one who takes all knowledge for his province can be said to have a specialty — is bees. But he could not get a humble bee in the hybernating state. He was therefore advised to communicate with Mr. Duckworth, who from time to time sent him specimens. The humble bee, by the way, plays a con- spicuous part in the philosophy of evolu- tion by natural selection. It is found that red clover and wild heart's-ease grow best in the immediate neighbourhood of towns. How is this ? These plants are fertilised by humble bees, of whose larvae and eggs field mice are very fond. Therefore, wherever there are plenty of field mice, as in the open country, humble bees are kept down. But in the neighbourhood of towns the number of cats which prowl about the fields prey upon the mice, and, of course, the more mice they destroy the fewer there are to ravage the combs. Hence cats are protectors of the bees, and the increase of the latter is favourable to the growth of red clover and wild heart's- ease ! Mr. Huxley, in a lightsome mood, carried the process a step further, by saying that we owe our crops of red clover to old maids, whose fondness for cats is proverbial ! Here we have one among a thousand complex conditions which control animal and vegetable life." The above is from the Carlisle Patriot of this date. It turns oar thoughts in a new direction and enlarges our minds. — A Con- tested Bee-Keeper, December 4, 1896. BEES IN LONDON GARDENS. The owner of a suburban garden — a very suburban garden indeed — has noted that as soon as his Michaelmas daisies come into bloom, as they do at this season, they are be- sieged by honey bees. He never sees the insects at any other time, and naturally wants to know where they come from, and how they find out that the Michaelmas daisies are ready for them. Other observers have asked the same question, in one form or another. If you plant sunflowers, you are sure to find them, as soon as the flowers are open, sur- rounded, not with honey bees, but by their less distinguished cousins, the humble bees. And yet before the sunflowers were planted nobody had ever seen a humble bee in the garden. It has been asserted by writers on bees — and there have been many from Aristotle, Virgil, and Pliny downwards — that the insect never flies far from home. Whence, then, come the specimens which, in given conditions, always appear in our town gardens ? The natural answer would seem to be that they have nests within a short distance, though nobody ever discovers them. But the honey-bee, though there are wild varieties of it, does not usually dwell at large in the immediate neighbourhood of great towns. Probably, therefore, the indi- vidual insects which make for the Michaelmis daisy or other favoured flowers really come from a neighbouring hive, though its existence may be unknown to the owner of the garden. For a good many people in suburban London really do keep bees, or try to do so, and the industrious insects do not confine themselves to their master's domain when in search of honey. — The Globe, October 8. THE ECONOMIC VALUE OP BEES AND THEIR PRODUCTS., The discussion of the above subject may be made to embrace such an immense scope that it would be useless to try to point out more than a few of the leading questions involved in it. Being adverse to long essays myself — knowing, also, by past experience, that essays, in a meeting like this, are only needed to in- troduce the subject, I will make my remarks very short. In the consideration of this question, I would prefer to have had the bees left out by the committee who ascribed this subject to me, for I confess that I cannot see any actual direct economic value in the bees themselves, but only indirectly, through their products of honey and beeswax, and, still more indirectly, through their action as pollen-carriers, upon the bloom of our domestic trees, plants, and shrubs, to help fertilisation, and thereby in- crease the yield of our farms, orchards, and gardens. The discussion of this, it seems to me. should come under a different head. The economic use of honey, and its demand as an article of daily use in the household, have greatly lessened since sugar has been pro- duced cheaply, and has become a part of the regular diet of every family. Hooey, centuries ago, used to be the only sweet that was pro- duced in abundance, and it filled many a purpose which is now fulfilled much more plentifully by sugar. To-day honey should take the second place in price as well as in equality of demand and consumption, were it not for its superiority in flavour. But although it takes but a comparatively small place in the enormous consumption of sweets, it is still the leader in price, for it is far above the other sweets as an unprepared or raw article of diet, manipulated only by the skill of Nature's chemistry. Evidently the choice article, the high-grade honey, will always keep its price far above that of all manufactured sweets. But Nature's laboratory does not confine it- self to one grade, and we have much honey which must needs compete on a level with the sweets of commerce, and it is for the sale of these grades that the bee-keeper is most in need of creating an increase of demand. In other words, it is most important for us to increase the economic value of the lowest grades of honey by finding new channels for them, creating new use3. In tobacco manufacturing, in candy-makiflg, Dec. 10, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 499 in the medicinal and veterinary uses, in baking, in brewing, in wine and vinegar making, new markets have been opened, but we need still more uses for the product ; for if we can find a ready sale for the cheapest grades of honey harvested in the apiary, the high grades will no longer drag on our markets. It is on this part of the economy of the apiary that more suggestions are needed. In the Bulletin of the Society of "La Somme,'' which I received from France yester- day, I saw an article which has a bearing \ipon the question. A new use for honey has been discovered by a Mr. Poulet, who has succeeded in employing it in the manufacture of choco- late, obtaining a most savoury article of this substance by the use of honey with the cocoa. The advantage of this discovery, it is claimed, lies in being able to produce a better article at lower prices than the chocolate now manufac- tured. This discovery seems to have created quite a sensation in the above-mentioned asso- ciation, and a committee was appointed to in- vestigate the matter, in view of taking steps to establish a chocolate factory. Is it necessary for us to mention the economic uses of beeswax 1 This article has so long been needed for so many different purposes in the arts a3 well as in medicine, in housekeep- ing and in manufacturing, its peculiar proper- ties are so unique, and its needs so well estab- lished, that all the cheap products that have been brought forward have been unable, in spite of adulteration and deception, to affect its price or the demand for it in its pure state. Beeswax never goes a-begging, and even if the prices fluctuate according to the greater or less production, it always commands as ready a sale at or about market quotations as the most staple products of the world. Our attention is therefore most emphatically needed in the direction of the economic value of honey, and no pains should be spared by the bee-keepers to find new channels for the use of it. — 0. P. Dadant, in American Bee Journal. SECURING AND MANAGING SWARMS. (Concluded from page 490.) How best to minimise the disadvantages of swarming which give rise to the other objec- tions I have mentioned is a somewhat more difficult matter. The absconding of prime swarms can be almost certainly prevented by having had the wings of the queens previously clipped, which is most conveniently done about the first day of May preceding ; but, though I have hitherto been strongly in favour of it, and would take it as a choice of evils in the absence of the queen-trap, I find it liable in an apiary of any considerable extent, where there is little danger of swarms clustering out of convenient reach, to one valid objection, and that is, that swarms usually remain a tantalisingly long time in the air, giving an unnecessarily press- ing invitation to other swarms, and perhaps virgin queens, to join them, thus complicating the matter of successful hiving. In small apiaries this objection would not have the same validity, but in any case there is first the danger of the loss of valuable queens, and then, in nine or ten days, in the absence of the apiarist, the loss of powerful swarms with virgin queens, so I now consider the queen- trap indispensable unless one is willing to watch his bee 3 continually during the swarm- ing season, and even then it is a great con- venience. For this purpose, the trap should be so made that the queen once in it cannot return to the hive. This enables the apiarist to determine, with the exercise of a very little attention, whether a swarm has issued during his absence from any given hive or not, by the conduct of the bees and the greater or less cluster remaining with the queen in the trap. If a swarm has issued and returned, usually the trap is found full of bees, or nearly so ; in such case I return the queen and bees to the hive and readjust the trap with the expectation that in a day or two I shall discover them making their next attempt, or, if I had no such expectation, I would shake out enough bees to make a good swarm, and hive them with the queen in the ordinary way. A trap full of bees at the entrance of the hive from which the prime swarm — or at least the old queen — has been takeD, indicates that the young queen has attempted to issue : if the trap has but few bees, it shows that the young queen has attempted to take her mating flight, or perhaps, sometimes, that she has got into the trap in endeavouring to escape from a rival. In either case, swarming is over, and the trap should be removed and the queen returned, unless it is certain the colony still has one. It is best, then, I think, to keep traps on all colonies likely to swarm, removing them as soon as the danger is over, being particularly careful on this point in the case of those having virgin queens. When a swarm is discovered issuing, remove the trap, thus allowing the queen to go with the swarm, which induces speedy and perfect clustering, when it may be secured in a moment in a basket. A light pole, to which a basket is attached near the farther end, serves both to shake out and secure most swarms that cluster out of the reach of the hand. For the highest success in the production of comb honey, strong swarms are desirable, and hiving swarm3 on the old stand not only con- duces to their strength, but has also a strong tendency, often almost prohibitive, to prevent after-swarms. However, with the methods I use, there is a limit to the profitable strength of swarms. If they exceed seven or eight pounds in weight, there is apt to be discontent and an early preparation to swarm again, even if they do not persist in attempting to abscond. 500 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 10, 1896. This determination to abscond is a difficulty which I have had to encounter very frequently during swarming seasons, owing principally, no doubt, to the small size of the brood- chamber which I feel compelled to give swarms. After testing different plans, I have at last been almost entirely successful in meeting this difficulty by giving the swarm at first a double brood-chamber and removing the lower section in two days. This plan has proved a decided relief in the management of swarms. Little need be said in addition to meet the objection made against swarming on account of time required for attending to it. Most prime swarms issue between nine o'clock a.m. unci twelve o'clock, so that with the traps three hours a day answers very well. In case of necessity, even less time may b8 made to ■serve without serious loss, even to so little as three hours every third day. It is possible that there may be a little danger of swarms going away with virgin queens on their mating flight, but it is not great, for such queens are distasteful to prime swarms, though any laying queen is acceptable. If a prime swarm and an after swarm with their queen unite, the young queen will usually be found " balled," and it is seldom worth while to separate them because there will almost certainly be sufficient of the prime swarm with the young queen to destroy her or break up the colony. Some complaint is made that queens escape through the perforated zinc of the queen-trap. The perforation in my traps are 5-32 of an inch, and no queens escape. — Hon. R. L. Tatlor, in Bee-keepers' Review. HONEY IMPORTS. The total value of honey imported into the United KiDgdom during the month of November, 1896, was .£1,109.— From a return furnished to the British Bee Journal by the Statistical Office, H.M. Customs. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufac- turers or correspondents } or where appliances can he 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 Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of iisue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt of their communica- tions. All queries forwarded wiil be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be a/nswered in this column A. H. (North Bucks). — Whenever our corres- pondents' communications possess matter of either use or interest to readers we will be very pleased to publish it. But, so far as the two last letters received, they possess neither. It must also be understood that personalities of any kind are not admitted in our columns. Moreover, we object to such phrases as " come on, Lordswood," " keep your hair on," &c, and only mention them now in order to make it clear that if such not very elegant expressions are allowed in the journals to whose pages " A. H." contributes, they are entirely un- suitable for the British Bee Journal. D. Janson (Ohigwell). — Bass-wood Honey. — What is called by this name in America comes from the lime tree, enormous crops of honey being got from this source in the States. The botanical name of the Ameri- can lime or bass-wood is Tilia Americana. White clover is esteemed as the queen of bee-flowers in this country, and it is not too much to say that it is so regarded in every country where it grows, the world over. Sainfoin yields a delicious honey, which, when blended with that from white clover, adds greatly to the flavour of the latter, and forms, to our mind, the best British honey obtainable. Raspberry bloom also yields honey of very fine quality ; while in some seasons a capital crop of good honey is got from our lime, the Tilia Europwa (var. inter- media). 2. Planting for Bees. — It will never pay to plant especially for bees in this country. Those who make bee-keeping most profitable locate their apiaries where the natural forage of the district furnishes a full supply without either labour or expeuse on the part of the bee-keeper. G-. Obt (Littlehampton). — Dealing with Frames of Thick Unsealed Honey. — If the combs can be kept in a very warm, dry cup- board the unsealed honey may remain liquid till they could be given to the bees as spring food. Otherwise the honey will granulate in the cells and thus become unfit for any- thing but breaking up. We should return them to the bees for present use, because of the tendency to granulation in all honey gathered this season. Cottager (Manchester). — Honey sent i3 too cloudy and dark in colour to command a good price in the open market ; and you have much reason for congratulation if able to sell it easily at Is. per lb. The honey is very fair in flavour and consistency, but the colour is like that of honey dew. Bee-som (Shrewsbury). — Communication re- ceived is unsuitable for publication in our columns. J. D. Armitage (Mackay, Queensland). — From our inquiries made here, we have no doubt you will have received the goods, with satisfactory explanation of the delay, before these lines reach your far-off home. Dec. 17, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 501 (MtoraJ, Ifcrttm, &t THE "ROYAL" SHOW OF 1897. At the risk of being considered some- what premature in now drawing attention to an event arranged to take place some six months hence, we invite the earnest consideration and co-operation of our readers in connection with the Show of the Royal Agricultural Society, which will be held at Manchester in June next. The occasion is of such unmistakable importance — so far as its probable influ- ence in furthering the bee-industry of this country — that we gladly take advantage of the first opportunity for giving publicity to such particulars as are now available regarding the Manchester meeting. We have just been favoured with an advance copy of the prize schedule for the bee-department of the exhibition referred to, and it contains features of exceptional interest to all county bee associations and the members thereof throughout the kingdom. In the first place, it is incumbent on us as bee-keepers to evince in no half-hearted fashion our sense of the liberal en- couragement shown by the Local Com- mittee of the Manchester Show in placing the sum of fifty pounds at the disposal of the British Bee-Keepers' Association for the purpose of augmenting the ordinary prizes offered by that body at the above-named show for the ad- vancement of the bee industry. The bulk of the sum named goes to the Special County Honey-Trophy Class, the prizes in which are open to be com- peted for by all counties in the United Kingdom. But the sum of £15 is available for increasing the ordinary prizes contained in the schedule and for creating several additional classes. The chief event is, of course, the Trophy com- petition, in which the following prizes are offered : — 1st prize, £15 and silver medal. 2nd prize, £10 and bronze medal. 3rd prize, £5 ,, ,, 4th prize, £3 ,, ,, 5 th prize, £2 ,, ,, In each case the medals will have an inscription, commemorative of the event, engraved thereon. The new classes include prizes for dark honey ; heather honey, in comb and extracted ; beeswax ; honey vinegar and mead. The schedule contains in all sixty substantial money prizes and five medals, the total being about £80, full particulars of which will appear in our advertising pages at an early date. Next year's show bids fair to be a memorable one in the annals of the " Royal," and, as we have already said, it remains for bee-keepers to promptly take such initiatory measures as will ensure the success of their own particular section of the exhibition. To this end, we need hardly say, the county competi- tion will play by far the most important part, not only in the show under notice, but as an encouraging precedent for future local committees to imitate the example of Manchester and perhaps give to the county-trophy class a permanent place in the schedule. Our present concern, however, is for the show of next June, and regarding this it is imperative that no time be lost. We therefore urge active and energetic county secretaries (who, happily, are not scarce) to be up and doing. We have ourselves been "poking over" back volumes of the B.J. in order to gather something in the shape of precedents afforded by events in years gone by, and in the only case analogous to the one before us we find the advantages all on the side of competitors in the present day. The case to which we refer is the memorable county competition which took place ten years ago during the Colonial Exhibition held at South Kensington. This com- petition constituted the chief item of a very fine show held under the auspices of the B.B.K.A., in which was included a Trophy class for county associations. Eleven counties staged exhibits, each of which had to occupy 6 ft. square of table space, height of trophy 6ft., while the weight of honey was unlimited. The total sum to be competed for was divided into four prizes of £8, £6, £4, and £3, respectively ; so that, compared with the schedule of the Manchester meeting now before us, the advantage — so far as ease in preparing a much smaller exhibit — is immensely in favour of those competing in '97. The table space in the latter case is limited to 4 ft. 6 in. square, and the height to 5 ft., while the weight of honey must approximate 300 lb. Not only is 502 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 17, 1896. this so, but — contrary to the conditions of 1886, where only the current season's produce was allowed — honey of any year is eligible ; and such honey products as wax, mead, and vinegar may be added to enhance the general effect of the display. Add to all this the largely-increased value of the prizes offered for a much smaller display, we should see the number of entries more than doubled, and a display of British honey ensured such as will give a permanent lift onwards to the home industry by showing what the country can produce. This is one point we wish to impress upon all con- cerned. Among other considerations beyond those above-mentioned, all tending to favour the chances of a thoroughly representative display in the Trophy class of 1897, there are, first, the very favourable response received in answer to a preliminary inquiry sent to all county associations by the Council of the B.B.K.A., in order to ascertain their feeling on the subject ; and, second, the fact that honey of any year is eligible to compete. The latter condition levels down or equalises the chances so com- pletely that counties wherein honey of the current year is obtainable in time for the show possess no appreciable advan- tage over northern counties, whose bee- keepers are perforce compelled to rely solely on carefully re-liquified honey of previous season's gathering. In conclusion, we must also draw attention to certain special arrangements for the Manchester meeting. The show is usually opened to the general public on Monday of the week in which it is held. In this case, however, the opening day will be Wednesday, June 23, the popular or " shilling days " being Satur- day, the 26th, and Monday, the 28th, on which day the exhibition comes to a close. So far as the general anticipations regarding the show, it is calculated by by those well qualified to judge that it will be a record one. With H.R.H. the Duke of York as President for the year; the show-yard located in so great a centre of industry as the city of Man- chester ; and a prize list totalling no less a sum than £8,250, the extent of the exhibition and attendance of visitors will no doubt be alike enormous. That the local committee is capable of rising to the occasion is shown by their contributing considerably over £3,000 to the prize fund. They have also entered so heartily into the work of making the exhibition an exceptional one even in the annals of the " Royal " shows that the best results are (weather permitting) practically assured. BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The monthly meeting of the Council was held on Friday 11th inst., at 105, Jerniyn- streefc, S.W. Present : Mr. E. D. Till (in the chair), Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh, Major Fair, Messrs. W. Broughton Carr, W. O'B. Glennie, J. H. New, Thos. I. Weston, J. M. Hooker (ex officio), and the Secretary. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Arthur J. Brown, School of Handi- crafts, Chertsey, was duly elected a member of the Association. The Chairman presented the Finance Com- mittee's report, which was accepted. It was stated on behalf of the Education Committee that the examiners had under con- sideration the papers written by candidates for second-class certificates at the recent exami- nation, and would make known their decision in a few days. The Committee proposed certain alterations in the rules relating to the Association's examinations, the suggested improvements providing for a longer notice than was now required from affiliated branches. They would lay their proposals in definite form before the Council at a future meeting. The report of the Exhibitions Committee was laid on the table, and gave details of the Prize Schedule for the Honey and Hive Department of the Manchester meeting of the Royal Agri- cultural Society in 1897. In order that the particulars may be early in the hands of in- tending exhibitors, it was resolved to ask that the schedule be printed in the columns of the B.B. Journal, and Mr. Carr kindly promised that this should be done. Mr. Till made a statement explanatory of the efforts still being made to collect the neces- sary statistics in regard to the prevalence of bee pest in the country, and after a short dis- cussion thereon the meeting terminated. ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY'S WINTER SHOW. The honey exhibits at the above Show, held on December 8 and 9, marked a great advance on those sent to previous exhibitions of the Royal Dublin Society, which had been held in the spring. This, no doubt, is largely due to the present being a far better time of year for exhibiting honey than in the spring. The Dec. 17, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL, 503 convenience of bee-keepers has further been consulted on this occasion by the introduction of two classes for twelve sections, . twenty-one sections having formerly been the only number admissible. Some effect may also have been produced by the Irish Bee-keeper3' Associa- tion having sent a special circular to their members, giving notice of the Show and particulars as to the honey classes, especially having regard to the fact that the great majority of the exhibit? were from members of the Association. Thirty-six exhibits had been entered and thirty-three were staged. The following is the list of prizes awarded : — Tioenty-one I -lb. Sections. — 1st, Peter Brock; 2nd, Joseph M. Colahan ; 3rd,. Miss Daly. Twelve, l-lb. Sections. — 1st, Peter Brock ; 2nd, Mrs. M. Power ; 3rd, Thomas McGrath ; highly commended, Thomas A. Govan. Twelve l-lb. Sections (Heather or Dark Honey).— 1st, Mrs. M. Power; 2nd Miss Monti zambert. Twelve l-lb. Jars of Extracted Honey. — 1st, Miss Dalv ; 2nd, Matthew Henry Bead ; commended, Thomas A. Govan. Twelve l-lb. Jars of Extracted Heather or Dark Honey. — 1st, Anthony O'Donnell ; 2nd, Thomas A. Govan. — (Communicated.) ^tnm%pnkut The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. Communications relating to the literart/ department, reports of Associations, Sftows, Meetings, Echoes, Queriet, Books for Revieio, &c, must be addressed only to " Thu EDITORS of the ' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William- gtreet, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi- cations relating to Advertisements, dec, must be addressed to "The Manager, ' British Bee Journal' Office, 17, King William-street , Strand, London, W.C." " HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE." [2732.] A Cambridge chair, an " incan- descent " shining over one's shoulder, a number of B.B.J., illustrated, and then, at the sight of the counterfeit presentment of your bee-garden as I smoke one of my eveniog pipes, comes a series of sweet mental pictures, vista after vista of delightful reminiscences covering a period I do not hesitate to designate quite the happiest of my life. Behind me an old bureau, in the bottom drawer of which, I remember, there is a collection of my " bee-keepers' photos.'' Surely these pictures will intensify the delight of these pleasant mental retrospections. On the top of the photograph I find a dusty brown- paper parcel, containing, my conscience tells me, MSS., paper, and a few wrappers, the property of the proprietors of the B.B.J. Surely this is a concatenation of circumstances forcing me for very shame's sake to drop you a few of my memories, whether or not they will interest the present generation of your readers. How well I call to mind the visit to your bee garden, for was I not with you as well as " X' Tractor"'? No one knows better than myself the bright enjoyment of that time — the charming walks, the chatty talks, common decency in manners alone preventing us from each talking at the same time, each had so much to tell. It seemed as if one had to watch and wait, until the narrator stopped for breathing time in order to get one's " spoke in" (should I not say " speak ' here ?). Then the music — for bee-keepers can sing and play, strange as it may seem — and the early morning walk through the dewy strawberry- fields back to dull duty. Eheu ! fugaces. How Old Time flies and leaves us — pace Mr. Dentist — toothless wrecks, with only bright clear msmories of past joys. I sea amongst my collection pictures of the bee-gardens of my old friends, Jack Howard, of Holme, 0. N. White, of Somersham, " Amateur Expert," W. Dixon, of Leeds, and I call to mind how in past times I used to visit the apiaries of noted men in the craft, and describe what I saw in your columns ; to wit, those of T. B. Blow, G. Neighbour & Son, 0. N. Abbott, Rev. G. Raynor, "Amateur Expert," and W. Dixon. All these are burnt into the tablets of my mind, not in a dreary monotone of colour, but in vivid prismatic bits of brightness that make a harmonious mosaic, delightful for the mental eye to rest upon. Young bee-keepers ! Be enthusiastic, be bee- enthusiasts (I am not stammering, if halting), go into it heart and soul, and if you should, as probably you will, find greybeards in the science, who hesitate to go your pace, and check somewhat your ardour, I give you my word you are putting aside in your mental savings-bank such a store against the rainy days of after years as will entrance you when you come to sit by your ain sel, and think of the home3 of the honey-bee. You have done " X'Tractor " the honour of quoting him, I see, and as we were inseparables, you also honour B. A. H. Grimshaw, December 14. A CHEA.P RAPID-FEEDER. [2733.] I never have extracted from brood- combs, but in feeding driven bees and finishing off for winter, a rapid-feeder is very useful. A feeder entirelv of wood i3 apt to get musty, sour, and leaky when not in use ; then, when put on hive and filled with warm syrup, either distributes it all over quilts, or has a disagree- able smell which cannot be pleasant to the bees. So now, after several experiments, I think the following answers best. It is made on the lines of best makers, costs little, is easy to clean, will last a long time, and any 504 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 17, 1896. cottager can make one. I do not give dimensions, as tin boxes may vary in size. I take a shallow tin biscuit-box, which is to be the reservoir. If it leaks when tilled with warm water, some solder run round seams soon puts it right. A wooden partition f in. higher than sides of box, with saw cuts or small holes to let the syrup through and keep back the bees, is fixed 1 in. from end of box by two nails driven through tin near the top of side ; the float is similar and moves easy, being lifted up when filled by syrup, the bees getting their food through the hole3 with- out fear of drowning. A wooden case is now made li in. longer than tin box, § in. higher, but only wide enough that reservoir can be lifted for cleaning without trouble, a hole in bottom at one end of case ^ in. by 3 ia. allows passage from hive, strips ef wood § in. by § in. arenailed round under the bottom at the edge, so that the bees can thus pass into feeder if the feed-hole in quilts and feeder are not directly opposite. The lid can be of glass or wood as may be thought most suitable ; if of wood, mark the end where partition is so that you do not slide it off wrong and let out bees when filling feeder. — ■ " A Satisfied Cottager," Sevenoaks, December 14. MEASUREMENTS OF "W.B.CV' HIVE [2734.] Will you kindly help me out of a difficulty ? I am constructing a " W.B.C. " hive, and cannot make an equation of the measurements of the body-box as given in the B.B.J, of February 1, 18.94. It there states that the side pieces are 17° in. long, grooved 1 in. from each end. End pieces ^in. thick. Now 17| — 2f==14g in., and the inside measurement should be MJ. To take all the measurements given, they stand thus : — i + W hJS WP4 mPh m + | + 14i + £ + | + J = 17 J and should = 17|. Those bracketed = 16|, and should be 17 full for top bar. In what respect are these figures wrong ? Should the f x § pieces be increised to I full 1 I want the measurements of the hive exact. — Truro, Alconbury, Huntingdon, December 10. Not being an expert in the technicalities of joinering, we forwarded the above communica- tion to a manufacturer, whose work we knew could be relied on, and asked him to help us in giving an accurate reply. He was good enough to promptly furnish us with the following : — In reply to yours re " W. B. C." hive measurements. We cut our sides 17 3V in. long, not 17f, and nail the J by 1% on (not let in as in the B.B.J, referred to). This keeps the 17TV true ; but we put an additional flat piece at the bottom from inner wall to J in. beyond the (17^) side-wall ends, so that when tiered up both match together, thus stopping draught between boxes. For the rest, the distance apart of the side pieces — between which top bar of frame rests — is 17s1r in., the "side pieces" being 5 in. thick, § in. wide. The strips at top side of box are | in. full, wide, by 5 in. or f in. thick ; those at bottom side must be 1\ in. by h in. The inner walls are § in. thick and 14J in. apart on inside. If these figures are added together the total outside for over all- measurement of box is 17g12 in. The inside measurements of body-boxes (deep and shallow) are 14|in. by 15 in. ; sides, 5 in. ; inner walls, § in. by 15J in. long, let into sides | in. at each end. We have improved the method of fixing the tin " runners " for frames on inner-walla by bevelling top edge of latter instead of leaving flat as formerly. Our roof is also improved, as you know, in form compared with the original, and the sizes are a little different from the description which appears in B.J. of February, 1894. I should be very pleased to have an order from your correspondent for an accurately- made " W.B.C." hive as a pattern for him to work by in making his own." [We properly refrain from naming the gentleman to whom we are indebted for the above particulars, but cannot do less than express our willingness to forward an order if sent to us. — Eds.] THE SEASON IN WILTS. [2735.] I seldom see a report from this, the north-west, or indeed any parts of Wilts in Bee Journal, and thought a few words might not be uninteresting to some of your more favoured contributors. The season of 1896 has been a very poor one here. Owing to the early mowing of the sainfoin in this district we rarely make an average of over 30 lb. per hive, but this year it has only reached 14 lb. with me, and not half that amount with some I know within a couple of miles of me. The best wholesale price I have been able to obtain is 5|-d. per lb. Therefore, if my bees were kept solely for " £ s. d.," I should have more complaints than " Disappointed Cottager." My retail price never exceeds 8d. per lb., and some people grumble at paying that. Swarms have been very scarce this year, and owing to this, cottagers' skeps were heavier at driving time than 1 have ever known, them. Braula coica parasite, which I have not seen previously in my own apiary, has been very abundant in several colonies this year. The clover and sainfoin crops, and also the early dandelion (of which we have a superabun- dance) promise well for next year, and could we prevail on the farmers to let the sainfoin stand till in full bloom, I should be a far from " Disappointed Cottager." — F. Wooldridge. Dec. 17, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 505 HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE. THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS. The illustration below shows the apiary o* one of the oldest and best known of our cottager bee-keepers, Mr. John Walton, of Weston, Leamington, whose figure appears in the background. The limited space to which the hives are of necessity confined prevents the making of anything like an attractive picture of the bees' homes ; in fact, only a view taken from a housetop or a balloon would afford the photographer any chance at all of showing the arrangement. None the less, Mr. Walton Editors of this Journal on the occasion of the Royal Show at Warwick in '92 will suffice to describe the place and its surroundings since the following appeared in the B.J., for in no way are the surroundings altered. " Starting from our headquarters at Leamington-Spa on a fine day in the " show " week, we drove three or four miles through a beautiful part of Warwickshire before reach- ing Honey Cott. And a very pretty little " cot " it is, nicely retired — j ust far enough away from the main road to suit the owner of a goodly stock of bee-hives — and surrounded by all that makes a " model '' for an English MR. JOHN WALTON S APIARY, WESTON. has made his bees a success there for well-nigh forty years, and is still hale and hearty, though in his sixty-sixth year. A good instance of our old friend's continued inte- rest in "the bees,'' and the energy and enthusiasm with which he is still blessed, Mr. Walton left home for town on the morning of the late Dairy Show, which he attended and enjoyed. In the evening he was present at the Conversazione of the B.B.K.A at Jermyn- street. Left town by the midnight train, talked bees with a friend most of the way to Leamington, which was reached at 3.55 a.m. ; after which he started for a five-mile walk home to Weston, arriving there at 5.20— to use his own words, " well pleased with my day's outing." An account — somewhat condensed — of a visit paid to Mr. Walton's place by the cottager's home. The front, facing south, is covered by a large plum-tree, loaded witb fruit when we saw it. Flowers, fruit, and vegetables grow in abundance in the good- sized and well-kept garden facing the cottage. Indeed, the neatness, scrupulous cleanness, and order prevailing everywhere, inside and out, made it quite delightful to contemplate how many of God's best gifts are available in a humble home with such occupants as John Walton and his good wife. Our host met us, and, after a cordial greeting, we were soon busy among the bees. The most prosaic — though by no means a dull or unin- teresting— part of the surroundings is the bee- yard, which, in every sense, it is. No one would call it a bee-garden, for nothing grows in it if we except bees and honey. The bee-yard, then, 506 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 17, 1896. is situated just beyond the cottage-garden, on one side of a meadow lying between it and the road. The hives— between fifty and sixty in number — are all ' bar-frames,' and stand on just so much ground as holds them, and allows passage-way between each, the limited space at command compelling this arrangement, while the entrances in many of the hives face each other. Altogether, it strikes an onlooker how advantageous it would be to have the hives occupying about four times the space. How- ever, as one sees plainly, the bees have grown and multiplied, while the size of the yard per- force remains stationary, so Mr. Walton makes the best of it, and is too old a bee-man not to be able to maintain order, even in so crowded an assembly of ' workers ' as his. Looking around, we notice very needful raeins. chalked on the backs of the hives, such a3 : " Supered May 23rd for extg.,'' or " Q-cells due June 25th," and such like, which keep the bee-keeper in "touch " with his bees and their work. All the hives are numbered, and many have special appellations painted thereon, historical, humorous, and otherwise, commemorative of some event associated with each. Mr. Walton, being himself a carpenter by trade, makes all his own hives, besidts many of the appliances used. He has no less than five workshops and manipulating-houses of various kinds, some inside the cottage — cosy little places these, where the " winter evening's work" goes on — and others out among the bees, where, in the early summer evenings, after the day's labour of superintending the workshops at the Reformatory close by is done, he can pursue his bee- work, while, through the window in front, the enormous crowds of his little assistants labour under the eye of the (bee) master. In one of these workshops were piled racks of sections ready for use, reaching from floor to ceiling. In another— the extracting-house— all the extracting is done, and done well, by the very machine with which Mr. Walton took a prize at the Alexandra Palace ever so many years ago. Then we passed out among the hives again, and had a look into several of the stocks. The bees are almost wholly hybrids (Carniolan and black), this being the variety our friend prefers. All the colonies were doing well, the almost uniform strength of the stocks evidencing atten- tion to this important point, but as that part of Warwickshire is not an early district, the main ingathering had not begun at the date of our visit. We had afterwards evidence of our host's mechanical skill in the shape of an actual home-made harmonium, and a very excellent one, too. In fact, after a most enjoyable after- noon, we left Honey Cott full of the conviction that the home surroun dings of a cottage bee- keeper of John Walton's type may be made as fruitful in making life worth living as would be the possession of thousands. <$tttrfc» M&, JUjjhm [1613.] Queries re Bee-keepers' " Guide Book." — 1. Referring to the question whether the system of doubling and storifying- men- tioned on p. 56 of " Guide Book" — might not be applied to working for sections as well as for extracted honey, I may perhaps explain my meaning more clearly by asking would it be advantageous to place a body-box, contain- ing brood only, on the top of another similar box containing brood and bees (this is what is called " doubling," I believe), these two body-boxes being used by the queen, and then placing racks of sections over all, instead of using shallow frames for extracting ? 2. Or, as an alternative plan, restrict the queen by excluder-zinc to the lower body-box, remove upper one when brood is hatched out and combs are filled with honey for extracting, and continue supering with racks of sections 1 This would insure a large lot of bees for section honey. A large population being desirable when working for extracted honey, I fear I cannot see why it is " obvious " that a large number of bees would not be desirable for section honey too ? If it is obvious, there is an end of it, but I have not been able to sleep through puzzling it over, and still I cannot see it. — Geo. M. Saunders, Keswick. Reply. — Our correspondent, by re-writing his query as above, makes the reply less diffi- cult from his point of view. We therefore beg to say "Doubling," as dealt with in " Guide Book," is recommended as a very profitable method of working for extracted honey, the plan being to remove all the combs of brood from one hive and give these to the stock chosen for " doubling." As the added brood hatches out, the empty cells are filled with honey, and with a largely increased population of workers this is done rapidly. The combs, as fast as sealed over, are removed, the contents extracted and the frames given back to the bees to refill. The excitement engendered by thus returning combs wet with dripping honey causes the bees to redouble their efforts to refill them, and the result is a very large increase in honey by this method. But when we are asked why the plan should not be applied in working for sections, we reply that, for " obvious " reasons, it is unsuitable, and must be pardoned for still failing to see why there should be any puzzling to find out " why 1 " On the other hand, the giving of brood from a second hive to a colony intended to be worked for sections, will no doubt be advantageous ; but allowing the queen a double set of brood-combs would rather tend to operate in an opposite direction. [1614.] Using Carboliscd Cloths. — Will you kindly give me your opinion of the accompany- ing sample of honey. It is from three hives and of three separate " takes ? " The last I Dec. 17, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 507 got off had a lot of unsealed honey in the shallow frames, which I was advised to extract along with the sealed. This I did, and it seemed all right. Then I sold some to a friend ; it was found to be uneatable, owing to a strong flavour of gas-tar. This I can only account for in one way, namely, the use of carbolised cloths when wet. I sold the honey just after extracting, and think if the cloth had flavoured it, it had not had time to evaporate. I should like your opinion on the subject. The honey I send you is of the same lot. I don't think the flavour fine by any means, but con- sider it eatable and saleable. Do you ? 2. Do you approve of carbolised cloths, or do you prefer the smoker ? I use the former, as the bee3 become more subdued. 3. I made a solution according to Mr. Webster's directions, but it never looked like that he made. Instead of being a dark brown, creamy liquid, it was quite pale, almost colourless, and the acid seemed to be separate from the glycerine and water. Can you give me any reason for this 1 I shall be glad to have your opinion and advice, which has been so useful to me on former occasions. — L. C, Boldmere, December^. Reply. — 1. Honey received is, in our opinion, quite unfit for table use. 2. Car- bolised cloths are very useful at times in careful hands ; but for subjugating bees, and for general use about the apiary, we, in com- mon with probably ninety-nine out of every one hundred bee-keepers throughout the world, rely on smoke for subduing bees, and use only the smoker in all manipulative operations about hives. 3. We will draw Mr. Webster's attention to this query, and ask him to send us a line of reply. [1615.] Making Artificial Sxvarms. — Will you kindly state whether, in your opinion, the following method of artificial swarming would be a success ? I intend to place an old skep colony on top of a bar-frame hive about March next, feeding with syrup to encourage brood- raising. Now, if about April or May follow- ing, the frame-hive — by that time containing brood, bees, and queen — is removed about 70 yards away, will the flying bees of the removed colony return to the old parent skep left on the old stand, or are they likely to remain where removed, and be strong enough to 611 supers?— A B.B.J. Reader, Malton, Yorks, December 12. Reply. — Supposing that (as stated) when removal takes place the frame-hive contains brood, bees, and a queen — or, in other words, the brood-chamber has been transferred by the bees themselves to frame-hive placed below their original domicile — the flying bees of the removed stock will certainly return to the skep left on the old stand. They will there find themselves without the means of raising a queen, and eventually corns to grief, unless supplied with one. The removal will also tend to considerably weaken the stock in frame-hive through loss of bees ; consequently -the proposed plan of making an artificial swarm will fail. (Mots from the Mm. Helmsley, North Yorks, December 14. — What abnormal weather we are having ! Yesterday, although there was a cool breeze blowing, the sun was out, and the bees in my apiary evi- dently felt its genial warmth, as they turned out in strong force, and their hum could be heard thirty yards away. Breeding is evi- dently going on in most of the stocks, as every day when weather is favourable — and that has been five out of the last seven — a great number of bees have visited the watering-places, a proof that there is young brood hatched out. Stores, especially in strong stocks, will be a diminishing quantity, and new beginners will need to take timely warning to get a supply of candy-cake on hand and give to those stocks at once which may need it. As the season of 1896 is over, and we are looking forward hope- fully to that of 1897, would it not be instruc- tive to bee-keepers in general if those who have really found a swarm-catcher to answer the purpose intended would give their expe- rience in B.B. Journal ? — R. Ness. TAKING HONEY WITHOUT KILLING THE BEES. A Reminiscence of 130 Years Ago. " On the 14th day of October, 1766, Mr. Wildman, of Plymouth, who had made him- self famous throughout the We3t of England for his command over bees, was sent for to wait on Lord Spencer, at his seat in Wimble- don, in Surrey ; and he attended accordingly. "Several of the nobility and people of fashion were assembled, and the Countess' had provided three stocks of bees. u The first of his performances was with one hive of bees hanging on his hat, which he carried in his hand, and the hive they came out of in the other hand ; this was to shosv he could take honey and wax without destroying the bees. " Then he returned into the room, and came out again with them hanging to his chin, with a very venerable beard. " After showing them to the company, he took them out upon the grass walk facing the window, where, a table and a table-cloth being provided, he set them upon the table and made the bees hive therein." "Then he made them come out again and swarm in the air, the ladies and nobility standing among them, and no person stung by them. He made them go on the table, and took them up by handful?, and tossed them up 508 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 17, 1896. and down like so many peas ; he then made them go into their hive at the word of com- mand. At five o'clock in the afternoon he ex- hibited again with the three swarms of bees, one on his breast, one on his head, and the other on his arm, and waited on Lord Spencer in his room, who had been too much indisposed to see the former experiments ; the hives from which the bees had been taken were carried by one of the servants. " After this exhibition he withdrew, but returned once more to the room with the bees all over his head, face, and eyes, and was led blind before his lordship's windows. One of his lordship's horses being brought out in his body clothes, Mr. Wildman mounted the horse with the bees all over his head and face (except his eyes) ; they likewise covered his breast and left arm. He held his whip in his left hand, and a groom led the horse backwards and for- wards before his lordship's window for some time. " Mr. Wildman afterwards took the reins in his hand and rode round tbe house ; he then dismounted, and made the bee3 march upon a table, and, at his word of command, retire to their hive. The performance surprised and gratified the Earl and Oountes3 and all the spectators who had assembled to witness this great bee-master's extraordinary exhibition." — Annual Register, 1766. " Can honey be taken without destroying the bees ? There are accounts to this effect in several books, but some of the methods de- scribed are known to have failed. "The editor is desirous of ascertaining whether there is a convenient mode of preserving the bees from the cruel death to which they are generally doomed after they have been despoiled of their sweets.'' — Copied word for word from The Every-Day Booh. Published 1830 —P. E. B. 1 happened to be looking through a volume called an " Every Day Book," and I came across the above interesting article on bees. I copied it out just as in the book, and take the liberty of sending it to you, hoping it will prove of some interest. — P. E. Buckwell, Cheriton Rectory, Shorncliffe. AT WHAT AGE WILL BEES FIRST . GATHER STORES ? Will bees ever go out in search of food before being from fourteen to eighteen days' old? On this question authorities are as yet divided. Dr. Miller says yes ; Vogel, of Ger- many, no. Of course, one of the two must be wrong. In the Bienenzeitung of 1891 Vogel had a long article in which he showed that bees less than eighteen days old would sooner starve than go out in search of food. I was inclined to think he was right, not knowing the reasons that led Dr. Miller to arrive at his conclusion ; but the 'more I thought of it the more uncertain I became. Dr. M. would have spoken his proverbial " I don't know " If he had not had conclusive evidence, I con- cluded, and so I decided to settle the question to my own satisfaction ; for it seems, although we may read and study the ablest written articles giving the best of proof, nothing con- vinces us quicker or so thoroughly and last- ingly as what we have seen with our own eyes. Seeing is not only believing, but know- ing. I will now tell the reader what I found out. In order to see how young a bee would work in the field I thought it necessary to form a colony out of all just hatching bees. So, on June 4 I took four nice clean combs, all worker size, and gave them to as many dif- ferent colonies, placing them in the centre of their respective brood-nests. On June 25 I collected them again, placing them in a pre- viously and specially-prepared chamber with wire-screen bottom, setting the whole over a very populous colony, quilts and cushion re- moved. In this way, and by means of hot " soap-stones " on top, and wrapping all in blankets, I tried to keep the temperature up to the desired point, so the brood and bees would not suffer either way. When I placed these brood-combs in the above-named chamber some bees had already commenced hatching from them. Oa June 28 quite a number of bees had gathered, forming a regular cluster. I gave them then a new and somewhat isolated location, and for a fly-hole I opened a prq- vioiisly bored § in. hole, being about 2 in. above the bottom-board. The oldest bees in this little colony were now just three days' old, but not one came out, not even peeped out, that afternoon, although the sun shone warm. The next afternoon a very few bees showed themselves ; some few specked up the outside of the hive a very little around the fly- hole, but not one attempted to fly off. The next day, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon (June 30), the oldest bees being then just five days'old, there was suddenly a commotion, to be noticed from quite a distance. I was at my post in a minute. Quite a number of bees were flying off and kept flying, apparently in for a play, and, judging from the specking the previous day, perhaps for a cleansing flight. This lasted some fifteen or twenty minutes. Then things became quiet again. Then, all at once, I imagined seeing a bee slipping into the entrance-hole, carrying a tiny load of pollen. The bee disappeared from my sight so quickly I could not be certain. While meditating and wondering whether it really could be, another bee struck the little _ § in. entrance-hole, but also disappeared quickly. Several more bees came in the same fashion, and, although I was as attentive as I could be, I wa3 still undecided whether there had been pollen in any of their pollen-baskets, the Dec. 17, 1896.1 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 509 loads they carried being so small — hardly visible — and the bees always going from my sight so quickly. The next bee that came was loaded just a little heavier. This time there was no mis- take— the load of pollen was there. The bee carrying it also hit the little round entrance with infallible accuracy. I mention these observations because some one might say, " A strange bee strayed accidentally found the hive." Taking into consideration that all my other hives have their entrance on a level with the bottom-board and full width of the hives, it would seem reasonable to suppose any stray bee would drop down on the alighting-board and try to find admittance there ; but although I watched quite a few more bees coming in loaded with pollen more or less, every one seemed to know just where the entrance was. At sundown that day an examination was made. It showed that considerable work had been done to match the combs. Some honey had been changed to different places. The most surprising feature was the presence of un- sealed larvte. The small amount of open brood contained in one of the combs at the time of forming the colony on June 25 had not suffered, but had seemingly been cared for all right. A subsequent experiment along this line did not turn out so well. A colony having cast a prime warm on June 26 was stripped from all its bees July 1. The brood-combs were treated in precisely the same manner as n the other case, and on the third day I found all open brood perished. Why this difference I am not fully prepared to say. Our basswood honey season opened on the morning of July 1. My little experimental colony sent out tis workers as regular as any other colony in the yard, they bringing both honey and pollen. No bee was at this time quite six days old. On examining the colony on the evening of this day much new honey could be seen, which dropped from the combs when held in a horizontal position. From this time on no marked difference could be noticed between this or any other colony, except, of course, in strength. A queen was now introduced, and I should have liked to make further observations, the bees all being black and the queen an Italian ; but, as it happened, she proved a drone-layer, was removed[later, and one of Root's tested queens substituted. On July 25 she commenced to lay, and she soon filled the combs nicely. Now some of the bees are about fifteen days old, and many of them may be seen bringing in pollen, the honey season being at an end. It was not only curiosity that prompted me to make my experiment, but I think the ques- tion has a bearing upon the practical side of our pursuit. If a bee cannot be induced to go out in search of food before eighteen days of age, then we shall have to be all the more care- ful when forming new colonies and nuclei so that enough field-bees may be present to con- duct the business. — F. Greiner, in Qhanings. HONEY AS FOOD. WHY IT SHOULD BE EATEN. There are four kinds of food that are necessary to health and life. These are the inorganic elements, like water, salt, phosphate, and carbonate of lime, &c. ; the non-nitro- genous organic — so called because they owe their origin to organic nature, and contain no nitrogen— and the nitrogenous. The second class — the non-nitrogenous organic — contain oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon, illustrated in starch, the various sugars, and the fats. The last all contain nitrogen, and resemble in many ways the white of an egg, and so often called albuminoids. Muscle, white of an egg, cheese, and blood albumen, are illustrations of the nitrogenous food elements. That we need all of these in our food is shown in the fact that we hunger for them if they are not repre- sented, or if they are too scantily represented in our food. Again, milk and egg, which may be regarded as typical food, contain all of these substances. In this article we are concerned only with the second class of food principles — the non- nitrogenous organic. Of these the fats do not interest us at present, although important in all complete food rations. Bees get their albuminous and fatty food elements in the pollen. We thus have before us now only the starch and sugars. These not only contain oxy- gen, hydrogen, and carbon, but always contain the oxygen and hydrogen in proportion to form water, that is, two atoms of hydrogen to one of oxygen. Thus the formula for starch isC„Hl0O5, and of water is H20. From the fact that starch and sugar contain oxygen and hydrogen in proportion to form water they are called carbo-hydrates. The carbo- hydrates, then, including starch, and all sugars, as cane sugar, which includes beet sugar, and maple sugar, milk sugar, and all the glucose or reducing sugars, are very important food elements, so important that we are not left, as in case of most foods, to the chance of securing them in our food that we eat, but the liver is constantly forming liver sugar, which is very much like the sugar of honey. The liver, then, is a marvellous chemist, for it can do what no human chemist can do — form sugar, though we only eat the purest muscle, like the beef's heart. To change nitrogenous material into carbo-hydrates is a wondrous transformation that man has never yet been able to perform. The liver can, and does, do it. In our early development, before the liver is sufficiently formed to be functionally active, a purely pre- natal organ — the placenta — forms sugar. We all know how children long for candy. This longing voices a need, and is another evidence of the necessity for sugar in our diet. Until a comparatively recent date cane- sugar was unknown, if we except maple sugar, and that' must have been a very unimportant food article. Thus, in the olden time honey formed the almost exclusive sugar, and so must have 510 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 17, 1896. been a very important substance. We know by the references to it in classic writings, and in the Bible, that it was held in very high regard, as well it might be, for it, with starch, composed tbe entire stock of carbo-hydrates to be drawn upon by the caterer of the olden times, as he worked to satisfy the needs, or, what is about the same thing, the appetites of his patrons. I have been told by some excellent physi- cians that they considered some of the worst diseases of modern times — especially Bright's disease of the kidneys — were far more prevalent than formerly, and they thought it due to the large consumption of cane sugar, which was unknown in the long ago. It seems to me that a little study of the subject may explain this, if it be true, and may give us two valu- able hints — the one to eat more honey ; the other, to take special pains to give children all the honey that they wish, and at every meal- time in the hope to lessen the amount of cane sugar that they will eat. They like and crave for sugar, because they need it to nourish them, and so given plenty of sugar in the honey, the need will be met, and the hunger for candy and cane sugar will be less keen. The digestion of food, is simply to render it osmotic, or capable of being taken through an organic membrane, capable of being absorbed. We eat starch ; it is non-osmotic, and would lie in the stomach and intestines indefinitely, except that by digestion it is changed to a glucose-like sugar, which Js very osmotic, and so easily absorbed from the alimentary canal into the blood. Cane sugar, though somewhat osmotic, is not readily absorbed, nor is it readily assimilated, even though it pass into the blood. Thus cane sugar must be digested or changed to a glucose-like sugar. Bees gather nectar from the flowers, and as they sip it, or draw it, from the flowers, they mingle with it a kind of saliva or ferment from their upper head gland, and the large glands of the thorax, and thus transform it into honey, which contains almost exclusively a reducing sugar, and not cane sugar. Thus bees do to nectar what we do to cane sugar — they transform it to a more osmotic and more assimilable glucose-like sugar. We call this in our case digestion of the cane sugar, and it is just the same when the bees do it. If any one prefers he may call it " transformation." In any case it makes honey a safer food than cane sugar, and we do well to eat it more generally ; and it is especially desirable as food for children. Children should be given all the honey at each meal-time that they will eat. It is safer ; will largely do away with the inordinate longing for candy and other sweets, and, in lessening the desire, will doubtless diminish the amount of cane sugar eaten. Thus, if caDe sugar does work mischief with health, the harm may be prevented. There can be no doubt but that in eating honey our digestive machinery is saved work that it would have to perform if we ate cane sugar ; and in case it is overworked and feeble, this may be just the respite that will save from a breakdown. Again, if cane sugar is absorbed without change, it will be removed by the kidneys, and may result in their breakdown ; and so phy- sicians may be correct in asserting that the large consumption of cane sugar by the nine- teenth century man is harmful to the great eliminators — the kidneys — and so a menace to health and long life. It may be urged in reply to the above, that honey is a poison to many. This is not the sugar of the honey, but some other element, very likely the formic acid, or perhaps the extract from the flowers. It seems most likely that the deleterious element is the formic acid, added to the sweet by the bee. This keeps the honey from fermentation, and is not harmful to many ; only occasionally a person is unable to eat it. — Professor A. J. Cook, in American Bee Journal. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufac- turers or correspondents, or where appliances can be purchased, or replies giving such inforniation, 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 wish our Coires'pondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of iisue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately foUowvng the receipt of their communica- All queries forwarded vriU be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be ansxcered in this column Lover of Nature (Malton, Yorks.). — Letters dealing mainly with either social or political questions, not being suitable to the columns of this journal, we must decline your con- tribution with thanks. R. Bayley (Plymouth). — Section came to hand in excellent condition, proving that as a section it was good. We do not recognise any flavour of wild thyme in the honey, which is fairly good, though somewhat wanting in consistency. Shall be very pleased to get view of your apiary in spring. H. Lock (South Tottenham).— Moving Bees. — During the winter season bees may be moved at any time after being confined to their hives for a few weeks by cold weather. H. Thos. Precious (E. Dereham).— Lantern Slides. — These may be hired from the B.B.K.A. by writing to the Secretary, Mr. E. H. Young, 12, Hanover-square, W. Members of the B.B.K.A. or its affiliated Associations can hire them at a reduced charge. G. M. (Aberdeen). — Suspected Combs. — No trace of brood at all in comb received. If there are no capped cells at all in the remaining combs no alarm need be felt as to foul brood. Dec. 24, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 511 literal $fota, &t USEFUL HINTS. Weather. — For some time past we have considered that the occupying of space in this column under the "Weather " heading was more honoured in the breach than in the observance, seeing how small a chance there was of filling it other than with grumbles. Not that we admit the possession by bee- keepers of a greater propensity for growling than is shown by other folks. In fact, the general tendency of Britons in this direction is clearly and very hap- pily expressed in a leader in the Standard, wherein the writer says : — " After the hot fit, the cold ; and it was quite certain that a spring and summer of exceptionally dry weather would be succeeded by a wet autumn, and possibly a yet wetter winter. The expectation has not been disappointed, and Englishmen have thus enjoyed not only one but two opportunities of grumbling. Man that never is but always to be blest, according to one of our national poets, is in these islands always looking out for an ideal condition of things that is never reached, but is always going to be attained to-morrow. Meanwhile, there is either too much sun, too much cloud, too much frost, too much mist, too much drought, or too much rainfall. This last is our present condition ; and it has begun to affect people's spirits to such an extent that all but the very young show themselves exceedingly irritable under the infliction. It has been a year of lamentations. In May, June, and July, men and women, after fruitlessly tapping a misleading glass, went about complaining that the cloudless, dry atmosphere injured their nerves, and that dyspepsia and a world of kindred ills were pursuing them from morning to night. When would it rain 1 When would there be a rattling good thunderstorm 1 Nor were the mcdadcs imaginaiirs the only grumblers. Farmers redoubled their ordinary dissatisfaction with things in general ; nor were their jeremiads wholly unfounded, when the wheat and barley looked prema- turely yellow, when there was no hay crop to speak of, when the roots were nowhere, and when all the springs in the neighbourhood were getting lower and lower every day. A class calling for less commiseration, the owners of gardens, were yet more open-mouthed, and raved and re- gretted as though the whole purpose of creation and the general dispensation was to grow splendid flowers and big straw- berries. Being accustomed to having things pretty much their own way in this world, they considered themselves quite wronged because it did not rain precisely when they wanted it to do so, and went disconsolately about then- grounds as though they were the chosen and undeserving victims of a spiteful fate. If it would only rain ! Market gardeners were in a similar plight, but with a more decent pretext for their lugubrious faces. Want of moisture means a short crop of asparagus, peas that do not swell in the pod, lettuces that ' run up,' gooseberries that do not plump out, and apple trees where the grubs have all the best of the fruit. And now the rain has fallen, and has been falling for some time, and they are just as ill-satisfied, as lugubrious, and as sorry for themselves as ever." Untimely Bee Manipulations. — So constantly have we, in these pages, depre- cated the bad habit of opening hives, examining combs, and in various ways causing wholly unnecessary disturbance to bees, at unseasonable times, that one wonders why bee-keepers — especially those who are inexperienced — should fail to bear in mind the undoubted risk of queens being "balled," and other minor evils which must always attend such practices. Readers are again and again reminded of the need for leaving hives severely alone at certain seasons. The reason why this is so may be explained in a few words. For a few weeks after the active work of the year is over, and before the bees have fairly entered upon what may be called the period of hybernation — they are liable to display a kind of jealous fondness — or the oppo- site, it is hard to say which — for the queen, and this sometimes has the curious result of causing the bees on being excited unduly by disturbances to "ball" her, this balling meaning neither more nor less than death ! The same thing is liable to occur in early spring, just when brood-raising is becoming 512 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 24, 1896. active. Well, as we have said, the unfortunate part of the affair is that in most cases the operator is quite oblivious to the fact that over-disturbance or rough handling of the combs is in any way to blame, when a queen is seen cast out of hives dead, in late autumn or early spring, but it is so. There are, we admit, many bed-keepers of experience who pay no attention what- ever to risks of queen balling, but they are not liable to make the mistakes which end so disastrously to others. They know when hives may be opened and when to leave them " severely alone," hence their immunity from damage. It is also very curious to note how one man may overhaul combs, and the bees show nothing like resentment, while handling by another will cause great excitement and upset among them. In any case, however, the point to im- press on all is, avoid untimely bee-mani- pulation and unseasonable disturbance of hives, except when dire necessity com- pels such. HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE. OUR ILLUSTRATIONS. Arrangements have been made for printing future issues of the Bee Journal on paper more suitable for half-tone blocks of fine grain than that hitherto used. By this change it is hoped that fuller justice will be done to the illustrations. ^snmpwkm. The Editor 8 do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and give theirr real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries, Books for Review, &c, must be addressed only to " The Editors of the ' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William- street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi- cations relating to Advertisements, dec, must be addressed to "The Manager, ' BritiBh Bee Journal' Office, 17, King William-street, Strand, London, W.C." DOINGS OF THE PAST MONTH. [2736.] — To chronicle u doings " in the apiary in December is an easy task, there bebog practically nothing to be done save clearing away rubbish and straightening up such odds and ends as will make the place look tidy and neat ; to pack away appliances, new and old, and to see that hive entrances are kept clear and the inmates undisturbed by mice, &c. It is also a good time to re-arrange the apiary, if necessary. Bees were flying on several occa- sions during the month. I was glad to note this, as an occasional flight at this season is helpful towards bringing them safely through the winter. In moving about the apiary in winter care should be exercised not to knock against the hives, or to cause any shock to be felt within, damage being not seldom done by a sudden untoward disturbance. I have a letter from a bee-keeper in Scotland, who, on the 4th inst. — from some cause not apparent — had a valuable queen destroyed and turned out. I also note another case of the same class in the Journal of the 10th inst. (2726, p. 492). These misfortunes can only be ascribed to undue disturbance, causing the cluster to be perturbed and the queen " balled " in consequence. Hammering, digging, or operations causing violent dis- turbances, are apt to be dangerous if per- mitted in the vicinity of hives at this season. Quiet restfulness is what is wanted. I visited the " works '' down in Kent a few days ago and realised the advantage of quiet solitude for the bees. Cold, bitterly cold, with a leaden sky overhead, a dull mist half hiding the surrounding hills, and the half rain, half sleet falling with a persistency known only to some December days, the bees were all snug indoors safe and free from even accidental "balling" of queens. Asleep, so to speak, in their little " cots " like the babies ! The " works " were as hermetically shut up as if a strike had occurred. Except for the chirp of a bird occasionally, all was silence ; and, with a return train to wait for, the inside of the "hut" was sought, "the pipe" lighted, stove got ready, and preparations made for a " coffee," one's thoughts going back the while to the swarming days of the early summer of '96. How — as my " watcher " informed me — for nearly a week a swarm from one of my hives had issued, gone back and re-issued, day by day, only to again return, because of the queen being retained by the queen-trap, described on page 203 of vol. 22. How on the bright summer's morning, when I got away from " town " to the bees, I was told by the aforesaid watcher of the swarming vagaries alluded to above. How the hive had every evening a swarm clustering outside, and how they had gone in again during the night. I had scarcely been informed of what had occurred, when an uproar at the hive referred to confirmed the exclamation, " They're coming off again ! " and sure enough the bees were tumbling and scrambling through the zinc perforations of trap into the open air. A moment sufficed for removal of queen-trap ; then to watch the swarm mounting higher into the glorious sunshine, and, finally — with their queen at last one of the throng — settle down Dec. 24, 1896.1 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 513 in a goodly cluster to wait for my hiving. Little incidents like these — full of life as they are — bring back pleasant reflections at this dead season, and, while indulging in such, one forgets the leaden sky, the soaking rain, and howling wind, and all the " uncomfortables " outside, and make us live it all over again. Viewing all the circumstances of that particular swarming- out and returning on four successive days, and my fioal securing of the bees on the fifth attempt, I know why I have made up my mind to place a similar appliance on all my honey-getting stocks this coming season. I am more than ever convinced that the secret of successful wintering is to pack warmly above frames, and that side-packing between the walls of hives is unnecessary. With plenty of top-packing and water-tight roofs, together with plenty of food in store, no one need fear the rigours of our winters. I have been trying very thin sheet-zinc for covering hive-roofs, and it answers admirably ; better than any material I have yet seen. It is light, inexpensive, and absolutely effective, with the advantage of being practically everlasting. I advise its general adoption for the purpose. No matter how " shaky " a roof may be, if it holds together at all, a sheet of this thin metal and a coat of paint transforms it into a sound, presentable roof. Before my next remarks under this heading appear, the most critical time for bees will have been reached. Few bees are lost in December, as they usually have plenty of stores still on hand, and their numbers are not materially diminished ; but the cold, cutting winds and severe frosts later on severely test the staying powers of bees and mortals alike, and nothing should be omitted which may be required to ensure the safety of our charges. I specially refer to plenty of quilts and waterproof roofs. There is still time to see tbat these necessities are in order. One can hardly realise that the eve of Christmas will be here when these lines are in print, and the old season's greetings going forth throughout the land, "Peace on earth, goodwill towards man." For my part I think it well that we have a festive season to cheer up the otherwise dull days of December, and when, as the year closes, one listens to the bells ringing out the old and the new year in, it adds to the gladness to feel that we are on the turn towards the brighter days of summer with its sunshine, warmth, and the far sweeter sound, to my mind, of the joyful hum of the busy bees once again at work among the flowers ; all betokening prosperity and con- tentment. Thinking of the coming year reminds us of the march of time and the constant changes brought about by the never - ending for- ward tread of the old scythe - bearer. In this direction bee-keepers will have to bear in mind the matter dealt with on page 491, where a warning editorial note is sounded as to the need for upholding the quality of British honey so far as maintaining its good name and claim to preference over the foreign article imported to these shores. The demand for British honey is still good, and ready sales can be effected. But when the supply is short, and the demand unsatisfied, inferior foreign produce finds its way on to our market at the price of — and in lieu of — British honey. The remedy for this condition of things is to keep up a steady and continuous supply of good British honey on the home market. It is now in our own hands to see to this, but how long it may remain so, who can tell? Another sign of the changes worked by time that strikes one is the way things grow or expand. I find my belongings so growing as to necessitate a further expansion, necessi- tating the inclusion in my " doings of the past month " of a move, not altogether in an api- cultural direction. In a word, we have a " moving job on " now (to larger premises), which promises to add still another apiary to the " Homes of the Honey Bees," now appear- ing in our Journal. These should be full of interest and teach many useful lessons, and be the means of bringing readers into closer touch one with another. The short descriptions you propose to give of the surroundings, systems of management, and other special items con- nected with each " garden," will also add much to the interest. I hope very many others besides myself will respond to the invitation, and make our B.B.J, a practical illustrated album of reference, wherein we may see the apiaries and read of the " doings " of those who assist to make the Journals the valuable and reliable periodicals they are. Wishing our Editors and all readers a full measure of health and prosperity in the coming year. — Henry W. Brice, Dale Park, Upper Norwood. AMONG THE BEES. SUBJUGATOR. [2737.] In reply to query of your corre- spondent, "L. 0.,'' in issue of December 17 (p. 506), I must first call the inquirer's atten- tion to the fact that the recipe given in my " Book of Bee-keeping " is the original one used and introduced some twelve years ago. The edition in the querist's hands is no doubt the first one, written in 1886. Since then I have experimented quite largely with various forms of presumed subjugators with the object of overcoming the uncertainty and trouble of the smoker. Well, for myself, 1 have suc- ceeded perfectly with the " subjugator ; " any- way, although I perform thousands of manipu- lations during a season, invariably without any covering to my hands or face, I use none other, and am well aware that hundreds do the same, though perhaps with a veil. Now, the querist, whom I happen to know as a very enthusiastic lady bee-keeper, complains of her honey 5H THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 24, 1896. tasting of " gas-tar ; " but if one overdoses a hive with smoke, the honey will become so strongly impregnated with that odour and flavour as to become worthless for sale So you can overdo a colony with the subjugator, though if used as directed on the labels of every bottle issued it is impossible so to do. In the latest edition (1896) of my work I do not give the recipe as in the earlier editions which "L. C." has alluded to, but advise the use of the subjugator for those who do not wish to use smoke. The use of ordinary carbolic cloths is to some extent unsafe, owing to the cloths having to be used wet with the mixture ; this is im- perative, owing to its extreme volatility. I overcame this by making the subjugator sapo- naceous, hence its " creamy" consistency ; this I found " fixed " the odour sufficiently, so that the cloths could be used dry, and for a much longer period ; it also has by this the advan- tage that the cloths when exhausted can be put in some cold water, and, without soap, readily washed free from all dirt and residue, and can then be re-charged, and used again and again. The separation of the water, glycerine, and acid (old recipe) was overcome by having it prepared at a manufacturing chemist — by dis- tillation they informed me — so we get a fluid of quite a different appearance to that; mixed (?) by the ordinary amateur who tries to amalga- mate the compound. Now, I suppose 1 mustn't find fault with the editors for a portion of their footnote, but, really, they must let me have just a little " dig '' at them. The " dig '' is as follows, and, of course, is offered with apologies : — I have visited just a few apiaries in my time, and think I can with safety say that ninety-nine out of every hundred advanced bee-keepers in Britain (I don't know anything about the rest of the world) use carbolic cloths, or carbolic acid in some form, or at some time or other, for subjugating bee3. — W. B. Webster, Bin- field, Berks, December 21. [In order that our reply to query referred to may be properly understood and estimated, we think it right to say that, if Mr. Webster had the sample of honey before him — as we had — he would at once admit that no amount of fumigation, from any source, could possibly have had anything like the effect on honey as was shown in the case dealt with. Odour is one thing and the actual admixture of carbolic acid quite" another, We dealt with the latter — not with fumigation — and Mr. Webster is probabl} as able as ourselves to differentiate between the two. As for our friend's " dig "—which we accept in the kindliest spirit— we cannot quite admit its force. In fact, it is to our mind, rather begging the question to say that advanced bee-keepers " use carbolic cloths, or carbolic acid, in some form." What expe- rience abundantly proves— to those who possess ao much of it as falls to the lot of editors of bee journals — is that, though in this country subjugators other than the smoker are used by some, we never hear of any intimidant for bees in countries where hives are kept in thousands, and bee-keeping is regularly made a trade or business of but the smoker. — Eds.]. DECEMBER DAYS AND THE BEES. [2738.] To-day the little sprinkling of snow which has been upon hive roofs for some little time was melted on that side the gable facing the sun. My hives, being covered with zinc, gave me no concern that icy-cold water might be oozing through a crack or nail-hole. Considering how easily bees are benumbed on a spring morning when out amongst crocuses and snowdrops — how they depend for their existence on the sun's warmth and the flowers — it seems incredible how they manage to brave the untoward conditions which now exist — a cold, bitter air, a cold, grey sky, the earth covered over with frozen snow particles. Frozen snow which on earth that slopes to- wards the south (as in my garden) sheds icy tears over the mortal remains of lilies, of phlox, of bellflowers, of veronica. I have little courage left to visit a spot where nought is to be seen save labels whereon is painted the names of my dear . departed flowers — names written in a dead language (Latin), and the labels somewhat suggestive of tombstones ! The last time I ventured I found there had been a good many local earth- quakes, in the shape of mole-hills, right among the tombs of my best beloved, and sundry rabbits were making an enjoyable repast off carnation " grass " and anything else that had a blade or leaf left. Besides these trifles, my garden has always been the High-street of the cat and dog community — dogs by day and cats by night. Here they meet to love and fight, and act their little life's drama. Here, also, my neighbour's fowls periodically migrate, whilst his goat occasionally mistakes the wall for an alpine crag, and jumps over, and then may be seen an amusing fight between the beast and Sarah Jane with the mop. (1 never tackle him myself since the day when he ran into me, behind, and I thought I had been shot out of an 81-ton gun !) Sarah Jane eventually persuades the beast to jump over into another neighbour's garden, and when I come to witness the havoc, I don't quite know which is the more to be feared— the goat or Sarah Jane ! Truth compels me to admit that Sarah Jane's Trilbys are a good many shades larger than the goat's, as I found out when I found the imprints of them in tufts of saxifrage, and gazed upon them as Robinson Crusoe did at the savages' footprints in the sand ! I wonder whether the fog the other day made the bees' eyes sore, and got on to their chests, and made them cough ? or whether they quarrelled because " Brer " Honey Bee would have it " that the fog was thicker in his Dec. 24, 1896.] THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL. 515 street than it was in Brer Pollen Bees' street ? ' I wonder if the earthquake (of which we, seem, to be rather proud !) shook the poor bees in their beds, and rattled the entrance slides so much that poor papa bee (although much disinclined) was obliged to take the poker and search for that burglar, Mr. Mouse, Avhile the Queen held a candle encouragingly over the head of the stairs ? And on the morrow, did they all sit down and write to the papers, describing how one was thrown clean up to the ceiling, and another weighing fifteen stone thrown out of bed, and yet another heard a fearful rushing and mighty explosion, and a strong smell of brimstone, while another (a professor) said it must have been caused by the fog? Did various matron and old-maid bees consider it a warning from heaven that their husbands and brothers must go to church more regularly and otherwise amend their ways ? And were one and all unanimous in declaring that it woke them all up, and they never heard anything like it before in their lives ? We do not know. We can only hope the bees have a language, so that they can tell tales and cheer one another through the dread season ; that they have some mind, so that they know as well as we, their masters, the winter cannot last for ever ! It will have its reign while old King Sol is away ! It will silence our streams and bury our gardens and meadows from our sight. It will rattle our windows and pile heap3 of snow under our doors. It will make us pile on the coal and huddle round the fire and fill the hot-water bottles. It will make me, in common with all bee-keepers, dejected and sad, but the coal merchant joyful ! It will seem at times almost unendurable ; but it cannot last ! King Sol, who has never failed us yet, will come back and loosen the bonds ; call all things back to life, our flowers and green-fly, our cabbages and catterpillars, our foul-brood and bees ! LoRDSWOOD. WAX EXTRACTING. AND 60ME MINOR ITEMS. [2739.] In looking over back volumes of B.B J. for a correspondent's letter, and about to apologise for delaying to communicate the information he sought — I had not seen his question answered, having for once omitted to divide the folded pages wherein I have now read it — I came across the subject of wax extracting (1537, p. 347 ; 1678, p. 507 ; 1685, p. 515 ; vol. 1893). Like " Lordswood " (2649, p. 423), I, too, was in a similar predicament to that so humorously described by him as often as I began to extract. In fact, I was becoming rather tired of seeing so much time and trouble occupied, that this autumn found me loath to make a beginning. This, however, set me thinking, for wax was ordered by a fair one, but not wishing to get '; waxy," nor yet to make any one else " waxy," comply I must. Thus the thought occurred to me to requisition the " kitchener " or oil cooking-stove. What more convenient ? A gentle, soft, controllable heat — try ; make an experiment. Taking the "better half" into my conBdence, I obtained a small muslin bag, mounted it on a temporary tripod, put a few ounces of wax (last year's uncleaned product) into it inside the oven with a cup partly filled with water, and it acted like magic. Very soon beautiful golden wax resulted. All fear of any mishap to ruffle the ruling sex was gone ; the operation effected so nicely, producing such a lovely cake fragrant with the " delicious odour," no trace of burning ; this on a small scale. Muslin was liable to scorch in the process, to obviate which I put it into a wire- wove strainer supported over a dish containing water, and large enough to hold a two-pound cake, then returned all into the oven and supplied fresh comb as it was melted. The cake thus procured I break into pieces, and re-melt into moulds of a quarter, half, and whole pound size. In this manner I have easily obtained several pounds' weight, and shall now hasten to extract a l"t of old and discarded combs, the process being so simple and safe that constant personal supervision is needless. My brother, who resides within easy dis- tance of Islington, has attended the "Royal'' Show for several years past, and reports very favourably both of my honey and wax as compared with the other exhibits, to say nothing of the flattering praises bestowed on the honey by friends and purchasers in different parts. Some years ago I was offered Is. 8d. a lb. for wax, wholesale price ; this year I get Is. 10d., and retail at 2s. 8d. to 3s. I ought to add, I have some wax nearly as black as ink, and have failed to eliminate the colour. I hope those bee-keepers who obtained seeds of "Chapman's Honey Plant" through you last year were rewarded with fine plants. My awn sowing failed, the seeds remained dor- mant until this spring, when they germinated, and I have now a nice lot planted out there- from to blossom next year. It would be honourable for those recipients to describe their success or failure . I only remember one — and that a girl —referring to her success in its cultivation. I have no seeds this year for gratuitous distribution. Wasps were exceedingly numerous during the past season, and caused considerable annoyance. In the spring I saw several queen wasps, some of which I destroyed, but could not find any nests. A stock of bees died off, leaving in the hive six frames partly filled with sealed honey. I shut up the hive to keep it ready for a certain swarm which never came off (I had only one this year), and did not trouble myself further. Some time afterwards, being attracted by a lot of wasps, I opened the hive, to find it full of them and all the honey gone! I failed to discover their entrance. The old-fashioned trap (a large- 516 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 24, 1896. mouthed bottle with sweetened water and a small flower-pot dropped in) proved of great service. I have a room, built of red pine, not yet painted. Frequently when inside I heard a nibbling sound as of a mouse nibbling away the woodwork. My pets — cat and dog — would be instantly on the alert, and hurry to the spot from whence the sound issued, only to be disappointed. This noise being so often repeated made me determine to find its source, and when the opportunity came I searched, and soon located it on the outside. On further examination I discovered, not a mouse, but a queen wasp biting the board, following the grain backwards and downwards ! Since then I have seen many wasps engaged in performing the same operation, the boards being now literally covered with these marks, varying from a J in. to 2 in. in length. If wasps are able to bite wood, how much more easily to pierce the rind of fruit. Well, scores of my apples were completely deprived of their flesh whilst on the trees. And now, Messrs. Editors, I take the oppor- tunity to express my gratitude to you for conducting and also to the many correspon- dents for contributing to the pages of your unique and highly-interesting journal on bee- keeping, which I regard as the most useful minor industry of the kingdom. The B.J. ha3 afforded me immense pleasure, and its arrival invariably means longer indulgence at the breakfast - table, even when my attention should be given to other things ; and as this year of grace is fast drawing to its close, to be numbered with the long past, I wish to one and all a very Happy. Christmas, with successful wintering of their bees, and a prosperous New Year that may exceed in results the dying old one. — J. Q , Tenby, December 16. " MEMORIES.'' [2740.] When my B.B.J, came to hand this a.m. (a day late), and I read the breezy and cheery letter (p. 503) from R. A. H. Grimshaw this evening, like him, I had a series of mental pictures passed before my mind, and many " happy memories " came crowding one upon another as I read his epistle. Among others, well do I remember the first time he and I met. It was at our county show, on September 6, 1892, when I was examined for my third-class expert's certificate, and Mr. Grimshaw was the examiner. The chief thing which struck me then was bis unbounded enthusiasm, coupled with thoroughness and sterling ability, which showed itself in all that he did that day, even under provoking con- ditions. I have also been charmed many times since then, when reading his bright, chatty "talks'' in the B.B.J. ; and as he and " Xtractor " are " inseparables," I have won- dered if, between them, they could fit up "the hut " again, and as in " happy bygone " days we could have the apt " poetic quotations " and the " useful dodges " (but perhaps that word is too suggestive for our Editors — shall I say " hints ") we used to get from " the hut," many of which I have, with advantage, put into practice. The advice Mr. G. gives to young bee- keepers in his closing sentences will, I hope, be followed by many. I am more than ever convinced (though not a " greybeard " yet) that the more the " mental bank " is stored with bee truths and teachings, and the ways and doings of the marvellous insect, Apis mellijica, the more entrancing will it become. Nor is one ever lonely or sad when soothed with the " melodious chime '' of the honey-bee, or after reading the letters, so brimful of Nature's teaching, which come to the B.B.J, all too seldom from "Lordswood" and others. I would like to say one word more : It is now Christmas time, when we usually "take stock," and if as bee keepers and students we take stock of the past year, we shall find many erstwhile leaders in our " craft " have fallen out of the ranks, and their places are being filled by others. These may be sad memories, but they need not be of necessity so ; especially should we remember the energy and enterprise displayed by those who are gone, and the enjoyment we have had in their company, and still have in reading what they have left us. If we strive to follow the example they have left, many a time shall we have — Memories, bright memories of each hallow'd name, Wake in our fond hearts love's undying flame. But I must halt, or my lines will be earning a place in the "W.P.B." Wishing all old and new friends the season's compliments. — Peter Scattergood, Jun., Stapleford, Notts., December 19, 1896. BEES IN THE ISLE OF THANET. [2741.] I have an orchard in which the top fruit is apples, pears, plums, and cherries, while underneath these are raspberry canes. The trees are too closely planted to allow of cultivating anything else. Would you recom- mend sowing with clover (white) for my bees ? The orchard is about two acres in extent, and I shall have in it next year about fifty stocks or more of bees. I only had four stocks — worked mainly for section honey — this spring, and give below my results for this season. No. 1.— 27 Sections. . . 20 lb. Extracted. . . Total 47 lb. „ 2.-53 „ 12 ,, „ 65 „ „ 3.— 61 „ 19 „ „ 80 „ „ 4.— 80 „ 72 „ „ 152 „ „ 5.-26 „ 17 „ „ 43 „ 247 140 387 Or an average- of 96| lb. from a spring count of four hives, No. 5 being a swarm from No. 1 . I also lost a swarm from No. 2, and made artificial swarms from Nos. 2 and 3. Besides the above I got 2| lb. of wax. Dec. 24, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 517 I do not think, however, that anything like a proper average can be struck from results forwarded. People seem to me to only forward their " takings '' (in writing) if they have had either a particularly good or particularly bad year. I am, of course, very satisfied with the past season, but with the exception of one person, I do not know any one round here who has taken anything like the same quantity of honey as myself. The good lady who forms the exception knows nothing whatever about bees, and her method has certainly the merit of originality. She merely instructs her gardener in the spring to remove the quilts and allow the bees to store cones in the roofs ! In this way, singularly enough, very good harvests are got. She had about 140 lb. from one stock that I know of ; this was secured at three different " takings.'' I am, however, rather sorry for her gardener. I helped him with one lot, but don't think I shall again. Thank you much for answer to my query (1611, p. 497) — H. A. 0. Grimbly, Minster, Isle of Thanet, December 21. THE LATE A. PETTIGREW. [2742.] Your editorial, in a recent issue of B.B J., referring to Mr. Pettigrew's price for skeps twenty-six years ago (p. 492), brought back to memory the days long ago when I was a lad at school. It must have been soon after he wrote that letter to you that he came to live at Sale, where he kept a small nursery. It was a common sight to see him carrying a skep on his head — and I don't think they were upside down as is generally recommended now. He walked miles into the country places in search of stocks, and would give £1 and a new skep for a first swarm. He would leave weak stocks in charge of his country friends where there was good bee pasturage, and later in the season would take them over the border into Derbyshire for the heather. Being a Methodist and a total abstainer, Mr. Pettigrew was in great demand for Band of Hope speeches, which were always intermixed with the doings of the " busy bee." All who had the privi- lege of knowing him will Clever forget him. He never passed us lads without a smile and a kind word for us. I have often wondered if he lived long enough to enjoy the wonders of the modern system of the craft. — C. Y., Dunham Valley, Cheshire. <$MWtt8 Sttt£ $Jt$tk [1616]. Narrow Metal-Ends. — Is it possible to procure " W.B.C." ends lj in. wide? Frames with lh in. ends can, no doubt, be set 1 J in. apart by alternating them, but this takes away some of the advantage of using the ends, and is not elegnnt. For wintering, it is just as easy to set the frames If in. apart, with \\ in. as with 1^ in. ends ; and when drone- rearing is desired, it is very easy to increase the distance of a pair of frames from lj in. to 1tt in. from centre to centre. It scarcely seems worth while to have all ends lh in. wide to provide for this contingency, though, no doubt, the bees adopted the 1^ in. gauge to accommodate drones. — Apis, Oxford, Decem- ber 16. Reply. — We know of no one who makes " W.B.C' ends lj. in. wide, and do not think it probable that any manufacturer will ever do so. The " end " as now made secures all the advantages that any single appliance can secure by simple means, so far as spacing combs apart. Besides, it must be borne in mind how large a majority of bee-keepers neither space at 1 ^ in. for preventing drone- breeding, nor at If in. for wintering. In view of this fact, the safe course is to provide an end which spaces the frames at the proper or normal distance of about 1^ in. apart, and leave those who go into the "finer points " of the art of bee-keeping to secure the narrower distance by alternating " ends " as directed, and the wider spacing by whatever simple means they may choose to adopt. To send out a "W.B.C." end lj in. wide for general use would be a fatal error, and one that W.B.C. would never think of countenancing. ]_1617.J Methylated Spirit for Dissolving Naphthol Beta. — Would you allay some uncer- tainty that exists in my mind ? In B.B.J, of September 17, 1891, in answer to a query by " W. C. Warren,'' in reference to " dis- solving naphthol beta in liquid," you emphati- cally give your verdict against methylated spirit : — ( Vide). " Methylated spirit should not be used at all, as it is an impure spirit." How am I to reconcile this with recipe given in last edition of " Guide Book," in which you advise the naphthol beta to be dissolved in methylated spirit ? — " Hartwood," Chorley, December. Reply. — Our correspondent is perfectly right as to the quotation from Bee Journal of five years ago. Nor have we changed our opinion as to methylated spiritfbeing "impure,'" but in view of the considerable difficulty experienced by readers in procuring pure rectified spirits of wine, we made a close inquiry as to the effect of using methylated spirit in preparing bee-food, and found that the quan- tity of methyl absorbed in syrup was so small as to have practically no deleterious effect on the bees. What is sold as " pure methylated spirit of wine " is therefore recommended as being easy to obtain and not harmful in use. [1618.] Early Queen Bearing. — In the " Guide Book " a method of early queen rear- ing is described, which would be of great 518 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 24, 1896. value to bee-keepers desirous of keeping up a special strain of bees, if it can be relied upon to produce queens and drones before the general mass of drones are flying in the ordinary course. Some bee-keepers of experience, however, appear to doubt whether the above method in practice attains the desired object. Would you kindly give your opinion on the point — whether the method can be relied on for the production and mating of queens before the general mas3 of drones appear ? — Apis, Oxford. Reply. — Seeing that the author of the " Guide Book " is senior Editor of this j ournal, and that in the preface to the book the said author-editor declares that all the practical points embodied in the work have been thoroughly tested by himself, our corres- pondent's question, as put, is scarcely an ap- propriate one so far as expecting to elicit any other view than that expressed in the work referred to. [1619.] Prevention of Swarming. — I am obliged for your reply, on page 479, that imprisoning the queen with excluder zinc has been often tried and "completely fails" to prevent swarming. May I ask if the failure to prevent swarming is due to the queen passing through the zinc, or to the swarm depositing without the queen, or to what other cause ? — Melissa. Eeply. — Among the many causes of failure to prevent swarming, under the circumstances mentioned above, we do not remember one of a queen passing through excluder, unless the latter was badly fixed. Failure arises some- times from disaster to the stock, owing to the hindrance offered to free flight of the swarm ; at other times swarms have been known to issue and return daily for a week or more, owing to queens' inability to accompany the bees, and thus the best part of the honey season has* been lost. In fact, practical trial of the plan has caused it to be given up, as we have no doubt it will be by our correspondent if he tries it. [1620.] The Interior Surface of Hives. — In many hives the floor and side3 are either unplaned or machine planed, leaving the surface rather rough. Does not this aggravate the mischief of the gluing of the division-board to the floor and sides, which bees are apt to indulge in 1 Would not a smooth surface give less hold for the bee glue, and make it more easy to remove ? Or does experience favour the view that it is waste of labour to hand- plane the floor and sides of the hive 1 — Apis, Oxford, December 16. Reply. — So far from a very smooth surface being advantageous for insides of hives, it is just the opposite. Practical experience has proved that the surface left by a fine circular saw is best, as affording foothold for bees, yet not so rough as hand-sawn wood. [1621.] Confining Bees to Hives; Giving Ventilation. — 1. If a hive is entirely closed till sunset — as advised on p. 152 of " Guide Book " — how do the bees relieve themselves of their fa?ces ? 2. Or is this done outside the hive except when bees are troubled with dysent ery 1 3. What do you consider " giving plenty of ventilation " in the sense referred to on page 19 1 — G. M. S., Keswick. Reply. — 1. Bees suffer no harm whatever by being confined till sunset. 2. Yes. 3. Much would depend on the amount of distress displayed by the bees owing to the heat of the day when ventilation is needed. For instance, on some July days it is quite a common practice with us to so raise hives from their floor boards — by means of wedges — as will allow the bees to pass in and out freely on all sides of the hive. [1622.] No Thoroughfare for Bees and Wasps. — Can you or any of your readers kindly say — 1. What is the largest hole through which a worker bee, of average size, cannot pass, while air can ? 2. What is the largest hole through which an ordinary wasp cannot pass, and can an average worker bee pass through it ? — Apicola, Oxford, Decem- ber 23. Reply.— If the perforations do not exceed g in. neither worker bees nor wasps can pass through. There is no practical good in giving measurements in fractional parts of inches, because of both bees and wasps slightly vary- ing in size. [1623.] Carniolan Queen Breeder. — Can you oblige me with the name and address of any foreign breeder and vendor of Carniolan bees ? — Agricola. Reply. — M. Ambrozic, Moistrana bei Lengenfeld, Austria. [1624.] Solution for Carbolised Cloths. — 1. Would not 1 oz. of carbolic acid and 2 oz. of water — mentioned on p. 99 of "Guide Book " as a solution for carbolised cloths — be liable to burn the hands ? 2. I also note that sweetened beer, in bottles, placed near hives is recommended for catching wasps ; but surely this trap would catch bees, too, would it not ? 3. Then the " Raynor " Feeder is recommended, but I have written to several firms, but none of them keep it. Why is this?— Geo. M. Saunders. Reply. — 1. As stated in the book, care is needed in using the solution. If this is attended to, no harm will follow. 2. We have occasionally found a bee in the bottles, but very rarely. 3. Very few firms of any standing will fail to supply the feeder. Among our advertisers, Messrs. Howard, Meadows, Raitt, Lee & Son, and others, all stock it. Dec. 24, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL, 519 "SOLILOQUIUM PUERI." " A bee or not a bee 1 " Thus mused an urchin, Feeling something creeping up his trousers. " I wonder if 'twere better to let him wander All unmolested o'er my naked surface Than to dispel this grim anxiety By fiercely striking him ? To strike — to kill — No more ; and by a kill it means to guard Against the anguish consequent upon His charge in battle — 'tis a consummation Devoutly to be wished. To strike ? to kill ? To kill ! Perchance to miss ! Aye, there's the rub ! For in that fierce attack upon the beast, Suppose a misdirected blow should leave Him little harmed 1 There's the respect That makes calamity of such a course. For who would risk conjunction with the rear Of yellow-jacket, or the vespa tribe, The hornet slim, or cumbrous humble bee ? And, worse than all, the merriment of those Who eagerly are waiting the result. When he himself might his safetus make With one good slap ? Who would chance take To howl and dance should him the spirit move, But that the dread of only maiming him — Awakening in the foe such vengefulness That there be no escape — withstay the hand, And makes us suffer rather with suspense, Than tempt unerring vengeance with a blow 1 Thus danger does make cowards of us all, And thus the native hue of certainty Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of doubt ; And schemes devised which might insure success Are lost through hesitation." SUPERSEDING QUEENS. A queen should be allowed to remain as mother of a colony as long as she retains her fecundity ; for prolificness, not age, should be the test in this matter. I never supersede a nice queen, no matter how old, until she shows signs of failing powers. We want queens for the eggs they lay ; and for that reason, power of production, and not age, is the rule to follow. I would not keep even a young queen, if she did not lay up to a fair average, for there are a few queens that are not prolific enough to keep four frames supplied with brood as they ought to be ; and where I find such, I always give their colonies something better to take their place. However, such queens as this last are the exception and not the rule ; for the bees do not often allow such queens to remain in the hive long, especially if they are of the Italian variety. After experimenting in the direction of superseding queen for years, I now decidedly prefer to leave it to the bees to decide when their queens are worn out, unless, by outside observations, I believe they are holding on to some unprolific young queen. As a general thing, the bees will make fewer mistakes in directing this delicate matter than the wisest apiarist is likely to make. I have had queens that were five years old do good duty till the commencement of their sixth year, when the bees would supersede them that autumn, the same a3 they often do in the autumn with queens commencing on their second, third, or fourth year. — G. M. Doolhtle, in Gleanings THE LAYING OF A QUEEN. A queen can lay 3,000 eggs a day, but not every day. Here are observations on a colony of bees I followed in Palestine, January to December, 1891. As nearly as I could make out, the colony numbered some 10,000 bees, January 1. Daily average. Total. January 1 to 20 100 2,000 January 20 to February 7 ... 666 11,988 February 7 to March 3 ... 700 16 800 March 3 to 18 2,333 34,995 March 18 to April 10 ... 2,600 57,200 April 10 to May 21 1,000 40,000 May 21 to June 17 2,111 56,997 June 17 to July 10 2,277 50,094 July 10 to August 3 1,250 30,000 August 3 to 29 460 10,960 August 29 to September 13... 200 4,000 September 13 to October 14 115 3,000 October 14 to November 11 35 1,000 November 11 to December 10 28 1,000 December 10 to 31 0 — Grand total 320,034 About the same at the end of the season as regards the number — 20,000 bees. At all events, this gives us an average of seventy-six eggs a day for 365 days, or 1,760 eggs a day if we take the honey-flow season from March 3 to August 3. The colony did not swarm, and at the end of the season it was reduced to very nearly what it was in the beginning ; 300,000 bees were hatched and passed away ; the colony had produced nearly 180 lb. of honey. This honey was taken by the extractor, April 10 ; April 18, orange-blossom honey ; June 13 to 19, chaste-tree honey ; July 10 to August 3, thyme honey. — Ph. J. Balden- sperger, in Gleanings. UNITING WEAK COLONIES IN THE FALL. When the time comes to unite I select the hive having the queen I wish to retain as the one to contain the united colony. I now open this hive and take out what combs I think will be necessary, leaving those containing the most honey, Or otherwise, as the circumstances may direct, although it is seldom that united 520 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 24, 1896. colonies have too much honey, when those that are left, being sure the queen is on one of them, are placed next one side of the hive, as closely together as I wish them to be left for wintering. The bees which are on the combs to be taken are now shaken off the combs and allowed to run into the hive, when, after closing, it is left as it is, ready to receive whatever is to be united with it. I next go to the one or more colonies which are to be united with this first one ; and if they have a queen she is hunted out and dis- posed of as I desire, when all of the frames are removed but one, two, or three, in accord with the number of bees there are in this colony ; few being so small that only one comb is left, and in no case is a colony weak enough in bees to need uniting, unless they can crowd on three combs fixed as I am about to tell you. The combs left are generally those contain- ing the most honey, although some years there is little choice of combs on account of all being liberally supplied with honey. The combs (two or three) are now spread apart from 1 in. to 1J in., and placed in the centre of the hive, when the hive is closed and the bees shaken off the combs taken out, so that they can run in with those left on the spread-apart combs. I fix any others that are to be united in the same way, in some cases putting as high as four or five in with the one having the queen, but not usually more than one, two, or three, according to the number of bees each contains. I now wait till some cool, cloudy, raw, windy day, or some morning when there has been a frost, or nearly so, when I am ready for the uniting, which is very simple. The hive having the queen is uncovered, or, if the cover is a mat or quilt, this is rolled back till the comb next the vacant side of the hive is exposed, when I go, smoker in hand, to those ready to be united with it, blow a few dense puffs in at the entrance, quickly uncover the hive, blow in freely of smoke over and around the three spread-apart combs, when I place the first finger of each hand between the first two combs, and if three, the big fingers between the next, when the third and little fingers clasp over on the outside of the outside frame, the thumb tightening on the other side at the same time, when the three frames, bees and all, are lifted out all together and carried to the open hive having the queen, and all lowered into said hive in a body, the same being placed close up to the side of the exposed comb. The quilt is now rolled over all the frames but the last, when another and another lot is brought in the same way till the required number are in, when the hive is closed and the uniting accomplished. If the day is cool and raw enough, or the night has been cold enough, the bees which are to be carried will be compactly clustered on and between the spread-apart combs, and after you get the " hang " of the thing a little you can carry them where you wish without any flying in the air or being left in the hive. Why only three combs are to be left under any circumstances is that a person cannot grasp more than these with his hands, and to separate the clustered bees in any place is to make a bad job in losing bees and have them fly all over you and out into the cold to perish. By removing the hive and stand from the old location no bees are lost by returning, although some will return and hover over the old spot on the first flight for a little time ; but you will soon find them with fanning wings at the entrance of their new home, which they accept ever afterward. — Doolittle in Gleanings. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufac- turers or correspondents, 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 Correspondents 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 of their communica- tions. All queries fonoarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column E. F. Talbot (St. Mellion). — Location for Bees. — If protection is afforded against strong winds, such as blow across entrances and prevent bees alighting, there is no reason why " the bottom of a field lying in a valley '' should not do very well, not- withstanding that it is located in a Cornish valley. Anyway, in view of no better position, we should certainly try the one named. J. Purdon (Ashton-under-Lyne). — Uniting Bees in December. — We should not think of causing a possible upset and perhaps " balling '[ of the queen in stock to which you propose to add the weak lot. Far better allow the latter to take their chance now, and see if they are worth uniting when bees begin to move in spring. If, however, they have been queenless for any length of time, the bulk will probably be so old and nearly worn out as to be useless for uniting. Cltdemen (Llandilo). — Sugar for Bee Candy. —Any refined white crystal sugar, guaran- teed pure cane, will be suitable for candy making. Apis (Doncaster). — Yorkshire Association.- The Secretary of the Yorks B.K.A., Mr. E. A. Grimshaw Highfield, Lady Pit-lane, Leeds, will give you particulars of the parent Association of the county and the district Associations connected with it. Dec. 31, 1896.1 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 521 (Mfmial $tatia», &t A PARTING WORD FOR 1896. With to-day ends the record of another year's doings for the world at large, and brings to a close our twenty-fourth yearly volume. To-day, then, it is safe to say that the minds of many of us will be filled with various and sundry specula- tions regarding the future, and it is no less certain that there will be no end of good intentions and of " resolves to do better" and "to be so much,"&c. Probably one's reflections will end with a dim kind of wondering where we shall be on the last day of 1897 'J A few (not many, we thankfully add) who began the year's march shoulder to shoulder with us, strong as the strongest, have " dropped out" of the ranks, stricken down, as it were, by a stray shot ! But it does no good to dwell on incidents which only make up the sadness of life ; the world will continue to " wag," die who may, and we should rather be expressing our thankfulness that the past year's obituary shows so few crossings out of names familiar to Bee Journal readers. On the other hand we have had plea- sant reminders during the last few days that some veterans — whose names are now less often seen in print than in times gone by — are still to the fore, and withal still willing slaves to the old fascination which hangs around " The Bees ! " These old hands — like ourselves — now carry Time's unerring way-signals in shape of greybeards and scantily-covered pates; but, while hugging the fireside somewhat closer — and, we fear, rather apt to shirk outside work when frost and fog hangs around — they still delight in reading of the bee-doings of to-day; still declare that their happiest times have been spent within sound of "the bee-hives' hum." Then, what memories they (and we) have for the days of big harvests ; of prize- winnings at shows; of bee-adventures and exploits ; of mishaps, great and small (no matter how disastrous, they only make us laugh now !) ; and all the other varied bee-experiences which in later life go to make up many a happy evening's chat with a brother bee-keeper. This is what so surely constitutes the brother- hood of the craft. Long may it continue to bind together all that is good among us ! It is al*o to us a pleasant reflection — and, we hope, none the less so to our readers — that during the year now beginning there will be afforded an opportunity for bee-keepers becoming better acquainted with each other by means of the views of bee-gardens now appearing in our pages. To see a man's bees is half-way to becoming his friend ; and next to seeing his bees is to get a glimpse of his hives, and read something about him and them. Just notice how artfully we are giving all of you an intro- duction to each other ! Why, when you do meet — and the " shows " afford an opportunity for meeting — subjects for " talks " such as bee-men know how to enjoy are provided ready to hand. Seriously, then, we are looking for- ward to 1897 as an eventful year ; full of interest to all engaged in the craft. The biggest " Royal " show ever held seems getting within measurable distance of becoming an accomplished fact — vide schedule in advertisement columns— and we have only to see the now luxuriant crops of bee-forage bring forth the full promise of their early growth, in order to turn a good beginning into a no less satisfactory ending. That it may so turn out for all readers is the New Year's wish of The Editors. ®/ttm%pviktt£L The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. No notice will be taken of anonymous communications, and correspondents are requested to write on one side of the paper only and ,ive their real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Illustra- tions should be drawn on separate pieces of paper. We do not undertake to return rejected communications. Communications relating to the literary department, reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries , Books for Review, &c, must be addressed only to " The Editors of the ' British Bee Journal,' 17, King William- street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communi- cations relating to Advertisements, dec, must be addressed to "The Manager, ' British Bee Journal' Office, 17, King William-street, Strand, London, W.C." BEES IN " WELLS " HIVES. [27-13.] As " copy " may be scarce this week, you may have room for my remarks. In working a " Wells " hive I have found more than once that the bees have refused to keep apart— after being hived. Last September I 522 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 31, 1896. put two lots of driven bees, headed by young queens, into a "Wells" hive; each lot was treated exactly alike, but the next day I found one side deserted by almost all the bees, they having joined forces with the lot in the other side, carrying with them the honey on two or three frames which had been given them the day before. I was helped by an experienced bee-keeper, who had bought me the driven bees, and we took every care, I thought, that the operation should be successful. I should like to know if this has been the experience of other bee-keepers, and, if so, can it be ac- counted for? I have put two established stocks into a "Wells'' hive, and they settled and worked well. 2. I notice in your reply to " G. M. S.," 1621, last week, you say, in speak- ing of ventilation, that " on some July days it is quite a common practice with us to raise hives from their floorboards, &c." About June I always raise my hives sufficiently to allow a bee space the whole front of the hive and leave them so until the honey season is over. Am I to gather from your remark that this plan is only suitable for very hot days ? I had no swarm last year, and I attributed this partly to the fact of my having given ventilation in this way. In addition to this I raised the roofs slightly and put wet cloths over them when it was very hot. To be con- stantly removing the wedges and replacing them would be troublesome, and, besides, I should think it would have a tendency to irri- tate the bees, a thing to be especially avoided. 3. Thenote on "Superseding Queens," on p. 519, is very interesting. May we understand from this that bees, as a rule, raise a new queen when it is found the old head of the colony is wearing out? If four frames filled with brood, say in the middle of May, is sufficient indication of the presence of a prolific queen* much anxiety on the point would be removed. Some writers in the B.B.J, apparently recom- mend that after the second year a queen should be always replaced with a younger one. Two or three years ago, impressed with this idea, I acted accordingly, and the result was that the hive that did the best that year was the one in which we failed to discover the old queen. 4. Some bee-keepers may have found a diffi- culty, as I have done, in getting the bees to clear up shallow frames at the end of the sea- son. I should like to call attention to a most useful arrangement for this purpose, supplied to me by a manufacturer, which some may not have seen. A bole is cut in the board into which a Porter Bee- escape has been fixed, through which the bees enter the shallow- frame box ; as soon as the frames are cleared this hole can be closed by sliding a piece of tin over it ; and then the bees of course are obliged to go through the escape, and the box can be removed free of every bee. 5. Should any young bee-keeper have a difficulty in finding material for keeping their Smoker alight I would advise the use of an artificial-manure bag. It costs little or nothing and will burn one or two hours if once well lighted. I bought, two years ago, a lot of old things of Abbott, and amongst them were a few bags in which, I suppose, their " Little Wonder " was packed as they were all thus marked. That I found first rate material for use with a Smoker, far better, I think, than any carbolised. cloth. — A.P.J., Dec. 28th. SELF-HIVERS. [2744.] I am very pleased to give my expe- rience of Mr. Hole's self-hiver, which I found very satisfactory. I placed it on a hive of Carniolan bees when I saw signs of swarming, and had it examined every evening. The bees can pass freely out to gather, and return with their burthen without difficulty, and soon learn to depart and return without inconvenience, although, when the " hiver " is first placed on the hive, the bees are very much agitated and angry for a time. The first evening I ex- amined the self-hiver I found in it only some drones. The next day, however, I observed a crowd of bees flying round until evening, when I had the swarm - box looked into and only saw a few, and a cluster of bees were discovered in the box with the queen in the midst. They were instantly hived with some frames containing stores — bees and brood — and became an excel- lent stock in a very short time. I cannot account for the majority of the bees deserting their queen and returning into the hive, except that the swarm-box was not examined until very late in the evening. I can safely recommend Mr. Hole's self- hiver to every bee-keeper ; it save3 much trouble, and does its work well ; he has much improved it by placing frames in it, so that no anxiety need be felt about the swarm if left overnight. — Emily Gore Cuthbert, Mont- pettier House, Blackroch, December 2\st, HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE. THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS. The apiary shown in illustration on p. 523 is that of Dr. Percy Sharp, at Brant Broughton, Newark-on-Trent. Dr. Sharp is a well-known and prominent bee-keeper in his county, and, besides filling the office of district secretary, is one of the experts to the Lines. B.K. A. He also lectures on bee-keeping under the auspices of the Technical Instruction Committee of the Lines. County Council, and holds the first class expert certificate of the B.B.K., of which association he is a member. So keen an inte- rest does Dr. Sharp take in all that pertains to bee-keeping, that a considerable portion of his spare time is devoted to the pursuit. In response to our request to be furnished with a few particulars regarding his apiary, Dec. 31, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 523 after explaining that the hives as shown are packed and roofs weighted down for winter, Dr. Sharp writes as follows : — " The establishment of the apiary is of com- paratively recent date. Five years ago as many hives were situated in my garden, near the house and close to the stable. But the situation was then most inconvenient, with growing crops all round, and work in the immediate vicinity of the hives often seriously impeded. At the end of that year, what was then a paddock was converted into an orchard and dug over, and to the farthest end of which, of waste and broken bricks ; these were broken up, leaving, of course, the smaller pieces on the top. "Along the end of the orchard a space was thus covered about 7 ft. wide ; and down one side a path varying — owing to the irregularity of the hedge — from 4 ft. to 6 ft. wide. " The whole was well rolled, and then, to prevent the weeds from growing through, this was sprinkled with boiling tar ; and on the top of all was placed a layer of sand, and an edging of tiles round to prevent the pieces working out. " The hives have stood, as depicted, on this DR: PERCY SHARPS APTARY, BRANT BROUGHTON. under shelter of the hedge, the bees were then removed. " Despite our good resolutions with regard to cleanliness about the apiary, time after time the weeds got the mastery, and we found it impossible, with other work on hand, to keep them cleared. Moreover, there was no proper path through the orchard, and the mud was awful. The discomforts endured when mani- pulating, too, were great — mud, dirt, and damp everywhere. Having endured this for some time, during which my apiary in- creased slowly but steadily, as did my know- ledge of, and delight in, the pursuit, I determined to make a really good stand for the hives and a firm path leading to them. I obtained from an adjacent yard about ten loads path for a year now, and I have every reason to be well pleased with the result. During the past season hardly any weeds have had sufficient hardihood to penetrate the path, thongh, of course, some twitch grew in from the hedge-bottom at the rear edge. A further dressing of boiling tar and sand will, I hope, prevent this in future. Water drains rapidly away, and there is always cleanliness and order throughout ; while any tool, small or large, accidentally dropped, is seen and recovered at once. As regards the hives themselves, they are of all shapes and patterns outside, but the frames and inside parts are interchangeable of course. There were at one time two styles of frames, broad-shouldered and metal- ended ; the former are now, however, eliminated." 524 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 31, 1896. " SWARMING." ITS CAUSE AND PREVENTION. [We received the following inquiry, which we forwarded to Mr. Eobbins for reply. — Editor American Bee Journal.] I have read in the British Bee Journal an article copied from the American Bee Journal, by George F. Bobbins, entitled " Swarming : its Cause and Prevention." In this Mr. Robbins advises "removing the brood." Now will Mr. Robbins tell a be- ginner a little more still ? Where does he put the brood when he removes it ? — F. M. G. The remark in that article to which the correspondent refers is this : — " 3rd. Remove the brood a short time before the swarm is likely to issue — perhaps a week, more or less." Notice, I said that this is one of " four methods '' for prevention of swarming, for each of which some success is claimed. Re- moving the brood and replacing with empty combs, or with frames empty of comb, will usually prevent swarming— there is no doubt about that. But I want to say here that I do not practise it very much, nor recommend it very strongly. It as laborious, especially if the combs are replaced with empty frames, as in that case every frame of brood and honey should be taken out. If combs are used, and the honey-flow is of long continuance — three weeks or more — the process must be repeated, as the combs soon become filled with brood and honey, and we again have all the condi- tions that promote swarming. Another draw- back is, if we are running for comb-honey, these combs serve as ready-made receptacles for storing honey, and make the bees slower to go into surplus cases. Still, the system is worth a trial. You might like it better than I do. I believe I like best to use empty frames with an inch or so strip of foundation fastened to the top for a (starter. In that case I always contract the brood apartment to five or six frames, put on a queen-excluding honey-board, and then a case of sections, in which I insert two or three sections of "drawn comb for bait, if I have them. When I use combs I generally fill the brood- chamber to its full capacity. I never find it difficult to dispose of the brood. I have practised the following four methods : — 1st. I always have a few weak colonies in the spring. These I confine to some three to five combs until they are strong enough to cover more, which is generally about the time I want to prevent swarming. This is about the beginning of the clover honey - flow, usually early in June. I simply take frames of brood enough to fill up these hives. I am not particular to shake off all the bees. Except early in the morning, there are always cells of thin, freshly-gathered honey, which will shake out and daub the comb and bees so as to start the latter cleaning things up, and effectually prevent fighting. If the weak colony contains one or two comb3 having little or no brood or honey, I take them out and put them into a hive from which I am re- moving brood, if I am filling it up with combs. If the colony is very short of bees, I carry more bees with the frames of brood. 2nd. I rear nearly all my queens from one or two that I have selected for that purpose, and at this time in the year I am wanting nuclei in which to insert queen cells from those chosen breeders. To form them I take two or three frames of brood and bees from a colony likely to swarm, put them into an empty hive — aiming, of course, not to carry away the queen — and insert it all between two combs. If I am pushed for room for these combs, I put more in a hive than the number above given. I prefer not to have very many bees in a nucleus until after the young queen has mated, as the bees are more apt to swarm out with the queen when she goes out on her wedding flight, if there are very many of them. 3rd. If I have neither of the above uses for brood-combs, I simply form new colonies by shaking about two-thirds of the bees off the combs and putting them into an empty hive. I have sometimes allowed them to rear their own queen, sometimes giving them a cell. I have, however, done very little of this at all. 4th. While I work in the main for comb- honey, I always aim to produce some extracted honey. I usually have a few colonies, includ- ing nuclei, in which the young queen has gone on laying, that cannot conveniently be made strong enough to go into empty supers by simply filling up the brood-chamber with brood and the few adhering bees. So I add an upper storey, generally putting a queen-ex- cluder between, and fill it up with these combs. As the bees in this upper storey hatch out the combs are filled with honey, and in time I have a whole set of frames full of honey to extract. I am not always particular when ' practising this system to take bees enough along to care for the eggs and unsealed larvae. Bees hatching from such brood are of little or no use usually during the .early honey harvest, and only become consumers during the. long dearth of summer. I said that I did not practise removing the brood to prevent swarming very much ; in fact, I have usually allowed my bees to swarm, and disposed of the brood and remaining bees in the ways I have described above. For the last three years I have had almost no swarming on account of the poor honey seasons. I expect to try to prevent swarming when a season comes that bees will swarm, but I aim to practise chiefly the shifting device, as described in my article in the American Bee Journal for April 9, 1N!)G.— Geo* F. Roismns, in the American Bee Journal. Dec. 31, 1896.] THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 525 <&t\im from tfo Erith, Kent, December 25th. — This is X'mas day, not at all the sort of day one expects at this season, but a warm, bright, sunshiny day, and I am sitting in the bee garden listening to the hum of the bees and the bells of the old parish church away in the distance. 'Tis a merry sound this hum of the bees and takes one back to the long, bright, sunshiny days of summer. What a time the bees are having ! glad no doubt to get out of their stuffy hives and to have another look at the blessed sun before the two most trying months are on them. Bees of all stocks are flying, the "Wells'' hives look the strongest, and one lot seems even to be carrying in water, so quickly do they rush in and out. These bright days are so rare at this season that the bees seem very anxious to make the most of them. Wishing all bee- keepers a prosperous New Year.— Briton. Queries m& Jf^fe. [1625]. The Best Size for Nucleus Hives. — Can you or any of your readers kindly answer the following question : Supposiug that in spring a queen is reared in a nucleus with the intention that, if the parent hive becomes queenless, the queen in the nucleus hive may serve to re-queen it, and if this does not occur the nucleus may, at the close of the season, be united to the parent hive, one of the queens being got rid of, what is the minimum number of frames (Association size) that the nucleus hive should be able to hold in order to fulfil the above purpose ? It is said that if the nucleus is too small the queen will not stay in it. Some writers advise using an ordinary full-sized hive, with the space reduced by division boards, and, of course, permitting indefinite expansion. But empty hives may not always be available in a well-regulated apiary, where all colonies are kept strong. And it seems lavish to duplicate the number of ordinary hives in an apiary in order to accom- modate nuclei, since ordinary hive3 are adapted to contain strong colonies, and for wintering and supering, &c, whereas the nucleus hive is only required to hold a few frames for the summer. Some writers say that two frames are enough for a nucleus, others advise three frames, and others four. If a hive is specially made to accommodate a nucleus, and for no other purpose, it is desirable that it should not be larger than is necessary. Experience alone can decide such a question. Would a nucleus hive containing two frame3 be practically sufficient to keep the queen at home and the nucleus going from June to September ?-— Apicola, Oxford, December 28. Reply. — A nucleus hive should not hold less than three frames. Four would, no doubt, give a stronger colony in September. [1626.] The Utility of Porches.— Ave there any sufficient reasons for putting porches on bee-hives ? If placed low enough to prevent rain blowing in at the flight hole they would scarcely be ornamental, and they are usually fixed too high to serve that purpose. In any case, the injury to the timber in and around the flight hole from wet blown in can easily be prevented by the use of paint or protective solutions. On many occasions, and especially in the swarming season, the porch is a nuisance, because it hinders access to the flight hole, and the employment of appliances for dealing with swarms, queens, drones, robber- bees, and for other purposes. Some experienced bee-keepers, such as Mr. Root, object strongly to the porch. Can any practical reason be urged in its favour ? — Apicola, Oxford, December 28. Reply. — Those who prefer a porch (our- selves included) see their utility, otherwise they would discard them, but for those who deem them of no service there is no reason on earth why they should not dispense with them. It is simply a matter of opinion. Notices to Correspondents & Inquirers. Lstters or queries asking for addresses of manufac- turers or correspondents, 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 Correspondents to bear in mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance of the date of iisue, queries cannot always be replied to in the issue immediately following the receipt of their communica- tions. All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of personal interest will be answered in this column. S. M. (Sheffield).— The " rising " or bubbling up of extracted honey denotes that ferment- ation is being started. If used at once, however, the honey is quite good for house- hold consumption. Pressed heather honey is usually so full of air-bubbles as tends very much to set up fermentation, unless the honey is fully ripe. W. Houlder (Methwold).— Poisonous Honey. — No good purpose that we can see would be served by noticing the paragraph referred to. Any attempt to refute it would only add to the publicity of the report. Misleading statements, like the one referred to, are best allowed to meet the eye3 of as few people as possible, and this makes it desirable to leave them alone. 526 THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. [Dec. 31, 1896. Royal Agricultural Society of England, MANCHESTER MEETING, 1897, Commencing Wednesday, June 23rd, and Closing Tuesday, June 29th. PRIZE SHEET for HONEY, HIVES, $c. HONEY. SPECIAL COUNTY HONEY-TROPHY COMPETITION. *Class 375. — For the best and most attrac- tive Display of Comb and Extracted Honey, and such Honey products as Wax, Mead, and Vinegar, arranged in Trophy form on a space not exceeding 4ft. 6in, square by 5ft. in height. The gross weight of the Honey (which may he of any form and of any year) must approximate 300 lbs. 1st Prize, £15 and Silver Medal. 2nd Prize, £10 and Bronze Medal. 3rd Prize, £5 and Bronze Medal. 4th Prize, £3 and Bronze Medal. 5th Prize, JB2 and Bronze Medal. *Class 376.— For the best Twelve 1-lb. Sections of Comb Honey, gathered during 1897. First Prize, 2os. ; Second Prize, 15s. ; Third Prize, 10s. Class 377.— For the best Six 1-lb. Sections of Comb Honey, gathered during 1897. First Prize, 15s. ; Second Prize," 10s. ; Third Prize, 5s. Class 37s.— For the best Twelve 1-lb. Sections of Comb Honey, gathered during 1896 or in any previous year. First prize, 20s. ; Second Prize, 15s. ; Third Prize, 10s. •Class 379.— For the best Twelve 1-lb. Sections of Comb Heather Honey, of any year. First prize, 20s. ; Second Prize, 15s. ; Third Prize, 10s. Class 380.— For the best Three Shallow Frames of ('tnub Honey, for extracting, gathered during 1897. First prize, 20s. ; Second Prize, 15s. ; Third Prize, 10s. CLASS 381. — For the best exhibit, of Light-coloured Extracted Honey, in jars not exceeding 2 lb. each, gathered during 1897 ; approximate weight, 12 lb. Kirst Prize. 20s. ; Second Prize, 15s. : Third Prize, 10s. 'CLASS 882.— For the best Exhibit of Dark-coloured Extracted Honey, in jars not exceeding 2 lb. each, gathered during 1897 ; approximate weight, 12 lb. First prize, 20s. ; Second Prize, 15s. ; Third Prize, 10s. •CLASS 383.— For the best Exhibit of Extracted Heather Honey, in jars not exceeding 2 lb. each, gathered during 1896 ; approximate weight, 12 lb. First Prize, 20s. ; Second Prize, 15s. ; Third Prize, 10s. (lass 384.— For the best Exhibit of Granulated Honey of any year, in jars jjot exceeding 2 lb. each ; approximate weight, 12 lb. First Prize, 20s. ; Second Prize, 15s. ; Third Prize, 10s. MISCELLANEOUS. Class 385.— For the best Exhibit of not less than 3 lb. of wax. First Prize, 15s. ; Second Prize, 10s. ; Third Prize, 5s. Class 386.— For any practically Useful Invention connected with Bee-keeping, introduced since 1895. First Prize, 15s. ; Second Prize, 10s. ; Third Prize, 5s. Class 387.— For the best Exhibit of Honey Vinegar, A gal., in clear glass bottles. First Prize, 15s. ; Second Prize, 10s. ; Third Prize, 5s. Class 388.— For the best exhibit of Mead, J Gallon, in clear glass bottles. First Prize, 15s. ; Second Prize, 10s. ; Third Prize, 5s. Class 389.— For the most Interesting and Instructive Exhibit of any kind connected with Bee Culture, not mentioned in the foregoing Classes, including Articles of Food or Medicine in which Honey is an ingredient. First Prize, 15s. ; Second Prize, 10s. ; Third Prize, 5s. APPLIANCES. *Class 390.— For a Collection of Hives and Appliances, to consist of the following articles :— (Open to Manufac- turers of Bee Appliances only, being Articles sold in their usual way of trade). Three Frame Hives complete. \Note.— These Hives must be fitted with arrangements for Storifying] ; 1 pair of Section Backs fitted with Sec- tions ; 1 Extractor, 1 slow Stimulating Feeder, 1 Rapid feeder ; 1 Smoker or other Instrument for quieting Bees ; 1 Super Clearer ; 1 "Veil ; 1 Swarm Box for travel- ling purposes ; 1 Nucleus Hive for travelling ; 1 travel- ling Crate for Comb Honey ; and other distinct articles not specified, at the discretion of the Exhibitor. The whole to be staged by the Exhibitor or his repre- sentative on 50 superficial feet. Price to be affixed to each article. No articles must be added to the collec- tion, nor any portion of the Exhibit removed during the Show. First Prize, £4 , Second Prize, £2 ; Third Prize, £1. CLASS 391.— The best Observatory Hive, of not less than two Frames with Bees and Queen : each comb to be visible on both sides. First Prize, £1 10s. ; Second Prize, £1. (N.B.— The hive must be provided with arrangements for the flight of the Bees during the time of the Show). CLASS 392.— For the best and most complete Frame Hive, for general use, unpainted. First Prize, £1 ; Second Prize, 15s. ; Third Prize, 10s. Class S93.— For the most complete and inexpensive Frame Hive for Cottager's use, unpainted, price not to exceed 10s. Od. First Prize, £1 ; Second Prize, 15s. ; Third Prize, 10s. - Class 394.— For the best Honey Extractor. (Prizes offered by Mr. T. W. Cowan). First Prize, 15s. ; Second Prize, 10s. The Prize Money in Classes marked thus # is contributed by the Manchester Local Committee. .V&K ;#Ml&l &b&